Star Wars: Lost Stars

Written by Claudia Gray

Narrated by Pierce Cravens

This thrilling Young Adult novel gives listeners a macro view of some of the most important events in the Star Wars universe, from the rise of the Rebellion to the fall of the Empire. Readers will experience these major moments through the eyes of two childhood friends--Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell--who have grown up to become an Imperial officer and a Rebel pilot. Now on opposite sides of the war, will these two star-crossed lovers reunite, or will duty tear them--and the galaxy--apart?

Star Wars: Lost Stars also includes all-new post-Star Wars: Return of the Jedi content, as well as hints and clues about the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making this a must-listen for all Star Wars fans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
• Release date: Sep 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9780147521804

Claudia Gray

Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of New Orleans-based writer Amy Vincent, the author of the New York Times bestselling Evernight series. She has worked as a lawyer, a journalist, a disc jockey, and an extremely poor waitress. Her grandparents' copy of Mysteries of the Unexplained is probably the genesis of her fascination with most things mysterious and/or inexplicable.

Reviews for Star Wars

[watersgendry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened to the audio book version of 'Lost Stars' during our 7 hour drive home & back for the 4th of July! After reading Bloodlines, this book had a much more distinct Young Adult feel to it, and I also managed to fall right in and wanted Thane & Ciena to just get their acts together!!! (Communication is key in relationships, peeps!)

Overall, loved the feel of the YA storyline, glad to be introduced to some incredible new characters, and so cool to see how their lives intersect with the trio we know so well.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't know why I was surprised this was so good, but it was a damn solid tie in to the star wars universe. And even though it's labelled young adult, I think it reads above that. This book about two nobody kids from an outer rim planet bonding together despite their differences to embrace their love of flying. They decide to join the empire together to bring honor to their families and to fly in the greatest fleet the galaxy has ever seen. As children they easily bought into the empire's lies but once they make it through the academy and start serving as officers they see first hand how destructive and manipulative it is. Eventually Thane can't take it anymore and deserts, swearing to never join the rebel alliance, because to him they are just as bad. But as the war churns on, he realizes what the rebels are trying to save. Ciena on the other hand, keeps ranking up in the empire. She's not happy with everything she sees going on but on her planet you never break an oath, so she continues to serve despite her better judgement. These two friends become star crossed lovers serving on opposite sides of the war. Through their eyes you see the construction of the death stars, hear of the heroics of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, see the battle on Hoth, and so much more. It's a lot of fun viewing the original trilogy through two young set of eyes on opposites sides of the war. An AMAZING tie in.

[themadturtle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gray captures the ambiguity of the transition of the Galactic Senate to the Galactic Empire very well. Things are not always as black and white as we would have them be and, as you follow these characters through the events of the original trilogy, you gain a greater appreciation of this fact. A fun book, to be sure - even if it does border on the sappy with the romance scenes. I especially liked the end of the book as they explain the crashed Star Destroyers on the surface of the planet Jakku, which you see in the beginning of Episode VII.

[tapestry100 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I won't lie, I wasn't exactly sure that I was going to finish this book. It started off little too "YA" for my liking - I can think of no better way to describe it than that. However, after all is said and done, I'm so glad that I stuck with this book. In Lost Stars, Gray creates a rather complex story as we see the Empire thru the eyes of young cadettes who feel that they are joining the great Empire and are out to do good in the galaxy, while being told that the Rebellion is comprised of nothing more than terrorists and murderers. We watch as these cadettes justify their actions in the name of the Empire, while simultaneously questioning whether or not these actions are actually for the betterment of the galaxy. Beginning shortly after the creation of the Empire, we see the events of Episodes IV, V, and VI play out as the backdrop for these young people's lives, and see how these events shape and mold them into adulthood. Left vaguely open for a continuation, I'm hoping that Gray revisits these characters in the future and we can see how their lives have changed in a post-Empire galaxy.

