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Star Wars Disney Canon Novel
Star Wars: The Last Order
New York Times best-selling author Kwame Mbalia makes his Star Wars debut with this exciting YA novel!
Following the end of Star Rise of Skywalker, the Resistance rescues a ship full of young passengers who had been kidnapped by the First Order. As Finn and Jannah set out to find the First Order officer responsible before he can endanger any more children, the two former stormtroopers must wrestle with their own complicated pasts as soldiers of the oppressive regime.
Take a deep dive into the pasts of popular characters Finn and Jannah in this richly-drawn, action-packed story that fans have been asking for.
Following the end of Star Rise of Skywalker, the Resistance rescues a ship full of young passengers who had been kidnapped by the First Order. As Finn and Jannah set out to find the First Order officer responsible before he can endanger any more children, the two former stormtroopers must wrestle with their own complicated pasts as soldiers of the oppressive regime.
Take a deep dive into the pasts of popular characters Finn and Jannah in this richly-drawn, action-packed story that fans have been asking for.
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First published October 21, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 23, 2025
(2.5 rounded up)
I’ve got “feelings” about John Boyega’s Finn. The storyline of a stormtrooper breaking free of his conditioning, deserting and becoming a Star Wars hero had a lot of potential yet Lucasfilm squandered that potential and Boyega’s talents as the Sequel Trilogy progressed. My feelings on Naomi Ackie’s Jannah are more straightforward, through no fault on Ackie’s part the character feels like an (almost forgettable) afterthought added quickly to “The Rise of Skywalker” to give Finn someone to interact with as they were unfairly cutting back on Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose. The most interesting thing about Jannah’s character, being inspired to desert like Finn had, was not shown but delivered via exposition dump, something I honestly really didn’t like watching the movie the first time.
“The Last Order” attempts to give more about both characters in a post-Episode IX mission to free potential stormtrooper recruits from First Order remnants. But like the recent “Master of Evil”, Last Order is different from how it was advertised in that this mission barely takes up any time in the story. Doing so reveals one of my biggest problems with Canon Star Wars books, they’re often incredibly restrained by what they can and can’t do around certain time frames and projects lest they get retconned by whatever shows or movies in that era. So until Daisy Ridley's solo Rey movie comes out (or Disney revives “The Hunt for Ben Solo”), books like Last Order can’t do too much exploring life in the Galaxy in this time period. Even with what we got, I can’t say it's truly groundbreaking material. There is an interesting resolution to the villain’s arc in this time period (although some may find it cheesy and it happens in the final pages with a rushed feel to it), but otherwise there’s not much here.
Everything else in the book is a series of flashbacks to Finn and Jannah’s stormtrooper days. Truthfully I didn’t get too much out of Finn’s storyline, it just continued to show the conflicting accounts of Finn’s character, simultaneously a competent trooper (who still gets put on sanitation duty???) that wants to/can excel, a man scared of the First Order/wants to get away, and a socially inept dork. Jannah’s storyline meanwhile I actually really did enjoy as we see the lead-up to her defection. It's an effective sequence that again would have had more of an impact if we actually saw it on screen when she was introduced. But it's still a nice scene and I liked her interactions with her fellow troopers. Besides this, there were parts of both flashback sequences I also enjoyed, like seeing Captain Cardinal from the “Phasma” novel return.
Ultimately I don’t think “The Last Order” justifies its status as the first major post “Rise of Skywalker” story in the Disney Canon as those scenes are minimal. I think this book with just the flashbacks could have been released before Episode IX and it may have worked better. I wasn’t blown away, it doesn’t feel too essential, but it's mostly harmless and could be entertaining.
I’ve got “feelings” about John Boyega’s Finn. The storyline of a stormtrooper breaking free of his conditioning, deserting and becoming a Star Wars hero had a lot of potential yet Lucasfilm squandered that potential and Boyega’s talents as the Sequel Trilogy progressed. My feelings on Naomi Ackie’s Jannah are more straightforward, through no fault on Ackie’s part the character feels like an (almost forgettable) afterthought added quickly to “The Rise of Skywalker” to give Finn someone to interact with as they were unfairly cutting back on Kelly Marie Tran’s Rose. The most interesting thing about Jannah’s character, being inspired to desert like Finn had, was not shown but delivered via exposition dump, something I honestly really didn’t like watching the movie the first time.
“The Last Order” attempts to give more about both characters in a post-Episode IX mission to free potential stormtrooper recruits from First Order remnants. But like the recent “Master of Evil”, Last Order is different from how it was advertised in that this mission barely takes up any time in the story. Doing so reveals one of my biggest problems with Canon Star Wars books, they’re often incredibly restrained by what they can and can’t do around certain time frames and projects lest they get retconned by whatever shows or movies in that era. So until Daisy Ridley's solo Rey movie comes out (or Disney revives “The Hunt for Ben Solo”), books like Last Order can’t do too much exploring life in the Galaxy in this time period. Even with what we got, I can’t say it's truly groundbreaking material. There is an interesting resolution to the villain’s arc in this time period (although some may find it cheesy and it happens in the final pages with a rushed feel to it), but otherwise there’s not much here.
Everything else in the book is a series of flashbacks to Finn and Jannah’s stormtrooper days. Truthfully I didn’t get too much out of Finn’s storyline, it just continued to show the conflicting accounts of Finn’s character, simultaneously a competent trooper (who still gets put on sanitation duty???) that wants to/can excel, a man scared of the First Order/wants to get away, and a socially inept dork. Jannah’s storyline meanwhile I actually really did enjoy as we see the lead-up to her defection. It's an effective sequence that again would have had more of an impact if we actually saw it on screen when she was introduced. But it's still a nice scene and I liked her interactions with her fellow troopers. Besides this, there were parts of both flashback sequences I also enjoyed, like seeing Captain Cardinal from the “Phasma” novel return.
