Star Wars: Jedi – Battle Scars presents itself as an opportunity to immerse yourself again in the Star Wars: Jedi universe; the author, although she captures the atmosphere of her video-game counterpart, shows her limitations with unsuccessful descriptions of events and with a too weak plot that only partially involves the reader. Furthermore, Merrin's path is inadequate, transforming the witch of Dathomir into a caricature and struggling to maintain coherence with the video-game counterpart. Due to these defects Jedi – Battle Scars is a reading experience that will hardly engage the reader, making him turn up his nose several times. It is only recommended if the characters have fascinated you during long gaming sessions, otherwise you run the risk of dragging yourself too far into reading without ever being satisfied.

This is a fun adventure to tie between the two JEDI games. Written with a clear, accessible, timely voice, this sotry gives us excellent Cal content and excellent Merrin content. It's a fun ride! (See podcast episode for full review!)

This is the book I've been waiting for. Maggs brings these characters that have only existed in game form to life.

Tarkin’s Top Shelf

Tarkin's Top Shelf reviews Star Wars: Jedi Battle Scars by Sam Maggs. In this episode, your hosts discuss the Mantis Crew, character arcs, plot points, and world-building in Jedi Battle Scars. They also talk about the possibilities of continuity between the novel and the upcoming game 'Jedi Survivor.' But first, your hosts go over the latest in Star Wars news.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/33q2ZXXqDIeYlDN06er0Je

After the crew of the Stinger Mantis escaped the clutches of Darth Vader, they are bringing the fight straight to the Empire. But when a stormtrooper defects and promises a powerful new weapon in the fight against tyranny, will the crew accept? Or will the threat of the Inquisitors turn them away? Read Chris’ review of Jedi: Battle Scars now!


I love Jedi: Fallen Order. There are really a few reasons I shouldn’t. I’m not much of a gamer, so a Dark Souls type game, both in exploration and difficulty isn’t really made for me. It also features some very un-Jedi-like fighting, like leveling up mostly through killing wild animals. But, despite all of this, I love the game and the crew. I was happy, then, to see the new novel with the Jedi banner, serving as a prequel to the upcoming Jedi: Survivor game. In a lot of ways, the novel didn’t disappoint me; which is great, considering it was the first novel I was excited for outside of anything The High Republic related. This review will largely break down into three parts: the two major aspects of the storyline (without spoilers) and odds and ends.

The overarching plot of the novel is about a stormtrooper who turns from the Empire, asking the crew for help retrieving an artifact that would turn the tide of the war against the Empire. This stormtrooper understandably causes friction within the crew, as they struggle to know whether or not they should trust her and help her retrieve the artifact. The fact this novel is based around a MacGuffin really makes it feel like an extension of the video game, which is a theme I will return to again and again in the book. Largely, this novel feels like one mission in a longer game: we see them meet up with the stormtrooper, run a mission with her, a twist is introduced in that mission, and then there’s a mini-boss stage, before a final mission with a big boss battle. This mostly keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace, pausing to check in with Merrin and Cal, and occasionally everyone else, but wants to keep moving forward to the end. I enjoyed the book for the most part, and felt myself reading it fairly quickly. I do want to point out that this novel has a fairly low page count, only 255, compared to some of the longer ones that have come out recently (Battle of Jedha and Shadow of the Sith, for example). Even though the pacing helped this be a quick read, it was a little quicker simply due to its brevity.

jedi battle scars full coverThe first major aspect of the storyline is Merrin’s. Though Cal is front and center on this novel, this book is much more interested in Merrin. I think, largely, this was the right call: Merrin’s story, introduced in the first game, is very compelling and begged to be explored even further, and Cal is getting his own game, anyway. The novel allows a deeper insight into Merrin’s head, being someone who recently lost her entire homeworld and family, and was recently freed from ex-Jedi Taron Malicos. The novel explores her perspective from two angles: grappling with her past, her powers, and her connection with Dathomir, and with her relationship with the crew. Merrin is a complex character, and I think this novel does a really good job of exploring where she’s at now in the story. Again, since this novel feels so much like a video game, we don’t sit with her as she contemplates for pages at a time, but there are extended looks into her mindset and what she’s thinking about right now. The novel also explores her position in the crew as a new member really well, something that I don’t think we see a lot of in ensemble casts. Usually, a late addition to the crew is welcomed in without much thought, but here we see the way new members shift dynamics and how they fit in (or sometimes, worry that they don’t).

This novel also has a romantic thread running throughout. This romantic plot does read fairly differently than recent ones (like Convergence), being less about romantic tropes and more like “these two characters are in love, now what?” This reads as a bit more authentic to me, as it is fueled by passion and loneliness and what the characters are missing and hope to find in one another than feeling like it’s checking romantic boxes. Author Sam Maggs noted that this novel was a bit “spicy” and had to be toned down, and with all of the spice left in the novel, I’m curious how much spicier it was before it was edited. Thankfully, the romance informs the characters and their actions and decisions in a way that felt more believable to me, making this one of the most recent romances that didn’t fall completely flat for me.

The second major aspect of the storyline is, well, the rest of the crew of the Stinger Mantis. After the crew escaped from Nur, we start seeing their priorities and their focus have started to come into question. What is the best way to fight against the Empire? How does one crew really do that much damage against a galactic regime? I found this aspect of the story fairly refreshing, too, as you don’t see a lot of existential questions related to rebellions in novels like these. Even though we don’t know a ton about the upcoming game, this novel really starts to bridge the gap between the two, and you can already start to put some pieces together about the next game from reading this. In a lot of ways, I feel like this novel is one of the better tie-ins, ranking a little closer to Catalyst as a tie-in that has some direction of where the main project is going, compared to tie-ins that are only tangentially related like Brotherhood or Padawan.

