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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
If you've ever thought something along the lines of "I wish Rebels had that Clone Wars edge to it" then New Dawn is for you. An interesting and fun little prequel to Rebels. Kanan and Hera are mostly as you know them from Rebels Season 1. Kanan is less intense and Hera is a little more intense, but there isn't any huge character shift in that regard. If anything we get to see Kanan working out some of his leftover issues with Order 66 and his connection to the Force. In Rebels Season 1 he seems to just be hiding his Jedi past, but here in New Dawn he's actively suppressing it.
The side characters are well done. Zaluna is a personal favorite of mine, Skelly is convincingly frustrating to the characters but never frustrating to read, and Okadiah is a fine parental stand-in for Kanan. Count Vidian is interesting on paper but he felt too disconnected from the main characters to get too involved in bringing him down.
The worst I can say about this book is that it doesn't exactly break any new ground for Star Wars. I wouldn't say it's a must read, but if you like Rebels then you'll like New Dawn.
The side characters are well done. Zaluna is a personal favorite of mine, Skelly is convincingly frustrating to the characters but never frustrating to read, and Okadiah is a fine parental stand-in for Kanan. Count Vidian is interesting on paper but he felt too disconnected from the main characters to get too involved in bringing him down.
The worst I can say about this book is that it doesn't exactly break any new ground for Star Wars. I wouldn't say it's a must read, but if you like Rebels then you'll like New Dawn.
adventurous
slow-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
"You were hurt by a regime. You might get vegeance against the hand that hurt you, but you wouldn't get justice. Not until everyone gets it."
Probably one of the heaviest/most laborious Star Wars novels I've gotten through so far. Not because the plot was necessarily complex, but mostly because the delivery was in chunks of switching points of view that ended up making everything more complicated than necessary. You would get a couple paragraphs narrated by a side character, then change to the protagonist, then jump to one of the antagonists, and then another side character. It was exhausting!
But I really enjoy how the empire as a regime was handled by the narrative. Being target towards a younger audience, Star Wars oftentimes shies away a bit from the brutality of dictatorship, and this aspect really is a central point of this novel. It's not only the corruption and lack of care for the people, or even the somewhat graphic violence and death, that paints the context of a galaxy under the empire, but the straightforwardness and rawness in which the exploitation and decay of a population is portrayed.
Even with the ridiculous and funny moments worth of any Star Wars media (and the Kanan and Hera backstory), what really shines in A New Dawn is the despair from consecutive chaos, devastation and tiranny that really makes you question if there's any victory at all.
But I really enjoy how the empire as a regime was handled by the narrative. Being target towards a younger audience, Star Wars oftentimes shies away a bit from the brutality of dictatorship, and this aspect really is a central point of this novel. It's not only the corruption and lack of care for the people, or even the somewhat graphic violence and death, that paints the context of a galaxy under the empire, but the straightforwardness and rawness in which the exploitation and decay of a population is portrayed.
Even with the ridiculous and funny moments worth of any Star Wars media (and the Kanan and Hera backstory), what really shines in A New Dawn is the despair from consecutive chaos, devastation and tiranny that really makes you question if there's any victory at all.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A short, okay read. Unfortunately, the characters are under-developed, save for Hera and Kanan. The villain is one-dimensional, and there are many well worn tropes throughout the book. It probably did fine setting up Star Wars Rebel (I have not seen it yet) but as a standalone novel, it falls far short of other canon novels like Thrawn or Ahsoka.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My love of Star Wars stretches back almost as far as I can remember. My dad bought, and still has, very early copies of the original trilogy on VHS that we watched countless times throughout my childhood. My first job at 14 years old in 1999 was at a little used bookstore. It was there, with my employee discount that I really fell in love with reading and especially Star Wars novels. My first Star Wars novel was Heir to the Empire. I shortly thereafter read every one we had in stock and started special ordering all the ones we didn't and started reading all of the new series as they came out starting with the New Jedi Order.
When Disney bought Star Wars and Lucasfilm I was worried about what would happen to future novels. The Expanded Universe was and is very dear to me. I was even more worried when they said they would basically be rebooting the EU canon, but I was very excited about a new, unified canon throughout the films, novels, comics, video games, etc.
So it was with a lot of excitement and a lot of anxiety that I approached this book, and I'm happy to report that my fears and anxiety are gone and my excitement for future Star Wars novels is through the roof.
A New Dawn has a little bit of a slow, meandering start, but it picks up quickly after that with great action, comedy, well-developed characters, a satisfying and terrifying villain, and that very tangible Star Wars feel. I loved it.
My favorite character was hands down Zaluna. I loved everything about her. Pulled into something she didn't ask for and didn't quite understand, she still rose to heroics and sacrifice, all to honor a friend.
All of the character development in this book was very good and believable. Skelly, Kanan, Zaluna, Hera, all of them changed because of the story and the way the separate threads were woven together speaks very highly of Miller's ability as an author. The only character I wish I'd learned more about was Hera. Her past is still a mystery and I really hope they explore her backstory more in the TV show, Rebels.
This book does a very good job of standing alone as a novel even if the TV show wasn't coming afterwards, though it also does a good job of making me want to see the show.
One last note, I listened to this book as an audio production from Audible, which is how I would recommend everyone read any Star Wars novel. The productions are always high quality. The sound effects and music make you feel even more like you are having that epic Star Wars experience, and the narration is really spectacular.
This book made me laugh, cry, cheer, and reflect. I couldn't ask for more. I am incredibly stoked for the future of Star Wars, and I can't wait until I next get to visit that galaxy far, far away.
When Disney bought Star Wars and Lucasfilm I was worried about what would happen to future novels. The Expanded Universe was and is very dear to me. I was even more worried when they said they would basically be rebooting the EU canon, but I was very excited about a new, unified canon throughout the films, novels, comics, video games, etc.
So it was with a lot of excitement and a lot of anxiety that I approached this book, and I'm happy to report that my fears and anxiety are gone and my excitement for future Star Wars novels is through the roof.
A New Dawn has a little bit of a slow, meandering start, but it picks up quickly after that with great action, comedy, well-developed characters, a satisfying and terrifying villain, and that very tangible Star Wars feel. I loved it.
My favorite character was hands down Zaluna. I loved everything about her. Pulled into something she didn't ask for and didn't quite understand, she still rose to heroics and sacrifice, all to honor a friend.
All of the character development in this book was very good and believable. Skelly, Kanan, Zaluna, Hera, all of them changed because of the story and the way the separate threads were woven together speaks very highly of Miller's ability as an author. The only character I wish I'd learned more about was Hera. Her past is still a mystery and I really hope they explore her backstory more in the TV show, Rebels.
This book does a very good job of standing alone as a novel even if the TV show wasn't coming afterwards, though it also does a good job of making me want to see the show.
One last note, I listened to this book as an audio production from Audible, which is how I would recommend everyone read any Star Wars novel. The productions are always high quality. The sound effects and music make you feel even more like you are having that epic Star Wars experience, and the narration is really spectacular.
This book made me laugh, cry, cheer, and reflect. I couldn't ask for more. I am incredibly stoked for the future of Star Wars, and I can't wait until I next get to visit that galaxy far, far away.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated