old_tim's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't going to change your life, but it's fun stuff. Recommended for fans of Luke &/or fans of Hearne.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-know-force-is-real-ive-felt-it.html
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-know-force-is-real-ive-felt-it.html
ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition
2.0
Egads.
Not the most painful thing I've read, but it did not meet my expectations. Which is a shame because I generally like Kevin Hearne as a writer.
This book covers the gap between Episodes IV and V, furthering the plot not at all but getting a little bit into Luke's struggle to reach out to the Force without Ben Kenobi to guide him anymore. The strongest parts are when he's trying to reach the right meditative state to use the Force, and his conversations with Drusil, an ally/rescued prisoner with a knack for advanced physics and equations, who coaches him on reaching that state by talking about her own methods of meditating through "probability ladders." There was also a pretty cool scene early on where he's searching a crashed ship full of invisible brain-sucking monsters, which was tense and disturbing in all the right places. A bit more Event Horizon than I was expecting for this universe, but I'm kinda okay with that.
The weakest parts are anything involving the awkward forced love interest, Nakari, who seems to have no personality apart from "pretty" and "good at shooting things." She exists because they're using her ship for this rescue mission. That's it. That's the whole reason. Well, and to give Luke a forced love interest, but--guh, no, don't. I hate that trope. Most of the plot could easily happen without her. The whole pretty-girl-sharp-shooter character trope *can* be handled better, and for an example of it done the right way, see Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye from Fullmetal Alchemist. Hawkeye's actions have a palpable affect on the surrounding plot and characters to the point where you can't imagine the story without her. Nakari is the polar opposite of that.
Honestly if just a couple things were changed--nixing the awkward forced love interest entirely, and not stopping to describe the food every time the characters decide they're hungry, which was a LOT--it would be fine.
Not the most painful thing I've read, but it did not meet my expectations. Which is a shame because I generally like Kevin Hearne as a writer.
This book covers the gap between Episodes IV and V, furthering the plot not at all but getting a little bit into Luke's struggle to reach out to the Force without Ben Kenobi to guide him anymore. The strongest parts are when he's trying to reach the right meditative state to use the Force, and his conversations with Drusil, an ally/rescued prisoner with a knack for advanced physics and equations, who coaches him on reaching that state by talking about her own methods of meditating through "probability ladders." There was also a pretty cool scene early on where he's searching a crashed ship full of invisible brain-sucking monsters, which was tense and disturbing in all the right places. A bit more Event Horizon than I was expecting for this universe, but I'm kinda okay with that.
The weakest parts are anything involving the awkward forced love interest, Nakari, who seems to have no personality apart from "pretty" and "good at shooting things." She exists because they're using her ship for this rescue mission. That's it. That's the whole reason. Well, and to give Luke a forced love interest, but--guh, no, don't. I hate that trope. Most of the plot could easily happen without her. The whole pretty-girl-sharp-shooter character trope *can* be handled better, and for an example of it done the right way, see Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye from Fullmetal Alchemist. Hawkeye's actions have a palpable affect on the surrounding plot and characters to the point where you can't imagine the story without her. Nakari is the polar opposite of that.
Honestly if just a couple things were changed--nixing the awkward forced love interest entirely, and not stopping to describe the food every time the characters decide they're hungry, which was a LOT--it would be fine.
srlemons42's review against another edition
4.0
I love Luke Skywalker. Over time he has become one of my favorite characters in Star Wars. Yes, even over Leia and Han Solo. I just really love his unending enthusiasm and love of being a Jedi. However, he is very hit or miss in the various EU Star Wars books. It is very dependent on who is writing him. He can be wise and a calm presence in the Force, A big whiny emo crybaby, ineffectual and a pushover, or a hundred other personas. It was maddening and very eye-rollingly bad as you read the old EU books.
That is, of course, up to the fact that there were a lot of different writers and they all wanted to portray the Jedi and Luke in particular a certain way. My hope for the "new" EU is that they focus really tightly on making the characters consistent between books and writers. Only time will tell if they can maintain an iron grip over the continuity needed.
