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A review by tani
Star Wars: Cobalt Squadron by Elizabeth Wein
3.0
When I heard that the audiobook of Cobalt Squadron was read by Kelly Tran, I figured I had to pick it up. After all, Rose was my favorite from The Last Jedi, so I was definitely there for her backstory.
Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed with this one. It felt very young to me - more middle grade than YA - and I tend to struggle with that style of book. The book centers upon the relationship between Rose and Paige, but doesn't honestly do a lot with it. Rose thinks about the issue a lot, grows a little, but in general holds steady. I would like to watch The Last Jedi again, now that I've read it, and see if the movie has any more emotional impact, but I suspect that the answer is no.
Likewise, the plot of the book doesn't really go anywhere. The Cobalt Squadron overcomes some obstacles, using teamwork and ingenuity, but all they really accomplish is a bit of support for a beleaguered planet. Again, it's set-up for the First Order as villains, but it just falls a bit flat, since I think we are all well-aware of their villain status.
For someone younger, with a newfound love of Star Wars, this book might be fantastic, but for me, it was just OK. I will say that I thought Kelly Tran did a wonderful job with the narration, but the story just didn't give her a lot to work with.
Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed with this one. It felt very young to me - more middle grade than YA - and I tend to struggle with that style of book. The book centers upon the relationship between Rose and Paige, but doesn't honestly do a lot with it. Rose thinks about the issue a lot, grows a little, but in general holds steady. I would like to watch The Last Jedi again, now that I've read it, and see if the movie has any more emotional impact, but I suspect that the answer is no.
Likewise, the plot of the book doesn't really go anywhere. The Cobalt Squadron overcomes some obstacles, using teamwork and ingenuity, but all they really accomplish is a bit of support for a beleaguered planet. Again, it's set-up for the First Order as villains, but it just falls a bit flat, since I think we are all well-aware of their villain status.
For someone younger, with a newfound love of Star Wars, this book might be fantastic, but for me, it was just OK. I will say that I thought Kelly Tran did a wonderful job with the narration, but the story just didn't give her a lot to work with.