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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge #2
Black Spire
Walk the ancient streets, meet the colorful characters, and uncover the secret history of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the upcoming expansion to the Disney Parks experience!
After devastating losses at the hands of the First Order, General Leia Organa has dispatched her agents across the galaxy in search of allies, sanctuary, and firepower—and her top spy, Vi Moradi, may have just found all three, on a secluded world at the galaxy’s edge.
A planet of lush forests, precarious mountains, and towering, petrified trees, Batuu is on the furthest possible frontier of the galactic map, the last settled world before the mysterious expanse of Wild Space. The rogues, smugglers, and adventurers who eke out a living on the largest settlement on the planet, Black Spire Outpost, are here to avoid prying eyes and unnecessary complications. Vi, a Resistance spy on the run from the First Order, is hardly a welcome guest. And when a shuttle full of stormtroopers lands in her wake, determined to root her out, she has no idea where to find help.
To survive, Vi will have to seek out the good-hearted heroes hiding in a world that redefines scum and villainy. With the help of a traitorous trooper and her acerbic droid, she begins to gather a colorful band of outcasts and misfits, and embarks on a mission to spark the fire of resistance on Batuu—before the First Order snuffs it out entirely.
After devastating losses at the hands of the First Order, General Leia Organa has dispatched her agents across the galaxy in search of allies, sanctuary, and firepower—and her top spy, Vi Moradi, may have just found all three, on a secluded world at the galaxy’s edge.
A planet of lush forests, precarious mountains, and towering, petrified trees, Batuu is on the furthest possible frontier of the galactic map, the last settled world before the mysterious expanse of Wild Space. The rogues, smugglers, and adventurers who eke out a living on the largest settlement on the planet, Black Spire Outpost, are here to avoid prying eyes and unnecessary complications. Vi, a Resistance spy on the run from the First Order, is hardly a welcome guest. And when a shuttle full of stormtroopers lands in her wake, determined to root her out, she has no idea where to find help.
To survive, Vi will have to seek out the good-hearted heroes hiding in a world that redefines scum and villainy. With the help of a traitorous trooper and her acerbic droid, she begins to gather a colorful band of outcasts and misfits, and embarks on a mission to spark the fire of resistance on Batuu—before the First Order snuffs it out entirely.
378 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2019
362 people are currently reading
4464 people want to read
About the author
Delilah S. Dawson
165 books2,633 followersDelilah S. Dawson is the New York Times-bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma, Black Spire: Galaxy's Edge, and The Perfect Weapon. With Kevin Hearne, she writes the Tales of Pell. As Lila Bowen, she writes the Shadow series, beginning with Wake of Vultures. Her other books include the Blud series, the Hit series, and Servants of the Storm.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.
Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.
She's written comics in the worlds of Marvel Action: Spider-Man, Lore's Wellington, Star Wars Adventures, Star Wars Forces of Destiny, The X-Files Case Files, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and her creator-owned comics include Star Pig, Ladycastle, and Sparrowhawk.
Find out more at www.whimsydark.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 556 reviews
June 6, 2021
For me this was a ok to good book I would have put at 3.5 stars. It was the second half of the book that pushed it over the line to good for me.
This book starts during the time of Force Awakens in the introduction, then fast forward 4 months after the Last Jedi. I actually will not be surprised if the ending of this book led to something in Raise of Skywalker. Actually I will be quite disappointed if it does not.
This is a return of sort of the characters from Phasma. Three of the main characters are from there, no Phasma is not one of those. Two of them are still healing from the physical and mental scars and trauma of that book. I am not sure the exact timeline of (I would say about a year since Phasma), but the characters seem to have aged quite a bit.
I loved the Phasma book, so I was happy for the cast to be used again, but the first half of the book was a bit too slow for me. The second was really good. I especially liked how later on in the book all the new recruits got short chapters to themselves. This was great for character development, as well as for me as a reader to see their inner conflict before a big mission.
This book does a good job of laying the ground work the new movie, by showing how the universe has changed in since the lady movies. Remember the entire government as essentially been destroyed. As well as the Resistance being decimated to the endangered species status.
As a stand alone story it is ok, as a sequel it is good (Phasma I though was great), as a lead 9nto the movie I thing it is good. If it not a lead into the new movie it is a waste of potential.
This book starts during the time of Force Awakens in the introduction, then fast forward 4 months after the Last Jedi. I actually will not be surprised if the ending of this book led to something in Raise of Skywalker. Actually I will be quite disappointed if it does not.
This is a return of sort of the characters from Phasma. Three of the main characters are from there, no Phasma is not one of those. Two of them are still healing from the physical and mental scars and trauma of that book. I am not sure the exact timeline of (I would say about a year since Phasma), but the characters seem to have aged quite a bit.
I loved the Phasma book, so I was happy for the cast to be used again, but the first half of the book was a bit too slow for me. The second was really good. I especially liked how later on in the book all the new recruits got short chapters to themselves. This was great for character development, as well as for me as a reader to see their inner conflict before a big mission.
This book does a good job of laying the ground work the new movie, by showing how the universe has changed in since the lady movies. Remember the entire government as essentially been destroyed. As well as the Resistance being decimated to the endangered species status.
As a stand alone story it is ok, as a sequel it is good (Phasma I though was great), as a lead 9nto the movie I thing it is good. If it not a lead into the new movie it is a waste of potential.
September 27, 2019
Another run-of-the-mill, generic Star Wars story. The first part reads mostly like a commercial for the Disney theme park, and everything feels very safe and non-threatening—which I figured makes sense, because they don't want kids to read this and be terrified to enter Disneyworld. But then later in the book there's a lengthy torture scene that is quite cruel and horrifying. The tonal shifts in this novel are strange. Overall, this story felt very similar to the Ahsoka novel.
For me, the characters weren't given enough chance to be interesting. Vi is surely one of the worst spies ever, and Leia's plan to save the Resistance—essentially, "Let's just go to a bunch of random planets nobody's ever heard of and where we have no contacts and see if anyone wants to build a Resistance base with us"—is bizarre. This is mostly the franchise's fault: the sequel trilogy era doesn't make any sense, and with only one movie left to tie everything together, I don't expect any further clarity. I feel bad for any author that gets the assignment of writing a novel in this era.
A note on droids in Star Wars stories: I love K-2SO dearly, but not every new droid from this point on needs to have a sarcastic personality.
One thing I liked about Black Spire is Delilah Dawson's idea of the Force as kind of the Holy Spirit of the Star Wars galaxy. That's a bit of a new direction, and it fits well in this story. "Perhaps she could not use the Force, but she could let the Force use her" (294). The mystic Savi is the most intriguing character in this book, and even though he's a shameless Disneyworld tie-in (in real life it costs $200 to meet him and receive a fancy toy lightsaber), I do hope that he'll be developed further in other books. I like his perspective on the galaxy, as much as we've seen it so far.
For me, the characters weren't given enough chance to be interesting. Vi is surely one of the worst spies ever, and Leia's plan to save the Resistance—essentially, "Let's just go to a bunch of random planets nobody's ever heard of and where we have no contacts and see if anyone wants to build a Resistance base with us"—is bizarre. This is mostly the franchise's fault: the sequel trilogy era doesn't make any sense, and with only one movie left to tie everything together, I don't expect any further clarity. I feel bad for any author that gets the assignment of writing a novel in this era.
A note on droids in Star Wars stories: I love K-2SO dearly, but not every new droid from this point on needs to have a sarcastic personality.
One thing I liked about Black Spire is Delilah Dawson's idea of the Force as kind of the Holy Spirit of the Star Wars galaxy. That's a bit of a new direction, and it fits well in this story. "Perhaps she could not use the Force, but she could let the Force use her" (294). The mystic Savi is the most intriguing character in this book, and even though he's a shameless Disneyworld tie-in (in real life it costs $200 to meet him and receive a fancy toy lightsaber), I do hope that he'll be developed further in other books. I like his perspective on the galaxy, as much as we've seen it so far.
March 10, 2020
You know what? Instead of harrumphing self-importantly about Disney's commodification of our collective childhood dreams, etc., I'm going to review the actual kriffing book.
Delilah Dawson was handed the unenviable task of writing a novel that is one part spy-thriller, one part galactic travelogue to the planet Batuu and, more specifically, the hardscrabble settlement of Black Spire Outpost (or BSO, as the locals call it.) And you what? She did a great job, particularly as she was able to parley the assignment into an extension of the stories of the original characters from her Phasma novel, Resistance Superspy Vi Moradi and ex-Elite Stormtrooper Cardinal, herein remonickered "Archex", which was his given name growing up on Jakku.
The expectations of the author's employers did show a touch throughout the middle chapters as numerous locales and characters were introduced seemingly needlessly to introduce the reader to the setting (which, as the very lucky recent visitor to Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland that I confess I am, I recognized immediately) but all that stage setting paid off in spades in the finale as the community is divided and faces up to the external threat faced by the legitimately terrifying sociopathic bully First Order Lt. Kath and his cronies.
Bottom line? Swallow your pride (if it's in your way at all), accept this is an Theme Park tie-in to the Star Wars Galaxy you know and- maybe- still love and get on it, because it's a great read!
Delilah Dawson was handed the unenviable task of writing a novel that is one part spy-thriller, one part galactic travelogue to the planet Batuu and, more specifically, the hardscrabble settlement of Black Spire Outpost (or BSO, as the locals call it.) And you what? She did a great job, particularly as she was able to parley the assignment into an extension of the stories of the original characters from her Phasma novel, Resistance Superspy Vi Moradi and ex-Elite Stormtrooper Cardinal, herein remonickered "Archex", which was his given name growing up on Jakku.
