Although it is not as bad as its reputation, this is at best a very mediocre book and it's first short coming is the obvious first person narration. A very strange and very rare artistic decision, especially with Star Wars books. To even top that, the author had the balls to try and place us in the head of Luke Skywalker himself. I was hoping for some twist, or plot development that would require such a narrative, justify it, but nothing of this sort came to pass. If someone actually exchanged all the self-referencing into descriptions in third person, we at least would have been spared this awkward style, that only managed to drag me out of the experience and never for once did I feel like I actually was inside the head and thoughts of Luke.
The book itself is not to substantial. Through a series of events that will probably be never again referenced in any new canon media, we get to know how our narrator deals with being untrained in the force... and to some degree... girls. He has to learn some things, accept other things and ultimately deal with the loss of people old and new.
Overall a rather skippable adventure, that has its joys but regrettably drowns in its mediocrity.

Set shortly after the events of A New Hope, Heir to the Jedi is a character examination of Luke Skywalker told from Luke's own perspective. This first-person story tells of his new journey from hero of the Rebellion to fledging Jedi in a series of minor missions that lead to the main adventure. Throughout this story Hearne examines Luke's motives and desires to follow in his father's and Obi-Wan's footsteps as with each successful mission he uncovers new information and truths about the Jedi. And this is the strength of Hearne's writing style and choice of first person narrative: we really get inside the mind and thoughts of Luke. From his early trepidation of visiting a fallen Jedi's grave to the exhilaration he feels when he is presented with the dead Jedi's lightsaber and his attempts to rebuild it. Then there is Luke's first attempt at telekinesis - and his subsequent failure to move anything - and his personal monologue of trying to decide which actions would be considered use of the Dark Side and those of the Light.
Hearne never forgets that this is a young Luke, basically a teenager at heart and somewhat naive in the ways of the galaxy, but Luke blusters through some awkward moments giving this story its light-hearted moments, because at the end of it all Luke has actually experienced a lot more than the average teenager: the violent deaths of his Aunt and Uncle and his best friend Biggs; witnessing the death of Obi-Wan at the hands of Vader - the man whom Obi-Wan claimed killed his own father. And herein lies the story's pathos: when Luke recalls these tragic events - especially during the story's poignant moment.
However, the first person approach is also this story's greatest weakness: as we must witness everything through Luke's eyes. For Star Wars fans used to third-person narratives, this is only the second first-person Star Wars novel to be published, secondary character development, especially antagonists, can feel weak as we cannot examine their motives and drives. To overcome this, Hearne limits the number of characters Luke interacts with to a minimum and introduces only a handful of new characters - many of which make only the briefest of appearances.
Although Hearne's choice of first-person narrative makes this a more personal story for Luke's development, the lack of a major antagonist for Luke to contend with and only minor protagonists who assist Luke, meant that this story lacked some of the excitement, tension and drama that many fans expect in a galaxy far, far away story. While this story will appeal to Luke fans, especially those of the Original Trilogy, I can understand why continuity fans may find themselves disappointed at the lack of substance. As the third novel in Lucasfilm's new canon, where the canvas outside the films is completely blank, Heir to the Jedi unfortunately fails to add anything substantial.

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