With Crimson Climb, author E.K. Johnston has taken on Qi’ra: the iconic syndicate lieutenant played by Emilia Clarke in Solo: A Star Wars Story. With Johnston’s history of telling heavily character-focused stories in the galaxy far, far away, this had a lot of potential going in. And, for the most part, I think it delivered on that.
I think one of the most impressive aspects of the story is how well it plays off of the other stories written about the character from other authors. In particular, it does an incredible job of creating a through line from Rae Carson’s Most Wanted, set in the years prior. Crimson Climb picks up directly after we see Qi’ra get ripped away from Han in the events of the movie, and takes us up to the moment she meets Darth Maul in her service for the Crimson Dawn syndicate and its leader Dryden Vos.
Overall, I think the beginning and end of the story are incredibly strong, but it felt a bit slow in the middle. In particular, the section on Thorum was probably my least favorite. The amount of secondary/tertiary characters were hard to keep track of. I didn’t even realize exactly how many there were until the end. However, in addition to the beginning and end, which I very much enjoyed, I would also like to give additional praise to the vignette chapters focusing on the relationship between Qi’ra and Han. I think the emotion coming from Johnston’s writing in these sections is the strongest in the book.
The most compelling part of the story, I found, was the evolving relationship between Qi’ra and Dryden over the course of the novel, as well as Qi’ra character evolution from the moments we lose her in Solo. Again, I think this change is made even more powerful by the building off of her characterization in Most Wanted. There has been quite a bit more content around this character in the past few years, especially in the comic books, but Crimson Climb feels perfectly situated in the middle of all of it.
I will say, the book can be quite visceral at times. Between the description of the living conditions and reality of life on Corellia, it can be very brutal. Qi’ra lives as a victim of human trafficking and the story does not pull punches. Additionally, this book contains some of the most gruesome deaths of any Star Wars story. Although it spares some detail, the situations themselves can be pretty graphic on their own. More sensitive readers may find certain portions to be overwhelming.
Beyond Qi’ra herself, I thought the focus on the criminal underworld of Star Wars was very well done. It is not often that we see heavy emphasis on the relationships between the organizations, but this story left me intrigued and ready for more. Overall, I found Crimson Climb to be quite enjoyable and would recommend to most Star Wars fans, particularly fans of Solo or the criminal elements of this fictional world.

E.K. Johnston takes a fascinating character with a tragic, stark, savage tale and weaves it without pulling any punches. Crimson Climb is every bit the bleak survival journey of Qi’ra, doing what she must to survive. Becoming what she must. At any and all costs.

After Han and Qi’ra fail to escape together, Qi’ra is left alone to face the consequences. The lesson she takes is that she can only depend on herself. She can only trust herself. And just when life within the White Worms seems cutthroat, there are always worse places one could end up…

Qi’ra’s story is full of ruthlessness, heartlessness, and hopelessness which is certainly different from many Star Wars stories. But her journey hits hard as she toughens herself to survive in this galaxy meant to break her.

E. K. Johnston also works in many of the other pieces of Qi’ra’s story we’ve seen in recent years which makes me ecstatic. The book is definitely character-focused and might be the deepest look into Qi’ra and her thoughts and motivations we’ve ever had! I’m always a fan of Johnston’s stories but unsurprisingly, Qi’ra is vastly different from the other characters ( like Ahsoka, Padmé, or Sabé) Johnston has written for. I loved the introspection and the bittersweet moments of Qi’ra’s journey alongside the determination and brutality of life climbing upward in the underworld.

This is a must-read for any Qi’ra fan looking for a treacherous tale of survival in an underworld that shows no mercy.

Sal P.

“You look lovely. I always admire your choice of armor.”

Dryden Vos

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Books for the review copies of Crimson Climb!

From my review for DorkSideoftheForce.com:

Star Wars: Crimson Climb charts Qi’ra’s rise from Corellian scrumrat to Crimson Dawn

In arguably her best Star Wars novel yet, author E.K. Johnston expands the life of Qi’ra and charts her journey from orphaned scrumrat to the top echelons of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate.

