What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars: Eyes Like Stars
A charming young adult romance featuring all-new characters (plus cameos!), a magnetic attraction, a mysterious artifact, and the fearsome First Order from New York Times bestseller, Ashley Poston.
When eighteen-year-old Ardent Quay saves the life of a fast-talking Wild Spacer on Coruscant, she doesn’t expect a thank you—and she certainly doesn’t expect him to stowaway on her father’s star tour ship. Yet here he is, taking up residence in the ship’s pantry and eating all her favorite snacks. He’s mysterious and coy and strange, with silver hair and eyes speckled with stars, and no matter how much she tries to pull away, she can’t. She should report him to her father, but the stowaway soon convinces her that there’s a nefarious plot at play on this ship, one that has the lives of everyone onboard at stake. With the galaxy on the brink of war and the First Order breathing down their necks, Ardent and her stowaway must ferry a precious artifact to its homeworld without getting caught—or worse, killed.
This is, actually, a terrible time to take a tour of the galaxy. And an even worse time to fall in love.
When eighteen-year-old Ardent Quay saves the life of a fast-talking Wild Spacer on Coruscant, she doesn’t expect a thank you—and she certainly doesn’t expect him to stowaway on her father’s star tour ship. Yet here he is, taking up residence in the ship’s pantry and eating all her favorite snacks. He’s mysterious and coy and strange, with silver hair and eyes speckled with stars, and no matter how much she tries to pull away, she can’t. She should report him to her father, but the stowaway soon convinces her that there’s a nefarious plot at play on this ship, one that has the lives of everyone onboard at stake. With the galaxy on the brink of war and the First Order breathing down their necks, Ardent and her stowaway must ferry a precious artifact to its homeworld without getting caught—or worse, killed.
This is, actually, a terrible time to take a tour of the galaxy. And an even worse time to fall in love.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Ashley Poston
33 books26.7k followersNew York Times best-seller by day, fanfic author by night.
Viist her at www.ashposton.com.
Viist her at www.ashposton.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
remind-me-once-out
March 25, 2026Ashley Poston is my Roman Empire. Prepare to be sick of me.
July 23, 2026
I know several Star Wars fans were apprehensive when this book was announced. Sure we've gotten YA books before, and they've had romance as the main subplot (in particular the famous Lost Stars and the less famous [though really sweet] A Crash of Fate), but we've never gotten one that is so explicitly branded as a "Star Wars Romance Novel". This also marks a move between publishers, from Disney-Lucasfilm Press to Random House Books for Young Readers.
To start with what I liked, Ashley Poston clearly did her homework on the Star Wars universe. This book jumps around between several planets, and Poston does a great job of capturing the feel of the planets, references to things we know about the planets, and adding her own information to them.
Poston also does a great job of bringing in many familiar Star Wars terms and phrases. Sometimes when new writers try this they either sound like they're copying the movies and are unoriginal or they sound too different and out of place. I think that Poston did an excellent job getting the best of both worlds.
The story is about Ardent Quay, a girl whose family runs the tour ship "Starfarer", and while on Coruscant she runs into a young man (Sian) who is trying to evade the villainous First Order officers. Ardent agrees to let Sian stow away until their ship reaches their next destination, but in a confluence of events (it's not a comedy of errors, but it is funny at times), Sian ends up staying around long after he's supposed to leave. During his stay on the ship, he and Ardent begin to form a romantic connection (it's not a spoiler, this is literally the pitch of the book).
Sometimes, writing a romance book the author can get way too caught up in just writing the romance itself and just have a really weak story around it. Let me tell you, the story in this book is quite strong. In fact, the publisher could have just advertised this as a YA book without the romance and it probably would have worked. The opening few chapters did make me very hesitant, though. I wondered if Poston would actually tell a Star Wars story of if she'd get caught up in the romance. But rest assured the story goes in places you're not expecting.
When it comes to the romance itself: yes, it's cheesy and sappy. Yes, I rolled my eyes at some of the characters thoughts and lines...that's what happens in cheesy/sappy romances like this. However!...I think it really works, and many YA authors would be tempted to write smut, and I appreciate Poston not doing that and keeping the romance in this book appropriate for the age-bracket (at most this book has some kissing).
Beyond the main characters, the droid VeeBee was absolutely delightful! I was laughing at so many of that droids one-liners, and it's very hard to get a droid's voice right, but Poston nailed her character!
On the note of humor, Ashley Poston does have a knack for it, even beyond the character of Veebee. So much of her characters' interactions and the descriptions and the references really did make me laugh out loud. This book is *almost* a rom-com....almost*
A few notes on things that I didn't care for in this book. Ashley Poston does include quite a few modern day language words/phrases/idioms that I just thought stuck out like a sore thumb in the Star Wars universe. Words and Phrases like "Both-Sides-ism", "Heard" (when a character says something and another character responds with "heard"), some swear words like the S-word and the A-word (yes, I know Andor used the S-word, doesn't make it a fit for the Star Wars universe or apppropriate for kids books), and the term Fascist is used quite a few times. Other readers might quibble about if those words fit or not, but they did take me out of the story.
There's also a few things that Poston throws in the story really quickly that I didn't love, but they're really minor elements. Also, Poston relies on a few callbacks to Star Wars things that at times were a bit too "elbow in the stomach to get your attention".
The best part of this book is actually a spoiler...which I will not explain or divulge here. Suffice it to say that there is a MASSIVE element of this book that has been hidden by the marketing campaign for this book (and the reviews so far have done an excellent job of hiding it as well). Once I realized that this is where the book was going, I thought "she's not going THERE is she?"...wondering what I mean, well, you'll have to read the book.
Poston also explores some themes about people falling down the wrong paths and what influences them to do so, and those themes will definitely resonate with today. But it doesn't feel preachy at all.
On its surface, the book just looks like a basic romance. And yes, the romance is ostensibly the biggest part of it. But as a Star Wars story it is really entertaining, is enmeshed in the Star Wars lore and history, and was such a quick, fun experience. Yes, I had my issues with a few elements, but when the characters, story, and worldbuilding (and yes the romance) work...it really works. Overall, I'll give this book a 9 out of 10! Well done Ashlye Poston.
To start with what I liked, Ashley Poston clearly did her homework on the Star Wars universe. This book jumps around between several planets, and Poston does a great job of capturing the feel of the planets, references to things we know about the planets, and adding her own information to them.
Poston also does a great job of bringing in many familiar Star Wars terms and phrases. Sometimes when new writers try this they either sound like they're copying the movies and are unoriginal or they sound too different and out of place. I think that Poston did an excellent job getting the best of both worlds.