Ultimately I don’t think “The Last Order” justifies its status as the first major post “Rise of Skywalker” story in the Disney Canon as those scenes are minimal. I think this book with just the flashbacks could have been released before Episode IX and it may have worked better. I wasn’t blown away, it doesn’t feel too essential, but it's mostly harmless and could be entertaining.
November 4, 2025
An interesting title for the (currently planned) last release by "Disney-Lucasfilm" press before the YA line of books moves over to Random House/Delacorte. "The Last Order" by Kwambe Mbalia is partially incorrectly marketed, but that doens't mean its bad.
In fact, the book is substantially better than I anticipated.
The book was mostly marketable as taking place after "The Rise of Skywalker", and it partially includes that storyline. Unfortunately, it's only about 15% of the book. The other 85% is all flashbacks to the First Order from before the Force Awakens. We see Finn and Jannah as they have separate storylines that have the same theme: seeds of rebellion.
First of all: I really enjoyed the way that Mbalia wrote the two storylines. We see Finn (FN 2187) have to work for Major Gohl and we see the Seeds of his disobedience that we later see in The Force Awakens. I thought it added a lot of context to his character and makes it gel a lot better.
We also see a lot of Jannah's storyline, which I thought was much more interesting. Here she's known as "Boss" and she is in charge of a squad of troopers that goes on various missions. I knew where it had to end up (as does anyone who has seen The Rise of Skywalker and remembers her talking about the Battle of Ansett Island), but I really enjoyed the various missions and squad dynamics.
I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning of the book (after Chapter 1) when all of the First Order Stormtroopers were only referred to by their designator (ie FN 2187). However, they all either got nicknames or we the audience were easily clued in on who was who. It was not an easy tightrope for Mbalia to walk.
The book does deal with themes about when to follow orders and when not to. How to balance order vs freedom, and for a YA book I think the themes fit. The vocabulary used and the character dynamics doesn't seem to fit YA, and this easily could have been converted to an adult book. Maybe Disney-Lucasfilm Press was trying to go for a male audience? Although sadly this isn't the book to market to that audience.
The Post TROS storyline actually had a ton of potential. I can totally see what Mbalia was going for here. Unfortuantely, because it is so little of the book, it doesn't have enough time to breathe, so the big character decisions here just don't hit like they're supposed to. Had the book had another 100-150 pages of the Post TROS story where we could get to know the other characters better, I think it not only would hit harder, but wouldn't seem as jarring to readers as it currently does being a flashback-primarily book.
Overall, I did enjoy the book a lot more than I thought I would. It's nowhere near the top tier of YA books, but its entertaining none the less. I'd definitely recommend to a sequel-era fan, but it's not required reading by any means. Still, a fun read. 7.5 out of 10!
In fact, the book is substantially better than I anticipated.
The book was mostly marketable as taking place after "The Rise of Skywalker", and it partially includes that storyline. Unfortunately, it's only about 15% of the book. The other 85% is all flashbacks to the First Order from before the Force Awakens. We see Finn and Jannah as they have separate storylines that have the same theme: seeds of rebellion.
First of all: I really enjoyed the way that Mbalia wrote the two storylines. We see Finn (FN 2187) have to work for Major Gohl and we see the Seeds of his disobedience that we later see in The Force Awakens. I thought it added a lot of context to his character and makes it gel a lot better.
We also see a lot of Jannah's storyline, which I thought was much more interesting. Here she's known as "Boss" and she is in charge of a squad of troopers that goes on various missions. I knew where it had to end up (as does anyone who has seen The Rise of Skywalker and remembers her talking about the Battle of Ansett Island), but I really enjoyed the various missions and squad dynamics.
I was a bit apprehensive at the beginning of the book (after Chapter 1) when all of the First Order Stormtroopers were only referred to by their designator (ie FN 2187). However, they all either got nicknames or we the audience were easily clued in on who was who. It was not an easy tightrope for Mbalia to walk.
The book does deal with themes about when to follow orders and when not to. How to balance order vs freedom, and for a YA book I think the themes fit. The vocabulary used and the character dynamics doesn't seem to fit YA, and this easily could have been converted to an adult book. Maybe Disney-Lucasfilm Press was trying to go for a male audience? Although sadly this isn't the book to market to that audience.
The Post TROS storyline actually had a ton of potential. I can totally see what Mbalia was going for here. Unfortuantely, because it is so little of the book, it doesn't have enough time to breathe, so the big character decisions here just don't hit like they're supposed to. Had the book had another 100-150 pages of the Post TROS story where we could get to know the other characters better, I think it not only would hit harder, but wouldn't seem as jarring to readers as it currently does being a flashback-primarily book.
Overall, I did enjoy the book a lot more than I thought I would. It's nowhere near the top tier of YA books, but its entertaining none the less. I'd definitely recommend to a sequel-era fan, but it's not required reading by any means. Still, a fun read. 7.5 out of 10!
October 28, 2025
Finished the novel this evening. I rate it an enjoyable but not exceptional 3.5 out of 5.
There was a solid sense of adventure throughout this story, and for the most part, I thought the pacing was pretty strong, although the last portion where all the storylines were meant to come together felt a tad rushed to me. My favorite aspect of the novel overall was how Finn and Jannah's backstories with the First Order were fleshed out more than they could be in the films and how their growing disillusionment with the First Order and increasing awareness of its corruption, cruelty, and misleading propaganda is developed.
The post-TROS elements of the story did largely feel like mere frame for the bulk of the book, which to me focused more on looking at the lives of Finn and Jannah pre-TFA and explaining both their decisions to ultimately desert the First Order.
It's by no means an essential read in my opinion, but I would certainly recommend it to fans of the ST or fans of Finn and Jannah as characters since the majority of the story is focused on them, and the book in my opinion is at its best when it focuses on them.