The young adult novel is set right after the prologue of Solo: A Star Wars Story, when Han Solo is forced to leave Qi’ra behind on Corellia during a botched escape attempt. Qi’ra is dragged back to the dark and damp underbelly of the White Worms sewer layer to answer and be punished for trying to escape her life of starvation and violence under Lady Proxima.

Set over the course of about a year and a half, Crimson Climb shows Qi’ra mentally and physically beaten down before being sold to a ruthless gangster and then handpicked by a representative of Crimson Dawn to prove herself to the crime syndicate’s leader, Dryden Vos.

Qi’ra was never presented as timid or a damsel in distress, but Crimson Climb shows how she turned a loveless childhood of neglect into a life as a cold and calculating crime leader - enough to draw Vos’ admiration and the attention of the true leader of the Shadow Collective, Maul.

Along with showing what happened to Qi’ra after the Solo prologue, Crimson Climb delves deeper into her character and how her traumatic experiences sharpened her into the cool and collected living weapon whom Han Solo reunites with in the film.

Crimson Climb may be a young adult novel, but it’s definitely one of the most mature and graphic ones in Star Wars. Johnston doesn’t shy away from detailing the violent life of a space gangster, including a poignant scene where Qi’ra is instructed to kill a Quarren and then Vos uses the species’ ink to tattoo the Crimson Dawn symbol on Qi’ra.

There are many more moments like this throughout the novel, where Qi’ra is forced to be violent or coldly manipulative to prove her cunning and loyalty. As the readers, during these moments we also see Qi’ra’s thought process and motivations to continue this life of violent crime.

In the end, Qi’a accepts that she may not have chosen this life, but she damn sure is going to make her circumstances work in her favor and, eventually, in a way she can control.

Overall, Crimson Climb feels like a tantalizing beginning to what could be more Qi’ra-focused books. The novel’s last mission is a harrowing one – Qi’ra is sent to a mysterious planet to retrieve an ancient Jedi/Sith artifact for Maul.

Much of her crew die in horrific ways along the way, but the end shows just how much – and how many people – Qi’ra is willing to sacrifice to survive.

Maul never appears nor is he mentioned by name, but the book ends on a cliffhanger of Qi’ra’s future – much like Solo did.

While War of the Bounty Hunters, Crimson Reign, and Hidden Empire show Qi’ra’s machinations as the head of Crimson Dawn during the events of the original trilogy, Crimson Climb’s and Solo’s cliffhangers leave plenty of room for more.

As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of the Star Wars criminal underworld, I would still gladly take several more Qi’ra books.

With Crimson Climb, Johnston excelled at recreating and expanding upon the characters made famous by Emilia Clarke and Paul Bettany in Solo. She also made complicated missions easy to follow, and imbued a steady sense of paranoia about the punishment that awaited Qi’ra and other characters when they messed up.

For lovers of Solo, Rae Carson’s Most Wanted, and some of the recents runs of Marvel comics, Crimson Climb is the perfect new read. It builds upon established characters and lore and adds even more delectable context to make it feel like a fresh new Star Wars story.

Crimson Climb will have you cheering #MakeSolo2Happen – or, maybe, Qi’ra: A Star Wars Story.

E. K. Johnson is a skilled author whose Star Wars entries I look forward to. In this volume, the character of Qi’ra, former love of Han Solo, is explored and fleshed out to expose the inner workings of her hard life and how it crafted her into the cunning traitor she is. Her time with the White Worms after losing Han sharpens her to a hardened weapon of a young woman as she vows to only look out for her own well being from that point on and painstakingly claws her way from slavery up the ranks of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate to become a figure of power and authors, out witting rivals and fellow criminals and grifters in her bid for survival and power over her future. This is not a book about a hero who fights for the dignity and rights of a galaxy, but a gritty, dark thrill ride of intrigue that sifts through the darker elements of the Star Wars universe to create a graphic and compelling narrative of what it takes to exist in the galaxy. Great writing from start to finish.

