Victor Hugo Kebbe

It's already the best book I read this year (and we're still in April).

Despite being a Y/A book, it has everything we love about Star Wars: action, adventure, romance and humor. It was really nice to see how Leia was portrayed, showing a three-dimensional character. Definitely one of the best of all these “Journey to Star Wars The Force Awakens” series.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I’ve known about The Truce at Bakura for ages but never gave it a shot until now.

Since my foundation in the Expanded Universe was built on Timothy Zahn's work, I was always a bit skeptical of Kathy Tyers' take.

I worried that, as one of the first books to explore the immediate aftermath of Return of the Jedi, it might suffer from the 'pilot episode' effect-feeling inconsistent or experimental.

It brings the classic crew back together for a solid, self-contained adventure. The pacing is great—no loose ends, no filler. Honestly, it’s one of the most well-balanced Star Wars stories I've read.

The plot kicks off immediately after Return of the Jedi. The heroes are totally drained and dealing with the aftermath of the Battle of Endor, but obviously, the fight didn't end with Palpatine and Vader.

When Bakura, an Imperial controlled planet, sends a distress signal meant for the Emperor, the Rebels intercept it, and boom—new mission.

The only thing that didn't work for me were the alien villains. The Ssi-Ruuk feel totally out of place in Star Wars. I guess since dinosaurs were huge in the 90s, they tried to ride that wave, but it feels forced. I honestly had to ignore the whole 'space dinosaur' vibe at times just to keep enjoying the story.

One aspect that really struck me was the uprising on Bakura at the end of the book. Maybe it’s because I was reading this while finishing Season 2 of Andor, but it became painfully clear to me just how much the population was at their breaking point, barely tolerating the Empire's atrocities.

The Imperial Governor is easily one of the most despicable characters in the story, showing absolutely no regard for the people he publicly swore to protect. The revolution in the finale is incredibly impactful; it’s a grassroots movement—a true 'bottom-up' revolt. It illustrates clearly that the Empire can only seize and hold power through fear and oppression, whereas freedom is a pure, abstract idea that sparks to life all across the galaxy.

Other than that, it’s a fun, quick read.

May the Force be with you.

Unfortunately, Darth Maul: Black, White & Red falls into the trap of being incredibly repetitive. It’s an anthology of four stories, yet they all feel like variations of the same theme: Maul being a relentless weapon under Sidious. Because the plotlines are so similar, the novelty wears off quickly. It leans heavily on the 'cool factor' of his double-bladed lightsaber and martial arts, but if you’re looking for a deep dive into his psyche or a fresh perspective on his lore, you won't find much here beyond the gore and the combat.

Even though the 'Black, White, and Red' motif offers a great opportunity for bold visuals, the execution here is hit-or-miss. There is a jarring disconnect between the stunning cover art and the interior pencils. Considering the talent involved in the variant covers, the overall artistic direction feels like a missed opportunity for something truly experimental.

I’d been putting off reading this title for years. Honestly, I haven’t been a huge fan of Disney’s take on Star Wars—except for Andor and Rogue One. Because of that, I’ve spent most of my time exploring the Expanded Universe instead.

So when I finally picked up this debut title, I was in for a real treat! From the very first chapters, I felt that familiar thrill of the Classic Trilogy. The author managed to capture the pacing and energy of those original films in a way that reminded me of Timothy Zahn’s work. Even better, the story treats the canon with respect and delivers one exciting moment after another.

If I had to point out one downside, it would be the cliffhanger. It just didn’t land for me—but I won’t spoil the details. That said, I still think this book is more than worth your time if you love the classic Star Wars films. Discovering it felt like reconnecting with the magic that made me fall in love with the galaxy far, far away in the first place.