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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
If the narrator for this audiobook could just… not do any more Star Wars books, that would be great.
Race to Crashpoint Tower' takes place parallel to the events in 'The Rising Storm'.
The story was also teased multiple times in 'The Rising Storm'.
Unfortunately, the part of the story that 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' is about is then missing from 'The Rising Storm'. And the story is not exactly unimportant, but significantly contributes to the events of ' The Rising Storm '.
Because of this, ‘The Rising Storm’ sometimes gave the impression that Cavan was just too lazy to go into detail about this story. Which, as it now turns out, was not the case.
Besides, these short allusions in 'The Rising Strom' only confuse you more than they help you.
'Race to Crashpoint Tower' itself had neither an introduction, nor many explanations in the middle or at the end and is therefore very short. These explanations are also not needed, since all this already happens in 'The Rising Storm'.
But that's why you can't read the book on its own. You have to read 'The Rising Storm' before, to even begin to understand what is happening, since it is not explained.
Vice versa, you also have to have read 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' to fill in the gaps of ' The Rising Strom'.
Neither book can exist without the other.
In the end, it would probably have been best for both books if the story of 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' had been shortened, modified and put directly into 'The Rising Storm'. Instead, they could have told a different, more independent story in this book.
Of the same characters, but then of their adventures on the Star Hopper. Of course, this would need to fit with the 'High Republic Adventures', but that shouldn't be a problem since it's the same author. Besides, you still have to explain there anyway where Ram suddenly came from.
The book itself is not badly written, but not as good as 'The Rising Storm'. And I understand that you have to adapt the style a bit for a junior novel, but I found written out sound effects of lightsabers a bit too childish and ridiculous.
Overall, 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' is the weakest book in High Republic until now. And although no book in the series has been without flaws, 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' is the only one I'm a little disappointed in so far.
The story was also teased multiple times in 'The Rising Storm'.
Unfortunately, the part of the story that 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' is about is then missing from 'The Rising Storm'. And the story is not exactly unimportant, but significantly contributes to the events of ' The Rising Storm '.
Because of this, ‘The Rising Storm’ sometimes gave the impression that Cavan was just too lazy to go into detail about this story. Which, as it now turns out, was not the case.
Besides, these short allusions in 'The Rising Strom' only confuse you more than they help you.
'Race to Crashpoint Tower' itself had neither an introduction, nor many explanations in the middle or at the end and is therefore very short. These explanations are also not needed, since all this already happens in 'The Rising Storm'.
But that's why you can't read the book on its own. You have to read 'The Rising Storm' before, to even begin to understand what is happening, since it is not explained.
Vice versa, you also have to have read 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' to fill in the gaps of ' The Rising Strom'.
Neither book can exist without the other.
In the end, it would probably have been best for both books if the story of 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' had been shortened, modified and put directly into 'The Rising Storm'. Instead, they could have told a different, more independent story in this book.
Of the same characters, but then of their adventures on the Star Hopper. Of course, this would need to fit with the 'High Republic Adventures', but that shouldn't be a problem since it's the same author. Besides, you still have to explain there anyway where Ram suddenly came from.
The book itself is not badly written, but not as good as 'The Rising Storm'. And I understand that you have to adapt the style a bit for a junior novel, but I found written out sound effects of lightsabers a bit too childish and ridiculous.
Overall, 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' is the weakest book in High Republic until now. And although no book in the series has been without flaws, 'Race to Crashpoint Tower' is the only one I'm a little disappointed in so far.
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This basically reads like an addendum to the Nihil attack section in the latter half of The Rising Storm, which was my least favorite part. The narrator pronounces Nihil and Drengir differently from the rest of the audiobooks, the novel is mostly tame action. Just felt a little tedious
This was a fun and fast paced ride that was a nice follow up (as well as a palate cleanser) to the Rising Storm, the last High Republic novel. I loved the characters within it. Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram and Lula Talisola have great arcs in the book. We saw Ram a little bit in The Rising Storm but he is fleshed out here. Lula features prominently in the High Republic Advenutres graphic novels and featured prominently here as well. Her exploits in those books are mentioned. This book's events are concurrent with the last book, so we see a lot of crossover. Ty Yorrick features prominently because she and Ram are in the same prison! The Jedi Council in the last book mentioned Ram's report on the Drengir and we get to see why. Love the crossover!
It also shows there can be different kinds of Jedi and Force users than is typically depicted in #StarWars and I love it. It was refreshing to see. It reminded me of neurodivergency and how not all people's brains process things differently. It made me smile to see that kind of representation in a Star Wars novel.
I also really enjoyed the conversation Luna and Vernestra (who I am henceforth affectionately nicknaming "Don't Call Me Vern") had about attachments as a Jedi. It's a hot button issue coming from the prequels and nice to see it addressed. I wonder how we get to the more beureaucratic Jedi of the prequels from this more accepting and open version of the Jedi that existed 200 years prior. I'll be interested to see that develop in this series.
Fun book with some great ideas. #TheHighRepublic scores again!