On a whole, even though I am not the biggest fan of the ST, I still enjoyed this book for what it was.
There was a solid sense of adventure throughout this story, and for the most part, I thought the pacing was pretty strong, although the last portion where all the storylines were meant to come together felt a tad rushed to me. My favorite aspect of the novel overall was how Finn and Jannah's backstories with the First Order were fleshed out more than they could be in the films and how their growing disillusionment with the First Order and increasing awareness of its corruption, cruelty, and misleading propaganda is developed.
The post-TROS elements of the story did largely feel like mere frame for the bulk of the book, which to me focused more on looking at the lives of Finn and Jannah pre-TFA and explaining both their decisions to ultimately desert the First Order.
It's by no means an essential read in my opinion, but I would certainly recommend it to fans of the ST or fans of Finn and Jannah as characters since the majority of the story is focused on them, and the book in my opinion is at its best when it focuses on them.
On a whole, even though I am not the biggest fan of the ST, I still enjoyed this book for what it was.
December 22, 2025
It’s a bit of a muddle, and the ending is entirely underdeveloped.
March 17, 2026
I finished this in two days and it was so good! I love how kwame brought to the Star Wars Series!! Not a five stars but the audiobook would've been because there was sound effects and everything so it was an enjoyable listen! Borrowed physical copy from my library so hopefully I will get myself a copy soon!(:
November 10, 2025
This is a solid story; I think it’s better than the average Star Wars novel recently. The audiobook narrator was good too.
It starts with a post-TRoS story involving a new character, Coy, who accidentally ends up on a mission with Finn and Jannah to track down a First Order leader, someone both Finn and Jannah had experience with before they defected and the First Order was defeated. Then the story spends most of its time in Finn and Jannah’s First Order past as stormtroopers—which was well-written and interesting, but it started to make the “present-day” set-up feel a little useless. I thought for a while it might be a 3-star book because of that, but the author actually brought it all together well in the end. This book still doesn’t give a lot of time to post-TRoS events, which may disappoint some people, but I thought it was a really solid story that fits into existing events and fleshes them out a bit more, giving a lot more character to both Finn and Jannah than you get to see in the movies.
As a YA story, it’s also nice to see it grappling with the question of when to stop following authority that you realize is corrupt. It shows how the stormtroopers had bought into the First Order propaganda (“morale sessions”) and then some of them through various events realized they weren’t actually serving good but evil. There’s a moral core to this story that I really appreciate.
It starts with a post-TRoS story involving a new character, Coy, who accidentally ends up on a mission with Finn and Jannah to track down a First Order leader, someone both Finn and Jannah had experience with before they defected and the First Order was defeated. Then the story spends most of its time in Finn and Jannah’s First Order past as stormtroopers—which was well-written and interesting, but it started to make the “present-day” set-up feel a little useless. I thought for a while it might be a 3-star book because of that, but the author actually brought it all together well in the end. This book still doesn’t give a lot of time to post-TRoS events, which may disappoint some people, but I thought it was a really solid story that fits into existing events and fleshes them out a bit more, giving a lot more character to both Finn and Jannah than you get to see in the movies.
As a YA story, it’s also nice to see it grappling with the question of when to stop following authority that you realize is corrupt. It shows how the stormtroopers had bought into the First Order propaganda (“morale sessions”) and then some of them through various events realized they weren’t actually serving good but evil. There’s a moral core to this story that I really appreciate.
March 6, 2026
I've been sitting on my thoughts about this book and I'd give it a 3.5/5 if Goodreads were able to give half stars.
The target (age) demographic was very obviously not me, that being said, I still enjoyed reading about the three characters whose POVs we follow in this book.
I thought the beginning/setup was quite well structured, the middle dragged sometimes and the end was a little too fast-paced for my taste.
The biggest gripe I have with this book is that while I understand that taking Coys POV and making it the frame in which the flashbacks take turns to give context to said frame, I still felt like it was forcefully restrained from doing the salto of faith and actually develop the state of the galaxy after Episode IX.
Most of the book is made out of flashbacks, and by most, I mean 90%. I just wish we had spent a little more time developing the main antagonist and their relationship to the three characters by the end of the book. I felt like they were lacking the emotional depth/connection with the other characters in order for the ending to be resolved as quickly as it did. I'm not necesserily against fast-paced endings, I just believe the execution needs to be strong, and sadly this isn't the case here in my opinion.
Negatives aside this book did give us a lot about Jannah and Finn respectively and that is a massive accomplishment. We discover a new lense through wich to understand the Sequels and both their backstories were as entertaining as they were key to shape the characters.
Jannah's backstory surprised me and out of the two I'd say I enjoyed hers a tad bit more, but Finn still shone in his characterization and I truly think the author did a great job at depicting our heroes still in their teenage years figuring out who they want to be and what their place is in the First Order.
[Spoiler ahead]
Man am I craving some of Coy's family farm tea, all that sounded delicious!!!
The target (age) demographic was very obviously not me, that being said, I still enjoyed reading about the three characters whose POVs we follow in this book.
I thought the beginning/setup was quite well structured, the middle dragged sometimes and the end was a little too fast-paced for my taste.
The biggest gripe I have with this book is that while I understand that taking Coys POV and making it the frame in which the flashbacks take turns to give context to said frame, I still felt like it was forcefully restrained from doing the salto of faith and actually develop the state of the galaxy after Episode IX.
Most of the book is made out of flashbacks, and by most, I mean 90%. I just wish we had spent a little more time developing the main antagonist and their relationship to the three characters by the end of the book. I felt like they were lacking the emotional depth/connection with the other characters in order for the ending to be resolved as quickly as it did. I'm not necesserily against fast-paced endings, I just believe the execution needs to be strong, and sadly this isn't the case here in my opinion.
