Rating: 
Summary: Disapointing
Review: If you have read the first two books in this series, and enjoyed Bria's character, skip this book. It was a let-down concerning her character's development. However, if you found Tereonza or the Hutts more to you're liking, go ahead and pick it up. It also explains why Lando really hates Han, why Han ended up with Leia and not Salla or Bria.
It was also neat to see Winter, Shallomar, Jalus, Muuurgh and Mrrov, Malla, and some of the Ylesian priests. I just have one question: Can anyone tell me what happened with Jessa, Mako, or Shug???
Rating: 
Summary: Great teaser for prequels
Review: The story is well told and hard to put down. You will not believe the end.
Rating:
Summary: People make me cry.
Review: Okay, this pertains to the entire Han Solo Trilogy, not just Rebel Dawn. I've noted a couple of similar complaints in negative reviews, some of which I just had to respond to.Boba Fett, for one thing. One reviewer claimed that Boba Fett should not have been included in the trilogy because the author didn't do her research and had Boba Fett making up that name for himself when we know he was a clone of Jango. First off, these books came out years before Attack of the Clones and the revelation that Boba Fett was a clone. With that in mind, this reviewer would do well to note that Boba Fett used Jaster Mereel, the name of his father's mentor, as an alias while he was a Journeyman Protector on Concord Dawn. Once he was exiled, he went back to being known as Boba Fett. The book states as much. Talk about not doing your research... Others complained about Bria Tharen usurping Mon Mothma and co. as the founder of the Rebellion. What the heck? Obviously, some people are so desperate to find something to complain about they have no compunctions about, shall we say, "stretching the truth." Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Garm Bel Iblis were the three MOST IMPORTANT founders of the Rebellion. They headed the largest resistance cells and therefore contributed the most people and materiel to the conflict. They were the founders of the Rebellion. Bria Tharen was one of thousands of founding MEMBERS. Three people can't very well overthrow an empire by themselves, can they? Geesh. Another complaint I noticed was that the Han Solo of The Paradise Snare was not the Han Solo of A New Hope. Hmmm, well, taking into consideration the fact that said novel takes place TEN YEARS before the movie in question... Well, I just don't know. Draw your own conclusions. Several people around here seem to be very good at doing that...
Rating:
Summary: a fine conclusion to the Han Solo trilogy
Review: "Rebel Dawn" is the concluding volume in A.C. Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy. It begins not long after "The Hutt Gambit". This novel spans a period of several years (approximately 5, I believe) and leads right into Han Solo's first appearance in "Star Wars: A New Hope". Unlike the previous two Han Solo novels by Ann Crispin, "Rebel Dawn" spreads its focus between Han Solo, the Hutts, Lando Calrissian, and Han's former love and now rebel leader Bria. While this slows down the pace of the action, it also adds a level of depth and complexity not often found in a Star Wars novel.
There is a lot going on in "Rebel Dawn". Shortly after the novel begins we get to see the famous scene where Han Solo wins the Millenium Falcon from Lando Calrissian in a game of sabacc. From here we move on to Bria Tharen trying to convince the future leaders of the Rebel Alliance that they should all unify and fight the Empire together. At the time of this novel there were small pockets of resistance and many who disagreed with the Empire, but nothing was organized. In "Rebel Dawn" we can see the Alliance begin to take shape. From Bria's efforts we move to intrigue between the Hutts. Jabba and Jiliac are engaged in Hutt clan warfare against Durga the Hutt (and his clan). This section, which takes up a fairly large chunk of novel, is surprisingly interesting. There is much more depth to the Hutts than we get from the movies or even the other novels. Their culture is much deeper than throwaway lines calling Jabba a "gangster". Hutts are that, and more. Besides this, we also visit Kashyyyk, the Wookiee homeworld and see Chewbacca married. For the first time (that I am aware of) we get to experience the domestic life of the Wookiees. Fairly interesting. If all this wasn't enough, the book is about Han Solo after all. Han has much to do here, from traveling with Chewie, gambling, making the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs, reuniting with Bria, becoming involved in the actions of the Rebellion, and much more. "Rebel Dawn. is a very full book.
This is the conclusion to one of the strongest series in the Star Wars universe. The writing is top notch, entertaining, informative (for the Star Wars fan), and simply fun. It is everything that a Star Wars novel should be. This book even leaves room for the Han Solo Adventures which are written by Brian Daley by giving brief glimpses of Han's exploits in the Corporate Sector. This trilogy (and this book in particular) is far superior to Daley's trilogy, and is perhaps the definitive Han Solo story. We get nearly his entire life without getting too bogged down in every single smuggling run and adventure he has been on. Crispin spins a very good story here, and one which is worth reading for the Star Wars fan. This book (and trilogy) gives us everything we need to know about Han Solo and why he is the way he is in Episode Four.
