– Mild Spoiler Review –
While The Bad Batch might be over, there are still adventures to be had and gaps to fill in Clone Force 99’s story, which brings us to Lamar Giles’ Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel! Set towards the end of the show’s second season, the group finds themselves ferrying two fugitives that turns into a far more complex and interesting situation, as what starts as an extension of the series dives much deeper into this unique set of clones than the show usually did, adding depth before their lives change forever.
With the initial announcement for Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel, the title made me believe we were getting something set during Clone Force 99’s time on Pabu after the series finale, and likely before the time skip judging by the cover, so I was surprised to learn it would be set after the events of “Pabu,” the 13 episode of the 16 episode season two. It seemed like a strange time to place a novel about these characters, but all the events prior to that moment in the show add up to quite a lot of hits for the team, as Echo has left to join Rex and the others freeing clones across the galaxy, there’s a Crosshair shaped void still fresh on everyone’s minds, and their little relaxing break on Pabu saw the city in tatters after a natural disaster. And after this moment in time, Tech’s death, Cid’s betrayal, and Omega’s capture by the Empire looms like an asteroid barreling into atmosphere. For a show where I felt like character development lacked throughout the series, besides for Crosshair and Omega, Sanctuary’s placement sounded rather ripe despite my initial letdown, so I grew intrigued and excited for what writer Lamar Giles might do. As I said before, Sanctuary starts like another episode of the show and it’s quite the blast, but the way Giles uses this to bring in fans before he expands the formula and goes in different directions helped me leave my concerns in the dust, as while I felt some characters get more time than others, the way he handles what’s come before and sets them on their paths to what we know comes next means Sanctuary feels like an essential part of any rewatch. It might even help convert readers into fans of the show, though it’s more of a must-read for casual and die-hard The Bad Batch fans.
The biggest surprise for me with Sanctuary was the focus on Tech and Phee Genoa’s budding feelings, as it’s another area of the show I wish had been expanded on throughout the series and wasn’t quite expecting it here. By the end of Sanctuary, I almost regretted wanting more expansion on Tech and Phee because Giles puts a knife in readers’ guts and twists it with how much more exploration he gives the two characters, yet I’m glad to see so much was said and hinted at between the two during this time frame, beyond what we saw in the show, to the point I didn’t mind another twist of the emotional knife. Tech’s point-of-view sections felt like a worthy representation of his neurodivergence, as it’s very analytic yet still packed with emotions, while Phee’s section were a fun way to view the galaxy, its various artifacts, and what pulls her to Tech. Sanctuary puts them together often, and due to the situation with the expecting couple the team’s taken on during their latest mission, the two end up discussing what they are considering for their own futures, brushing against opening up their feelings for one another, while their own internal dialogue weighs their burgeoning feelings and what it could mean if they admitted it. Thankfully, Sanctuary doesn’t define Tech and Phee solely in relation to one another, they feel like distinct characters and get their own standout moments without the other, especially Tech as he sort of helps keep the others on track as things of course go sideways, but their interest in one another is the prominent way they are presented. In the end, it’s very tasteful overall and, like I said, while it might hurt, but I’m glad we got it.
Hunter has a lot on his mind, what with Echo leaving, Pabu presented as a place to rest and stop fighting, Omega’s desire to see the galaxy, and his inability to stop Crosshair from joining the Empire. To cover these various aspects of the Batch’s lives, Giles puts Hunter’s fellow squad mates and family essentially against him, which forces them all to talk with Hunter about everything’s that happened and what their future could hold. Wrecker might be the one we get the least POV sections with, but his conversations with Hunter about a future on Pabu or not, as well as all the characters’ typical child-like antics involving explosives and a new role he takes to eagerly later in the novel, means his humor and heart still shine through. Omega’s conversations with Hunter are weightier, more so later in the novel, and were some of my favorite interactions given some hints on how Hunter will feel when she decides to leave as an adult, while Omega gets to showcase her resourcefulness and medical background in some neat ways that instantly made me wish the show did as well. Crosshair is of course a touchy subject throughout Sanctuary, with Hunter speaking to him in his dreams, so it tells you a lot about how much the other’s choice weighs on him, while the way the team skirts around it, or confront it with one another, makes for a few interesting moments which help fans see their feelings on him as Crosshair goes through his journey in his awesome season two episodes. Altogether, I felt like Giles has an excellent grasp on the Batch and their dynamics, as well as knowing what fans would want to see explored more, and he delivers throughout Sanctuary.
