A review by astropova
The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott

adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Very cool. I thought the pacing was really good, and the author does a good job of setting up both twists and their payoffs. I also like seeing both the good guy and the bad guy POVs.

Spoilery summary of the main points, but I can't spell any names because I did the audiobook:
The Nihil attack the Republic's fancy new ship. There are differing opinions on whether to continue with the giant expensive fair that promotes unity, but Chancellor Soh decides to keep it going because she wants the Togruta to ally with the Republic.

Meanwhile, Marchion To is having power struggles with Pan Eyta. Ro goes to a secret planet to find a piece of an ancient artifact and also a beast frozen in the ice. The beast is particularly powerful against force-sensitives. He brings both back with him.

Elzar Mann is struggling because he had nightmarish force visions. Bell Zettifar is struggling because apparently his master Loden Greatstorm got killed by the Nihil, but really he is imprisoned and tortured by them. Stellan Geos is struggling because they just made him a Council Member and he doesn't know how to feel about it.

The fair goes ahead and is obviously attacked by the Nihil. A lot of people die and it's a catastrophe, but the Jedi manage to beat them back together. Also there is a reporter named Rill Dyro(?) who gets a distress call out and the Togruta come to help. The Chancellor and the Togruta Queen work together to save civilians and stuff. Then the Chancellor is gravely wounded. Stellan Geos almost gets killed by Lourna Dee. Also Ty Yorrick is a former Jedi or something, we don't know her story yet. She gets over her mistrust of Jedi to help Elzar save the day.

Everyone is alive, and the Togruta Queen says they will ally with the Republic. Then they set a trap for the Nihil, eliminating Pan Eyta's fleet but he escapes, though he is dying due to being poisoned by Ro and semi-saved by Dee. The Jedi follow a Nihil back to Ron's base and Bell finds Loden there again. Elzar has another crazy nightmare vision. Loden escapes from Ro, but Ro activates the crazy weapon/beast combo. Bell is traumatized and Loden gets turned to stone and disintegrated.

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