rusty_nail's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
michromeu's review against another edition
4.0
My first time reading a novelization and it was pretty awesome. Added a lot to the already existing material, especially in terms of characterization.
jexjthomas's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent companion to the film, this novelization allows us to see sides of the characters we could only infer from the movie, if that. A common complaint about the film is the lack of character development. While I disagree with this assessment, this does go far to flesh out our heroes--and a villain or two--by not only offering a glimpse into their thoughts and motivations, but also expanding on their back stories. I would say this novelization deepened my appreciation of the film, but also that it works on its own as well. The writing is engaging and reads like far more than a tie-in.
allovertheplace_reader05's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
monicatdwyer's review against another edition
3.0
Listen. If you can get past the low quality/YA type of writing then you'll be sweet.
It's no surprise I really enjoyed this, I loved the movie and the characters and Mr Freed is the biggest Jyn x Cassian shipper known to man.
Learning more about the back stories and characters reasonings for their action was also really enjoyable (something you can't get in movies)
In all honesty the droids POV bit was my favourite part of the book (I was crying so like my judgement could be off so Idk ???)
The most heart breaking line for me was in Bodhi's POV part 'he'd swoop in and find them like he had on Eadu, and they'd all make for that open shield gate together'
Xoxo sad Star Wars fan.
It's no surprise I really enjoyed this, I loved the movie and the characters and Mr Freed is the biggest Jyn x Cassian shipper known to man.
Learning more about the back stories and characters reasonings for their action was also really enjoyable (something you can't get in movies)
In all honesty the droids POV bit was my favourite part of the book (I was crying so like my judgement could be off so Idk ???)
The most heart breaking line for me was in Bodhi's POV part 'he'd swoop in and find them like he had on Eadu, and they'd all make for that open shield gate together'
Xoxo sad Star Wars fan.
apollinares's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm trying to finish the PopSugar 2023 reading challenge, and one of the prompts is "a book based on a popular movie" - so, a novelization. There aren't many of those (usually, it's the other way around, films are based on books), but the Star Wars franchise is responsible for a lot of the novelizations I do know of. I looked up which Star Wars novelization people online liked best, and picked this book up on a whim. I'd watched Rogue One back in 2016, but didn't remember much.
This novelization exceeded my expectations. I would say it's better than the film. The way it's written, and the way the audiobook is read, kept me engaged throughout; even when I'd forgotten who characters in the franchise were and didn't have any prior attachment, this book made me care and root for them. It feels like your typical sci-fi space opera, and I enjoyed the additional characterization that a book can provide through POVs and internal monologue (that a film cannot). The changing points of view make the final victory feel truly like a team effort, and I liked that this book captured the classic Star Wars slightly-corny-slightly-epic feel that recent films have lacked.
This novelization exceeded my expectations. I would say it's better than the film. The way it's written, and the way the audiobook is read, kept me engaged throughout; even when I'd forgotten who characters in the franchise were and didn't have any prior attachment, this book made me care and root for them. It feels like your typical sci-fi space opera, and I enjoyed the additional characterization that a book can provide through POVs and internal monologue (that a film cannot). The changing points of view make the final victory feel truly like a team effort, and I liked that this book captured the classic Star Wars slightly-corny-slightly-epic feel that recent films have lacked.
brandysith's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a well-written book which is a rarity in a film to book adaptation. While there isn't any mind blowing new information in the text, we get a closer insight of the main characters (we also get some background on Mon Mothma which is cool). I don't think that *every* single scene had to be translated onto paper (some stuff with Draven could have been left out), but over all, this book is a great way to satiate a Star Wars craving until the film comes out onto DVD.
jadsam_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
gingerreader99's review against another edition
5.0
Is there a rating higher than 5 stars? Is a book that was made FOR a movie supposed to be better than the film?!?! If not better Rogue Ones novelization easily rivals the film. Alexander Freed adds the depth to the characters that I craved. I had already made the assumption that they had deeper darker sides to them. Such as Cassians inner turmoil and Freed finally delivered to me, and proved me right. The depth will make my next viewing of the film all The more emotional. I specifically felt closer to two characters. Baze and Bodhi. Baze Malbus has few lines in the film and in the novel is expanded a lot more. He is devoted to Chirrut as zealously as Chirrut is to the force and learning more about Baze and his character was very interesting, but Bodhi was the best. Bodhi of course didn't seem confident in the film but this is taken to a whole new level in the novel. It is clear how uneasy and nervous he constantly is and how he struggles with his decisions and his choices and reveals how he got roped into everything in the first place, he is such an innocent young man in my opinion and the galaxy swept him up and away before he got his chance to fully shine.
Overall this novelization is superbly written even down to the lingo. Such as Krennic referring to Vaders force abilities as sorcery like an officer in A New Hope did(prior to him being choked) and it stands miles above The Force Awakens Novelization.
Alexander Freed has now set the bar for Novelizations of the upcoming Star Wars movies. Will anyone be able to top this? I suppose we will all have to impatiently await and see.
Overall this novelization is superbly written even down to the lingo. Such as Krennic referring to Vaders force abilities as sorcery like an officer in A New Hope did(prior to him being choked) and it stands miles above The Force Awakens Novelization.
Alexander Freed has now set the bar for Novelizations of the upcoming Star Wars movies. Will anyone be able to top this? I suppose we will all have to impatiently await and see.