The story is about Ardent Quay, a girl whose family runs the tour ship "Starfarer", and while on Coruscant she runs into a young man (Sian) who is trying to evade the villainous First Order officers. Ardent agrees to let Sian stow away until their ship reaches their next destination, but in a confluence of events (it's not a comedy of errors, but it is funny at times), Sian ends up staying around long after he's supposed to leave. During his stay on the ship, he and Ardent begin to form a romantic connection (it's not a spoiler, this is literally the pitch of the book).
Sometimes, writing a romance book the author can get way too caught up in just writing the romance itself and just have a really weak story around it. Let me tell you, the story in this book is quite strong. In fact, the publisher could have just advertised this as a YA book without the romance and it probably would have worked. The opening few chapters did make me very hesitant, though. I wondered if Poston would actually tell a Star Wars story of if she'd get caught up in the romance. But rest assured the story goes in places you're not expecting.
When it comes to the romance itself: yes, it's cheesy and sappy. Yes, I rolled my eyes at some of the characters thoughts and lines...that's what happens in cheesy/sappy romances like this. However!...I think it really works, and many YA authors would be tempted to write smut, and I appreciate Poston not doing that and keeping the romance in this book appropriate for the age-bracket (at most this book has some kissing).
Beyond the main characters, the droid VeeBee was absolutely delightful! I was laughing at so many of that droids one-liners, and it's very hard to get a droid's voice right, but Poston nailed her character!
On the note of humor, Ashley Poston does have a knack for it, even beyond the character of Veebee. So much of her characters' interactions and the descriptions and the references really did make me laugh out loud. This book is *almost* a rom-com....almost*
A few notes on things that I didn't care for in this book. Ashley Poston does include quite a few modern day language words/phrases/idioms that I just thought stuck out like a sore thumb in the Star Wars universe. Words and Phrases like "Both-Sides-ism", "Heard" (when a character says something and another character responds with "heard"), some swear words like the S-word and the A-word (yes, I know Andor used the S-word, doesn't make it a fit for the Star Wars universe or apppropriate for kids books), and the term Fascist is used quite a few times. Other readers might quibble about if those words fit or not, but they did take me out of the story.
There's also a few things that Poston throws in the story really quickly that I didn't love, but they're really minor elements. Also, Poston relies on a few callbacks to Star Wars things that at times were a bit too "elbow in the stomach to get your attention".
The best part of this book is actually a spoiler...which I will not explain or divulge here. Suffice it to say that there is a MASSIVE element of this book that has been hidden by the marketing campaign for this book (and the reviews so far have done an excellent job of hiding it as well). Once I realized that this is where the book was going, I thought "she's not going THERE is she?"...wondering what I mean, well, you'll have to read the book.
Poston also explores some themes about people falling down the wrong paths and what influences them to do so, and those themes will definitely resonate with today. But it doesn't feel preachy at all.
On its surface, the book just looks like a basic romance. And yes, the romance is ostensibly the biggest part of it. But as a Star Wars story it is really entertaining, is enmeshed in the Star Wars lore and history, and was such a quick, fun experience. Yes, I had my issues with a few elements, but when the characters, story, and worldbuilding (and yes the romance) work...it really works. Overall, I'll give this book a 9 out of 10! Well done Ashlye Poston.
Want to Read
December 23, 2025anything by ashely poston gets added AND add star wars. my lore grows deeper
July 21, 2026
A Star Wars romance series? I suppose it's better than a Star Wars mystery series...as everything seems to be a mystery series these days. It's a perfectly nice story, with a few interesting revelations about the galaxy during the ill-fated New Republic. As for the romance angle...well, after reading Rachel Reid it's positively tame, and I can't say I felt that much chemistry between the leads. If anything I was more interested in the wayfinder aspect of the story...and less interested in the tiresome First Order business, although as a metaphor for the current rise of right wing causes and the recruiting of new acolytes, it has its moments. Let's call this a solid 3.5 stars and see what the follow-up might entail.
Want to Read
July 23, 2026YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE ATE UP A STAR WARS YA ROMANCE OMGGGG
Want to Read
July 16, 2026ASHLEY POSTON CAN'T STOP PUTTING OUT BANGERS ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
July 30, 2026
3.5
Eyes Like Stars is definitely a fun read, but it leaves me a bit conflicted. It’s heavily marketed as a Star Wars romance, but unfortunately this is easily the weakest element of the story. The two characters just didn’t have enough chemistry and genuine tension to really make you root for them as a couple.
On the other hand, the book really shines in its connections to the Star Wars universe. As someone who appreciates Star Wars lore this was the highlight for me.
The worldbuilding, overall plot and tie-ins were a blast. It’s fast-paced, has some interesting plot twists, and the writing is smooth.
It does feel like it heavily relies on pre-existing knowledge of the universe, which make me wonder if new fans would enjoy it as much.
Eyes Like Stars is definitely a fun read, but it leaves me a bit conflicted. It’s heavily marketed as a Star Wars romance, but unfortunately this is easily the weakest element of the story. The two characters just didn’t have enough chemistry and genuine tension to really make you root for them as a couple.
On the other hand, the book really shines in its connections to the Star Wars universe. As someone who appreciates Star Wars lore this was the highlight for me.
The worldbuilding, overall plot and tie-ins were a blast. It’s fast-paced, has some interesting plot twists, and the writing is smooth.
It does feel like it heavily relies on pre-existing knowledge of the universe, which make me wonder if new fans would enjoy it as much.
July 24, 2026
4.5 stars
this really was an unofficial sequel to lost stars so of course i ate it up
this really was an unofficial sequel to lost stars so of course i ate it up
August 2, 2026
How freaking fun was this read!! I’m a huge Star Wars fan but not a fan of this author so was nervous but she did such a good job of really embracing and using the Star Wars universe to enhance this story. The droids were so well used and well written here and I adored all the gooey nostalgia that any scene with them invoked in me. It’s very clear that Ashley is either is a huge Star Wars fan herself or she really took this contact seriously. It’s a pretty simple story but it worked for me both as space opera and the YA romance was cute. All the planets visited and the cameos are so much fun! Eeekkk! Reading this was a whole experience with a very specific vibe. I love being in the universe but if we take all of that out would I really love this story or these characters or this writing? I really don’t know so I’m hesitant to rec this to anyone who is not a Star Wars fan.
The audiobook was a lot though and I’m torn. I had no clue that this was one of those enhanced audios. I maybe would have read it instead of listened had I known. The noises are constant. The beeping and humming from the space ship are a very consistent background to the story which was distracting in some scenes. I loved hearing the Star Wars theme songs and other music. I adored the droid noises and all the other sounds like are so well associated with the movies. It absolutely added to feeling like we were truly in the universe but it also took away from some of my connection to the characters because of the continual noise.