Negatives aside this book did give us a lot about Jannah and Finn respectively and that is a massive accomplishment. We discover a new lense through wich to understand the Sequels and both their backstories were as entertaining as they were key to shape the characters.
Jannah's backstory surprised me and out of the two I'd say I enjoyed hers a tad bit more, but Finn still shone in his characterization and I truly think the author did a great job at depicting our heroes still in their teenage years figuring out who they want to be and what their place is in the First Order.
[Spoiler ahead]
Man am I craving some of Coy's family farm tea, all that sounded delicious!!!
November 14, 2025
What a great debut star wars book from Kwame mbalia!!
I do feel like this book was miss marketed with the book being a big 180 on my expectations for it, With a large majority of the book being a flashback of Finn and Janna early years in the first order which I thoroughly loved getting so much information on their younger selves and the moments that eventually lead to them leaving the first order.
While Janna is a squad leader and finn still being a cadet, they both get wrapped up in separate first order investigations that do expose them to the horrors and reality of being apart of the first order but both at the end of the day just trying to keep their fellow troopers safe from their enemies and the wrath of first order officers.
we get looks into the first order brain washing and satiations where the children could be coming from and the star wars book nerd in me loved getting First order officer cardinal turning up again for the first time since Black spire book from Delilah s Dawson.
in the end i loved my time with this book giving us so much on finn and Janna and how their past's within the first order connects to the present day mission of hunting down someone from their past and saving children from a life of slavery.
I do feel like this book was miss marketed with the book being a big 180 on my expectations for it, With a large majority of the book being a flashback of Finn and Janna early years in the first order which I thoroughly loved getting so much information on their younger selves and the moments that eventually lead to them leaving the first order.
While Janna is a squad leader and finn still being a cadet, they both get wrapped up in separate first order investigations that do expose them to the horrors and reality of being apart of the first order but both at the end of the day just trying to keep their fellow troopers safe from their enemies and the wrath of first order officers.
we get looks into the first order brain washing and satiations where the children could be coming from and the star wars book nerd in me loved getting First order officer cardinal turning up again for the first time since Black spire book from Delilah s Dawson.
in the end i loved my time with this book giving us so much on finn and Janna and how their past's within the first order connects to the present day mission of hunting down someone from their past and saving children from a life of slavery.
December 17, 2025
This Star Wars title has definite potential, but it unfortunately doesn't live up to it in my opinion. The action unfolds across three different timelines, one of which at least should have automatic appeal for any fan -- it's canonically the latest story yet in this setting, as the first novel to take place following the 2019 movie The Rise of Skywalker. How disappointing, then, that that era turns out to be little beyond a framing device, with only the barest sketch of a post-Exegol galaxy revealed to us. (I assume Disney holds more blame there than author Kwame Mbalia, but recognizing that does nothing to make the work any stronger. It's been six years, folks!)
The other two sequences are told in flashback, flimsily justified by the mission that the Resistance protagonists are on in the present. Here we see film heroes Finn and Jannah when they were still loyal First Order soldiers, although the established canon requires that they never met back then. Thus FN-2187 and TZ-1719's plot threads don't intersect directly, resulting in another structural weakness for the book. Each considered as a standalone novella wouldn't be so bad, and they cover similar thematic territory as the separate troopers both grow disillusioned with their situation and the amorality of their superior officers, but overall this is the sort of prequel that contains few surprises. Events play out basically as we would expect them to, bringing the young man to near the headspace he was in for The Force Awakens (2015) and expanding on the woman's own defection that she mentioned in Rise. It's all competent enough, and I'm glad the corporation entrusted these Black characters to a bestselling Black writer, but the end result is hardly a showstopper.
[Content warning for gun violence and child kidnapping / exploitation.]
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The other two sequences are told in flashback, flimsily justified by the mission that the Resistance protagonists are on in the present. Here we see film heroes Finn and Jannah when they were still loyal First Order soldiers, although the established canon requires that they never met back then. Thus FN-2187 and TZ-1719's plot threads don't intersect directly, resulting in another structural weakness for the book. Each considered as a standalone novella wouldn't be so bad, and they cover similar thematic territory as the separate troopers both grow disillusioned with their situation and the amorality of their superior officers, but overall this is the sort of prequel that contains few surprises. Events play out basically as we would expect them to, bringing the young man to near the headspace he was in for The Force Awakens (2015) and expanding on the woman's own defection that she mentioned in Rise. It's all competent enough, and I'm glad the corporation entrusted these Black characters to a bestselling Black writer, but the end result is hardly a showstopper.
[Content warning for gun violence and child kidnapping / exploitation.]
Like this review?
--Throw me a quick one-time donation here!
https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--Subscribe here to support my writing and weigh in on what I read next!
https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
--Follow along on Goodreads here!
https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--Or click here to browse through all my reviews!
https://lesserjoke.home.blog
January 23, 2026
The first post-Rise of Skywalker story... allegedly.
This book is somewhat awkwardly split between three different stories: the main story, set shortly after TROS, and then two flashbacks from Finn's and Jannah's POVs respectively, which both take place years before.
The main story is pretty barren. It's a small part of the book, and I legit forgot what the characters were supposed to be doing midway through. That's okay, though, because it doesn't go anywhere or lead to anything substantial.
Finn's story isn't bad, per se, it's mostly just a bit dull. He goes on a mission with an officer and a buddy, but the officer is already set up as the bad guy, so his betrayal holds little weight, and I never got the impression that Finn and the other stormtrooper liked each other all that much, even though the book wants them to be friends.
And that's what I was expecting, really-- a brief YA story that's well written, if a bit bland, meant to fill in a gap or two, though ultimately pretty skippable...
