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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Lucasfilm Press for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Poe Dameron : Free Fall starts to fill in the gaps for this beloved, at least by me, Star Wars Sequel character. It follows Poe Dameron on Yavin 4, young and full of that spirit that we know and love. He's itching to fly, a skill that his mother had begun to teach him and having in inherited her love for the freedom it affords he is acting out.
After facing off with his old man, Kes Dameron, Poe runs off with a group of trouble makers he met at a local watering hole. Spice traders, smugglers and among them a young and fiery Zorii.
This shows that there is a lot of history left within the Skywalker Saga, focusing on the lives of the characters before and after the events of the film. It's just the start of Poe's story, but does so much to expand the universe, dipping into the world of smugglers Post-Han Solo.
You can feel the chemistry between Zorii and Poe in the film and the same is true in this book. Even though I already knew who she was, the way the characters play off each other is so satisfying. Along with Zorii we also get a few scenes with Babu Frikk and a droid that likely sets the stage for Poe's future bond with BB-8.
Poe doesn't just grow up in this story, he finds his place. The son of two heroes in the Rebellion looking for his own adventure, he finally finds his footing and learns what type of man he wants to be.
I did really enjoy this and I hope this turns into a series and his character is expanded upon more. I'd love to see him starting out with BB-8 or when he first meets Leia. If Poe is a favorite if yours, you'll love this.
Poe Dameron : Free Fall starts to fill in the gaps for this beloved, at least by me, Star Wars Sequel character. It follows Poe Dameron on Yavin 4, young and full of that spirit that we know and love. He's itching to fly, a skill that his mother had begun to teach him and having in inherited her love for the freedom it affords he is acting out.
After facing off with his old man, Kes Dameron, Poe runs off with a group of trouble makers he met at a local watering hole. Spice traders, smugglers and among them a young and fiery Zorii.
This shows that there is a lot of history left within the Skywalker Saga, focusing on the lives of the characters before and after the events of the film. It's just the start of Poe's story, but does so much to expand the universe, dipping into the world of smugglers Post-Han Solo.
You can feel the chemistry between Zorii and Poe in the film and the same is true in this book. Even though I already knew who she was, the way the characters play off each other is so satisfying. Along with Zorii we also get a few scenes with Babu Frikk and a droid that likely sets the stage for Poe's future bond with BB-8.
Poe doesn't just grow up in this story, he finds his place. The son of two heroes in the Rebellion looking for his own adventure, he finally finds his footing and learns what type of man he wants to be.
I did really enjoy this and I hope this turns into a series and his character is expanded upon more. I'd love to see him starting out with BB-8 or when he first meets Leia. If Poe is a favorite if yours, you'll love this.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Poe Dameron: A Han Solo Story
A short story in Greg Rucka’s book Before the Awakening gives some of Poe Dameron’s backstory. Then in The Rise of Skywalker, part of the heroes’ ultimately pointless and unnecessary mission requires that they get assistance from a band of spice runners on Kijimi. Poe drew the short straw as the only character who could possibly have had some past connection to smugglers, so this detail got added to his history with little explanation. I can imagine Disney then scrambling to find some way to explain how Poe could have spent time on the wrong side of the law, so Alex Segura drew the short straw and had to (quickly, I assume) figure out some way to make it work. I feel a little bad for Segura, because it was a poisoned chalice.
The story he wrote, Free Fall, is like so much of Disney-era Star Wars: every character, location, and event feels almost exactly like something else that’s already happened in another SW story. There’s a cantina just like the Mos Eisley cantina; a teenage kid who dreams of getting off his dead-end planet and having adventures in the galaxy; a crash landing on a planet and then a fight for survival; predictable double-crosses; vague hints at galactic politics, but nothing specific; crime syndicates that have no clear motive or plan and that shouldn’t be hard for law officers to track down (I mean, they’re called “The Spice Runners of Kijimi”—what planet do you think you’d find them on?); a girl, a boy, and a slightly humorous, clueless droid on adventures that include some petty bickering and possible romance; a hotshot pilot who can fly anything; dead parents whose memories haunt or motivate the protagonist; and on and on.