The audiobook was a lot though and I’m torn. I had no clue that this was one of those enhanced audios. I maybe would have read it instead of listened had I known. The noises are constant. The beeping and humming from the space ship are a very consistent background to the story which was distracting in some scenes. I loved hearing the Star Wars theme songs and other music. I adored the droid noises and all the other sounds like are so well associated with the movies. It absolutely added to feeling like we were truly in the universe but it also took away from some of my connection to the characters because of the continual noise.
July 18, 2026
Disclaimer: I am a grown ass woman and too old to be reading young adult books. I normally can’t relate to these children. But this book was written well and Sian only annoyed me a little bit with some of his cringey flirty lines to Ardent. Mostly they were pretty cute.
This book takes place before The Force Awakens. Sian is a mysterious guy with a broken lightsaber, who is running from the First Order. He runs into Ardent, who helps him by stowing him away on her dad’s cruise spaceship that takes guests to rebel battle sites. Of course someone comes looking for the mysterious lightsaber and shenanigans ensue. I read a lot of Star Wars books and this book tied in nicely to the lore and had a few fun cameos.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC
This book takes place before The Force Awakens. Sian is a mysterious guy with a broken lightsaber, who is running from the First Order. He runs into Ardent, who helps him by stowing him away on her dad’s cruise spaceship that takes guests to rebel battle sites. Of course someone comes looking for the mysterious lightsaber and shenanigans ensue. I read a lot of Star Wars books and this book tied in nicely to the lore and had a few fun cameos.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC
July 19, 2026
Thank you Edelweiss and PRH audio!
This book is perfect! All my expectations were exceeded! Even though i predicted most of what happened, I couldn’t be happier with this story! The characters were amazing, the found family and love story were superb and I already want to re read it. This book felt like a warm hug! For new and old Star Wars fans, for romance fans, there is something for everyone in this book!
This book is perfect! All my expectations were exceeded! Even though i predicted most of what happened, I couldn’t be happier with this story! The characters were amazing, the found family and love story were superb and I already want to re read it. This book felt like a warm hug! For new and old Star Wars fans, for romance fans, there is something for everyone in this book!
July 29, 2026
I love both of the cover characters! They are amazing. I love traveling the galaxy on a cruise ship! Such a great story! I love the characters and the adventure
July 30, 2026
So fun!
July 25, 2026
Star Wars is my favorite universe of all time, and it’s been a long time since I felt this happy just spending time in the galaxy (or honestly with any YA book for that matter). I had such a great time with this one.
The novel is marketed as a romance, but it felt much more like an adventure story to me. The romance is there, but it doesn’t follow the usual formula, so don’t let the word “romance” put you off. I think there’s plenty here to enjoy even if you don’t usually read romance.
Arie was a great protagonist. I loved that she actually felt like an 18 year old instead of someone written to act much older or way too childish. The same goes for Sian, and honestly the rest of the cast too. Everyone felt interesting and worth getting invested in. There were a few familiar faces, but the book never relies on fan service. It tells its own story, and it does it really well. I could easily see this being turned into a movie or a TV series.
I also can’t recommend the audiobook enough. The narration is fantastic, and the sound effects and music make it feel like you’re right there in a galaxy far, far away.
I really hope this book does well because Ashley Poston clearly has a lot of love for Star Wars, and I’d love to see her write a sequel, or at least another story set in this universe.
The novel is marketed as a romance, but it felt much more like an adventure story to me. The romance is there, but it doesn’t follow the usual formula, so don’t let the word “romance” put you off. I think there’s plenty here to enjoy even if you don’t usually read romance.
Arie was a great protagonist. I loved that she actually felt like an 18 year old instead of someone written to act much older or way too childish. The same goes for Sian, and honestly the rest of the cast too. Everyone felt interesting and worth getting invested in. There were a few familiar faces, but the book never relies on fan service. It tells its own story, and it does it really well. I could easily see this being turned into a movie or a TV series.
I also can’t recommend the audiobook enough. The narration is fantastic, and the sound effects and music make it feel like you’re right there in a galaxy far, far away.
I really hope this book does well because Ashley Poston clearly has a lot of love for Star Wars, and I’d love to see her write a sequel, or at least another story set in this universe.
July 22, 2026
Okay this was SO CUTE. Just had me smiling and giggling the entire time.
I shouldn’t be surprised, because Ashley Poston, but nevertheless I am, by how much fun I had here.
I don’t even particularly like Star Wars. Like I enjoyed the movies, but I certainly don’t know the deep lore or place or people or creature references.
You really don’t need to be deep in the fandom to appreciate this one, though. It read like a fun space story with a great romance at the heart. If you have seen the movies, the cameos are an added bonus.
Ardent and Sian were just adorable. I loved their connection—it felt authentic and well developed over the arc of their journey together.
🎧 PLEASE do this one on audio, if you read! The audiobook production—sound effects and all—was so much fun, and Kristen Sieh absolutely nailed every voice. Felt like I was watching a movie, only zoning out and listening more than watching, which is what I usually do bc ADHD anyways.
It does read young, bc YA, but not too young that I didn’t enjoy myself as an elder millennial.
Thank you PRH audio for the free audiobook!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded 🆙 for the cuteness
I shouldn’t be surprised, because Ashley Poston, but nevertheless I am, by how much fun I had here.
I don’t even particularly like Star Wars. Like I enjoyed the movies, but I certainly don’t know the deep lore or place or people or creature references.
You really don’t need to be deep in the fandom to appreciate this one, though. It read like a fun space story with a great romance at the heart. If you have seen the movies, the cameos are an added bonus.
Ardent and Sian were just adorable. I loved their connection—it felt authentic and well developed over the arc of their journey together.
🎧 PLEASE do this one on audio, if you read! The audiobook production—sound effects and all—was so much fun, and Kristen Sieh absolutely nailed every voice. Felt like I was watching a movie, only zoning out and listening more than watching, which is what I usually do bc ADHD anyways.
It does read young, bc YA, but not too young that I didn’t enjoy myself as an elder millennial.
Thank you PRH audio for the free audiobook!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded 🆙 for the cuteness
August 2, 2026
So I'll put the disclaimer out there right away that this is the first Star Wars book I've read, I've always been fairly ambivalent about the movies, and I mainly read this because I love Ashley Poston books. So take my review for whatever that's worth.
That being said, I really enjoyed this book! I do think marketing it as a romance was an interesting choice, because the romance aspect honestly felt like a strong subplot. The romance was nice, and I really liked our main characters together, but I thought the plot outside of that was more interesting honestly. There were interesting plot twists (some more predictable than others), and I thought the inner conflict and coming-of-age aspects were really well done.
