Author: Alex Segura
Series: Star Wars Disney Canon Novel
Publisher: Disney
Released: August 4^th, 2020
Received: NetGalley
Rating:

I received a copy of Poe Dameron: Free Fall in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Poe Dameron Origin story? Sign me up! Poe Dameron: Free Fall is everything it appears to be, and everything it promises to be. It’s the tale of Poe Dameron, before he wound up in the hands of the Rebellion.

Written by Alex Segura, this novel offers refreshing insight into how Poe became the pilot we all know him to be. This is a younger version of the character, and it explains many questions that fans have come up with over the years.

Once upon a time, Poe was a rebellious teenager. He wanted to be a pilot for the Rebellion, just like his parents once were. That might not sound like much of an origin story, but the tale Poe is about to embark on is full of twists and turns.

“There was always a chance we wouldn’t come back/ That there’d be dust where our ship had been a few seconds before. Your mom and dad knew that.”

Poe Dameron: Free Fall is a bold tale, one that isn’t afraid to show off the sometimes darker backstory of one of the Rebellion’s best pilots. This is the tale of Poe Dameron, and how he gained those skills.

Poe is a child that was always haunted by the ghost of his mother. When he was younger, all he wanted was to become a pilot like both his parents. As he grew older, and lost his mother to the job she loved so much, that desire didn’t lessen.

It’s actually kind of poetic, when you think about it. All Poe ever wanted was to reach for the sky, yet his father’s fear of more loss kept him grounded. Well, for a while at least. We all know that this did not last.

I really enjoyed this origin story, more than I expected to. Not only was it an absolute blast to read, but it was kind of funny at times – seeing a younger and even more rebellious Poe Dameron. It certainly explains a thing or two about him.

Speaking of, I’ve had a few questions about him ever since the latest movies dropped, and I feel like the pieces of the puzzle have all finally slid into place now. Now his life story makes more sense, as do the characters that he sometimes comes across.

Was I a bit surprised to learn of certain elements of his past? Kind of. I already knew about the Spice Runner twist (it was hinted at during The Force Awakens), but everything else was surprising. It was also beautifully human, showing off a side of his character that we don’t normally get to see.

Personally, I would love to see another Poe Dameron novel come out into the world. I don’t care if it continues from where this one left off, or told something completely different. I’d read it in a heartbeat.