(Spoilers for “Solo: A Star Wars Story”)

“Crimson Climb” tells the story of Qi’ra from the moment she and Han are separated at the Corellia Spaceport to her rise through the ranks of Crimson Dawn. After giving us more of Padmé Amidala (and her handmaidens) than we ever saw in the “Prequel Trilogy” or “The Clone Wars” TV series, EK Johnston does the same for Emilia Clarke’s character from “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

We initially meet Qi’ra in the first act of the film as a compelling counterpart to a young Han on (and below) the rough streets of Corellia, clearly wired differently yet every bit his equal. In the film's closing act, we reencounter her as the right-hand lieutenant of the enigmatic Dryden Vos, head of an infamous crime syndicate. By the end of the movie, she’s in charge.

But how did she get from the Corellian sewers to the top of Crimson Dawn? The film doesn’t tell us much. Mur Lafferty’s novelization/expanded edition of the film gives us just enough of a glimpse to make us pretty sure it’s not a path we’d have liked to travel.

Johnston's challenge is filling in the rest of this arc, and she does well. The main narrative begins with Qi’ra’s unsurprisingly difficult days after her failed attempt to leave with Han, follows her through an intermediate stop with another crime boss, and shows us her recruitment into Crimson Dawn. Along the way, Johnston sprinkles in short interludes from other periods of Qi’Ra’s career, including her first moments as leader of Crimson Dawn and her reaction to the Empire’s fall. The novel builds nicely on not only Mur Lafferty’s work but also Rae Carson’s “Most Wanted” and even the “War of the Bounty Hunters,” “Crimson Reign,” and “Hidden Empire” comics series – though none of those are necessarily required reading for this book. As in many other places throughout the Star Wars mythos, it’s enjoyable to recognize the connective tissue and the effort the creators took to include it.

Once part of Crimson Dawn, Qi’ra must prove herself worthy of Vos’s trust to rise within the ranks. This, of course, inspires competition and rivalry with others looking to advance within the organization. Ultimately, this puts Qi’ra in the position of having to unravel a conspiracy and uncover disloyal members inside the syndicate. While a compelling arc that helps explain her eventual status alongside Dryden Vos, if there’s a weakness in the book, it’s that this arc felt like it was missing a few links in connecting all the conniving parties.

The final act, however, more than makes up for any earlier oversights, and I can only imagine how much fun Johnston must have had writing Qi’ra’s final quest that firmly establishes her position within Crimson Dawn and brings her to the attention of the shady figure overseeing all of the crime syndicates. This adventure is also the book’s only touchpoint with the Jedi, Sith, and the Force (so if those are your main jam in Star Wars, then this book might not make for your favorite story).

However, fans of the Star Wars universe’s criminal underbelly, those who loved Qi’ra’s character, and anyone who’s used the hashtag #makesolo2happen will undoubtedly enjoy the story Johnston weaves. Watching Qi’ra grow and evolve from Corellian scrumrat to crime syndicate lieutenant and seeing the shadow her previous experiences and relationships cast on her path makes for a fun and satisfying read.

E.K. Johnson's Crimson Climb is a book in the Star Wars Disney Cannon series. This story focuses on Qi’ra who has become an important character in Marvel Comics’ Star Wars, appearing in the flagship Star Wars title as well as the smash hit comics miniseries War of the Bounty Hunters, and is currently headlining Crimson Dawn. This has revived interest in the character and fans have expressed a desire for her to have her own novel. This is the story about how Qi'Ra came to rise up so quickly in the ranks of the Crimson Dawn, and how she ended up with Dryden Vos.

Qi’ra listened to the dreams and promises of a boy with a reckless smile (Han Solo), only to be torn away from him and returned to the White Worms gang controlled by Proxima while Han made his way to freedom vowing to return which he eventually did, but that's another story. Now freedom seems like a luxury she can’t afford while she concentrates on survival and despairs of ever leaving Corellia. While Qi'ra holds good memories of Han, including his dice, she once more has to prove herself to Proxima and the other children who Proxima uses to build her power base.