That brings me to this book. I liked it overall, I felt the plot was fine and the characters were also fine.....but just fine. This pains me in a way because I really like Kevin Hearne and love most of his writing. His Iron Druid series is pretty great with good characters and good plots. Although I've cooled a bit on them lately, I'm still very interested in the next book in the series.
I think my main problem with this book is that it's plot felt very....thin. Luke Skywalker is tasked with rescuing alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems from the Empire and delivering her to her family on another world. There are some space fights and fights on several planets, Luke spends some time contemplating what being a Jedi means to him and bemoaning the death of Obiwan. He also gets a fun partner Nakari Kelen who he falls a bit for .
I just felt there wasn't anything really exciting in the book. Everything was perfectly fine but I found it to be mediocre and just kind of there as a book. This was the first of the new EU that I've read and I hope they improve from here.
That is, of course, up to the fact that there were a lot of different writers and they all wanted to portray the Jedi and Luke in particular a certain way. My hope for the "new" EU is that they focus really tightly on making the characters consistent between books and writers. Only time will tell if they can maintain an iron grip over the continuity needed.
That brings me to this book. I liked it overall, I felt the plot was fine and the characters were also fine.....but just fine. This pains me in a way because I really like Kevin Hearne and love most of his writing. His Iron Druid series is pretty great with good characters and good plots. Although I've cooled a bit on them lately, I'm still very interested in the next book in the series.
I think my main problem with this book is that it's plot felt very....thin. Luke Skywalker is tasked with rescuing alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems from the Empire and delivering her to her family on another world. There are some space fights and fights on several planets, Luke spends some time contemplating what being a Jedi means to him and bemoaning the death of Obiwan. He also gets a fun partner Nakari Kelen who he falls a bit for
Spoiler
who then dies tragically at the end. of course.I just felt there wasn't anything really exciting in the book. Everything was perfectly fine but I found it to be mediocre and just kind of there as a book. This was the first of the new EU that I've read and I hope they improve from here.
alexandriam_rose's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to this audio—which probably made it slightly less cringe-y.
I'll start with some good/interesting things. It is told in the first person, from Luke's perspective which is rare for Star Wars and goes into a time that's not covered in the movies. This gives context and provides his thoughts after a New Hope. And although the overall tone and story may have been meh, some of his thoughts on the force are interesting and make sense with his character. Although it's not a big part of the book and not elaborated on.
The story is average, lost of traveling, and completing missions. But, being told from Luke's perspective—remember he is a whiny teenager—was a little cringy and cliche. Even queue the cheesy rom-com scenes.
I'll start with some good/interesting things. It is told in the first person, from Luke's perspective which is rare for Star Wars and goes into a time that's not covered in the movies. This gives context and provides his thoughts after a New Hope. And although the overall tone and story may have been meh, some of his thoughts on the force are interesting and make sense with his character. Although it's not a big part of the book and not elaborated on.
The story is average, lost of traveling, and completing missions. But, being told from Luke's perspective—remember he is a whiny teenager—was a little cringy and cliche. Even queue the cheesy rom-com scenes.
darthkitty23's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
dexteroni's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but like a lot of other reviewers have said, it lacks some of the importance the other books in the canon series have had so far. It is interesting to see Luke in the period between A New Hope and Empire, because he is just adjusting to having some connection to the Force. I also like the new character that is introduced in this book.
elfishpond's review against another edition
1.5
This book is nearly entirely terribly written (and very unnecessary) dialogue.
colls's review against another edition
4.0
A well-paced adventure set perfectly after the the first movie before ESB. I enjoyed the worlds the author inserted into this canon and found the characters fascinating.
wishanem's review against another edition
1.0
In this book, Luke learns to use the Force well enough to move a small object a short distance. He also has a small self-contained adventure, including a romantic relationship. Unfortunately, the book doesn't add much to the mythos and the story itself isn't very compelling. I understand that the author was under heavy constraints to tell a story without much effect on the rest of the series, but you can really feel the shackles.