Almost forgot to review this! Like the novelization of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi was mostly worthwhile in terms of the additional context and peek inside characters' heads not offered in the film. However, I had even more questions about TLJ from the movie than I had for TFA. I also had not re-watched it yet. Moments I thought were not in the film were indeed in there when I eventually re-watched; I was so off in my head through TLJ, I missed a lot!

The most interesting new bits in the novel that I remember from my reading include details about General Hux's background and those of his fellow First Order officers. Apparently, Hux's father was also a military man but was crazy; Hux killed him (it's not revealed how)--it remains dangerous business being a father to a son in the Star Wars universe! Seriously, it's like being a Roman Caesar. In the film you can see Hux clash with other officers, but the novel clarifies that a few of them also served the Empire; they're used to doing things a certain way. Hux favors shows of strength rather than utilizing successful strategy.

Some additional scenes were filmed but not part of the final cut (available as deleted scenes in special features) and are described in the novel. These include a serious-turned-funny sequence where Luke tells Rey that newly arriving Caretaker species merchants are raiders who come regularly to steal and kill. Rey rushes down to them only to discover that they're having a party! Luke lied to make a point about how the Jedi would have taken a no-involvement stance. Something not filmed, though, is Luke inviting Rey to dance; it's sweet scene.

The biggest questions I had after seeing the film the first time involved Kylo Ren and Rey, of course. It somehow wasn't clear to me on a first viewing if Ren knew anything about Snoke forming the Force bond between him and Rey; he didn't. I also wondered if Snoke was telling the truth about that. In the book, before and during his monologue that ends with his death, we get a glimpse of Snoke's thoughts, and he did indeed bridge their minds (at least HE believes he did). There's also more about the fight from Rey's perspective especially; at the beginning she struggles a bit but essentially lets the Force guide her. It's pretty cool. She also senses Ben/Kylo as he fights and compares him to an animal finally freed from his cage.

Most revealing is why Rey leaves Ren alive once it's clear he's not going to turn and they struggle over Luke's light saber, which splits and knocks them unconscious. He wakes up, but Rey is already gone in the movie. In the book, there's a little scene where Rey awakens and contemplates what to do. She feels that the Force isn't done with Ren, and it's not her place to kill him.

There's also more about Rose and her sister, which helped me appreciate her more as a character. There's a bit more romantic tension between her and Finn, from her perspective at least, as she's annoyed each time he thinks only of Rey, not the larger cause.

And we get more about and from Leia, including her Force training and that moment where she and Ben sense each other as his ship is set to fire on hers. The thing that prevents him from killing her is that what he senses from her is worry--for him, not herself. My heart hurts; excuse me while I go cry over Carrie Fisher again.

This is the first book adaptation of a film that I've read and the first I've ever wanted to. There are of course many Star Wars novels, none of which I've read. I wondered what sort of money-grabbing, hastily edited crap I might be delving into. Though in the opening pages there was some awkward language or editing, on the whole those issues didn't persist, and the book gave me what I wanted, which was a sort of "behind the scenes" look at the story, moments we see on actors' faces translated into words, "missing scenes," etc. I got just as emotional reading particular scenes as when I watch the movie and at the same time was interested by some changes or details explained (I believe the adaptation was based on the shooting script).

Some film versus book differences of note:

Unkar Plutt isn't just a jerk, he's kind of a creeper, too. There's a missing scene where he shows up on Takodana for Rey, and Chewie rips his arm(s) off! In addition, Rey comes much closer to selling BB-8 than she appears to in the movie. There it seems her conscience gets the better of her; in the book, she counters Plutt's offer of 50 portions with 100. When he immediately accepts, that's when she decides not to sell the droid; it's like she can't bear to let him have something he so obviously wants.

I'm a bit confused by the timeline of some things in the films, so it was helpful to learn, for instance, that when Kylo Ren removes his mask when Han directs him to, we discover it's the first time Han's seen his son "grown."

There's a whole lot more on Kylo Ren's thoughts and his interactions with Snoke. In the film he comes off as moody and prone to anger. This is actually atypical of him, according to the book. He's all about control and lack of emotion. He even says that revenge is "an adolescent concession to personal vanity," which is interesting given his focus in The Last Jedi.

The book also provides context that I was unclear on, such as the fact that the Republic still exists, but there's typical political infighting in the Senate; most believe Leia is blowing things out of proportion concerning the First Order. In addition, there are more details about the First Order, storm troopers, and how that system-destroying weapon works.

There's more than that, so if you're a Star Wars fan (aren't you?!), it's worth checking out. I've already started the next one (by a different author).

This was hard to put down. I love spending time with Veronica and other VM regulars and seeing who else will pop up (that's apart from wanting to know whodunnit and how and if the perp would be brought to justice). I had an inkling the victim at the beginning would be someone Veronica knew, and I like how Veronica checks herself regarding what more she could or could not have done for Grace a decade ago. There's a lot of self-questioning on Veronica's part--not out of character--and those were some of my favorite bits.

Yet again, a VM story deals with rape and victim-blaming, plus small town corruption, class, and race. The book addresses how, yes, a prostitute can be raped, and it matters. Lying matters, too. I've always loved VM for taking on these topics in a complex way.

Lots of Mac, some Weevil, and, of course, Logan. Even if Veronica and Logan are together (literally and figuratively once Logan leaves again), things aren't simple and uncomplicatedly happy. However much my fangirl heart wants everything to be perfect (between them, for Weevil and Neptune), I know this is Veronica Mars and it won't be. Nor should it. That would be boring. The revelation of Logan's past while apart from Veronica and what exactly the military means to him was practically my head canon, though I hadn't imagined such horrible things for Logan. That conversation on the beach legit made me cry and re-appreciate these two together and as individuals.

I thought I read that there were to be no more than two VM books, but I hope that's either not true or it's that Rob Thomas only committed to two, leaving others to do more. The show was written by a staff of different people, so I'd have no problem with that. And I am dying to know how this new sheriff will be (feels ominous; Veronica and Keith are corner-cutters, rule-breakers, which doesn't seem to be her way) and more fallout from Weevil's selling out. Also wondering if Duncan (and Lilly) will return sometime.

Now it's time for me to go back to missing these characters!

More than the Veronica Mars movie (which I gladly helped fund via Kickstarter), this book's mystery made me nostalgic for the TV show. Not because it was lacking but because it was so reminiscent of an episode of the show, with the space of a novel. The difference here is that Veronica is officially a P.I. and lead on the case, with Mac as her tech assistant. Since the book picks up not long after the events of the film, Keith is still recovering from that awful, intentional car collision that killed Sacks and almost killed him. He's not able to work yet at Mars Investigations where money is so tight rent hasn't been paid, nor has Mac lately.

Then a college girl in Neptune for Spring Break goes missing, and the local Chamber of Commerce hires Veronica to aid in the investigation (you know, since Dan Lamb is a dick and PR nightmare). The girl's disappearance is costing Neptune big Spring Breaker bucks, see, especially since a Nancy Grace-like figure is drawing attention to the case and Lamb's cavalier attitude about it. Yeah, Neptune is still a gem of a place. Veronica's not crazy about the motivation behind the decision to come to her, but she IS concerned about the girl.

The case has as many twists and turns as an episode of the show, with some red herrings. Just when you think you're ahead of the game, you're not. Or, if you're on track, Veronica's never lagging. In addition to Mac, Wallace, Weevil, Dick, and Cliff make appearances (Dick's is especially hilarious, as always). Logan is off on an aircraft carrier, and he and Veronica are only able to Skype once in a while. They clearly both feel the strain, but the scenes are lovely. An interesting surprise was the appearance of Norris Clayton, who was the kid from "Weapons of Class Destruction" initially suspected of being the bad guy. He's now a cop in Neptune, probably the only decent one.

And, of course, there's Keith, who is still uneasy with the idea of Veronica having scrapped her New York lawyer life to become a PI. There are some tense scenes, and he urges her to at least learn to use and to carry a gun to protect herself. Veronica is resistant but after a close call, listens.

The one aspect of the novel that was too contrived for me was the the appearance of Veronica's mom, Lianne. I love that she's brought back into Veronica's life and there's a sort of reconciliation (and half-brother!), but it's way too coincidental that Lianne would happen to be the stepmom to the second missing girl.

The idea of Veronica and her dad as partners is cool, and I loved how Veronica thinks about they really always have been. Personally, I envisioned Veronica and Mac as partners (and PIs are lone wolves, aren't they?) with Keith as sheriff, but I suppose it wouldn't do to have an actual reliable authority figure in that department. But I could see him struggling against the Chamber of Commerce and other corrupt interests in town.

I was totally engaged by and thrilled with the book overall (including overt discussions that victim-blaming and slut-shaming are not okay). Veronica is my hero, and I will always want more of her. I can't wait for the next book. More Weevil! ;)

Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my.

I'm still processing all the fucked up things being said about death, killing, and intimacy. For now, I'm content with the epic Heine-Naoto fight--or Heine-Angelika, I suppose--(but Heine/Naoto, really), and their pact of sorts to go to the below together and be each other's "last resort." *dies of shipping feels*

We get backstory from Herbst (the priest), a reveal about what happened with the mutant/modified children, and, well, more clones. I'm starting to think everyone's a clone.

I wish this manga came out faster!