Bloodline (Star Wars) - Claudia Gray

Bloodline (Star Wars)

By Claudia Gray

  • Release Date: 2016-05-03
  • Genre: Science Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 392 Ratings
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Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Star Wars: Lost Stars comes a thrilling novel set in the years before the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“Unmissable . . . Bloodline’s tense politics, vivid new characters, and perfectly characterized Leia make it feel as central to the Star Wars universe as one of the films.”—Tordotcom

WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE RESISTANCE
 
When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.
 
Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.
 
As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing. . . .

Praise for Bloodline
 
“[Claudia] Gray paints a much more complete galaxy than we often get to see on the big screen. . . . Knowing that Rian Johnson (writer, director of Star Wars: Episode VIII) had some creative input on the novel provides hope that we haven’t seen the last of all of these wonderful characters. . . . Star Wars: Bloodline isn’t just a great Star Wars book, or a great Leia book, or a great book; it’s a great introduction into the larger world of Star Wars in general.”—ComicBookdotcom
 
“Bloodline is a nonstop page-turner that grabs at heartstrings that you weren’t aware of and yanks down on every one of them. The story is loaded with context for The Force Awakens that plants the seeds for The First Order in perfectly haunting ways, and leaves the reader grasping for more details on newly discovered favorite characters.”—Inverse

Reviews

  • What's up with the ending?

    2
    By Flap E. Berd
    It's as if the story had no ending. Is this how Star Wars books work? What happened to some of these characters? I don't even know if they lived and I felt so invested in them. Is the ending really just name drops and the reader assumes they all did something heroic? What happened to my guy Ransolm? Is there a sequel to this book I don't know about? Am I missing something? I am confusion.

  • Different

    4
    By WAW1783
    A bit different than most SW books. I like the change of pace and the reveals for great background and filling in gaps to the Skywalker family. Mostly intrigue and politics somewhat like "Tarkin"

  • Great Ending

    5
    By Wild eyed willy
    You get a peak into the intergalactic politics that are sometimes left out of the movies. It had a great ending too.

  • Star Wars & Politics combination CAN work.

    4
    By Linklex7
    A very good story that gives a little backstory going into The Force Awakens. A political thriller with a Star Wars coating. I know that, thanks to the prequels and the Padme-centric episodes of The Clone Wars animated series, many think Star Wars & politics can never go together. However, this book proves to be the exception to the rule. Works out pretty well, if you ask me.

  • Great Addition to the Cannon

    5
    By Trustaslan
    Very good read. Great story and insight into the character of Leia. Not to mention the back story to the chaotic Force Awakens politics. Well done!

  • Was very disappointed

    2
    By Aidbeamstuff
    The story is interesting in that it fills in a time period about ten years before the Force Awakens, but unfortunately for me discussion of the Star Wars universe politics is as boring as discussing the politics of this world. If you are looking for exciting action and a fast paced read you may want to look else where.

  • A masterpiece.

    5
    By Padawan217
    "Bloodline" is a brilliantly thought provoking book. It has the right balance of action and politics. And the politics in this new canon is engaging, and very familiar. Prince Leia Organa is officially my new favorite character in the new canon, and Claudia Gray understands Star Wars. She's my favorite Star Wars writer, and I look forward to her next book. She makes Leia look strong, intelligent, and vulnerable at the same time. She does a great job at writing the new characters like Casterfo, Greer, Joph, and Korrie. And the writing is consistently brilliant. There are a few editing mistakes. But overall, this book is a masterpiece. I've already read it twice, and I'll probably be reading it multiple times, for many years to come.

  • A pivotal book in the Star Wars

    4
    By BlindGeek
    This book has left me with such mixed feelings, I'm finding this review a difficult challenge. The political side of Star Wars is my least favorite aspect of the universe, so when I read the description of this book, I was sure I was bound to regret my pre-order. And then, I actually started reading the book. I was pleasantly surprised at Claudia Gray's ability to keep the politics rooted in the characters. The fundamental strength of this novel is Gray's grasp of Princess Leia as a character. She takes the skeleton framework we get from the movies and fleshes them out so we can see the inner drama of the outer spectacle. Having said all of that, I wish the novel had been a bit more tightly-paced. One of my biggest challenges with this book is that while I was reading it, I was thoroughly engaged; then, I'd put the book down, and it would take forever for me to pick the book up again. I had planned on giving this book 3 stars, until I got to the final third, which I read in one sitting. I will not say anything about that final third, because it deserves to be discovered afresh, but it takes things we know and places them under a new light. There are character moments which will stay with me long after this book has been put down, and for that reason, I couldn't keep the rating at 3 stars. It's a good book, and a pivotal book. This is not one of those tide-you-over Star Wars adventures (Nothing wrong with those, by the way; that's often what I want from a Star Wars read.). This book answers questions, bridges gaps, and invites more questions which will hopefully be answered later. I look forward to reading more from Claudia Gray in the Star Wars universe. The Force is strong with this one.

  • Worth your time

    4
    By Clever lines on clever napkins
    Not the best star wars novel I've read, but far from the worst. (that honor, of course, goes to anything written by Chuck Wendig. I've read teenage poetry that has more substance and style than anything that two-bit hack has ever written). Anyways, the book really focuses on the political aspects of the New Republic. Shines a light on how we went from peace after the rebels won the war in Return of the Jedi to how we suddenly have discord and chaos and a new group call The First Order in The Force Awakens. But reader be advised that there are far more senate meetings than star fighters in this book. (not necessarily a bad thing, per se, just be aware that the novel is more about politics and senate meetings than wars, fights, or battles).

  • Best book of the new era

    5
    By Blkarrow3171
    This reminds me of the "cannon" we grew up with. Would recommend it to any Star Wars fan, but especially someone old enough that was disappointed in the old books becoming cannon

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