#high republic spoilers

[lesbinewren]

star wars has the range bc this is the same character

[darth-memes]

[chipthekeeper]

Just what I needed, more gay shit to cry about 🥲 This really is the happiest Lesbian Visibility Week

[gaymothperson]

Reading Mission to Disaster when...

That's not funny Imri! 😭

[bluntblade]

Glad to say I had a great time with Cataclysm. Great Yaddle beats and a battle in the rain make a happy blunt

[theultimatenonbinarynerd]

The Star Wars Book That Broke Me- The Rising Storm Review

Introduction

It's been a long time since I reviewed a High Republic novel on my tumblr but I have to just have to talk about this novel. Loved reading a Test Of Courage and Into The Dark but at suggested in the title, this novel broke me in all the best ways possible. My brother is moaning at me for taking so long to get through Phase 1 but after reading The Rising Storm I totally think that for my emotional wellbeing it's definitely best to take it all in at a slower. The novel was tense throughout but that ending man. As of this review I'm onto my 6th main read of 2024 and I'm still not over it. I don't think I'll ever be. For those who've read the novel you know.

Star Wars is mainly targeted for kids but I love how their still able to make really emotional and heavy books for adult fans too. Whilst Light Of The Jedi is the perfect introduction to the era of The High Republic, The Rising Storm is the perfect introduction to the stakes and how destructive the Nihil are. We get to see the cost of War and Violence. I was shocked at how tense and high stakes this novel was. Trust me none of your favourites are safe when it comes to The High Republic. It makes a nice change as the orginal two movies in the OT don't allow you to focus on death very much.

I also felt like the new characters fit in very well and didn't feel unesssacary. Nearly all the reviews I read insulted the inclusion of characters like the chancellors son and the workers at the fair but I thought they were all nesscary compared to Aftermath where you get an interlude of two people randomly fighting in a street. I'm also just really grateful that the writers of Project Luminous have clearly planned and communicated with each other.

What I Liked

Everything! I seriously did not think it could get any better than Light Of The Jedi but it has. Not only did is pass my expectations it exceeded them, it also in my personal opinion improved heavily on some people's criticisms of Light Of The Jedi. I also think all the povs are sewen perfectly together through the narrative of a single goal. I'm also really excited to pick up more of Cavan Scott's books now.

There's so much I could talk about and analyse when it comes to this gem of a novel but I'll do my best to trim down my praise to the three best aspects of this incredibly action packed novel.

First I have to praise the incredible character arcs throughout the novel. Cavan Scott manages to pick off from where we left some of out characters from Light Of The Jedi to the point you can't even tell there's been a change in writer. Elzar, Stellan, Ty, Lina Soh, Bell, Lourna, Pan and Marchion are just some of the many characters that grow throughout the novel really well. It's an impressive achievement in itself since the adult high republic novels love to include such a large cast of characters. Every character felt like they had reason to be there and like they made a difference to the story. There was also brilliantly foreshadowing in earlier parts of the novel to where some of the characters might end up. Out of all of the character arcs through Bell and Elzar's arcs definitely hit home the most as it is important to remember that asking for help isn't shameful as well as reaching out to others when grieving. The character development is the glue of this book and it really does pay off if you've read Light Of The Jedi.

Secondly the stakes. I dreaded putting this book down everyday due to how much danger Cavan manages to put our core cast through. If you had me attached me to a heart monitor whilst I was reading this novel you'd see it stay spiked up throughout. Whilst Light Of The Jedi gave the reader time to breathe the opposite can be said for The Rising Storm and I think that's what made this such an enjoyable read. This book is none stop action from start to finish and absolutely intense, from people backstabbing each other, villians that don't know when to stop and suprises that even shocked me. It's all like one big massive game of chess. Whilst Light Of The Jedi introduced us to several characters and made us feel attached to the High Republic era as a whole, The Rising Storm makes you get attached to all the characters and then makes you worry for their lives every five seconds. I promise you that I'm not exaggerating. Worst is that some of those characters do indeed die. This book does not play it safe at all and shows you just how deadly the villians are. A good action or war story should build up suspense and high stakes and Rising Storm does that very well. Nobody is safe at all! Expect to be emotionally destroyed.

Finally The Multi-POV narrative. I know a lot of people don't like this aspect and that the bombardment of characters ruined but for me it had the complete opposite effect.  The High Republic writes in a multi-pov style that adds to the mystery and intense action. Through the fast pacing of chapters and sudden pov switches Scott communicates not only the danger but also the chaos of the situation. It showed the wide scale conflict of the story and how intense things get. You could be with one character fighting on the ground before you instantly cut to the chaos in the skies. And some of the pov cuts are actually necessary.  I want Fallen Star to be happy but judging on the title alone probably not so I hope Claudia keeps the similar style Cavan nailed in Rising Storm.

This was an awesome sequel and is well worth your time. I'd talk about Dislikes but I don't have any so I'm instead going to dive into spoiler territory. Once you scroll past and get to a headline called conclusion that's how you'll know you've avoided the spoiler section.

Spoiler Discussion

That last sentence still haunts me, "For the first time Stellan Gios was afraid." It's a gut punch that adds further salt to the wound. The other character deaths still hurt but Loden Greatstorm's death was on a whole other level. Throughout the novel Cavan has made the reader go through several death scares to the point you think that Loden and Bell really are going to stay reunited.

The Nameless are the most terrifying and inventive villian ever made and I can't wait for the next appearance as I go through Phase 1. I didn't think it would be possible for the jedi to struggle so much when there's no Sith in The High Republic but oh boy I was wrong. These mother f*** literally can turn force users into pure dust and lure them into agonising visions. Ro unleashing them is so scary to think about. I felt super bad for Loden and the Nihil member Dis. The way it was written showed how brutal the creatures are. The Nameless make Palpatine look like a wolf. The Nameless are like burn blazing dragons. Heartbroken over Lodens death but these guys are like dope.

Finally I have to how ironic is the way Lourna, Pan Eyta and Marchion all turn on eachother and back stab. Even with a new Tempest Runner replacing Kassav in the mix those three were literally giving each other hell throughout the novel. Marchion is so cold and threatening whilst Pan is cocky, egotistical and blood thirsty. It'll be interesting to read how his character grows now he's "faked" his death and fled. Even Lourna knew staying loyal to him was a bad idea. I'm really looking forward to read how the Nihil develop and change as threats.

That's the spoiler discussion.

Conclusion

A perfect sequel to Light Of The Jedi that not only expands on the threat of the Nihil but also raises the stakes perfectly. This story is an absolute master piece and manages to work so well despite the odds stacked against it.

It's both slow and fast at the same time and a breath of fresh air when it comes to the Star Wars Books I have picked up so far. This is another Star Wars that's gonna be on Reread as frequencantly as possible.

As of phase 1 I know Cavan also wrote the audio drama Tempest Runner and I'm definitely excited for when I get to that. His writings brilliant and he absolutely has got me hooked. If I like Tempest Runner, I'll perhaps consider reading and listening to Dooku Jedi Lost as well.

High Republic is the goat and I'm loving it.

-Melody-

They/Them

[wantonwinnie]

Hello there, I have not read the High Republic Phase II and I know it's not finished yet, but I've been a fan and enthusiast of Jedha since Rogue One and I heard that "The High Republic" had since expanded on the lore of the place by a whole lot.

I'm asking because I'm working on a TCW canon-divergent story where Ahsoka visits Jedha alongside the Martez sisters (to smuggle kyber crystals, that is) where they also meet Chirrut + Baze and I want to see whether I could add some of the new info from "The High Republic" for Jedha's worldbuilding.

For example (just from checking Wookieepedia), there's the Convocation of the Force where the major religions on Jedha have a representative, the Church of the Force now being a legit active and openly-practiced religion instead of the underground religious organization that started during the Galactic Empire era, so on and so forth.

I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions on Jedha as a whole, its religious organizations and its political background, because Wookieepedia could only tell so much. No pressure tho.

Have a nice day ahead and May the Force of Others be with you. :)

Thanks for the questions! Because you’re a big fan of Jedha lore (I also enjoy it), I highly recommend reading the first comic issues for THR Phase II if you have the time. You don't need to read any novels beforehand, and the issues so far all take place on - and are about - Jedha. If you're up for a novel, Path of Deceit explores the Path of the Open Hand's tenants and how that interacts with that of the Jedi. If not, continue below (I will be sharing some spoilers for the comics).

First, I'll go over the lore I learned from the comics. At a high level, Jedha (also called "The Pilgrim Moon" or "The Kyber Heart") is the bustling and diverse pilgrimage site referenced in R1. Jedha was once governed by the Jedi thousands of years ago. Of four Jedi statues built during that time, only one remains upright in the desert by 382 bby, according to Jedi Oliviah. By then, the Jedi "are just one group among many" in the city, and they "aren't always the most welcome" there, as Padawan Matty describes.

The Convocation's mission, according to Matty, is to open a dialogue between the faiths and prevent/mitigate religious conflict. Oliviah describes its purpose as "an advisory body designed to promote understanding between the various religious groups on Jedha ... a place for deliberation and debate ... where all are welcome." By 382 bby, conflict is seemingly coming to a head, based on the street fight, stolen artifacts (a major plot point in Path of Deceit), and outright violence within the Convocation's proceedings.

Various faiths devoted to the Force are present there, but not all are a part of the Convocation (this is a source of conflict). Some certainly are, but others avoid it, seemingly based on their position that the other faiths are so flawed in their understanding of the Force that there is no point to dialogue. For example, one of the Truthsayers of the Force believes "the Convocation has no authority here and no right to foisting their so-called celebration on us" (referring to the Festival of Balance).

Reverent sites include the Temple of the Kyber (home to ~2300 "works of sacred art"), Fountains of Plenty, Shrine of Sarrav, Temple of the Whills, and the Convocation Chambers. There are also major Force artifacts, including the Screen of the Second Sight (stolen from the Shrine).

Identified faiths/factions include:

Jedi

Bpfasshi Mystics (depicted as a scam artist)

Truthsayers of Bpfasshi

Followers of the Black Eye

Sorcerers of Tund (force users?)

Lonto

Guardians of the Whills

Disciples of the Whills

Fallanassi

Yacombe (force users)

Matukai

Church of the Force

Path of the Open Hand

There are some more specifics on some of the faiths, which I'm happy to describe, if you're interested. There's generally a lot still to be explained (we will have to wait for more comic issues and The Battle of Jedha on Jan. 3), but that's what I could glean so far. Without more info, I can't tell you exactly what the holy city looks like by The Clone Wars, but it doesn't seem like the Convocation is going to be around much longer if the fighting keeps up.

For my thoughts, I think Jedha is a fantastic location for further worldbuilding, and that's where THR is focusing for Phase II. It continues the long expansion of new faiths of the Force, which first included in canon (to my knowledge) the Nightsisters and Church of the Force. I think the widespread presence of the Jedi in the galaxy for thousands of years likely spawned these faiths (it’s much easier to believe in something when you can witness its majesty). Jedha seems to be the primary place for the convergence of these various faiths given that it has a strong connection to the Force and has the Convocation. It’s really interesting to see a holy location like this considering that most places in past media have just been Jedi temples or sites unknown to the public (also cool!).

Jedha is really important to the Jedi – that much is clear. Many Jedi seem to make the pilgrimage or think about doing so at this time; they have an active representative on the Convocation; they protect Force artifacts; and they generally seem to care about people's views on the Force. Moreover, I think the Jedi understand that Jedha is a confluence of passionate faiths, so conflict may brew without a watchful eye. There hasn't been much indication that the Republic cares much about Jedha, but that may change.

I'm predisposed to liking the Jedi's perspective on the Force over others, but I appreciate the other perspectives we've gotten so far. Some faiths believe non-use of the Force is imperative; others think the Convocation is silly; others believe the Force should be used "neutrally" (whatever that means); others are staunch advocates of the light side. I've always liked the Jedi because they aim to serve the galaxy by protecting life - and sometimes that necessarily means fighting against evil to preserve it. While I don't think the Force only speaks to the Jedi, other faiths also need protection to practice their beliefs - and without the Jedi, who seem to be the best at it, faith in the Force would (and does) die.

I also tend to like the Jedi because of my personal background. I've never been a religious person in the sense that I believe in a higher power, an afterlife, or in the need to attend a church. My main faith is in my moral convictions. I think that mortal people - and their collective material well-being - matter more than anything. I see in the Jedi beings who fight for their moral convictions, too, albeit with a religious bent (but who wouldn't be religious when you can use the Force, am I right?).

Anyway, I'm really excited to see more about Jedha's history and culture in future stories. It’s been a big part of Phase II and has made it all the better.

[jondrawsthings]

One Last Path

[mrfandomwars]

Okay so I'm beginning to read High Republic and like

Was Mandalore counted as Obi-Wan's Outpost assignment or did go somewhere else?

[most-beloved-star]

Dex being announced for phase 2 of the High Republic led me to learn he was born 382 BBY. HE IS 363 YEARS OLD DURING REVENGE OF THE SITH

[lesbinewren]

The tags on the loden and bell post

I haven't kept up w the high Republic books do they die 😭

Be honest I don't know if I'll ever get around to finishing that series ngl

(feel free to answer privately to avoid spoiling ppl if you want)

bell is still alive but loden has one of the genuinely most horrific deaths in all of star wars (imo) and bell is like. really fucked up about it bc he saw it and it happened like, moments after they were reunited after loden was believed dead for a while (bc he was kidnapped and being tortured, also pretty horrifically)

really good books tho that i highly recommend!!!

[darth-memes]

[scratching92]

Been listening to Star Wars: Tempest Runner on my daily commute. It’s been pretty good, though I feel like some of the action got a little bit confusing towards the end of Part Five.

[chipthekeeper]

me for two whole years:

me now:

Seriously I am so kriffing happy rn

I LOVE ONE (1) JEDI MADE OF GOO!!!!!!!!

[gaymothperson]

I got sad all of the sudden cuz I realized Vern will never get to show Stellan her new lightsaber. 😭

[bluntblade]

Finished Path of Vengeance, which was very good. Matty Cathley might be the most precious Padawan of all, and I want to shake Marda Ro and demand that she start asking some questions, damnit