A bummer, to me, is that we don’t really spend a ton of time with the rest of the crew, at least relative to Merrin. Of course, we do spend some time with Cal, but not nearly as much as we do with Merrin. In a lot of ways, Cal exists as the one who swings the lightsabers at the foes. He brings in another really video game-y aspect to the book, where he’s constantly taking in stim packs, performing Force-tricks that you can do in the games, and platforming his way through the missions. I do think this writing style, as a video game come to prose, is going to be a fairly big dividing line for some readers. It worked for me, for the most part, as I kind of accepted Maggs wanted to make sure she captured the feeling of the video game in prose. Some may not feel like this translated into the medium properly. For example, I always played the game with the thought Cal taking med-pacs during missions was a “video game thing” and not something he was “actually” doing. In the novel, it is something he’s actually doing. Maybe it’s a good thing he doesn’t take some time in the novel to stop and kill some bunnies with his lightsaber, though.

We do spend some time with Cere Junda and Greez, but far less. Cere, at one point in the novel, is offered a chance to take her own side-quest, trying to 100% the game. This side quest introduces a wrinkle in her story, one that has her call her own future into question and makes us wonder where her story is moving in the future. She also has a very interesting interaction with the Fifth Brother, whom we’ll discuss below, that brings to mind the finale of Fallen Order. Greez is…also there, but the novel is the least interested in him, even though he appears in almost every single group conversation. As I noted above, the novel is really short. Most of the time, I feel like movies need to be shorter, but novels need to be longer. I felt like The Rise of Skywalker novel was way too short, also clocking in at approximately 250 pages, losing a lot of steam at the end and writing mostly the bare bones of the fight on Exegol, a time when we really needed to get into the heads of the characters. This book feels similar: 50 more pages would have gone a long way into getting into the heads of the characters. I do understand that may have thrown the pacing off, so I can see why it may have been shorter, but even a few more pages could’ve done quite a bit, inserted at key scenes. (Of course, key scenes I won’t talk about now since it’s a mostly non-spoiler review.)

And this kind of brings me to odds and ends, especially my first thought: the Fifth Brother is a wall of an enemy, and has essentially little characterization. In a lot of ways, this could’ve been any living Inquisitor and the story would’ve operated more or less in the same fashion. I’m betting there were some constraints that almost forced Maggs’ hand (his recent appearance in Obi-Wan Kenobi and possibly timeline issues with other Inquisitors), but this was a bit of a bummer to me. He was more of a speed bump on the way to the end of the novel than he was a compelling villain that stood against the heroes. I would’ve liked to have spent more time in his head, but that’s fine. Another odds and ends thing, for me, was the the prose read a bit too…modern for me. Lots of slang, lots of puns in the narration, and a LOT of memes. Don’t get me wrong, most of the memes made me laugh, but it did ruin the immersion at times, as well. If the prose of Wendig and DJ Older was a little too much for you at times, I could see that being the case here, as well.

Overall, I had fun reading Battle Scars. It’s a fun adventure, bringing the spirit of the video game into the prose novel. It has fun really investigating the mindset of Merrin and, to a lesser extent, the Stinger Mantis crew, introducing the new video game with a nice foundation. I probably won’t revisit the novel, since it feels like it was designed for only the first-read, but I will think of it fondly as time goes on.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.

Sam Maggs did a great job at bridging game mechanics with in-universe explanations which was great to experience as a fan of Fallen Order. It’s a fun story to help fill in the gaps between games, and I’m definitely more excited for Jedi Survivor after reading this!

"Author Sam Maggs has managed to turn a tie-in novel that bridges the gap between two video games into one of the most romantic and riveting Star Wars books of all time. Jedi: Battle Scars blows every expectation out of the water for a thrilling and intimate tale of messy found family and finding your fire and purpose in the galaxy."

More snippets from my review for Dork Side of the Force:

"As a tie-in novel, Battle Scars’ purpose is to bridge the gap between Jedi: Fallen Order and the upcoming Jedi: Survivor (out April 28). The book has a straightforward mission-based plot that’s fairly standard for the crew of the Mantis.

Battle Scars scores points right from the start with its straightforward, steady-paced plot. The mission to retrieve the weapon drives the story and action forward, but the core of the 304-page novel is the messy, complicated, and baggage-heavy crew of the Mantis.

The book bounces between character POVs, giving us much-needed time inside the heads of the other Mantis crew beyond Cal. Every character is struggling in their own way, and the climax of the novel includes an eruption of anger, resentment, and fiery passion that forces everyone to take a couple of days off — and spend time away from each other.

Battle Scars excels on several fronts. It’s an excellent video game tie-in novel that sets up each character for the next adventure. It also shines when it expands the stories and personalities of established characters in a way that makes them more accessible to all fans beyond gamers.

And as a book based on a video game, it feels like reading one. Probably become author Maggs has written for games and campaigns as well as action- and dialogue-heavy comics. Gamers will love the little Easter egg-style moments like Cal’s use of stims from BD-1 and flashbacks that feel like cut scenes. Non-gamers will just love how detail-forward Battle Scars is.