But the biggest error in this story is that all of it, 100%, feels like an alternate version of Solo. And it’s odd because in the movies, there’s nothing particularly Solo-like about Poe, nor does he have a lot of interaction with Han. So why make him another Solo character? The other misstep is that this story directly contradicts the version of Poe’s past in Before the Awakening (which was actually a pretty good book). Five years in, and Disney’s “everything is canon” is already having to retcon itself, contradicting itself in the process.
Along with the typos that make SW books feel deliberately disposable, Free Fall also has some dialogue that sounds really fake. This line early on, for example, which one of The Spice Runners of Kijimi says to Poe:
Another oddity is that in the movie, I’d thought the heroes were going to see some spice runners, who, you know, happened to be on the planet Kijimi. But in this novel, it’s like the name of a band: “‘Ever heard of the Spice Runners of Kijimi?’ Trune asked” (53). I don’t know why, but it always made me chuckle when the full name of the band was written out or spoken (which is really often).
I’m mostly done with keeping up with the SW books set in the sequel trilogy era (this is what I tell myself...), but I picked this one up because I liked Zorii Bliss in the movie and wanted to know her story. However, it’s just Qi’ra’s story from Solo, with a few small details rearranged to fool the plagiarism detector.
Why is current SW so incredibly uncreative? I don’t understand why people can’t imagine bigger and bolder.
A short story in Greg Rucka’s book Before the Awakening gives some of Poe Dameron’s backstory. Then in The Rise of Skywalker, part of the heroes’ ultimately pointless and unnecessary mission requires that they get assistance from a band of spice runners on Kijimi. Poe drew the short straw as the only character who could possibly have had some past connection to smugglers, so this detail got added to his history with little explanation. I can imagine Disney then scrambling to find some way to explain how Poe could have spent time on the wrong side of the law, so Alex Segura drew the short straw and had to (quickly, I assume) figure out some way to make it work. I feel a little bad for Segura, because it was a poisoned chalice.
The story he wrote, Free Fall, is like so much of Disney-era Star Wars: every character, location, and event feels almost exactly like something else that’s already happened in another SW story. There’s a cantina just like the Mos Eisley cantina; a teenage kid who dreams of getting off his dead-end planet and having adventures in the galaxy; a crash landing on a planet and then a fight for survival; predictable double-crosses; vague hints at galactic politics, but nothing specific; crime syndicates that have no clear motive or plan and that shouldn’t be hard for law officers to track down (I mean, they’re called “The Spice Runners of Kijimi”—what planet do you think you’d find them on?); a girl, a boy, and a slightly humorous, clueless droid on adventures that include some petty bickering and possible romance; a hotshot pilot who can fly anything; dead parents whose memories haunt or motivate the protagonist; and on and on.
But the biggest error in this story is that all of it, 100%, feels like an alternate version of Solo. And it’s odd because in the movies, there’s nothing particularly Solo-like about Poe, nor does he have a lot of interaction with Han. So why make him another Solo character? The other misstep is that this story directly contradicts the version of Poe’s past in Before the Awakening (which was actually a pretty good book). Five years in, and Disney’s “everything is canon” is already having to retcon itself, contradicting itself in the process.
Along with the typos that make SW books feel deliberately disposable, Free Fall also has some dialogue that sounds really fake. This line early on, for example, which one of The Spice Runners of Kijimi says to Poe:
“We’re smugglers,” she said flatly. “And our pilot is dead. If you can get us off this moon, you will begin a life of adventure and uncertainty unlike anything you’ve imagined. This place will be a blurry memory before too long.” (48)Come on, SW—be better.
Another oddity is that in the movie, I’d thought the heroes were going to see some spice runners, who, you know, happened to be on the planet Kijimi. But in this novel, it’s like the name of a band: “‘Ever heard of the Spice Runners of Kijimi?’ Trune asked” (53). I don’t know why, but it always made me chuckle when the full name of the band was written out or spoken (which is really often).
I’m mostly done with keeping up with the SW books set in the sequel trilogy era (this is what I tell myself...), but I picked this one up because I liked Zorii Bliss in the movie and wanted to know her story. However, it’s just Qi’ra’s story from Solo, with a few small details rearranged to fool the plagiarism detector.
