PHASMA

By DELILAH S DAWSON Del Rey As the title suggests, this novel reveals more about the mysterious chrome warrior Phasma, who appeared in Star Wars: the Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

The action takes place before the events of The Force Awakens but Phasma isn’t the narrator or protagonist – we see her only through the eyes of others.

In the dark heart of the First Order’s stormtrooper training facility, Cardinal – a high-ranking trooper – interrogates resistance spy Vi Moradi for information on Phasma, his rival.

The interrogation is unsanctioned and Vi knows if she can withhold information for long enough she might be able to win sympathy from her inexperienced interrogator and try to escape.

What follows is a battle of wills, a slow exploration of Phasma’s origins and a window into the inner workings of the sinister First Order and its ruthless propaganda machine.

The story gets off to a slow start but once you’re familiar with the unusual narrative style you’ll be hooked. It left me wanting a follow-up and there’s lots of room for a sequel featuring everyone’s favourite Storm-trooper-turned-resistance fighter, Finn.