STAR WARS: Phasma, by Delilah S. Dawson – A Book Review

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… on a planet where survival was a daily struggle, a young girl named Phasma defeated all odds and did what she had to do to survive. Many know of Phasma as the silver Storm Trooper from the sequel trilogy, played by the amazing Gwendoline Christie. However, her story goes back further than what we saw on the big screen.

Phasma, the novel is considered canon to the Star Wars universe (at least for now, who knows what the future holds). It was released in 2017, and takes place before we see her in ‘Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’. Which came out in 2015. Here are my spoiler free thoughts on the novel.

Check out a book review for the novel: Ahsoka.

The Story for STAR WARS: PHASMA

The novel kicks off with Vi Moradi. She’s part of the resistance, and the First Order is taking her in. If this name sounds familiar, and you’re not sure why (or if it doesn’t), she’s often seen at Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge. You can also find her in other books, including Black Spire the novel, also written by Dawson (which I ordered as soon as I closed this book). While this story isn’t about her, she narrates Phasma’s story for us, and the First Order trooper who’s interrogating her, who calls himself Cardinal.

Phasma grew up on a planet called Parnassos, which Vi Moradi recently visited. While there she met someone who knew Phasma. Vi Moradi learned how she came to be leader of her own people, how they survived the harsh living conditions of her planet, and how she became so close to Brendol Hux, and eventually his son: Armitage Hux. Cardinal is acting on his own accord, and he wants all the dirt on Phasma. A mission none too easy, when you’re part of an organization that makes kids disappear regularly.

Overall Grade: 8/10

I love getting more backstory to various less featured Star Wars characters, and Dawson beautifully told Phasma’s. Almost 500 pages of primarily Phasma backstory, and every page was engaging. We learned about a new planet, the inhabitants, Phasma’s customs, her family, her built family, her thoughts on survival, and how far she is willing to go to help herself.

While our focus is on this larger than life Silver Storm Trooper, we also learn quite a bit about Cardinal. We know the First Order takes children young, and brain washes them, but it’s rare we see the perspective of these kidnapped kids as adults. While we have Finn in the sequel trilogy, he never rises to the ranks. He dips out on his first legit mission. Cardinal, however, drank the kool-aid.

I truly loved getting inside the mind of the Cardinal while Moradi tells Phasma’s story. Throughout the novel, I was never sure where my sympathies would lie. In the end what Cardinal learned both surprised me, while simultaneously giving me exactly what I should have expected.

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Have you read any Star Wars books? What’s your favorite?