The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
whocop's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Grief, Animal cruelty, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
jenny_librarian's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
The only reason I didnât DNF this is because I was worried Iâd miss important information to the more general THR plot (and I was right).
This has to be my least favourite THR book so far. The other YA (and even the MG) novels felt more connected, while this felt very much like an afterthought. I didnât like the writing, and it couldâve used some more edits.Â
I also didnât care much for Zeen and Krix. I guess you have to be a fan of the comics to really like them. Ram was fine, if underdeveloped. Reath was the one I connected with the most, but I assume thatâs because I already knew him from past novels.
What bugged me the most (infuriated me, to be exact) was how the author kept trying to hammer in the âJedi can love tooâ plot point. We know that. I donât need you to shove 3 different clumsy romantic arcs to tell me that Jedi can be alloromantic. And not one of them actually understands what the whole âno attachmentâ thing means. Kantamâs backstory felt glued on with duck tape. Lula and Zeen had about 5 min together in this. The only somewhat realistic romance was Crash and Sviâno, but even that was watered down by everything else happening in there.
I am deeply disappointed in this. For a book that happens at the same time as The Fallen Star, I didnât feel the same urgency here until the last 15%. And even thenâŠ
This has to be my least favourite THR book so far. The other YA (and even the MG) novels felt more connected, while this felt very much like an afterthought. I didnât like the writing, and it couldâve used some more edits.Â
I also didnât care much for Zeen and Krix. I guess you have to be a fan of the comics to really like them. Ram was fine, if underdeveloped. Reath was the one I connected with the most, but I assume thatâs because I already knew him from past novels.
What bugged me the most (infuriated me, to be exact) was how the author kept trying to hammer in the âJedi can love tooâ plot point. We know that. I donât need you to shove 3 different clumsy romantic arcs to tell me that Jedi can be alloromantic. And not one of them actually understands what the whole âno attachmentâ thing means. Kantamâs backstory felt glued on with duck tape. Lula and Zeen had about 5 min together in this. The only somewhat realistic romance was Crash and Sviâno, but even that was watered down by everything else happening in there.
I am deeply disappointed in this. For a book that happens at the same time as The Fallen Star, I didnât feel the same urgency here until the last 15%. And even thenâŠ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, War, and Blood
Moderate: Grief and Xenophobia
Minor: Death and Death of parent
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It took me around 100 pages to really get into this one, but I ended up quite enjoying it. I do think that I enjoy Older's storytelling more in a visual format, but, again, I ended up liking it in the end. I also enjoyed that there was not one, but TWO pairs of yearning sapphic couples in here. I also really liked the ending of this book and what it sets up for the next phase of this story.
Also, I really like that this showed that the Jedi Order is a pretty flexible as an institution. It once again feels like Anakin truly was a mess of his own making. Everything with Yoda was so good, and I just can't wait to see where this goes!Â
Also, I really like that this showed that the Jedi Order is a pretty flexible as an institution. It once again feels like Anakin truly was a mess of his own making. Everything with Yoda was so good, and I just can't wait to see where this goes!Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Grief, and Death
billyjepma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I struggled with this one more than anything else in The High Republic series so far. Older's writing works wonderfully for middle-grade books, but the transition to YA with this one was choppier than I was expecting. A lot of the humor didn't land for me, the stakes were murky until the very end, the plot struggled to settle on a direction, and the prevailing tone just didn't vibe with me. It feels like the book is stuck in a disorienting limbo between MG and YA. However, considering I'm not the intended demographic for this particular title, I'm happy to accept that this wasn't for me. But it's still disappointing.
There is quite a bit of good to be found, though. For one, the book is rich with diversityâspotlighting diverse characters has always been one of Older's strengths. I loved spending more time with Jedi Master Kantam Sy and thought their flashbacks to their apprenticeship with Yoda were a treat (albeit one that didn't quite mesh with the rest of the plot). It's a very queer book in a lot of lovely ways, and I love it for that. I also love how Older writes Jedi and found many of his insights into their thoughts and motivations refreshingly candid, which has been a significant highlight of The High Republic for me. I wish the plot integrated those themes smoother, but I appreciated them nonetheless.
The book does end on a very high note, which does a lot to lessen the general disinterest I had with much of the book until that point. Those final 100 pages are a nonstop race of riveting action sequences, razor-sharp pacing, tangible stakes, and moving heroism. It also acts as another ending for this first phase of The High Republic, setting up future plotlines while resolving current ones from this book, Older's The High Republic Adventures comic, and more. I can't say I love all of these developments, but I enjoyed them as they happened and am eager, as always, to see what comes next.
There is quite a bit of good to be found, though. For one, the book is rich with diversityâspotlighting diverse characters has always been one of Older's strengths. I loved spending more time with Jedi Master Kantam Sy and thought their flashbacks to their apprenticeship with Yoda were a treat (albeit one that didn't quite mesh with the rest of the plot). It's a very queer book in a lot of lovely ways, and I love it for that. I also love how Older writes Jedi and found many of his insights into their thoughts and motivations refreshingly candid, which has been a significant highlight of The High Republic for me. I wish the plot integrated those themes smoother, but I appreciated them nonetheless.
The book does end on a very high note, which does a lot to lessen the general disinterest I had with much of the book until that point. Those final 100 pages are a nonstop race of riveting action sequences, razor-sharp pacing, tangible stakes, and moving heroism. It also acts as another ending for this first phase of The High Republic, setting up future plotlines while resolving current ones from this book, Older's The High Republic Adventures comic, and more. I can't say I love all of these developments, but I enjoyed them as they happened and am eager, as always, to see what comes next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
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