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The Rise of Skywalker

(Star Wars Disney Canon Novel #9)

Rae Carson

3.95 · Rating details · 701 ratings · 172 reviews

Witness the epic final chapter of the Skywalker saga with the official novelization of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, including expanded scenes and additional content not seen in theaters!

The Resistance has been reborn. But although Rey and her fellow heroes are back in the fight, the war against the First Order, now led by Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, is far from over. ...more

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Hardcover, Expanded Edition, 247 pages

Published March 17th 2020 by Del Rey

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Dec 23, 2019 Marianneboss marked it as to-read

I DEMAND THIS BOOK TO HAVE AN ALTERNATE ENDING WHERE (view spoiler) SURVIVES AT THE END.

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Dec 22, 2019 Monica Weldon marked it as to-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 22, 2020 Gerhard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-and-fantasy, 2020

I can honestly say that not only is this one of the most enjoyable Star Wars novelisations I have ever read, but also the one that adds the most to its source material. Most importantly, I think, reading this has made me appreciate and understand some of the creative choices that J.J. Abrams made with The Rise of Skywalker.

I understand the movie better as a result of reading Rae Carsons impeccable novelisation whether or not that means the movie itself is a failure is open to interpretation. I can honestly say that not only is this one of the most enjoyable Star Wars novelisations I have ever read, but also the one that adds the most to its source material. Most importantly, I think, reading this has made me appreciate and understand some of the creative choices that J.J. Abrams made with The Rise of Skywalker.

I understand the movie better as a result of reading Rae Carson’s impeccable novelisation – whether or not that means the movie itself is a failure is open to interpretation. Surely the former should stand on its own as a work of (popular) art, without needing a novel to help explain it? But what Carson has achieved so effectively here is to allow the reader into the thought processes of the characters during key events, something that a movie can only hint at.

Of course, the novel sacrifices the Big Screen spectacle, especially with the battle-to-end-all-battles (again) towards the end, where Carson’s writing is kind of perfunctory. She truly shines with her character work, and gives every one of the large cast a meaningful moment (some have extended scenes or explanatory bits added, while there is even an entirely new character.)

I can still clearly recall seeing the original Star Wars, and the sense of wonder it invoked in me (and terror. Which is perhaps something the later movies lacked, but one’s perceptions also change as you get older, of course.) That sense of thrilling wonder never left me, and inspired a lifelong love for science fiction as a result.

It is also a flame I keep going in the more trying moments of life, when I wonder what fusspot C3PO would say, or dashing hero Han Solo would do, in the face of adversity, stress, loss, and all the other messy bits of being human.

My faith in Star Wars was shaken severely with the toxic reaction to The Last Jedi, and the contempt shown by certain ‘manboys’ to the inclusion of diversity in this galaxy far, far away. What this taught me is that no single person has a right to entitlement, and that respect and compassion must be the presiding values of civilised discourse.

J.J. Abrams faced a herculean (some would say impossible) task with trying to please a very disparate fan base with what was touted as the last Star Wars movie ever (of course it won’t be.) Did he concede too much to fan-pleasing?

I honestly don’t know. There are bits I liked, some I loved, and others I really didn’t care for. What Carson does so well in the book is add much-needed connective tissue to the wider story binding the characters together. The Force was really on her side with this one. ...more

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Ahmed R. Rashwan Gerhard wrote: "Ahmed wrote: "It's so hard for me to accept this movie at all. I feel like it completely bashed several rules and laws established in ...more
Mar 31, 2020 02:55AM

Gerhard Ahmed wrote: "Gerhard wrote: "Ahmed wrote: "It's so hard for me to accept this movie at all. I feel like it completely bashed several rules and laws Ahmed wrote: "Gerhard wrote: "Ahmed wrote: "It's so hard for me to accept this movie at all. I feel like it completely bashed several rules and laws established in the previous original trilogy and the prequels ..."

Hi Ahmed

I hated TLJ just as much as I did TROS. In fact I pretty much hated the entire trilogy. I felt there was zero creativity and ingenuity. Big bad guy, bigger bad guy behind the scenes, big bad weapon, bigger weakness in big bad weapon. I mean...
That is really interesting. I thought TLJ detractors would automatically have been appeased by TROS, but that seems not to have been the case. Someone must have drawn a correlation between this, and were left scratching their heads.
Yeah, a big problem with TROS is that it tried to Super Size literally everything in lieu of a credible or coherent plot.
Actually, I have been thinking about TPM a lot, and how that second trilogy does not seem that awful anymore ... Which is not something I would have ever thought myself contemplating.
I have just finished watching Star Trek: Picard, which was superb. Now that is a really clever way of carrying on the legacy of a show, tying up niggly loose ends, and taking it to the next level. Interestingly, the future of SW seems to be in safe hands in terms of television, as The Mandalorian was such a glorious Old School SW experience!

