It’s May the Fourth and and if you are looking for something force-filled to pick up this week, I have a few suggestions for you.
Tarkin by James Luceno
Tarkin gives us a look behind the only man to be able to “hold Vader’s leash” and get away with it. Grand Moff Tarkin’s role in Star Wars: A New Hope was short lived and, as an audience, we never learned much about him and how he was able to control Vader so well. This is the story about how that respect came to pass between Darth Vader and Tarkin and how Tarkin came to be the ruthless man he showed himself to be in A New Hope.
Lords of the Sith by Paul S. Kemp
Lords of the Sith gives us an inside look at the relationship between Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. The master and the apprentice set out to take care of some personal business on Ryloth, a planet valuable to the Empire for slave labor and a narcotic known only as “spice.” While on their mission, we get an inside look at Darth Vader’s loyalty to the Emperor and see if their relationship is a real bond or just a facade like past Sith master and apprenticeships have been.
Heir to the Jedi: Star Wars by Kevin Hearne
Heir to the Jedi: Star Wars is the third book in a series of tales that takes place between Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Leia and Han have already had their time in the solo book spotlight, so this time, it’s all about Luke. The battle of Yavin was a huge success for the rebels, but personally, Luke lost his longtime friend Biggs Darklighter. Putting that aside, Luke must carry his new weight of being a hero and a valuable asset to the Rebellion. His skills get him nominated for a dangerous mission to rescue a rebel sympathizer with renowned skills for hacking communications systems. If the Empire is able to unlock her powers, they will have a devastating ability to steal the Rebel Alliance’s plans, much like how they stole the plans to the ill-fated Death Star.
Star Wars: A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller and foreword by Dave Filoni
The cover art for Star Wars: A New Dawn will look familiar to many Star Wars Rebels fans because Kanan Jarrus and Cesi Eirris are front and center. I was immediately wrapped into this book from the first chapter that gave us a look into Kanan’s time as a Padawan. The first few pages hit hard because it happens not long before Order 66 (the eradication of the Jedi Order), and Kanana had some foresight to wonder about the communication systems used to call the Jedi back to the temples. This title is set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and follows the beginning and formation of the Rebel Alliance.
Of all the books above, I have to say my favorite is Star Wars: A New Dawn because of the viewpoint from Kanan and the light it shines on the time between Episodes III and IV. My husband is partial to Tarkin because it makes their few scenes together in Episode IV more significant than before he knew their relationship history. No matter what book you choose, the Force will be with you.
Disclaimer: GeekMom was given a review sample.