...is what I would say if Jannah's story wasn't great. The small bits of worldbuilding are very welcome, I liked her dynamic with her squad, her turn is gradual and believable, and the moment when she breaks is excellent and the best scene in the book IMO. It took a cardboard cutout supporting character from the franchise's worst film and turned her into, frankly, my favorite character in this part of the franchise thus far (the fact that they haven't been trying very hard on that front notwithstanding). I'm honestly a little bit puzzled by it. If this book were just about her, I imagine I'd be giving it another star.
In any case, this book did its job and made me at least a little more interested in seeing more sequel-era content, so mission accomplished, I guess.
2.5 stars.
This book is somewhat awkwardly split between three different stories: the main story, set shortly after TROS, and then two flashbacks from Finn's and Jannah's POVs respectively, which both take place years before.
The main story is pretty barren. It's a small part of the book, and I legit forgot what the characters were supposed to be doing midway through. That's okay, though, because it doesn't go anywhere or lead to anything substantial.
Finn's story isn't bad, per se, it's mostly just a bit dull. He goes on a mission with an officer and a buddy, but the officer is already set up as the bad guy, so his betrayal holds little weight, and I never got the impression that Finn and the other stormtrooper liked each other all that much, even though the book wants them to be friends.
And that's what I was expecting, really-- a brief YA story that's well written, if a bit bland, meant to fill in a gap or two, though ultimately pretty skippable...
...is what I would say if Jannah's story wasn't great. The small bits of worldbuilding are very welcome, I liked her dynamic with her squad, her turn is gradual and believable, and the moment when she breaks is excellent and the best scene in the book IMO. It took a cardboard cutout supporting character from the franchise's worst film and turned her into, frankly, my favorite character in this part of the franchise thus far (the fact that they haven't been trying very hard on that front notwithstanding). I'm honestly a little bit puzzled by it. If this book were just about her, I imagine I'd be giving it another star.
In any case, this book did its job and made me at least a little more interested in seeing more sequel-era content, so mission accomplished, I guess.
2.5 stars.
February 26, 2026
Star Wars: The Last Order by Kwame Mbalia is a character-driven Star Wars novel that dares to slow the galactic spectacle down and ask a difficult question: what happens after freedom? Set in the uneasy aftermath of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the story follows Finn and Jannah as they pursue a First Order officer responsible for abducting children to replenish the ranks of a broken regime. What unfolds is less a conventional space opera chase and more a reckoning—intimate, painful, and deeply human.
A Story About Survivors, Not Soldiers
From the opening chapters, Mbalia makes it clear that this is not a tale about starships and superweapons. The galaxy may be celebrating the Final Order’s defeat, but for Finn and Jannah, victory is complicated. They were once stormtroopers—numbers, not names—conditioned into obedience before they ever understood what choice meant.
The central mission is straightforward: track down the officer who continues the First Order’s child-abduction program. But the true conflict lies within the protagonists. Each lead forces Finn and Jannah into flashbacks to their time in training, set before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. These sections are among the novel’s strongest elements. Rather than treating their past as a simple origin story, Mbalia renders it as a living wound—one that still shapes their instincts, fears, and even their disagreements with one another.
Finn’s memories are laced with guilt and self-doubt. His defection was heroic, but it did not erase the years he spent participating in a brutal system. Jannah’s recollections carry a different weight. Her rebellion within the ranks—refusing to fire on civilians—forms a quiet counterpoint to Finn’s crisis of conscience. Together, their experiences expand the mythology of the stormtroopers beyond faceless antagonists, reframing them as victims of systemic cruelty.
Flashbacks That Build the Present
The alternating timeline structure could have felt disjointed, but instead it deepens the emotional stakes. Mbalia uses the past not merely for exposition but as a mirror. Every revelation in the present echoes something formative in the past. Training exercises, coded language, and childhood bonds between cadets gain new resonance when seen through the lens of adulthood and autonomy.
The depiction of indoctrination is particularly effective. The First Order’s methods—psychological manipulation, rigid hierarchy, and enforced emotional suppression—are shown in chilling detail. Yet Mbalia avoids grimdark excess. This is still a young adult novel, and while it does not shy away from trauma, it frames healing and solidarity as powerful counterforces.
Finn and Jannah: Parallel Journeys
The heart of the book lies in the dynamic between Finn and Jannah. Their bond is not romantic but rooted in shared understanding. They recognize in each other the peculiar loneliness of former stormtroopers—people who were never allowed to be children in the first place.
Finn’s arc focuses on identity. Who is he without a war? Without the Resistance defining his purpose? The hunt for the officer becomes symbolic: stopping the kidnappings is not only about saving future victims but about severing the last tether to the system that shaped him.
Jannah’s storyline leans into leadership and responsibility. Having led a squad to defy the First Order, she carries both pride and survivor’s guilt. Her perspective adds nuance to the narrative, highlighting that defiance takes many forms and does not erase scars.
Together, they embody the novel’s central theme: freedom is not a single act but an ongoing process.
A Different Kind of Star Wars
Readers expecting lightsaber duels or Force mysticism will find this story grounded and restrained. There are action sequences—chases, skirmishes, tense infiltrations—but they serve the characters rather than overshadow them. The scale is smaller, but the emotional stakes are enormous.
In tone, the novel aligns more closely with character-focused entries in the expanded canon than with blockbuster spectacle. It explores systemic harm, chosen family, and the long shadow of authoritarianism. Mbalia’s prose balances accessibility with emotional depth, making the story suitable for younger readers while offering substance for longtime fans.
Expanding the Sequel Trilogy’s Legacy
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it enriches the sequel era without rewriting it. By centering Finn and Jannah—two characters whose stormtrooper origins were compelling but underexplored on screen—the book gives narrative weight to a concept that the films only touched upon. It reinforces the idea that the First Order’s cruelty was not abstract but deeply personal.