I don't feel qualified to judge how well it fit into the Star Wars universe or how it dealt with everything there, but from a novice's perspective, it had strong Star Wars vibes and it actually made me more interested to try some more of the books and see if I can find some I enjoy more than the movies!
That being said, I really enjoyed this book! I do think marketing it as a romance was an interesting choice, because the romance aspect honestly felt like a strong subplot. The romance was nice, and I really liked our main characters together, but I thought the plot outside of that was more interesting honestly. There were interesting plot twists (some more predictable than others), and I thought the inner conflict and coming-of-age aspects were really well done.
I don't feel qualified to judge how well it fit into the Star Wars universe or how it dealt with everything there, but from a novice's perspective, it had strong Star Wars vibes and it actually made me more interested to try some more of the books and see if I can find some I enjoy more than the movies!
August 2, 2026
AHHHH!!!!!
Okay I have so many thoughts.
When I saw this genre initiative I was SO EXCITED! A Star Wars romance book?! CMON!!
1. The Star Wars quotes and fan service was everything. Iconic quotes from each trilogy, references to the animated shows and traveling to all the familiar planets.
2. The story was really fun and unique! I haven’t finished the animated show, so this novel is how I learned about the magic of wayfinding.
3. Probably the most important distinction: the romance. This is a ya book, so there was just chaste kisses, but the yearning was lovely. There was also fun flirting and banter. Now, I do think it wasn’t enough romance. It felt like more of a sub plot, which is disappointing. But the story was such a fun ride that I was able to have a blast (pewpew).
4. Reylo girlies will be fed with this 😈
Anyway, I am SUPER eager to know what other romance is coming next from the Star Wars novels!!!
Okay I have so many thoughts.
When I saw this genre initiative I was SO EXCITED! A Star Wars romance book?! CMON!!
1. The Star Wars quotes and fan service was everything. Iconic quotes from each trilogy, references to the animated shows and traveling to all the familiar planets.
2. The story was really fun and unique! I haven’t finished the animated show, so this novel is how I learned about the magic of wayfinding.
3. Probably the most important distinction: the romance. This is a ya book, so there was just chaste kisses, but the yearning was lovely. There was also fun flirting and banter. Now, I do think it wasn’t enough romance. It felt like more of a sub plot, which is disappointing. But the story was such a fun ride that I was able to have a blast (pewpew).
4. Reylo girlies will be fed with this 😈
Anyway, I am SUPER eager to know what other romance is coming next from the Star Wars novels!!!
July 24, 2026
I'm not really a Star Wars fan. I mean, I'll watch the movies, but I've never read any of the books or fanfic, so I wasn't really the target audience for this. But I like Ashley Poston's books, so I gave it a go.
I actually had a lot of fun with it. The audiobook was great with all the Star Wars sounds and music. It just added something extra. It was cute, and I had a good time.
4 stars
I actually had a lot of fun with it. The audiobook was great with all the Star Wars sounds and music. It just added something extra. It was cute, and I had a good time.
4 stars
July 23, 2026
“You’re made up of everything I’m not—a constellation I’ve never seen before.”
Ardent Quay’s life on the tour ship Starfarer is disrupted when she bumps into Sian, a Wild Spacer running from the First Order. Ardent is immediately attracted to Sian, despite how much he inconveniences her as a stowaway on the Starfarer, and sparks fly between the two as she helps him escape.
Full review on the blog
Ardent Quay’s life on the tour ship Starfarer is disrupted when she bumps into Sian, a Wild Spacer running from the First Order. Ardent is immediately attracted to Sian, despite how much he inconveniences her as a stowaway on the Starfarer, and sparks fly between the two as she helps him escape.
Full review on the blog
July 26, 2026
Started this on a whim bc I love Ashley Poston and good gravy, I’m obsessed! This is 100% YA, but so so cute! The audiobook is the way to go!!
July 27, 2026
This made my little nerd heart so happy! Narration is amazing on audio too!
July 28, 2026
I’ll be the first one to admit that I was skeptical regarding “A Star Wars Romance Novel” but Eyes Like Stars really delivered the goods with an excellent story and I just didn’t want it to end.
Read
July 31, 2026An absolute delight!
July 29, 2026
Full review from my Substack: 'Eyes Like Stars' is a fresh, fun, and sweet YA Star Wars story
A broken lightsaber. A Wild Spacer with stars in his eyes. A talented young woman looking for a rare book in her favorite series. Pieces of Alderaan. The encroaching First Order. And the best history tour cruise line in the galaxy.
All of these elements combine to make Eyes Like Stars, an adventurous, wholesome, and romantic young adult Star Wars novel by Ashley Poston. It’s the first book in Star Wars’ new collection of genre stories.
In Eyes Like Stars, we step into the well-traveled shoes of Ardent Quay, a young pilot who works aboard her family’s vacation starship, the Starfarer. As part of Hyperlight Tours, the Starfarer and the Quays ferry travelers around the galaxy to visit historic sites — from the Graveyard of Alderaan and Yavin 4 to Naboo, Geonosis, and Ghorman. Basically the cruise ship itinerary of my dreams.
The Century of Change Tour begins on Coruscant, where Ardent sneaks off the ship to venture into the lower levels of the city-planet to find a rare copy of a book — the last installment in a pulpy romance serial Ardent’s late mother loved. It’s on Coruscant where Ardent’s real, life-changing adventure begins after getting tangled up with Sian, a (literally) starry-eyed archeologist on the run from the First Order with a broken lightsaber. Sian becomes a stowaway on the Starfarer, and Ardent gets a taste of the thrills and adventures to be had outside the walls of her well-traveled spaceship home.
Because of the book’s marketing tags and summary, I went into Eyes Like Stars with certain expectations. As Star Wars’ first romance novel — at least, one that’s specifically labeled as such — I expected a sweet love story to be at the heart of the book. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The romance between Ardent and Sian was more of a subplot, as was the threat of the First Order, until the end of the book.
What we got instead was a thoroughly enjoyable, well-paced adventure from a fresh voice in the Star Wars publishing community. Eyes Like Stars is full of connections to past stories, but can easily be enjoyed on its own by even the newest Star Wars readers. The big cameos and Easter eggs don’t feel shoe-horned in or clunky, but instead help establish the story during the New Republic era of the timeline (a little over a year before The Force Awakens).
With a strong start, a bittersweet end, and a charming main character told from her perspective, Eyes Like Stars is an excellent addition to the Star Wars canon. It is a genuinely good story with new characters that you can’t help but love right away. It meets the high standard for complex, character-driven storytelling set by previous YA Star Wars stories. It’s a solid standalone book that also builds out a gap in the timeline. It’s also one of those books that you can tell how much fun the author had writing it.
