Thirty years of untold stories and unanswered questions about what happened between the fall of the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi and the rise of the First Order in The Force Awakens. Now, Star Wars fans are getting a glimpse at an epic story that wasn’t told in the movies, yet perfectly establishes that era in the galaxy far, far away.
Written by Adam Christopher, Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith follows Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and fan-favorite Lando Calrissian as they set out on a mission to help a family being hunted by Sith assassin, Ochi of Bestoon. Ochi is tasked to return to Exegol, the secret world of the Sith, with the granddaughter of Darth Sidious himself, Rey.
Shadow of the Sith takes readers on a fun and exhilarating story that is, in my opinion, needed to understand the trajectory of the sequel trilogy. As someone who adores those movies for what they are, this novel fills in many blanks for fans who didn’t understand why The Rise of Skywalker went in the direction it did. It feels like a direct prequel to that film, answering questions viewers had: Who are Rey’s parents? Who is Ochi? What is that dagger all about? Why is Lando incognito on Pasaana? And how did Luke learn about Exegol in the first place? All of that, and more, get answered in Shadow of the Sith.
Christopher does an incredible job gripping the reader’s attention with alternating perspectives from Luke, Lando, Ochi, Dathan (Rey’s father), and a couple of new characters, one who is called by the dark side of the Force. Each one is unique and gives a different feel to the novel. While some perspectives didn’t captivate me compared to others, they didn’t impact the pacing of the book. It’s fast-paced and enthralling, while also honoring the internal struggles within these characters’ journeys and slower moments explaining Star Wars lore.
Overall, Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith adds so much depth to the sequel trilogy. It is the perfect read for all Star Wars fans, whether you’re someone who loved the most recent films or someone who didn’t quite enjoy them but is willing to learn and understand them as the era continues to expand.
Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith will be available on June 28.
