Review by Frank Plowright

As the cover says, the Invasion series is based on New Jedi Order novels, which in the pre-revision continuity was about 25 years into the New Republic era. The Yuuzhan Vong are a terrifying race from another galaxy who’ve launched an armada that as Invasion begins is approaching the peaceful planet of Artorias, where the focus of Tom Taylor’s plot is the Galfridian family, specifically brother and sister Finn and Kaye, who are rapidly separated.

Given the need to establish the merciless Yuuzhan Vong, Colin Wilson’s character design had to be instantly threatening, and he nails it. They have reptilian features, talons and sharpened bony armour, beings to put the fear of god into anyone as proved by the sample art. Otherwise Wilson is the consummate storyteller in the European style, his people agile and moving, while there’s deceptive detail to his loose-looking art. This is most obvious when Wilson needs to put together a futuristic city, when he must have spent hours noodling away at the architecture. Even allowing for them ageing, his likenesses of known characters isn’t great, but it doesn’t have to be either, as they’re not the focus, so it’s enough to be told who they are.

Whether adapting from the novels or creating from whole cloth, Taylor ensures the Yuuzhan Vong have greater depth than only being defined by their ferocity, and it’s noted they’re on a crusade. There’s a further reason why they’re incredibly dangerous, but that would be entering spoiler territory. During their initial attack Kaye is captured and abducted, while Finn escapes and is taken to Luke Skywalker’s academy to be trained as a Jedi. He’s a gifted engineer, having designed a drone able to fly where he can’t, although finds it difficult to dispel his anger. Kaye is equally capable, yet quicker to recognise when brute force alone won’t prevail. However, well into the story Taylor gives Finn a moment indicating there may be more to him than we’ve realised.

Don’t come to Refugees expecting instant answers as it’s the set-up portion of a trilogy taking the characters on a fair journey. While they’re the focus there are also glimpses of how the original main Star Wars cast is getting on. By the end Taylor and Wilson have taken readers on two strands of a grand adventure, and the beginnings of a third. Along the way they’ve done more than enough to ensure you’ll want to be back for Rescues.