Book Information
Heir to the Jedi by Kevin Hearne
Publisher: Star Wars Books from Del Ray
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon
About the Author
Kevin Hearne is the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles, the popular urban fantasy series published by Del Rey Books.
Kevin can be found on his official website, Twitter, and Goodreads.
Author photo/bio courtesy of Goodreads
Synopsis
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view.
Luke Skywalker’s game-changing destruction of the Death Star has made him not only a hero of the Rebel Alliance but a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against the Empire. Though he’s a long way from mastering the power of the Force, there’s no denying his phenomenal skills as a pilot—and in the eyes of Rebel leaders Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar, there’s no one better qualified to carry out a daring rescue mission crucial to the Alliance cause.
A brilliant alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems is being detained by Imperial agents determined to exploit her exceptional talents for the Empire’s purposes. But the prospective spy’s sympathies lie with the Rebels, and she’s willing to join their effort in exchange for being reunited with her family. It’s an opportunity to gain a critical edge against the Empire that’s too precious to pass up. It’s also a job that demands the element of surprise. So Luke and the ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 swap their trusty X-wing fighter for a sleek space yacht piloted by brash recruit Nakari Kelen, daughter of a biotech mogul, who’s got a score of her own to settle with the Empire.
Challenged by ruthless Imperial bodyguards, death-dealing enemy battleships, merciless bounty hunters, and monstrous brain-eating parasites, Luke plunges head-on into a high-stakes espionage operation that will push his abilities as a Rebel fighter and would-be Jedi to the limit. If ever he needed the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi to shepherd him through danger, it’s now. But Luke will have to rely on himself, his friends, and his own burgeoning relationship with the Force to survive.
Book summary courtesy of Amazon
Review
During the height of the “old” Star Wars extended universe (now published under the “Legends” banner), authors began portraying Luke Skywalker as almost all powerful and essentially flawless, causing a once dynamic and interesting character to become rather predictable and boring. Perhaps this is what makes Kevin Hearne’s take on the character so refreshing. In Heir to the Jedi, we once again catch a glimpse of the arrogant-yet-unsure Luke Skywalker we knew from A New Hope just before he goes on to be trained by Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. Hearne has taken a character that had become almost godlike and made him human once again.
Hearne’s portrayal of Luke is so powerful because of the book’s change in perspective. When I first read the marketing blurb that Heir to the Jedi would be “written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view,” I dismissed it as a silly gimmick meant to sell a few more books. In fact, it was likely conceived as such. Fortunately, it is a gimmick that completely works. Rather than having a bodiless narrator telling readers what the Jedi-to-be is thinking and feeling, Luke tells us himself in his own words. This is what returns that sense of humanity the character had lost before Disney rebooted the canon last year. Through Skywalker’s comments about the stench of Rodia or his frustration at not having as intense of a connection to the Force as he expected to have, we are reminded that our hero isn’t perfect after all; he’s just like us (if we lived among the stars and had a lightsaber that is).
As fun as it is to have Luke telling us about his latest adventure directly, where Heir to the Jedi really sets itself apart in its structure. Reading this novel almost feels like watching an amazing story arc across multiple episodes of the The Clone Wars animated series. Every chapter or so feels like it’s own episode, each filled with great action, dialogue, strange aliens, and new dangers to overcome. You can almost hear the opening narration of what happened on the previous episode each time you begin a new chapter. Heir to the Jedi, while telling one overarching narrative, has the serialized style George Lucas always wanted his beloved franchise to have.
Heir to the Jedi has very few issues, but I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up the biggest proverbial “fly in the ointment”: Nakari Kelen. Ms. Kelen serves as both a partner and catalyst for Luke’s continued forays into the mysteries of the Force. Unfortunately, Hearne also wrote Kelen as a potential love interest for young Skywalker. Because Heir to the Jedi is set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, we know that no characters introduced in the novel can have any real lasting impact on the films, dooming the relationship before it even starts. As soon as Kelen appears, we immediately realize that she will either…
- Die
- Turn out to be an Imperial spy
- Be an Imperial spy and die
This knowledge makes it difficult to form any real emotional connection with the character, although the conclusion of her story (and how it affects Luke) is brilliantly handled.
One final issue comes from a rather awkward scene between Luke and Leia early in the novel. Most of the people that will read Heir to the Jedi will have already seen most of the Star Wars films multiple times over and already know that the pair are siblings (if you didn’t know this, I apologize for the spoiler). Because of this, the (very) brief bit of romantic tension between the two, despite the fact that readers are expected to realize it did exist during this time, felt forced. It is as though Hearne wanted to include the scene for the sole purpose of it being awkward and is thus unneeded, although it does not hurt the book as a whole.