For a short, self-contained story whose purpose is to set up for the next game, Battle Scars breaks out of its own mold to be one of the most charming and exciting Star Wars books out there."

This novel is a DELIGHTFUL addition to the Star Wars canon. Sam Maggs took the Mantis crew and understood them so SO well. There was a spotlight for each of their struggles, and a focus on their relationships with each other that is sometimes so sorely missed in the main stories. The plot is a backdrop to a character driven story about figuring out who you are, and who you are to each other, while surviving fascism. A bit relevant isn’t it?

It is also unequivocally queer, in every sense of the word. Yes, Merrin is canonically pansexual, and not just in a passing line, but in a meaningful way. (Also a sexy way. Damn this book gets pretty spicy for a Star Wars novel. Thank you, Sam!) It’s also queer in the larger sense about queer found family. About how those thrown away by the rest of society find home with each other, while mourning dearly what they lost. I know the game, Jedi: Survivor, won’t be able to hold a candle to this level of care for queer stories, so I’m so thankful this novel exists. I am not a gamer (I failed miserably trying to play Fallen Order and had to watch a YouTube playthrough instead), but I loved this book and these characters all the same.

Also, for fans of the High Republic and other parts of the canon that explore Jedi’s diverse opinions on the Force, I loved the unique perspectives Cere, Cal, and Merrin have. It reminded me so much of why I love Kanan (and Ezra) in Rebels, of Jedi with healthy attachments, and figuring out what that means.

Folks looking for more Mantis Crew action before Jedi: Survivor need to look no further! And as always a big thanks to @delreystarwars for providing me with a digital review copy.

Jedi Battle Scars bridges the gap between Jedi: Fallen Order and the upcoming Jedi: Survivor as well as serving as a transitional piece for the characters. In fact, that is truly where the story is, with its characters. Don’t expect any major events to happen that are going to set up Jedi: Survivor because this is not that kind of book. That will likely be a bit of a disappointment to some. But if you’re in it for the characters then this one is for you.

The main focus in this book is each member of the Mantis crew and how they are coming to terms with what it means to be a family. Like any family, it’s not always smooth sailing. An outsider arrives in their midst and that causes a lot of tension and discord. This leads to a mission that has them crossing paths with another Inquisitor, the Fifth Brother. I love anything to do with the Inquisitors so that got me excited.

Cal, Merrin, Greez, and Cere each go through their own journeys in this book. And as I said before, the whole book truly feels like a character piece. Additionally, Merrin gets a romantic plot line that makes this book the sexiest Star Wars novel ever. Trust me, I’m not kidding.

All in all, this is a solid continuation to Jedi: Fallen Order and it makes me excited to see what Jedi: Survivor has in store.

Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars has joined the ever-growing collection of books crafted to expand the universe of a galaxy far, far away. Cal Kestis and the crew of the Mantis have been hard at work chipping away at the galaxy's most oppressive forces. But an unexpected run-in with a rogue stormtrooper is about to change everything ... forever.

Battle Scars gets everything right, and I mean everything. It fills you in on prior story events without feeding you too much information. It takes its characters - who originated in a video game - and morphs them into three-dimensional, relatable entities. It hurts you. But it does not disappoint you.

A gaming writer was the perfect choice for this book. You really feel like you're in on both the action and the softer moments, too. You care about the characters. You're left wanting more ... but that's because there's a whole other story to tell that's coming out next month.

You are not prepared for this book. And that's a good thing.

Out today wherever you get your Star Wars books!

Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs takes the characters from the beloved Jedi: Fallen Order video game and brings them into the publishing world. The events of Battle Scars take place a number of years after Fallen Order and before the events of Jedi: Survivor (the sequel video game coming out April 28). The whole crew of the Stinger Mantis is here: Cal Kestis, Cere Junda, Greez Dritus, BD-1 and Merrin. They’ve been chipping away at the Empire, going on missions throughout the galaxy, but it’s on one particular mission where things get complicated. An Imperial defector Stormtrooper joins their crew, Chellwinark Frethylrin or Fret, an attractive female Keshiri, who causes more than a little chaos within the ranks. Merrin feels a particularly strong emotional connection to Fret (more on that later) but the rest of the crew are a mixed bag in terms of acceptance. Fret shares her knowledge of a tool that exists that can greatly help in bringing down the Empire, the only problem is that the plans for this tool are currently in Imperial control. The Mantis have their next mission ahead of them, will Fret prove trustworthy and will everyone escape the mission unscathed?

I was truly hyped for Jedi: Battle Scars, getting to spend more time with these characters and go on a new adventure with them was super exciting. I have to say though, Battle Scars did not live up to my expectations. What had the potential to be a thrilling in between chapter turned out to be something that left me wanting more. The elements of a fun story are there but Battle Scars doesn’t do enough with the ingredients to make this book as exhilaratingly entertaining as I hoped it would be. Battle Scars became a chore to get through and left me confused and disappointed. Sam Maggs is a competent writer, but her cerebral style just doesn't do it for me. I wanted the plotline to clip along in as exciting a way that Fallen Order did with twists, turns and surprises. What we get is a good setup with a disappointing execution.

Jedi: Battle Scars will definitely go down as the spiciest Star Wars novel I’ve ever read. Sparks definitely fly between 2 characters, earning this book a solid PG-13 (at minimum) rating in my opinion. The hyper intense emotional and physical scenes were actually some of the most interesting parts of the book. I think if Battle Scars was 100% a romance, I would have actually enjoyed it more. I will say that Maggs does a great job of capturing each character's individuality and voice, their personalities jump right off the page and you’ll have no problem hearing the voice actors speaking their character’s lines.

