Star Wars: Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse – Book Review

In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore how Resistance Reborn fits into the broader Star Wars canon (from movies to comics to video games), discuss Roanhorse’s writing style and background, and compare the novel to other major Star Wars books—all without spoiling the plot. If you’ve ever wondered how the Resistance got from that tiny band of survivors at the end of The Last Jedi to the fighting force we see later, this book provides some answers in a fun and engaging way.

Before diving in, a quick note: this review is spoiler-free, focusing on themes and connections rather than plot twists. And for those eager to jump into the story themselves, you can Buy Resistance Reborn on Amazon to experience this adventure firsthand.

A Galaxy in Peril After The Last Jedi

At the end of The Last Jedi, things looked dire for our heroes. Resistance Reborn picks up immediately after that film, with General Leia Organa and a handful of survivors licking their wounds and trying to rebuild hope. The Resistance has been decimated—reduced from a small army to basically the crew of the Millennium Falcon. Leia’s desperate call for help went unanswered, and the galaxy is in chaos under First Order tyranny. This novel answers a burning question many fans had: why didn’t anyone answer Leia’s distress call, and how can the Resistance possibly bounce back? Roanhorse addresses these questions head-on, crafting a narrative that shows the grind-it-out, scrappy work of starting a rebellion anew.

Without giving away specifics, the story follows multiple threads as Poe Dameron, Rey, Finn, Rose, and of course Leia herself, each play roles in recruiting allies, securing ships, and uncovering what happened to their missing friends. From the jungles of Ryloth to the shipyards of Corellia, the heroes split up on various missions to rally support. Along the way, they discover the First Order has been actively kidnapping or neutralizing potential Resistance allies—a sinister campaign that our heroes must thwart. The tone here is one of urgent optimism: the odds are long, but the spark of rebellion is alive. Roanhorse manages to inject a sense of hope and determination that feels true to the Star Wars spirit, even as characters acknowledge their losses and doubts.

Crucially, Resistance Reborn fits neatly into Star Wars movie canon. It serves as a direct prequel to The Rise of Skywalker, but it stands on its own as a tale of survival and camaraderie. You won’t find huge galaxy-shattering revelations here (no spoilers about Episode IX’s plot), but you will get an intimate look at how the Resistance begins to transform from a ragtag bunch into a revitalized movement. In a way, it’s a quieter story than the films, focusing on character moments and small victories. Consider it the calm before the storm that is Episode IX. Yet, “calm” might be misleading—this book still has plenty of action, espionage, and daring rescues, just on a more personal scale. The result is an adventure that feels both meaningful and fun, setting the stage for the epic showdown to come.

Bridging the Sequels: How Resistance Reborn Connects the Saga

One of the coolest aspects of Resistance Reborn is how it connects to the wider Star Wars saga across multiple mediums. This novel isn’t just sitting in a vacuum; it’s actively pulling together threads from movies, previous books, comics, and even video games. Longtime fans of the franchise will be delighted by the many nods and cameo appearances, while newer fans get a taste of the larger galaxy beyond the films.

For instance, characters from the Poe Dameron comic series play significant roles in the story. If you’ve read those comics, you’ll be thrilled to see Black Squadron members like Snap Wexley and Jess Pava back in action alongside Poe. (Don’t worry if you haven’t read the comics; the book explains who they are and why they matter.) The novel also brings in heroes from earlier Star Wars novels—fans of Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy will recognize Norra Wexley and her husband, the legendary Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles, joining the cause. Their inclusion is a treat for anyone who wondered what became of some classic Rebel Alliance characters in the sequel era.

Video game aficionados get love too. Resistance Reborn pulls in characters from the Star Wars Battlefront II game’s storyline, such as Zay Versio (the daughter of Inferno Squad’s Iden Versio) and her gruff-but-loveable ally Shriv Suurgav. It’s not every day that a Star Wars novel references a video game so directly, and it’s done in a way that feels organic. These game-originated characters are given meaningful parts to play in the Resistance’s struggle, fleshing them out beyond what players saw on screen. The same goes for nods to animated series and other literature—sharp-eyed readers will catch a mention of General Rieekan (from The Empire Strikes Back), and even a resolution to a plot thread from Claudia Gray’s Bloodline novel concerning Leia’s old political ally, Ransolm Casterfo.

All these connections could have turned into mere fan-service checklist items, but Roanhorse weaves them in naturally. The story truly feels like a convergence of the Star Wars timeline, as if everything you’ve read or played was leading to this moment. As one reviewer put it, Resistance Reborn might be the most interconnected Star Wars book in the new canon, serving almost as a love letter to fans who follow the entire saga. Indeed, continuity enthusiasts will cheer at how cohesively this novel ties the franchise together. Importantly, even if you don’t catch every reference, the narrative still works; these crossovers enrich the story without confusing newcomers. It’s a delicate balance of Easter eggs and exposition, and the book pulls it off with an aplomb that will make you grin like a Jawa scoring prime scrap.

Rebecca Roanhorse’s Writing: Heart, Humor, and Respect for the Canon

So who is the mastermind stitching together this tapestry of Resistance heroes? Rebecca Roanhorse may be a newcomer to Star Wars fiction, but she’s an acclaimed speculative fiction author in her own right. She’s a Hugo and Nebula Award winner/nominee (known for her novel Trail of Lightning), and she brings a fresh voice to that galaxy far, far away. Resistance Reborn is Roanhorse’s first Star Wars novel, and you can tell she approached it with both reverence and enthusiasm.