The novel also broadens the moral landscape of the galaxy. The war may be over, but dismantling its systems takes time. By focusing on the rescue of stolen children, the story reframes heroism as restorative rather than destructive.
Final Verdict
Star Wars: The Last Order stands out as a thoughtful, character-driven addition to the Disney-era canon. Rather than chasing nostalgia or escalating spectacle, it chooses introspection and moral clarity. Mbalia crafts a narrative that honors the franchise’s themes of hope and redemption while acknowledging the cost of tyranny.
For readers who have long wondered what becoming free truly means for former stormtroopers, this novel provides a powerful answer. It is not just a story about stopping evil—it is about rebuilding the self after surviving it.
A Story About Survivors, Not Soldiers
From the opening chapters, Mbalia makes it clear that this is not a tale about starships and superweapons. The galaxy may be celebrating the Final Order’s defeat, but for Finn and Jannah, victory is complicated. They were once stormtroopers—numbers, not names—conditioned into obedience before they ever understood what choice meant.
The central mission is straightforward: track down the officer who continues the First Order’s child-abduction program. But the true conflict lies within the protagonists. Each lead forces Finn and Jannah into flashbacks to their time in training, set before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. These sections are among the novel’s strongest elements. Rather than treating their past as a simple origin story, Mbalia renders it as a living wound—one that still shapes their instincts, fears, and even their disagreements with one another.
Finn’s memories are laced with guilt and self-doubt. His defection was heroic, but it did not erase the years he spent participating in a brutal system. Jannah’s recollections carry a different weight. Her rebellion within the ranks—refusing to fire on civilians—forms a quiet counterpoint to Finn’s crisis of conscience. Together, their experiences expand the mythology of the stormtroopers beyond faceless antagonists, reframing them as victims of systemic cruelty.
Flashbacks That Build the Present
The alternating timeline structure could have felt disjointed, but instead it deepens the emotional stakes. Mbalia uses the past not merely for exposition but as a mirror. Every revelation in the present echoes something formative in the past. Training exercises, coded language, and childhood bonds between cadets gain new resonance when seen through the lens of adulthood and autonomy.
The depiction of indoctrination is particularly effective. The First Order’s methods—psychological manipulation, rigid hierarchy, and enforced emotional suppression—are shown in chilling detail. Yet Mbalia avoids grimdark excess. This is still a young adult novel, and while it does not shy away from trauma, it frames healing and solidarity as powerful counterforces.
Finn and Jannah: Parallel Journeys
The heart of the book lies in the dynamic between Finn and Jannah. Their bond is not romantic but rooted in shared understanding. They recognize in each other the peculiar loneliness of former stormtroopers—people who were never allowed to be children in the first place.
Finn’s arc focuses on identity. Who is he without a war? Without the Resistance defining his purpose? The hunt for the officer becomes symbolic: stopping the kidnappings is not only about saving future victims but about severing the last tether to the system that shaped him.
Jannah’s storyline leans into leadership and responsibility. Having led a squad to defy the First Order, she carries both pride and survivor’s guilt. Her perspective adds nuance to the narrative, highlighting that defiance takes many forms and does not erase scars.
Together, they embody the novel’s central theme: freedom is not a single act but an ongoing process.
A Different Kind of Star Wars
Readers expecting lightsaber duels or Force mysticism will find this story grounded and restrained. There are action sequences—chases, skirmishes, tense infiltrations—but they serve the characters rather than overshadow them. The scale is smaller, but the emotional stakes are enormous.
In tone, the novel aligns more closely with character-focused entries in the expanded canon than with blockbuster spectacle. It explores systemic harm, chosen family, and the long shadow of authoritarianism. Mbalia’s prose balances accessibility with emotional depth, making the story suitable for younger readers while offering substance for longtime fans.
Expanding the Sequel Trilogy’s Legacy
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it enriches the sequel era without rewriting it. By centering Finn and Jannah—two characters whose stormtrooper origins were compelling but underexplored on screen—the book gives narrative weight to a concept that the films only touched upon. It reinforces the idea that the First Order’s cruelty was not abstract but deeply personal.
The novel also broadens the moral landscape of the galaxy. The war may be over, but dismantling its systems takes time. By focusing on the rescue of stolen children, the story reframes heroism as restorative rather than destructive.
Final Verdict
Star Wars: The Last Order stands out as a thoughtful, character-driven addition to the Disney-era canon. Rather than chasing nostalgia or escalating spectacle, it chooses introspection and moral clarity. Mbalia crafts a narrative that honors the franchise’s themes of hope and redemption while acknowledging the cost of tyranny.
For readers who have long wondered what becoming free truly means for former stormtroopers, this novel provides a powerful answer. It is not just a story about stopping evil—it is about rebuilding the self after surviving it.
March 9, 2026
So frustrating...the first book in any way set after episode 9...and it's basically a book-end of a teaser, surrounding what feels like warmed-over Clone Wars leftovers. It's all very well written, but it's the NEW stuff that tantalized me...but it's all in the minority. I enjoyed what I got...but it's simply not enough.
October 26, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
For being the first book set after the sequels, it's clear Disney didn't give the author a lot of room to play. Most of the story is flashbacks from Finn and Jannah's time as stormtroopers. Other than their trooper numbers, it was hard to tell the POVs apart, they were both written so similarly.
It was an easy listen but I was hoping for more.
For being the first book set after the sequels, it's clear Disney didn't give the author a lot of room to play. Most of the story is flashbacks from Finn and Jannah's time as stormtroopers. Other than their trooper numbers, it was hard to tell the POVs apart, they were both written so similarly.
It was an easy listen but I was hoping for more.
April 5, 2026
The Last Order by Kwame Mbalia offers a compelling expansion of the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker universe, shifting focus toward the emotional and psychological aftermath of war through the perspectives of Finn and Jannah.