Battle Scars is also available as an audiobook which contains narration and performances by Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes. Star Wars books are tons of fun to experience this way as they include sound effects and music, bringing stories to life in an entirely different way. I found myself enjoying some story elements more than I did when I read Battle Scars, so the audiobook format might be the way to go with this one.

Ultimately, the fact that the majority of the elements of Battle Scars take place in the character’s heads made this book feel unbalanced. I’m all for internal motivations and emotions but this book seemed 85% solely that, making for an unsatisfying reading experience for me. Everybody enjoys books differently so if this is something you enjoy then check it out for yourself. I give Jedi: Battle Scars 🧢/5- recommend only if you’ve played Fallen Order and want to spend time with these characters before Survivor comes out.

Bounty hunters! Sexy mullets! Funny Inquisitor hats! Nightsister fire! And a relaxing weirdo in a hot spring!

Sam Maggs brings us an action-packed adventure with some beautiful character development, rich relationships, and explosive emotions. The cast, both new and familiar, feels fresh, exciting, and honest. Much like the crew of the Mantis, the story is more than just the sum of its parts.

As the crew continues to forge ahead on this dangerous and deadly path full of opposition, each character questions their future. What their life is. And what it could be. Finding out what they each want as individuals and as a team brings out some of the best moments and interactions in this book.

Jedi: Battle Scars is wonderfully introspective and brings real depth out of the cast. Merrin is a real standout here. Her story utilizes her pain, joy, and struggles incredibly well and she is easily my favorite in the book! While the rest of the crew each has their moments Merrin brings the emotional focus throughout. The new characters are both wonderfully well done and full of surprises. Sam Maggs plants seeds throughout that I’m sure will bridge the gap between Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor. Fans of the video game will be blown away by the action and the relationships that shine bright in this story. Not to mention the many nuggets and details that fans of the game will enjoy!

This is a must-listen for any Jedi fan who wants plenty of lightsaber/nightsister magic/Mantis dogfighting/blaster blasting action with some real emotional heart!

Sal P.

Jedi: Battle Scars van auteur Sam Maggs speelt zich vijf jaar na de video game Jedi: Fallen Order af, in die tijd zijn de leden van het team dat zich tijdens het spel gevormd heeft, uitgegroeid tot een hechte familie en goed geoliede machine. Na hun aanvaring met het Haxion Brood misdaadsyndicaat zijn deze bounty hunters min of meer de aardsvijanden van de Mantis crew geworden, en de afgelopen jaren heeft de crew dan ook meerdere gevesten van het syndicaat bestormd om een einde te maken aan de klopjacht die het syndicaat op ze houdt. Het boek begint tijdens de bestorming van zo’n basis, waar Cal en zijn vrienden tegen een bijzondere verrassing aanlopen.

De crew komt in contact met een stormtrooper die de Empire wil verlaten, in ruil voor hun hulp weet de stormtrooper de locatie van plannen voor een geheim wapen dat de Empire min of meer onverslaanbaar kan maken, maar wat in handen van vrijheidsvechters het tij zou kunnen keren. Gezamenlijk ondernemen ze de missie om de plannen voor dat wapen in handen te krijgen, en komen uiteindelijk voor nog een verrassing te staan die hun verdere plannen een stuk gecompliceerder maakt. En om het nog ingewikkelder te maken komt er ook nog een Inquisitor om de hoek kijken!

Jedi: Battle Scars is een uitstekende aanvulling op de video game serie, maar wel vooral dat. Als je Jedi: Fallen Order nooit gespeeld hebt, en niet van plan bent om volgende maand aan Jedi: Survivor te beginnen zal dit boek je waarschijnlijk niet echt kunnen bekoren. We focussen ons helemaal op de crew van de Stinger Mantis, en in het bijzonder op Cal en Merrin, en hoewel we heel wat korte samenvattingen krijgen van gebeurtenissen uit het spel, zul je als lezer de nodige achtergrondinformatie over de personages missen. Maar als je het spel wel gespeeld hebt zul je waarschijnlijk volop genieten van dit verhaal. Het voelt in alle opzichten als een vervolg op Fallen Order. En de opbouw van het verhaal voelt heel erg alsof we van intro missie, naar hoofdmissie, naar twist, mini boss, verder met de hoofdmissie gaan op naar de eindbaas gaan, met her en der een hint naar een mogelijke side missie. Ook komen er de nodige knipogen naar gameplay voorbij, glijbanen, liaanslingeren, spelen met Stormtroopers, BD-1 die met stims gooit, het voelt allemaal heel erg aan als de game. Gelukkig laat Cal de locale fauna verder wel met rust.

De aanwezigheid van de Fifth Brother koppelt het verhaal een beetje aan de rest van de Star Wars wereld in deze periode, en hij komt als ontzettend gevaarlijke vijand over, maar voor het verhaal had hij evengoed elke andere Inquisitor kunnen zijn. Veel persoonlijk uitdieping krijgt hij niet, maar als tegenstander in een spel zou hij bijna net zo angstaanjagend geweest zijn als die grote baas was in Fallen Order.

