Pretty cool story that fills in some blanks from Rogue One, if you're into that kind of thing ( )

A delightful read. ( )

Spring 2020;

(3.5, maybe even like 3.8-3.9)

I started this one months and months ago, but stopped it for a book club read and then it kept sitting in the back of my mind reminding me it hadn't been finished. I left it off a few days extra to start and read [b:Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel|29662066|Catalyst A Rogue One Novel (Star Wars)|James Luceno|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509729394l/29662066._SY75_.jpg|50028005] first, since it is the book leading up to Jyn's life, telling the years of her parent's life prior to the early but chilling childhood flashback scene at the beginning of the movie.

I rather liked this novel. It's very rough and tumble, like most of the new Star Wars girl solo mains seem to be. I like that she falls into both truly terrible circumstances and truly amazing ones, as well, even as you know that all roads point to Bablyon and rivers of blood, because nothing good can last as we're getting Jyn into the labor camp/prison the movie needs to find her.

This book has so much heart, especially as you watch her get crushed and crushed and crushed. As you watch her hope, and even her will to live, continually get stomped under the heavier and heavier tread of the Empire. I loved getting to see more of her childhood with Saul, and I'm excited to jump right back next into the extended novelization of [b:Rogue One: A Star Wars Story|30008713|Rogue One A Star Wars Story (Star Wars Novelizations, #3.5)|Alexander Freed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1480095701l/30008713._SY75_.jpg|50417096]. ( )

One of the many YA Star Wars novels I picked up and read along with Olivia-Grace or with her or read after she read or read before she reads it. She loves Jyn Erso and loved Rogue One.

Its 410 pages long but with easy format and big font, so its quicker read, but for me it still took forever to finish. Its meandering and slightly interesting. Probably moreso for a younger girl getting into YA, but an older man not so much, even as an avid Star Wars fan. ( )

4 stars: Good

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From the back cover: When Jyn Erso is 8 years old, her mother is murdered and her father taken from her to serve the Empire. But despite the loss of her parents, she is not completely alone. Saw Gerrera, a man willing to go to any extremes necessary to resist Imperial tyranny, takes her in as his own daughter and gives her not only a home but all the abilities and resources she needs to become a rebel. Jyn dedicates herself to the cause - and the man. But fighting alongside Saw and his people brings with it danger and the question of just how far Jyn is silling to go as one of Saw's soldiers. When she faces an unthinkable betrayal that shatters her world, Jyn will have to pull the pieces of herself back together and figure out what she truly believes in... and whom she can really trust.

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I liked this book quite well. I didn't love Rogue One the way many do (though the ending was just superb and it was unexpected) nor did I love Catalyst, the story of the Ersos until taken by the Empire. It took me awhile to pick up this book, but I was so glad I did. About two thirds of it covers her time with Saw, with the last third covering the time after they were separated until reunited. I came to appreciate both their characters more. Furthermore,it occurs to me that Jyn is like Harry Potter in book 5 -- it would be utterly unrealistic if he were happy or more likable. Jyn has been repeatedly and consistently traumatized. No, she's not super fun to be around. That made it more realistic. The love Saw has for her is apparent, and he does the best job he can being a surrogate father while leading a rebel cell.

Some passages I liked:

"I will never understand why the rebellion is so worried about labels" Saw continued. "Fear controls the masses. The Empire controls fear. If we tapped into that - if we used the same tactics the Empire does and brought about the same kind of fear, we'd control the people and give them the peace you are so anxious to have."

"If you're alone, you don't care as much. what happens to you. There's a sort of fearlessness in being alone. But when you start to love someone else...it's ironic."
"What is?"
"You find out that you have so much more to fight for, but it becomes that much more dangerous to fight at all"

"I don't want to ever do that again" the pilot said in a soft voice.
"Do what?":
"Abandon everyone else just so I can live. We could have sved someone other than ourselves."
Guilt enshrouded the pilot. It sank into his skin, it pulled at his bones. ( )