I liked Kylo's choice too; must say though that it was predictable he'd make that choice in the end (I mean if you're thinking through Disney eyes) and didn't surprise me much.
We were always going to get this mirror-image reversal of the original trilogy, especially with JJ at the helm, I think.

I really loved the fact that Rey's parents were no-ones, I abhorred the fact that they couldn't stick with that.
You know, I wasn't convinced by this at all in TLJ. Not to mention Snoke's rather undignified demise. I thought these were simply stalling tactics for the next movie ... also because they had no clear direction in which the trilogy was supposed to develop.
I did like Broom Boy at the end though, one of the best SW moments ever.

I almost vomited all the popcorn I had consumed when it revealed "Palpatine" was behind all of this and that Snoke was just a clone out of many... Very poor writing and extremely poor decision.
This does follow some twisted logic right from TFA. The novelisation of TROS definitely, er, fleshes this out a bit more ... but the main 'how' and 'why' behind it remains unfathomable.

How do you feel about things like "force healing" or avatar-like incarnations of big bad guys (and good guys too apparently)?
Maybe because I am also a Star Trek fan, the whole clone/avatar thing reminded me of a poor SW imitation of the Borg. Yeah, we had AOTC, but TROS takes so much for granted, which really tarnishes its credibility.
Force healing and related powers? It may be a conscious borrowing from The Mandalorian, who knows. Except to say that anything is better than midichlorians.
What I do think is Rian Johnson used the 'Force connection' between Kylo and Ren as a neat cinematic trick ... and JJ (again) Super Sized it by having them exchange physical objects. ...more
Mar 31, 2020 04:29AM

Jan 01, 2020 Paola is currently reading it

Shelves: saw-the-movie-serie, novelization-retelling

"Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse

[...]Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine."

(view spoiler)

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Oct 11, 2019 Gemma F rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 31, 2020 Khurram rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you Rae Carson. Than you for making the book feel like Star Wars. I have no doubt if Rae was given free reign she would have written a 5 star book the would have corrected all the mistakes in the movie. I was expecting a salvage job from this book but it is a lot better than I expected.

Unlike a certain director who said he did not care about Star Wars lore when he made the movie, Rae has done her research, adding in bit of information for the other Star Wars book in the Disney era. ...more

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Dec 30, 2019 Bar marked it as to-read

~~Obi-Wan Kenobi~~ Rae Carson, you're my only hope.

Either make this a novelization of TROS, the one before Jar Jar started messing it up, or give us ending with Rey preparing to enter World Between Worlds to bring back her canon soulmate.

#BenSolodeservesbetter

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Dec 25, 2019 Eva B. marked it as to-read

The sequels are good and y'all are just mean. Also, anyone who comments to be all "ughhhhh TLJ RUINED STAR WARZ!!!1" or whatever you guys complain about will be blocked without hesitation :)
I've been in this fandom for over half my life, and a bunch of whiny dudebros aren't gonna ruin that for me.

All the Ben Solo stans in the review section are wild, and I say that as a Ben Solo stan. We're lucky he even got a redemption arc, and y'all are whining about how a man who caused pain, death, and ...more

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Jan 18, 2020 Karen rated it it was amazing

Hoping they include the Kylo/Ben redemption arch they cut out in the film.

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Dec 26, 2019 ♠ TABI ♠ marked it as to-read

Shelves: pre-ordered

here's to hopelessly thinking this may deliver a better story than the movie??

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Mar 09, 2020 Bria rated it really liked it

It is impossible for a novelization to fix the biggest problems I had with the movie but it can bring some new depth and appreciation for the story. Thats exactly what Rae Carson has achieved here. ...more

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Mar 05, 2020 Debbie marked it as to-read

Ok I usually dont read novelizations of the Star Wars movies but the spoilers about the random facts being revealed in this book are getting out of hand. SO MANY new facts popping up out of nowhere with no references in the movie. I feel like I need to read it for myself because good Lord. ...more

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Jan 03, 2020 Noah King rated it did not like it

Rating is for the film, I imagine this is even worse though because you have to read it

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Mar 25, 2020 Chris Greensmith rated it liked it

Shelves: star-wars

"Episode IX
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
The dead speak! The galaxy has heard a mysterious broadcast, a threat of REVENGE in the sinister voice of the late EMPEROR PALPATINE.
GENERAL LEIA ORGANA dispatches secret agents to gather intelligence, while REY, the last hope of the Jedi, trains for battle against the diabolical FIRST ORDER.
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader KYLO REN rages in search of the phantom Emperor, determined to destroy any threat to his power....
Very much the same. A few plot holes from the ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 Stephen rated it really liked it

