STAR WARS Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire is a canon Star Wars novel that takes place at Disney… kind of. Really it takes place on the planet Batuu which is at the edge of wild space. Which is also the setting for the Star Wars lands located at both Disney World in Florida, and Disneyland in California. You do not need to have experienced these lands referred to as ‘Galaxy’s Edge’ to enjoy this book. However, if you have, you’ll be able to use the parks as a frame of reference when settings are described. You’ll also recognize some names.
The Star Wars Timeline
This novel takes place between Episodes VI and VII, and follows the events of the novel ‘Phasma.’ While, I highly recommend reading that book first, it is not necessary to enjoy Black Spire. Readers are caught up pretty quick, however, Black Spire does ruin the ending of Phasma in order to catch readers up.
The Story
The Resistance is licking their wounds after a devastating hit to Hosnian Prime courtesy of the First Order. Vi Moradi has proven herself a vital part of the Resistance so General Leia Organa sends her off to find a new home for a Resistance base, complete with new members. Partnered with a former First Order member, and a droid with an attitude Vi is not entirely optimistic, but no one tells Leia, “no.” Except maybe her son.
Things do not go according to plan, and before she knows it, Vi is deep into the drama on the planet Batuu. She’s forced to try and get a meeting with the local gangster who runs things, Oga Garra (anyone who has visited the Disney parks, may have had a drink or two at Oga’s Cantina). Forced to partake in the day to day activities on Batuu, Vi finds herself in unique situations and scouting the local talent for potential new members of the Resistance. However, that’s not too easy on a planet that has managed to stay under the radar. At least until recently.
The First Order is not too pleased with Vi’s recent actions (which took place in the book Phasma), and they’ll take any chance to stop her, wherever she may be. A mission for the Resistance, and a vendetta from the First Order come head to head with nothing but a rag tag group of Batuuans to back Vi up. As well as her droid with an attitude and questionable former First Order partner.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely loved this novel! I hate to say it, but as an Orlando local who has been a Disney passholder for over a decade, it took Hollywood Studios turning half their park into Star Wars for me to finally be converted. Once I did turn, however, I went full darkside. Movies, cartoons, comic books, novels… So when a Star Wars novel brought it all full circle for me, I was excited, but skeptical. The skepticism was unwarranted, as this novel is fantastic and does not need love from a “Disney Adult” to make it worthy. It’s a fantastic Star Wars story on its own.
That being said, every time a familiar location or name was dropped I got a big ole goofy (pun intended) smile on my face. I felt I not only fell more in love with Star Wars, which I do with every book I read, I also fell more in love with Galaxy’s Edge. I learned lore behind this fictional world thereby allowing me to even more so immerse myself into Star Wars when I visit the planet of Batuu at Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge.
Check out a book review for the novel, AHSOKA
Overall Grade: 9/10
Grab your copy of STAR WARS Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson at THRIFT BOOKS.
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