It also shows there can be different kinds of Jedi and Force users than is typically depicted in #StarWars and I love it. It was refreshing to see. It reminded me of neurodivergency and how not all people's brains process things differently. It made me smile to see that kind of representation in a Star Wars novel.
I also really enjoyed the conversation Luna and Vernestra (who I am henceforth affectionately nicknaming "Don't Call Me Vern") had about attachments as a Jedi. It's a hot button issue coming from the prequels and nice to see it addressed. I wonder how we get to the more beureaucratic Jedi of the prequels from this more accepting and open version of the Jedi that existed 200 years prior. I'll be interested to see that develop in this series.
Fun book with some great ideas. #TheHighRepublic scores again!
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Some History:
Daniel Jose Older’s Han Solo-centric novel, [b:Last Shot|38602136|Last Shot A Han and Lando Novel (Star Wars)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518834314l/38602136._SY75_.jpg|60209238] was definitely intended for adult audiences, but his original fiction runs the gambit from adult and young adult urban fantasy ([b:Half-Resurrection Blues|22393174|Half-Resurrection Blues (Bone Street Rumba, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1401879207l/22393174._SY75_.jpg|41813786] & [b:Shadowshaper|22295304|Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416429594l/22295304._SX50_.jpg|41683308]) to middle grade alternate history novels featuring dinosaurs ([b:Dactyl Hill Squad|38276982|Dactyl Hill Squad (Dactyl Hill Squad, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518631327l/38276982._SY75_.jpg|59947382]). Race to Crashpoint Tower is the second middle grade novel within the High Republic series, and shows readers another side of the Nihil attack on the Republic Fair. Race to Crashpoint Tower made it to number four on the New York Times children's middle grade hardcover bestseller list for the week of July 18, 2021.
Summary:
The Republic Fair is coming to Valo! But when a security alarm goes off on nearby Crashpoint Peak, Padawan Ram Jomaram discovers that someone has knocked out Valo's communications tower—a frightening sign that Valo and the Republic Fair are in danger. Luckily, he's about to get some help from unexpected new friends…
The Good:
—I really liked Ram Jomaram. I love when we get characters unlike the stereotypical Jedi, and Ram reminded me a lot of Anakin Solo from the old Expanded Universe: he’s very mechanically adept, and he’s good at seeing how things work together. He struggles with the combat side of his Jedi training, but his skills end up benefiting everyone around him. He’s able to get the communications tower up and running, but he’s also able to disable Nihil vessels specifically because of his innate mechanical skills.
—I also liked how we were able to fill in some of [b:The Rising Storm|55644027|The Rising Storm (Star Wars The High Republic)|Cavan Scott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607094743l/55644027._SY75_.jpg|86770586]’s gaps, in particular how and why Ram ended up in jail at the same time as Ty Yorrick. (He found out that Crashpoint Tower was offline, so he tried to alert the Jedi and send a message to Starlight Station, only for the Valo Security Forces to disbelieve him and throw him in jail.)
The Bad:
—Unfortunately, Race to Crashpoint Tower reiterates to me how interconnected the High Republic books and comics are...sometimes to their detriment. Our other main POV character is Padawan Lula Talisola, who was first introduced in the High Republic Adventures comic. (I know the first five issues are on the Hoopla library app, but I haven’t read them yet!) While Older gives us the basics of her character and what she’s recently encountered, she and her Master Sy and her friend Zeen are completely new to the reader. I felt like the beginning of her plotline relied too heavily on the reader being knowledgeable about that comic.
—Likewise, I felt like the Nihil’s attack on the Fair relied too much on information and events from The Rising Storm. We have the Nihil’s gas attack, Ram and Lula wandering into the zoo and the animals running amok--which you can follow, but it’s probably easier to follow if you’ve read The Rising Storm. And since that’s an adult novel, I’m not sure how well child readers will be able to follow along with these events.
—And finally, the tone was a little silly, which I think was entirely intentional. (When you read a middle grade book as an adult, you have to admit that this kind of book isn’t written for you, it’s written for a child between the ages of 8 and 12.) So while I appreciated that the Drengir scenes were not too scary, there was some tonal disconnect for me because their previous appearances in the adult and YA novels has been pretty darn frightening! While they’re a threat to our young hero and heroines, they’re much more comedic relief than I expected. Sometimes the dialogue of our main characters felt too much like 21st century Earth slang to me; but again, I’m not the target audience here.
My Verdict:
Race to Crashpoint Tower is an exciting kid-friendly look at the Nihil attack on the Republic Fair. We meet a new mechanically-minded Padawan, and we’re also reintroduced to some interesting characters from the High Republic Adventures comic. I do question how well a child reader would be able to follow along with the events of the story, though, as it relies heavily on information given in [b:The Rising Storm|55644027|The Rising Storm (Star Wars The High Republic)|Cavan Scott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607094743l/55644027._SY75_.jpg|86770586], a novel for adult audiences. I wish that Race to Crashpoint Tower stood on its own a little more.
My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/Xn9AUgtp990
Illustrations by Petur Antonsson: https://imgur.com/a/YwEUufh
“I’m just trying to make myself laugh - Daniel Jose Older on infusing humor into Star Wars: The High Republic”: https://www.starwars.com/news/daniel-jose-older-race-to-crashpoint-tower-interview
Daniel Jose Older’s Han Solo-centric novel, [b:Last Shot|38602136|Last Shot A Han and Lando Novel (Star Wars)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518834314l/38602136._SY75_.jpg|60209238] was definitely intended for adult audiences, but his original fiction runs the gambit from adult and young adult urban fantasy ([b:Half-Resurrection Blues|22393174|Half-Resurrection Blues (Bone Street Rumba, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1401879207l/22393174._SY75_.jpg|41813786] & [b:Shadowshaper|22295304|Shadowshaper (Shadowshaper, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416429594l/22295304._SX50_.jpg|41683308]) to middle grade alternate history novels featuring dinosaurs ([b:Dactyl Hill Squad|38276982|Dactyl Hill Squad (Dactyl Hill Squad, #1)|Daniel José Older|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518631327l/38276982._SY75_.jpg|59947382]). Race to Crashpoint Tower is the second middle grade novel within the High Republic series, and shows readers another side of the Nihil attack on the Republic Fair. Race to Crashpoint Tower made it to number four on the New York Times children's middle grade hardcover bestseller list for the week of July 18, 2021.
Summary:
The Republic Fair is coming to Valo! But when a security alarm goes off on nearby Crashpoint Peak, Padawan Ram Jomaram discovers that someone has knocked out Valo's communications tower—a frightening sign that Valo and the Republic Fair are in danger. Luckily, he's about to get some help from unexpected new friends…
The Good:
—I really liked Ram Jomaram. I love when we get characters unlike the stereotypical Jedi, and Ram reminded me a lot of Anakin Solo from the old Expanded Universe: he’s very mechanically adept, and he’s good at seeing how things work together. He struggles with the combat side of his Jedi training, but his skills end up benefiting everyone around him. He’s able to get the communications tower up and running, but he’s also able to disable Nihil vessels specifically because of his innate mechanical skills.
—I also liked how we were able to fill in some of [b:The Rising Storm|55644027|The Rising Storm (Star Wars The High Republic)|Cavan Scott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607094743l/55644027._SY75_.jpg|86770586]’s gaps, in particular how and why Ram ended up in jail at the same time as Ty Yorrick. (He found out that Crashpoint Tower was offline, so he tried to alert the Jedi and send a message to Starlight Station, only for the Valo Security Forces to disbelieve him and throw him in jail.)
The Bad:
—Unfortunately, Race to Crashpoint Tower reiterates to me how interconnected the High Republic books and comics are...sometimes to their detriment. Our other main POV character is Padawan Lula Talisola, who was first introduced in the High Republic Adventures comic. (I know the first five issues are on the Hoopla library app, but I haven’t read them yet!) While Older gives us the basics of her character and what she’s recently encountered, she and her Master Sy and her friend Zeen are completely new to the reader. I felt like the beginning of her plotline relied too heavily on the reader being knowledgeable about that comic.
—Likewise, I felt like the Nihil’s attack on the Fair relied too much on information and events from The Rising Storm. We have the Nihil’s gas attack, Ram and Lula wandering into the zoo and the animals running amok--which you can follow, but it’s probably easier to follow if you’ve read The Rising Storm. And since that’s an adult novel, I’m not sure how well child readers will be able to follow along with these events.
—And finally, the tone was a little silly, which I think was entirely intentional. (When you read a middle grade book as an adult, you have to admit that this kind of book isn’t written for you, it’s written for a child between the ages of 8 and 12.) So while I appreciated that the Drengir scenes were not too scary, there was some tonal disconnect for me because their previous appearances in the adult and YA novels has been pretty darn frightening! While they’re a threat to our young hero and heroines, they’re much more comedic relief than I expected. Sometimes the dialogue of our main characters felt too much like 21st century Earth slang to me; but again, I’m not the target audience here.
My Verdict:
Race to Crashpoint Tower is an exciting kid-friendly look at the Nihil attack on the Republic Fair. We meet a new mechanically-minded Padawan, and we’re also reintroduced to some interesting characters from the High Republic Adventures comic. I do question how well a child reader would be able to follow along with the events of the story, though, as it relies heavily on information given in [b:The Rising Storm|55644027|The Rising Storm (Star Wars The High Republic)|Cavan Scott|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607094743l/55644027._SY75_.jpg|86770586], a novel for adult audiences. I wish that Race to Crashpoint Tower stood on its own a little more.
My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/Xn9AUgtp990
Illustrations by Petur Antonsson: https://imgur.com/a/YwEUufh
“I’m just trying to make myself laugh - Daniel Jose Older on infusing humor into Star Wars: The High Republic”: https://www.starwars.com/news/daniel-jose-older-race-to-crashpoint-tower-interview