The expectations of the author's employers did show a touch throughout the middle chapters as numerous locales and characters were introduced seemingly needlessly to introduce the reader to the setting (which, as the very lucky recent visitor to Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland that I confess I am, I recognized immediately) but all that stage setting paid off in spades in the finale as the community is divided and faces up to the external threat faced by the legitimately terrifying sociopathic bully First Order Lt. Kath and his cronies.
Bottom line? Swallow your pride (if it's in your way at all), accept this is an Theme Park tie-in to the Star Wars Galaxy you know and- maybe- still love and get on it, because it's a great read!
July 7, 2020
Actual rating is 2.5 stars.
This is a book that takes place right after The Last Jedi and contains characters from the book Phasma. The Resistance has been decimated and they need a new base. Leia sends two of her people to a remote planet to see if it has potential.
Going into this book I knew that it was a tie-in with the Disney amusement park and this was to promote that park. One could easily see that promotion right away as we basically have a tour guide show us various places. Once this tour was over we get into the story and my opinion on the story was that it had potential that it never achieved. For me, the actual story was how do the inhabitants of this planet feel about the war coming to them. Instead this story was streamlined and the story concentrated on characters that brought nothing new to the table. We get the farm boy that joins the war, another sarcastic droid, and a character who joins the war that is a sharp dresser and charmer. Seem familiar? I did enjoy the finale and this book ended up being a mixed bag of enjoyment.
There is a decent story that could have really worked. I wonder if the author's hands were tied by Disney and this book was more commissioned to be a promotion than an actual good read. I had a feeling this book wasn't going to be the best and unfortunately I was proven right. As for the overall arc it doesn't add much and it could be easily skipped.
This is a book that takes place right after The Last Jedi and contains characters from the book Phasma. The Resistance has been decimated and they need a new base. Leia sends two of her people to a remote planet to see if it has potential.
Going into this book I knew that it was a tie-in with the Disney amusement park and this was to promote that park. One could easily see that promotion right away as we basically have a tour guide show us various places. Once this tour was over we get into the story and my opinion on the story was that it had potential that it never achieved. For me, the actual story was how do the inhabitants of this planet feel about the war coming to them. Instead this story was streamlined and the story concentrated on characters that brought nothing new to the table. We get the farm boy that joins the war, another sarcastic droid, and a character who joins the war that is a sharp dresser and charmer. Seem familiar? I did enjoy the finale and this book ended up being a mixed bag of enjoyment.
There is a decent story that could have really worked. I wonder if the author's hands were tied by Disney and this book was more commissioned to be a promotion than an actual good read. I had a feeling this book wasn't going to be the best and unfortunately I was proven right. As for the overall arc it doesn't add much and it could be easily skipped.
July 21, 2019
Delilah Dawson KNOWS Star Wars. Her writing GETS IT. I loved the pacing of this book, the characters, the multiple stories - definitely one of the best SW books I’ve read in a long time.
June 7, 2024
My family and I just spent a magical two weeks at Disney World, which, I know, sounds like the start of a horror movie for many people, but I have actually grown quite smitten with animated singing animals, roller coasters that don’t leave me feeling like I’ve just been through a subway accident, and amusement park bathrooms that don’t smell like Leatherface’s house in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. I know Disney is, at its core, a profit-driven corporation that wants my money, but they actually do several things right, and clean bathrooms is definitely one of them. If I have to dish out a few hundred dollars a day for a toilet that I’m not afraid of catching chlamydia on, I’ll pay it.
Now, there’s some things I can do without: the 90-degree, 80% humidity weather; the families with nine kids, all of which act like they have been home-schooled by Randy Quaid; and the fact that it’s in Florida, a state that I wouldn’t voluntarily live in for any amount of money. None of these things are, of course, Disney World’s fault. They just happen to be unfortunate inconveniences about the Most Magical Place on Earth.
There’s definitely more good than bad about Disney World, though, and one of the good things—-actually, great things—-I discovered on this recent trip was the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, um… ride? Attraction? Experience? I have no idea what to call it, really, but it was amazing, and it demonstrates to me how incredibly creative the Disney Imagineers can be. The wait may be long, but it’s worth it. It’s a fully interactive, fully experiential ride/show.
The entire Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park-within-the-park is breathtaking to behold, if you are a Star Wars fan. In a nutshell: you are on a backwater planet called Batuu, literally on the edge of the galaxy, as far from the inner-core planets as one can get, which means it’s also far from the political machinations and starship battles between the First Order and the Resistance. It’s got a small population: mostly farmers, smugglers, and low-level gangsters.
One can walk around the largest city on the planet, a place called Black Spire Outpost, and buy wares and clothing, baubles and toys from the various shopkeepers. You can eat at the local eateries—fried tip yip and Endorian greens are quite popular—-and drink at the cantina. There’s blue milk if you need something light and refreshing. There are some familiar ships parked at the nearby space dock. One of them is a beat-up Corellian freighter. Its pilot, a Wookie, can be seen walking around the nearest junk-yard looking for scrap metal.
I’m not lying when I say that it’s an emotional moment walking around Galaxy’s Edge. If it doesn’t sound exhilarating to you, that’s alright. Not everybody is a Star Wars fan, I know.
But Disney nailed this, it has to be said. Everything about Galaxy’s Edge is totally immersive. You feel like you are in a Star Wars movie. Better yet, you feel like you are on Batuu, literally another planet. My seven-year-old daughter (not a total Star Wars fan, yet) was in awe. She had to ask me several times, “Daddy, is this real?” I had no choice but to answer, “Yep, sweety. It’s all real.”
****
Now, here’s some of the—-not bad so much as it is not-so-great—-stuff that Disney has done.
It doesn’t really matter where you stand on the whole “old canon/new canon” debate anymore, as the new canon stuff is the official canon. While I respect and appreciate what Disney has tried to do with the new canon, my heart will always belong to the pre-“Force Awakens” old canon of literature.
The new stuff just hasn’t impressed me, even with a great team of writers currently working for Disney/Lucasfilm. As well-written as some of the newest books have been, they just aren’t very interesting.
Case in point: Delilah S. Dawson’s novel “Black Spire”, which attempts to introduce Batuu and the world of the Galaxy’s Edge attraction into the new canon.
“Black Spire” is somewhat of a sequel to Dawson’s previous new canon novel “Phasma”, in which she introduces her protagonist, Resistance spy Vi Moradi. I didn’t read that novel, but I didn’t really need to in order to understand what was going on.
The plot: General Organa sends Vi on a mission to recruit more help in the resistance movement. She is to go to Batuu—a planet completely off-the-radar and of absolutely no strategic significance for the First Order—-to set up a Resistance outpost, lay the groundwork for a possible new base of operations, and start a campaign of winning over the hearts and minds of the locals to the Resistance. The catch: she is to take as her partner a man named Archex, a former First Order officer who now works for the Resistance. There’s some bad blood between Vi and Archex, but General Organa seems to think he’s trust-worthy.
Plans go awry immediately, though, when they are shot down by unknown hostiles. Most of their equipment and provisions—-including their communications array—-are stolen by scavengers. The small team of spies must now forage in the wilderness for food and shelter. They must also barter with the local gangsters and scavengers for their own stuff. For that, they need money. So, Vi goes to work.
It’s not a bad set-up. Indeed, it has all the elements of a great space western, which is essentially what Star Wars is. Unfortunately, the action never really picks up, and the story chugs along at an unbearably slow pace.
I don’t think this is necessarily Dawson’s fault, though. It’s a problem I’ve seen with a lot of the new canon novels: Good writers who have their hands tied and/or not a lot of space to work in.
Part of the problem is the very nature of why the new canon exists: to prevent or restrict continuity errors from happening when numerous writers work within the same fictional universe.
Say what you will about the old canon, but much of it was all over the place. Continuity problems arose all the time, primarily because Lucas was still making movies while numerous authors were still writing. Not to mention all the different media: comic book storylines didn’t line up with the novel storylines, video-game storylines didn’t line up with much of anything. It was a mess.
But it was a fun mess. Key word: “fun”. Which is what I think is missing from some of these new canon novels. It seems to me that a lot of these authors are trying so hard to keep from messing with the new continuity that they’ve forgotten what made “Star Wars” fun in the first place.
Still, being a fan, I’m not giving up on the new canon novels. I have hope, because Disney is killing it with their Galaxy’s Edge attraction at Hollywood Studios, they’re killing it with their Disney+ TV shows like “The Mandalorian” and “The Bad Batch”, and they’re killing it with their comic books series through Marvel. Plus, what is Star Wars all about, if not hope?
Now, there’s some things I can do without: the 90-degree, 80% humidity weather; the families with nine kids, all of which act like they have been home-schooled by Randy Quaid; and the fact that it’s in Florida, a state that I wouldn’t voluntarily live in for any amount of money. None of these things are, of course, Disney World’s fault. They just happen to be unfortunate inconveniences about the Most Magical Place on Earth.
There’s definitely more good than bad about Disney World, though, and one of the good things—-actually, great things—-I discovered on this recent trip was the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, um… ride? Attraction? Experience? I have no idea what to call it, really, but it was amazing, and it demonstrates to me how incredibly creative the Disney Imagineers can be. The wait may be long, but it’s worth it. It’s a fully interactive, fully experiential ride/show.
The entire Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park-within-the-park is breathtaking to behold, if you are a Star Wars fan. In a nutshell: you are on a backwater planet called Batuu, literally on the edge of the galaxy, as far from the inner-core planets as one can get, which means it’s also far from the political machinations and starship battles between the First Order and the Resistance. It’s got a small population: mostly farmers, smugglers, and low-level gangsters.