[ptom3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book right after reading Claudia Gray's Star Wars: Bloodline. First, and foremost, I love Gray's writing. She can tell a story. Her plots are tight, action intense, and characters so well defined.LOST STARS is considered a YA novel. This is mostly because the two main characters start out as kids. LOST STARS is a book for any person who considers themselves a Star Wars fan. What is great about this tale is that it revolves around two kids who dedicate their lives to the Empire. The novel covers the time period just prior to a New Hope, and concludes just after Return of the Jedi --for perspective's sake.Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell have their hearts set on becoming pilots, and dream of manning TIE Fighters in battles against the terrorist group known as the Republic. They study and train together on their home planet, and against all odds test extremely high when applying for the academy.Through a series of events, the two rise in rank, respect among peers, and in position. Lifelong friends, it seems only natural that the love that grows between them is unbreakable. Unfortunately, after the Death Star destroys Alderaan, and some other key battles, Thane begins to rethink his faith in the Empire. Duty sworn, Ciena has no intention of going AWOL.Forced to fight against each other, despite right, and wrong . . . the Force continues to have Thane and Ciena cross paths . . . each wanting the other to join them.It was amazing watching the Star Wars stories told from different angles; Thane from the Republic, and Ciena from behind the Empire. Watching the movies, I will admit I never gave much thought to what "everyone else" was doing, how the different wheels, and cogs needed to be in place for everything to happen the way it did.Grey introduces, and takes away from us, some amazing new characters. LOST STARS was an impossible-to-put-down kind of book. I want more. And I definitely want more from Claudia Grey. Her books just continue to renew my faith in the epic saga that is Star Wars!Phillip Tomasso,Author of Wizard's Rise & Wizard's War

[ebnelson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly good grasp of people, organizations, and how politics works. The characters are interesting and their move from one stage to the next in the story is surprisingly compelling. Other than a couple seemingly obligatory (and rather tame) romance pages, the novel is very good.

[needmoreshelves · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thane and Ciena are wonderfully charismatic, and while it's clear from the start what trajectory their relationship will take, the author does a superb job of placing just enough road blocks in their way to keep the ride enjoyable. I so appreciated that neither character was dependent or subordinate to the other - each had their own clearly defined set of beliefs and values, and neither was willing to sacrifice them for each other. This was exciting and action packed, but the author didn't resort to a cookie-cutter happy ending for any of her characters, which was a refreshing change from many YA novels in this vein. I would happily read a series of books about these characters - I'd love to see where their paths take them.

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell are only 8 when they become the best of friends. Ciena is from the valley, while Thane is a second waver and comes from a wealthy family. But they don't care. They are friends and love flying together with hopes of going to the Imperial Academy. What they don't know is how evil the Empire is or how the war will change their lives in the most shocking ways.This was a fantastic read. I've read a few Star Wars books, but so for this is my favorite. It's a bit of long read at 551, but definitely worth the time. Lost Stars takes place during the Galactic Civil War. Revisit the Death Star and it's destruction, Battle of Hoth & the Battle of Endor, this time from the point of view of Thane and Ciena. If your a Star Wars fan and thinking of skipping this one because it YA, don't. It's damn good read and it has everything you love about the movies.

[brainchild138 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Takes you through the story of the original Star Wars trilogy from the point of view of the two most important characters you never saw on screen. Seriously, any time something was mentioned as "it was done" or "we have found out" or something of that sort in the original movies, this book makes it so that it was one or both of the main characters in this book that did it or figured it out.The writing is standard, overwrought, superlative filled Young Adult "Oh no we are on opposite sides of a conflict but we love each other so much we must get together and have sex" crap.I dropped my score another 1/2 a star because of the transition from page 334-335, which will hopefully get fixed in future printings: "Although Ciena would have liked to have gone down to Cloud City... she remained aboard the Executor." *some internal monologue* "Ciena thought as she walked through the corridors of Cloud City." Wha?Basically, this just felt like someone got to write original character fan fiction, and then stick the story of how something in the The Force Awakens trailer got to be the way it is, and get it published as Cannon.

[Michael Velasquez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really good plot, can’t wait for the sequel!

[Freddie Johnson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Claudia Gray knocks it out of the park again!! Great book. So well written and plotted out. Great narration. I'm anxious to find out what happened to these characters.

