Book Review: The Rise of Skywalker by Rae Carson

The Rise of Skywalker
by Rae Carson (Carson)

Please Note: if you saw “The Rise of Skywalker” movie and did NOT like it, this novel is unlikely to change your assessment. However, for those who saw the movie and at least didn’t dislike it, or are curious as to who everyone was and what the name of all the locations was (and why are they important), this novel is well worth your time. Rae Carson is a talented writer and does a nice job in telling the story in novel form and making the characters feel like her own. There are numerous fun little bits of background and the motivations and the characters are expanded upon nicely. It’s hardly a required read, but a worthwhile one all the same.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Most Wanted by Rae Carson, The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster or The Last Jedi by Jason Fry.]

[ official The Rise of Skywalker novel adaptation page on Wookiepedia ]

Recommended by Corey G.
Gere Branch Library

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

Review: Solo - A Star Wars Story by Mur Lafferty

Solo: A Star Wars Story
by Mur Lafferty

The novelization of “Solo: a Star Wars Story” is a good to very good read. There are some discrepancies of events that take place in the novel from what happens in the film itself. Some readers might find it a touch jarring, but I took it as the author working from an earlier draft of the script rather than a deliberate choice to retell events. The book serves as a very nice companion piece to the movie as it gives us a glimpse into the characters’ motivations and points of view. I would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan who enjoys reading moderate-length chapter books.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Solo: A Star Wars Story [on DVD], Last Shot, by Daniel Jose Older,Most Wanted, by Rae Carson, Honor Among Thieves, by James S.A. Corey [Legends book] or Star Wars: Scoundrels, by Timothy Zahn [Legends book]]

[ This novelization’s page on Wookiepedia ] | [ official Mur Lafferty web site ]

Recommended by Corey G.
Gere Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
by Alexander Freed

Novelizations of movies are often something of a mixed bag. Happily, “Rogue One” is a well-done novelization. My recommendation would be to read James Luceno’s novel “Catalyst” to have a good background for watching the movie “Rogue One”. After seeing the movie, read this novel. It does a good job of detailing things that one may have missed when watching the movie. Overall, this is a solid, well-paced book that can stand on its own; but it’s better enjoyed as part of the overall Star Wars story.

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel and Tarkin, both by James Luceno.)

( publisher’s fficial Rogue One novelization web page ) | ( official Alexander Freed web site )

See more books like this on our Star Wars: The Reading List booklist

Recommended by Corey G.
Gere Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - novelization by Alan Dean Foster

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (novelization)
by Alan Dean Foster

The novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a fun read. There are some slight discrepancies between the book and the movie that are likely the result of Alan Dean Foster writing from a earlier draft of the script than what made it to the big screen. It could also be a preview of some potential deleted scenes that might be on the dvd/blu-ray that comes out later this year. The book moves at a good pace and Foster does a nice job translating the characters from movie to print. We also get a few insights into what is going on in the character’s heads during pivotal moments. The ending is rather rushed and unfortunately clunky. Overall the book is a fun read for any Star Wars fan. I would recommend seeing the movie before reading the book for best enjoyment of both.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Star Wars Trilogy, by Donald F. Glut, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, by R.A. Salvatore and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, by Matthew Stover]

[ publisher’s official The Force Awakens book web page] | [ official Alan Dean Foster web site ]

Recommended by Corey G.
Gere Branch Library

Have you read this? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!