A book that needs to be read quickly. Not because it's a page-turner that you can't put down, but to avoid most of the terrible writing. There are some awful descriptions and horrendous similes sprinkled throughout the books like Bantha droppings at a Tusken Raider barbecue. The majority of these descriptions are unnecessary, more Wookiepedia name-dropping than actual useful exposition.
But you don't read a Star Wars book for the quality of its prose. (I recently reread Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire, and even though I enjoyed the book as much as I did when I first read the series, the writing is not good.) You read Star Wars books for the adventures of Han and Luke and Leia. Or at least that's why you used to read Star Wars books. This book is rebooting the canon away from a focus on the characters of the original trilogy. There's a brief interlude feature Han and Chewie (which could be setting up another Star Wars story line, one that seems much more interesting than what's going on here), Leia appears in a hologram message, and there are a few of the more minor characters like Ackbar, Mon Mothma, and Wedge Antilles. Unfortunately, there are also references to the detestable prequel trilogy, with unneeded mentions of Naboo and General Grievous. However, I admit that I enjoyed the battle droid character, Mr. Bones. He reminded me of HK-47 from the Knight of the Old Republic Game.
Without the original heroes to drive the story like in the Zahn novels, Aftermath relies on a bevy of new characters who band together to challenge the remnants of the Empire. For the most part, the characters aren't all that well-developed (again, we don't read Star Wars novels for Proustian insight into human nature), but they're likeable. The Imperial villains, while not as catchy as an Admiral Thrawn, present a realistic view of the broken, but not defeated Empire. They squabble, jockey for power, and struggle to determine the best course forward against the burgeoning New Republic. They are transitional villains, leading up to the last-minute reveal of a mysterious Big Bad. But they are appropriate villains, as this is a transitional novel, with the apparent goal of moving Star Wars nerd away from the Luke and Leia Star Wars of our youth.
I earlier compared this novel to the Timothy Zahn Star Wars novels, but I think the better comparison would be Avengers: Age of Ultron. Like Ultron, Aftermath is an enjoyable experience, but it lacks the greatness of works that came before it. And like Ultron, Aftermath strikes me as a very corporate production, a work designed to promote and set up upcoming Star Wars properties rather than stand alone as a work of its own. I recommend the book, especially for Star Wars fans. It's a fun return into the world of the original trilogy. And even though the major characters from that trilogy aren't present, this isn't a prequel-level disaster. It's a solid step forward towards what I hope will be a return to quality Star Wars films.