One can walk around the largest city on the planet, a place called Black Spire Outpost, and buy wares and clothing, baubles and toys from the various shopkeepers. You can eat at the local eateries—fried tip yip and Endorian greens are quite popular—-and drink at the cantina. There’s blue milk if you need something light and refreshing. There are some familiar ships parked at the nearby space dock. One of them is a beat-up Corellian freighter. Its pilot, a Wookie, can be seen walking around the nearest junk-yard looking for scrap metal.
I’m not lying when I say that it’s an emotional moment walking around Galaxy’s Edge. If it doesn’t sound exhilarating to you, that’s alright. Not everybody is a Star Wars fan, I know.
But Disney nailed this, it has to be said. Everything about Galaxy’s Edge is totally immersive. You feel like you are in a Star Wars movie. Better yet, you feel like you are on Batuu, literally another planet. My seven-year-old daughter (not a total Star Wars fan, yet) was in awe. She had to ask me several times, “Daddy, is this real?” I had no choice but to answer, “Yep, sweety. It’s all real.”
****
Now, here’s some of the—-not bad so much as it is not-so-great—-stuff that Disney has done.
It doesn’t really matter where you stand on the whole “old canon/new canon” debate anymore, as the new canon stuff is the official canon. While I respect and appreciate what Disney has tried to do with the new canon, my heart will always belong to the pre-“Force Awakens” old canon of literature.
The new stuff just hasn’t impressed me, even with a great team of writers currently working for Disney/Lucasfilm. As well-written as some of the newest books have been, they just aren’t very interesting.
Case in point: Delilah S. Dawson’s novel “Black Spire”, which attempts to introduce Batuu and the world of the Galaxy’s Edge attraction into the new canon.
“Black Spire” is somewhat of a sequel to Dawson’s previous new canon novel “Phasma”, in which she introduces her protagonist, Resistance spy Vi Moradi. I didn’t read that novel, but I didn’t really need to in order to understand what was going on.
The plot: General Organa sends Vi on a mission to recruit more help in the resistance movement. She is to go to Batuu—a planet completely off-the-radar and of absolutely no strategic significance for the First Order—-to set up a Resistance outpost, lay the groundwork for a possible new base of operations, and start a campaign of winning over the hearts and minds of the locals to the Resistance. The catch: she is to take as her partner a man named Archex, a former First Order officer who now works for the Resistance. There’s some bad blood between Vi and Archex, but General Organa seems to think he’s trust-worthy.
Plans go awry immediately, though, when they are shot down by unknown hostiles. Most of their equipment and provisions—-including their communications array—-are stolen by scavengers. The small team of spies must now forage in the wilderness for food and shelter. They must also barter with the local gangsters and scavengers for their own stuff. For that, they need money. So, Vi goes to work.
It’s not a bad set-up. Indeed, it has all the elements of a great space western, which is essentially what Star Wars is. Unfortunately, the action never really picks up, and the story chugs along at an unbearably slow pace.
I don’t think this is necessarily Dawson’s fault, though. It’s a problem I’ve seen with a lot of the new canon novels: Good writers who have their hands tied and/or not a lot of space to work in.
Part of the problem is the very nature of why the new canon exists: to prevent or restrict continuity errors from happening when numerous writers work within the same fictional universe.
Say what you will about the old canon, but much of it was all over the place. Continuity problems arose all the time, primarily because Lucas was still making movies while numerous authors were still writing. Not to mention all the different media: comic book storylines didn’t line up with the novel storylines, video-game storylines didn’t line up with much of anything. It was a mess.
But it was a fun mess. Key word: “fun”. Which is what I think is missing from some of these new canon novels. It seems to me that a lot of these authors are trying so hard to keep from messing with the new continuity that they’ve forgotten what made “Star Wars” fun in the first place.
Still, being a fan, I’m not giving up on the new canon novels. I have hope, because Disney is killing it with their Galaxy’s Edge attraction at Hollywood Studios, they’re killing it with their Disney+ TV shows like “The Mandalorian” and “The Bad Batch”, and they’re killing it with their comic books series through Marvel. Plus, what is Star Wars all about, if not hope?
April 19, 2023
i can kinda see why this isn’t a popular star wars novel because besides the characters there’s nothing really that interesting about the book. the plot was fine but it wasn’t enough to really keep me interested. it was around 500 pages on my kindle and it felt like i was slugging through this book.
October 9, 2019
I received a copy of Black Spire from Penguin Random House Australia to review.
Rating of 4.25.
Black Spire is an interesting addition to this later year complement of Star Wars novels, and it is one that I have been looking forward to for a while. Dawson previously contributed to the Star Wars extended universe with 2017’s Phasma, and Black Spire is also part of the Galaxy’s Edge mini-series, which is connected with the Disneyland theme park area of the same name. As such, there are some intriguing elements to the book that make it worth checking out.
Following the events of The Last Jedi, the Resistance has been decimated, and only a few survivors remain. However, those survivors are still as determined as ever to fight the tyranny of the First Order, and need to find new recruits, allies and resources to continue this war. To that end, General Leia Organa has tasked her best spy, Vi Moradi, to find an isolated planet and set up a base to serve as a much-needed bolt hole for other surviving members of the Resistance. Still recovering from the trauma of her last adventure, Vi decides that the best location for this base is on the isolated planet of Batuu, which serves as the final stop between the known galaxy and the mysterious and unexplored expanses of Wild Space.
Heading out for Batuu with a ship full of supplies, materials for a base and a rather snarky droid, Vi is joined by Archex, a former captain in the First Order turned ally who is now seeking redemption. However, their mission begins poorly when they are forced to crash land on the planet and scavengers steal all their supplies. With no help coming from the rest of the Resistance, Vi is forced to make other arrangements to secure her objectives. Finding work in the Black Spire Outpost, Vi will have to make deals with local gangsters and barter with various businesses if she is wants to build up her base of operations and attract new recruits.
However, most of Batuu’s populace want nothing to do with the Resistance and are content to live their lives on the outskirts of the current conflict. But when a force of First Order stormtroopers arrive on Batuu led by a fanatical officer determined to hunt down Vi, they begin to understand the true power and terror of the group beginning to dominate the galaxy. As Vi’s small group of Resistance recruits band together to fight back against the superior force arrayed against them, will they be able to save Batuu, or will another planet fall to the destructive tyranny of the First Order?
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Rating of 4.25.
Black Spire is an interesting addition to this later year complement of Star Wars novels, and it is one that I have been looking forward to for a while. Dawson previously contributed to the Star Wars extended universe with 2017’s Phasma, and Black Spire is also part of the Galaxy’s Edge mini-series, which is connected with the Disneyland theme park area of the same name. As such, there are some intriguing elements to the book that make it worth checking out.
Following the events of The Last Jedi, the Resistance has been decimated, and only a few survivors remain. However, those survivors are still as determined as ever to fight the tyranny of the First Order, and need to find new recruits, allies and resources to continue this war. To that end, General Leia Organa has tasked her best spy, Vi Moradi, to find an isolated planet and set up a base to serve as a much-needed bolt hole for other surviving members of the Resistance. Still recovering from the trauma of her last adventure, Vi decides that the best location for this base is on the isolated planet of Batuu, which serves as the final stop between the known galaxy and the mysterious and unexplored expanses of Wild Space.
Heading out for Batuu with a ship full of supplies, materials for a base and a rather snarky droid, Vi is joined by Archex, a former captain in the First Order turned ally who is now seeking redemption. However, their mission begins poorly when they are forced to crash land on the planet and scavengers steal all their supplies. With no help coming from the rest of the Resistance, Vi is forced to make other arrangements to secure her objectives. Finding work in the Black Spire Outpost, Vi will have to make deals with local gangsters and barter with various businesses if she is wants to build up her base of operations and attract new recruits.
However, most of Batuu’s populace want nothing to do with the Resistance and are content to live their lives on the outskirts of the current conflict. But when a force of First Order stormtroopers arrive on Batuu led by a fanatical officer determined to hunt down Vi, they begin to understand the true power and terror of the group beginning to dominate the galaxy. As Vi’s small group of Resistance recruits band together to fight back against the superior force arrayed against them, will they be able to save Batuu, or will another planet fall to the destructive tyranny of the First Order?
To see the full review, check out the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/10/09/...
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October 19, 2022
What a fun book. Having been in Galaxy’s Edge - Florida myself, it’s super fun reading of everything I’ve seen, touched and experienced myself.
I certainly want to go again!
4.3 Stars
I certainly want to go again!
4.3 Stars
January 5, 2020
Vi Moradi is amazing. Despite all the physical and mental hurt she took on her last mission (in Phasma), General Organa entrusts her spy (codename Magpie) with a dangerous and difficult mission on a far-off planet, Batuu, at the galaxy’s edge. Because Leia needs Moradi’s experience and many talents to establish a new base for the Resistance on a distant and seemingly useless planet, far from the eyes of the First Order.
Knowing how difficult this will be for Moradi, Leia sends Archex, formerly known as Cardinal, with Moradi, knowing both of them have much healing left to do, but desperately needing both their skillsets for the mission.
To say working with Archex is hugely difficult emotionally for her, and that she encounters problems and much pain during the mission minimizes everything that happens; but throughout it, I felt increasingly thrilled to be spending time with Vi. She’s a great character, and I felt excited knowing Leia would be able to entrust the Resistance to its younger members with good sense, such as Vi. Who, though suffering from PTSD and lingering pain from her torture by Cardinal, is still is able to plan, connect, exhort and laugh with others. Vi Moradi was the best character to come out of Phasma, and I’m glad to see her again, doing the hard work to get a new base up and running, all while dealing with the planet residents’ apathy and a brutal First Order operative, and dealing with the diverse skills and needs of her new recruits. Vi’s a fantastic character, and Delilah S. Dawson's bringing back this character, and her messy knitting, made me happy.