As their initial mission to secure credits for Pabu’s recovery goes sideways (which you can read a little of in the first excerpt), the Batch runs into and gets caught up with the mysterious Keshiri Sohi and a masked man who goes by Kuuto. As the team learns more about these two new characters, from their real names, that Sohi is expecting, to how they are tied into both the future of the Empire and the past of the Republic, the changing dynamics offer plenty of intriguing strife for Giles to throw at Clone Force 99 and push them into different and unique scenarios. I felt like some of the background between the married couple was rushed, but Sohi takes focus enough where I was very invested in her story by the end. And speaking of strife, Giles has created two memorable antagonists in ISB Supervisor Crane and construction mogul Cellia Moten, whose motivations, influence, and own objectives take some surprising turns, both coming at odds with Clone Force 99 and Phee while also the Empire itself. Crane’s history, and how it ties into another character, left me curious for more, while Cellia’s unique mindset and the growing reality of her desire to do whatever necessary to get what she wants left me on the edge of my seat whenever she was around. How Sanctuary closes out their stories are both memorable, as one is cathartic to the story and another to the Saga as a whole.
Here are a few other things:
- Dark Horse Comics’ Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch – Ghost Agents miniseries just wrapped up the week before this review! I quite enjoyed the whole thing, which takes place during the Clone Wars so it features Tech, Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair together as they go on a secret mission to recover a list of the Republic’s undercover agents! It feels like something straight from The Clone Wars or TBB itself, so anyone who enjoyed this novel should definitely enjoy the comic and I sort of hope Michael Moreci and team can return to the characters for more comic fun! We’ll just have to wait and see what SDCC has in store for us later this week.
- Giles is another author plucked from the From a Certain Point of View anthology series, where he first wrote Star Wars in the Return of the Jedi edition titled “Twenty and Out.” It’s a funny one, touching on the long debated lack of guardrails in a galaxy far, far away!
- I’m still not over the little bite-sized version of a infamous creature of the galaxy and now I want to know all about the operations for the experimental small versions of creatures!
- There’s a shiver-inducing chapter towards the end…you’ll know it once you’re shivering too!!
Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel by Lamar Giles is the book The Bad Batch fans have been waiting for, even if they didn’t know they were, and if we’re ever going to learn more about what’s next for Clone Force 99 after the ending of the show, and its jump forward in time, fans can only hope Giles is involved.
+ Lamar Giles captures the spirit and voice of Clone Force 99
+ Exploring Tech and Phee, no matter how much it feels like twisting the knife
+ Sohi and Kuuto push the Batch, while Cellia and Crane make big, memorable splashes
– Might not pull in non-Batch fans
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on and the website on Bluesky.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.
ALSO BY LAMAR GILES
From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi “Twenty and Out”
THE BAD BATCH REVIEWS
Season Three: 3.1/3.2/3.3 Confined & Paths Unknown & Shadows of Tantiss | 3.4 A Different Approach | 3.5 The Return | 3.6/3.7 Infiltration & Extraction | 3.8 Bad Territory | 3.9 The Harbinger | 3.10/3.11 Identity Crisis & Point of No Return | 3.12 Juggernaut | 3.13 Into the Breach | 3.14 Flash Strike | 3.15 Series Finale – The Cavalry Has Arrived
Season Two: 1.1/1.2 Spoils of War & Ruins of War | 1.3 The Solitary Clone | 1.4 Faster | 1.5 Entombed | 1.6 Tribe | 1.7/1.8 The Clone Conspiracy & Truth and Consequences | 1.9 The Crossing | 1. 10 Retrieval | 1.11 Metamorphosis | 1.12 The Outpost | 1.13 Pabu (by Katie) | 1.14 Tipping Point | 1.15/1.16 The Summit & Plan 99
Season One: 1.1 Aftermath | 1.2 Cut and Run | 1.3 Replacements | 1.4 Cornered | 1.5 Rampage | 1.6 Decommissioned | 1.7 Battle Scars | 1.8 Reunion | 1.9 Bounty Lost | 1.10 Common Ground | 1.11 Devil’s Deal | 1.12 Rescue on Ryloth | 1.13 Infested | 1.14 War-Mantle | 1.15 Return to Kamino | 1.16 Kamino Lost