Force Heretic I: Remnant

This book was an interesting read in a lot of ways, but it's 15 books into a 19 book long series, so if you haven't been following it, the rest of this might not make a lot of sense to you. First was that in it we see further development of the “Jeedai heresy” amongst the Yuuhzang Vong, and learn a bit more about their cultural values. On top of that we see the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic start to work together, and we see the appearance of one of my favourite science fiction ideas: the sentient planet that moves throughout the galaxy under its own willpower. I loved the idea when it was Mogo from GLC, and when it was Ego the Living Planet from Thor and Silver Surfer comics, and I love the idea here, where it's the planet Zonama Sekot.

What really surprised me about this novel, though, is that it's another Star Wars novel where the EU characters really come into their own. While most of the movie characters do appear here, the meatiest roles of the book go to Jedi Knight Tahiri, Jagged Fel, and Gilad Pellaeon. It's amazing that a series based on a film would get to that point, where the main characters of the film have become secondary, but that's how the Star Wars universe has evolved, and I think it's just great. I especially loved Pellaeon in this book; he's very clearly an Imperial character, but one that you want to root for anyways.

This is probably gonna be another short review as there isn't much to say about this book.

It's impressive that two writers still manage to make a book a little tricky to read sometimes and as slow as it is.

I think generally the book starts off really solid and ends up a bit boring. It has its moments for sure but doesn't rise above those few good moments.

There is one element I appreciate as these books tend to really tackle almost everything; treatment of refugees, religious war, the philosophy behind war, how different people interpret grief, and now... self harm.

Romance.

This book was solid with its two romances, Jaina and Jag, and Jacen and Danni.

Now let me say, I am fully invested in Jacen and Danni, and really like these two. I hope Jacen's allegiance towards Vergere doesn't stop him from getting into a relationship with her, as I really like the two.

Jaina and Jag get some decent moments but are mostly kept apart unfortunately. It doesn't seem like the writing duo are too interested in the pair.

A similar sentiment can be said with Luke and Mara. I don't think Sean or Shane really care for her, as she doesn't do very much in the book and is just kinda there unfortunately.

Now there is one element I can say shines in the novel. Just one character.

Pellaeon.

He really, really shines in this book and I think his development all the way from ‘Heir to the Empire' up until now has to be one of the most impressive ways a character has been treated by the EU, and has been an exceptionally prolonged development that has not been mishandled even once so far.

There's a particular scene where Pellaeon decides to join the Galactic Alliance, and the Moffs retaliate, which culminates in a brilliant argument where a Moff pulls a blaster on Pellaeon, and he stares down the barrel fearlessly whilst picking him apart. He manages to turn everybody on his side, and massively help form an attack to save the Imperial Remnant, with a great retrospective moment on the failures of the Empire and how he plans to do better.

What a fucking character.

Unfortunately, that's all I have to say really. I've heard bad things about these books and I can't say I agree really, just that the trilogy is gonna be a bit of a slow read.

I found myself skimming towards the end and I don't think the decision to forego chapters really added anything to the novel. I guess it was nice to be able to just stop when there's a line break, but I like to stop on chapters usually.

If you're anything like me, you won't love this book, but you won't mind it. It has its moments but also its shortcomings. Meh.

6/10