Why is current SW so incredibly uncreative? I don’t understand why people can’t imagine bigger and bolder.
Poe Dameron: Free Fall by Alex Segura gives the hero a clear arc — something significantly deeper than in the films. His parents, established in the comics and other tie-in works, get more establishment as well. Young Poe is struggling with his father’s expectations and mother’s legacy, as well as his determination to get offworld. As such, it follows many traditional hero’s journey steps. In this lively children’s novel, Poe teams up with Zorri Bliss and willingly joins the notorious spicerunners. Together the pair have youthful adventures, telling a fast-paced story while setting up events in Rise of Skywalker. As it introduces planets already seen in the larger universe, there are few surprises, but the book entertains well.
This straightforward story still offers some nuance. Poe has his first time comparing being a good guy and a bad guy as he finds the universe offers shades of grey. The book also establishes how one can switch from a law-abiding child to a Han-Solo-type criminal. It’s an interesting topic, approached with authenticity and soul-searching. It’s also a practical, realistic story instead of one of the mystical Force. Adding nuance to the larger universe, Poe’s desperation to escape his parents’ legacy as squeaky-clean war heroes mirrors Ben Solo’s — especially when his father poignantly pleads with him to come home. It’s a good establishing story for Poe, like several adventures in the comics. Though it does feel as if, since the theme park opened, too many books have the characters ordering off Disney’s food and drinks menu.
This straightforward story still offers some nuance. Poe has his first time comparing being a good guy and a bad guy as he finds the universe offers shades of grey. The book also establishes how one can switch from a law-abiding child to a Han-Solo-type criminal. It’s an interesting topic, approached with authenticity and soul-searching. It’s also a practical, realistic story instead of one of the mystical Force. Adding nuance to the larger universe, Poe’s desperation to escape his parents’ legacy as squeaky-clean war heroes mirrors Ben Solo’s — especially when his father poignantly pleads with him to come home. It’s a good establishing story for Poe, like several adventures in the comics. Though it does feel as if, since the theme park opened, too many books have the characters ordering off Disney’s food and drinks menu.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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:
Yes
Extremely underrated book
This is a perfect companion to the Rise of Skywalker novel. I actually wish this had come out before the movie because it fleshed out the characters better than the movie. I enjoyed learning more about Poe and Zorii. The story jumps around a little, but overall it is a great journey that any Star Wars can will enjoy.
Zorii is a completely mysterious character in episode 9 but there’s a lot to be desired with her and Poe’s relationship, so this book was really cool for that reason. We see into Poe’s past and his affiliation with the spice runners. It’s thankfully more content to try and make the sequels a tiny bit better.
I liked how Poe and Kes’s relationship was portrayed here. (I cant believe he has the same daddy issues as me) and the end with Leia made me cry.
I never liked the Spice Runner plot in TROS bc of the racial undertones and it was so unnecessary since we already had a solid backstory for him but the whole Zorii and Poe thing made me hate it even more… their relationship was toxic and what she did to him near the end (spoiler: she beats the shit out of him bc he tries to leave) constitutes intimate partner violence no two ways about it.
I never liked the Spice Runner plot in TROS bc of the racial undertones and it was so unnecessary since we already had a solid backstory for him but the whole Zorii and Poe thing made me hate it even more… their relationship was toxic and what she did to him near the end (spoiler: she beats the shit out of him bc he tries to leave) constitutes intimate partner violence no two ways about it.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I saw this book, I was so excited for it and I really wanted to love it as it follows Resistance Pilot Poe Dameron when he is a teenager. Poe was one of my favorite characters in the sequel trilogy (which I do genuinely enjoy and love but recognize that as a trilogy it is a hot mess but that’s a different conversation) so I was definitely intrigued by this book. It covers the random plotline in Rise of Skywalker where we learn that Poe was a Spice Runner for a time and when he met Zorii Bliss. The idea interested me especially because the fact that Poe was a Spice Runner seemed to come out of nowhere in the films and wasn’t really expanded upon. I was also interested because I thought Zorii in the film was a compelling character with a potentially intriguing story but she was given so little screen time and other than being a love interest for Poe seemed to have no characterization. So I thought this book would be a fun read to learn more about Poe’s past and Zorii as a character.
