It’s been just over a year sinceStar Wars: The Bad Batchcame to an end, butClone Force 99returns in full force in Lamar Giles’Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel. Hitting bookshelves on August 5th,Sanctuarytakes place duringThe Bad Batchseason 2, between episodes 13 “Pabu” and 14 “Tipping Point.”
Following the sea surge that devastated Lower Pabu, the Bad Batch work together with the self-professed “liberator of ancient wonders,” Phee Genoa, to go on various ill-fated jobs to collect supplies and credits for Pabu. Along the way, they manage to pick up both new friends and new foes on an unexpected adventure.
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To first get a sense of my credibility, I’m a person who considersThe Bad Batchto be one of my favoriteStar Warsprojects of all time, and I have rewatched the animated series an obscene amount of times. That being said, I went intoSanctuarywith a critical lens, harboring high expectations of how these characters were portrayed.
I couldn’t be more satisfied with the outcome.Giles manages to capture the unique voices of each Bad Batcher, including the honorary member we have in Phee, both inside their heads and through their dialogue. There wasn’t a single moment where I questioned how these characters were being portrayed.
Better yet, that incredible focus on each individual character, all of whom get their own individual time in the spotlight, doesn’t hurt the plot or its movement whatsoever.The action works at a perfect pace, carrying you through the narrative right along with the various emotional undercurrents that each character is experiencing.
This remains true for the new characters introduced inSanctuary. The brand-new antagonist is frighteningly threatening, posing a true threat to our heroes who have defeated all kinds of foes. These characters are givenjust the right amount of depth that doesn’t take away from Clone Force 99’s own focus.
Sanctuaryplays out exactly how an episode ofThe Bad Batchwould, albeit witha much more mature tone that would only be possible in a book like this. Prepare to see Clone Force 99’s more brutal side, which proves why their reputation is so beholden. UsBad Batchfans wouldn’t have survived seeing this play out in animation.
Sanctuary’s Charm Rests With Its Characters
The Characters Remain At The Heart Of This Story
Sanctuaryis undoubtedly a character-driven story, just as something based onThe Bad Batchshould be. As a story that’s about family at its core,Sanctuaryhonors Clone Force 99 in the best way possible, in addition to its newer characters as well. Here’s what you can expect from each known character inSanctuary.
Hunter
If I had to identify a “main character,” for lack of a better term, inSanctuary, it would be Hunter. My personal favorite of the Batch, I was certainly the most wary of his portrayal to start, but as I said above,I couldn’t have been more satisfied. He certainly lives up to his nickname of “dark and broody” here.
Sanctuary, however, alsoexplores the most tender parts within him, finally giving readers insightinto why he’s so unyielding in the safe, cautious choices he often makes for the squad post-Order 66. He has a stunning arc in this story, and a lot of it is rooted in how deeply he cares for his entire family, especially Omega.
Tech
In a story that takes place just before Tech’s tragic sacrifice inThe Bad Batchseason 2 finale, everyone is expecting to have the pain of that moment multiplied after this story, and unfortunately, it is - but only becausethe insight we get inSanctuaryis so fantastic.
Much ofTech’s story inSanctuaryrests with his growing affection for Phee, something that’s already highlighted quite a bit in the “Pabu” episode. Getting his perspective on it all is downright life-changing, and definitely heartbreaking if you think too hard about what comes next for him.
Wrecker
Wrecker has long since been one of the most lovable members of Clone Force 99, and for good reason. I was concerned, however, that he would purely be portrayed as a “himbo” stereotype in this story, and I couldn’t be more grateful that my worries were put to rest almost immediately.
Wrecker has many chances in this story to explore his own nuance.
Wrecker has many chances in this story to explore his own nuance. His military intelligence, and emotional intelligence, are often on full display throughout the story, and he proves whyhe’s such a reliable anchor for his family, beyond his physical strength.
Omega
We already know how incredible Omega is, but she somehow becomes even more amazing inSanctuary. It continues to place emphasis on the fact she’s a child who hasn’t lost her sense of wonder, but also provesjust how strong and capable she is on her own.