The Rise of Skywalker novelization is a quick, but good read. It adds a bit more to the movie and the characters without straying too far from the fast, action paced plot of the film. Readers will get to find out just how Palpatine survived, how his son came about, and more. Theres extended scenes that were hinted at with the behind-the-scenes artwork, plus sections that help transition characters from one place to another that the movie didnt have time to delve into. But beyond the book just The Rise of Skywalker novelization is a quick, but good read. It adds a bit more to the movie and the characters without straying too far from the fast, action paced plot of the film. Readers will get to find out just how Palpatine survived, how his son came about, and more. There’s extended scenes that were hinted at with the behind-the-scenes artwork, plus sections that help transition characters from one place to another that the movie didn’t have time to delve into. But beyond the book just having extra content, it maintains a enjoyable vibe that stays entertaining from beginning to end.

First, lets get into the extra content. While it can be nice to have the dialog at your hands to go over again and catch what you might have missed, the real draw of any novelization is getting more out of the story. This novelization delivers on that in several ways. For anyone who was a fan of Zorii Bliss in the movie, you get a lot more of her in the novelization. The book explores a bit of her spice runner gang and helps connect the dots with what she did once everyone else left, how she wound up with Babu Frik, and how they wound up in the big battle at the end. It dives into her thoughts to explore more of her character. And the book doesn’t stop there. There are precious insights throughout the book where the story goes into the characters’ heads to reveal what they’re thinking and what they’ve been through. There’s reveals of Leia and her Force abilities and connection to the Force, what Hux thought he was up to, Poe’s reservations after Crait, Finn’s subtle realization of his Force connection, Rey’s lingering fear of the darkness within her and much more.

Furthermore, there’s some big reveals with Palpatine. The book lays out how he survived his fall in the shaft of the second Death Star, why he looks like a rotting corpse, and he wound up with a son which lead to Rey. Not everything is completely revealed or explored, though. There’s still much about Ben Solo that we don’t know. There’s some cryptic stuff about that dyad that still leaves a lot to be fleshed out. But the book isn’t meant to be an encyclopedia to answer everyone’s questions or fill in all the voids. The book is simply capturing the story of the movie while also giving the reader a bit more to enjoy.

Another factor that adds to that enjoyment is little bonuses like the cameos at the big space battle. At the end of the battle, there are thousands and thousands of ships. Far too many to identify while watching the film. We know there’s all kinds of visual cameos hidden in that scene. However, the book takes the time to point out some of those cameos, and even gives them a bit of dialog. Even the Wicket scene gets expanded with some dialog and background. It’s not a ton, but it’s a nice inclusion.

In the end, The Rise of Skywalker novelization does a good job of retelling the story of the movie, keeping it fun, and giving readers something extra to enjoy. For hardcore Star Wars fans, this is a must read as you’ll get more out of the movie by reading the book. On top of that, it’s a good read. As such, I give it a four out of five. ...more

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Mar 24, 2020 Robert rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Those Ready to RISE

Shelves: saw-the-movie, guerre-stellari

I enjoyed the greater insights into the thoughts and motivations of characters like Allegiant General Pryde (view spoiler), Zorii Bliss and co. as well as Lando or Leia. Obviously it was an advantage to the author to not be limited to the available footage of the late, lamented Carrie Fisher and it helps in a major way to make her connection to Rey and the legacy of Luke come through much more clearly.

Art Credit: saintworksart of ...more

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Mar 18, 2020 Amber rated it really liked it

Shelves: star-wars, reylo-vibes

4 Stars because Rae Carson wrote a story I hate as beautifully as she could. She didn't plot this and doesn't deserve a bad review for it.

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Mar 18, 2020 Zahira⚡️ rated it liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, starwars

im still not over Bens fate. its so cruel. i hate it here. ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 Wilhelmina rated it did not like it

Got a copy at C2E2. And it was just...really boring? Not even the additional scenes and character POVs made it a compelling read. The prose was as dry as paint chips, and some of the moments I was on the fence about from the movie felt even more unconvincing in the novel, or like they opened up more plot holes. I dont think I can pin any qualms I have with the story on this book since the book is just adapting a story from someone elses script, but the writing style is what made this a truly ...more

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Oct 14, 2019 Chris Evans rated it did not like it

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

No

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Feb 29, 2020 Marianne Moresco rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 09, 2020 Matthew Rushing rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, 2020

4.5. Great additions to the film.

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Feb 27, 2020 Rainy Daze rated it it was amazing

I hope the book explores Kylo/Ben and Reys connection through the force in depth. ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Nicis rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: shoot-me-now, series-i-follow, stupid-characters, anoying-character, oh-the-drama, enemies-to-lovers, wtf, is-this-for-real, i-want-to-die, otp

It was ok. As boring and meaningless as the movie felt for me. Cynical (I really had to read with my own two eyes that the force is stronger than love, which opposes the end of Return of the Jedi where Luke's love and compassion save the galaxy), choppy, mostly boring.

