+++Warning, this contains spoilers for the Animated Rebels and Clone Wars series, but no major spoilers from the book itself+++
This book was actually my introduction to the character of Ahsoka Tano. She was, as most people know, the Padawan of Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars, between Episodes II and III. She was framed for a murder that she did not commit and was almost kicked out of the Jedi order only to be proven innocent by Anakin, yet ended up leaving the order. This book tells the story of what happened after Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi and tells how she was recruited by Bail Organa into the Rebellion, which would play out in the animated series Rebels, which is set a handful of years before the events of A New Hope.
In this novel, Ahsoka has taken up the name Ashla, and hiding in a farming settlement on a moon called Raada in the Outer Rim, trying to stay off the Empire's radar. The Empire ends up coming to the moon in order to strip the moon of its resources, and Ahsoka builds a mini resistance against the local troops. She eventually gets on the radar of the local Imperial Bureaucrat, Bail Organa, and one of the Inquisitors.
The novel does outline some of the details of Ahsoka's storyline in the final season of The Clone Wars, which was resurrected after this book was written and the Rebel series had ended. Also, a portion of the storyline in the novel is shown in the new Animated Series, Tales of the Jedi, which is a collection of short animated stories that heavily feature Ahsoka. While the book is enjoyable even if you have not seen the Clone Wars animated series, it is definitely better if you have that background and context as her past is only lightly touched on in the book, mostly through flashbacks.
Overall, it is a very good story, for a character that was somewhat divisive when she was first introduced but has become more and more beloved as she has been fleshed out in the animated series and in live-action. It is definitely one of the canon novels that I would include on a must-read list. It is a fairly easy read, and despite being a young-adult novel can easily be enjoyed by adults. It is definitely worth the time to read.
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| Discover More Star Wars Adventures! | Set between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, this young adult novel traces Padmé Amidala's journey from queen of Naboo to Galactic senator, by the New York Times best-selling author of Ahsoka. | A prequel to the New York Times best-selling novel Queen's Shadow, further exploring the life of the iconic Padmé Amidala! | A peace-loving senator faces a time of war in another thrilling Padmé Amidala adventure from the author of the New York Times best-sellers Queen's Peril and Queen's Shadow! | This story explores the beginning of Princess Leia's participation in the Rebellion and the origin of her friendship with Amilyn Holdo from The Last Jedi! |
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A Good Beginning
This book was marketed as what happened to Ahsoka Tano’s life after she left the Jedi Order but before Star Wars Rebels and that is partially true. This book takes place a year after the Empire was established in Episode III Revenge of the Sith. As near as I can tell that means it’s approximately three years after we last saw Ahsoka in Clone Wars. This means that there is still 13 more years before Star Wars Rebels which means this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as Ahsoka’ s story in-between Clone Wars and Rebels.The story largely focuses on Ahsoka learning to deal with the horrific loss of all her Jedi friends by the programmed betrayal of her former clone friends and how those great losses have made her emotionally distant from everyone. Feeling alone, the Empire seems too overwhelming to her at first and she does whatever she can to keep a low profile but seeing the brutality of the Empire’s methods of control slowly make her realize that she cannot just sit by and watch such misery and as the story goes on she finds her true self again and comes to see that maybe she isn’t as alone as she thought she was.Positives:-I love the cover! Kudos to Wojtek Fus.-You learn the origin of her white lightsabers-Introduction of Inquisitors-The book does well at canon immersion. You get various small tidbits about other parts of the galaxy such as Kashyyyk, Obi Wan, force wielders, Ilum etc. Just gives you an overall feel of what is happening and how this all fits in.-Bail Organa and R2-D2, its cool seeing what they’re up to.-Origin of FulcrumNegatives:-The Clone Wars ended only one year ago yet there were no clone troopers present in any of the Imperial forces in this book. Really? That seems unlikely. Just a pet peeve that didn’t get explained to my satisfaction.-Her new friends on Raada were somewhat bland which made it hard to care about them-The story seemed beneath Ahsoka’s skill level and, as such, made the ending a bit anticlimactic. However, when I look at it as only the beginning of her finding herself again and the beginning of her 13 year journey to Rebels then I like it much more.-There is more drama than action for the first three quarters of the book. However, I view this drama as helping Ahsoka realize her true calling, take action and be herself again so I’m okay with it but just warning the new readers.Oh, another warning, I intentionally read this book before starting Star Wars Rebels because I heard this took place before Rebels, and it does, however, I did have some confusion when she had flashbacks to the Siege of Mandalore which, I discovered after a little internet research, was apparently shown in Rebels. So keep that in mind if any of you, like me, haven’t seen Rebels yet.Overall, I like the book and recommend it for anyone who is a fan of Clone Wars the series and/or Ahsoka but, as I said, it feels like this is just the beginning, not a complete catch up of her activities. I don’t think I would recommend this book for anyone who is not familiar with The Clone Wars series as you may get lost by many of the book’s references. Since they left a 13 year gap in Ahsoka’s history between this book and Rebels I’m hoping we’ll see more of Ahsoka’s adventures in the future or maybe even her own series, which would be great!I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars.OK, time to start Star Wars Rebels now. :)
Top reviews from other countries
Arturo Zea
Highly recommendable, the force is with this one.
Reviewed in Mexico on May 22, 2022
Leonid Panteleev
6 YEAR OLD DREAM
Reviewed in Sweden on November 12, 2022
Leonid Panteleev
Reviewed in Sweden on November 12, 2022
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