A New Dawn - Novel Review

       Ok, first off, this book is not as bad as everyone says it is. It is actually a really good read, IF you've already seen or have some experience with Star Wars Rebels. As such, you'll have a much better connection to the characters in this book than those who had no previous experience with Rebels characters.

       Kanan's backstory is really fun to read because of how different he is from his animated counterpart. He's younger, cocky (especially around women), and less inclined to care about others. However, once Hera enters his life, he begins to show a side that is more reminiscent of Caleb Dume (his Jedi name) than Kanan Jarrus. This is interesting because immediately you begin to see how his connection to Hera slowly begins to bring out the rebel and Jedi in Kanan. His whole philosophy up to this point has always been to not get attached to someone or someplace, but once you do, then it's time for you to leave. This ideology stops him from caring about others too much while also letting him keep his identity secret from the Empire and not be captured.

       As for Hera, you learn about how devoted to the Rebel cause. Given how early in the timeline this takes place, she never truly mentions that she is a part of the Rebel Alliance in the beginning of the book as she has to continue to scope out who is or isn't against her cause to take down the Empire. Even when different situations present itself to her, she never wavers in her beliefs. Even when she thinks some may be valuable to the rebel cause, she doesn't recruit just anybody, especially if she thinks they're reckless and more trouble than what it's worth. Just in the animated show, Hera is just as strong of a character in the book while also giving the reader a further proof of her iconic piloting skills.

       The rest of the characters are just minor, except for the two prominent Imperials who act as the antagonists of the book. Count Vidian is an interesting character that makes me wonder what the Imperial leaders think of him. Vidian has such a strong presence about him that I think would provide some great dialogue with other Imperials like Tarkin. (I know that there is a short story of him and Tarkin, but I haven't gotten around to it.) You grow to despise this character in this book, which creates intense dynamics between him and the rest of the characters in the book. He's such a vile cyborg who will go at any length to get what he wants done, even if it means killing workers or making himself more of a robot than a man. Captain Rae Sloane is one to keep an eye on given how she appears to be headed up in the Imperial ranks by the end of the book. She is a fascinating character because she is a new character in this canon who might end up having a strong presence in it later on. Given how young she is, she is still learning what it means to be a part of the Empire, especially in this book when she sees first-hand Vidians tactics and methods to get things done "efficiently".

       Overall, I truly think that this is a solid book. The issue many probably had with it was that it was the beginning of a new canon with new characters no one even cared about as it came out before Rebels. The cover is also to blame as it shows Kanan with a lightsaber when he doesn't even use it. This could account for reader's expectations when first going into the book as the cover makes you think that there will be plenty of lightsaber action when, in fact, there's not, and there are more chapters about mining than what readers actually want. Given my experience with this book, I would have to give it a solid B because I really did enjoy this book. Yes, it was slow at times, but it was worth it to learn more about Kanan and Hera before they were who they are now on Rebels. I also like it for its detail about how Kanan was incredibly infatuated with Hera in the book, which only makes me want to read or see more about their relationship in the future.

Star Wars Rebels S3: "Ghosts of Geonosis"

       This episode of Star Wars Rebels finally gives fans of the show a more direct link to the movies through the character of Saw Gerrera, the rebel extremist portrayed by Forest Whitaker in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Through Saw, we are able to get a glimpse as to the more extreme side of the Rebel Alliance given how not everyone shares the same past, causes, or beliefs in the Star Wars universe. However, with his introduction comes the near extinction of an entire race due to Saw's emotions getting the better of him.
       First off, I am glad that Saw Gerrera was introduced when he was. Having seen Rogue One, I felt that more context was needed surrounding his character given how drastically different he was from when we first saw him in the Clone Wars TV show. (I have not been able to read Catalyst, which may have more information about Saw than what I currently know).  Since a new character was just seen on the big-screen, having him appear on television in the first episodes after the break was fitting. I loved how much I hated his character. Every move he made had the Ghost crew questioning his motives, which, in my opinion, is key because war always sparks controversy. The only person whose shown the extremist side of being a rebel has always been Ezra, so by having him see what the extreme really looks like can help further develop his own character. Given how Saw's emotions dictate who he is as a character, I enjoyed watching how anything that revolves around his past, such as the holo of his sister or the Geonosian who was a a part of the Separatists, made his more rash and go over the edge. Just his statement about how he'll do whatever it takes and not apologize really gave an indication of how far he is actually willing to go, just like the Empire. Overall, the introduction of Saw was key for the show going forward, as well as for the viewer, as it provides an interesting dynamic of what separates a Rebel from an Imperial.
      As for the rest of the characters, I was surprised with how much I cared for "Klik-Klak". This episode really humanized the Geonosians for me mostly due to how Geonosians are just protrayed as hive-minded creatures with no real character both in the movies and the comics. This humanization of a single Geonosian had me hoping that their species actually continues and prospers. I also wonder whether Chopper even recorded the information Klik-Klak stated given as to how it plays into the information he probably knew about the Death Star. Most likely he didn't as we all know that wasn't revealed until Rogue One.
      I loved the interaction Ezra and Saw shared as it could determine the final course Ezra takes as a Jedi or even Force user. As I previously stated, Ezra now has a glimpse of what an extremist thinks like. This encounter could be a lesson for Ezra as he grows if he ever does go down a darker path. The expressions that Hera and Rex would make regarding Saw told us a lot with how they think of Saw. Even though they didn't fully trust him, they still had a watchful eye and acted when they needed to. Even when they had to defend Klik-Klak who they knew nothing about, their characters and morals showed how much they contrasted someone like Saw. It made me respect them a lot more than I already do.
       As for Sabine, I liked how they gave her a small spotlight moment when dealing with those rocket-troopers. Since we already know that she's going to have a big Mandalorian arc later in the season, I liked how this gave a small taste of what might come when dealing with other Mandalorians. Also, I want to shoutout Steve Blum's Zeb growl when Saw was out of hand on the Ghost. I instantly thought of an angry puppy for some reason.
      Perhaps the real star of the two-part episodes was Kevin Kiner. His music was on point! Every change in tone or emotion was partnered with a terrific song choice. His score for Rebels is always wonderful, but this two-parter stood out to me as one of his best for this show. It was absolutely perfect in my opinion.
       Overall, this was a great way to start off the rest of Season 3. There aren't many negatives, except for the question as to what happened to the rest of Saw's team. This still confuses me since their helmets were scattered about, but no bodies were found as well as any other pieces of clothing or armor. It had me really wondering if Saw actually took them out since he seemed surprised to find Klik-Klak running about the tunnels. This would provide an insane addition to who Saw is, especially if his crew had different ideals than he did. Either way, these episodes really stand out to me in a season that's been quite lackluster so far.