Knowing how difficult this will be for Moradi, Leia sends Archex, formerly known as Cardinal, with Moradi, knowing both of them have much healing left to do, but desperately needing both their skillsets for the mission.
To say working with Archex is hugely difficult emotionally for her, and that she encounters problems and much pain during the mission minimizes everything that happens; but throughout it, I felt increasingly thrilled to be spending time with Vi. She’s a great character, and I felt excited knowing Leia would be able to entrust the Resistance to its younger members with good sense, such as Vi. Who, though suffering from PTSD and lingering pain from her torture by Cardinal, is still is able to plan, connect, exhort and laugh with others. Vi Moradi was the best character to come out of Phasma, and I’m glad to see her again, doing the hard work to get a new base up and running, all while dealing with the planet residents’ apathy and a brutal First Order operative, and dealing with the diverse skills and needs of her new recruits. Vi’s a fantastic character, and Delilah S. Dawson's bringing back this character, and her messy knitting, made me happy.
August 12, 2019
Despite living close to Disneyland, I haven’t been to Galaxy’s Edge yet. But this...this made me more excited than ever to check it out. Dawson fleshed our this world and made it real. Made the characters living, breathing things. Made the story part of something you can live.
This was a fantastic follow up to PHASMA, and a great piece of the Galaxy’s Edge canon. Till the Spire!
This was a fantastic follow up to PHASMA, and a great piece of the Galaxy’s Edge canon. Till the Spire!
May 16, 2021
Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson was so damn entertaining!
Black Spire happens immediately after the events in The Last Jedi & just before The Rise of Skywalker and takes place on Batuu, the planet where the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme parks are set!
Since I won't be getting there anytime soon, if ever (because HOLY EXPENSIVE BABY YODA) I geeked out so fucking hard over all of the details that went into building the story of Batuu (and in turn, the Disney Parks!)
The heart of this story is Vi Moradi, who we're first introduced to in Phasma & I just fucking adore her! I do suggest reading Phasma before this, to understand more of the brilliant spy's traumatic past. Oof.
May the Force be with you!
Black Spire happens immediately after the events in The Last Jedi & just before The Rise of Skywalker and takes place on Batuu, the planet where the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme parks are set!
Since I won't be getting there anytime soon, if ever (because HOLY EXPENSIVE BABY YODA) I geeked out so fucking hard over all of the details that went into building the story of Batuu (and in turn, the Disney Parks!)
The heart of this story is Vi Moradi, who we're first introduced to in Phasma & I just fucking adore her! I do suggest reading Phasma before this, to understand more of the brilliant spy's traumatic past. Oof.
May the Force be with you!
August 29, 2022
What a disappointment this book is. Amateur at best. Black Spire is run-of-the-mill, generic sci-fi that happens to be set in the Star Wars saga. Black Spire is not
Queen's Shadow
bad, but close.
I read the trade paperback, and at over five hundred pages Dawson could not make any of these characters interesting. I am trying to figure out how I just read that many pages and the characters are still flat, vapid, predictable and boring. Mixing Leia Organa in doesn't help. Trying to place this book's main character, a bore named Vi Moradi, in Leia's inner circle did not help. This should be a lessen to other Star Wars authors - dropping a 'big name' does not help if your story is terrible.
This list of terrible ideas and poorly conceived plot points is too long to list. However, one of he most astonishing gaffes is when alleged super spy Vi Moradi, on her second or third day on an unknown planet, spouts off that she's a Resistance spy to a table full of total strangers in a busy cantina.
Not exactly Tom Clancy levels of competence here. And that's the problem - authors write what they know. Dawson does not have any clue how to sett up a friendly network of associates in unknown territory. She has no idea about concepts like internal foreign defense, or how to operate 'outside the wire.' She has zero knowledge of how counter intelligence works. Things like discretion, patient observation, reconnaissance, and relationship building are completely lost on this author and this book exposes those shortcomings.
The only thing she did not bungle was her characters' consideration of the Force. This small respite, and a tiny fraction of the book's content, keeps me from giving Black Spire a one-star rating. A small group of characters liken the Force to an eternal presence that can impart its power to people, like Force users. However, there is also the idea that the Force can guide someone, even if they cannot wield it, they can be an object the Force can move.
Sadly, this is a must miss book and one that I cannot recommend. Star Wars fans and readers will miss nothing by skipping this book. You can still enjoy Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland without getting stuck in this book's plodding mire.
I read the trade paperback, and at over five hundred pages Dawson could not make any of these characters interesting. I am trying to figure out how I just read that many pages and the characters are still flat, vapid, predictable and boring. Mixing Leia Organa in doesn't help. Trying to place this book's main character, a bore named Vi Moradi, in Leia's inner circle did not help. This should be a lessen to other Star Wars authors - dropping a 'big name' does not help if your story is terrible.
This list of terrible ideas and poorly conceived plot points is too long to list. However, one of he most astonishing gaffes is when alleged super spy Vi Moradi, on her second or third day on an unknown planet, spouts off that she's a Resistance spy to a table full of total strangers in a busy cantina.
Not exactly Tom Clancy levels of competence here. And that's the problem - authors write what they know. Dawson does not have any clue how to sett up a friendly network of associates in unknown territory. She has no idea about concepts like internal foreign defense, or how to operate 'outside the wire.' She has zero knowledge of how counter intelligence works. Things like discretion, patient observation, reconnaissance, and relationship building are completely lost on this author and this book exposes those shortcomings.
The only thing she did not bungle was her characters' consideration of the Force. This small respite, and a tiny fraction of the book's content, keeps me from giving Black Spire a one-star rating. A small group of characters liken the Force to an eternal presence that can impart its power to people, like Force users. However, there is also the idea that the Force can guide someone, even if they cannot wield it, they can be an object the Force can move.
Sadly, this is a must miss book and one that I cannot recommend. Star Wars fans and readers will miss nothing by skipping this book. You can still enjoy Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland without getting stuck in this book's plodding mire.
September 17, 2019
Not the worst Star Wars novel but not the best either. Parts of it read like an advertisement for the Galaxy's Edge theme park (which I guess is more or less the purpose of the novel), and it was often immersion-breaking at these parts. I'd be interested to read more about Vi Moradi and her espionage exploits, but keep out the obvious advertising next time, please!
September 9, 2019
Pretty much exactly what I wanted from this book. Funny, fast-paced, and emotional, with plenty of Batuuan world-building.
December 8, 2021
Ich habe kaum etwas an diesem Buch auszusetzen, das wirklich ins Gewicht fällt. Hauptsächlich ist es eigentlich nur die Eingewöhnungsphase am Anfang des Buchs, die vielleicht noch störend ist. Man braucht tatsächlich seine vielleicht 100 Seiten, um in der Geschichte angekommen zu sein, finde ich. Danach ist es auch nicht actionreich und mitreißend, da es eher ruhiger ist und mehr in Richtung »Ashoka« als »Dooku« – was ja im Prinzip meine bisherigen Vergleichswerte bei Star Wars sind.
Ich mochte diese Abwechslung sehr und fand gerade cool, diese eigentlich eher unspektakulären Charaktere wachsen und gedeihen zu sehen, dabei zu sein, wenn sie sich aus dem Nichts etwas aufbauen und ihren Plänen nachgehen, auch wenn immer wieder Steine im Weg liegen (oder ihnen gezielt vor die Füße gelegt werden).
Sehr guter Roman, der sich schnell und gut lesen lässt und eine weniger aufbrausende und actionreiche Seite an Star Wars zeigt. Vor allem nach dem Ende möchte ich unbedingt mehr davon!
Ich mochte diese Abwechslung sehr und fand gerade cool, diese eigentlich eher unspektakulären Charaktere wachsen und gedeihen zu sehen, dabei zu sein, wenn sie sich aus dem Nichts etwas aufbauen und ihren Plänen nachgehen, auch wenn immer wieder Steine im Weg liegen (oder ihnen gezielt vor die Füße gelegt werden).
Sehr guter Roman, der sich schnell und gut lesen lässt und eine weniger aufbrausende und actionreiche Seite an Star Wars zeigt. Vor allem nach dem Ende möchte ich unbedingt mehr davon!
September 29, 2019
Turns out, this book was actually two for the price of one. It’s the first, and certainly the last, DSD book that I will ever read.
I was willing to accept a book that shamelessly promoted a Disney theme park attraction (obviously, or else I wouldn’t have bothered) but the story is tedious and full of cliches and unfortunately the same can be said for the characters, save one.
Subplots go nowhere, plot holes galore, characters and locations come and go (a problem of the theme park tie-in, admittedly), and the last page tries in vain to set up the inevitable sequel. (I’m not getting lured into this Wampa cave again!)
But worst of all was the obnoxious and repetitive exposition. Almost every page rehashes basic plot points and character mindsets. It���s exhausting. ‘Show, don’t tell’ got traded in for ‘Tell, and tell, and tell again.’
I was willing to accept a book that shamelessly promoted a Disney theme park attraction (obviously, or else I wouldn’t have bothered) but the story is tedious and full of cliches and unfortunately the same can be said for the characters, save one.
Subplots go nowhere, plot holes galore, characters and locations come and go (a problem of the theme park tie-in, admittedly), and the last page tries in vain to set up the inevitable sequel. (I’m not getting lured into this Wampa cave again!)
But worst of all was the obnoxious and repetitive exposition. Almost every page rehashes basic plot points and character mindsets. It���s exhausting. ‘Show, don’t tell’ got traded in for ‘Tell, and tell, and tell again.’