Wat ook opvalt is dat het boek vrij bruut is, er wordt regelmatig stilgestaan bij de manier waarop Merrin en Cal Stormtroopers van het leven beroven, en als we op die momenten in hun hoofden meekijken zien we dat ze met regelmaat toch best wel plezier halen uit het afhakken van ledematen, verstikken of naar hun dood laten vallen van hun vijanden. Dit voelt ook wel weer een beetje als de voorgaande game, want ik weet dat ik als speler ook erg veel plezier haalde uit Stormtroopers van rotswanden af duwen.

De schrijfstijl van Maggs is verder erg luchtig, het verhaal is niet heel lang, maar het vliegt vooral in een rotgang voorbij omdat er amper momenten zijn die niet spannend, intrigerend of ronduit grappig zijn. Het boek zit vol humor en actie, maar ook romantische gevoelens spelen een grote rol, en ik kon het boek amper wegleggen. Maggs weet de stem van de verschillende personages goed vast te leggen, ze voelen stuk voor stuk als de personages die we in Fallen Order leerde kennen, en de dynamiek tussen hen voelt min of meer hetzelfde, alleen met een sterkere band. Maggs heeft ook erg veel oog voor detail, zo beschrijft ze regelmatig niet alleen wat personages zien en voelen, maar ook kleine omgevingsdingetjes worden vaak kort aangehaald en geven het verhaal net een beetje extra realisme. Persoonlijk vond ik het ook heel tof dat BD-1 nooit uit het oog verloren wordt, of hij nu bij Cal op zijn rug zit terwijl ze een peloton Stormtroopers aan het uitroeien zijn, of hij met de bogling aan boord van de Mantis aan het spelen is. BD-1 is altijd aanwezig en ook zijn persoonlijkheid weet Maggs uitstekend naar proza te vertalen.

Het tien en een half uur durende audioboek wordt voorgelezen door Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes, wie nog relatief nieuw is in de Star Wars wereld. Hij leende zijn stem eerder ook aan het The high Republic: The Battle of Jedha hoorspel, maar dit is zijn eerste Star Wars roman. En het is gelijk een goed begin! Hij heeft een fijne stem en weet alle personages goed van elkaar te onderscheiden en komt zelfs aardig dicht in de buurt van de stemmen van de originele stemacteurs. De geluidseffecten en muziek zijn als altijd weer aanwezig en maken er weer een mooi samenhangend geheel van dat heel goed te volgen is.

Alles bij elkaar heb ik ontzettend van dit boek genoten en het heeft mij nog ongeduldiger gemaakt voor Jedi: Survivor, 28 april kan niet vroeg genoeg komen! Heb je genoten van Fallen Order? Dan kan het haast niet anders dan dat je van Jedi: Battle Scars ook zult smullen, ik heb niet het idee dat het verplichte kost is voor je aan Jedi: Survivor begint, maar het kan zeker geen kwaad om vooraf te zien hoe de crew van de Stinger Mantis inmiddels tot een echte familie uitgegroeid is.

I'm not a gamer , but it's really hard not to have missed seeing the characters of Jedi Fallen Order across the internet or seen a glimpse of the game play. So when I was given the opportunity to read a physical and audio-book copy of this story I did a few hours of research by watching some cut scenes of the game on Youtube.

I'm glad I did. Though this book is new reader friendly having seen those videos I knew a lot more of the inner dynamics of the Mantis crew and their mission. This story finds the crew encountering a stormtrooper who comes to them for help. It's something the crew has done before but this trooper stirs a deep passion in Merrin that tests the bonds of the entire crew.
I loved the action, humor and romance in this book, it's such a lovely exploration of a found family and interesting glimpse of the state of the galaxy before the events of Episode IV. The audio narration of this story by Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes is wonderfully done. He captures the energy of Cal so beautifully as well as the other crew.
Sam Maggs does a great job with capturing the energy of the video game in the action scenes and setting up some character arcs for the upcoming sequel to the game. This story really has inspired me to finally get a gaming system and play the game !

From the very first page, Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars leaps into action. Propelled through a focused plot with plenty of sarcastic undertones, the story kicks off from the ending of Jedi: Fallen Order and rebounds readers for the upcoming sequel in Jedi: Survivor (to be released on April 28, 2023).

RELATED Star Wars Jedi Battle Scars: Everything We Know So Far
The novel is a layered expansion of the video game characters, providing depth and foibles to every member of the Stinger Mantis. Of course there’s Cal Kestis, the hero and thorn in the side of the Empire. His Jedi mentor Cere Junda, who walks a thin line between light and dark. Their wise-cracking, four-armed pilot, Greez Dritus, and everybody’s favorite Dathomir witch, Merrin, who struggles mightily for a new source to her powers.

The group, naturally, wouldn’t be complete without BD-1 (Buddy) or a new mission to undertake. This comes in the form of a defecting Stormtrooper with a shady past. And an important objective. To retrieve and protect an item known only as the Shroud. It’s a unique object, one that could tip the balance of power entirely in the Empire’s favor. Or, could be used as a source of hope for a fledgling rebellion.

Battle Scars
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars crew being sarcastic to one another
The only problem for the crew of the Mantis — can the trooper be trusted? Are they walking into a trap or is their intel any good? It’s a mystery, one that unravels hand in hand with the action as the crew travels from Hosnian Prime to the prison world of Murkhana for retrieval.

Along the way their histories begin to catch up with them, revealing battle scars. Some of these scars are defining while others threaten to overwhelm. For the Jedi, their deadly confrontations with Second Sister and Darth Vader at the end of Fallen Order come into play. They cloud Cal’s and Cere’s decisions, forcing them to realize that who they are as Jedi will always be challenged. And that the Order they once belonged to may not survive them into future generations.

