Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden

Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden

     Wow! So this was one of those books that you're desperately reading every chance you get because you can't wait to see what happens next. And you settle in to read the last twenty pages then it's just over...you feel empty like you want more, but satisfied and excited by how it ended. While I did truly enjoy Battlefront: Twilight Company, this was a superior novel in my opinion. There aren't as many planets, species, or characters to keep up with so that made for a much smoother read.

     In this Battlefront novel, we get the point of view of Imperials on a stealth mission to infiltrate the Partisans. Yes, this takes place immediately after Rogue One and Saw is dead along with many of his followers, but a new group has emerged who call themselves "The Dreamers," carrying on Saw's dream of rebellion and freedom from the Empire...no matter the cost.

     Amongst our Imperial Inferno Squad crew are Iden Versio, the daughter of Admiral Garrick Versio, whose mission in life is to excel at everything she does and do everything she can to take down any opposition to the Empire. Her father brought her up to be Imperial through and through and he refuses to even call her by her first name. She is Lieutenant Versio to him and expects her to compose herself like an Imperial officer at all times no matter how informal the occasion...I kind of hate him for being such an unloving human being. Then there is Gideon Hask, Iden's friend from childhood who holds a competitive streak against his buddy and also finds it odd to call her anything but Lieutenant. Despite these people having real sticks up their butts, you find yourself caring for them and deeply enjoying their character development. Thirdly, there is Del Meeko, a top engineer aboard the Star Destroyer Implacable. He's probably the most likable of all the Imperials as he takes a shine to Piikow, an elderly Chadra-fan Partisan, and the two of them go off on archaeological jaunts every chance they get. They are too cute together! Lastly, we have Seyn Marana from Naval Intelligence, a very petite young woman who can speak 29 languages and has an eidetic memory. All four additionally have their own cover stories for the infiltration of the Partisans.

     Then we have our Dreamers. Staven is a hot-tempered human man full of anger and hate who leads the group. Ru, Halia, and Sadori, a Kage family with gray skin and bright shining pink eyes. Piikow, the previously mentioned Chadra-Fan...probably my most favorite character in the book. Azen, a son-of-a-b**** human...for several reasons. Kaev, a younger, more recent human recruit. Dahna, a Twi'lek, motherly sort. Nadrine, a human woman who shares a mutual love with Staven. And finally the Mentor, a human who is training Iden to become the public mouthpiece and figurehead for the Dreamers...he's also a fabulous character.

     I don't want to give too much away of the actual story but it was absolutely one worth reading! There were times when I wanted the Inferno Squad to be Stockholm Syndromed into the Partisans and other times I wanted them to be successful in their mission for the Empire...I didn't know where my head was at! The story definitely kept me on my toes and wanting more every step of the way. Several surprises were in store...especially one in particular near the end that nearly left me in tears...I was that invested... I can't recommend this book enough!

Trivia tidbits: 

-After the Senate was dissolved, all members were arrested and confined in the Arrth-Eno Prison Complex for interrogation to determine who all had ties with the Rebellion.

-Lassa Rhayme is the pirate captain of the Opportunity and head of the Blood Bone Order.

-Kages come from the planet Quarzite named after the crystals that fill the planet's caverns. Kages live underground in semi-darkness and have spent generations fighting the Belugans, the other sentient species on Quarzite. 

New planets:

-Vardos in the Jinata system, Iden's homeworld, capital city is Kestro

-Arvaka Prime, a planet under the Imperial leadership of Moff Jaccun Pereez

-Tellik Four Station, a refueling and repair station, formally within the Empire

-Otor's Hub in the Ojostor sector of the Outer Rim, popular traveler way station, home of many black market merchants--some of which work with the Empire

-Jeosyn, the Dreamers' home base, uninhabited, has an extremely slow rotation with long hot days and long cold nights, dawn and dusk last for about three months each

-Affadar, largely undeveloped, relatively small human population, primitive indigenous amphibian sentients called the T'Laeem

-Anukara, the site of a new Imperial factory, place of a terribly dastardly mission by the Partisans, Moff Rys Deksha

New species:

-Ahak Maharr, tusked sentients who speak a guttural deep-pitched language containing clacks, they are only mentioned in regards to a toast Seyn gives before Inferno Squad's big mission begins

-Crunchers, non-sentients from Jeosyn that are like giant rodents

-T'Laeem from Affadar (see above)

     So, in summary, just go out and get this one and read it! A worthy companion to Rogue One...and that's saying a lot from me!