-Joe Sherry
Rating:
Summary: The Force is with this one!
Review: With the notable exceptions of Brian Daley and T. Zahn, I've been disgusted by the supposed Star Wars novels. A.C. Crispin, however, obviously knows the universe and shows it with her on-target depictions of beloved characters. Fans of the Marvel comic series will be delighted to see some of those characters pop up from time to time, and Chrispin neatly ties in not only Lucas' work but also Brian Daley's. This is an excellent trilogy and I highly recommend it for real Star Wars fans. Even the most hardcore will find NO fault here. Neither does this critic, for what it's worth, and I quit counting the times I've watched Star Wars after it topped a hundred.
Rating:
Summary: Solid if unspectacular finish to a well-written trilogy!
Review: Picking up directly after the Hutt Gambit, Rebel Dawn suffers in comparison to its well-written predecessors. The book is much more predictable and the return of characters followed throughout the trilogy is a give. Bria, Han's love from the first book is reunited with the scruffy smuggler, only to betray him for the Rebel Alliance. Han loses all his friends except Chewie, but in the meantime is able to make the fastest Kessel Run ever, loses spice from Jabba and generally gets set up for plot points that take place in the classic trilogy. Although it is an above average Star Wars book, Rebel Dawn is a bit of a letdown after the previous 2 books, but is still an adequate conclusion to the Han Solo trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Solo beginnings
Review: The one thing that I like most about this book is the fact that the author has so perfectly executed the consistency of the storyline. I am a lifelong fan and would know if she dropped the ball. She doesn't. I love the way she explains how Han got the record for making the Kessel Run and the reason Lando is mad at him in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. I am seriously impressed with these serious yet fun novels. Any fan of Solo should read them. If you have ever wondered just how Han Solo got his start, this is the book for you. Crispin has captured the flavor of the Star Wars and the characters of Han, Chewie, and Lando perfectly. The story is rich and exciting and full of great action. However, it is more than the typical action we are used to from Star Wars. It is rich in plot, locations, and characters. I highly recommend this book and the series as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: Old Friends and New Beginnings!
Review: This is the final installment of The Han Solo Trilogy by A.C. Crispin. And what a doozy! A great novel! The novel begins with Han Solo entering one of the biggest sabaac tournaments in hopes of scoring big. And does he ever - the prize: the Millenium Falcon. Her first important voyage: Chewbacca's homeworld to find his sweetheart Mallatobuck. Meanwhile, Bria Tharen (Han Solo's old flame) has become a high ranking officer in the Corellian Resistance. She has hurt the Basadii Hutt clan by returning to the planet Ylesia and raiding the so-called religious settlements. Bria knows these settlements are actually slave camps where followers of the t'landa til priests are forced to work in spice factories in exchange for the intoxicating Exultation. She knows this because she was once one of them. Bria has vowed to take no quarter where slavers are concerned. This earns Bria a hefty bounty placed on her head by Teroenza, the chief priest of Ylesia. While she travels across the galaxy, in an attept to bring the growing number of resistance groups into a united Rebel Alliance, Han journeys to the Corporate Sector, ducking overtures of marriage from his girlfriend Salla. And on top of it all, the war between the Basadii Hutt clan and the Desilijic Hutt clan heats up to supernova levels!
In this final installment of the trilogy, we get to witness some of the most important occurances in Star Wars history, such as Han's coming into posession of the Millenium Falcon, the marriage of Chewbacca to Mallatobuck, the forming of the Rebel Alliance, the infamous spice-dumping debacle. There's plenty of action and suspense! Plus, we are treated to appearances by Boba Fett, Winter, Mon Mothma, Prince Xizor, Guri, Greedo, Jabba the Hutt, Durga the Hutt, Lando Calrissian, and more! This novel really ties everything up, leading up to the moment when Han sits down with Chewbacca, Ben and Luke in the Mos Eisley cantina to discuss fees for a charter flight to Alderaan. The most telling line of the novel is at the end of the book - no spoilers here - It simply ends with the words "THE BEGINNING". This is a must for all Star Wars fans, particularly fans enamored by that favorite rogue, Han Solo!
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