[codonnelly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you know the original Star Wars movies like the back of your hand, you will thoroughly enjoy Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars. The book begins at the rise of the Galactic Empire and ends a year after the Battle of Endor. Instead of following the major players from the movies, the story is told from the perspective of Thane and Ciena, two childhood friends who aspire to become Imperial officers. While the plot moves quickly, Gray adeptly maneuvers within the established Star Wars universe, and manages to add new and exciting characters and worlds to the mix.

Don’t be put off by the lack of familiar characters. Gray provides Thane and Ciena with vivid backstories and complex interactions with family, friends, and fellow cadets and officers. The worlds they traverse, including their home planet, all possess distinct traits and have purpose in the plot; they are not just tossed in for novelty. If you’re still not convinced, a few bones are thrown in for Star Wars purists, so the book is not entirely devoid of characters and planets we all know and love already.

While the book starts off slowly, and parallels elements from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (“Two households, both alike in dignity…”), once Thane and Ciena reach adolescence, the action picks up quickly. The contrast between the two also adds significant intrigue, especially as they head off to the Imperial Academy. Despite Thane and Ciena being the “bad guys,” it’s surprisingly easy to connect with them. Everything makes sense from their point of view.

The most fascinating element of the book comes from experiencing familiar events not only from the perspective of secondary characters, but also from the “wrong” side of the Galactic Civil War. This element also plays into the major themes, as Thane and Ciena struggle with the ideas of convention and rebellion, as well as love and sacrifice. In the words of Ciena, “Sometimes we’re loyal to more than one thing. When there’s a conflict, we have to choose which loyalty to honor.”

Lost Stars by Claudia Gray is one of the strongest new additions to the Star Wars canon. While the book ends on a cliff-hanger, it does suggest that a sequel is forthcoming. I eagerly await the next installment.

[d-fbuser-247718806 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

totally enjoyed listening to this novel..it was nice to see things from a different perspective while still incorporating parts of the story we know..can't wait fit the next novel...audiobooks just add that extra something..sound effects and music were top notch

[travisseitler-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Nikki and Paulo showed up.

