Similar to how second entries like Aliens and the more recent The Dark Knight did for their respective properties, Life Debt raised the bar and brought the Aftermath trilogy to another level. The second entry did wonders for the development of characters like the formal Imperial Sinjir Rath Velus and Grand Admiral Rae Sloane, while satisfying fans by putting Han Solo in the spotlight, a much needed remedy after the recent on-screen death of the beloved character. With his new found freedom, Wendig was able to juggle multiple intriguing subplots (which he tells through various interludes interspersed throughout the book) while still maintaining a laser focus on his main narrative. With Life Debt, Wendig was given some room to play, and it really came through in his very capable storytelling. Then came Aftermath: Life Debt – a breath of fresh air after the stagnant first entry. Any forward progress after Return of the Jedi was impeded and replaced by the introduction to new characters that – let’s be honest – none of us wanted or cared about. The big problem with the original Aftermath was that Wendig seems to have been given so many constraints in his storytelling due to its proximity to the release of The Force Awakens that the story felt stunted at best. As I mentioned in my review for Aftermath: Life Debt, I didn’t hate the first book as some did, but I certainly found it lacking. The Aftermath trilogy has found success where most have failed – each sequel is significantly better than the last.Īftermath: Empire’s End is a rare jewel to be sure. I am happy to say that fans can rest easy. Sequels to a book or film usually just don’t measure up to the original – and with the mixed reception of the first book in the trilogy – many fans were hoping for the opposite trend with the follow-up entries in Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy.

If you find yourself in one of these two categories then this review is for you. Or maybe you read the first one and you are apprehensive about the sequels as you discovered disappointment more than delight in Aftermath. Author Chuck Wendig just concluded his post- Return of the Jedi book trilogy with Empire’s End, and now that all the books are out – you may be wondering if they are worth taking the time to read.

Star wars aftermath chuck wendig