The force feels like nothing more than a power up. Rey, Finn and Poe lost most of their personalities to show a weird dynamic of "we are bffs but you never saw us together before so have some fun dialogue". Rose at least has like It was ok. As boring and meaningless as the movie felt for me. Cynical (I really had to read with my own two eyes that the force is stronger than love, which opposes the end of Return of the Jedi where Luke's love and compassion save the galaxy), choppy, mostly boring.

The force feels like nothing more than a power up. Rey, Finn and Poe lost most of their personalities to show a weird dynamic of "we are bffs but you never saw us together before so have some fun dialogue". Rose at least has like 5 more lines that in the movie where she's virtually and extra. Fuck I hate JJ and Terrio.

And Ben, my boy who I love the most, once again steals the show. It's sad and unoriginal to see him repeat Anakin's, Ventress, Iden, Cardinal and Trilla's end: Yes, you can find the light again but you will die because atoning is not a real concept in the American myth. Fuck that. It's never too late and I will never be a fan of that narrative.

(I want to make a mention of the other things i disliked in no particular order: the whole no-homo thing, a thousand irrelevant places and plot devices, mcguffins, Rey Palpatine, drug smuggler latino, Beaumont existence to replace Rose, Terrible mother "Leia Organa Skywalker Solo", paternal Luke who disliked Rey the whole previous movie but is like "wow so proud" what's with that??, THE FINAL ORDER, I never got Palpys plan, I'm the spy!?? Talk about OOC, Tatooine as a honoring resting place??? I wanted to puke, someone else finishing Leia's journey???, THEY SOLD YOU TO PROTECT YOU, no trooper rebellion everyone who opposes the FO is actually force sensitive, nobody came for Ben not even Anakin fuck the Skywalkers, pickle Snoke, no Padmé or prequel references, the destruction of Kijimi/death of Snap are super irrelevant because we don't care about it, Palpatine dying because of lightning again?? Also clones???, "I am inevitable... and I am Iron Man", REY SKYWALKER.)

Nothing about Rae Carson, I actually enjoyed Most Wanted (the YA book with Han and Qi'ra) but she's so much better when she has the freedom to created and not having to fill small blank spaces to try to fix -or make a little most sense- of the utter mess that was The Rise of Skywalker, my biggest disappointment of 2019.

I have a lot more to say but I just don't have the energy to keep thinking about this end. So long to the most boring and forced trio, may the force be with you when a new war arises because you changed absolutely nothing. ...more

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Mar 30, 2020 Vonze rated it really liked it

Shelves: star-wars

Maybe I'm in my own boat here, but I liked *most* of the movie. I think a lot of people would agree it needed more time and/or to be longer to nail what it attempted to do. Alas, Star Wars, for whatever reason, is not privileged in Disney's eyes like Marvel: Endgame.

The consolation prize, for fans needing more, is the novelization has extras that would have made the movie a little clearer in some scenes. Descriptions, yes, but also added dialogue, and entire POVs for characters like Zorri, Hux, ...more

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Mar 25, 2020 ava rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2020-releases, made-me-cry

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 10, 2020 Chris Carey rated it it was ok

Shelves: star-wars

Rae Carson does an admirable job with this novelization, but no matter how much perfume you put on a turd... its still a turd. ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 David rated it did not like it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 02, 2020 Lisa rated it it was amazing

My full review can be found here: https://www.coffeewithkenobi.com/book...

Book: 4.5/5
Audiobook: 5/5

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Jan 31, 2020 Valerie Joy marked it as to-read

Shelves: march-april

Help us, Rae Carson, you're our only hope.
You have not let me down with your writing before. Please just give us a whole heck of a lot of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in this book.
The end.
(WHY IS THIS ONLY 240 PAGES?!?!?)

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About Rae Carson

Rae Carson

5,634 followers

Rae Carson was born in 1973 in California and now lives in Arizona. She developed an enthusiasm for storytelling in her earliest childhood. She studied social sciences and worked in various industries after graduating from university before she realized her dream and became a writer. The Girl of Fire and Thorns is her debut novel.

In her own words, she "write[s] books about teens who must do brave ...more