This was a very solid book that very much did its job in prepping me emotionally for SW XI. I have lots of thoughts and Bloodline feelings, but this probably won’t be as full review as I would like it to be. My brain is tired.
This is really Poe’s book, although Leia and Wedge Antilles (!) have major roles to play as well. It picks up just days after the events of The Last Jedi, with Leia and Poe struggling to rally allies and build up the Resistance almost from the ground up. It’s a much needed shot of hope after what happened, and it not only has Poe actually accept his mistakes and his role in what happened, but address it head on. While they’re trying to round up bitter ex-Imperials and ex-Rebels to try and get some new leadership in the Resistance, it becomes known that the reason none of Leia’s allies responded in the movie when she put out a signal is that the First Order has a list of potential allies and sympathizers and has been systematically rounding them up and imprisoning them. They head out on a three part mission to: 1) Obtain new ships; 2) Obtain that list; and 3) Rescue the prisoners held on Corellia, the planet they’re heading to.
Even though Poe and Leia and Wedge were the focus, this book basically brings all the living characters from the canon novels into play. The characters from the Aftermath trilogy play a significant role, as do the characters and plotlines from Bloodline. Other characters makes appearances from the canon books I haven’t read. SPOILERS And Ransolm Casterfo is alive! I had assumed he was executed, as did Leia. I can’t tell you how happy this made me, although I did wish for a longer reunion scene between them, I suppose it’s too much to hope he’s going to be in XI, but I’m just glad he’s okay. Leia needs a friend very badly now that most of her peers are dead END SPOILERS.
All in all, a very good Star Wars novel, and depending on how the movie goes, probably one of the more necessary ones, given what happened at the end of TLJ.