Book Review: Aftermath: Empire's End (Star Wars: Aftermath #3) by Chuck Wendig

Aftermath: Empire's End (Star Wars: Aftermath #3) by Chuck Wendig

Hardcover, 423 pages

Published February 2017 by Del Rey Books

Look this is a Star Wars novel. It is the third in a trilogy. I reviewed the first two. The Aftermath trilogy is meant to tell the story of the events after Return of the Jedi. I know alot of fan boys were upset the novel that was promoted as the Journey to The Force Awakens and that it was not about Luke, Leia and Han on every page. I have never understood the bad reviews.

Even though books 2 and 3 of this trilogy do not have the journey tag this is the book that most sets up Force Awakens. Empire's End is about the battle of Jakku that left the ruins of the empire behind.

Why was it such important battle fought on a random world. This book will answer those questions. I know that is the thing that will sell most nerds but come on there is alot to the aftermath trilogy and it is common theme with it's readers.

I fell in love with the characters. Sure I was impressed by Wendig's ability to tell an epic SW story but more important than spinning the galaxy spanning story is creating character like Sinjar and Norra Wexley who were likable SW characters.

One of the problems that the prequels suffered from was that no one liked the characters. I liked that Wendig made Characters that felt like Star Wars. Mister Bones certainly fills the comic relief droid, Timmin the young idealist in the mercenary crew in general they are fun characters, by the end I was thinking I wanted more novels with them. Norra and Jas both have moments of great-ness and in this novel the way they separate is handled with style. But the most interesting character is Sinjir. Not because he is the first openly gay character in Star Wars although that is cool. What makes Sinjar cool is his position as ex-imperial enforcer turned empire war criminal hunter. Very cool.

Book one was the most direct story of the first days after ROJ, even over lapping, and introduced the new characters. Book two dealt with the battle for the Wookie home world and Book three is mostly a set up for the battle.

All three are character driven and fun. The two things that made this a entertaining read (by that I mean the whole trilogy) and something I think SW fans should read. It comes down to why Jakku? Does it add depth to the star wars universe and is fun at the same time what more do you want?