Unfortunately, like the sequel trilogy, the book seems to not really understand Poe’s characterization. In the beginning of the book and at the end, Poe felt like Poe - rebellious but with a hero complex and a love and talent for flying. However, throughout the entire middle portion of the book, there was nothing about the character presented that made him feel like Poe Dameron. In fact, he fell very flat as a character. Now, it could be that the intent with this was because it was a time in Poe’s life where he is learning who he wants to be as a person. And perhaps he fell flat because he was never suited for the role he tried to force himself into. But it was still disappointing.
Zorii also fell pretty flat as a character until near the end but she at least knew what path she wanted to take and continued to follow that path throughout the book. But like in the movie, the “romance” plotline felt very forced and she and Poe had zero chemistry as a couple (yes I know this is geared towards a younger audience but other than Poe thinking Zorii was pretty, there was really nothing leading towards a romantic relationship - no inner monologues, no flirtation, etc. They came across more as siblings or best friends than romantic interests) despite the fact that both characters claim their relationship felt natural and right. They did have a good friendship though and worked well together. Zorii’s backstory was interesting but the “mystery” of who she is was stretched on for far too long.
My biggest issue with the book was the terrible pacing and that the story was presented in a way that takes you out of the scenes. At some point the story stops being told in a straight linear format. What I mean by that is the chapter will start off in the middle of some random action sequence that seems to come out of nowhere. Then rather abruptly will have Poe, or another character thinking about/remembering the events that led up to that moment so we get a flashback of a few hours previously to explain why they’re in the situation they are in. But then the character will be startled by blaster fire or some such thing and realize they need to stop reminiscing and pay attention to what is actually happening. If this had happened just once, that would’ve been fine but it kept happening chapter after chapter for a good portion of the book. It was frustrating to read this again and again and it made the story difficult to follow. When this happened, I found myself not really caring about the characters or the story and I found it a chore to get through. There were many times that I found myself spacing out and not paying attention because of this.
There were also many plot holes and plot lines that were just dropped ( one minor but decently important character is left dying and we never learn if that character actually survived or not; I ended up looking up said character and according to the Star Wars wiki this character survives but it would have been nice to know the outcome in the book ) or weren’t expanded upon. Some things were unnecessarily repeated due to the way the story is presented (there is even a chapter break/cliffhanger that is used twice in a row only a few pages from each other) which was also a bit frustrating. The side characters - particularly Zeva, Babu Frik, Kes, L’ulo, and Eevee - felt more fleshed out than our two main characters and one of those is a droid.
The ending was appropriate for the story and for transitioning into the next step in Poe’s life. But it felt rather rushed. Rather than feeling satisfied with the end, it left me with more questions about certain characters/plot points in the novel than I got resolutions for. I feel like if the final chapter had been longer or there had been one more chapter or an epilogue than it would have been resolved better.
As someone who genuinely enjoys everything in the Star Wars universe, even if I might not agree with some of the plot choices, I did enjoy this novel well enough. All in all, it was interesting enough to keep me reading and the overall idea was good. I was excited to learn more about Kijimi and the Spice Runners and it was refreshing to see bits of the Star Wars universe without Jedi making an appearance. I did enjoy the side characters and there were a couple of times that the pacing was done well enough that I couldn’t put the book down. But overall I felt that it needed to be more fleshed out and needed to be presented in a better storytelling format. If you enjoy Poe Dameron and the sequel trilogy in any capacity then I would say to at least give this book a try. At the very least, it fills in some of the gaps in his backstory and gives a deeper look into parts of the Star Wars universe.
Unfortunately, like the sequel trilogy, the book seems to not really understand Poe’s characterization. In the beginning of the book and at the end, Poe felt like Poe - rebellious but with a hero complex and a love and talent for flying. However, throughout the entire middle portion of the book, there was nothing about the character presented that made him feel like Poe Dameron. In fact, he fell very flat as a character. Now, it could be that the intent with this was because it was a time in Poe’s life where he is learning who he wants to be as a person. And perhaps he fell flat because he was never suited for the role he tried to force himself into. But it was still disappointing.
