Book Review: Battlefront II: Inferno Squad by Christie Golden

The Empire Strikes Back… With a Vengeance and a Moral Compass

A Different Point of View… from the Empire

If you’ve ever played Star Wars Battlefront II and thought, “Wait, why am I suddenly rooting for the Empire?”—Inferno Squad has the answers. This prequel novel by Christie Golden dives deep into the backstory of Iden Versio, the game’s main protagonist, and the elite special forces unit she commands.

Set immediately after the events of Rogue One—yes, the Death Star just had a very bad day—Inferno Squad picks up with the Empire licking its wounds and plotting revenge. But instead of another superlaser (because clearly that went great), the Empire decides to fight fire with stealth. Enter Inferno Squad: a four-person team of brilliant, ruthless, and very shiny Imperial operatives with a mission to infiltrate and destroy what’s left of Saw Gerrera’s extremist rebels, the Partisans.

This isn’t your typical pew-pew Star Wars story. It’s more espionage thriller than space opera, and Golden treats readers to a tense, cerebral ride through moral gray areas and questionable loyalties—with just enough explosions to keep things spicy.

Characters That Actually Feel Like People

Let’s start with the squad. Iden Versio is the star, of course, and she’s exactly what you’d expect from someone raised by a high-ranking Imperial Admiral: smart, disciplined, and so loyal to the Empire she probably salutes her cereal in the morning. But she’s not just a stormtrooper in fancier armor. Golden layers Iden with real internal conflict, especially as the mission pushes her to confront the human cost of the Empire’s war.

Joining Iden are three original characters:

• Del Meeko – The squad’s tech wizard and maybe the closest thing to a bleeding heart the Empire allows.
• Gideon Hask – A bit of a loose cannon with a habit of shooting first and, well, that’s it.
• Seyn Marana – The team’s intel expert who’s basically a walking database with a photographic memory and a surprising amount of conscience.

Each member brings their own brand of drama, loyalty, and trauma to the table. It’s like the Empire’s answer to the Dirty Dozen, but with fewer facial scars and more moral ambiguity.

What Golden does well here is give you reasons to care about these characters—even if you’re not rooting for their side. You’ll find yourself questioning your own alignment as the lines between “hero” and “villain” blur faster than a TIE fighter in hyperdrive.

Plot: One Part Thriller, One Part Psychological Warfare

No lightsabers. No space dogfights. No Force ghosts dispensing cryptic advice. Inferno Squad trades spectacle for substance.

The meat of the plot centers on the team’s infiltration of the Dreamers—a Partisan splinter group that’s equal parts rebels, radicals, and “definitely should be on a watchlist.” The Dreamers aren’t exactly cuddly freedom fighters either. They’re angry, armed, and not afraid to target civilians if it means hitting the Empire where it hurts.

So, naturally, the Empire wants them gone. But not in the usual “send in the Star Destroyers” way. Inferno Squad’s mission is to gain their trust, learn their secrets, and dismantle them from the inside.

It’s a slow burn. The novel simmers with tension as each squad member goes undercover, creating complex relationships with the Dreamers. Think less Return of the Jedi, more The Americans—but in space. You’re constantly wondering who’s going to snap, who’s going to switch sides, and who’s going to make it out alive.

There’s action, but it’s not the focus. The real thrill comes from watching loyalties twist, lies unravel, and ideals clash like vibroblades in a dark alley.

Christie Golden Brings the Galaxy Down to Earth

Christie Golden is no stranger to the Star Wars universe—she’s penned several titles in both Legends and Canon—and here, she delivers a tight, character-driven story that feels like it could slot right between two scenes of a film.

Her writing is crisp, her pacing confident, and her dialogue believable (well, as believable as a galaxy with laser swords gets). Golden excels at internal conflict, and Inferno Squad thrives on it. No one here is just “good” or “evil.” Everyone is making trade-offs, justifying compromises, and trying to sleep at night with the things they’ve done.

And she never overdoes it. There’s no ham-fisted political allegory or moralizing. Just people making decisions in a war where no side is clean.

Themes: Loyalty, Identity, and the Price of Obedience

One of the most compelling aspects of Inferno Squad is its refusal to offer easy answers. The novel isn’t trying to redeem the Empire, nor is it glorifying rebellion. Instead, it asks the uncomfortable questions:

• How far should you go to protect an ideal?
• Is loyalty still virtuous if the cause is flawed?
• Can someone do the wrong thing for the right reason?

These aren’t just philosophical background noise. They’re baked into every decision the squad makes, especially as they grow closer to the very people they’re supposed to destroy. By the end of the book, you’re left wondering who the real extremists are—and whether there’s any room for redemption in a war like this.

It’s like Andor’s more military-minded cousin. If that show made you question whether the rebellion was as noble as it claimed, Inferno Squad will do the same for the Empire.

Ties to the Game (and Beyond)

For those wondering if reading Inferno Squad is necessary before playing Battlefront II: it’s not required, but it helps. A lot.

The book gives Iden depth that the game’s campaign just doesn’t have time for. Her transformation from loyal soldier to, well… you’ll see, becomes much more poignant when you understand what she’s been through and what she’s lost.

Plus, it’s packed with Easter eggs for the lore-inclined:

• References to Saw Gerrera and Rogue One
• Mentions of Project Stardust and other Death Star secrets
• Hints at the growing fractures within the Empire
• And even a few nods to the wider galaxy (Tatooine gets name-dropped because of course it does)

Golden doesn’t go overboard, though. You don’t need a PhD in Star Warsology to follow along. But if you do happen to know the difference between a Partisan and a Pathfinder, you’ll appreciate the extra flavor.

Should You Read It?

If you’re into:

• Star Wars stories that don’t revolve around the Skywalkers
• Morally complex characters doing morally gray things
• Spy thrillers in space with just a pinch of explosions

…then yes, Battlefront II: Inferno Squad is absolutely worth your time.

It’s a Star Wars book that takes itself seriously—not in a bad way, but in a “hey, maybe we should talk about the ethics of blowing up planets” kind of way. It dares to ask what it really means to serve an empire and what the cost of obedience might be when the mask finally cracks.

Plus, it has laser guns. So, you know, still fun.

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Where to Get Your Hands on It

Ready to dive into this Imperial undercover operation? You can grab Battlefront II: Inferno Squad from major booksellers:

📖 Order on Amazon

Other platforms and local bookstores also stock it—though if you’re planning to go undercover yourself, maybe don’t ask about Imperial manuals out loud.

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Final Verdict: A Must-Read for Grown-Up Star Wars Readers

Inferno Squad isn’t just a video game tie-in—it’s a thoughtful, tightly-written novel that stands on its own. Christie Golden delivers a character-driven story filled with espionage, betrayal, and the kind of moral complexity that sticks with you long after the last page.

It adds depth to the galaxy without leaning on nostalgia, and it makes the case that the most dangerous battles aren’t fought in space—they’re fought in the hearts of those caught in the middle.

Whether you’re here for the lore, the action, or the ethical crisis, this book delivers. It may not change your mind about who the “bad guys” are, but it’ll definitely make you think twice before saying it out loud.

And really, isn’t that what good Star Wars storytelling should do?