My only gripes with this book have nothing to do with the story itself, but with how it was labeled and promoted. Billed as the “first ever Star Wars YA romance,” Eyes Like Stars is more about Ardent’s character journey. Her relationship with Sian is integral to her growth, but I’d argue that their slow-burn love story is not the most important element in driving the plot. Meeting Sian was the catalyst that put Ardent on the path to a different future. What she learned and experienced alongside him led her to question her true feelings about the family business and her place in the galaxy. The driving forces behind her decisions were the relationships with and feelings about her father (Captain Hansifred Quay) and her brother (Val Quay), who had been gone for three years. Ardent’s budding romance with Sian was just another part of that journey.
I worry that the romance label will set unrealistic expectations for readers who are looking for a little more kissing and steamy tension. I blame (positively) Lost Stars for setting the standard for Star Wars YA romance.
Again, Eyes Like Stars is a great book. The romance is sweet and wholesome and made me wish there was more witty banter, flirting, and yearning. The romance aspect of the story would also benefit from a few chapters from Sian’s POV — the young man’s a yearner, I’m sure, and I’d love to read his thoughts about certain scenes with Ardent. There is also lots of heart, humor, and charm that balance out the high-stakes adventures. As soon as I finished the book, I missed the characters and wanted to read it all over again. When the audiobook comes out, I just might do that.
Thanks to Random House Books for the review copy!
A broken lightsaber. A Wild Spacer with stars in his eyes. A talented young woman looking for a rare book in her favorite series. Pieces of Alderaan. The encroaching First Order. And the best history tour cruise line in the galaxy.
All of these elements combine to make Eyes Like Stars, an adventurous, wholesome, and romantic young adult Star Wars novel by Ashley Poston. It’s the first book in Star Wars’ new collection of genre stories.
In Eyes Like Stars, we step into the well-traveled shoes of Ardent Quay, a young pilot who works aboard her family’s vacation starship, the Starfarer. As part of Hyperlight Tours, the Starfarer and the Quays ferry travelers around the galaxy to visit historic sites — from the Graveyard of Alderaan and Yavin 4 to Naboo, Geonosis, and Ghorman. Basically the cruise ship itinerary of my dreams.
The Century of Change Tour begins on Coruscant, where Ardent sneaks off the ship to venture into the lower levels of the city-planet to find a rare copy of a book — the last installment in a pulpy romance serial Ardent’s late mother loved. It’s on Coruscant where Ardent’s real, life-changing adventure begins after getting tangled up with Sian, a (literally) starry-eyed archeologist on the run from the First Order with a broken lightsaber. Sian becomes a stowaway on the Starfarer, and Ardent gets a taste of the thrills and adventures to be had outside the walls of her well-traveled spaceship home.
Because of the book’s marketing tags and summary, I went into Eyes Like Stars with certain expectations. As Star Wars’ first romance novel — at least, one that’s specifically labeled as such — I expected a sweet love story to be at the heart of the book. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The romance between Ardent and Sian was more of a subplot, as was the threat of the First Order, until the end of the book.
What we got instead was a thoroughly enjoyable, well-paced adventure from a fresh voice in the Star Wars publishing community. Eyes Like Stars is full of connections to past stories, but can easily be enjoyed on its own by even the newest Star Wars readers. The big cameos and Easter eggs don’t feel shoe-horned in or clunky, but instead help establish the story during the New Republic era of the timeline (a little over a year before The Force Awakens).
With a strong start, a bittersweet end, and a charming main character told from her perspective, Eyes Like Stars is an excellent addition to the Star Wars canon. It is a genuinely good story with new characters that you can’t help but love right away. It meets the high standard for complex, character-driven storytelling set by previous YA Star Wars stories. It’s a solid standalone book that also builds out a gap in the timeline. It’s also one of those books that you can tell how much fun the author had writing it.
My only gripes with this book have nothing to do with the story itself, but with how it was labeled and promoted. Billed as the “first ever Star Wars YA romance,” Eyes Like Stars is more about Ardent’s character journey. Her relationship with Sian is integral to her growth, but I’d argue that their slow-burn love story is not the most important element in driving the plot. Meeting Sian was the catalyst that put Ardent on the path to a different future. What she learned and experienced alongside him led her to question her true feelings about the family business and her place in the galaxy. The driving forces behind her decisions were the relationships with and feelings about her father (Captain Hansifred Quay) and her brother (Val Quay), who had been gone for three years. Ardent’s budding romance with Sian was just another part of that journey.
I worry that the romance label will set unrealistic expectations for readers who are looking for a little more kissing and steamy tension. I blame (positively) Lost Stars for setting the standard for Star Wars YA romance.
Again, Eyes Like Stars is a great book. The romance is sweet and wholesome and made me wish there was more witty banter, flirting, and yearning. The romance aspect of the story would also benefit from a few chapters from Sian’s POV — the young man’s a yearner, I’m sure, and I’d love to read his thoughts about certain scenes with Ardent. There is also lots of heart, humor, and charm that balance out the high-stakes adventures. As soon as I finished the book, I missed the characters and wanted to read it all over again. When the audiobook comes out, I just might do that.
Thanks to Random House Books for the review copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's Books, Random House/Star Wars, and Ashley Poston for the opportunity to read Eyes Like Stars (a Star Wars romance novel) in exchange for an honest review.
"We lose our rights and ourselves when those in power choose to omit or change a narrative, hoping that those of us who lived it will forget" (114).
I always like to say that Star Wars is actually a romance story, and I am always eager for more of the romance element in the extended novel canon (I absolutely adore Lost Stars by Claudia Gray). Eyes Like Stars is (supposedly) the Star Wars book I have been waiting for: young adult romance in the Star Wars universe, blended well with lots of fun cameos, and some exciting action and adventure sprinkled on top.
The novel is told in the first-person perspective of eighteen-year-old Ardent Quay, the daughter of a renown tourist service that takes travelers to famous and important locations from the Galactic Civil War. With her brother Val having left to see the universe, Ardent finds herself the one in her father's sights to inherit the ship and its touring services, even if that's not exactly what she wants.
Ardent wants nothing more than to finish the novel series that began with her deceased mother's collection. Holo serials like that are hard to find, but when she hears about a shop on Coruscant, she must go, while her co-worker (and best friend) keeps her father at bay. By happenstance, there is more to the curio shop than meets the eye, and the newly established First Order makes an appearance in pursuit of a Wild Spacer carrying a defunct lightsaber. What better way to escape the First Order than stowing away on the tourist ship?
Ardent can't help but come to the aid of the Wild Spacer with the starry eyes. Keeping his stowaway status a secret, she maintains her duties to the ship until Sian can disembark at their first travel location. Little do they know, the First Order may be in close pursuit, closer than anyone could imagine.
