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mkpatt2024's review against another edition
3.0
It was good, but not much action. Well written, but there were very few characters I actually liked, even though I was familiar with most of them. A good prequel to Rogue One, if you can get through it without falling asleep.
elbosso's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
nyx_knight's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
ttodd86's review
2.0
It is what it is: a prequel book to a Star Wars movie. Not worth reading if you are not a fan and not that enjoyable if you are. Probably because you know where this book is going to end up, it seemed a bit too long.
cadmanreads's review
4.0
I read quite a while after release and so I was very familiar with the Rogue One movie. I think this probably made me like this book a little more.
I cared about the Ersos and to a lesser extent Krenic.
There's some great background regarding the death star construction and the links to the prequel trilogy that I enjoyed. My only issue was I thought it was a little too long.
I followed up the book by rewatching the movie and I also managed to find a writers commentary on YouTube to sync up with the rewatch.
I cared about the Ersos and to a lesser extent Krenic.
There's some great background regarding the death star construction and the links to the prequel trilogy that I enjoyed. My only issue was I thought it was a little too long.
I followed up the book by rewatching the movie and I also managed to find a writers commentary on YouTube to sync up with the rewatch.
sdloomer's review against another edition
4.0
--3.5/5 stars--
Although it took me well over a month to finish this (which I accredit to laziness), I was extremely pleased by the direction this novel took: the relationship between Galen Erso and Orson Krennic. I admit, I jumped into it directly after seeing Rogue One, and had absolutely no idea how it could be a prequel to a prequel--but I was relieved! Not only does it show and tell how Galen came to contribute to the building of the Death Star, but it also deliberated on how his and Lyra's relationship with the Empire became disillusioned.
While reading, it occurred to me that Orson Krennic, for all his slithery machinations, isn't actually an evil person. It was shown that way in Rogue One, most likely for the audience to have a common enemy, but here, we are treated to a real, fleshed out man: yes, he's incredibly ambitious, but it seems he truly believes that what he is doing is for the good if (most) everyone in the newly-formed Empire. He wants Galen to succeed because his inherent genius can't be acknowledged any other way (in Krennic's eyes), and those that stand in his way (Lyra included) must be removed. Galen is his friend and he thinks he is doing him a great service.
What I was most ecstatic about (though not at first, because I was solely focused on Jyn and her character after Rogue One) was the in-depth look at Lyra. We're almost immediately treated to her incredible insight, and throughout she manages to see right through Krennic and all his schemes with little difficulty. That and being Force-sensitive was what I loved most about Mr. Luceno's portrayal of her.
Also, Lyra doesn't take anyone's bullshit.
I'm a little sad to be leaving Galen and Lyra, as I'll be continuing on with the novelization of Rogue One, but it's been a good run. May the Force be with you!
(Can we get a Lyra book now?)
Although it took me well over a month to finish this (which I accredit to laziness), I was extremely pleased by the direction this novel took: the relationship between Galen Erso and Orson Krennic. I admit, I jumped into it directly after seeing Rogue One, and had absolutely no idea how it could be a prequel to a prequel--but I was relieved! Not only does it show and tell how Galen came to contribute to the building of the Death Star, but it also deliberated on how his and Lyra's relationship with the Empire became disillusioned.
While reading, it occurred to me that Orson Krennic, for all his slithery machinations, isn't actually an evil person. It was shown that way in Rogue One, most likely for the audience to have a common enemy, but here, we are treated to a real, fleshed out man: yes, he's incredibly ambitious, but it seems he truly believes that what he is doing is for the good if (most) everyone in the newly-formed Empire. He wants Galen to succeed because his inherent genius can't be acknowledged any other way (in Krennic's eyes), and those that stand in his way (Lyra included) must be removed. Galen is his friend and he thinks he is doing him a great service.
What I was most ecstatic about (though not at first, because I was solely focused on Jyn and her character after Rogue One) was the in-depth look at Lyra. We're almost immediately treated to her incredible insight, and throughout she manages to see right through Krennic and all his schemes with little difficulty. That and being Force-sensitive was what I loved most about Mr. Luceno's portrayal of her.
Also, Lyra doesn't take anyone's bullshit.
I'm a little sad to be leaving Galen and Lyra, as I'll be continuing on with the novelization of Rogue One, but it's been a good run. May the Force be with you!
(Can we get a Lyra book now?)
vendea's review against another edition
1.0
ugh
ugggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh
I finished this by sheer force of will alone but oh my gosh
my gosh
It was annoying and boring and I wanted to like it, really I did, but it was awful.
Things that got really grating:
- Lyra and the force and the Mysticnesssss of it all
- Tarkin & Krennic - "we must bring order to the galaxy" 5 minutes later: INFIGHT! INFIGHT!
- oooooh Jyn doesn't like Krennic foreshadowing oooooOooOOohhjhhh
- Galen the mad scientist (not that he shouldn't be that way it just annoyed me because everything annoyed me at that point)
-
- (again I liked it, but really the creative team should have their titles revoked for choosing the most overused plot in early Empire history)
- I was never sure why I should really care about Has' sideplots. I think they could have been abbreviated.
- various side characters who get introduced and then dropped, never heard from again.
rant over. I wish I had liked it more.
ugggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh
I finished this by sheer force of will alone but oh my gosh
my gosh
It was annoying and boring and I wanted to like it, really I did, but it was awful.
Things that got really grating:
- Lyra and the force and the Mysticnesssss of it all
- Tarkin & Krennic - "we must bring order to the galaxy" 5 minutes later: INFIGHT! INFIGHT!
- oooooh Jyn doesn't like Krennic foreshadowing oooooOooOOohhjhhh
- Galen the mad scientist (not that he shouldn't be that way it just annoyed me because everything annoyed me at that point)
-
Spoiler
Has Obitt the smuggler-turned-righteous-rebel WOW THAT'S ORIGINAL-
Spoiler
As original as Rogue One's plot- I was never sure why I should really care about Has' sideplots. I think they could have been abbreviated.
- various side characters who get introduced and then dropped, never heard from again.
Spoiler
The Empire should hire this author to Disappear people because he's good at itrant over. I wish I had liked it more.
horoxv's review
3.0
Great prequel novel to Rogue One the movie. James Luceno is a master at writing in the star wars universe.
My rating of 4/5 stars is solely for two reasons. The writing and characters. The story itself is all but assumed and known by everyone. We all know what happens. The death star was built and though this book points out some small details and the leading up to it, I felt that it was unecessary. Some of these new Canon novels just feel entirely filler. I understand there are small stories that need to be told but honestly they are nothing compared to the old EU where each story was jam packed with adventure.
I don't know. I do love the new canon. Lots of the books are great, but the problem is that Disney is focusing on the new trilogy and doesn't want to reveal anything there until the movies are done, so lots of what we will get WILL be filler/etc until then.
Oh man I hope Thrawn is an amazing book.
Anyways, the characters and relationships were top notch. This made me feel so much for Galen, Lyra, Jyn, even dislike Orson Krennic so much more when I saw Rogue One. It does it's job well, but outside of leading up to rogue one, I don't know if it had much point.
My rating of 4/5 stars is solely for two reasons. The writing and characters. The story itself is all but assumed and known by everyone. We all know what happens. The death star was built and though this book points out some small details and the leading up to it, I felt that it was unecessary. Some of these new Canon novels just feel entirely filler. I understand there are small stories that need to be told but honestly they are nothing compared to the old EU where each story was jam packed with adventure.
I don't know. I do love the new canon. Lots of the books are great, but the problem is that Disney is focusing on the new trilogy and doesn't want to reveal anything there until the movies are done, so lots of what we will get WILL be filler/etc until then.
Oh man I hope Thrawn is an amazing book.
Anyways, the characters and relationships were top notch. This made me feel so much for Galen, Lyra, Jyn, even dislike Orson Krennic so much more when I saw Rogue One. It does it's job well, but outside of leading up to rogue one, I don't know if it had much point.
joekliverpool's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5