Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge A Crash of Fate

Black Spire Outpost might seem like any other wretched hive of scum and villainy, but look deeper, and you’ll find families, friendships, a community. Izzy and Jules used to be best friends, until Izzy and her parents left the planet behind suddenly. Years later, Jules has built a life for himself there, only to be stunned when Izzy returns to his life a changed woman. As criminal plots, old grudges, and the influence of the First Order begin to complicate their unexpected day together, Izzy and Jules find themselves wondering if this reunion is meant to be… or if they’ll even survive it.

Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate is kind of a strange Star Wars story. It combines a meet-cute with a star-crossed friends-become-more romantic plot, which feels very un-Star Wars, even with the saturation of classic elements like scoundrels, smugglers, aliens, family secrets, devious plots, and goodhearted heroes.

Cordova does a dynamite job of creating a bustling setting populated with interesting characters. Whether it’s the aliens and rogues Jules considers friends or the squirrelly members of Izzy’s former crew, the book is loaded with secondaries that are rife with potential. And although Izzy outshines Jules for the most part, they are both protagonists worthy of more page time.

And thankfully, despite the rom-com moments, the story mostly works. One character does make an incredibly dumb choice that feels more due to plot contrivance than a romantic distraction, but otherwise, we’re dealing with capable characters in an unfamiliar space for SW: puppy love.