wildflowersnwhiskey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, War, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, and Violence
Mining accident, mining deathSpoiler
the book details a scene in which a character is gravely wounded and subsequently dies in a mine collapse following an attack on the mine. The character was very important to one of the main characters who is with him as he dies, and it is traumatic for the MC.jonwesleyhuff's review against another edition
3.0
A solid book. I wish we'd gotten to know more about Hera as well as Kanan, but I guess that's a mystery for another book.
marveledspectre's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rachereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
MY REBELS HEART IS SO FULL! This book is the perfect prequel to the best Star Wars media out there, and seeing Kanan and Hera’s origin story was so cool! The plot was engaging and the side characters added to the story. Such a good book overall!
Plus:
Plus:
Spoiler
I hate the Empire but I absolutely love Sloane and I’m so happy everything worked out for her. Like eff the Empire and everything but I’m so proud of herhstapp's review against another edition
3.0
This book takes place between the prequels and the original trilogy. A young man named Kanan is just trying to get by until he gets embroiled in a conflict between an Imperial Efficiency Expert, A retired Clone Wars Ordinance Specialist, and a woman seeking to learn all she can about the methods of the imperials and the opinions the public hold about them.
As usual when we have a male and female lead the male assumes the superior position. Though it is true that Hera is an excellent pilot she is also an attractive woman from a species that is highly sexualized due to their tendency to show up as scantily clad dancers in certain districts.
Kanan is shown to be cleverer than Hera and she often defaults to him as a sort of leader. Kanan gets all the cool action sequences while Hera just sneaks around and pilots the ship. Though these are both important tasks the real focus is on Kanan. Also romance is of course immediately set up, though it seems mostly one sided.
Feminist perspective aside, the book was pretty good. A good amount of action, and a decent story. It has the feel of the prequel trilogy, which makes sense since it is closer to that period. Kanan is interesting, as is the sullustan. I didn't feel like Hera was particularly well fleshed however.
As usual when we have a male and female lead the male assumes the superior position. Though it is true that Hera is an excellent pilot she is also an attractive woman from a species that is highly sexualized due to their tendency to show up as scantily clad dancers in certain districts.
Kanan is shown to be cleverer than Hera and she often defaults to him as a sort of leader. Kanan gets all the cool action sequences while Hera just sneaks around and pilots the ship. Though these are both important tasks the real focus is on Kanan. Also romance is of course immediately set up, though it seems mostly one sided.
Feminist perspective aside, the book was pretty good. A good amount of action, and a decent story. It has the feel of the prequel trilogy, which makes sense since it is closer to that period. Kanan is interesting, as is the sullustan. I didn't feel like Hera was particularly well fleshed however.
jubsrabellogs's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It takes a while to pick up, but once it does, it’s a very nice Star Wars’ story. It’s the third SW book I’ve read, and it feels like the most “grownup”. There’re mentions of alcohol and of having casual relationships with women. The politics are also more prevalent, there’s an emphasis on staying vigilant and taking action against government abuse. It reminded me of “Rogue One”, with this political vein and the sacrifices some characters have made. This is the “uglier” side of the Rebellion. Vidian is among the more menacing Star Wars’ villains. He scared the crap out of me during some scenes.
This book also solidified Kanan as one of the more nuanced characters in this universe. He’s like a Han Solo with a bit of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker mixed in. Which makes sense, since the book opens with an interaction between apprentice Caleb (Kanan) and Obi-Wan. I loved how this scene is a learning moment for both of them. Kanan is the more obvious learner, but Obi-Wan also learns a crucial lesson that helped save many lives during the Jedi Purge.
I really love stories focusing on stray Jedi during the first 19 years of the Empire. There’s so much inner turmoil to explore. And this book does that very well. I’m glad I took the time to read it.
This book also solidified Kanan as one of the more nuanced characters in this universe. He’s like a Han Solo with a bit of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker mixed in. Which makes sense, since the book opens with an interaction between apprentice Caleb (Kanan) and Obi-Wan. I loved how this scene is a learning moment for both of them. Kanan is the more obvious learner, but Obi-Wan also learns a crucial lesson that helped save many lives during the Jedi Purge.
I really love stories focusing on stray Jedi during the first 19 years of the Empire. There’s so much inner turmoil to explore. And this book does that very well. I’m glad I took the time to read it.
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun Audio book.
Mostly a Kanan story, with only a small piece of Kanan before Order 66. The comics I think are filling in the gap between Order 66 and This novel, which is a nice prequel to Star Wars Rebels. I hope that there will be more stories as well, since this still has a few years pre-Ezra.
On a writing point, John Jackson Miller does a good job in creating that Star Wars feel with his characters and world-building, as well as with the story telling. It is not an easy task to be unique and original in a pre-made world, and still remain true to the form. JJM does a good job of this, and I hope that he gets tasked for a future novel in this universe as well.
Mostly a Kanan story, with only a small piece of Kanan before Order 66. The comics I think are filling in the gap between Order 66 and This novel, which is a nice prequel to Star Wars Rebels. I hope that there will be more stories as well, since this still has a few years pre-Ezra.
On a writing point, John Jackson Miller does a good job in creating that Star Wars feel with his characters and world-building, as well as with the story telling. It is not an easy task to be unique and original in a pre-made world, and still remain true to the form. JJM does a good job of this, and I hope that he gets tasked for a future novel in this universe as well.
blue_jane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5