The New Era of Star Wars Begins HERE!

Following on the success of his previous Star Wars offering, Kenobi, and in conjunction with the newly-formed Lucasfilm Story Group, John Jackson Miller throttles us forward from the end of the prequel era and into the Dark Times, the largely uncharted territory between trilogies. The Clone Wars are over. The Empire has risen. The surviving Jedi are in hiding, hunted by Darth Vader and his minions. The management style of the day is subjugation, murder, and wanton destruction. And there are some people in the galaxy who truly see what's going on, and they can't just lie down and take it like "good citizens."

This book takes place some 6 years before the events of the upcoming Star Wars: Rebels animated series, which itself will take place 5 years before the events of Episode IV: A New Hope. In other words, 8 years after Revenge of the Sith, and 11 years before A New Hope, squarely in the midst of the worst time the galaxy has ever suffered.

The story here covers the first encounter of our newest heroes, Jedi Kanan Jarrus and freedom fighter Hera Syndulla (perhaps related to Clone Wars era fighter Cham Syndulla?) as the Rebellion begins in the form of small, isolated cells. It also provides our first look at the new era of Star Wars, wherein everything is officially canon, so in this regard it's a New Dawn in more ways than one.

Although Kanan and Hera are most definitely at the forefront, their first adventure gives us a supporting cast as strong, rich, and three-dimensional as any that Miller has offered in the past. From the conspiracy theorizing Skelly to the Imperial monster Count Vidian (who is a most worthy addition to the Star Wars villains list), the supporting cast give us a very close look at what ordinary life is like under Palpatine's Empire... and what it means to rebel against it.

Kanan and Hera themselves seem to have the banter we've seen in the preview videos already intact, harkening back to the classic days of Han Solo and Princess Leia. It's that kind of dynamic, without being a carbon copy of it. With them, they bring along all of the adventure and swashbuckling we've come to know since 1977. I was excited for Rebels before. Now I'm chomping at the bit for it.

The audio production is as high quality as any of the offerings from the Star Wars camp in recent years. Veteran narrator Marc Thompson plays the roles to the hilt, and the subtle additions of John Williams theme music and those famous sound effects are dropped in to add that extra layer of awesome you just don't get from most audiobooks.

If everything that's been hinted at is true, this animated series will not only tie the trilogies together, but it will eventually play on themes offered from Clone Wars and offer some new threads to be continued in the upcoming Episode VII. As a fan, that's simply too hard to resist. The future looks bright ahead, and this book is the on-ramp.

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Fantastic

I was wondering if this would be consistent with the other stories in the Star Wars universe,shouldn't have worried. The new characters were intriguing and the story was entertaining and enjoyable. Once again Mark Thompson has done a fantastic job with the portrayal of the different characters voices, he makes the different characters come to life.

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A review by a true Star Wars fan please read!!

I loved this book! My first audio book actually.. many comments say it is good, and many bad. The true answer lies in how much of a Star Wars fan you are. If you love and or seen all the movies, tv shows, games etc.. than I definitely 10/10 recommend you read this! Especially if you are a Star Wars Rebels fan.. if you are a basic watch the movies out of order once every couple months and maybe pick up a Star Wars game once in a lifetime (you know what I'm talking about) I can't really recommend it.. maybe a 3, or 4/10. I admit the first half is kinda slow but picks up greatly in the second half, it always keeps you guessing at the characters fates! I hope this review amidst the probably 100s of reviews can shed a little bit of light to your question to get this audio book or not. This is a basic review by a 100% Star Wars fan indoctrinated in the Star Wars Universe! May the Force be with you..... always...

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Kanan & Hera's First Meeting

Wow! What a ride. I had only recently started watching Rebels and decided to catch up on the story of how Kaman and Hera met. This book does get a bit dark, as the villain Count Vivian is a true monster you definitely hate by the end of the book. It's also a great introduction to Imperial Captain Rae Sloane, I liked her character a great deal. Kaman is clearly haunted and has a great sense of humor and I loved how he had designs on both Hera and Rae Sloane. The romantic tension between Hers and Kaman was very well written and I would've loved to have seen Rebels as an adult show like Rogue One. While it took a bit to set everything up, it became faster paced towards the end. This is the second book I've read by John Jackson Miller, with Lost Tribe of the Sith being first, I love his character insights. I will be looking forward to reading Kenobi. This book was read using immersion reading, with the audio book version synced to the text. As always, Marc Thompson is outstanding as narrator and voice characterizations. He could make a phone book sound interesting. What a beautiful voice!

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Decent introduction to new major characters

After having watched the first several episodes of the new Star Wars: Rebels series with my son, I was interested in this book that gives an introduction and some back story to a couple of the main characters. I was also hopeful as this is the same author who also produced the most excellent "Kenobi" novel recently.

While decent, it's no "Kenobi". That's unfair to a degree, I know as this story has to essentially introduce new major characters to the new Star Wars canon, while "Kenobi" gave us a missing chapter in the life of a well known existing character.

Still, while the novel serves as a useful introduction to the characters, I think they deserved a better story. This one has something of a carbon copy feel of other Star Wars stories we've seen and read about before. Miller is definitely capable of better.

The biggest saving grace of this story, at least for the audiobook form that I consumed it in, is once again Marc Thompson's excellent narration.

