YMMV / Poe Dameron: Free Fall

• Salvaged Story:
  • The revelation in The Rise of Skywalker that Poe used to be a spice runner didn't go over well with some fans, as it contradicted Poe's previously established backstory and just seemed to be thrown in to explain how Poe knows Babu Frik without having much relevance to the overarching plot and Poe's character. In this novel, Alex Segura does his best to elaborate on Poe's time as a spice runner in a way that contributes to his Character Development, making it feel more meaningful.
  • Lots of people criticized how Zorri Bliss was handled in The Rise of Skywalker; her lack of screentime and significance to the plot gave some viewers the impression she was a Faux Action Girl who only existed to be Poe's love interest. Free Fall gives Zorri a more prominent role and fleshes out her character some.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Some readers have a hard time tolerating Zorri and getting invested in her and Poe's relationship, due some of her behavior towards Poe coming across as physical and emotional abuse, which she is never fully called out on. She's likely intended to be a Tsundere towards Poe but some readers find she just comes off as a controlling, violent asshole.

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