For Merrin, the difficulties are more primal. Her magical abilities are hampered and can only be revived through a personal connection. A connection that complicates the mission and very nearly tears the group apart. Even Greez is affected, his body damaged and for reasons that will distance him from the rest of the crew now and possibly forever.

Piece By Piece
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars characters Cal, Merrin, and BD-1
No plan survives an encounter with the Empire and that’s doubly true for schemes devised aboard the Mantis. From the start, their efforts unravel. They’re forced to scramble and improvise. Yet, despite the complications in obtaining the Shroud, they do what comes natural.

Rallying around one another, they unite when it matters most, fending off enemies at every turn. This is critical because when an Inquisitor enters the picture, he brings along plenty of Purge Troopers to make matters worse. It’s an edgy encounter, these scenes pitting good versus evil, and it features a fantastic lightsaber duel. While the action unfolds from multiple perspectives, it’s so well-written that nothing feels out of place or jarring.

At least, not to us readers. For Cal, the episode dredges up buried emotions — his past failures and the fall of his previous master. The duel causes our hero to reinterpret his motivations. It forces him to realize that his measure for success shouldn’t be in wins and losses but in doing service to the Light. That the answers and path forward shouldn’t be quick. That it takes time going step by step and taking life one piece at a time.

As Cal’s former master mentored him whenever he acted impetuously — having him dissemble and then reassemble his lightsaber in painstaking order — the only way to the end is piece by piece. There are no shortcuts. Goals can’t be cheated. They can only be achieved through patience and deliberation. And trusting in what’s been taught.

Sarcastic To The End
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars character going piece by piece
Sam Magg’s writing is at its best when nothing is completely serious. Full of acerbic quips, she gives our heroes plenty of ammunition to keep things moving and to lighten the moments that veer into darkness. But there are times when doubt and suspicion come to the forefront, when the crew’s snarkiness is used as a weapon. It’s in these scenes that the story elevates, allowing the characters to rise above the plot. It’s when we glimpse into something more than just a tie-in novel. When we understand that this book can stand on its own. That it can spawn a series unanchored from the game.

One of those moments sees Cal using his Force power of psychometry to gain insight about the trooper they’re harboring. And even more about the Shroud. It’s a reflective point, one that has Cal questioning the motivations of everyone around him. Not to mention his own. He reexamines his feelings about the crew and what they’ve been doing the past few years. It has him searching for a way forward, one in which the Mantis won’t just survive but thrive.

While there isn’t a single catalyzing moment for Cal — nothing like Luke staring at twin suns or Ezra speaking to a Loth Wolf — there is a return to form. Cal is a shiny object. He’s a distraction who allows his crew to get away. Cal isn’t a symbol. He’s a weapon. And while he begins to see his purpose as something greater, the transformation isn’t complete. It’s still a work in progress. One step and piece at a time.

Reviewing Jedi: Battle Scars
Witty, snappy, and above all else entertaining, Jedi: Battle Scars is a fun, wonderful read. While it’s shorter than most Star Wars novels and doesn’t provide the usual wider view of the universe, its focus and detachment is a welcomed surprise. Jedi: Battle Scars is the kind of novel that knows its place and doesn’t attempt to be fancy. Instead, it gives readers what’s been advertised — a good, uplifting romp.

From the very first page, Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars leaps into action. Propelled through a focused plot with plenty of sarcastic undertones, the story kicks off from the ending of Jedi: Fallen Order and rebounds readers for the upcoming sequel in Jedi: Survivor (to be released on April 28, 2023).

RELATED Star Wars Jedi Battle Scars: Everything We Know So Far
The novel is a layered expansion of the video game characters, providing depth and foibles to every member of the Stinger Mantis. Of course there’s Cal Kestis, the hero and thorn in the side of the Empire. His Jedi mentor Cere Junda, who walks a thin line between light and dark. Their wise-cracking, four-armed pilot, Greez Dritus, and everybody’s favorite Dathomir witch, Merrin, who struggles mightily for a new source to her powers.

The group, naturally, wouldn’t be complete without BD-1 (Buddy) or a new mission to undertake. This comes in the form of a defecting Stormtrooper with a shady past. And an important objective. To retrieve and protect an item known only as the Shroud. It’s a unique object, one that could tip the balance of power entirely in the Empire’s favor. Or, could be used as a source of hope for a fledgling rebellion.

Battle Scars
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars crew being sarcastic to one another
The only problem for the crew of the Mantis — can the trooper be trusted? Are they walking into a trap or is their intel any good? It’s a mystery, one that unravels hand in hand with the action as the crew travels from Hosnian Prime to the prison world of Murkhana for retrieval.

Along the way their histories begin to catch up with them, revealing battle scars. Some of these scars are defining while others threaten to overwhelm. For the Jedi, their deadly confrontations with Second Sister and Darth Vader at the end of Fallen Order come into play. They cloud Cal’s and Cere’s decisions, forcing them to realize that who they are as Jedi will always be challenged. And that the Order they once belonged to may not survive them into future generations.

For Merrin, the difficulties are more primal. Her magical abilities are hampered and can only be revived through a personal connection. A connection that complicates the mission and very nearly tears the group apart. Even Greez is affected, his body damaged and for reasons that will distance him from the rest of the crew now and possibly forever.