Qi'ra lived an even more difficult life after being captured again by Proxima's gang. The blistered Proxima was displeased of her actions, opting to sell Qi'ra away when a representative of the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn plucks Qi’ra from captivity and brings her to the syndicate’s leader, the mysterious and mercurial Dryden Vos. Vos offers Qi’ra an opportunity she’s never had before: the chance to build something resembling a comfortable life if she can prove her worth to his organization. With failure meaning certain death, Qi’ra knows she must immerse herself in the merciless, murderous world of Crimson Dawn.

What she doesn’t know is just who she will be if she survives, she will later learn who actually controls Crimson Dawn. A man called Darth Maul who faced Obi Wan and was left for dead. This novel perfectly picks up the pieces of Qi'ra's story to give a full and grand look into her ascension within the underworld to the eventual leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate to when she later becomes known as The Lady. Qi’ra’s story features touch points and connections to various other Star Wars storytelling, including Clone Wars & Solo, making it feel an integral part of the greater whole.

*Thoughts* As reference, Qi'ra first appeared in the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story portrayed by English actress Emilia Clarke who people know from Game of Thrones. Dryden Vos is the main antagonist of the 2018 sci-fi film Solo: A Star Wars Story. He and Qi'ra worked under Maul's (Darth Maul, the red, horned, Dathomirian Sith lord from The Phantom Menace) directive to grow Crimson Dawn into the most powerful of the Five Crime Syndicates.

I have been almost a faithful fan of the Star Wars movies and even some of the books since the very first movie was made, and then remade. I was shocked when Lucas sold the franchise to Disney which turned it upside down, and pretty much destroyed what I hoped would be a continuation of story lines that made the franchise so popular. One of the things this story is not about is a Jedi knight or those fighting against the Empire or Imperial Stormtroopers. This is a story about a teenaged girl who quickly rises up through the ranks of a criminal empire who was helping the Galactic Empire who for reason that eludes me, still found a way to help Han out when things were looking bad for him.

After her failed attempt to escape Corellia with Han Solo, Qi'ra finds herself alone and forced even further back into the dark depths of the criminal underworld, where she must remember what it takes to survive. Even if that means embracing everything she once sought to escape.

I'm a Solo: A Star Wars Story girlie, so any addition to the characters from that movie is, in my opinion, a welcome addition to the Star Wars canon. Over the past few years, Qi'ra has become one of the more popular characters to rise from the story, so Crimson Climb isn't much of a surprise. Focusing on the immediate aftermath of Qi'ra and Han's first separation, this book tackles what should be a formative and painful time for the young woman left behind. And while I did enjoy certain aspects, I'm not sure the story as a whole added much more to Qi'ra's character than what we already have from other books and comics.

I make a distinction here between Qi'ra's 'character' and her 'story' because Crimson Climb does, of course, add previously unknown information about Qi'ra's life. To me, though, it doesn't equally expand on or further explore who she is, why she is, how she is — everything I find so interesting about her. I think much of this lack comes from the narrative style of, especially, the first half of the book. It's third person, but at times reads as more of a report of what's happening rather than a deeper dive into Qi'ra's thoughts and emotions. While this style sometimes works (i.e. Thrawn's POVs in Zahn's 2017 trilogy), in this book it left me a bit bored.

That being said, I did thoroughly enjoy all of the parts with Dryden Vos. In the acknowledgments Johnston says she had a great time writing Vos, and you can tell. His scenes with Qi'ra are tense and uncomfortable and add a layer of intrigue and exploration that was missing for me in all the other parts.

One other complement I have for this book is its ability to stoke the Qi'ra fire. I imagine readers, especially young ones, who encounter Qi'ra for the first or second time in Crimson Climb will walk away dying to get their hands on everything else about her. And I'm so, so glad they now have their pick from which to choose.

E. K. Johnson is my favorite Star Wars author, the way she takes the female characters and expands their stories into something that feels so important is my favorite. This was a good read.

An incredible book that helps expand Qi'ra story and really makes you better understand her character in the movie! This makes me want a Solo spin-off movie/series.