July 29, 2019
Dawson did an excellent job tying a poignant spy story to the introduction of a new land/theme park. At first I was worried this was going to be an extended rip off of a Diagon Alley story set in the Star Wars universe, but the likable characters, vivid descriptions, and fast paced missions were entertaining—properly matching the feels and styles of a galaxy far, far away.
June 6, 2024
What a pleasant surprise! I’d not heard much about this book so I went in with few expectations, beyond hoping to at least like it. I’m happy to say I enjoyed it quite a lot.
The biggest point in favor of this book for me is the characters, of which there are many, and most are memorable and interesting. The book sees Vi Moradi and Archex, a Resistance member and ex-captain in the First Order respectively, trying to set up a Resistance base on Batuu. As a result, they recruit a number of colorful characters to form the foundation of the Resistance’s presence on Batuu, and all of these characters (Vi and Archex included) were wonderful. They all have distinct and memorable personalities that are lots of fun to see bouncing off one another. Many of the other characters who aren’t directly Resistance recruits are well done also, which includes the villains, namely Kath who is the primary antagonist. All in all, a very strong book on the character front. I also really enjoyed the story of seeing Vi building up a Resistance base from quite literally nothing, and the way the locals react to it. The main conflict of the First Order discovering this and sending Kath to track down Vi and her recruits was really exciting as well, especially as the book went on. The worldbuilding was also excellent; Batuu feels vivid and real, with a lot of time spent on the daily life of Black Spire’s inhabitants and the environment they occupy.
As for negatives, I will say the book took some time to get going and, on a related note, feels a bit overly long. The back half of the book is really where I got drawn in—mainly when all the recruits started coming into the story—and the early parts felt like they dragged a bit. I think some of that could’ve been trimmed down in order to both get to the “good stuff” faster as well as make the early portions more engaging. That said, the first half does do a good job of establishing the setting and characters, and immersing the reader, so shortening it may also bring its own downsides.
Overall this was a fantastic read. While it took some time to really pull me in and get me truly engaged, once it did so I rarely wanted to put it down. Definitely recommend!
Rating: 8.5/10
The biggest point in favor of this book for me is the characters, of which there are many, and most are memorable and interesting. The book sees Vi Moradi and Archex, a Resistance member and ex-captain in the First Order respectively, trying to set up a Resistance base on Batuu. As a result, they recruit a number of colorful characters to form the foundation of the Resistance’s presence on Batuu, and all of these characters (Vi and Archex included) were wonderful. They all have distinct and memorable personalities that are lots of fun to see bouncing off one another. Many of the other characters who aren’t directly Resistance recruits are well done also, which includes the villains, namely Kath who is the primary antagonist. All in all, a very strong book on the character front. I also really enjoyed the story of seeing Vi building up a Resistance base from quite literally nothing, and the way the locals react to it. The main conflict of the First Order discovering this and sending Kath to track down Vi and her recruits was really exciting as well, especially as the book went on. The worldbuilding was also excellent; Batuu feels vivid and real, with a lot of time spent on the daily life of Black Spire’s inhabitants and the environment they occupy.
As for negatives, I will say the book took some time to get going and, on a related note, feels a bit overly long. The back half of the book is really where I got drawn in—mainly when all the recruits started coming into the story—and the early parts felt like they dragged a bit. I think some of that could’ve been trimmed down in order to both get to the “good stuff” faster as well as make the early portions more engaging. That said, the first half does do a good job of establishing the setting and characters, and immersing the reader, so shortening it may also bring its own downsides.
Overall this was a fantastic read. While it took some time to really pull me in and get me truly engaged, once it did so I rarely wanted to put it down. Definitely recommend!
Rating: 8.5/10
December 23, 2019
I was about halfway through this story when The Rise of Skywalker was released in cinemas and, after watching the movie for the first time, I was sorely tempted to abandon reading the novel there and then because I am just about ready to jettison the entirety of the post-Endor Disney “canon” Star Wars as nothing but a horrid mess. But then I realised I was probably being unfair, and I should judge this story on its own merit rather than let it be tainted by its stablemates. So here goes...
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire is a sequel to Delilah S. Dawson’s sequel era novel, Phasma, featuring the return of two characters from that book, Resistance spy Vi Moradi and ex-First Order Captain Cardinal, now known simply as Archex.
Whilst this book is marketed as “adult”, it feels much more like YA to me (which is not a bad thing per se, just an issue of expectation management). That being said, this is a Star Wars book, so no-one is expecting Bulgakov levels of exploration of the human condition, just plentiful blaster-fights, a good mystery, and an exploding starfighter or twelve.
There is also something of the blatant marketing tie-in about this. In particular, chapter five reads to me as if it is part of the design document provided by the Disney imagineers when they were designing a generically Star Wars attraction, with elements from all of the movies, but in a new and distinct location so as be to more attuned to theme park needs: there is a droid store, a cantina, a podracer-themed restaurant, and colourful Star Wars archetypal side characters all described with details that would allow costumed entertainers to perform them in front of an audience. Even the droid animatronics are alluded to! (I have never been to a Disney park, so I don’t know if this is an accurate assessment)
It occurred to me after reading chapter 12 that the writing resembles J. K. Rowling’s (with the twee names for things and the prose aimed towards the interests of 10-14 year olds), and that Batuu is rather like a cross between Star Wars and Rowling’s Wizarding World.
Dawson has a cute YA prudishness that means she has to say “rump” instead of arse, even when it would be in character for the speaker to express themselves in an unending stream of profanities.
There is an (intentionally) awkward scene where a kiss is rejected, and the rejection is portrayed in a very fair way. This adds to the YA-ish sense from the story, where it wears its life-lessons on its sleeve with no nuance or ambiguity—useful and well intentioned towards its target YA audience, but a little bit “Peter & Jane” for an adult reader. This scene felt simplistic but not preachy, and informs the young reader that an amorous advance can be rejected with no hard feelings on either side.
The writing sometimes has a rather immersion-breaking thoughtlessness to it, as if the author hasn’t really considered how the universe inhabited by these characters would shape them, and has instead written them as if they come from suburban New Jersey. Take, for example, this paragraph that is written from the perspective of a character from the Star Wars universe, (where travelling through hyperspace has been a commonplace occurence for tens of thousands of years): “[She] pulled out a new knitting project. That was one of Vi’s little secrets—she loved the clack of needles juxtaposed with the cool blue lines of hyperspace, the primitive and the futuristic happening at once.” Putting this comment into a 21st Century human perspective—that would be like someone contrasting cave paintings as futuristic and hand axes as primitive. Sure, one was no doubt developed well before the other, but from our viewpoint they are both unfathomably ancient and neither of them could possibly be considered futuristic.
In theory, this should be a fascinating story—an agent tasked with setting up a clandestine base on a remote planet.
The best part of this story is a short Indiana Jones-esque sequence in some ancient trap-filled ruins. Unfortunately the main character is about as subtle and capable of operating undercover as Ron Weasley. Vi Moradi thinks like a well-intentioned ten year old and acts like a well-intentioned eight year old. She befriends individuals as if she has just met them in primary school being tormented by a bully, and adds them to her party just because she has a good feeling about them. She announces her Resistance loyalties to a bunch of coworkers she’s just met in the middle of a crowded bar operated by a known gangster. The contemplation of the destruction of worlds and the horrific deaths of friends and loved ones can be disrupted by a rumbling belly, and the tragedy is instantly forgotten with a giggle. Its not so much heartless as simply implausible, like “It’s frightful that your family were murdered by Hitler. Let’s have some ice-cream”. These are not the acts or emotions of adults, and they ruin the characterisation of Vi and her companions.
Only the violence described reflects the for adults classification. But even this is treated oddly. Beatings are administered, ears are blown off and ribs cracked, but protagonist and (named) antagonist alike are able to keep on throwing punches or kicks when in reality they would have already passed out from the pain. It’s all a bit cartoonish.
A quote that, for me, best illustrates the absurdity of this matter-of-fact lightness in describing how a character thinks and feels in this story is, “She didn’t often let others see this side of her emotions, but she was still feeling a bit fragile from the torture”. These are not people behaving in a normal way, these are people-shaped cardboard cutouts or marionettes being made to jerk around in a primitive facsimile of reality. I suppose there is a small element of consistency here, though—Vi Moradi’s key skill does appear to be surviving being tortured!
As a kid reading this, I would have felt pandered to, and probably found it a little condescending. As an adult, it is damned frustrating. The midsection in particular feels like a first draft in places—as if the auther has listed the essential action as a placeholder with the intention to polish and expand upon it later, but instead the publisher has taken the draft and just published it anyway.
In this novel, things happen. And then some other things happen. If I could sum up in just one quote how the plot of this story progresses, it would be “Fortunately, just then ...”
To sum up, the only reason this story exists is the same reason that Ronald McDonald exists—as a marketing gimmick. That rankles, and I can’t really recommend it.
On the positive side, I have learnt a new word: cenote—a sinkhole that exposes groundwater below. (Although perhaps it was in Star Wars: Black Spire: A Clash of Fate, and I didn’t pay enough attention!)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire is a sequel to Delilah S. Dawson’s sequel era novel, Phasma, featuring the return of two characters from that book, Resistance spy Vi Moradi and ex-First Order Captain Cardinal, now known simply as Archex.
Whilst this book is marketed as “adult”, it feels much more like YA to me (which is not a bad thing per se, just an issue of expectation management). That being said, this is a Star Wars book, so no-one is expecting Bulgakov levels of exploration of the human condition, just plentiful blaster-fights, a good mystery, and an exploding starfighter or twelve.