Zorii also fell pretty flat as a character until near the end but she at least knew what path she wanted to take and continued to follow that path throughout the book. But like in the movie, the “romance” plotline felt very forced and she and Poe had zero chemistry as a couple (yes I know this is geared towards a younger audience but other than Poe thinking Zorii was pretty, there was really nothing leading towards a romantic relationship - no inner monologues, no flirtation, etc. They came across more as siblings or best friends than romantic interests) despite the fact that both characters claim their relationship felt natural and right. They did have a good friendship though and worked well together. Zorii’s backstory was interesting but the “mystery” of who she is was stretched on for far too long.
My biggest issue with the book was the terrible pacing and that the story was presented in a way that takes you out of the scenes. At some point the story stops being told in a straight linear format. What I mean by that is the chapter will start off in the middle of some random action sequence that seems to come out of nowhere. Then rather abruptly will have Poe, or another character thinking about/remembering the events that led up to that moment so we get a flashback of a few hours previously to explain why they’re in the situation they are in. But then the character will be startled by blaster fire or some such thing and realize they need to stop reminiscing and pay attention to what is actually happening. If this had happened just once, that would’ve been fine but it kept happening chapter after chapter for a good portion of the book. It was frustrating to read this again and again and it made the story difficult to follow. When this happened, I found myself not really caring about the characters or the story and I found it a chore to get through. There were many times that I found myself spacing out and not paying attention because of this.
There were also many plot holes and plot lines that were just dropped (
The ending was appropriate for the story and for transitioning into the next step in Poe’s life. But it felt rather rushed. Rather than feeling satisfied with the end, it left me with more questions about certain characters/plot points in the novel than I got resolutions for. I feel like if the final chapter had been longer or there had been one more chapter or an epilogue than it would have been resolved better.
As someone who genuinely enjoys everything in the Star Wars universe, even if I might not agree with some of the plot choices, I did enjoy this novel well enough. All in all, it was interesting enough to keep me reading and the overall idea was good. I was excited to learn more about Kijimi and the Spice Runners and it was refreshing to see bits of the Star Wars universe without Jedi making an appearance. I did enjoy the side characters and there were a couple of times that the pacing was done well enough that I couldn’t put the book down. But overall I felt that it needed to be more fleshed out and needed to be presented in a better storytelling format. If you enjoy Poe Dameron and the sequel trilogy in any capacity then I would say to at least give this book a try. At the very least, it fills in some of the gaps in his backstory and gives a deeper look into parts of the Star Wars universe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
This review is a courtesy provided by NetGalley.
This may shock some friends, but Poe Dameron Free Fall is the first Star Wars novel I've ever read. I haven't even ready any of the comics. I did a rewatch of the newest trilogy movies as I was reading this book and it was such a great idea. They feel like a fresh version of the original three, but that's not what I'm here to discuss.
After Rise of Skywalker came out, I saw my Twitter feed fill up with many angry fans. They had various things to vocalize, but the main thread was that the PoC characters weren't treated fairly. When it came specifically to Poe Dameron, people were furious about the insinuation that the only Latino man was a drug dealer. For whatever reason, smuggling anything else is fine, but not "spice." It's not my lane, so I probably retweeted other voices that made more sense on the subject. I was curious to see what a YA novelization about Poe would bring to the table especially considering author Alex Segura is Hispanic and representation matters.
To clarify: that means this reviewer is white. Also to be transparent, Alex Segura and I have been in the same anthology (Protectors volume 2).
Nowhere in Free Fall does it refer to any human ethnicity; it's a distant galaxy far, far away in a different time so what we think of as race or ethnicity may not even exist. Alien species are described well for those like myself who don't have the Star Wars universe memorized. Also, give a shout out for Gen Tri, they are a non-conforming, non-binary gendered character. A Pau'an, a Klatooinian, and Twi'lek walk into a bar...
Like human ethnicities, there is no mention that "spice" is actually a drug. Readers only know it's an illegal substance and that it's run by smugglers like the Spice Runners of Kijimi, the most powerful of the star-crossing crime families. But, readers aren't stupid and we know that spice is supposed to be code for something like IRL cocaine or meth or what-have-you.
