CAUTION: SPOILERS!!!

If you keep reading, you recognize spoilers exist. Do not keep reading if you want this book to be a surprise...

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That being said, below are some random thoughts I had while reading the book, Aftermath. Honestly, I enjoyed it. Not everyone will; go into it with a fresh mind, however. You will see nods to the EU Legends, you'll see nods to Rebels, and it's an enjoyable story. It'll give you some insight into different characters that we might see in the movies, but it will also challenge your thoughts and expectations based on the old EU Legends. And, it really tries to set up the galactic stage, not just a few characters in-use for this specific book.

All told, I spent about 18.00 USD at Wally World for it, and I'm going to say it was worth the money I spent. And, I'll probably even read it again.

Anyways, Star Wars Aftermath. I'd give it 3.5/5 Stars as a book.

-Beef

Aftermath

Action-packed ride around with people tied into the planet Akiva.

A look at the happenings of months after RotJ, which include a LOT of nods to things in the EU. In many ways, Sloane Rae reminds me of Ysanne Isard.

Accurate portrayal of the "life" of a bounty hunter.

The concept of Imperial warlords coming together to form a council, while some want to see a new Emperor named, and have taken titles for themselves (Grand Moff Pandion).

An interesting take on a battle droid -- Mister Bones -- which is actually dangerous, and not comical like in other canon.

Luke Skywalker mentioned as the "golden boy" of the New Republic, which seems to me he is not a hermit, but in a position of importance.

Continued use that the bright and talented of the Empire died at Endor.

Continued use of the notion that random circumstances bring together unlikely heroes, and feels like a better version of ANH.

Use of Mon Mothma as an almost complete opposite of Palpatine, and even her insistence on dismantling Old Republic laws by procedure in the New Republic to inspire faith and confidence in joined or sought-after worlds.

The revelation of Sinjir, the loyalty officer, as a gay character is awkward. He wants to talk to Jas, in the middle of the tunnel, and she thinks he wants to have sex; why bring up sex at a time like that? Is it to imply the bounty hunter is cocky, arrogant?

Mandalorians are still canon. Mention made of Mandalorian battle armor, and that Mandos knew how to make armor. Past tense, however -- knew how to make armor, didn't they?

Republic Special Forces, even busted up and otherwise unfit for combat, are apparently still better than several Stormtroopers; so wank.

Ridiculous amount of coincidence; Norra survives the TIE fighter crash because it miraculously has an ejection seat, Temmin survives being thrown from a roof because the mob below caught him. How high was the roof? Improbability runs thick in this book.

Stormtroopers are great at killing when it's meaningless, and slaughter the innocent and impotent. It doesn't highlight the fortune and luck of the heroes to make them so terrible at their job, however. Stormtroopers ought to be the mark that the rest of the galaxy is measured against.

Apparently, throwing a tantrum yields results. When you can't hotwire a turbolaser, just slam your fists onto it, and it'll work. Way too much convenience.

Oh, and even a teenaged boy can best a stormtrooper and toss him out of a yacht window. Why is there a window, an opening window, on a yacht, and how does a stormtrooper fall prey to the skills of a teen holding on to a flying ship, lacking oxygen at such high altitudes, and still have enough snark in him to talk shit to more stormtroopers and Royal Guardsmen coming his way?

Small, but noticeable mention that a naval officer, an admiral, feels most comfortable in space -- even with a full battle going on around them, it's a comfort not found planetside.