There is also something of the blatant marketing tie-in about this. In particular, chapter five reads to me as if it is part of the design document provided by the Disney imagineers when they were designing a generically Star Wars attraction, with elements from all of the movies, but in a new and distinct location so as be to more attuned to theme park needs: there is a droid store, a cantina, a podracer-themed restaurant, and colourful Star Wars archetypal side characters all described with details that would allow costumed entertainers to perform them in front of an audience. Even the droid animatronics are alluded to! (I have never been to a Disney park, so I don’t know if this is an accurate assessment)
It occurred to me after reading chapter 12 that the writing resembles J. K. Rowling’s (with the twee names for things and the prose aimed towards the interests of 10-14 year olds), and that Batuu is rather like a cross between Star Wars and Rowling’s Wizarding World.
Dawson has a cute YA prudishness that means she has to say “rump” instead of arse, even when it would be in character for the speaker to express themselves in an unending stream of profanities.
There is an (intentionally) awkward scene where a kiss is rejected, and the rejection is portrayed in a very fair way. This adds to the YA-ish sense from the story, where it wears its life-lessons on its sleeve with no nuance or ambiguity—useful and well intentioned towards its target YA audience, but a little bit “Peter & Jane” for an adult reader. This scene felt simplistic but not preachy, and informs the young reader that an amorous advance can be rejected with no hard feelings on either side.
The writing sometimes has a rather immersion-breaking thoughtlessness to it, as if the author hasn’t really considered how the universe inhabited by these characters would shape them, and has instead written them as if they come from suburban New Jersey. Take, for example, this paragraph that is written from the perspective of a character from the Star Wars universe, (where travelling through hyperspace has been a commonplace occurence for tens of thousands of years): “[She] pulled out a new knitting project. That was one of Vi’s little secrets—she loved the clack of needles juxtaposed with the cool blue lines of hyperspace, the primitive and the futuristic happening at once.” Putting this comment into a 21st Century human perspective—that would be like someone contrasting cave paintings as futuristic and hand axes as primitive. Sure, one was no doubt developed well before the other, but from our viewpoint they are both unfathomably ancient and neither of them could possibly be considered futuristic.
In theory, this should be a fascinating story—an agent tasked with setting up a clandestine base on a remote planet.
The best part of this story is a short Indiana Jones-esque sequence in some ancient trap-filled ruins. Unfortunately the main character is about as subtle and capable of operating undercover as Ron Weasley. Vi Moradi thinks like a well-intentioned ten year old and acts like a well-intentioned eight year old. She befriends individuals as if she has just met them in primary school being tormented by a bully, and adds them to her party just because she has a good feeling about them. She announces her Resistance loyalties to a bunch of coworkers she’s just met in the middle of a crowded bar operated by a known gangster. The contemplation of the destruction of worlds and the horrific deaths of friends and loved ones can be disrupted by a rumbling belly, and the tragedy is instantly forgotten with a giggle. Its not so much heartless as simply implausible, like “It’s frightful that your family were murdered by Hitler. Let’s have some ice-cream”. These are not the acts or emotions of adults, and they ruin the characterisation of Vi and her companions.
Only the violence described reflects the for adults classification. But even this is treated oddly. Beatings are administered, ears are blown off and ribs cracked, but protagonist and (named) antagonist alike are able to keep on throwing punches or kicks when in reality they would have already passed out from the pain. It’s all a bit cartoonish.
A quote that, for me, best illustrates the absurdity of this matter-of-fact lightness in describing how a character thinks and feels in this story is, “She didn’t often let others see this side of her emotions, but she was still feeling a bit fragile from the torture”. These are not people behaving in a normal way, these are people-shaped cardboard cutouts or marionettes being made to jerk around in a primitive facsimile of reality. I suppose there is a small element of consistency here, though—Vi Moradi’s key skill does appear to be surviving being tortured!
As a kid reading this, I would have felt pandered to, and probably found it a little condescending. As an adult, it is damned frustrating. The midsection in particular feels like a first draft in places—as if the auther has listed the essential action as a placeholder with the intention to polish and expand upon it later, but instead the publisher has taken the draft and just published it anyway.
In this novel, things happen. And then some other things happen. If I could sum up in just one quote how the plot of this story progresses, it would be “Fortunately, just then ...”
To sum up, the only reason this story exists is the same reason that Ronald McDonald exists—as a marketing gimmick. That rankles, and I can’t really recommend it.
On the positive side, I have learnt a new word: cenote—a sinkhole that exposes groundwater below. (Although perhaps it was in Star Wars: Black Spire: A Clash of Fate, and I didn’t pay enough attention!)
August 27, 2019
Review originally posted: https://roguepodron.com/2019/08/27/book-review-my-complicated-relationship-with-galaxys-edge-black-spire/
Book Review: My Complicated Relationship with Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire
Part 1: Why I Didn’t Hate The Idea of Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire
In this essay (which is actually just the next four paragraphs) I will explain why I wasn’t immediately a hater of the concept of Galaxy’s Edge tie-in literature.
Star Wars lit, by its very nature is tie-in literature. Primarily, the stories tie-in to the movies, but we’ve seen plenty of books that connect with the TV shows or video games. We’ve even seen some experimentation with tying in with the comics, with the recent Alphabet Squadron – TIE Fighter crossover. So that’s a paragraph of words. Hang onto that.
Star Wars, by its very nature, has always been experimental. The original movie captured so many fans’ attention because it pushed the boundaries of what movies could do with special effects. The Phantom Menace created Jar Jar! Rogue One brought Peter Cushing back to life!! Whether or not you appreciate the decisions themselves, the Star Wars franchise has always been about pushing boundaries, trying new things, getting ~~experimental~~
When Star Wars announced their Galaxy’s Edge line of novels with the reasoning of “it’s so that fans who can’t go to the parks can still experience the parks,” I think it was pretty obvious to all of us that the translation of that reasoning was “it’$ $o that fan$ who can’t go the park$ can $till experience the park$.”
But also, go back to paragraphs two and three and mash those together. What happens when you combine a franchise whose lit is by nature tie-in lit and which is always pushing the boundaries of new and unique ways to tell stories? By golly, I daresay you end up with novels that tie into a theme park! And that’s why, despite the capitalistic cash grab alarm bells going off in my head, I was kind of curious to see how they went about with this new and experimental way of creating tie-in literature.
Part 2: When Is World-building World-building And When Is World-building A Commercial?
Black Spire is a good Star Wars book! I enjoyed it! Especially because, right now, I’m so hungry for post-The Last Jedi content to hold me over before we all get TROSed. And yes, of course, this novel doesn’t give us any big information on what Rey, Leia, Finn, Poe, Rose, Chewie, Nien, the Abednedo dude, Konnix, and that Porg are up to after escaping Crait. But, much like the Aftermath series, it paints a picture of the state of the galaxy, and tells a story about the challenges of recruiting “regular” people into the galaxy-wide conflict when those “regular” people are just trying to afford their groceries (or as we all know they are called in space, “sproceries”). So that’s cool.
The thing is, if I were reviewing this book as simply a post-TLJ novel and nothing more, I would say that its strongest point was the world-building. Vi and friends go to a planet I’ve never heard of, and over the course of the novel, we learn about the culture, the people, the landscape. And I come to empathize with the plight of the residents, and maybe come to want to visit that planet myself someday!
Problem is, we’re all suffering from a little Batuu-fatigue, since all of the sudden, every character in every Star Wars property has some reason to visit or mention that “backwater outpost.” So, every time a detail is dropped, a detail that in any other novel would be considered standard world-building fare, all I see are dollar signs. “Vi went to Oga’s cantina and ordered a Black Spire Brew” OH MY GOD I GET IT I’LL GO TO OGA’s CANTINA AND BUY THE BLACK SPIRE BREW WHEN I GO TO THE THEME PARK.
So what is it? World-building? Or just a straight up commercial for things you should look for when you sell your firstborn and go the Star Wars land? Probably both.
In the end, I wasn’t able to separate the two in my mind. And, for better or worse, that hindered my enjoyment of the novel some. But not entirely. Because there are a few other reasons to enjoy this book, which I will describe in Part Three, happening on the next line of this book review.
Part 3: Which Begins On This Line Of The Book Review
Some non-Galaxy’s Edge-related reasons you may enjoy this book.
Did you like Phasma? I liked Phasma. Well this hasn’t really been advertised, and I’m not sure why because a lot of people seemed to like Phasma, but this book is definitely a direct sequel to Phasma. Two major characters’ stories continue onwards in this novel (spoiler alert: Phasma isn’t one of them). And it’s a pretty good continuation of their story. Except for that their relationship kind of makes me uncomfy. But maybe you’re into that kind of thing?
This book addresses PTSD! Mental health in Star Wars! We don’t see that much! Does it do it well? I don’t know. I’ll leave that commentary to the folks who have PTSD themselves. But it’s nice to see an author making an effort!
What happens when your small band of Resistance fighters trying to save the galaxy from the soul-crushing hoards of pseudo-fascist children puts out a distress call and no one responds? You gotta RECRUIT! This book is about that, but I already kind of addressed that.
Basically, what I’m getting at, is that this book is about more than just a list of things you can buy at Galaxy’s Edge. But it’s also a list of things you can buy at Galaxy’s Edge. So my recommendation is to buy it and read it. Or not. You have free will, so it’s up to you.
Thanks to Del Rey for providing a free advanced review copy of the book to Rogue Podron!!
Book Review: My Complicated Relationship with Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire
Part 1: Why I Didn’t Hate The Idea of Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire
In this essay (which is actually just the next four paragraphs) I will explain why I wasn’t immediately a hater of the concept of Galaxy’s Edge tie-in literature.
