Title: Star Wars: Resistance Reborn
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Del Rey
Review Spoilers: Mild
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As the December release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker rapidly approaches a new slew of books is hitting shelves beginning with Rebecca Roanhorse’s Resistance Reborn. Set immediately after the Resistance’s devastating losses on Crait, Resistance Reborn sets the tone for the intervening time period between the two films. The galaxy seems to be set totally against General Leia Organa and her small, ragtag group of survivors and fueled by hope (and undeniable nerve) they set about to figure out why.
Resistance Reborn sends our heroes on a series of interconnected missions to track down allies old and new, bolster the Resistance’s meager supplies, and cause some trouble for the First Order. Various familiar faces return and fans of the tie-in novels (especially Claudia Gray’s novels and Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy) will be happy to see some favorites coming back to help. There’s even a couple surprises most readers probably wouldn’t expect and even a couple they may not recognize unless they’ve played some of the video games, too.
Now, obviously, the most important returning face as far as I’m concerned is Wedge Antilles.
Growing up, I was obsessed with the old extended universe and Wedge Antilles has been my favorite character. His absence in the majority of the post-Jakku novels and comics had been very apparent. His return – along with Norra Wexley – is more than welcome and they play a major part in this story along side their son, Temmin “Snap” Wexley, Poe Dameron, Finn, and other Resistance figures.
Interestingly enough, while Rey’s journey is a huge part of the franchise at this point, she appears very minimally in Resistance Reborn. Instead the novel gives Poe and Finn a chance for their relationship shine and Wedge a chance to remind readers (and himself) how much they love to see him in action. The book also gives Poe Dameron a chance to heal and prove himself after his disastrously misguided choices in The Last Jedi. (Seriously, we need to talk about that mutiny, dude.) Plus it shines a light on a lot of the secondary characters who don’t get a chance to really show their worth on screen which is the real reason I love the Star Wars novels in the first place.
Resistance Reborn is a solid story with a bit of a heist component that perfectly balances action and character development. There’s some good hints as to where The Rise of Skywalker will take the characters and the story but for the most part Resistance Reborn manages to both stand alone. Rebecca Roanhorse does a really great job of capturing the voices of the characters, the feel of Star Wars, and she does a wonderful job blending her story in with the ones that have come before it. I really hope to see her exploring the Star Wars universe again sometime soon. She really seems at home there.
Resistance Reborn is just the story you need to tide you over until December. Seriously, if you’re going to read it I highly recommend – like many of the ‘Journey to’ releases – you read it now rather than after seeing The Rise of Skywalker. It’s meant to set the tone and get readers excited for the next film and I think it does a good job. So check it out now rather than later!
Star Wars: Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse is out today!
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