Star Wars: Before the Awakening

Fun look into the background of the new Star Wars power trio before they met.

Really enjoyed this chapter about Poe that gave you some subtle hints into his childhood. This chapter was full of excitement and constant movement. Good stuff.

pretty good lead up to the film

After the last two intense, complex books I read, this one was a delight. Granted, I have been dealing with a bit of a TFA obsession since the movie's release, so my opinion is far from unbiased, but I still had a great time. The book is really three novelettes each one centering around one of our new heroic trilogy in the months, weeks, and days leading up the to events of the films. They are nothing you have to read, but they help establish a few of the character traits which make these three stand out and become the leading characters.

Finn's was probably my favorite story because A) we actually get to see Captain Phasma say more than three things and B) it's the most different from what I had assumed about his character. Also, the life of a stormtrooper is not something we've ever glimpsed in any of the movies, so it was a fresh story. Sadly, Poe's story was the most dragging, probably because it's most descriptions of X-wing fights which are fun to watch, less fun to read. Rey's is a solid middle ground story that made me very thirsty.

It's probably not a good collection for the casual Star Wars fan, but if you, like me, are having a hard time wondering what to do with your life until Ep XIII, then this is a nice way to spend a few hours.