– Minor Spoiler Review –
With its large cast of underworld characters, the video game Star Wars Outlaws was begging to be explored further. Thankfully, publishing felt the same way and our first tie-in for the game was devised. Author Mike Chen returns with Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon, a prequel to the game which dives into the pasts of both Jaylen Vrax and hot droid extraordinaire, ND-5! With a phenomenal droid point-of-view, interesting expansion to the characters and underworld, and a well-paced adventurous vibe, this a book even fans who haven’t played Outlaws will find plenty to enjoy.
When Star Wars Outlaws was first announced, I was hyped, eager for what the game seemed to promise. Even from the somewhat rocky get-go on launch day, I was enthralled with Kay Vess and Nix’s journey through the underworld and went on to play it way too much. Returning for the two DLC story packs saw all the needed improvements implemented and a bunch of fun new story and jobs to experience, rounding out a memorable game. While it seems likely any potential sequel was shelved by Ubisoft, I want to play Outlaws all the way through again at one point, especially if we get more quality tie-in content like Outlaws: Low Red Moon to hype me back up for it.
Set at two distinct periods of time, around the fall of the Republic and 10 years before A New Hope, Outlaws: Low Red Moon explores Jaylen and his family’s fall and how the very assassin who came for them, ND-5, becomes his partner in building a new life. For fans of the game, not only does it fill in some vital blanks to Jaylen and ND-5’s contentious relationship, it immerses readers back into the underworld life of living job by job, hoping to make ends meet and live to see another day. While I wish there had been a little more syndicate drama, like what the game does with Kay’s journey, given this is how Jaylen all starts out, it makes sense it was saved for the big finale. If you haven’t played the game yet, the barrier to entry is pretty low, as Low Red Moon simply expands on the backstory we learned within, while I was impressed with the decision not to spoil how the game’s main story ends (even with the Epilogue chapter). Because of this, Low Red Moon’s ending might feel a bit more abrupt for some, yet because of all the great character focus and building throughout, it comes in for a memorable landing. After Mike Chen’s previous novel, Brotherhood, I was hoping he’d return, something his “Brotherhood” short story in From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi proved was even more needed. He doesn’t disappoint again, taking the emotional core of two ‘brothers’ and expanding his definition of it, first with the Sliro and Jaylen parts, and more so with ND-5 and Jaylen as they grow together, despite the former’s attempt on his life. The action is all clear and easy to read, with some really whooping and hollering moments. The stakes are low-level, but they are enticing and keep one reading, as this feels and acts like a book about the normal everyday people caught up in the bigger struggles affecting the galaxy.
While Low Red Moon might not spoil the game’s ending, it can’t avoid revealing Jaylen Vrax’s real identity, which touches on a key twist. Jaylen was actually born Jaylen Barsha, the heir apparent to the wealthy Corellian ship engine making family. The early section of Low Red Moon builds up the caustic family dynamics of the Barsha clan, who are assured of their power as their technology could benefit whatever side wins the Clone Wars conflict. It’s a twisted time for both Jaylen and his half-brother, Sliro, whose bastard status marks him as the ugly, unwanted duckling of the family, while Jaylen enjoys the full love and support of his parents. Yet Jaylen has sympathy for Sliro, a bond forming between them over the years, even if he doesn’t help his half-brother publicly. This bond leads to a pact to change everything, yet it’s the Empire’s ascendance which changes the Barshas instead, leading to an opening for a harrowing assassination attempt on the family by a BX Commando droid. These opening parts are important and, while initially not as thrilling (up until the assassination), set the groundwork for the emotional hooks not only Low Red Moon (LRM) wants to explore, but for big moments in the game’s story for both Jaylen and ND-5.
I was least interested in Jaylen’s story before I started reading LRM, and yet I came away with some sympathy to his and Sliro’s. After surviving the assassination and presumed dead by the Empire and galaxy, Jaylen repurposes ND-5 and goes on a quest to avenge his family, specifically to find out what happened to Sliro. It’s interesting to watch how Jaylen treats and deals with ND-5 over the course of the novel, as what he’s afraid of most with the droid is exactly what happens to him, in a way, regarding his search for Sliro. This baked in tragedy is a fun sword Chen wields on readers, as most of LRM is about Jaylen’s journey of accepting himself and who he really is and wants to be. Watching him wax and wane over his allegiance to locating his brother while trying to decide if he’s more Barsha than Vrax or vice versa, makes for a compelling character journey. By the end of the novel, all the work Chen does with ND-5’s growth is a stark reminder of who and what Jaylen is really capable of, something the author not-so-gently reminds us before LRM is done. But I like how, before it all, we see a different side of him, a reason those who work with Jaylen here might latch onto and believe in what he’s peddling.