A Few things about this novel. I thought it was fun. It was a really great Star Wars adventure with a fresh voice and the pacing was quick. I read this book way faster than I expected! Yet, the tagline is "A Star Wars Romance Novel." Yes, there is some pining and a few of those "fingers brushed" moments, but about 75% of the way through and not really acting on the feelings or even a kiss (yet) was a bit of a let down. I just expected a bit more risk from the romance element. Their connection didn't seem as close as one might desire from a book with such a subtitle. Another comment, about the blurb, it indicates that "the First Order [is] breathing down their necks," but without this indicator, one might not even realize the First Order does have more of a presence. Once again, 75% of the way through, and you don't really see the First Order. Some will certainly pick up on the subtle predictability, but some may not. It just didn't feel as intense as it should unless you have a certain hunch about something early on.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book. It is a fresh journey into the Star Wars universe with new voices and some familiar faces and references that bring it into the era it sits in. It is fun to see the dawn of the First Order and how they are establishing themselves in the New Republic era of the contemporary Star Wars canon. An enjoyable installment for any fan!
"We lose our rights and ourselves when those in power choose to omit or change a narrative, hoping that those of us who lived it will forget" (114).
I always like to say that Star Wars is actually a romance story, and I am always eager for more of the romance element in the extended novel canon (I absolutely adore Lost Stars by Claudia Gray). Eyes Like Stars is (supposedly) the Star Wars book I have been waiting for: young adult romance in the Star Wars universe, blended well with lots of fun cameos, and some exciting action and adventure sprinkled on top.
The novel is told in the first-person perspective of eighteen-year-old Ardent Quay, the daughter of a renown tourist service that takes travelers to famous and important locations from the Galactic Civil War. With her brother Val having left to see the universe, Ardent finds herself the one in her father's sights to inherit the ship and its touring services, even if that's not exactly what she wants.
Ardent wants nothing more than to finish the novel series that began with her deceased mother's collection. Holo serials like that are hard to find, but when she hears about a shop on Coruscant, she must go, while her co-worker (and best friend) keeps her father at bay. By happenstance, there is more to the curio shop than meets the eye, and the newly established First Order makes an appearance in pursuit of a Wild Spacer carrying a defunct lightsaber. What better way to escape the First Order than stowing away on the tourist ship?
Ardent can't help but come to the aid of the Wild Spacer with the starry eyes. Keeping his stowaway status a secret, she maintains her duties to the ship until Sian can disembark at their first travel location. Little do they know, the First Order may be in close pursuit, closer than anyone could imagine.
A Few things about this novel. I thought it was fun. It was a really great Star Wars adventure with a fresh voice and the pacing was quick. I read this book way faster than I expected! Yet, the tagline is "A Star Wars Romance Novel." Yes, there is some pining and a few of those "fingers brushed" moments, but about 75% of the way through and not really acting on the feelings or even a kiss (yet) was a bit of a let down. I just expected a bit more risk from the romance element. Their connection didn't seem as close as one might desire from a book with such a subtitle. Another comment, about the blurb, it indicates that "the First Order [is] breathing down their necks," but without this indicator, one might not even realize the First Order does have more of a presence. Once again, 75% of the way through, and you don't really see the First Order. Some will certainly pick up on the subtle predictability, but some may not. It just didn't feel as intense as it should unless you have a certain hunch about something early on.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book. It is a fresh journey into the Star Wars universe with new voices and some familiar faces and references that bring it into the era it sits in. It is fun to see the dawn of the First Order and how they are establishing themselves in the New Republic era of the contemporary Star Wars canon. An enjoyable installment for any fan!
July 22, 2026
I swore off author Ashley Poston after not really caring for either Heart of Iron or Among the Beasts & Briars, but Star Wars lured me back with a new line of tie-in novels that Lucasfilm Publishing has described as offering "genre stories first, Star Wars stories second." The cover of this debut entry, for example, claims it as a romance vehicle, although 'YA romance' might have been more accurate. There's nothing steamier here than kissing, after all, and the sheltered heroine reads as even younger than her eighteen years.
In fact, I would say that the love angle is actually the weakest aspect of this book. I never get the sense that the main characters are drawn together by anything deeper than idle hormonal attraction, and their emotions don't get especially tested at any point. It's cutely inoffensive puppy love for the most part, which only supports my contention that these lovers should have been written as something like fifteen-year-olds instead. (And it's not as though Star Wars can't do romance! Claudia Gray wrote Lost Stars over a decade ago now, and this effort comes nowhere close to matching the lovelorn anguish of her starcrossed couple.)
Despite all that, this is somehow the best Poston story that I've read to date. It's set in an era that the franchise has heretofore largely avoided, shortly before the events of The Force Awakens when the New Republic has grown complacent and the First Order is organizing as a fascist uprising on the edges of their territory. That movie was considerably weakened by its inattention to such worldbuilding details to help situate audiences as to what's changed in the galaxy since the original trilogy, and this title does a surprisingly good job of filling in some of those gaps. We see society at peace and the villains extending their reach, all from the interesting perspective of a crew member aboard a tourism starliner -- and while it's not the one that the infamous and now-shuttered Star Wars hotel was supposed to represent, our narrator does report that that rival company will be folding soon due to budget issues, which is a nice bit of meta fun.
That same protagonist gets caught up in a solid low-stakes space adventure with a guy who stows away on her ship, dodging the henchmen that follow in his wake to seize a certain lightsaber that he's carrying. (I think we're initially meant to assume it's the one that Maz Kanata later hands over to Finn, since she's here too in a supporting role, but if so, that turns out to be a feint -- which is a curious choice that leaves her possession of it still a lingering mystery for some other tale to tackle, I suppose.) This is all fine! I could maybe even see myself rating the work a little higher if it had forgone the romantic element altogether, because this is a generally enjoyable time that retroactively makes the sequel films more coherent. But as "a Star Wars romance novel"? Well, I wouldn't go that far.
[Content warning for gun violence.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
In fact, I would say that the love angle is actually the weakest aspect of this book. I never get the sense that the main characters are drawn together by anything deeper than idle hormonal attraction, and their emotions don't get especially tested at any point. It's cutely inoffensive puppy love for the most part, which only supports my contention that these lovers should have been written as something like fifteen-year-olds instead. (And it's not as though Star Wars can't do romance! Claudia Gray wrote Lost Stars over a decade ago now, and this effort comes nowhere close to matching the lovelorn anguish of her starcrossed couple.)
