Star Wars: Lost Stars

Star Wars: Lost Stars is a 2015 young adult science fiction novel by Claudia Gray. The story takes place before, during, and after the original trilogy, as the Galactic Empire tightens control over the Outer Rim and the Rebel Alliance grows stronger. It follows two childhood friends, Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell, who end up on opposing sides: Thane defects to the Rebellion, while Ciena remains loyal to the Empire. Their friendship and a developing romance are tested by their conflicting loyalties.

Thane Kyrell, from an aristocratic Second-Waver family, and Ciena Ree, a First-Waver from a village, grow up on the Outer Rim planet Jelucan, bonding over flying and their shared goal of attending the Imperial Academy to become TIE pilots. At the Academy on Coruscant, they top their class, often competing for first place. Their friendship sours when Thane’s laser cannon project is sabotaged by a fellow cadet, who frames Ciena. Both fail the assignment and lose their top spots. When Thane suggests the Academy framed her, Ciena accuses him of disloyalty. They reconcile at their graduation ceremony, dancing together.

After graduation, Ciena is assigned to Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer, the Devastator, while Thane becomes a TIE pilot on the Death Star. Both witness Alderaan’s destruction. Thane survives the Death Star’s explosion because he was sent on a search mission to Dantooine. He reunites with Ciena on her Star Destroyer but later deserts the Empire, disillusioned by its atrocities. They meet on Jelucan, where Ciena tries to convince him to return, but fails. After confessing their feelings, they have sex and part ways.

Wedge Antilles recruits Thane into the Rebel Alliance as an X-wing pilot. After the Battle of Hoth, Ciena recognizes his flying style in battle footage and realizes he has joined the Rebellion, causing her inner conflict. Later, Ciena’s mother is charged with embezzlement on Jelucan. Ciena takes leave to support her parents, and Thane unexpectedly arrives. They go flying together, realizing little has changed between them despite being on opposite sides. After an argument, they have sex a second time, but Thane cannot recruit her. Her mother is found guilty and sentenced to hard labor. They part, believing it may be their last meeting.

Thane and his squadron later encounter Ciena and her team during an intelligence mission.