Piece By Piece
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars characters Cal, Merrin, and BD-1
No plan survives an encounter with the Empire and that’s doubly true for schemes devised aboard the Mantis. From the start, their efforts unravel. They’re forced to scramble and improvise. Yet, despite the complications in obtaining the Shroud, they do what comes natural.

Rallying around one another, they unite when it matters most, fending off enemies at every turn. This is critical because when an Inquisitor enters the picture, he brings along plenty of Purge Troopers to make matters worse. It’s an edgy encounter, these scenes pitting good versus evil, and it features a fantastic lightsaber duel. While the action unfolds from multiple perspectives, it’s so well-written that nothing feels out of place or jarring.

At least, not to us readers. For Cal, the episode dredges up buried emotions — his past failures and the fall of his previous master. The duel causes our hero to reinterpret his motivations. It forces him to realize that his measure for success shouldn’t be in wins and losses but in doing service to the Light. That the answers and path forward shouldn’t be quick. That it takes time going step by step and taking life one piece at a time.

As Cal’s former master mentored him whenever he acted impetuously — having him dissemble and then reassemble his lightsaber in painstaking order — the only way to the end is piece by piece. There are no shortcuts. Goals can’t be cheated. They can only be achieved through patience and deliberation. And trusting in what’s been taught.

Sarcastic To The End
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars character going piece by piece
Sam Magg’s writing is at its best when nothing is completely serious. Full of acerbic quips, she gives our heroes plenty of ammunition to keep things moving and to lighten the moments that veer into darkness. But there are times when doubt and suspicion come to the forefront, when the crew’s snarkiness is used as a weapon. It’s in these scenes that the story elevates, allowing the characters to rise above the plot. It’s when we glimpse into something more than just a tie-in novel. When we understand that this book can stand on its own. That it can spawn a series unanchored from the game.

One of those moments sees Cal using his Force power of psychometry to gain insight about the trooper they’re harboring. And even more about the Shroud. It’s a reflective point, one that has Cal questioning the motivations of everyone around him. Not to mention his own. He reexamines his feelings about the crew and what they’ve been doing the past few years. It has him searching for a way forward, one in which the Mantis won’t just survive but thrive.

While there isn’t a single catalyzing moment for Cal — nothing like Luke staring at twin suns or Ezra speaking to a Loth Wolf — there is a return to form. Cal is a shiny object. He’s a distraction who allows his crew to get away. Cal isn’t a symbol. He’s a weapon. And while he begins to see his purpose as something greater, the transformation isn’t complete. It’s still a work in progress. One step and piece at a time.

Reviewing Jedi: Battle Scars
Witty, snappy, and above all else entertaining, Jedi: Battle Scars is a fun, wonderful read. While it’s shorter than most Star Wars novels and doesn’t provide the usual wider view of the universe, its focus and detachment is a welcomed surprise. Jedi: Battle Scars is the kind of novel that knows its place and doesn’t attempt to be fancy. Instead, it gives readers what’s been advertised — a good, uplifting romp.

As a Star Wars fan, I have to admit that I’m astonished at how well this story matches its quality with other projects in the universe. And I’m not just talking about books, but games, tv-series, and movies. I found this to be a very complicated and dramatic story, which was entertaining and made me curious about what will happen next.

As in many Star Wars books, we get a lot of unexpected twists, emotional scenes, and epic action. If you want to read this book before Star Wars Jedi: Survivor comes out on April 28, 2023, I certainly recommend it. But as far as needing to read it to better understand the game, it is certainly not required reading. That being said, the novel does fill in some holes between the two games.


Full review available at thecosmiccircus.com

Following the success of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, all eyes are on the game’s sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Before the sequel’s release in April, fans can learn more about what Cal and company were up to in the five years in between games in Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars. After surviving their run-in with bounty hunters, Inquisitors, and even Darth Vader himself, Cal Kestis and the crew of the Stinger Mantis look to continue their fight against the Empire. Published by Del Rey, Jedi: Battle Scars is written by Sam Maggs, writer for various issues of Star Wars Adventures (2020). Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes brings Maggs’s story to life in the audiobook version published by Random House Audio.

Jedi: Battle Scars opens with the crew of the Stinger Mantis attempting to deal with Sorc Tormo and the Haxion Brood, antagonists from Jedi: Fallen Order. The opening chapters do a great job of recapping some of the events from Jedi: Fallen Order so, even those who have not played the game can get a sense of who Cal Kestis and the ragtag bunch he now calls family have gone through so far. When their mission doesn’t go exactly according to plan, the crew finds themselves with an extra passenger, a stormtrooper defector. The deserter aims to help them deal a major blow to the Empire, but as we all know, that is much easier said than done. Especially when the crew isn’t sure if she can be trusted.

In the early days of the fight against the Empire, fans have seen that it took quite a while for the Rebellion to form the force for good we see in the Original Trilogy. For Cal and company, they are largely unaware of others who may be fighting the same fight. Cal and Cere Junda, his new master, truly believe they are the last of the Jedi. Merrin lives with the pain of losing her sisters on Dathomir. Even Greez is sympathetic to the blights under the boots of the Empire. Much of Jedi: Battle Scars explores how far their little strike team can go to cripple the Empire. How much are they willing to risk when they know that they are not capable of toppling the Imperial machine?

