Between Books: Star Wars: The High Republic Into the Light

Once again we dive into The High Republic…and it was fine!

Star Wars: The High Republic Into the Light by Claudia Gray works towards resolving the B plot of The High Republic. Jedi Knight Reath Silas leads a crew of Jedi, allies, and enemies to Kasshyyyk to investigate the spread of the Blight on this forest world. The potential devastation could be devastating to the Wookies. Reath’s team faces a number of adversaries from the Blight, the Nihil, the Drengir, and more! The story is very action-heavy as Reath’s team moves from uncovering secrets about the Blight, alternating with small-scale battles. While some secrets are revealed, there is also a cost!

Claudia Gray is a good writer. And we have characters with Reath, Avon Starros, and even the villainous Nan that we have had time to learn about and in some cases are invested in. Gray places most of the story on a world that anyone claiming they are a Star Wars fan will enjoy. But it has the story negative of we know that it can’t be completely destroyed! Gray alternates well between action and story development, though we do know with this being the B storyline that there will be no resolution with the main plot.

There are still some stakes here, largely due to character investment. As a reader, we will struggle yet again with Nan and whether she can be redeemed by Reath. And I will ask yet again, what does redemption mean? Redemption is not a loss of justice. Also, going back to the early volumes of the High Republic, Gray does take some big swings with characters that at times can rock the reader.

They say the High Republic is coming to an end. I mean, I am looking forward to Darth Arms and his origin, even if that’s via comics. Star Wars: The High Republic Into the Light by Claudia Gray helps bring the main B story closer to an end, but not quite there yet. I’m left as a reader to wonder if The High Republic will be tied up in one volume for all storylines, or are there still 18 volumes to go so the architects can conclude the 6 stories.

Yoda makes his appearance and drops some wisdom. 

 

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Between Books - Bloodline

I was a big fan of Claudia Gray’s Star Wars: Lost Stars. I was impressed with the character building and Gray’s ability to keep my attention in both the big and small the moments. So seeing that she wrote the latest Princess Leia book, Bloodline, I was pretty excited. But would my excitement linger?

In Bloodline, readers discover Princess Leia’s life between the Battle of Endor and the foundation of the Resistance. Princess Leia Organa is a distinguished and somewhat older member of the New Republic’s Senate. But much like our universe, politics is division. The Senate has been split into two factions; Populists who wish to have local authority make decisions and Centrists who believe in a strong galactic central government. As Leia considers her continued role in this politically tense situation, she agrees to investigate a criminal ring as perhaps one last adventure. Leia, a Populist, is paired with Centrist Senator Ranslom Casterfo who admires the Empire’s efficiency but holds deep anger towards the late Emperor and his henchman Darth Vader. The book follows the relationship of these two different personalities as they attempt to dig deeper into a well-connected criminal underworld that could be a threat to galactic peace. And Leia’s effectiveness and loyalty is questioned as deeply held secrets of her parentage become public.

Let me cut to the chase. I am sad to say I did not enjoy Bloodline. I found that it dragged and failed to keep my interest. Like complaints that many have of the Prequels, this book simply had too much politics. And sadly it was not escapist enough for me since the political nature of the Senate seemed ripped from today’s headlines. Yes, I did enjoy this book linking original trilogy characters to Star Wars: The Force Awakens figures. And I loved the idea of finding out details of both Han Solo’ and Leia’s marriage and Han’s post Rebellion vocation. But these glimpses, regardless of how interesting a new character like Ranslom Casterfo was, just did not keep my general interest.

Star Wars fans will want to read Bloodline as it provides the rest of the story. But to me this is a borrow not a buy book. I kept reading due to the fact it is canon. It does provide more backstory to Princess Leia’s decision to become part of the Resistance and why she was outside of the Senate when the Force awakened. But the story itself is simply not my cup of tea (which they apparently drink in many forms in a Galaxy Far Far Away).

Between Books - Star Wars: Lost Stars

I have been told several times that Star Wars: Lost Stars is the best of the "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens".  And ironically it was the last installment to hit the Between Books shelf.  The journey to this film has had its downs with few ups.  Would Star Wars: Lost Stars be the shining light in this literary preparation?

Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree are two youngsters from the Outer Rim planet of Jelucan with nothing in common including culture, history and societal stature.  But they do share a love of flying and a desire to join the Empire as members of the Navy.  The two bond over their hope to abandon their world to explore the galaxy and make it a better place under the Imperial banner.  The two are selected to join an Imperial academy and begin their journey as Imperial citizens.  Though their friendship begins to fracture under the strain of Imperial service.  Eventually, Thane will turn his back on the Empire and eventually become a Rebel after witnessing the horrors the Empire can bring to a world.  Ciena however driven by her personal honor remains in Imperial service despite her strong and evolving feelings for Thane.  The drama of their relationship plays out in the background of the original Star Wars trilogy, including Hoth and Endor, and beyond the movies.  Can the two survive to discover what their relationship can truly be?

I loved Star Wars: Lost Stars.  Honestly I think it helped that the story starts with human characters in a simple to describe world.  This gives the reader time to get to know the new characters as developed by Claudia Gray before they take bigger steps into the galaxy.  Basically, I felt like I knew Thane and Ciena before more complex worlds and aliens were introduced.  And I came to like and worry about them.  By the time they arrived at the academy I was invested and after they left their friends were my friends.  I found myself tense over simple things like school assignments.  Events like watching their roles in the Battle of Hoth made me worry about the potential damage to their relationship.  Really this book is driven by their relationship, and I really enjoyed it.

And as I talked this over with another fan it became clear to me that Thane and Ciena's relationship and growing love is more authentic than others in the universe including Padme and Anakin.  Thane and Ciena's relationship is based on respect, friendship and equality.  It is not wish fulfillment but a true growing evolving relationship that we should all aspire towards.  

Like all of the books in the "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" small glimpses to the new movie are mentioned.  I am pretty sure I know where the crashed Star Destroyer from the trailer came from and even who commanded it.  And through our characters eyes we get to witness how the Rebellion responds to their victories and the Empire to their defeats.  While this book does not tell me about The First Order, it is made clear the Empire still had life to it.

Star Wars: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray is a young adult book that adults will also enjoy.  For someone like me it shows events I know well from another lens.  Honestly, I now feel for some of those Imperials who died with the destruction of the Death Star since Gray shows us how many Imperials were simply people look those we know in our galaxy.  And my expectations of what I might see in Star Wars: The Force Awakens have been built with two powers struggling to command the galaxy on more equal footing.  But in the end, it is just a really good book.  It is the best of "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and best of all it is something we really need more of, a really good Star Wars book!