Starkiller by Eric Edstrom

Title:  Starkiller

Author:  Eric Edstrom

Series:  The Undermountain Saga #3

Published: December 19th 2012 by Undermountain Books LLC

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Starkiller is the stunning final act in The Undermountain Saga.

While the wicked bigfoot leader, Hanameesovenama, plans First Contact with the human race, Danny and Breyona race to stop the vile tangoga boss, GorVit, from using the starkiller weapon to destroy the sun.

In their search, they find an ancient king who may hold the key to preventing the apocalypse.


My Review:

The final installment of the Undermountain Saga blows the other two out of the water. I couldn’t put this book down if I tried. Edstrom takes all of the events from the previous two novels and combines them for a conclusion that cannot be beat. And that is one thing that I must commend the author on. The saga has an actual ending. Everything is summed up and no loose ends are left hanging.

The characters that we have followed through the saga continue to grow as individuals. They face the hardest tasks and challenges so far and all rise to the challenge. Many times they have to weigh the greater good against what is best for them and (for the most part) rise to the challenge. This is true for the humans, the People, and all of the other races found in these worlds. Of course, there are individuals from each race that are “bad to the bone” but they are dealt with and everything is saved. We also learn that “unintelligent” species are not necessarily so unintelligent.

Due to Edstrom’s grasp of the English language and his amazing descriptions the worlds that we visit in this installment come to life. I feel like I have travelled the galaxy with the characters, visiting each and every stop on their travels. The intensity of the various events is also portrayed very clearly through Edstrom’s words. His story flows very fluidly from event to event and from scene to scene.  This novel is so well written that you never have to stop and wonder what is going on.

I thoroughly enjoy the fact that Edstrom uses language that is fitting for a young adult novel. He never dumbs down what he is saying, assuming that his audience will not understand the vocabulary that he chooses. Neither does he revert to using vocabulary that will involve the constant use of a dictionary to decipher. He sticks to a middle road that is perfect for his chosen audience. The dialogue within the novel is also impeccable. The speech of each individual is tailored to fit them perfectly. Teenagers speak like teenagers. If English is someone’s second language that is apparent in their speech patterns.

All in all, the final installment in the Undermountain Saga was some interstellar awesomeness. It does leave me with one burning question, however. What size shoes do the People wear?

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Afterlife by Eric Edstrom

Title:  Afterlife

Author:  Eric Edstrom

Series:  The Undermountain Saga #2

Published: July 18th 2012 by Undermountain Books LLC (first published June 28th 2012)
Page Count: 272
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Afterlife is the stunning second book in The Undermountain Saga!

They think their adventures are behind them . . .
The six teens who were rescued from a mountainside in the Canadian Rockies are now famous. But only they know the true story-of what they discovered, what they survived-of Undermountain. Those secrets bind them together and pull them toward an ill-fated reunion.

. . . the war between tangoga and bigfeet still rages . . .
The tangoga boss GorVit searches for a lost technology, the terrible weapon of a vanished race. And he'll happily use Breyona as leverage to get Danny's help.

. . . the power of ultimate destruction hangs in the balance . . .
Thrust into the midst of war, and into the arms of a beautiful queen, Danny races on a collision course with destiny. And Breyona, still testing the limits of her amazing powers, must choose between what she desires and what is right.

. . . friendship, loyalty, and temptation . . .
One will give in.

One will give up.

One will give all.

My Review:

The second installment in the Undermountain Saga does not disappoint. Edstrom continues with his compelling descriptions, creating many worlds so vivid that you feel like you are walking through them with the characters. His clear, flowing way with words allows you to flow seamlessly from world to world with the action of the story. He also uses this volume to give his reader a deeper understanding of the history of the various races involved in his story. This is worked right into the action of the story, not breaking up the flow at all.

He also kicks the intensity of the novel up a notch with this installment. There is a great deal more suspense that builds throughout the novel. By the final page it has yet to dissipate, leaving you wanting the final installment. All emotions are also more intense in this novel. Edstrom’s grasp of the English language makes the fear, sadness, and happiness of the characters so clear that you feel it for yourself.

Character development also carries on in this instalment. As all the characters in the novel are in their late teens, they have many real struggles to face. This includes relationship problems and concerns, which are apparent throughout the novel. These characters are all so real that you cannot help but picture them vividly. You want to help them through their struggles, but are too involved in the story to leave your chair.

Afterlife kept me captivated throughout. It is entirely unique and placed in worlds so well developed that you spend the hours that you are reading walking along side the characters. Also, this novel leaves the reader set up for the final installment of the Undermountain Saga.

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Undermountain by Eric Edstrom

Title:  Undermountain

Author:  Eric Edstrom

Series:  Undermountain Saga #1
Published: March 5th 2012 by Undermountain Books LLC
Page Count: 354
Genre: Fantasy Young Adult
Shelf: Review Copy
Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Two teens from from different worlds . . .
Seeking refuge from their troubled home lives, sixteen year olds Danny Michaelson and Breyona Lewis join a group of teens in the Canadian Rocky Mountains for a ten day hiking excursion.

. . . the encounter of a lifetime . . .
Six days in, Danny and Breyona come face to face with a creature of legend--an eight foot tall beast they tag as "bigfoot." But this this is no mere animal, and it doesn't want humans knowing its secrets.

. . . friendship, love, and loyalty . . .
Swept into the hidden city of Undermountain, Danny, Breyona and their friends find themselves in a race for survival against alien forces determined to take control the earth.


My Review:

Edstrom creates a world unlike any other in the first installment of his Undermountain Trilogy. He begins in the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies and from there travels to the unknown. It was a very intriguing read that kept me captivated throughout.

Undermountain is a very well written work. Edstrom’s writing flows seamlessly from place to place and character to character. He has the ability to add descriptions that heighten your understanding of the story and its characters without slowing down the action of the novel. The trials and fears of the characters become very real. The action sequences in the novel are also very well developed. They spark your interest without every becoming very gory or hard to handle.

The various characters that live through this work are quite well developed. They each have their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses to contend with. I cannot imagine going through the trials that they do, coming out in tact on the other end. The characters also grow through their journey. They become more rounded people who are hard not to love (or hate, depending on the characters). This depiction of the characters does not end with the human characters. Those of non-Earthly origins are developed in the same manner.

This combines to provide an amazing cast of characters who journey through the unknown together, battling adversity, and growing up. It was a very captivating opener to the Undermountain trilogy.

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