With the hindsight of the full sequel trilogy and the mandalorian show, it is clear this story sets up many important things. Despite that, it doesn't give much when considered on it's on.

I didn't care that much about the characters, and even less about their goals and overall plot. Bones, the droid, is the only that captivated me, full of quirks and silly moments that actually got some laughs out of me. Temmin, the boy, also had potential and I wish the story explored him and his complexities more.

The frequent interludes also bothered me. I appreciate how they helped paint the galaxy's situation at that point but most of them just took me out of the story completely for something I didn't care at all.

I did like tho how it didn't try to make the imperials quirky or likable or "just doing their job". We see them choosing over and over to keep their path, and I believe that's an important perspective to have as well.

Overall, not a bad book, but not good either. Felt like something I could've gotten from one of the guide books, or summarized as part I from what is book 2.