Four years after Omega’s introduction to theStar Warsuniverse, we also finally get some long-awaited information aboutwhat Omega’s life was like as Nala Se’s lab assistant on Kamino. Omega proves further inSanctuarywhy she’s the tender, beating heart of this entire family, and how she’s managed to truly change them all for the better.
Phee Genoa
Phee is a character I already loved prior toSanctuary. This novel, however, proves whyit’s such a shame that we don’t get to see more of her afterThe Bad Batchseason 2. She cares deeply for Clone Force 99, Tech especially, and she’s such a natural part of their family dynamic.
Beyond the Bad Batch, though, Phee is also just an incredible character in her own right. This story adds a touching layer to Phee’s motivations for pirating, and explores just how deep her dedication to Pabu really goes.
Crosshair & Echo
Though neither Crosshair nor Echo are actively with the Bad Batch during the timeline of this novel, I know readers are aching to know what they can potentially expect from these two inSanctuary. To that I say I’m not giving anything away, buttheir presences certainly loom over this narrativein important ways.
At this point inThe Bad Batch, Echo is actively working with Captain Rex, and Crosshair has just been imprisoned on Mount Tantiss.
Crosshair especially lingers like a shadow upon both the characters and this story. I will say thatI wish there was more for Echo; though he’s the newest addition to the squad, other than Omega, I could have done with a bit more representation for him. When it comes to Crosshair, however, readers will be more than satisfied.
New Characters: Friends & Enemies
I don’t want to say too much aboutSanctuary’s new characters, if only to preserve the magic for the readers, but they are truly so incredibly compelling. They would have been perfectly natural additions toThe Bad Batchcast, and the web they’re all weaved into is utterly fascinating.
It’s the newer characters who really help to tie Sanctuary’s story into greater Star Wars lore.
It’s the newer characters who really help to tieSanctuary’s story into greaterStar Warslore. Theybridge the gap between the Clone Wars era and the earliest part of the Dark Times, answering questions about what life was like between the Republic’s fall and the rise of the Empire.
So Much Has Been Recontextualized For The Better
AlthoughSanctuaryhas such a perfect focus on its characters, the story still has plenty of time to shine here, and it adds quite a bit toThe Bad BatchandStar Warsas a whole. I know that I already can’t watchThe Bad Batch, orStar Wars:The Clone Warsseason 7, the same way ever again.
I mean that in the best way possible, too. There’s just so much added context for these characters and this part of theStar Warstimeline.Sanctuarycontinues the fascinating trend ofClone Force 99 accidentally getting closer than they ever realized to some of the Empire’s biggest secrets.
There are a few unexpectedStar Warscameos scattered throughout this book, and I will say that one in the third act felt rather unnecessary to me. I certainly could have done without it, although I do understand why it was included. It didn’t take anything away from the story for me, but it also didn’t add anything.
Final Thoughts: Sanctuary Is Among Star Wars' Best Novels
It Has Everything You Could Want & More
Sanctuary, to me, is easily one of the bestStar Warsnovels that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading - and you can even drop theStar Warsthere, too. It takes these characters we already know and love and provides a brand-new experience for them thateffortlessly weaves into the pre-existing narrative.
There is little I could actually say I didn’t like about this novel, aside from the aforementioned third-act cameo, a desire to see or at least hear more of Echo, and perhaps a little less time spent with the antagonists of the novel. There isso much more to praise here than to criticize, and I stand by that.
Lamar Giles absolutely shines in his Star Wars debut.
At the time of writing this, I’m currently wrapping up my third re-read and gearing up for my fourth, yet this story just keeps getting better and better each time. There are so many lines that I’ve already memorized that have either torn me to shreds or captured my heart completely.
As such an avid fan ofThe Bad Batch, I cannot wait for the fandom to receive this beautiful, heartfelt story. It’s trulya love letter to us all. Lamar Giles absolutely shines in hisStar Warsdebut, and fellow fans ofThe Bad Batcheverywhere will be forever changed by what’s written on the pages ofSanctuary.