Crimson Climb tells the story of Qi'ra making a name for herself in Dryden Vos's Crimson Dawn and while the premise sounds infinitely intriguing, something felt a touch off about this book. I enjoyed the time spent with Qi'ra and the uphill battle she faced after she and Han are separated, but there were parts of the book that felt too quick or where the stakes didn't *feel* as high. EK Johnston knows how to write an immersive and personal character study, but Crimson Climb lacked an element of danger even though the dangers are present on every page. Qi'ra's path, while treacherous, felt a little easy at times.

The book felt slow to start and the third act races to a climax reminiscent of something out of Indiana Jones, but then ends rather abruptly in a scene that might be confusing for people unfamiliar with Solo: A Star Wars Story.

All that to say, I enjoy EK's writing and Qi'ra has long been a favorite character of mine, but this book just didn't hit the mark with me.

This book was enjoyable. The first half was slow and I think will feel the same to other fans who have read the Solo novelization. Her first missions with Crimson Dawn felt overstuff with characters to the point where it was hard to keep track, and I did not feel the connection and friendship the author was telling us they had. I also think this ends up being a detriment to the emotions we were meant to feel in the climax of the novel. There were points where the story just dragged and I couldn’t wait until we got more of Qi’ra on the First Light.

The second half picks up and I enjoyed seeing Qi’ra interacting with Dryden and really cementing herself into Crimson Dawn. It is interesting to see her thought process as she rises through the ranks and how she views her relationship with Dryden, what she wants to get out of him. These moments of mental strategizing and scheming are, to me, really where Qi’ra shined and gave the best insight into how she has changed and what she has been forced to do to survive.

While I love the young adult Star Wars books, this is one time I will say, this book should have been an adult book. I think being able to more fully dive in the darkness of the crime syndicate life, human trafficking, and Qi’ra’s relationship with Dryden would have been greatly beneficial to her character. I also think this would have created a nice balance to books that feature Han, such as Last Shot and The Princess and the Scoundrel.

In the end, Johnston’s writing is not my favorite of the Star Wars authors and falls flat, especially compared to other books written connected to Solo and its characters. A small complaint, but one I feel like speaks to what felt a little off about this book, was Johnston’s lack of detail when it comes to Qi’ra’s clothing. In both Most Wanted and Solo, she has a clear interests in fashion and nice things. The descriptions in this book of her clothes were quick and to the point (at some times nonexistent), and felt at odds with other times we have seen her character (think her in Lando’s closet). It was disappointing, especially since Qi’ra’s outfits are so iconic to fans of her.

Those who have read Most Wanted and the Qi’ra comics will enjoy the easter eggs and references to those stories.

A must read for any fans of the character, now normally I am back and fourth on the authors writing style. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Ahsoka (despite loving Ahsoka) I would say this novel is probably my favorite of Johnston’s to date. Qi'ra Is a character I love to learn more about and the delving into her story was great. Her ties to solo are strong and deeply integral to the characters mental health which I found fascinating. Exploring her background was amazing and I am hopeful for more post solo materials containing her. I love the Star Wars underworld focus and feel, very true to the universe and a must for any fans of that setting.

This is a MUST for all Qi'ra fans.
Johnston takes us through a fun rollercoster ride from her time in the White Worms, to being recruited by Crimson Dawn, and right through her ascension in the ranks to being Vos' number 2 lieutenant.
Full of scheming, plotting, heists and gangland politics, this is a surprisingly different writing style to what we are used to from her other Star Wars novels.

This will tug on your heartstrings a little, as Han's memory keeps her from cutting off her softer side, but her realisation that Han isn't coming back gives her the edge she needs to survive and succeed in everything she does, at almost all costs.

We really need to see and hear the post Solo movie story of Qi'ra, so I am hoping that Johnston gets a crack at this as a trilogy!

This is definitely a fun ride, and suitable for fans of all ages.

In E.K. Johnston’s Crimson Climb, readers are taken back to Qi’ra’s early days in the criminal syndicate Crimson Dawn, showing her journey of scrumrat to trusted lieutenant of the dreadful Dryden Vos. While secondary characters get the short stick and the story takes some time to pick up, Crimson Climb is buoyed by an excellent characterization of Qi’ra, intriguing glimpses into the criminal underworld, and an ending which will leave fans asking for more.

Ever since Emilia Clarke’s dazzling performance as Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story, where her tale was left open ended, fans have been clamoring for more of the character. Originally there was Most Wanted, a novel by Rae Carson which released on the same day as the movie, exploring her and Han Solo’s time in the White Worms prior to the events of the film, as well as the film’s novelization to enjoy, but in 2021 she made quite the surprising move: returning to the galaxy between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as the leader of Crimson Dawn itself! Her story in the comics wrapped up early this year and now we have Crimson Climb, taking us back to a much different time in her life, when she’s left behind by Han Solo on Corellia and eventually finds herself in Crimson Dawn’s employ…and a tough fight for her place in the organization. Given her rather exciting and expansive return in the comics, it seemed like a strange choice to go back to this point in her story, but as she didn’t always remain in focus in the various crossovers and there wasn’t much internal dialogue available, my hopes for Climb grew as it meant a deeper look into the character. By the end of Crimson Climb, I felt my hope was rewarded, and while there were some shortcomings along the way, I was hungry for even more with how it all ends.

Johnston’s Qi’ra feels like an extension of Clarke’s performance and Carson’s work, with hints of Charles Soule’s writing of the character sprinkled in, and it’s the defining piece of Climb. It seems a little odd at first, but of all the characters, Qi’ra has probably the least dialogue, or at least it seems that way from how little she speaks. We get plenty of words from her, as Climb is all from her POV of course, so it we get to hear why she stays silent in many moments, much like she did in the film, be it waiting for the right moment to strike, gathering enough info to have a leg up on competition, telling us what she sees or notices that no one else does, or how often silence unsettles other beings (as an American, I see and know this all too well) and she uses it to her advantage. Qi’ra was a lot of big speeches in the comics, and rightfully so now she was a leader and needed to inspire, but as an up-and-coming member of Crimson Dawn, who must first deal with the repercussions of her near escape with Han amongst the White Worms and later an abusive gangster boss, silence is her greatest weapon, leaving beings to assume what they want based on what she shows them. This skill is vital when she comes to the attention of Dryden Vos, whom Qi’ra eventually learns is a figurehead for the Dawn, and later when she’s running it, as we saw in the comics, so it was interesting to watch her really lean into it and develop it to its full potential, all from her POV. Climb also deals with her feelings towards Han, which fluctuate throughout the course of the novel and end right about where you’d expect them, but I appreciated this aspect for two reasons: one, it’s not overbearingly made part of her personality, as it’s more about the memories of him and what it can inspire in her and not how she’s lost in some dreamy hope about him forever, informing how she is in the film and later in the comics; and two, it’s not brought up very often, as she focuses on her future and her survival and thriving instead. Overall, this is the amount of Qi’ra I’ve been hoping to have since she returned in the comics, and because this novel ends before she even meets Han again in the film, we might have more on the way exploring her time with the syndicate and I’m quite looking forward to it, especially with the other teases it includes in an epilogue I was shocked it was allowed to have.

The climb itself doesn’t hold many surprises, though I found the stuff within the White Worms initially more interesting than her early days with the Dawn, as how much Climb is in conversation with Most Wanted helps strengthen both, fleshing out this strange time of her life and filling in a part I was most curious about after Solo (beyond what happened next). When she gets taken away and eventually sold into the Dawn, her early days running missions and proving herself introduces a ton of new, side characters which are often names and not much else, with stock personalities I quickly forgot, including the one who ends up being her primary adversary. These missions are a small glimpse into the criminal underworld, though fall short of memorable and with non-existent stakes, but when Dryden Vos finally gets involved and Qi’ra finds herself working closely with him going forward, is when Climb really picks up. The intrigue within the Dawn and seeing the bigger coalition of syndicates tenuously allied with them in a chillingly fun meeting is far more interesting, as well as Qi’ra beginning to learn there is someone above Vos, someone the mercurial crime boss is scared of even. Familiar characters like Margo and Trinia appear and get the most out of the secondary characters, beyond Vos, adding to the relationship these three will form in the years ahead, eventually working for her when she takes over the Dawn. Qi’ra’s interactions with Vos add a ton to the creepy, unsettling aspects of their working relationship, building on Paul Bettany’s performance from the film and making Qi’ra’s eventual betrayal of him in the film all the more satisfying. As Qi’ra rises in stature and maneuvers to uncover a mole within their ranks from her earliest days with the Dawn, she finds herself on a mission directly for Vos’ boss, leading to the novel’s most exciting and fascinating part. What happens after, including the very surprising epilogue I mentioned earlier, will leave readers and fans begging for more, and if it can be more like these final parts of the novel, we’ll be in for a real treat.

