Three hundred pages of ‘meh’.

This is probably half me, half the book. Not in the mood for this right now, also it wasn’t great. There’s nothing objectionable about it. I just did not care. Not the outcome I was hoping for, especially since I’ve liked all the rest of the books so far in the new Star Wars canon. I suppose this was going to happen eventually, statistically speaking. Ah, well. No harm done. Moving on with my life.

I don’t recommend this book for anyone who isn’t more than a casual Star Wars fan. Casuals, move along.

All right, the rest of you, listen up. This book is interesting in parts and if you’ve seen the film (loved it, loved the novelization as well). Don’t read this first. You will either like it better because it provides some backstory on how the events of the film tie in to the events of the prequels and the Clone Wars, as well as backstory on Galen and Lyra Erso, as and their frenemy, Orson Krennic, or you will like it worse because Rogue One was infinitely better. Luceno’s style, which I’ve never gelled with anyway in any of his previous Star Wars books, really didn’t work here for me. The book takes place over years and spans many events in the lives of the Ersos, as well as transitioning from the Republic to the Empire, and that made it way harder to get immersed in the story. He also focuses more on the logistical details than he does on characters and emotions. The only word I can use to describe it is “dry.”

I do think there was some interesting material to be mined here, but this book didn’t manage to do it.

In short, for die-hards only.

[2.5 stars]