Fascinating, snappy, and a great start to a brighter era in the Star Wars universe. I do wish somewhat that it wasn't a prequel; I couldn't help thinking "all this is going away by the time of the Empire," but on the other hand it does have the benefit of recontextualizing the fall of the Republic in the first three films of the Skywalker Saga. I also wish the author hadn't been so worried that we would forget story points and feel compelled to rehash or summarize them so often, instead offering more room for this very well-stuffed story to breathe.

The characters are fun and interesting; my early misgivings about the Nihil as a villain were swept away by the end. And it's thrilling to see the Jedi in their true full power; not in decline or on the ropes, but a true force (ha) in the galaxy.

Well worth the read. I'm looking forward to more.