While Cal Kestis is the main protagonist of the video games, Jedi: Battle Scars switches narration through all of the members of the Mantis as well as the Fifth Brother, the dreaded Imperial Inquisitor who has wreaked havoc through various Star Wars projects. The personal touch that every character gets, even the gruff and loveable Greez, adds to the development of their characters leading up to Jedi: Survivor as well as fosters a greater appreciation for the crew’s exploits in Jedi: Fallen Order. Many members of the team share similar trauma and Sam Maggs’ writing affirms why the characters in this amalgamation of a crew are able to be so close-knit. In the audiobook, Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes’s methodical and intentional delivery adds great weight to the exploration of the character’s most intimate and powerful moments.

The highlight of Jedi: Battle Scars is, without a doubt, Merrin. As one of the final daughters of Dathomir, it is no surprise that her assertion into the team was harder than the rest. While Cal and Cere are bonded by the loss of the Jedi, Merrin could never fully accept the pain of the loss in the way that her Jedi counterparts did. Even her powers are dwindling making her feel disconnected from what once made her strong. Jedi: Battle Scars shows her journey back to finding herself and it is one of the best character arcs Star Wars has seen in a long time. Frethlyrin, the stormtrooper deserter, provides that connection she has so desperately been searching for after the Nightsister’s demise. However, it is her reliance on herself that truly brings her own power.

This is not to say that other members of the Mantis don’t have their own time to grow. Greez has never been one to take the unnecessary risk, but throughout his time with Cal and company, there is a clear change in what he is willing to do to save his friends. Cere also continues to prove herself as one of the most underrated Jedi in the franchise. Cere is adamant about maintaining the culture of the Jedi all while trying to stay true to the light despite the Order being long gone. Cal and the Fifth Brother serve as compelling mirrors of their views. They both were all but let down by the Jedi Order after being taken from their homes, but Cal’s dedication to his new family separates the two. I would love to see more development with Cal’s character other than reaffirming his beliefs but, I imagine that is what the game is for.

For lore lovers, there is plenty to be excited about in Jedi: Battle Scars. As a Keshiri, Frethlyrin brings a species back into Star Wars that hasn’t been seen since Legends. It also shows one of the very few non-humans with roles in the Empire. Not since Thrawn have we seen anything but humans in the Empire let alone a stormtrooper. Further, Sam Maggs’ description of the action sequences gives an interesting look at how Cal and Cere see the Force and Cal’s Force Echo ability. The same can be said for Merrin’s use of magick as well.

Those who have played Jedi: Fallen Order will be eager to replay the game’s biggest moments as more context is added to character motivations and thoughts. Those who are just jumping in to catch up for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will quickly understand the hype around Cal Kestis, BD-1, Greez Dritus, Cere Junda, and Merrin as a group. The crew of Stinger Mantis is a motley bunch and writer Maggs plays on the best parts of their chemistry together while expanding each character’s story.

I liked it. This book does a great job for those who've never played Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (aka Me) of detailing the dynamics between the group and how they've bonded over shared drama. The book is largely about Merrin, a nightsister survivor, dealing with her emotions, powers, and identity since leaving Dathomir behind. Parts of the book felt like a romance novel while others felt like the most intense Star Wars action story that I've read.

The Mantis crew is only a month away before their grandiose return in the latest installment of the Jedi video game series, Survivor—and fans are dying to embark on a new adventure alongside Cal, Cere, Greez, BD-1, and Merrin. Many have either watched a walkthrough or played Fallen Order once again to refresh their minds on everything that has happened before the new game comes out, but a new adult novel in the years before Jedi: Survivor, Battle Scars by Sam Maggs is the perfect way to truly satiate your thirst for a new, daring adventure.

Maggs’ experience writing in the video game industry felt like the perfect choice for writing a book about the Jedi series. In fact, Battle Scars feels like a DLC to Fallen Order—a new chapter of the video game but in a novel format. If you’ve experienced Fallen Order, then you will be able to visualize the action scenes and the interactions between each character in an immersive way. Speaking of characterization, it’s clear that the author knows these characters well and is able to further their development through in depth inner thoughts and intriguingly complicated dynamics. Just as the title suggests, the novel is all about the scars (emotional and physical) that the Mantis have endured during their endless fight against the Empire.

Although everyone gets a bit of spotlight in the novel, Cal and especially Merrin are the true protagonists. Cal still struggles to find his place in the galaxy as a Jedi without Order; Merrin wants to avenge the Nightsisters, but her cause feels purposeless since the Separatists are long gone. The latter finds something unexpected along the way: Love. Maggs pours her heart and soul into a love story that has so many intensely intimate moments that push the boundaries of Star Wars storytelling in that sense. Battle Scars is probably one of the most Star Wars “adult” novels out there!

In terms of plot, the novel centers around a main mission to retrieve a powerful, potentially invaluable tool for the Mantis crew to fight against the Empire. Along the way, the readers will get introduced to a deserter stormtrooper and a few more characters that play supporting roles in the tale. Battle Scars’ main villain, the Inquisitor Fifth Brother was an arguable choice since his role in the overall Star Wars canon is already written. Having him haunt the Mantis crew brought some epic action moments, but it also limited how far Maggs could take the story and its characters. The book throws more (un)expected enemy threats at the Mantis crew but not enough to make Battle Scars a solid standalone tale. That being said, this interquel does exactly what it’s supposed to: bring back some nostalgia from Fallen Order and get the readers excited for Survivor.

Are you ready to embark on a new adventure aboard the Stinger Mantis? Then make sure to grab a copy of Battle Scars today, also available in audiobook format (which brings the tale closer to the video game format) narrated by Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes.