Welcome back to Go/No-Go, Tosche Station’s regular feature where we offer our spoiler-free opinion as to whether or not you should spend your hard-earned money on a book, film, or other entertainment. Today on the launch pad: Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi.  It’s the first novel written in first person since I, Jedi and stars the one and only Luke Skywalker.  To mission control for the verdict!

EECOM Bria:  Heir to the Jedi is a decent enough book.  I liked it well enough for the most part due in great part to the introduction of Nakari Kelen who joins the ranks of the Capable Ladies of Star Wars.  The first person POV took a little time to get used to but added rather than detracted from the story.  The end of the book dives very quickly into unfortunate territory which stops me from giving this book a resounding GO.  Instead, I’ll give it a more tenuous… ‘ehhh GO if you’d like’.

TELMU Nanci:  Like Bria, I was all set to give this one a GO if only for the fact that it was a different point of view than usual and starred my favorite Star Wars character. The first person POV wasn’t my favorite at first (it read more like a diary than someone telling a story), and the plot sort of dragged along until about a third of the way through, when Luke and Nakari finally got to the meat of the story. Once that happened I found myself enjoying the book, and appreciated Luke’s characterization as an introspective yet lighthearted character. There were a few scenes that really stood out to me, one being Luke going up against Imperial ships and narrowly escaping an Interdictor cruiser. And like Bria said, Nakari is an awesome Capable Lady. But the end still stings, and because of that I can only recommend reading Heir to the Jedi if you’re a fan of Luke Skywalker (but I’d honestly suggest reading Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor instead).

CAPCOM Brian: I wanted to like this. I wanted SO much to like this. In fairness to the book, it does some things well. I’m always appreciative of humor in these novels, and Hearne does well to remember that Luke is capable of being funny. The first person perspective is a unique take, and while it doesn’t work perfectly all of the time, it was generally enjoyable for me. Nakari was an awesome addition to the book. Unfortunately, Heir to the Jedi utilizes a trope towards the end of the story that is an instant deal breaker for me. There aren’t many things that are automatic NOPE tropes for me, but unfortunately this was one of them, and it’s one I can’t look past.  It’s a No Go.

Flight Director’s Ruling: Launch conditions have not been met. Heir to the Jedi is an unfortunate No-Go.