Kanan & Hera: The Making of Rebels
Just finished reading Star Wars A New Dawn. I realize that I am quite behind in my star wars reading, but I was also quite behind in my Star Wars shows.
This year I rewatched Rebels, Kenobi, finally watched the Bad Batch and of course Andor.
Once I finished Andor, I needed more Star Wars, but mostly, I just wanted the Rebels feel again. I don't know why, but Rebels has become one of my comfort shows. Most people just rewatch Friends or The Office multiple times, but my rewatch list includes Rebels, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and yeahhhhh Friends 😅 Thank goodness I started watching Bones and now Im hooked into that. Just started season 5!
Anyways, back to the book!
It had many rough spots that just felt like the story was being dragged on. It's kind of like you would find in the books of the New Jedi Order series. **Spoilers** It was great to read about how Kanan lived before and after Order 66. How he put on an entire personality similar to the main villan, Vidian, in this book. You also get to see that hard side of Kanan like you see in Rebels, but also his loving and caring side. Lets just say he has a lion's heart (reference to Bones). Of course, Hera is the bad@ss pilot just like she is in the series and of course, they take on a group of sidekicks along the way. I spent most of the book hoping that Skelly would be thrown out a trash chute, but at the end he ends up being the hero. Zaluna kept having me on the edge of the seat to see if she made it after each mission. I was fully prepared to launch the book across the room if something happened, but she made it!
The different outlook at the empire was great in this book. It showed power-hungry people willing to do anything, including destroying a planet to gain higher ranks, but at the end of the day the future Rebels made so much of a scene that it was squashed.
Overall, it was a great Star Wars book with very little mentions of the Force or anything relating to the jedi besides Kanan's background. Very much just a book about the empire and how two love birds came to be together!
After diving deep into 'Star Wars: A New Dawn,' I can't help but feel an even stronger connection to Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla. This book truly is the missing piece for understanding their dynamic before the Ghost crew ever came together. For anyone wondering, 'are Kanan and Hera a couple?' – this novel really shows the seeds of that deep, unbreakable bond forming. It's not just about two individuals thrown together by circumstance; it’s about their mutual respect, shared ideals, and the undeniable spark that grows between them as they navigate the burgeoning rebellion. You witness Kanan’s internal struggle as a former Jedi padawan, haunted by Order 66, slowly learning to trust and embrace his true self again, thanks in no small part to Hera's unwavering support. Speaking of Hera, the book paints such a vivid picture of her as the ultimate 'bad@ss pilot.' Long before she was leading the Ghost crew, 'A New Dawn' showcases her incredible instincts, her strategic mind, and her sheer courage in the face of the Empire. It really solidifies why she's such a fan favorite. She’s not just a skilled pilot; she’s a visionary, seeing the bigger fight even when others are consumed by their own battles. The original article mentioned her being a 'bad@ss pilot,' and this book exemplifies that perfectly, showing her tenacity and spirit. For those of us who love to see 'Kanan and Hera fanart,' reading this book makes you appreciate the artistic interpretations even more. Seeing their initial interactions described, you can almost picture the early days of their partnership. The book cover itself, which I just realized features Kanan with his lightsaber and Hera with her blaster, surrounded by Stormtroopers and a Star Destroyer, perfectly captures their early struggles and the dangers they faced. It’s exactly how I imagine the start of their legend, and it's cool to see John Jackson Miller's name right there, crafting this pivotal story. And Kanan Jarrus? His 'unique abilities' aren't just limited to his Jedi training. In this book, you see his ability to inspire, to lead, and to care deeply for those around him, even when he’s trying to hide his past. His journey from Caleb Dume to Kanan Jarrus, and his path towards becoming the Jedi Master we know in Rebels, is beautifully laid out. It highlights his struggles with the Force, his reluctance to use it openly, and how his experiences shape him into the complex character we adore. The book truly brings to life the emotional depth and sacrifices these two made to start something bigger than themselves. If you're a Rebels fan, this book is essential reading for understanding the heart of the show and this iconic duo.