Suvudu Universe

Star Wars: Empire and Rebellion: Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells

Synopsis:
Times are desperate for the Rebel Alliance. Harassment by the Empire and a shortage of vital supplies are hindering completion of a new secret base on the ice planet Hoth. So when Mid Rim merchants offer much-needed materials for sale, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo lead an Alliance delegation to negotiate a deal.

But when treachery forces the rebel ship to flee into territory controlled by pirates, Leia makes a shocking discovery: the fierce marauders come from Leia’s homeworld of Alderaan, recently destroyed by the Death Star. These refugees have turned to pillaging and plundering to survive—and they are in debt to a pirate armada, which will gladly ransom the princess to the vengeful Empire . . . if they find out her true identity.

Review:
This story is set after the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and before The Empire Strikes Back. Leia is obviously the central character in this installment, as she infiltrates a pirate stronghold and tries to free a crew from slavery. Meanwhile, there’s a traitor in the Rebel Alliance feeding intel to the Republic. There are some fun moments between Leia and Han, as their relationship is still in the beginning stages of attraction and tension. And there is a thrilling scene when Leia is placed in a deadly arena “game” where she must fight her way out.

I’ve enjoyed this year’s Star Wars novels immensely, and getting back into this universe. And I especially loved this period in the timeline, so I was excited to see the series explore this. Razor’s Edge is a well-paced adventure with plenty of mystery, suspense, danger, and intrigue. Though at times predictable, there are some surprising turns that are revealed at the climactic end. I’m looking forward to these future installments in this exciting series.