Poe Dameron is sixteen through this story; sometimes to referred to as a boy, sometimes as a man. It begins with Poe living with his father Kes Dameron on Yavin 4. Here readers will see the teen angst of Poe who feels stifled and trapped. His parents, Kes and Shara Bey fought in the Rebellion with General Leia Organa (there's a glimpse of Leia at the end while she's still a Senator and it's a beautiful moment). Before she died, Shara Bey taught young Poe everything about piloting spacecrafts. Naturally that gives him the drive to be in space and explore. As a young foolish person, Poe doesn't care how it happens. If his father won't allow him to enlist between the wars, then he'll take whatever comes his way to get off Yavin 4.
Poe's emotions feel genuine and real. Throughout the story, readers will see him question himself, his closest friend, and all authority figures. Being sixteen in this other galaxy places Poe and Zorii at the brink of adulthood. They're expected to be adults in many ways, especially Zorii. Kes would rather keep Poe in childhood a little bit longer for his emotions to mature. Zorii is far more independent and knows how to survive compared to Poe. When they meet in a bar and he finds out her crew needs a pilot, he goes all in without knowing a thing about them. They aren't just a small crew of thieves -- again something Poe would be cool with just like Han Solo; they are part of the massive organization called the Spice Runners of Kijimi.
After a couple of life-threatening jobs, Poe, Zorii, Marinda Gan, Tomasso, Vigilich, and Gen Tri head to Kijimi. I think you can tell by the foreshadowing that not all of them will make it to their destination. The challenges and battles along the way are intense. One such battle is against a Zabrak named Ledesmar. She sounds every bit as mesmerizing as other Star Wars baddies. Ledesmar is described as as: "a tall Zabrak woman draped in a flowing red cloak, her pale forehead framed by smallish horns above and around it. Designs decorated her face and visible skin. She weilded a long spearlike weapon with blades on each end." Ledesmar was so interesting, she could have been the "boss" villain at the end, but wait, it does build up from here.
There's something about Zorii. Something special. The couple of people who know won't tell Poe, including Zorii despite their intimate relationship. I won't spoil it here. She's more than Poe's first love. She's called an asset of unimaginable importance.
The next character that helps craft Poe into the kind of man we meet later in Rise of Skywalker, is the droid EV-6B6 or Eevee for short. In Skywalker, fans got to see Poe's bond with BB-8. It was just as vital as Luke Skywalker's friendship with R2D2. In Free Fall, Poe begins with a lot of hesitation and bias against droids. He doesn't trust them at all. Eevee is cheerful to the point where she's frequently annoying the other crew members. She only becomes part of their crew after the battle with Ledesmar. She's driven to help others and chooses the spice runners as friends because her masters (other thieves in the Pyke organization) have died and Ledesmar "wasn't very nice" to her. She has no one left from her ship/home. Ledesmar stole the ship from the Pyke crew and destroyed all of them except some droids. EV-6B6 has her own thought processing and beliefs. She makes her own choices even after it seems Poe is her adoptive new master. If something goes against her morals, she rejects it. Her relationship with Poe is earned and mutual. Because of EV-6B6, readers also get to meet Babu Frik, another character on Kijimi from Rise of Skywalker.
The New Republic is much stronger than fans see in Rise of Skywalker where it pretty much doesn't exist anymore. There's a young leader who has a personal vendetta against the Spice Runners of Kijimi. Selena Trune is more driven than Zorii and Poe put together. Sela Trune is an officer for the New Republic Security Bureau and she will not let anyone - not even direct orders from superiors - keep her from going after Zeva, the Spice Runners' mysterious leader.
The biggest character breakthrough is Zorii Wynn, a sixteen-year-old human who was forced to grow up faster than Poe. Sometimes she's referred to as a girl; sometimes a woman. She's as mature as a woman twice her age. She's been ferociously trained for hand-to-hand combat and space battle though she didn't know how to fly a ship until Poe teaches her. She's torn between love and her call to duty. Like many Star Wars characters, Zorii is seemingly locked into her destiny and it's a deeply tumultuous inner struggle for her to make her own choices and feel like she's doing the right thing. Free Fall is legitimately just as much Zorii's story as it is Poe's. If anything, it proves that she deserves her own book or movie.
