Bloodline

Bloodline is a canon novel written by Claudia Gray, published on May 3, 2016. The novel heralds from the new Star Wars canon that was kick-started with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. It occurs six years before The Force Awakens, detailing events in the galaxy following the New Republic's victory, showcasing political infighting, and highlighting Leia Organa's role as a senator.

The key plot of Bloodline revolves around the mounting tension and political intrigue in the Senate of the New Republic, as well as concerning the rise of the Resistance. The story presents an in-depth exploration of the state of the galaxy and the political climate leading up to the events of The Force Awakens. The title of the book itself, 'Bloodline', speaks to the integral role that lineage, and specifically Leia's lineage, plays in the plot. A crucial aspect of the story involves the public revelation that Leia is Darth Vader's daughter.

In the novel, the Centrists, one of the political factions that divide the New Republic, advocate for the government to have a strong centralized authority, while the Populists, another faction including Leia, desire individual planetary governments to retain authority. Lady Carise Sindian, a senator from the Centrist faction, discovers Leia's true parentage and leaks the news, dramatically altering her political fortunes and the dynamics of the Senate.

The discovery leads to mistrust and betrayal among Leia's own party, damaging her reputation and influence in the Senate. The vast majority of Populists feel that she should have disclosed her relationship with Vader previously. The public disclosure creates ripples across the galaxy and plays a part in the eventual rise of the First Order.

Furthermore, throughout Bloodline, Leia starts picking up on missing cargo ships and funding that can't be accounted for, leading her to form the Resistance to investigate these troubling signs. She realizes that a paramilitary organization has been gaining strength, resulting in the birth of the Resistance, the first line of defense against the resurging dark forces intending to reinstate a form of the old Empire.

In essence, Claudia Gray's Bloodline provides a transition from the original Star Wars trilogy to the sequel trilogy. It explains some of the gaps between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, providing clarity on the hidden dynamics and conflicts in the New Republic and setting the stage for the eventual rise of the First Order. It makes for a profound intersect between Star Wars’ past and its future.