– Minor Spoiler Review –
With Phase II done and Phase III on its way, the luminous beings behind The High Republic offer up Tales of Light and Life, a well-prepared treat of a dessert, full of complexity, heart, flavor, and all the toppings you’ve come to expect from them, all while melding together layers of Phases for a scrumptious bite of light and life of the era. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review: The High Republic – Tales of Light and Life”
– Minor Spoilers –
The finale 6 years in the making, From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi closes out one daring, fun, and always exciting initiative to celebrate the 40th anniversary for each original trilogy film. Considering it would be at least 16 years before we’d ever see one again (yes, The Phantom Menace’s 40th is closer than I imagined), if they do one then, this is the end for the foreseeable future, and at least it went out on a high note. Despite 40 different authors across 40 different stories, an overarching theme, consistent quality of tales, mini-trilogy finales amongst the stories, and surprising choices lead to a finale which takes readers back to 1983 in the best way possible. Continue reading “Novel Review: From a Certain Point of View – Return of the Jedi”
40 years of Return of the Jedi can only mean one thing…a new edition of From a Certain Point of View! Does the third movie’s edition hold as much fun and excitement as the previous two?
Continue reading “Novel Review by Chris: From a Certain Point of View – Return of the Jedi”
In Charles Soule’s Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith, we spend a lot of time with Darth Vader after he was defeated on Mustafar. Part of spending time with Vader was seeing how he interacted with the Inquisitors, who were (mostly) fallen Jedi, who were commissioned by the Emperor to track down Jedi who survived Order 66 and eliminate them. In one of the story arcs, we meet two unnamed Inquisitors, whom Vader chases across Coruscant after he suspects them of treason. This story, in the comic, was the motivation for Palpatine to give Vader Mustafar, where he built his fortress. Delilah S. Dawson, author of Phasma and Black Spire, took these characters and built an entire novel around them, hoping to expand their stories a bit. This novel was birthed out of that desire, and it comes years after the comic. The question is: was it worth the wait? Is this a story worth telling? And, ultimately, I’m leaning toward: maybe it was worth being told, but this novel made me wish that it hadn’t been. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review by Chris: Inquisitor – Rise of the Red Blade”
– Spoiler Review –
Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson charts a more unusual path for a Jedi…how one falls and joins the deadly organization known as the Inquisitors! Picking up in thrills once Iskat Akaris finds herself in the Inquisitorious halls, which comes far too late in the novel, Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade’s fatalistic attitude, repetition, brushing over certain aspects, and concerns over character coding holds it back. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review: Inquisitor – Rise of the Red Blade”
The Path of the Open Hand finds itself at a decisive moment after the Battle of Jedha. But cousins Marda and Yana Ro cannot decide where they fit in the future of the Path, and their choices and relationship may alter the course of the future…forever. Join us as I review The High Republic: Path of Vengeance!
Continue reading “Canon Novel Review by Chris: The High Republic – Path of Vengeance”
As the age of hyperspace exploration grows, prospectors are hungry to find new planets and moons to explore – and claim for their own. But a young group of pilots is going for the biggest catch of them all: the fabled Planet X! Can the help of a Jedi, and the opposition of a member of the Path of the Open Hand, move them closer to their quest? Join us as I review The High Republic: Quest for Planet X.
Continue reading “Canon Novel Review by Chris: The High Republic – Quest for Planet X”
– Spoiler Review –
As one of The High Republic’s Phase II final acts, Cavan Scott’s The High Republic – Path of Vengeance is a tome packed with revelations, fantastic character work, and a riveting final act as he’s been known to deliver, marking this as an ending you don’t want to miss, even if some things feel too little too late. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review: The High Republic – Path of Vengeance”
– Non-Spoiler Review –
Connecting to the previous Phase II middle grade book with some familiar faces, The High Republic – Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton doesn’t just share characters, it also delivers an entertaining and layered story where the characters take precedence over the plot. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review: The High Republic – Quest for Planet X”
– Spoiler Review –
Lydia Kang makes her The High Republic debut with the second adult novel and beginning of the end for Phase II, Cataclysm. Picking up after the disastrous events of The Battle of Jedha, the Forever War reignited between Eiram and E’ronoh, Cataclysm sees the Jedi and Republic searching for answers, leading them to a confrontation with the mysterious Path of the Open Hand cult. And what does the disgraced son of one of the Chancellors have to do with it? Many of Phase II’s threads collide in this packed yet eventful novel, where humor, heart, well-written characters, and a dazzling display of this era’s interesting aspects intertwine with a memorable final act. Continue reading “Canon Novel Review: The High Republic – Cataclysm”
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