Despite all that, this is somehow the best Poston story that I've read to date. It's set in an era that the franchise has heretofore largely avoided, shortly before the events of The Force Awakens when the New Republic has grown complacent and the First Order is organizing as a fascist uprising on the edges of their territory. That movie was considerably weakened by its inattention to such worldbuilding details to help situate audiences as to what's changed in the galaxy since the original trilogy, and this title does a surprisingly good job of filling in some of those gaps. We see society at peace and the villains extending their reach, all from the interesting perspective of a crew member aboard a tourism starliner -- and while it's not the one that the infamous and now-shuttered Star Wars hotel was supposed to represent, our narrator does report that that rival company will be folding soon due to budget issues, which is a nice bit of meta fun.
That same protagonist gets caught up in a solid low-stakes space adventure with a guy who stows away on her ship, dodging the henchmen that follow in his wake to seize a certain lightsaber that he's carrying. (I think we're initially meant to assume it's the one that Maz Kanata later hands over to Finn, since she's here too in a supporting role, but if so, that turns out to be a feint -- which is a curious choice that leaves her possession of it still a lingering mystery for some other tale to tackle, I suppose.) This is all fine! I could maybe even see myself rating the work a little higher if it had forgone the romantic element altogether, because this is a generally enjoyable time that retroactively makes the sequel films more coherent. But as "a Star Wars romance novel"? Well, I wouldn't go that far.
[Content warning for gun violence.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
July 26, 2026
I'm not the biggest romance reader and so I wasn't certain how I would enjoy something marketed as a Star Wars romance novel so I borrowed the audiobook with the Libby app from my local library. The audiobook narrator does a good job with the reading. Her accent for the male love interest Sian is particularly endearing and adorable. And it has all the music and special sound effects that I've come to expect from Star Wars audiobooks over the years.
The story does have a lot of YA romance tropes. The romance is not steamy confining itself largely to kissing and admiring the love interest's eyes. Also the sweet and sassy banter between our protaganist Ardent and her stowaway love interest Sian.
There are also a lot of the tropes that Star Wars fans will recongize present in the novel. The droid friend duo. The scoundrel. Found family elements. Family members choosing to go down a dark path. Dealing with Jawas on Tatooine.
And the settings will all be familiar to anyone who has seen the main Star Wars saga. Coruscant. The remains of Alderaan. The space above Naboo. Tatooine. Geonosis.
Fans of the ST will probably enjoy the inclusion of Maz Kanata, Hux, and Kylo Ren. For me, I actually ended up preferring the parts that focused on the new characters of Ardent and Sian since the story did a good job at making me care about those characters.
I do appreciate that the narration explictly calls out the First Order as fascist multiple times and explores the pain of seeing a family member go down that dark path to fascism.
However, I do feel that this story was at its best when it centered around the more internal conflicts and developments of Ardent and her relationships with Sian and her father than on the external, bigger galactic conflicts with the First Order. At its heart, it felt like this story was more about relationships romantic and familial than it was about major action sequences with galactic scale implications. And I felt like the story was at its best when it remembered that, and at its weakest when it tried a bit too much to be an action story.
I overall liked the prose and writing especially once I had adjusted to Ardent's first person narration which does reflect the popularlity of first person narrators in both YA and romance.
I would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan who loves romance novels because I think this Star Wars romance novel could be a real treat to them with all the romance and Star Wars tropes present. I also think that Star Wars fans who aren't fans of romance novels could still end up enjoying some of the Star Wars tropes and settings in this book as long as they go into the reading experience with expectations appropriately set for the "Star Wars romance" it says on the tin. Fans of romance novels who have seen the main Star Wars films and aren't big Star Wars fans would also probably enjoy this for the romantic tropes and for how the book doesn't really require much knowledge of Star Wars beyond the main movies.
The story does have a lot of YA romance tropes. The romance is not steamy confining itself largely to kissing and admiring the love interest's eyes. Also the sweet and sassy banter between our protaganist Ardent and her stowaway love interest Sian.
There are also a lot of the tropes that Star Wars fans will recongize present in the novel. The droid friend duo. The scoundrel. Found family elements. Family members choosing to go down a dark path. Dealing with Jawas on Tatooine.
And the settings will all be familiar to anyone who has seen the main Star Wars saga. Coruscant. The remains of Alderaan. The space above Naboo. Tatooine. Geonosis.
Fans of the ST will probably enjoy the inclusion of Maz Kanata, Hux, and Kylo Ren. For me, I actually ended up preferring the parts that focused on the new characters of Ardent and Sian since the story did a good job at making me care about those characters.
I do appreciate that the narration explictly calls out the First Order as fascist multiple times and explores the pain of seeing a family member go down that dark path to fascism.
However, I do feel that this story was at its best when it centered around the more internal conflicts and developments of Ardent and her relationships with Sian and her father than on the external, bigger galactic conflicts with the First Order. At its heart, it felt like this story was more about relationships romantic and familial than it was about major action sequences with galactic scale implications. And I felt like the story was at its best when it remembered that, and at its weakest when it tried a bit too much to be an action story.
I overall liked the prose and writing especially once I had adjusted to Ardent's first person narration which does reflect the popularlity of first person narrators in both YA and romance.
I would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan who loves romance novels because I think this Star Wars romance novel could be a real treat to them with all the romance and Star Wars tropes present. I also think that Star Wars fans who aren't fans of romance novels could still end up enjoying some of the Star Wars tropes and settings in this book as long as they go into the reading experience with expectations appropriately set for the "Star Wars romance" it says on the tin. Fans of romance novels who have seen the main Star Wars films and aren't big Star Wars fans would also probably enjoy this for the romantic tropes and for how the book doesn't really require much knowledge of Star Wars beyond the main movies.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ashley Poston is my favorite author so when she first announced she was writing this, I knew I wanted to read it. Star Wars has never been one of my fandoms but a couple of my kids are obsessed. I have watched all the movies and some of the shows so I have a basic knowledge of the Star Wars universe and main characters from the movies but nothing extensive. In my opinion, you don't need previous knowledge of Star Wars to still enjoy this book. Most of the characters, including the main characters, are original anyway so not having previous knowledge doesn't take away any enjoyment from this story, although having more knowledge would likely enhance your enjoyment even more.
I did need to "phone a friend" (aka, one of my kids, lol) to discuss the Star Wars timeline because knowing where this book fit in the broader timeline of the movies and shows was interesting to me. For anyone interested that may not know, this book takes place not too long before The Force Awakens.
I love how Ashley was able to connect the regime in Star Wars and historical things that happened in that universe to our real world issues of today. I will leave some of my favorite quotes at the end of this review.
The original characters she created have depth and I loved seeing how Ardent learned about herself as the story progressed. I also adored her droids. ❤️
While this is a romance and that does play into the overall plot and everything leads back to it, there was also a lot of action so that the romance didn't feel like this "in your face" type of thing. There is also no spice, just some passionate kissing, so if you or your child are people who don't like spice, this one is perfect for you.