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A New Dawn lives up to large expectations

My love of Star Wars stretches back almost as far as I can remember. My dad bought, and still has, very early copies of the original trilogy on VHS that we watched countless times throughout my childhood. My first job at 14 years old in 1999 was at a little used bookstore called. It was there, with my employee discount that I really fell in love with reading and especially Star Wars novels. My first Star Wars novel was Heir to the Empire. I shortly thereafter read every one we had in stock and started special ordering all the ones we didn't and started reading all of the new series as they came out starting with the New Jedi Order.

When Disney bought Star Wars and Lucasfilm I was worried about what would happen to future novels. The Expanded Universe was and is very dear to me. I was even more worried when they said they would basically be rebooting the EU canon, but I was very excited about a new, unified canon throughout the films, novels, comics, video games, etc.

So it was with a lot of excitement and a lot of anxiety that I approached this book, and I'm happy to report that my fears and anxiety are gone and my excitement for future Star Wars novels is through the roof.

A New Dawn has a little bit of a slow, meandering start, but it picks up quickly after that with great action, comedy, well-developed characters, a satisfying and terrifying villain, and that very tangible Star Wars feel. I loved it.

My favorite character was hands down Zaluna. I loved everything about her. Pulled into something she didn't ask for and didn't quite understand, she still rose to heroics and sacrifice, all to honor a friend.

All of the character development in this book was very good and believable. Skelly, Kanan, Zaluna, Hera, all of them changed because of the story and the way the separate threads were woven together speaks very highly of Miller's ability as an author. The only character I wish I'd learned more about was Hera. Her past is still a mystery and I really hope they explore her backstory more in the TV show, Rebels.

This book does a very good job of standing alone as a novel even if the TV show wasn't coming afterwards, though it also does a good job of making me want to see the show.

One last note, I listened to this book as an audio production from Audible, which is how I would recommend everyone read any Star Wars novel. The productions are always high quality. The sound effects and music make you feel even more like you are having that epic Star Wars experience, and the narration is really spectacular. Marc Thompson nailed it, he was a spectacular narrator.

This book made me laugh, cry, cheer, and reflect. I couldn't ask for more. I am incredibly stoked for the future of Star Wars, and I can't wait until I next get to visit that galaxy far, far away.

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Primer Book

This book is basically a back story character primer for the new ( Star Wars Rebels ) animation, the character focus is mostly on Kanan Jarrus & Hera Syndulla. How ever strong you think these characters are now, the TV series will make them even weaker based on a few things, 1) They are on Disney XD 2) I'v seen the long previews and they do 3) No one dies or gets badly hurt in ANY Disney XD show.

The shining light in this was Marc Thompson as the Narrator.

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Forget the old way.

What did you love best about A New Dawn: Star Wars?

The storyline and the narration.

What did you like best about this story?

The dialogue.

What about Marc Thompson’s performance did you like?

The voice work. He's a genius.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

A great prequel for the upcoming Star Wars: Rebels series.

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Great performance, solid if predictable story

After listening to this, I hope the show gives Hera more to do. She is a far more interesting and likable character than Kanan.

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All the Elements of a Story Without the Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

tbh, there's a lot of things that I'd change if I could but at the same time, there only needs to be one change: the direction. It doesn't matter what direction, any would be fine. It seems like they're so busy trying to make sure they don't spoil anything with the books, for the movies/shows, that you don't get anything of real substance. This isn't really a fugitive book about someone that's really become someone else, it's not really a romance between two people who meet and then inspire each other, this is certainly not an action book with well-defined fight scenes. Also, Hera really seems to be a fleshed out character, more-so than any of the others here, Kanan however is basically a lump of flesh that isn't very bright, charismatic or even charming. Hera acts as both the brains of the "operation" as well as the moral compass, meanwhile Kanan is there to beat things up, without a lightsaber because... reasons? I know why he isn't using a lightsaber and it makes sense but... c'mon! Star Wars! Seriously!? /weep. Even if there had been a few really great fight scenes without a lightsaber I'd have been happy but the ones that were there just seem to be there to validate Kanan having a lead role.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Just wrapped up Heir to the Jedi which followed this one for me, I'm now on the fence about Tarkin and any of the Pre-Ep7 stuff... so probably won't be a Star Wars book.

Which character – as performed by Marc Thompson – was your favorite?

He gave a great performance and I thought he did well with all of them, probably best with Hera though. The way that he sounded while performing her dialogue really gave a sense that she was thoughtful and cautious in almost every scene.

Did A New Dawn: Star Wars inspire you to do anything?

Began to inspire me to not read Pre-Ep7 stuff, Heir to the Jedi very nearly cinched it. Maybe there'll be one that comes out soon that actually has some kind of worthwhile content. I'll keep checking reviews.

Any additional comments?

From a technical standpoint I think this book is fine. I don't think the author is/was bad and if he was writing something outside of Star Wars I'd give it a listen, as stated before however, there's just so little true content here that even the budding relationship that takes place between the main characters seems like a leap since so little happened for them to get to know one another. In closing, if you're a hardcore fan who wants to link up every side character to whatever screen time they may get on the Rebels show or possibly (doubt it) the movies, you may want to check this out for that reason. If you're a casual fan who's looking for a good story you may want to look elsewhere.

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