Black Spire was an enjoyable book. I could not put it down. I am a huge Star Wars fan and had read plenty of books that were horrible. This was not. I have not read a lot of sequel novels as it really isn’t my favorite timeline, but I would pick this book up again in a heartbeat and would recommend this book to anyone.

The book is a standalone, but I recommend reading the book Phasma written by the same author. The understanding of the relationship and PTSD between Vi Moradi and Archex would make the book richer. The best thing is the background story between Vi and Archex is explained throughout the book. I enjoyed both characters and would look forward to reading more about them. I well-liked the other characters in this book but felt they were a little underdeveloped. I loved Kriki and would love to see more of her. The villain Wulfgar Kath was disappointing for me. I found his cruelty the only interesting part of his character. But his personality was lacking.

The world-building in Star Wars never have disappointed me. This one did its job. I enjoyed the creepiness of the cavern and the mystery behind the creators or earlier settlers. The gang boss and the "you scratch my back and I will think about scratching yours" reminded me of some legends books. What was great was there was no feeling of information dump. The descriptions enhanced the story than dragging it, and that was why I immersed myself in this book.

When I asked for this book and received it for Christmas, I knew ahead of time there was a theme park. I did not think about any of it while reading. I was too immersed in the world. I have read many other reviews stating this was nothing but an advertisement for Disney’s theme park Galaxy’s Edge. I can see the points of what they are talking about, but I do not think things in that perspective. Yes, it is a tie into the theme park, there is no doubt. My question would be, if there was not a theme park, and they wrote the book in the same way, would you still think of it as an advertisement for something? Pointing out a specific cantina name and drink for me did not differ from reading a legends book doing the same. This is world-building. It helped bring this outpost to life.

I would recommend this book to anyone, Star Wars fan or not. It was a great read and am looking forward to more Vi.
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Well, that was fun! And as is often the case, it is especially fun to read a book set in a place you've actually visited!

Okay, yes, this book is set in a Galaxy Far, Far Away (tm) - but in particular it is set on Batuu, at Black Spire Outpost - which is ably represented on our world at Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland and Disney World. Just having been to Disneyland where I enjoyed this new land, it was fresh in my mind and all the more fun to "visit" again via Delilah Dawson's prose.

It's a story that is at times harrowing - it helped that I'd also just read Phasma, a book which dovetails nicely with this story - both following the exploits of Vi Moradi, Resistance spy extraordinaire.

And despite being SW, science fiction/space-opera and all, it has a fair amount of real world overlap - particularly the depiction of PTSD and the trials of deployed personnel.

So - even if you don't have a chance to visit Black Spire Outpost at a theme park - your local bookstore (or library - how I got my copy!) will give you a way to take a trip there! ( )

Delilah S. Dawson’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire serves as a sequel to her previous novel, Star Wars: Phasma, reuniting Vi Moradi and Captain Cardinal, now going by the name Archex, as they work to scout Batuu as a possible new base for the Resistance. The story begins during the third act of Star Wars: The Force Awakens before progressing to a period four months later, after the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Vi and Archex have an ignominious landing on Batuu and struggle to understand the outpost, looking to find allies and supplies. Just as things appear to be working out, a First Order strike team arrives, looking to capture Vi for her role in turning Archex during the events of Phasma. Now it’s up to Vi, Archex, and the Resistance sympathizers they can find to defend Batuu.

The novel begins to set the stage for the Resistance being the underdog in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, showing just how alone they are. In this, Dawson’s novel closely resembles work set during the Original Trilogy and following the Rebel Alliance. In connecting the novel to other events, Dawson references a mission to infiltrate a Star Destroyer lead by Green Team, possibly a reference to the Star Wars Resistance animated series or to the forthcoming novel, Resistance Reborn (pgs. 29, 374). In possibly a fun inside-joke about Disney, Dawson has a character reference kith-lemmings going over a clip, possibly as a callback to Disney’s controversial 1958 documentary, White Wilderness (pg. 243). Another fun easter egg involves Vi quoting Charlotte’s Web, saying, “That’s some pig” (pg. 272).

Black Spire ties into the plot of Disney’s new immersive Star Wars theme park, telling a story that fills in some of the park’s background. As such, there are times early on when the book appears to break from the plot in order to deliver an advertisement. For example, when Vi begins purchasing needed supplies in chapters 5 and 6, the reader cannot help but come out of the story as she describes all of the wares in each shop, especially if the reader has seen advertising for the parks and knows that Ronto Roasters is a real restaurant in Disney’s latest attraction. Other than this, however, the story is strong and full of the same character development as in Dawson’s Star Wars: Phasma. ( )