Heir to the Jedi is my favorite entry in the new Star Wars canon thus far. Hearne has given readers a “rip-roaring” adventure full of all the great things that made the franchise what it is today. After some tiring entries in the “Legends” line, I didn’t realize how ready I was to go on another trip across the galaxy with Luke Skywalker. Now, I can’t wait for the next time we get to jump into that X-Wing and take it to the Empire.
Check out our reviews of all the entries in the new Star Wars canon
- Star Wars: A New Dawn
- Star Wars: Tarkin
- Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi
I have to admit I don’t have any interest in Star Wars but I know it’s a cult movie series. What a shame you can’t form any emotional connection to one of the main characters in the book, that’s so important for me when I’m reading a good book.
Wow, I would read everyone of these books! We love Star Wars, and I love extra information, even if it is not form the original author. Thanks for this recommendation!
Oh this sounds great! I wonder if my oldest, 11 year old would like this? He’s huge into reading and this would be great! I’m going to check it out!
Wow! Such a great synopsis and review! I’m not really into sci-fi but I know my dad would love this book!
This really sounds like something I would read.
I think my husband would like this book! Pinning to remember to order him a copy!
I remember the very first Star Wars. I couldn’t get enough of it. Now, I am older and can never find the time to read anything. This sounds great though.
Sounds like a great read! I really like Stars Wars and love seeing new perspectives on it <3
Thanks for the overview!
My sister was just talking to me about this! Thanks will def pass on!
Right up my husband’s alley! Looks like a great read!
My hubby is a Star Wars fanatic! I bet he would really enjoy this read. Thanks for your great review!
It sounds like the kind of thing my son may enjoy. He really is into the whole Star Wars series.
I love his Iron Druid books!
Great book review though i am not much of a star wars book fan maybe the movies yes
My fiance would love this! Thank you so much for sharing, I am not a fan of the series but he definitely is so I would have never heard about this without your post 🙂
I don’t know how you read so much, but I admire you for it! I really need to read more!!
My husband and my son love Star Wars! I really need to find these books for them! Thank you so much for sharing your review!
My husband would love to see this I bet!
This looks like such a great book! I love Star Wars and so does my younger brother, I will mention this one to him. Thanks for the review!
Sounds like a great book. Just wish I had more time to read.
Sadly, I never got into Star Wars as much I should have! This looks so good!
this is a thoughtful book review and recommendation. My boys are fans of Stars Wars and would appreciate greatly reading this series. My oldest is 10, would you recommend for that age? he is an advanced reader. THANKS FOR SHARING!
It depends on your son really. Star Wars books tend to be “more violent” in their descriptions than the visuals of the films are. I wouldn’t say they are ultra-violent by any means, but I would call them a solid PG-13 if equating them to what you see on the silver screen. I hope that helps and thanks for reading my review!
Sounds like a good one. I will have to check it out.
Not really in to all the star wars stuff but I am sure my oldest son would like it.
I don’t have much interest in the Star Wars series but I think they are interesting in that the stories are so drawn out. I can’t believe Star Wars has been around so long and there is still new stuff coming out.
This looks awesome, I love Star Wars!
Ohh. This looks great for sure. I will have to tell Kenny about it.
I’ve actually never read the books or seen any of the movies all the way through. I would like to though!
Looks like a great read! I’m always looking for books for hubby to read.
I’m a huge fan of The Empire Strikes back.. I’m sure I will like this one too..
Nice perspective on Skywalker not being perfect. None of us are… not even the superheros amongst us. 😉
Exactly, which was my problem with some of the older portrayals. I want to be able to relate to the characters, even those who seem nothing like me. Making them infallible just makes me not like them because they are better than me, LOL.
This is totally a book my dad would really enjoy reading, I’ll be sure to share it with him.
What a great book to recommend to someone who love Star Wars — and there are a ton of those people out there! Good review.
Sounds like a great read for Sci fi lovers. I bet any Star Wars fan would love to have
I’ve never read a star wars book! I seen the movie its amazing how this series is still a classic today!
This looks like a good read! I need to pick it up for my husband.
I’m not a big fan of this genre, but I love it when books are written exclusively from the viewpoint of a specific character. It gives the entire story its own unique twist.
I haven’t watched Star Wars since I was little, but this book looks pretty interesting. Thanks for the review!
I am old school Star Wars since I was a kid. I thought Chewy was awesome! I just can’t get into books though. I respect those who can read it though.
Love that this picks up where it all left off. A great way for fans to revisit the Jedi. 🙂
Sounds very interesting. I’ll have to tell my brother about this. He thinks he’s an heir to the Jedi, too.
What age would this be appropriate for?
my brother in law is just plum obsessed with all things Jedi, I bet he’d love this! Thank you for the recommendation!
This sounds like a wonderful book for any Star Wars fan. That setting is so rich with aliens as well as cultural distinctions.
I usually do not enjoy science fiction books written in the first tense but your review and comments made me reconsider giving this book a chance. Now off to find a copy!