A review by thomaswright94
The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition by Rae Carson

3.0

As most novelisations you'll probably only like it if you liked the film. I have mixed feelings on the film but this book helps to address some of the issues. The story works so much better as a book as it has more time to breath. The novel also has some much needed quiet moments; moments of self reflection for the characters. These are particularly important for Leia and Lando as they were underused in the film version. Kylo Ren is superb as ever and this novel in particular highlights that he is more than a crying child, he has so much depth. Rey is of course the star of the show and this novel helps to cement her character as one of the greats, despite certain revelations about her lineage... Emperor Palpatine, however is criminally underused here. He should have much more present in the story and merely acts as a plot device. This is a shame as there is so much potential here, and we see glimpses of a great Sith story that continues the legacy of other books. I'd give this book a go if you're willing to accept the story we've been given.