Crimson Climb starts off strong and meanders in the middle, leaving new characters largely undefined, but the stellar portrayal of Qi’ra, the rising pitch in intrigue, and promising finale make it all worth the effort.

{review will be live on the site closer to release}

I’m a big fan of Johnstown’s Star Wars books, but this one didn’t grab me. Could be that this was a character I was not that interested in or it wasn’t the part of her story I would like to have heard. It was a competently written book, just not one for me.

I would like to announce that this is now officially a Qi'ra stan account.
-
Actually, though, I just read Crimson Climb and, you guys, it's so, so, so good. Honestly, this is absolutely my favorite of E. K. Johnston's Star Wars novels about one of my favorite Star Wars characters. I am not even remotely kidding when I say that this book was exactly what I have been asking for every time I say that I want to see more Qi'ra.
-
The book is a character study of Qi'ra from the moment that Han leaves her on Corellia until she reaches the position we find her in again in Crimson Dawn. Johnston's skill in building out a world between representations of a character in film while maintaining perfect characterization continues to shine, and Qi'ra feels perfect. The story has a few moments that feel slightly rushed and a few that slightly drag, but for the most part, attention is paid where it should be and results in a satisfying payoff. I particularly loved Dryden Vos's scenes, and felt that he was absolutely nailed in this portrayal. I am just so ecstatic that this story exists.

Qui'ra is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. I greatly enjoyed "Most Wanted," featuring Qui'ra and Han and their adventures running from Lady Proxima and the White Worms.

"Crimson Climb" is an excellent sequel to "Most Wanted." This is a good lead up to her introduction to us in the movie (and novelization) of "Solo." This book details how Qui'ra leaves the White Worms on Corellia and becomes part of the organized crime syndicate known as Crimson Dawn.

The first section of the book has hints of "Oliver Twist" and there are some difficult scenes once Qui'ra leaves Proxima's gang. Her rise through the ranks of organized crime come at great risk and sacrifice, eventually leading her to her place of prominence.

I will say, I was a bit surprised at some of the violence and brutality in this book. There is a surprising number of murders and deaths that occur, but it's a crime novel, so not completely unexpected.

Overall, if you enjoy Star Wars novels, this will be one to look forward to.

Note: I received an advanced readers' copy and the opinions in the review are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

EL Johnston carves out an engaging story, bringing some fresh storytelling to the Star Wars universe. Enjoyable for young readers, as well as longtime fans.

A fast read, with wonderful characterization of a character that didn't get enough screen time in Solo: A Star Wars Story. Getting to know the dark underbelly of the galaxy and keeping one's head on straight are key points in this novel. Would definitely recommend to any Star Wars fan.

An exhilarating and remarkably fast-paced interquel to the prologue and main story of Solo: A Star Wars Story, in a similar vein as Beth Revis's Rebel Rising for Rogue One. It also serves as a sequel of sorts to Rae Carson's Solo prequel Most Wanted, though it still functions effectively as a standalone story as long as you've seen Solo. (I also wouldn't say that Most Wanted is required reading for this, as my memory of that book is pretty hazy since I read it five years ago, and I was still able to enjoy this.) On the whole, Crimson Climb is a compelling origin story for Qi'ra, and is simultaneously a satisfyingly complete story while still leaving open the possibility of more to come in this chapter of the character's life.