In the final act, readers get their first real look at Zeva, the ruler of the vast network of murderers, thieves, and smugglers called the Spice Runners of Kijimi. She's a commander with skills for leading all these disconnected bands of criminals and making them a cohesive force feared by all. So feared, that the New Republic looks the other way if she's conducting business on a place like Kijimi and off their radar. Sela Trune is the only one who is willing to go after her directly no matter where she is. Zeva is such a legend that some people don't believe she exists, but that won't stop Sela Trune.
The ending battle is one of chaos between a variety of villains, Sela Trune, and a more self-aware Poe Dameron. Poe and Zorii continue to surprise each other right to the very end. They've switched demeanor on each other more times than I watched the gif of Poe and Finn hugging.
In a nutshell, fans who were troubled by Poe being a spice runner will not be let down by Free Fall. He knows Shara Bey and Kes Dameron raised him better than that. At sixteen, his mission is about finding a direction in life and that's what exactly what happens at the end after the dust settles on the fight with Zeva.
"Criminals are a cowardly, superstitious lot. But you know that," Zorii said.
I have to know if this quote by Zorii is a reference to the Batman Beyond episode where Terry and Bruce are watching Batman: The Musical and the lyrics say criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot.
Rating: 5 stars
Action and character evolution the way you wanted it.
This may shock some friends, but Poe Dameron Free Fall is the first Star Wars novel I've ever read. I haven't even ready any of the comics. I did a rewatch of the newest trilogy movies as I was reading this book and it was such a great idea. They feel like a fresh version of the original three, but that's not what I'm here to discuss.
After Rise of Skywalker came out, I saw my Twitter feed fill up with many angry fans. They had various things to vocalize, but the main thread was that the PoC characters weren't treated fairly. When it came specifically to Poe Dameron, people were furious about the insinuation that the only Latino man was a drug dealer. For whatever reason, smuggling anything else is fine, but not "spice." It's not my lane, so I probably retweeted other voices that made more sense on the subject. I was curious to see what a YA novelization about Poe would bring to the table especially considering author Alex Segura is Hispanic and representation matters.
To clarify: that means this reviewer is white. Also to be transparent, Alex Segura and I have been in the same anthology (Protectors volume 2).
Nowhere in Free Fall does it refer to any human ethnicity; it's a distant galaxy far, far away in a different time so what we think of as race or ethnicity may not even exist. Alien species are described well for those like myself who don't have the Star Wars universe memorized. Also, give a shout out for Gen Tri, they are a non-conforming, non-binary gendered character. A Pau'an, a Klatooinian, and Twi'lek walk into a bar...
Like human ethnicities, there is no mention that "spice" is actually a drug. Readers only know it's an illegal substance and that it's run by smugglers like the Spice Runners of Kijimi, the most powerful of the star-crossing crime families. But, readers aren't stupid and we know that spice is supposed to be code for something like IRL cocaine or meth or what-have-you.
Poe Dameron is sixteen through this story; sometimes to referred to as a boy, sometimes as a man. It begins with Poe living with his father Kes Dameron on Yavin 4. Here readers will see the teen angst of Poe who feels stifled and trapped. His parents, Kes and Shara Bey fought in the Rebellion with General Leia Organa (there's a glimpse of Leia at the end while she's still a Senator and it's a beautiful moment). Before she died, Shara Bey taught young Poe everything about piloting spacecrafts. Naturally that gives him the drive to be in space and explore. As a young foolish person, Poe doesn't care how it happens. If his father won't allow him to enlist between the wars, then he'll take whatever comes his way to get off Yavin 4.
Poe's emotions feel genuine and real. Throughout the story, readers will see him question himself, his closest friend, and all authority figures. Being sixteen in this other galaxy places Poe and Zorii at the brink of adulthood. They're expected to be adults in many ways, especially Zorii. Kes would rather keep Poe in childhood a little bit longer for his emotions to mature. Zorii is far more independent and knows how to survive compared to Poe. When they meet in a bar and he finds out her crew needs a pilot, he goes all in without knowing a thing about them. They aren't just a small crew of thieves -- again something Poe would be cool with just like Han Solo; they are part of the massive organization called the Spice Runners of Kijimi.
