I enjoyed some aspects of this novel and it is always fun to be in the Star Wars universe, but I found the plot a little bit repetitive and thought that the book was too long overall. It tells the continuing story of Vi Moradi, recovering from her mission to find Phasma, she is sent to the distant Black Spire Outpost to recruit for the Resistance and set up a base of operations. I like Vi as a character and thought that her struggles in dealing with her past trauma were well done. I also really liked Zade and Kriki and in general, I thought all of the characters were interesting and compelling. Where things fell down a little was in the plotting and pacing. Not a great deal happens in this book. What we do have is a lot of set up and exploration of the Outpost, but not a whole lot of action. Consequently, I felt that the nearly 600 page length was too much and definitely could have benefited from being trimmed somewhat.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a great star wars novel and more importantly a brilliant sci-fi spy thriller in its own right. There’s a lot of whinging about Disney commodifying the loves of our childhoods and yes I’d rather they hadn’t got hold of the franchise, but so many people work in the Star Wars universe, it would be insane to deride all of it sight unseen. This is really good. I like Dawson’s style and I really enjoyed the way she linked it to her Phasma standalone novel. The Star Wars universe is huge and as could be seen in my own childhood with the fan base that evolved around Boba Fett, it’s often the second, third tier and unmentioned characters who have the most interesting stories. I am all for an extended universe that doesn’t focus on the Skywalkers and Palpatines! Take this as a good sci-fi novel that just happens to take part in the Star Wars universe and you won’t go far wrong.

What a brilliant introduction to the worlds contained in Disney’s Galaxy's Edge. The book is one of those that you Pick up, not expecting to be that impressed or to find it too engrossing or enjoyable only to discover that it hooks you from the off and blows you away.
Delilah S. Dawson has atoned for her novel ‘Phasma’ which to be fair and honest, came across as a rip-off of mad max and other fare like it which just happened to be set in the realms of Star Wars. Here she is on fine form, delivering a top quality novel that any Star Wars fan would read and enjoy,
Highly recommended

I came to this one not realising it was the second in a series but read it anyway, seeing that it apparently stands alone and wanting to test that. I would agree. It hints enough at what has passed so you know what the characters have been through (and why they are how they are) but doesn't leave you confused. If anything, it piques your interest enough making you want to hunt out the events on the Absolution (which I just might once I've caught up on my review pile), so overall that's a plus from me.

When we begin this book we meet Vi Moradi, one of General Leia's best spies, and find that she's been recovering from a pretty horrific recent mission that went pretty wrong. Vi is eager to move on (whether she's ready to or not), but the mission Leia has for her seems at first glance an insult, ego-crushing at next glance, and basically boring and beneath her with all things considered.

Vi is to seek out a boring and out-of-reach planet and go there to begin building another retreat for the Resistance - somewhere the First Order would never even think of bothering with. Sure, it's a much needed thing - the book is set just after the events of The Last Jedi when they're hurting deeply from everything that's happened... but Vi still hates it. She wants to be in the excitement doing what she does best... but, she also trusts and believes in Leia with every fibre of her being, so if Leia wants a boring planet, then Leia's going to get a boring planet.

And if that's not enough? Vi also has to collect someone on her way to help on the mission. And that person is the same one that has left her in such a poor state. He's not doing much better, either - if anything, he is in far worse condition (thanks to Phasma) so they make a jolly pair on the long and boring journey to an equally boring planet.

As if that isn't enough to deal with, it all goes wrong from the start. Their ship is knocked near entry causing them to crash, and injuring both Vi and her reluctant partner (as if they weren't already in pain from recent events), and while unconscious from the crash their ship is ransacked. Every item scraped together to help build a new base for the Resistance is taken - even the thin mattress in Vi's bunk. Even her knitting.

So now before they can do anything else she needs to get a regular old-fashioned job in order to earn a few local credits to start buying back their much needed supplies... and seeing as their boring planet of choice is Batuu, located literally on the edge of the galactic map, the last settled world before Wild Space... even the simplest manufactured goods go at a high price. And the price only goes up if the local thugs who run the planet don't like the look of you.

And it's going to take Vi some luck to get on their good side.

Overall, this is a decent read. I preferred Phasma (also written by Dawson) but this was a good adventure, filled with a range of characters, and didn't simply brush people off as 'good' or 'evil', they all had their reasons for being, even the thugs who ran Batuu.

I actually bought this book on Audible last year, I did not mean to buy it and was misled by the title, I thought I was buying the latest book in the Jason Anspach series so when I started listening I was initially disappointed, I continued listening and by the end found that I had really quite enjoyed the book, it’s fun and moves along well telling a tale worth a listen/read, if I have reservations it is that the book is an advert for the Black Spire ride at Disneyworld and includes every possible link to this