The Alphabet Squadron made their first appearance in Alexander Freed’s Alphabet Squadron which launched in 2019. So not even that long ago. Yet here we are getting ready to say goodbye to some of the New Republic’s best pilots. Now, with the amount of Star Wars books that are currently on the market, including the new High Republic content, it is possible to simply miss some of the exciting stories available. Let’s face it, books don’t get the same coverage as films. So it is surprisingly easy for a book to just swiftly glide under your radar.
But that’s where we come in. What we wanted to do was cast a light on an epic series of books. In the wake of games like Star Wars: Squadrons and news of Patty Jenkin’s Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, the idea of simply travelling through space and exploring the universe has shown that Star Wars is so much more than a fight between the Light and Dark. It’s about hope, exploration, adventure, and epic battles among the stars and above beautiful new worlds. Freed’s trilogy is a perfect opportunity for fans to see and envision those key elements and we want fans and avid readers to get lost in those pages. You will be amazed by how quickly your imagination can construct these crazy and intense space battles. You’ll feel as though you were in the cockpit yourself.
For new readers and for readers who are eagerly waiting for the final chapter, we’re here to provide you with a simple yet effective reminder before you jump into your X-wing or A-wing.
So what is the Alphabet Squadron? Well, despite the Emperor meeting his end at the hands of his apprentice, the galaxy was still in much disarray. The Empire still operated in small factions and one of the most deadliest groups was the 204th Imperial Fighter Wing. They would later call themselves Shadow Wing and become the main antagonist of the Alphabet Squadron trilogy. The Squadron was tasked with finding Shadow Wing before they could do any more damage.
The Squadron comprised of five pilots and five familiar starfighters. The dangerous task was given to them by Agent Caern Adan of the New Republic. However, General Hera Syndulla soon became the overall commander of the squadron. Ready to meet the members?
- Yrica Quell piloted an X-Wing. Quell defected from the Empire and was previously a member of the 204th Imperial Fighter Wing.
- Chass na Chadic piloted a B-Wing.
- Wyl Lark piloted an A-Wing.
- Nath Tensent piloted a Y-Wing.
- Kairos piloted a U-Wing.
Now, the rest is up to you. We have provided the official summaries from all three books. Alphabet Squadron, Shadow Fall, and Victory’s Price. As you’d expect, they aren’t overly detailed. Where’s the fun in that? However, they do provide a perfect overview of what you can expect from each installment.
Book 1: Alphabet Squadron
On the verge of victory in a brutal war, five New Republic pilots transform from hunted to hunters in this epic STAR WARS adventure. Set after Return of the Jedi, Alphabet Squadron follows a unique team, each flying a different class of starfighter as they struggle to end their war once and for all.
The Emperor is dead. His final weapon has been destroyed. The Imperial Army is in disarray. In the aftermath, Yrica Quell is just one of thousands of defectors from her former cause living in a deserters’ shantytown—until she is selected to join Alphabet Squadron.
Cobbled together from an eclectic assortment of pilots and starfighters, the five members of Alphabet are tasked by New Republic general Hera Syndulla herself. Like Yrica, each is a talented pilot struggling to find their place in a changing galaxy. Their mission: to track down and destroy the mysterious Shadow Wing, a lethal force of TIE fighters exacting bloody, reckless vengeance in the twilight of their reign.
The newly formed unit embodies the heart and soul of the Rebellion: ragtag, resourceful, scrappy, and emboldened by their most audacious victory in decades. But going from underdog rebels to celebrated heroes isn’t as easy as it seems, and their inner demons threaten them as much as their enemies among the stars. The wayward warriors of Alphabet Squad will have to learn to fly together if they want to protect the new era of peace they’ve fought so hard to achieve.
Book 2: Shadow Fall
News of the New Republic’s victory still reverberates through the galaxy. In its wake, the capital ships of the newly legitimized galactic government journey to the farthest stars, seeking out and crushing the remnants of Imperial tyranny. But some old ghosts are harder to banish than others. And none are more dangerous than Shadow Wing.
Yrica Quell’s ragtag Alphabet Squadron still leads the search for Shadow Wing, but they’re no closer to their goal—and the pressure to find their quarry before it’s too late has begun to shake them apart. Determined to finish the fight once and for all, Quell works with New Republic Intelligence’s contentious Caern Adan and the legendary General Hera Syndulla to prepare the riskiest gambit of her starfighting career—a trap for Shadow Wing that could finish the chase once and for all.
But in the darkness, their enemy has evolved. Soran Keize, last of the Imperial aces, has stepped into the power vacuum at the head of Shadow Wing, reinvigorating the faltering unit in their hour of need. Once adrift in the aftershocks of the war, Keize has found meaning again, leading the lost soldiers of his unit through to safety. The only thing standing in his way? The most mismatched squadron in the New Republic Navy, led by his former mentee: the traitor Yrica Quell.
Book 3: Victory’s Price
In the wake of Yrica Quell’s shocking decision—and one of the fiercest battles of their lives—the remnants of Alphabet Squadron seek answers and closure across a galaxy whose old war scars are threatening to reopen.
Soran Keize has returned to the tip of Shadow Wing’s spear. Operation Cinder, the terrifying protocol of planetary extermination which began in the twilight of the Imperial era, burns throughout the galaxy. Shadow Wing is no longer wounded prey fleeing the hunters of the New Republic. With its leader, its strength has returned, and its Star Destroyers and TIE squadrons lurk in the darkness between stars, carrying out the fallen Emperor’s final edict of destruction—as well as another, stranger mission, one Keize has championed not for the dying Empire, but for its loyal soldiers.
Alphabet Squadron’s ships are as ramshackle and damaged as their spirits, but they’ve always had each other. Now, as they face the might of Keize’s reborn juggernaut, they aren’t even sure they have that. How do you catch a shadow? How do you kill it? And when you’re finally victorious, who pays the price?
There you have it. You are now ready to join the Alphabet Squadron on their most daring mission. If you’ve read them before, let us know your thoughts in the comments. The third and final chapter in the trilogy, Star Wars: Victory’s Price is ready to launch on March 2nd. The book will be priced at £20.00. You can pick it up from retailers like Waterstones and Blackwells.
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