[texascheeseman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Star Wars:Lost StarsAuthor: Claudia GrayPublisher: Disney ♦ Lucasfilm PressPublished In: Glendale, CADate: 2015Pgs: 551REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERSSummary:Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell, childhood friends from the backwater world of Jelucan, see the Empire as their way out of the life that they are destined for, a way to change their destiny. Honor, duty, a ship to fly, and alien worlds to see. A team. They practice together, learn together, get into the Academy together. Top marks across the board. Into the Imperial Fleet and on to adventure. The rise of the Rebellion. The fall of Empire. The death of Alderaan. The destruction of the Death Star. Duty. Honor. And the interpretations of what that means individually through tragedy, love, death, and life. Imperial officer. Rebel pilot. Starcrossed. As a galaxy falls apart around them.Genre:AdventureFictionMilitaryScience fictionSpaceSpace operaWarWhy this book:It’s Star Wars.______________________________________________________________________________Favorite Character:Thane Kyrell. He’s a driven character; driven to escape his abusive family, driven to seek adventure, and, without realizing it or even paying heed to it early on, driven to uphold his personal honor which puts him on opposite sides with his friend since childhood and, possibly, the love of his life.Ciena Ree. I wanted to paint her as just a “clone” in Imperial service as she buys more and more into the Imperial way. But as I considered that perspective, I realized that her upbringing and her personal honor were driving her to do what she does as much as Thane’s drives him to take his own path. Makes the rift between them that much harder to read.Least Favorite Character: The psycho fanatic Nash Windrider, Alderaan native and officer in the Imperial Starfleet.The Feel:Watching Ciena and Thane spiral away from each other through misunderstanding and each to their own honor is hard to read, watch, feel. They talk, but it’s the classics your side, my side, the truth conversation. Neither is really hearing what the other is saying. The characters feel flesh and blood through the prose. Excellent job that.The “feels” in this book are horrible. A tip of the hat and a good job to the author.Favorite Scene:Her finding him on Jelucan after he deserted, sent by the Empire to find him and discover whether he was a genuine deserter or a burnout who just needed to be herded back into shape, and what happened next. Even balanced against the tragedy of how they left it and the way that it served to drive her deeper into the clutches of the Empire, that moment made me fangirl a bit.The scene where Thane gets drunk on engine juice and ends up passed out drunk in the corridor on the Liberty and a helpful woman picks him up and helps him get back to his bunk, listening to him torn up about his fear that he could have shot Ciena down in the battle over Hoth. And his realizign at the briefing the next day that the helpful woman who listened to him was Mon Mothma, Rebellion leader and one of the only Senators to openly defy Emperor Palpatine.The fight onboard the crashing Star Destroyer Inflictor.Pacing:I almost put this book down due to pacing. The early chapters of the book felt like a training montage in an 80s sports film, very Rocky like. And then, we started flashing on the other perspectives on key moments in the Star Wars mythos and it sucked me in. I went from about to put it down to can’t put it down.Plot Holes/Out of Character:Considering the focus on honor in this story, I can see the conflagration coming between Ciena and Thane a mile away. His honor is going to force him to leave and she isn’t going to see it and her honor is going to force her to stay and he isn’t going to understand. Basically, they will play out a repeat of the laser cannon at the Academy debacle which soured their relationship for many years and about a fifth of the book.A jarring bit on Bespin when Ciena is rudimenting about how she would have liked to be going down to Bespin instead of being on duty up on the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Executor and while she is still thinking about things, half a page later, she is walking past some Ugnaughts in the corridors in the Bespin Cloud City.Hmm Moments:The juxtaposition of Grand Moff Tarkin breaking up a fight between a bunch of bullies and the two kids on Jelucan, when we know what and who Tarkin is is a wonderful frisson. And seeing Thane Kyrell’s reaction to seeing the echo of that event with a stormtrooper nodding encouragingly to a child taunting slaves who were being forced to mine spice after resisting the Empire. Great stuff.This story is full of juxtaposition beyond the two examples above. The other side of the capture of Princess Leia over Tatooine. Tarkin’s spiteful destruction of Alderaan from the perspective of the crew onboard the Death Star. The destruction of the original Death Star as seen from the context of a data analysis officer on a Star Destroyer and by a pilot with the force sent to Dantooine to check whether the rebels are indeed there. The rescue of Darth Vader after the destruction of the original Death Star. All go into showing us the different ways that our two main characters view the war between the Rebellion and the Empire.Ciena’s awakening in the shadow of the second Death Star’s revelation. Her and Thane’s experience in orbit around the forest moon of Endor as the Rebellion surmounts the Empire. And her fall to injury as she crashlands.Why isn’t there a screenplay?This would make a helluva movie.Casting call:Would love to see Taron Egerton as Thane Kyrell and Chloe Grace Moretz as Ciena Ree.______________________________________________________________________________Last Page Sound:That was awesome.Author Assessment:Without the Star Wars mythos underpinning I’m not sure that I would have stuck with this story. It is well written, but I wonder if the limitations imposed on the author by the strictures of the Star Wars universe are more to blame for my feelings about the early parts of this novel than the author is. Book by book, I will look at more by this author.The characters of Ciena and Thane feel flesh and blood once you get them off and Jelucan and out of the Academy. Very well written characters. I want to see what happens to them. They seem headed for tragedy and conflict as they are drawn toward opposite sides of the conflict.Editorial Assessment:Mostly great. Wish the editor would have caught the Ciena-Executor-Bespin scene.Knee Jerk Reaction:instant classic, real classic, real genre classic, really good book, glad I read it, it’s alright, meh!, why did I read this, not as good as I was lead to believeDisposition of Book:Irving Public Library, Irving, TXValley Ranch CampusDewey Decimal System: YAFGRAWould recommend to:everyone, genre fans______________________________________________________________________________

[charliwriter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lost Stars reminded me of a Romeo and Juliet twist. Ciena and Thane both joined the Empire. But after certain events, Thane leaves and joins the Rebellion. Lost Stars is the third Star Wars novel I have read by Claudia Gray. I have yet to be disappointed. She has become my favorite new canon Star Wars author. I am excited to read more of her work.

