Amazon.co.uk:Customer reviews: Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: (Book 1: Chaos Rising)

Top positive review

Controlling the Chaos

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 September 2020

A great book. This is the most insight I have had on Thrawn after all these years. In the books Thrawn always seems to be playing his own long game. Even his own people the Chiss do not understand and him. Some see greatness in him others see great danger.

I actually like this version of Thrawn away from the Imperials. Yes he is a militery man through and through, but he shows more compassion in his attitude and tactics here. Also he does an incredible job of mentoring his subordinates. Though he claims not to understand the political games, he earns life long loyalty from those that are close to him.

I also like that older school touches. The pathfinders and the Chiss' own version of them who "find" new hyperspace routes to get to certain destinations quicker. Extended Universe will remember the brother and sister found their way in the Golden Age of the Sith.

This book follows a younger, slightly less experienced but brilliant Thrawn doing what he need to do the save the Ascendancy. There are also his older memories of him coming up the ranks. There are also Awesome side characters that I really hope are explored further. A couple of the have made a appearance in other Disney era Star Wars book and series already. Another brilliant touch was linking this book to Thrawn Alliances. It was a small touch but to a continuity lover like me it was awesome and hearing the conversation from Thrawn's was a nice touch. I am really looking forward to the next book in the trilogy, and I want to know the final fate of Thrawn post Rebels.

7 people found this helpful

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Ceri

PROOF READERS? HA HA BUDGET CUTS SACKED THEM

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2020

This story is good, but as someone who has to read every word instead of skim reading there are so many things the proof reader and publisher missed, and it’s not just once or twice in the whole book every chapter has at least one error and some have up to five that really takes away from being able to be absorbed into the story as a reader

6 people found this helpful

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Targaid

Not for me

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2021

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This is a good book. It's well-paced, imaginative and has good, well-rounded characters. Zahn does great world-building and Thrawn is one of the best characters in the extended universe.
The trouble with this is it's going too much into his background and his world. So far that it no longer feels like Star Wars.
I like Thrawn but the trouble with making him a central hero is that it's taking away from him being such a powerful villain. He's portrayed as a noble, compassionate, honourable man. Too much so to be the Imperial Mastermind we first see him as. Certainly too much so to side with the Empire.
This, for me, is the problem with delving too deeply into the background of characters like this. You can't depict the hero of the story as an out and out villain and when you make him the focus you undermine his power as a bad guy. Plus, how old is Thrawn? I know he's not human but the length of career he seems to have had in the Chiss Ascendancy prior to arriving in the Empire and starting over and working up through the ranks again just seems improbable.
Oh, and Timothy, please stop having non-humans talk about needing or giving humanitarian aid; it's very jarring. Even more so than the slightly rephrased homilies you love to use.

3 people found this helpful

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Alfred

Definitely not Star Wars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 March 2022

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Misleading title as the only involvement of the Star Wars saga is approximately 1 page and consists of a passing meeting with Anakin Skywalker. Otherwise a well paced storyline involving a large cast of interesting characters. The plot(s) are intriguing and very entertaining.

One person found this helpful

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The Sherlock Holmes of the Star Wars universe continues

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 April 2021

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Overall, this was an enjoyable read.
There are a couple of points where I thought Thrawn's deductions were a bit iffy - which was a small problem because the plot kind of hung on that.
It felt a bit slow in the middle but the pace picked up and by the end I couldn't put it down.

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Mr Keith J Westcott

Slow Start

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 July 2021

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Book is very slow into the story line I am only a few chapters in so far, not to impressed so far.

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Oscar

Very good.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2021

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I think that this books helps people understand more about the galaxy in Star Wars more as it explores a part of the galaxy that isn’t in republic of separatist space.

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Top Notch Thrawn

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 September 2020

Thawn is one of those characters I just love to spend time with. I love the way he wove his way into the star wars universe and feels like he's never been apart from it, with the way he's carved his own career path within the Empire as well as his early introduction.

Its well written, has great characters throughout and whilst its obvious because its a look back on his life that he's in no real danger of dying its the supporting cast members that you really get to feel for as you really don't know whats going to happen. As expected with Zahn, they're very well fleshed out, feel great in the way that this is presented and when added to solid prose as well as dialogue really does make this latest reveal about the Admiral's past a joy to behold.

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Greenfinch

Solid book for Thrawn fans

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 September 2020

This was an interesting addition to the new timeline Thrawn novels. I have to admit that I have been reading Zahn since Heir to the Empire and thoroughly recommend his non SW books. A couple of years ago I came across a paperback of new Thrawn in my local Oxfam, and squealing with joy as I hadn't heard of its existence, devoured it in a couple of days. I waited for the next 2 and bought them new in HB but though they were good were not quite the same standard, maybe as I haven't followed Rebels/Clone Wars but also had a common fault, too many flash backs/POV.

Chaos Rising lacks a direct Thrawn POV which is a shame, but uses fragments from Outbound Flight etc and expands on Chiss culture which is great. Possibly as there's only a small crossover with Alliances this reads well on its own, though anyone who doesn't already know and love Thrawn should probably start with the new prequel trilogy, the first one at least.

So not my favourite Thrawn but a solid addition and miles better than all other new canon SW. Please keep writing Mr Zahn and I will keep reading !!

Helpful

really good book as a prequel to thrawn the trilogy were he is imperial

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2021

A very good book read by the best reader out there(audible format) a very good story line leaving you waiting for thr next book in line.

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From other countries

SJRB

Zahn escribiendo Thrawn nunca decepciona

Reviewed in Mexico on 10 April 2021

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Me gusto bastante la historia ya que toma lugar en otros rincones de la galaxia de Star Wars, esperando con ansias el siguiente

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Adrian Kastrati

Thrawn!!

Reviewed in Sweden on 23 November 2021

Verified Purchase

Har läst Timothy Zahns heir of the empire trilogi och denna kan inte jämföras med den trilogin. En väldigt bra canon bok om hans backstory och den värld han är ifrån, ger bakgrund till varför han är som han är i andra medier

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