Roanhorse’s writing style is engaging and fast-paced, yet she knows when to slow down for emotional beats. She has a knack for capturing the “voice” of iconic characters. Leia feels like Leia—wise and a bit weary but unbroken. Poe Dameron’s charm and buried guilt come through authentically (Roanhorse has mentioned she wasn’t even a huge Poe fan initially, but grew to love writing him). Even characters like Rey and Finn get little moments that explore their mindsets post-Last Jedi, grounding the book in character development amid the action. Considering this era of Star Wars doesn’t have a ton of material exploring the big three heroes between films, these insights are quite welcome.

Another strength of Roanhorse’s writing is her sense of humor and fun. This is a serious time for our heroes, but that trademark Star Wars hope and wit are present. There are lighthearted moments sprinkled throughout—one sequence on a fancy planet (hint: think spa day in space) provides laughs and reminds us that Star Wars can get delightfully weird when it wants to. Roanhorse was actually encouraged to “keep Star Wars weird” and she delivers. Additionally, fans who enjoy Star Wars for its aliens and world-building will appreciate new locales and side characters that feel right at home in the universe. The author clearly did her homework on Star Wars lore (she immersed herself in films, books, and even consulted the Lucasfilm Story Group), and that detail-oriented approach makes the world feel rich and consistent.

Yet, despite packing in so many references and characters, the prose never feels bogged down. The story moves with the momentum of a Rebel assault. When multiple plotlines converge in the climax, Roanhorse juggles the ensemble cast with ease, giving everyone a moment to shine. In Resistance Reborn, leadership and unity are key themes—she explores what it means for these characters to come together, each bringing their own skills and baggage, to form something greater than themselves. That theme resonates beyond the page, which is part of what makes the novel compelling.

Comparing Resistance Reborn to Other Star Wars Novels

The Star Wars literary universe is vast, so how does Resistance Reborn stack up against other notable books in the franchise? In many ways, this novel stands out as a unique beast in the Disney-era canon. While books like Bloodline (which delved into Leia’s political struggles) or the Aftermath trilogy (which chronicled the post-Return of the Jedi chaos) each focused on specific slices of the saga, Resistance Reborn combines elements of all of them into one package. It’s both a character-driven ensemble piece and a bridge between major films, with a dose of nostalgia for long-time fans.

Readers who enjoyed the Aftermath trilogy will find a familiar theme of rebuilding from ruins. However, Resistance Reborn is much more fast-paced and tightly tied to the films than Wendig’s Aftermath books, which were set decades earlier. This novel has an urgent, against-the-clock feel that keeps the stakes high, whereas Aftermath had more room to meander in a relatively lawless galaxy after the Empire’s fall. In terms of tone, Resistance Reborn might remind you of older Star Wars “mission” stories—think Rogue Squadron-style team adventures, or the Legends-era X-Wing novels—because it’s very much about a group of heroes working in parallel on daring missions. The difference is, here our heroes include the film’s central characters, so the narrative weight feels bigger.

Unlike more self-contained Star Wars novels like Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars or Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy, Resistance Reborn is unapologetically a crossover event. It assumes a working knowledge of the saga and richly rewards those who know their lore. That’s not a knock—on the contrary, if you’ve ever cheered at a well-placed cameo or reference, this book will have you smiling ear to ear. The flip side is that readers not as versed in Star Wars continuity might miss some nuances, although they’ll still get a fun adventure. In short, the emotional payoff in Resistance Reborn comes from recognizing story threads converging (much like an Avengers-style team-up), whereas many other novels offer more self-contained tales.

Final Thoughts: A Rebellion Reborn in Print

In the end, Resistance Reborn succeeds at what it set out to do: tell an entertaining Star Wars story that enriches the saga’s tapestry without overshadowing the films. It’s a smooth, enjoyable ride that combines character-driven moments with crowd-pleasing connections across the Star Wars lore. Rebecca Roanhorse delivers a novel that is neutral in evaluation yet full of heart—she doesn’t shy away from showing the desperation of the Resistance, but she also reminds us why we love these characters and this galaxy in the first place.

If you’re a Star Wars fan who devours not just the movies but also the books, comics, and games, Resistance Reborn will feel like a rewarding convergence of all those mediums. And if you’re primarily a movie fan, this book offers a fun peek behind the scenes of the saga, deepening your understanding of what our heroes went through between Episodes VIII and IX. With its conversational style and a few humorous touches, the novel is an easy read that still respects your intelligence as a reader (no cringe-worthy dialogue or out-of-character moments here).

Resistance Reborn may not introduce earth-shattering new lore or jaw-dropping twists, but it doesn’t need to. Instead, it reinforces a core Star Wars theme: that hope is built person by person, alliance by alliance. It’s about the little guys (and gals, and aliens, and droids) coming together to take on a big evil, which is exactly the kind of optimistic storytelling Star Wars thrives on. By the final page, don’t be surprised if you’re grinning and eager to rewatch the movies with this new perspective in mind.