Most Wanted

Another big win for a Young Adult Star Wars book, this time Most Wanted (Rae Carson, 2018). Set in 13 BBY and ending not long before the events of the new Solo movie, this is a great read. Rae Carson is a good author who has really captured Han and Qi'ra; I did not care for her short story The Red One in the 40th Anniversary compilation From a Certain Point of View, but this was good. Solid.

Lots of nice action. Great descriptions of the seedy underbelly of Coronet City on Corellia, home to the White Worms (including Han and Qi'ra). We get to meet some other interesting characters, including a memorable self-improved droid and a tech savvy Rodian.

Han gets to drive speeders fast, and gets his first glimpse of life among the stars. He and Qi'ra even get a short trip to hyperspace together. Get your mind out of the gutter, Nate.

It was fascinating that throughout it all, Han owns basically nothing. Not even a blaster. His penchant for charisma, charm, fast-talking, and improvisation serves him well...until it doesn't. Qi'ra, on the other hand, is cold, calculating, methodical. A planner by nature. Too bad it just isn't in the cards for them, romance-wise. Sigh.

I liked the book very much, although slogging through the disgusting sewers of Corellia for so long has made me want to take a shower.