As much as Low Red Moon starts off as Jaylen’s book, I really felt like it morphs and grows into ND-5’s instead, much like how the droid does throughout. I don’t think LRM does bad by Jaylen, but rather the opposite, it does so much good with his character, it strengthens the arc and character work for ND-5 even more. And maybe it’s because I’m a big fan of the character. Or maybe it’s because Chen does such an exceptional, eye-opening job with a droid’s point-of-view. It’s likely a combo of all the above, as LRM takes on a big subject and comes away as a shining example of how to do it right. The methodical, calculating verbiage Chen employs to put us inside ND-5’s mind is fascinating, often containing the most humor, heart, and interestingly logical breakdowns of various moments I’ve ever read, even minor, small-talk filled conversations. It doesn’t start out this way, as while we see ND-5’s adaptability and surgical precision right away, it’s during his programmed assassination of the Barshas. It was sort of shocking to see death dealt in such a methodical, detached way, yet it goes a long way to show how much he grows and learns in the years that follow. And it’s not just in his actions where we see his growth, but the way he processes information and conversations, how he adapts more, and how he integrates organic thinking like “hunches” or is considerate of organic beliefs. This is what left the biggest impression on me, the subtle way Chen changes the language to showcase ND-5’s change into what we all know and love from the game. ND-5 would’ve been intriguing regardless, but the strength of Chen’s prose and this unique point-of-view really elevated the character’s sections. In fact, as ND-5 grows, it’s hard not to root for him given the way Jaylen, understandably so at times, tries to hold him back. And once Jaylen makes a big decision, we experience how ND-5 would feel during some moments late in the main Outlaws story, delivering an extra emotional punch for what the droid goes through. I’m glad Chen got to do what he did with the Epilogue, as small as it is, because it both gives readers who haven’t played the game an ending to ND-5’s arc while it adds depth to gamer’s experiences as well. Didn’t have a droid POV being one of my favorite things from recent Star Wars publishing on my bingo card, but I’m happy I do now.
Fans of Chen’s previous work, The Book of Boba Fett, even a small Obi-Wan Kenobi reference, and other related sources will have plenty of cameos to chew on and enjoy throughout. One of the biggest cameos is perfectly used, their dialogue sounding exactly like the legendary person who plays them, while their actions and abilities fit everything we know about them. If anyone could bring them to life more fully in future works, it would be Chen. Another cameo towards the end almost threatens to take over the novel for a moment, but I love the way their part of it both says a lot about the character(s), but also of how far Jaylen and ND-5 have come, for better or worse. Also, it helps clarify the character’s future appearance in a simple, yet fitting way that left me eager for more of them much like after their first appearance.
And then we have to talk about the audiobook, where they brought back Outlaws‘ voice cast of Jay Rincon and Eric Johnson to voice ND-5 and Jaylen, respectively! There’s nothing quite like hearing Rincon as ND-5 again, and while the effect we hear in the game is only present in dialogue, he maintains such a similar tone, it’s all music to my ears. In fact, he does a great job of matching Chen’s detached, yet ever evolving verbiage in the way he speaks. Johnson hits Jaylen’s drawl once again, while it sounds like he’s having fun making up everyone else’s voices, which sort of fits for Jaylen anyways. The usual production values are in full swing too, rounding out an excellent package for audio listeners. It’s neat when audiobooks get more than one narrator when there are different POVs, but to get the game cast back? Perfection!
Here are a few other things:
- I had originally mistaken what month it was happening, but ironically enough, one month after Low Red Moon’s February 3 release, there will be a Blood (aka Red) Moon on March 3! Would’ve been neat if that had worked out yet I’m damn glad they didn’t delay this release so it did!
- The Casino Royale moment for ND-5 is as amazing as it sounds, especially since it follows one of the droid’s biggest moments and the book’s most hooting-and-hollering chapter yet.
- Mike Chen teased the Casino Royale moment, and so much more, in his handy Bluesky thread when the book was first announced!
Mike Chen’s Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon is a fitting companion piece to the game. It’ll make fans who’ve played it appreciate ND-5 and Jaylen’s story more, while those who haven’t played it yet might just be convinced to check it out.
+ ND-5’s POV and the way his growth is shown, not told to us
+ Jaylen’s search for identity
+ Wonderfully used cameos fitting for the era (one really left me so eager to see more of them given how Chen clarifies their story!)
– Ending can be a little sudden
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him 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 MIKE CHEN:
Brotherhood (novel) |“Brotherhood” – From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (novel) | “Disturbance” – From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (novel)