Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

"The reign of the Galactic Empire has reached the Outer Rim planet of Jelucan, where aristocratic Thane Kyrell and rural villager Ciena Ree bond over their love of flying. Enrolling at the Imperial Academy together to become fighter pilots for the glorious Empire is nothing less than a dream come true for the both of them. But Thane sours on the dream when he sees firsthand the horrific tactics the Empire uses to maintain its ironclad rule. Bitter and disillusioned, Thane joins the fledgling Rebellion--putting Ciena in an unbearable position to choose between her loyalty to the Empire and her love for the man she's known since childhood. Now on opposite sides of the war, will these friends turned foes find a way to be together, or will duty tear them--and the galaxy--apart?" --

Yes, simply being Star Wars makes this better than most teen books. The snapshots of Imperial life before the Rebellion are quite interesting.

Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com.

I have said many times that I don't like romance in YA and I have to take that statement back because I loved this book and it's a YA love story set in the Star Wars universe. Actually this is more like a Romeo and Juliette story. You have two kids from the same planet who aren't supposed to be friends because of reasons. They end up being friends anyway and both go to Coruscant to join the Imperial Academy.

The thing I really loved about this book is that you get to see the original movies from a different perspective. You see how even the Imperials are shocked when Alderaan is destroyed. And when the rebels are celebrating their victory at Yavin 5 you see the Imperials mourning for the friends they lost on the Death Star.

My favourite thing was seeing the rebellion side of the story and how everyone is confused by this Calrissian guy who has been made general for no apparent reason. You also get to see what they think of that Luke Skywalker guy who seems to think he is big deal.

Of course our main characters have their own story which I don't want to give away. I will say however that it's nice to see that their story has nothing to do with the original movies but there are moments where the two converge quite nicely. Basically out of all the Star Wars books that have been released recently this is a must read. Especially if you're curious about the downed Star Destroyer on Jakku at the start of The Force Awakens.

Actually one of my favorite Star Wars books. It is Young Adult but still well worth it. My only thought on all the Star Wars book I have read is I wish there was more to them. There is no depth. They are all written basic enough that you could turn any of them word for word into a TV series or movie. That is good in some respects but after reading other Science Fiction or Fantasy books. I want more out of them. Write them as a deep book with backstory and details. Then turn into a movie and cut what you cannot get in.

It took me months to finish this book because of school (I haven't even been writing as much because of the semester) but I've finally finished the book. Honestly, this is my favorite Star Wars book in the new canon. Granted, this is the second Star Wars book I've read in both new canon and legends, so I'm a bit biased, but there are obvious reasons as to why I think it's one that people trying to get into Star Wars books should read. Not only does Claudia Gray know the world of Star Wars, but she's literally breathing it as she brings Thane and Ciena to life. Set against the backdrop of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, the novel doesn't blatantly scream Star Wars, like some books and comics can. Instead, it reads like a natural romance story that just happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. The character cameos were great, and I grinned every time I saw a familiar name. The clues that set up The Force Awakens are also great, and it's one that I was not expecting, but when it clicked, my mouth was literally hanging open. If you're stuck on which book to start with in the new canon, start with this one. You won't be disappointed.