Bea Caicoya

Charles Soule is a good writer and has done a solid job introducing all the basics of the High Republic, and it is a good starting point for this new Star Wars transmedia project. Light of the Jedi also a masterclass of detailed worldbuilding. However, the heroes lack characterization and they seem, at times, brainwashed. Unless you have been craving the Kennedy’s Camelot and Superhero!Jedi, this novel might make you roll your eyes a little bit. That said, if you are in the market for full-metal villains and wholesome laser sword heroics, Light of the Jedi might be just your jam.

Knives Out (2019) is one of the best murder mystery films of all time. However, stripped out of the bells and whistles of whodunnit tropes, backstabbing characters, family drama, and social commentary, Knives Out a very simple tale of death and renewal chock-ful of primordial, mythical motifs.

As a whole, FACPOV – ESB is a resounding success. The volume is lovingly edited, sticking to the chronological order and geographical space of Episode V as much as possible and using every crevice, device, animal and minor character to explore forgotten areas and ignored themes.

The Force is very small and personal, but it’s also very large and immense, and it encompasses all things. The fact that we all could come up with different metaphors for it speaks to how powerful the idea of the Force really is.

The Mandalorians are one of the most interesting cultures of the entire Star Wars, and they have surprising parallels with real world events. Let's take a look at their art and their art of war from this perspective.

With Chaos Rising, Timothy Zahn does a great job of combining intensely personal perspectives with political intrigue and military philosophy and strategy, building a fascinating novel that will delight Thrawn fans, intrigue classic Star Wars viewers and might open a smooth segue into the franchise for lovers of other science fiction universes like Star Trek, Dune or even The Left Hand of Darkness. A must read.

Poe Dameron: Free Fall feels rushed and unpolished but it contains some mythical elements and clever retconnings that explain the motivations of adult Poe.

Dark Legends, written by George Mann and illustrated by Grant Griffin, is a short collection of Star Wars stories based on well-trodden horror tales. The tales themselves fall flat and are not very scary, but they introduce variations on Star Wars concepts (the planetary effects of massive cracked kybers, the Jedi suppresion of the Dark Side...) and they are accompanied by fantastic illustrations.

Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original by Sarah Kuhn is pure joy from beginning to end. The cast is brilliant, the sound design immersive -- the gentle twinkling beeps of Aphra’s Archangel would work as Galactic ASMR -- and the pacing and writing will keep you hooked to your headphones. If you can only pick up one Star Wars product this year, make it this one.