Rather than relying solely on spectacle, Mbalia grounds the narrative in character development, exploring the internal conflicts of two former stormtroopers confronting their past roles within the First Order. This thematic focus on identity, accountability, and redemption adds meaningful depth to what could otherwise be a straightforward action narrative.
The plot is fast-paced and engaging, driven by a high-stakes mission that blends tension with moments of introspection. The rescue of abducted children serves as both a narrative catalyst and a moral anchor, reinforcing the stakes while highlighting the broader consequences of systemic oppression.
What stands out most is Mbalia’s ability to humanize characters shaped by conflict. Finn and Jannah are portrayed not just as heroes, but as individuals grappling with trauma and responsibility, making their journey feel grounded and emotionally authentic.
While firmly rooted in the established Star Wars universe, The Last Order succeeds in carving out its own narrative space, offering readers both excitement and reflection. It is a worthwhile addition for fans seeking a more character-driven exploration of the galaxy’s ongoing story.
Rather than relying solely on spectacle, Mbalia grounds the narrative in character development, exploring the internal conflicts of two former stormtroopers confronting their past roles within the First Order. This thematic focus on identity, accountability, and redemption adds meaningful depth to what could otherwise be a straightforward action narrative.
The plot is fast-paced and engaging, driven by a high-stakes mission that blends tension with moments of introspection. The rescue of abducted children serves as both a narrative catalyst and a moral anchor, reinforcing the stakes while highlighting the broader consequences of systemic oppression.
What stands out most is Mbalia’s ability to humanize characters shaped by conflict. Finn and Jannah are portrayed not just as heroes, but as individuals grappling with trauma and responsibility, making their journey feel grounded and emotionally authentic.
While firmly rooted in the established Star Wars universe, The Last Order succeeds in carving out its own narrative space, offering readers both excitement and reflection. It is a worthwhile addition for fans seeking a more character-driven exploration of the galaxy’s ongoing story.
October 28, 2025
The most utterly boring SW book I have ever read.
January 10, 2026
This was a bit of a rough one for me. I wanted to like it more than I did but the mostly flashback story didn’t do it for me. I’d like to see the author get another shot at a Star Wars book where he’s not hamstrung by the hard stop after the sequels.
December 28, 2025
So a very high 3 star but not quite a 4. I liked the writing style and character development overall, but the flashback storyline was much better laid out and paced than the present one. I would have rather the novel be a bit longer and better develop the present timeline story. The end felt very rushed or too quickly paced in comparison to the rest. I did like that the ending didn't do some useless wrap up and just ended on a good moment. Would recommend overall but not a priority Star Wars read.
March 27, 2026
I really liked the back story of Jannah and Finn. Learning how they both struggled with the decisions the first order made and how they found the resistance was really interesting!
January 15, 2026
The 1st book I read in 2026, both overall and Star Wars related, Star Wars: Master of Evil, by Adam Christopher was released last year, 2025, to mark the 20th anniversary of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Well, it wasn't the only Star Wars movie to reach a major milestone anniversary last year. Around the time of ROTS' 20th anniversary, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back turned 45. Then just last month, on December 18, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens turned 10. While it came out in October of last year, it's obvious that Star Wars: The Last Order is meant to commemorate that anniversary.
TFA is the movie that introduced us to Finn, AKA FN-2187, played by John Boyega. He's a First Order Stormtropper who defected at the beginning of the movie and joined the Resistance. In 2019's Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, we met Jannah, AKA TZ-1719, played by Naomi Acki. She is another former Stormtrooper. Some of the chapters of Star Wars: The Last Order take place after the events of TROS. But most the book focuses on Finn and Jannah long before TFA even began, when they were just teenage Stormtroopers.
Around this time last year, I read the book Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss, by Steven Barnes. I noted in my review that it only has an average Goodreads of rating of 3.37 stars out of 5, with the bulk of the reviews being 3-star reviews. History has repeated itself. As of now, Star Wars: The Last Order has an average rating of 3.32 stars out of 5, again, with most of those being 3-star reviews. There is a very obvious reason for this, one that I think were all aware of. (Of course, I will reiterate something I brought up in my review of The Glass Abyss: I don't think that's the case for every single low rating or poor review. But we cannot ignore it as a factor.) For me, when I learned Finn and Jannah were getting their own book, and it was to be written by Kwame Mbalia, an author I already adore, I knew I had to read it. Now having read it, it wasn't perfect. But I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Kwame definitely understood the assignment. And what's funny is I actually got 2 books by him for Christmas. The 2nd was Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits, which will be my next book to read.
TFA is the movie that introduced us to Finn, AKA FN-2187, played by John Boyega. He's a First Order Stormtropper who defected at the beginning of the movie and joined the Resistance. In 2019's Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, we met Jannah, AKA TZ-1719, played by Naomi Acki. She is another former Stormtrooper. Some of the chapters of Star Wars: The Last Order take place after the events of TROS. But most the book focuses on Finn and Jannah long before TFA even began, when they were just teenage Stormtroopers.
Around this time last year, I read the book Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss, by Steven Barnes. I noted in my review that it only has an average Goodreads of rating of 3.37 stars out of 5, with the bulk of the reviews being 3-star reviews. History has repeated itself. As of now, Star Wars: The Last Order has an average rating of 3.32 stars out of 5, again, with most of those being 3-star reviews. There is a very obvious reason for this, one that I think were all aware of. (Of course, I will reiterate something I brought up in my review of The Glass Abyss: I don't think that's the case for every single low rating or poor review. But we cannot ignore it as a factor.) For me, when I learned Finn and Jannah were getting their own book, and it was to be written by Kwame Mbalia, an author I already adore, I knew I had to read it. Now having read it, it wasn't perfect. But I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Kwame definitely understood the assignment. And what's funny is I actually got 2 books by him for Christmas. The 2nd was Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits, which will be my next book to read.
December 21, 2025
Unfortunately this book was not what I expected or hoped for. The marketing and synopsis make you think it take place AFTER Episode 9 but there are only a few chapters that do, most of the book is memory POV from Finn & Jannah from when they were stormtroopers in the First Order, prior to the events of the Sequel Trilogy. Jannah’s chapters are the strongest parts of the book but unfortunately this doesn’t save it from the disappointment caused by misleading promise.
March 24, 2026
Though The "Rise of Skywalker" was execrable, with only a few good scenes in it, I was immediately drawn to Jannah, and liked Finn a lot since "The Force Awakens". That his presence in the narrative was more or less immaterial by the end of the trilogy did not diminish my interest in this character: someone brainwashed from a very young age to uphold a fascist worldview, and who runs away and decides to oppose everything that defined him in the past. And, after the horrible TRoS, I left the movie wanting to know much more about Jannah, and to find out what would happen next for these two young people.
And yeah, I got necessary backstory and lots of internal conflict that led to their eventual escape from the First Order. Finn is idealistic when we see a little of his past; he is totally accepting of all they've been taught to think and do. A fellow stormtrooper, and at that point rival in the same squad, shows Finn that there's something rotten in the First Order, or, at the very least, with Major Gohl, a First Order officer who takes Finn and his squadmate with him to do something fishy.
Jannah, on the other hand, was respected by Captain Phasma, and was well liked and respected by the squad she's in charge of. They call her "Boss" affectionately, and would do anything for her. She, too, is sent on a mission that turns very south, when she and her squad are ordered to harm those fighting for justice on their planet. She has a serious crisis, trying to resolve her internal conflict to follow orders and protect her squad, but to also protect innocents.
I loved getting to know Jannah and Finn better, through these two backstories, and how they deal with a bad situation in the present, after they find a transport full of children intended for conscription into the First Order.
Both Jannah and Finn prove to be tough, resourceful, intelligent and full of compassion. I wish we could have spent a little more time with both these characters in their present, but it was still good to learn of incidents that helped propel them out of the First Order.
And yeah, I got necessary backstory and lots of internal conflict that led to their eventual escape from the First Order. Finn is idealistic when we see a little of his past; he is totally accepting of all they've been taught to think and do. A fellow stormtrooper, and at that point rival in the same squad, shows Finn that there's something rotten in the First Order, or, at the very least, with Major Gohl, a First Order officer who takes Finn and his squadmate with him to do something fishy.
Jannah, on the other hand, was respected by Captain Phasma, and was well liked and respected by the squad she's in charge of. They call her "Boss" affectionately, and would do anything for her. She, too, is sent on a mission that turns very south, when she and her squad are ordered to harm those fighting for justice on their planet. She has a serious crisis, trying to resolve her internal conflict to follow orders and protect her squad, but to also protect innocents.
I loved getting to know Jannah and Finn better, through these two backstories, and how they deal with a bad situation in the present, after they find a transport full of children intended for conscription into the First Order.
Both Jannah and Finn prove to be tough, resourceful, intelligent and full of compassion. I wish we could have spent a little more time with both these characters in their present, but it was still good to learn of incidents that helped propel them out of the First Order.
March 17, 2026
one of the best star wars books I've read! 🩷
December 9, 2025
I love Star Wars. No, that’s not right. I live Star Wars. Been a fan since I saw Empire in theaters in 1980 as a little kid (I was four). I give just about everything I consume that is Star Wars five stars. I say that to emphasize how disappointing the this book, The Last Order, was for me. It had a promising premise but was so boring. I almost quit it several times. Maybe other readers will like it. Maybe you’ll read this and take it as a challenge to love it—and you will. I hope so. We could all use hope. Maybe a new hope? (Too much?)
March 6, 2026
Without spoilers, I will say that Jannah's story is literally perfect and if this was only a book about her and her squad, it'd be one of my favorites. Finn's story was very good, but I feel like it changes who he is at the beginning of The Force Awakens - it just doesn't line up with his character when we first meet him. The "present day" story was kinda unnecessary. It stuck the landing (mostly...?), but every time the book pivoted back from the flashbacks, it was a bit jarring.
To sum up: More Jannah stories please.
To sum up: More Jannah stories please.
December 7, 2025
The story started off promising, the first novel that takes place after The Rise of Skywalker. However, the vast majority of the book actually tells the story of Finn and Jannah when they were First Order troopers. I quickly lost interest and had to push through, only to get to an ending that was rushed and so unsatisfying. I only recommend this to completists of Star Wars fiction, like myself.
November 3, 2025
Honestly one of my favorite Star Wars books of the year! The story was super entertaining and I loved learning more about these characters! Loved the found family aspects! I don’t really understand why they did the flashbacks… it should’ve just been set before the force awakens. Also probably could have been a little shorter.
November 4, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a very fast read for me. It was a great character study for two of my favorite characters from Star Wars. I enjoyed learning about their past with an emotional perspective on their history and what led to them getting the strength to leave the First Order.
December 28, 2025
This gives me hope that they’ll both come back to the big screen.
And just proves that Finn is SUCH a rich and interesting character that NEEDS more time in the limelight!!!
And just proves that Finn is SUCH a rich and interesting character that NEEDS more time in the limelight!!!
January 23, 2026
An enjoyable read, makes a change to see something from a First Order perspective and how they think themselves different from the Empire.
Good backstory to how Finn and Jannah defected.
Good backstory to how Finn and Jannah defected.
February 9, 2026
Finn and Jannah adventures in flashbacks of the past, and post-movie-9. Amazing stuff, great adventure, fantastic new characters!! Loved it.
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