Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Go beyond the film with a novelization featuring new scenes and expanded material.

As the shadows of the Empire loom ever larger across the galaxy, so do deeply troubling rumors. The Rebellion has learned of a sinister Imperial plot to bring entire worlds to their knees. Deep in Empire-dominated space, a machine of unimaginable destructive power is nearing completion. A weapon too terrifying to contemplate . . . and a threat that may be too great to overcome.

If the worlds at the Empire’s mercy stand any chance, it lies with an unlikely band of allies: Jyn Erso, a resourceful young woman seeking vengeance; Cassian Andor, a war-weary rebel commander; Bodhi Rook, a defector from the Empire’s military; Chirrut Ïmwe, a blind holy man and his crack-shot companion, Baze Malbus; and K-2SO, a deadly Imperial droid turned against its former masters. In their hands rests the new hope that could turn the tide toward a crucial Rebellion victory―if only they can capture the plans to the Empire’s new weapon.

But even as they race toward their dangerous goal, the specter of their ultimate enemy―a monstrous world unto itself―darkens the skies. Waiting to herald the Empire’s brutal reign with a burst of annihilation worthy of its dreaded name: Death Star.


This is the novelisation of last Christmas’s blockbuster movie of the same name. It is written by Alexander Freed who previously penned Star Wars Battlefront: Twilight Company and follows a ragtag band of rebels trying to steal the plans to the Death Star.

The novel flows naturally and at a good pace, it introduces the characters we see in the movie and provides interesting backstories, certainly in the case of Cassian Andor. It is easy to see why Freed was given the chance to write this particular novelisation, as he is able to build on the war-like novel he had previously written, he is certainly honing his craft in the sci-fi war genre.

If you enjoyed the film then you will enjoy the book regardless of the fact that it suffers from a lack of surprises (but that is only due to it already being a film). You get to see all the characters from the movie and all the action, only in a little more detail as well as understanding their motives a little better. It is always nice to see the return of characters from the original trilogy, and with the Tarkin moments being written very well it makes it all the better (needless to say, it really gets good when Vader arrives on the scene).

Overall, this is a good companion piece to the movie that offers a few extras for those of us that eat up anything canon, and one that I would recommend you read. However, if you are short on time the film is probably the best way forward.

I give this 3.5 stars but this has been rounded up to 4 for Goodreads and Amazon.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.