After a couple of life-threatening jobs, Poe, Zorii, Marinda Gan, Tomasso, Vigilich, and Gen Tri head to Kijimi. I think you can tell by the foreshadowing that not all of them will make it to their destination. The challenges and battles along the way are intense. One such battle is against a Zabrak named Ledesmar. She sounds every bit as mesmerizing as other Star Wars baddies. Ledesmar is described as as: "a tall Zabrak woman draped in a flowing red cloak, her pale forehead framed by smallish horns above and around it. Designs decorated her face and visible skin. She weilded a long spearlike weapon with blades on each end." Ledesmar was so interesting, she could have been the "boss" villain at the end, but wait, it does build up from here.
There's something about Zorii. Something special. The couple of people who know won't tell Poe, including Zorii despite their intimate relationship. I won't spoil it here. She's more than Poe's first love. She's called an asset of unimaginable importance.
The next character that helps craft Poe into the kind of man we meet later in Rise of Skywalker, is the droid EV-6B6 or Eevee for short. In Skywalker, fans got to see Poe's bond with BB-8. It was just as vital as Luke Skywalker's friendship with R2D2. In Free Fall, Poe begins with a lot of hesitation and bias against droids. He doesn't trust them at all. Eevee is cheerful to the point where she's frequently annoying the other crew members. She only becomes part of their crew after the battle with Ledesmar. She's driven to help others and chooses the spice runners as friends because her masters (other thieves in the Pyke organization) have died and Ledesmar "wasn't very nice" to her. She has no one left from her ship/home. Ledesmar stole the ship from the Pyke crew and destroyed all of them except some droids. EV-6B6 has her own thought processing and beliefs. She makes her own choices even after it seems Poe is her adoptive new master. If something goes against her morals, she rejects it. Her relationship with Poe is earned and mutual. Because of EV-6B6, readers also get to meet Babu Frik, another character on Kijimi from Rise of Skywalker.
The New Republic is much stronger than fans see in Rise of Skywalker where it pretty much doesn't exist anymore. There's a young leader who has a personal vendetta against the Spice Runners of Kijimi. Selena Trune is more driven than Zorii and Poe put together. Sela Trune is an officer for the New Republic Security Bureau and she will not let anyone - not even direct orders from superiors - keep her from going after Zeva, the Spice Runners' mysterious leader.
The biggest character breakthrough is Zorii Wynn, a sixteen-year-old human who was forced to grow up faster than Poe. Sometimes she's referred to as a girl; sometimes a woman. She's as mature as a woman twice her age. She's been ferociously trained for hand-to-hand combat and space battle though she didn't know how to fly a ship until Poe teaches her. She's torn between love and her call to duty. Like many Star Wars characters, Zorii is seemingly locked into her destiny and it's a deeply tumultuous inner struggle for her to make her own choices and feel like she's doing the right thing. Free Fall is legitimately just as much Zorii's story as it is Poe's. If anything, it proves that she deserves her own book or movie.
In the final act, readers get their first real look at Zeva, the ruler of the vast network of murderers, thieves, and smugglers called the Spice Runners of Kijimi. She's a commander with skills for leading all these disconnected bands of criminals and making them a cohesive force feared by all. So feared, that the New Republic looks the other way if she's conducting business on a place like Kijimi and off their radar. Sela Trune is the only one who is willing to go after her directly no matter where she is. Zeva is such a legend that some people don't believe she exists, but that won't stop Sela Trune.
The ending battle is one of chaos between a variety of villains, Sela Trune, and a more self-aware Poe Dameron. Poe and Zorii continue to surprise each other right to the very end. They've switched demeanor on each other more times than I watched the gif of Poe and Finn hugging.
In a nutshell, fans who were troubled by Poe being a spice runner will not be let down by Free Fall. He knows Shara Bey and Kes Dameron raised him better than that. At sixteen, his mission is about finding a direction in life and that's what exactly what happens at the end after the dust settles on the fight with Zeva.
"Criminals are a cowardly, superstitious lot. But you know that," Zorii said.
I have to know if this quote by Zorii is a reference to the Batman Beyond episode where Terry and Bruce are watching Batman: The Musical and the lyrics say criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot.
Rating: 5 stars
Action and character evolution the way you wanted it.