Also, there was a part in the beginning when Ardent is talking about how serials are so enjoyable and she says: "And how they sometimes made you care about whether the fictional queen of fictional planet Naroo would be murdered in cold blood by her would-be droid-assassin lover." I wondered if that was a (slightly changed) nod to Heart of Iron/Soul of Stars? It's been so long since I read them but I immediately thought of that when I read that line and I hope it is because how cool would it be to make that canon in the Star Wars universe?!
Overall, I enjoyed this read. It kept me wanting to read to find out what happens next.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
When discussing history:
"The good, we celebrate! The bad, we remember so we may never repeat it again. We lose our rights and ourselves when those in power choose to omit or change a narrative, hoping that those of us who lived it will forget."
"You live long enough, and you'll realize that history is simply an echo of itself, and most of us don't listen."
And then this one just really hit me:
"Empathy doesn't bring people back," he muttered.
"No, but without it, we lose them entirely."
I did need to "phone a friend" (aka, one of my kids, lol) to discuss the Star Wars timeline because knowing where this book fit in the broader timeline of the movies and shows was interesting to me. For anyone interested that may not know, this book takes place not too long before The Force Awakens.
I love how Ashley was able to connect the regime in Star Wars and historical things that happened in that universe to our real world issues of today. I will leave some of my favorite quotes at the end of this review.
The original characters she created have depth and I loved seeing how Ardent learned about herself as the story progressed. I also adored her droids. ❤️
While this is a romance and that does play into the overall plot and everything leads back to it, there was also a lot of action so that the romance didn't feel like this "in your face" type of thing. There is also no spice, just some passionate kissing, so if you or your child are people who don't like spice, this one is perfect for you.
Also, there was a part in the beginning when Ardent is talking about how serials are so enjoyable and she says: "And how they sometimes made you care about whether the fictional queen of fictional planet Naroo would be murdered in cold blood by her would-be droid-assassin lover." I wondered if that was a (slightly changed) nod to Heart of Iron/Soul of Stars? It's been so long since I read them but I immediately thought of that when I read that line and I hope it is because how cool would it be to make that canon in the Star Wars universe?!
Overall, I enjoyed this read. It kept me wanting to read to find out what happens next.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
When discussing history:
"The good, we celebrate! The bad, we remember so we may never repeat it again. We lose our rights and ourselves when those in power choose to omit or change a narrative, hoping that those of us who lived it will forget."
"You live long enough, and you'll realize that history is simply an echo of itself, and most of us don't listen."
And then this one just really hit me:
"Empathy doesn't bring people back," he muttered.
"No, but without it, we lose them entirely."
July 26, 2026
I adored everything about this book. It greatly exceeded my expectations. I have been waiting for its release since it was announced. It is the kind of book that had me so invested in the story that I was reading over 100 pages in one sitting without even realizing it and then still wanting to keep reading more.
I am still on my Star Wars reading journey, but this is definitely one of my favorites that I have read so far. It is an original story with its own original characters and still managed to interweave older, more established characters into the story in a natural way without overshadowing our new ones. It was fun, witty, exciting, and also very emotional, especially towards the end. I loved “visiting” planets that we have seen so many Star Wars characters and stories originate from and getting glimpses of what those places have become over time. All of the little easter eggs were fun to catch, even in the dialogue when someone would mention something vague about the events of the past and allude to certain people involved. Some were even just straight up name dropped.
Ardent and Sian will forever have my heart and now I want a sequel novel of the various adventures they are having out in the galaxy. I’m just happy we finally have a couple with a happy ending in this franchise. I like that Sian is an archeologist because I really thought he was going to be a smuggler for a minute, that was nice and different. Ardent finally finding her path, tapping into her Quay inherited talents, facing her fears, realizing that she is born and bred rebel scum and willing to act like it, and deciding to start her new life that she is choosing for herself with someone she loves was a beautiful story and character arc. With their knowledge and talents combined, they will discover and see so much and are already heading to their first adventure on Batuu. After all, Maz says that Savi will be expecting them with that lightsaber.
Justice for Veebee. She deserved to become part of the resistance, she really pulled through for everybody at the end. She deserved to see Ardent have her happy ending.
Reading Ardent’s POV while she is getting force choked by Kylo Ren makes me wonder if that is the way Padmé felt when Anakin was force choking her in ROTS, just a thought I had as I was reading it. It also seemed to me like Ardent’s serials may have been loosely based on the former Queen/Senator’s life, especially in Attack of the Clones.
This whole story happened all because Luke Skywalker lost a lightsaber a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. And I loved every second of it. Princess/Senator/General Leia Organa is as fierce as ever but reading about Alderaan, how some people talked about her, and then about how her son is the leader of the First Order and how he acts made me so incredibly sad for her, even more so than in the movies.
Star Wars folks, read this! You won’t regret it! May the Force be with you!
I am still on my Star Wars reading journey, but this is definitely one of my favorites that I have read so far. It is an original story with its own original characters and still managed to interweave older, more established characters into the story in a natural way without overshadowing our new ones. It was fun, witty, exciting, and also very emotional, especially towards the end. I loved “visiting” planets that we have seen so many Star Wars characters and stories originate from and getting glimpses of what those places have become over time. All of the little easter eggs were fun to catch, even in the dialogue when someone would mention something vague about the events of the past and allude to certain people involved. Some were even just straight up name dropped.
Ardent and Sian will forever have my heart and now I want a sequel novel of the various adventures they are having out in the galaxy. I’m just happy we finally have a couple with a happy ending in this franchise. I like that Sian is an archeologist because I really thought he was going to be a smuggler for a minute, that was nice and different. Ardent finally finding her path, tapping into her Quay inherited talents, facing her fears, realizing that she is born and bred rebel scum and willing to act like it, and deciding to start her new life that she is choosing for herself with someone she loves was a beautiful story and character arc. With their knowledge and talents combined, they will discover and see so much and are already heading to their first adventure on Batuu. After all, Maz says that Savi will be expecting them with that lightsaber.
Justice for Veebee. She deserved to become part of the resistance, she really pulled through for everybody at the end. She deserved to see Ardent have her happy ending.
Reading Ardent’s POV while she is getting force choked by Kylo Ren makes me wonder if that is the way Padmé felt when Anakin was force choking her in ROTS, just a thought I had as I was reading it. It also seemed to me like Ardent’s serials may have been loosely based on the former Queen/Senator’s life, especially in Attack of the Clones.
This whole story happened all because Luke Skywalker lost a lightsaber a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. And I loved every second of it. Princess/Senator/General Leia Organa is as fierce as ever but reading about Alderaan, how some people talked about her, and then about how her son is the leader of the First Order and how he acts made me so incredibly sad for her, even more so than in the movies.
Star Wars folks, read this! You won’t regret it! May the Force be with you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews