Poe Dameron: Free Fall by Alex Segura
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
**4.5-stars**
Teenager, Poe Dameron, wants adventure and freedom. On his home planet of Yavin 4, he feels smothered by a father he views as overbearing.
He doesn’t want to take over the family farm, he wants more. Why can’t his father understand that?
His father, Kes Dameron, was a sergeant in the battle against the Galactic Empire. Along with his wife and Poe’s mother, Shara Bey, a renowned Rebel pilot, the two lived the sort of adventurous life Poe dreams of.
His mother taught him how to pilot his own craft and it’s well-known that he is gifted behind the controls; well exceeding his peers.
Since his mother’s tragic death, Poe and his father have had a difficult time connecting and it seems her death has made his father even more protective over him.
Considering Poe is really all Kes has left, it is no surprise he may be holding on a bit too tightly. Poe doesn’t see the reasoning behind it, however. He’s young and just wants to be able to choose his own path.
When an opportunity arises for him to flee Yavin 4, he jumps on it without too much consideration.
His means of escape just so happens to be piloting a ship full of Spice Runners. The Spice Runners of Kijimi, to be exact, one of the deadliest crime syndicates in the galaxy.
The Spice Runners needed a new pilot, after the demise of their own, and Poe just so happens to be in the right place at the right time.
He jumps on his chance and off they go. Of the crew he now finds himself with, Poe bonds quickly with young, Zorii Wynn, a human female, a native of Kijimi and an all-around badass.
They become quite close. It’s no surprise, considering they’re the same age and they continue to rise up the ranks together.
Their relationship has moments of romance, but mostly is built on a mutual respect. Zorii has grown up in the Spice Runners and Poe learns a lot from her regarding their lifestyle and practices.
Ultimately, Zorii is hardcore, she has loyalties that go much deeper than any Poe could ever feel for the criminal organization.
When the two begin to be at odds about what the future holds for them, tough decisions must be made, pushing both of them to their limits.
Y’all, I really enjoyed this. As an origin story for a character I love, I thought this was fantastically presented.
I really felt for Poe. It can be so hard to be a kid who feels like you were made for great things, but you don’t feel supported in pursuing those things.
I love that he had the boldness of character to set out on his own. Even though the way he went about that was reckless, it ultimately made his life what it is.
I think he needed that experience with the Spice Runners to truly understand what he was meant to do; his destiny.
Overall, this is a great addition to the Disney Canon. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to read it.
Finding out the details behind Poe’s early life and his relationship with Zorii, a relationship that shaped them both, it was just so satisfying.
As far as the Canon timeline goes, this novel falls after The Mandalorian and prior to the novel, Bloodline.
If you have watched the new trilogy movies, you are probably familiar with Poe Dameron’s character and if you enjoy him, as I do, you should definitely check this book out. It’s a heck of a good time!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney LucasFilms Press, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review.
I was so happy to have the opportunity to get my hands on it early and provide my thoughts. Available everywhere in the galaxy, Tuesday, August 4, 2020!!!