What I love about this book is you see all the events from Star Wars to Return of the Jedi, mostly from the point of view of the Empire. You also experience the talked about Battle of Jakku again from the Empire’s point of view. You get to see bits and pieces of the rebellion side not in the movies from Thane’s view when he joins the Rebellion, but that is mostly what you get from the Rebellion. It was different to see the impact of the battles had on the members of the Imperial fleet.
 
 Ciena Ree is an interesting character. She is from the planet Jelucan an outer rim territory. This planet, before the Empire took over, separated into two societies: First Wavers, also known as the valley kindred, or Second Wave. Because of her being a first waver, she valued her loyalty to the Empire and kept the oath until the Empire ended. During the novel Ciena's, loyalty is tested when her best friend became a deserter and when she saw the cruelty the Empire was committing. But she felt the rebellion was just as cruel when they blew up the death star, killing innocent people and her best friend Jude inside. This was when her hatred for the rebellion grew. She felt she could help the greater good from inside the Empire. Ciena hid behind her oath. I believe this was her fault and her strength. There were two rules in which she broke. Leave all you have learned and owned of your planet and the uniform regulations. She had brought up her upbringing and her leather bracelet that represented her dead twin sister, which she had in her pants pocket. What I loved about Ciena was a developed well developed character, and you can place her in any Star Wars film. 

Thane Kyrell was also from Jelucan, but he was a second waver. He grew up into a well-established family, but his family wanted nothing to do with him. Thane and Ciena only became friends because of their love for flying. He wanted to join the Empire, to get away from his family. Like those brainwashed by the Empire, he wanted to prove himself and compete with Ceina. It was not until the destruction of Alderaan when he questioned everything. Later, he and Ceina separated. I do not know if I liked him as much as I did with Ceina. The spoiled brat type cast was showing through even though he was not your typical spoiled rich son. He came from an abusive home, which I was sad to see. Not every home is magnificent, no matter how much money one family has. Ciena at least had a stable thinking process, whereas Thane does not.

The first and second wave on the planet Jelucan was an interesting concept. The first wavers valued loyalty, and to them, the worst crime that could be committed was to knowingly break an oath. The initial settlers were exiles from another world who refused to break allegiance to their king and arrived in near total poverty but survived. Then you have the second wavers. Human and alien settlers, who established mining operations and built urban settlements. Both settlers looked down at one another. The First wavers looked at the second wavers as arrogant and materialistic, disloyal, and greedy. Second wavers looked at first wavers as poor and superstitious, filthy and backwards. I loved how developed this world was. It helped define and establish who Ceina and Thane are off planet. 

I enjoyed this book and would recommend this to any Star Wars lover new and old. Even if you are not a star was fan, I still would recommend this book. If you have seen the original movies, you will not get lost at all. 

[darthdeverell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Lost Stars, Claudia Gray traces the paths of Thane Kyrell Ciena Ree from the backwater planet Jelucan through the events of the original Star Wars trilogy and beyond. The title may be a slight reference to Lines 5-6 from the prologue of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: ""From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life." Like the Capulets and Montagues, Thane and Ciena come from different worlds; he from the aristocracy of his planet and she from the rural settlements. They find common ground in their desire to join the Imperial Academy and serve the Empire, but then find themselves separated over the destruction of Alderaan by the first Death Star, which inspires Thane to desert the Empire from disillusionment.Though Thane and Ciena now fight on opposite sides of the war, their lives continue to parallel each other due to the will of the Force. They each serve in every major battle and encounter of the original Star Wars trilogy, though often, and unknowingly, against each other. Though Gray ostensibly wrote Lost Stars for a teen audience, Star Wars fans of all ages will find it compelling and won't be able to put this book down. In offering new perspectives on familiar events, Gray makes them fresh and dynamic as they were when the movies first opened in theaters over thirty years ago.Gray continues events past the Battle of Endor, offering her readers their first glimpse of the Battle of Jakku between the New Republic and the remnants of the Empire. Additionally, she explains the downed Star Destroyer that appears in the trailer for The Force Awakens. Though Lost Stars takes inspiration from Romeo and Juliet, Gray makes these characters, and the Star Wars galaxy, her own with wonderful results.

