Ricky Church reviews Star Wars: Bloodline…
Claudia Gray delves into a period of time in the Star Wars canon that has been explored very little lately: the 30-year gap between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The latest Star Wars film left a lot of questions open, namely how the First Order rose to prominence so quickly and what happened to Leia and the Republic during that time. Star Wars: Bloodline is an ambitious novel, but Gray’s examination of this time period and of Leia herself makes this book one of the best pieces of new Star Wars material we’ve gotten yet.
The New Republic is fractured with no meaningful governance being done. Its split into two parties; the Populists, who believe each planet should essentially govern itself, and the Centrists, who believe a strong, unified government is what is best to lead the galaxy into a new era. The political divide is strong and Princess Leia, now a Populist senator, works to bridge the gap even as mysterious forces attempt to undermine the Republic’s authority.
I’m sure at the mere mention of politics Star Wars fans lose interest after all the political talk from the Star Wars prequels. However, Gray makes the politics in Bloodline very interesting since this is our first real look at the New Republic and how unstable it really is. There is a Game of Thrones-like quality as Leia and other character maneuver through the shadows, outsmarting or backstabbing opponents and work around the system to get what they want. Aside from Leia herself, there’s no politician who can be fully trusted throughout this story. The politics of Bloodline make the story very intriguing.
Gray has a very good handle on characterizing the famed princess. Leia goes through quite an interesting arc as she faces frustration at the Senate’s lack of cooperation and is in the verge of quitting, even as she is ideally placed in a position to make things better for the galaxy. Gray does an exemplary job showcasing Leia’s deft political savvy, fully showing how the princess is in her element when she’s on the Senate floor. Gray also goes into some depth of the personal struggles Leia faces as she is forced to spend time away from Han Solo and her son Ben, putting the needs of the galaxy ahead of her personal wants. It’s also interesting to see her still struggle with the revelation of her family heritage. Luke and Leia have such different views on Darth Vader and the lasting legacy he left upon the galaxy that it reinforces her stance in the Senate and why she’s so afraid of one person, much less a group, gaining so much power.
It should go without saying, as well, that Leia is one of Star Wars’ main action heroes and despite spending much of her time with the Senate, Leia is still able to kick butt whenever the situation calls for it. There are some good action scenes that help break up the political plot of Bloodline, giving the supporting characters a chance to shine as well. The supporting cast is charming and filled their roles nicely, however the one standout is the Centrist senator Ransolm Casterfo. At first appearing to be a one-note foil for Princess Leia, Casterfo actually became a well-rounded, three-dimensional character with a very intriguing arc of his own, offering a satisfying look at the Centrist position.
While the political parallels to current American politics aren’t too subtle, Star Wars: Bloodline offers a captivating look at the Republic which answers several question left from The Force Awakens. Gray writes a thought-provoking plot with some great development for Princess Leia and her supporting cast. If you want answers about the time period between the trilogies, or are just a big fan of Princess Leia, Star Wars: Bloodline is a very good book to dive into.
Ricky Church
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Originally published May 10, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
