Jedi Battle Scars Review

Battle Scars, by Sam Maggs, is not for everybody.

It gives us wonderful insight into the minds of the main characters of the Jedi Fallen Order/Survivor video games. If you are not a fan of the games, however, this book may frustrate you, as much of a psychological dossier on our heroes, as it is an action/adventure story.

What works?

We get a deep, deep dive into the heads of Cal, Merrin, Greez and Cere. We learn about their lives before coming together on the Mantis. We learn about their respective personal future dreams, and we learn what each character thinks the future of the galaxy should be, and we become privy to the inevitable consequences of these individuals having conflicting future plans. Cal wants to keep fighting the Empire. Greez wants to retire. Cere wants to rebuild the Jedi order and save as many lost souls as possible. Merrin wants to explore the Galaxy, and thereby find herself.

Minor spoiler alerts ahead--Our crew reunites in the Jedi Survivor video game, although they start off completely separated. This book gives great insight into why the new game begins with everyone on a separate path. We learn a few interesting tidbits about the video game and the greater Star Wars universe as well. We learn why one of Greez’s arms is a cybernetic prosthetic. We learn why the fifth brother inquisitor wears that silly helmet. We learn what Merrin’s life was like growing up all alone after witnessing the complete genocide of her kin. We also learn that Cal and Merrin’s relationship in Jedi survivor is not necessarily the foregone conclusion we might have assumed at the end of Fallen Order.

In addition to all the above information, the author does a clever job of incorporating gameplay elements, such as Cal’s acrobatics and getting stim canisters from BD-1, into the written narrative. So once again, if you are a fan of the games, your gaming experience will be incomplete without reading this book. As a standalone story however, there are issues that may turn off the casual reader.

What needs work?

This book focuses mainly on the characters--who they are, and why they are the way they are. As such, the story and the action take a back seat. The plot of the story—their mission--is very straightforward with only a few very minor plot twists. Although the action is often intense, it is very chopped up. If we get one paragraph of action, we get another paragraph of the character thinking about the action, and yet another paragraph of that character reflecting on why they are thinking about that action in that way. Again, this gives us great insight into the minds of our heroes, but it does make for awkward pacing and a story that does not flow as nicely as I personally would like a story to flow.

Recommendation

If you’re not already invested in the Fallen Order/ Survivor video games this will probably be an unsatisfying read.

If you love the games and characters (as I do), then Battle Scars is essential reading. You will likely be patient with some of the pacing issues because you are getting the opportunity to know the characters you love so much more closely.