[sheiladeeth_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Set in the worlds of Star Wars, taking place just as the Rebellion is growing, with familiar events of the movies forming an appealing anchor for the reader, Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars introduces an aristocrat and a villager who both long to fly. Childhood friendship might bloom into something more, but success surprisingly drives the teenagers apart—one delighting in belonging to something bigger than themselves, while the other despairs of what they’ve been asked to belong to.Soon Thane and Ciena are on opposite sides of the Rebellion, still tied by bonds of friendship and maybe love, but torn apart by war. Loyalties fray and hope fades. But human emotion and kindness thrive in the most surprising places, and Claudia Gray’s novel gives enticing insight, not just into the Star Wars universe, but also into the reasons why people choose sides, and how their choices change them.I really enjoyed this book—it’s much much more than just a scifi love story or fan fiction.Disclosure: I used to collect Star Wars novels. I think I might start again after reading this one.

[djshiva-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Probably my favorite Star Wars novel thus far. Intimately tied into the original universe, and from a perspective that sometimes changes how you see all of it. I read it in a day. Could not put it down.

[lvstrongpuff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved everything about this book!!! It was great to see both sides of the story. Wonderful read. I can't wait to read more.

[publiusdb-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If the Star Wars trilogies are concerned with the operatic drama of the Skywalker family and their close associates, then Lost Stars delivers fills in the spaces in between by providing a sampling of backstory into the individuals that make up the Imperial fleet and Rebellion fighters. In this way, Lost Stars is a valuable addition to the Star Wars cannon; and yet, something is lacking.

Lost Stars gives a flavor of what happened among the common people when the Republic fell and the Empire rose, following a pair of cadets through the Imperial Academy, into service in the Imperial Fleet and beyond. Claudia Gray's plot takes us to every major confrontation from Episodes IV, V, and VI, including the last battle of the Empire at Jakku (explaining that hulking Imperial Star Destroyer that Rey is scavenging years later in one of the early scenes of Episode VII). The thread that strings them together is the romance between Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree, natives of the planet Jelucan. While hailing from the same home planet, Thane and Ciena come from cultures that are sufficiently distinct to provide a source of conflict through out their lives, a barrier that even their love will struggle to overcome.

And yet, the entire story feels like one giant backstory, a "people's history" of the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire. There's romance, there's adventure, and there's lots of nods to characters far more relevant to the Star Wars canon, but Lost Stars protagonists never seem to quite take on life of their own. Because we know what happens next in the story--the Death Star will be destroyed, the Rebels hunted to Hoth, Death Star II destroyed, etc--Thane and Ciena feel less in control of their lives than extras with expanded backstories. The problem is, other than to show what life as an Imperial Cadet is like, there's nothing really very compelling about their stories. The magnetic pull of the main Star Wars plot line is so strong that Thane and Ciena never really seem to have a life of their own, but remain locked in orbit around the Skywalker saga.

Don't get me wrong: Thane and Ciena are not poorly written or conceived. Quite the contrary. They just never seem to be able to exercise their own will to escape the march of events that are the Star Wars drama.

It's not a new problem for the Star Wars Universe, which is why it feels unnecessary. In addition to the new Star Wars books (Tarkin, Lords of the Sith, and Aftermath to name a few), there is also the animated series The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. While both involve cameos--and leading roles--from leading Star Wars characters from the Trilogy and Prequels, they manage to develop their own heroes, resonance, and arches that stand on their own. Ahsoka Tano, to take one example, has become arguably one of the best developed characters that doesn't appear in any of the Star Wars movies, resisting the strong pull to be dominated by the gravitational pull to grow and develop from child to apprentice to grown woman and former Jedi, a compelling character in her own right.

Lost Stars is valuable reading for development of the Star Wars backstory, but otherwise seems to lack the resonance of other Star Wars stories. I recommend it for its look at life under Imperial rule or the experience of the Academy that Luke will later be so eager to attend, but unfortunately seemed to lack the tension that makes the Star Wars drama resonate.