Star Wars: Most Wanted by Rae Carson
Set before the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story! Han and Qi'ra don't have a lot in common other than not having a lot. They're street kids on the industrial planet Corellia, doing whatever it takes to get by, dreaming of something more. They each jump at a chance to prove themselves in the perilous world of Corellia's criminal underbelly, only to discover they are on the same mission for the same unscrupulous boss. When the job goes disastrously wrong, Han and Qi'ra are on the run--from pirates, a droid crime syndicate, the Empire, and their boss--and will have to learn to trust each other if they are going to survive.
I saw this at my library and picked it up. I liked the Solo movie more than I thought I would. I forgot a lot of what happened and will have to watch it again soon to see how this prequel fits in.
I really enjoyed it. There's lots of action, humor, and a good plot. I didn't find it to be a page turner though. But I liked the character development. The three characters: Han, Qi'ra and Tsuulo worked well together. Charming Han has wit and heart and thinks quick on his feet. Qi'ra is a calculating planner who learns to trust others and Tsuulo was a computer nerd who had a spiritual side. I loved his misguided/misunderstood belief in the Force.
I guess that will lead me into my favorite quotes:
Page 159 - "I'll ask the Force for its blessing," Tsuulo said...
(Han said) "You sure that's how the Force works?"
Page 274 - (Han translating for Tsuulo) "He want to know if you've met any Jet-eye," Han said. Then to Tsuulo, "What's a Jet-eye?"
Page 23 - "I've been dusting crops, the easiest job in the galaxy."
Page 116 - "You don't just ask to borrow someone's speeder."..."It's like asking to borrow someone's spouse. Or their soul."
Page 222 - (What Han says about a larger-than-life portrait of Emperor Palpatine.) "Just some creepy guy in a painting who seems to be looking at me no matter where I stand."
Page 338 - Well, that would be the last time he got swindled into believing in a cause. Cause was just a fancy word for war, and war always got people killed, often innocent people.
Page 348 - What keeps you flying is having one person in all the galaxy to fly with. Someone you can trust to have your back.
4 out of 5 Fugitives.