Star Wars lit, by its very nature is tie-in literature. Primarily, the stories tie-in to the movies, but we’ve seen plenty of books that connect with the TV shows or video games. We’ve even seen some experimentation with tying in with the comics, with the recent Alphabet Squadron – TIE Fighter crossover. So that’s a paragraph of words. Hang onto that.
Star Wars, by its very nature, has always been experimental. The original movie captured so many fans’ attention because it pushed the boundaries of what movies could do with special effects. The Phantom Menace created Jar Jar! Rogue One brought Peter Cushing back to life!! Whether or not you appreciate the decisions themselves, the Star Wars franchise has always been about pushing boundaries, trying new things, getting ~~experimental~~
When Star Wars announced their Galaxy’s Edge line of novels with the reasoning of “it’s so that fans who can’t go to the parks can still experience the parks,” I think it was pretty obvious to all of us that the translation of that reasoning was “it’$ $o that fan$ who can’t go the park$ can $till experience the park$.”
But also, go back to paragraphs two and three and mash those together. What happens when you combine a franchise whose lit is by nature tie-in lit and which is always pushing the boundaries of new and unique ways to tell stories? By golly, I daresay you end up with novels that tie into a theme park! And that’s why, despite the capitalistic cash grab alarm bells going off in my head, I was kind of curious to see how they went about with this new and experimental way of creating tie-in literature.
Part 2: When Is World-building World-building And When Is World-building A Commercial?
Black Spire is a good Star Wars book! I enjoyed it! Especially because, right now, I’m so hungry for post-The Last Jedi content to hold me over before we all get TROSed. And yes, of course, this novel doesn’t give us any big information on what Rey, Leia, Finn, Poe, Rose, Chewie, Nien, the Abednedo dude, Konnix, and that Porg are up to after escaping Crait. But, much like the Aftermath series, it paints a picture of the state of the galaxy, and tells a story about the challenges of recruiting “regular” people into the galaxy-wide conflict when those “regular” people are just trying to afford their groceries (or as we all know they are called in space, “sproceries”). So that’s cool.
The thing is, if I were reviewing this book as simply a post-TLJ novel and nothing more, I would say that its strongest point was the world-building. Vi and friends go to a planet I’ve never heard of, and over the course of the novel, we learn about the culture, the people, the landscape. And I come to empathize with the plight of the residents, and maybe come to want to visit that planet myself someday!
Problem is, we’re all suffering from a little Batuu-fatigue, since all of the sudden, every character in every Star Wars property has some reason to visit or mention that “backwater outpost.” So, every time a detail is dropped, a detail that in any other novel would be considered standard world-building fare, all I see are dollar signs. “Vi went to Oga’s cantina and ordered a Black Spire Brew” OH MY GOD I GET IT I’LL GO TO OGA’s CANTINA AND BUY THE BLACK SPIRE BREW WHEN I GO TO THE THEME PARK.
So what is it? World-building? Or just a straight up commercial for things you should look for when you sell your firstborn and go the Star Wars land? Probably both.
In the end, I wasn’t able to separate the two in my mind. And, for better or worse, that hindered my enjoyment of the novel some. But not entirely. Because there are a few other reasons to enjoy this book, which I will describe in Part Three, happening on the next line of this book review.
Part 3: Which Begins On This Line Of The Book Review
Some non-Galaxy’s Edge-related reasons you may enjoy this book.
Did you like Phasma? I liked Phasma. Well this hasn’t really been advertised, and I’m not sure why because a lot of people seemed to like Phasma, but this book is definitely a direct sequel to Phasma. Two major characters’ stories continue onwards in this novel (spoiler alert: Phasma isn’t one of them). And it’s a pretty good continuation of their story. Except for that their relationship kind of makes me uncomfy. But maybe you’re into that kind of thing?
This book addresses PTSD! Mental health in Star Wars! We don’t see that much! Does it do it well? I don’t know. I’ll leave that commentary to the folks who have PTSD themselves. But it’s nice to see an author making an effort!
What happens when your small band of Resistance fighters trying to save the galaxy from the soul-crushing hoards of pseudo-fascist children puts out a distress call and no one responds? You gotta RECRUIT! This book is about that, but I already kind of addressed that.
Basically, what I’m getting at, is that this book is about more than just a list of things you can buy at Galaxy’s Edge. But it’s also a list of things you can buy at Galaxy’s Edge. So my recommendation is to buy it and read it. Or not. You have free will, so it’s up to you.
Thanks to Del Rey for providing a free advanced review copy of the book to Rogue Podron!!
January 22, 2020
Listened on audiobook.
You don’t need to complete a suicide mission to have value
You don’t NEED to complete a suicide mission to have value
YOU DONT NEED TO COMPLETE A SUICIDE MISSION TO HAVE VALUE
You don’t need to complete a suicide mission to have value
You don’t NEED to complete a suicide mission to have value
YOU DONT NEED TO COMPLETE A SUICIDE MISSION TO HAVE VALUE
September 8, 2019
Made as a direct sequel to the "Phasma" novel, we find ourselves in post-TLJ territory, when spy Vi Moradi receives a mission from General Leia to establish a Resistance outpost in Batuu, the same planet used for the Disney parks (Galaxy's Edge).
Not entirely recovered from the ordeal she suffered at the hands of the First Order, she must accept the mission with few resources and the company of a talkative labor droid... until she finds that her torturer himself will be his only companion, Captain Cardinal, now under his real name, Archex.
Crash landing in Batuu (Another crash of fate?), she finds deprived of all her goods and must integrate in the Black Spire Outpost community, navigate the local powers and try to recover the goods... once everything starts going well, the First Order arrives in town and they must rise up to the challenge of defeating them without messing up the locals lives.
Unlike "A Crash of Fate", you get a better sense of what's happening in the galaxy during the post-TLJ events prior to The Rise of Skywalker, with interaction from some keyplayers and references to main characters.
Plus Delilah S. Dawson shines with her writing, the development of characters and plots.
I experienced the audiobook, narrated masterfully by January Lavoy with fantastic use of voice effects, sound effects and music.
This is a very interesting book to read while we wait until December. Recommended!
Not entirely recovered from the ordeal she suffered at the hands of the First Order, she must accept the mission with few resources and the company of a talkative labor droid... until she finds that her torturer himself will be his only companion, Captain Cardinal, now under his real name, Archex.
Crash landing in Batuu (Another crash of fate?), she finds deprived of all her goods and must integrate in the Black Spire Outpost community, navigate the local powers and try to recover the goods... once everything starts going well, the First Order arrives in town and they must rise up to the challenge of defeating them without messing up the locals lives.
Unlike "A Crash of Fate", you get a better sense of what's happening in the galaxy during the post-TLJ events prior to The Rise of Skywalker, with interaction from some keyplayers and references to main characters.
Plus Delilah S. Dawson shines with her writing, the development of characters and plots.
I experienced the audiobook, narrated masterfully by January Lavoy with fantastic use of voice effects, sound effects and music.
This is a very interesting book to read while we wait until December. Recommended!
September 10, 2019
Delilah S. Dawson has brought us a delicious narrative set in and around the Black Spire Outpost featuring the epic Resistance spy, Vi Moradi. Visitors of Galaxy’s Edge at WDW or Disneyland will enjoy reading this before they dock on Batuu... or after, and savor the little details and nods to sights, sounds, tastes, and people of the Spire. Vi Moradi is a kriffing hero and I would die for her. I hope we get at least one more Vi adventure — joining Phasma and Black Spire in a trilogy would be amazing. The characters and feel of Batuu are alive and vibrant in this book and I am thrilled to see it all come alive in the park and on the page.
Ignite the Spark. Light the Fire.
Ignite the Spark. Light the Fire.
October 3, 2019
Do you remember the movie Mac n Me? Let me refresh your memory, aka Wikipedia:
"the film flopped at the box office and was universally panned by critics for the film's imitations of numerous concepts from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and elaborate product placement for McDonald's and Coca-Cola"
Or, perhaps, The Wizard, aka Wikipedia:
"The Wizard is famous for its extensive product placement of video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System"
Both were flops at the Box-Office because they catered to product placement.
This book, this book was more than 50% product placement. I kid you not.
The story is a lack luster, juvenile tale of Vi Moradi (who was last seen in Phasma) sent on a mission by General Organa to Black Spire to start a new base. She is paired with her reformed captor, Captain Cardinal (also from Phasma). They land on the planet (well, crash on the planet) and end up needing to adapt to Black Spire.
Let me tell you, I have no idea if the author was being paid by the dollar for each item, each store, each damn thing that was in the new park, but boy, she made sure to list it off to the point where you ask: 'why do I care what so and so is eating, is this relative to the plot'. Why, yes, yes it most certainly is! Because, you, dear reader, need to understand what these fictional characters are eating so that when you get the money, you too can eat a Ronto Burger or one of the many drinks that are found in Olga's Cantina. There was literally a girl who showed up and was never seen again through the rest of the book who literally became your walking tour guide of the park.
After about half-way of reading endless page after a page of product placement, a real plot starts taking place. It's weak and it involves the First Order landing on the planet and of of Capt Cardinal's old friends from the Academy is after Vi. So you have him looking for Vi. Vi has to wrangle the people of Black Spire up to get them to cover her ass because now she has brought the First Order to their backwater planet. Gee, thanks Vi.
This book made Phasma (which I gave so-so reviews) look like a shining star.
I took a gander at all the good reviews and I can't tell if these are reviews for the park or reviews for the book? Because the park on all standpoints is exactly as you read in the book, but for a story? Come on, you got to be kidding me if this is 5 star material.
"the film flopped at the box office and was universally panned by critics for the film's imitations of numerous concepts from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and elaborate product placement for McDonald's and Coca-Cola"
Or, perhaps, The Wizard, aka Wikipedia:
"The Wizard is famous for its extensive product placement of video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System"
Both were flops at the Box-Office because they catered to product placement.
This book, this book was more than 50% product placement. I kid you not.
The story is a lack luster, juvenile tale of Vi Moradi (who was last seen in Phasma) sent on a mission by General Organa to Black Spire to start a new base. She is paired with her reformed captor, Captain Cardinal (also from Phasma). They land on the planet (well, crash on the planet) and end up needing to adapt to Black Spire.
Let me tell you, I have no idea if the author was being paid by the dollar for each item, each store, each damn thing that was in the new park, but boy, she made sure to list it off to the point where you ask: 'why do I care what so and so is eating, is this relative to the plot'. Why, yes, yes it most certainly is! Because, you, dear reader, need to understand what these fictional characters are eating so that when you get the money, you too can eat a Ronto Burger or one of the many drinks that are found in Olga's Cantina. There was literally a girl who showed up and was never seen again through the rest of the book who literally became your walking tour guide of the park.
After about half-way of reading endless page after a page of product placement, a real plot starts taking place. It's weak and it involves the First Order landing on the planet and of of Capt Cardinal's old friends from the Academy is after Vi. So you have him looking for Vi. Vi has to wrangle the people of Black Spire up to get them to cover her ass because now she has brought the First Order to their backwater planet. Gee, thanks Vi.
This book made Phasma (which I gave so-so reviews) look like a shining star.
I took a gander at all the good reviews and I can't tell if these are reviews for the park or reviews for the book? Because the park on all standpoints is exactly as you read in the book, but for a story? Come on, you got to be kidding me if this is 5 star material.
August 26, 2021
Galaxy’s Edge follows after the (awesome) novel Phasma (also by Delilah Dawson). In fact, I’m not sure why the book doesn’t explicitly state this, as a lot of the characterization hinges on what happened in Phasma.
The novel's biggest drawback for me was the relationship between Archex and Vi. The cursory explanations given would be very confusing to a new reader. And even for those who read Phasma, what should have been an interesting and intense complexity between them was sorely lacking. There was so much going on in this novel their relationship was pushed to the wayside and, in fact, I don't think we really needed that plot at all. The ending and everything else in the novel could have been achieved without Archex (a certain aspect felt quite forced), so he was almost unnecessary.
That being said, I did enjoy the novel. It was very easy to read, Vi was a fun character, and Dawson has a very approachable style that’s easily digestible. There are a few comic moments too.
Unfortunately, there are so many characters no one has enough space to grow or breathe, the main antagonist was pretty bland, and the plot meanders. There were scenes I really liked and a couple of characters I thought were fun, but I didn’t really feel the stakes. If they fail, the Resistance can find some other backwater planet to build a base on, right?
Overall, while it’s enjoyable, it’s rather forgettable.
This doesn’t contribute to my rating, but my head really enjoys that Vi and Archex are just friends and a romance was not forced, and that Vi seemed to be saying she was asexual (as we need more characters in Star Wars who aren’t straight), but my heart was hoping for a romance. Yet, I realize this would be problematic, given their past, and the novel doesn’t have enough space to address the nuances of that sort of thing properly. Also, I think it would be irresponsible, given a lot of younger readers partake in these novels.
The novel's biggest drawback for me was the relationship between Archex and Vi. The cursory explanations given would be very confusing to a new reader. And even for those who read Phasma, what should have been an interesting and intense complexity between them was sorely lacking. There was so much going on in this novel their relationship was pushed to the wayside and, in fact, I don't think we really needed that plot at all. The ending and everything else in the novel could have been achieved without Archex (a certain aspect felt quite forced), so he was almost unnecessary.
That being said, I did enjoy the novel. It was very easy to read, Vi was a fun character, and Dawson has a very approachable style that’s easily digestible. There are a few comic moments too.
Unfortunately, there are so many characters no one has enough space to grow or breathe, the main antagonist was pretty bland, and the plot meanders. There were scenes I really liked and a couple of characters I thought were fun, but I didn’t really feel the stakes. If they fail, the Resistance can find some other backwater planet to build a base on, right?
Overall, while it’s enjoyable, it’s rather forgettable.
This doesn’t contribute to my rating, but my head really enjoys that Vi and Archex are just friends and a romance was not forced, and that Vi seemed to be saying she was asexual (as we need more characters in Star Wars who aren’t straight), but my heart was hoping for a romance. Yet, I realize this would be problematic, given their past, and the novel doesn’t have enough space to address the nuances of that sort of thing properly. Also, I think it would be irresponsible, given a lot of younger readers partake in these novels.
December 8, 2019
I’ll be honest, I’ve never had a desire to read or listen to any Star Wars books. Having an older brother growing up I was not in control of the TV very often and so I watched the Star Wars movies. So I’m just a casual fan who will go watch the new movies when the cone out, but otherwise no nothing about it. Well, I’m going out to visit my brother and we’re going to Disneyland for old times sake and they have the new Star Wars themed land. Didn’t really know anything about that entails so my brother suggested getting the audio book of Black Spire as that gives you the background to the Disney park. I will say I was surprisingly impressed with the audiobook. It contained music and sound effects which I’ve never heard in an audio book before and it was really really well done. The story was a continuation of what’s going on in the last movie that is coming out, I believe?? Apologies if I’m wrong about that. But I’m actually interested in listening to the next book. I’m excited to go to the park and see in person what I was listening to being described. All in all a pleasant surprise for a casual fan of Star Wars.
April 14, 2021
This is SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!! I got hooked on it immediately and read it non-stop until it was done! Amazingly well written and so captivating! Vi's struggles as she navigates through the unexpected and builds a base from almost nothing is really cool, and I like how other characters come into play. It was nice to see Cardinal find a good end. The character development is really nice to see as well. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes reading Star Wars!
April 7, 2020
This was an odd book to read, and, to be honest, I did not read the dust jacket so I did not realize it was a tie-in to part of Disney's theme park(s). Which I am glad is the case, 'cuz I think that might have ruined it for me a bit. It took me a moment, but after I recognized two of the characters from Phasma, I considered it more of a sequel to that story from that point on. It did take me a while to read, but that was primarily because I was reading it during downtime at my job. I hope that if I had read it in my 'free time' it would not have taken me so long to read it. At the same time, it did feel like the plot was moving slower than necessary, that it took a while for things to build up. It has some high moments and too many 'low' moments; the humor in it is pretty hit-and-miss, too, but I did find myself chuckling a time or two.
The character development was decent; it has two returning characters from her prior novel (Phasma), but both of these characters are trying to deal with PTSD (which might just be a first for a Star Wars novel; it seems like in the original SWEU some characters might have been dealing with it as well, but I do not remember it being quite so 'strong' as in this story). Because there are 'only' two characters from a prior novel (not counting Leia's cameos), she has quite a task ahead of her to introduce new characters and get us to care about them in any fashion. I did come to like some of the characters that were introduced (probably Dolin, Zade, and Ylena the most, although Oga was interesting as a villain/not-quite-villain), but most of them I could take or leave.
The humor in the book was hit-and-miss (I am not sure if it was more misses than hits, but that is okay).
I did think the author did a good job with the 'world-building' (although I guess it is probably more correct to say 'world-expanding,' as this world exists at Disney theme parks). I did enjoy the moments that Vi shared with her fellow "Gatherers/Scrappers"; I felt the author did a nice job with those moments and they probably felt the 'most real' to me. Also, Vi's conversations with Ylena felt natural and not forced; those were also well-done.
.
Well, I think I have said all I am going to say. It was okay, overall, and I am glad that I did take the time to read it. Hopefully, the next book in this 'series' will be better.
The character development was decent; it has two returning characters from her prior novel (Phasma), but both of these characters are trying to deal with PTSD (which might just be a first for a Star Wars novel; it seems like in the original SWEU some characters might have been dealing with it as well, but I do not remember it being quite so 'strong' as in this story). Because there are 'only' two characters from a prior novel (not counting Leia's cameos), she has quite a task ahead of her to introduce new characters and get us to care about them in any fashion. I did come to like some of the characters that were introduced (probably Dolin, Zade, and Ylena the most, although Oga was interesting as a villain/not-quite-villain), but most of them I could take or leave.
The humor in the book was hit-and-miss (I am not sure if it was more misses than hits, but that is okay).
I did think the author did a good job with the 'world-building' (although I guess it is probably more correct to say 'world-expanding,' as this world exists at Disney theme parks). I did enjoy the moments that Vi shared with her fellow "Gatherers/Scrappers"; I felt the author did a nice job with those moments and they probably felt the 'most real' to me. Also, Vi's conversations with Ylena felt natural and not forced; those were also well-done.
.
Well, I think I have said all I am going to say. It was okay, overall, and I am glad that I did take the time to read it. Hopefully, the next book in this 'series' will be better.
August 10, 2023
I loved this book SO much. Was really looking forward to it because I knew it would serve as a Phasma sequel, continuing the stories of my favorite characters from that wonderful book. I was not disappointed at all. I know this is supposed to be a sort of advertisement for Disney's parks (and it really got me because I wanna go meet Vi Moradi so bad) but what I love most about this is how it's very much a character and community driven story, it felt really unique and contained, intimate in a way, and so in turn it got me very emotional.
Also getting to see a new resistance cell come to life from nothing was so cool.
Love Delilah S. Dawson's writing. Will 100% be reading more from her.
Also getting to see a new resistance cell come to life from nothing was so cool.
Love Delilah S. Dawson's writing. Will 100% be reading more from her.
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