– Non-Spoiler Review –
Ronin – A Visions Novel, written by Emma Mieko Candon, is one of a kind in so many ways, all of them stupendously good. Based off Star Wars Visions’ “The Duel,” Ronin expands on the short’s world, diving deep into its memorable characters and ripening its already intriguing story/take on the galaxy far, far away, resulting in a refreshing read that has all the hallmarks of the franchise wrapped in its original influences, explored with engulfing conversations and revelations that’ll stick with readers long after they finish.
Readers can easily enjoy Ronin without having seen Star Wars Visions’ “The Duel,” as it sucks you into its world thanks to Emma Mieko Candon’s deft, detailed prose, building up the feudal Japanese world envisioned by the team at Kamikaze Douga with lush descriptions and metaphors which anchor the story in its vibrant representation of the culture. Having watched “The Duel” after reading Ronin, I was surprised how much Candon expanded on the world, as the opening few chapters are the entirety of the short, but how much they added is almost shocking, but in an amazing, exciting way that help propels Ronin into one of Star Wars novels’ greats. I could almost argue you don’t need to watch “The Duel,” Ronin is so good, but it would do all the team’s a disservice, as there cannot be one without the other; as Luke Skywalker says, “Powerful light, powerful dark,” a theme that weaves it way through Ronin as usage of the Force is described as white or black currents.
In the world of Ronin, which wears its feudal Japan influence all over its sleeves, Jedi clans run by many different Lords vied for power, using their Knights and Guardians as pawns in their own games to gain control. One Jedi Knight decided to stand up for their fellow Jedi and leads a Rebellion against their Lords’ over the mistreatment of the lowly soldiers, earning them the title of the dark lord and their rebellious followers the Sith. The Sith and their rebellion fizzled as fast as it started, for mysterious reasons readers uncover in Ronin, which picks up 20 years after the rebellion ended. Out of its ashes came an Empire, a poor excuse for peace, as Jedi Lords still secretly clash for power and violence still rules the land. The eponymous Ronin wanders the galaxy in self-imposed exile for his part in the rebellion, but a voice in his head haunts him, guiding him towards his fellow Sith comrades despite his attempts to avoid violence and his complicated past. While “The Duel” only hints at these elements, Ronin develops them into a sprawling, entertaining, and enchanting story and world that feels so distinct yet so much like the Saga we all know and love. In fact, there were times while reading I almost forgot it was Star Wars, in a good way, that when familiar terms like kyber crystals, lightsabers, the Force, hyperspace, and more popped up again, it grounded it back in the overall universe.
The characters breathe so much life into Ronin’s story, it simultaneously feels like I’ve read countless stories with them before and feels so refreshingly new at same time. Of course the big focus is on the Ronin himself, but the group of characters that weave into the story leave an indelible impression on Ronin’s tapestry, sometimes more so than the old man himself. With Ronin, the book’s slow but purposeful dive into his past is a rewarding journey, due more from the emotional side of the tale as he come to terms with what he did and how to best atone for it, less his actual past. His relationships with the rest of the characters, as their secrets or journeys come clear as well, are the backbone of the story and what help sympathize him for readers, as all of their experiences and choices also help him see his path forward, even if he loses his way a few times. It’s far more than I expected from the mainly silent protagonist of “The Duel,” and while he remains very silent in the novel, his few words are cutting and often funny, while Emma’s internal dialogue for him, especially as he speaks with the other voice in his head, paint a fuller picture of the man and how he went from his past to his current, almost mute-like state. B5, the adorable astromech with the straw hat, offers some hilarious commentary on the Ronin’s words and actions, but their unbreakable friendship betrays their outwardly rude behavior towards one another. He’s an interesting focus for the novel and his story, which was left open with a few questions in the short, is an expansion I hope to one day see for other shorts in the Visions catalogue.
Out of the rest of the fantastic cast of characters, Kouru is my overall favorite. If you’ve watched “The Duel,” then you’re probably already a fan of her too: she’s the Sith Bandit Leader, with that brilliant umbrella lightsaber contraption. Yes, she died at the end of the short, but her continued presence in Ronin, and how it ties into the story’s past and present, are secrets I won’t reveal here but suffice to say they are vital to what makes this such a special, memorable read. Kouru’s battle for autonomy, as a voice in her head (is it the same as the one in Ronin’s or different?) pushes against and with her impulses, which starts by trying to return the favor Ronin paid her. Her journey grows far beyond such impulses and her struggle to find her purpose, especially after her death, is a haunting examination of a second chance, but also a hopeful though grounded take on gaining back control in one’s life. It’s weird to say grounded, given how fantastical Ronin gets by its end, but I feel like Kouru’s struggles translate despite it all. Her conversations with the pilot Ekiya are my favorite of the novel, as it’s two women helping one another accept and come to terms with their decisions in the past, present, and future, despite vast differences (one’s dead, technically!) and it was something very refreshing to see in a Star Wars novel. I feel like Kouru will come to be many reader’s favorites so come join our fan club once you’re done reading!
The Traveler, or Fox as they are more affectionately called by the crew of the Poor Crow, is the book’s most enigmatic character, though hints are littered throughout which reveal the truth they so desperately hide or can’t remember themselves. As much as I enjoyed Ekiya and Kouru’s conversations, Fox and Ronin’s are next, as neither one is willing to reveal much about themselves, and when either do, it’s more riddles wrapped around vague but impactful answers. Fox is a storyteller by nature, despite their often deflections about themselves, and some of my favorite little sections of the book are their stories, which disappointingly go away towards the end, though the ultimate revelations about their role in everything more than make up for it, especially as their connections to certain characters come clear. Ekiya was a fun character to throw into the mix, this story’s Han Solo to some extent considering she’s the pilot, doesn’t have any connection to the Force, and doesn’t have time for everyone’s drama, but she actually has a crusade in this game and her disconnect from all the other characters’ problems allows her to be the anchor for the team. She helps Kouru the most, as I mentioned earlier with their excellent conversations, while she helps keep everyone from fighting everyone else as revelations arise, in some of the books funnier scenes. Lastly there’s Chie, an old woman everyone calls ‘Aunty,’ who has her own set of secrets and alliances, and underestimating her due to her age is the biggest regret anyone will ever have.
While there is plenty of action in Ronin, what I appreciated the most was how it’s not the focus of the novel, as most conflicts are resolved through other actions and words between characters. It was nice to have a book that allowed characters to resolve things in such a way, as while violence and action do occur, it’s purposeful and part of the story, rarely feeling like a big action scene just to have a big action scene. Like a samurai battle between two great sword masters (or long time foes), the action is quick, brutal, and never lingers longer than it needs to. On top of that, the book’s finale is one of the most imaginative, wild, wonderful, emotional rides in recent Star Wars history, topping even the spectacular Chapter 18 in Alphabet Squadron: Shadow Fall. While it’s clear throughout Emma Mieko Candon has had carte blanche with this world and its take on Star Wars, they take it all into hyperdrive and reveal just how much freedom they had, delivering a finale that builds on everything before it, introduces some stellar and memorable concepts, and contains a twist so obvious in retrospect you’re eager to reread the entirety of Ronin. On top of all that, it’s emotionally rewarding, both for the characters and the readers, as they all grow, change, and make choices that’ll change the future of the world in Ronin forever. The story of Ronin all stems from the cyclical nature of life and conflicts, represented in a wonderful way with the final chapter or through its white/black currents, and I guess it’s ironic in a way you’ll want to reread it when it’s over.
Here are a few other things:
- I’ve been playing PlayStation’s Ghost of Tsushima for the past few months, totaling over 40 hours so far, and am getting near to completing the game. Reading Ronin while playing Tsushima was a great experience, as there were similarities over the way characters talked and interacted, while a riff between a ruling lord and a main character played similarly as well. Both pay reverent homages to samurai cinema and it was easy to see Ronin‘s world being translated into a Tsushima like game, even if for a small DLC (downloadable content) pack. How about it, Sucker Punch Productions?!
- Chris also shared a review of Ronin!
- You can find all our Star Wars Visions reviews here!
- One of the things I really need to highlight as well, though as you can see there are so many other aspects Ronin deserves praise on already, but it’s a waterfall of representation for the LGBTQ+ community and full of firsts for the Saga as a whole. Obviously, as referenced by ‘their’ pronouns, Fox is non-binary, something none of the characters question, care about, or worry over, as that’s simply what they are and it’s so artfully handled by Emma; there’s a trans-written character, though I had to have someone else point it out for it to click and now I totally get it; and more. It’s not just the shear amount of representation that’s impressive and exciting to have in Star Wars, it’s how seamless Emma manages it in Ronin, making one wonder why it’s been so hard for other Star Wars authors and content to provide ANY of this representation. The novels are leaps and bounds over anything else in the Saga, but even they haven’t had as many or as important characters who happen to fall into LGBTQ+ categories that Ronin focuses on, though they are headed in the right direction and allowing so much here gives me the hope it’ll expand in the canon novels as well.
Emma Mieko Candon’s Ronin — A Visions Novel is not the Star Wars we all remember but it’s Star Wars to its core, as it’s so reverent of both its source material of the Star Wars Visions short “The Duel” and the Saga itself that it creates a wholly memorable universe with a set of characters and story readers won’t want to miss.
+ Anchor’s tale in the short’s vibrant representation of feudal Japan
+ Emma Mieko Candon’s prose, pacing, and refreshing character work
+ Kouru’s journey (and her convos with Ekiya)
+ Depth and breadth of conversations
+ Wild, imaginative, emotional ending
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in order to provide a review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.