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draven_deathcrush's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Okay, I really don't like the High Republic. I really liked the first book, but the characters did so much stupid shit in the second that I barely got through this. I just wanted to finish the series, so I got through it, but yeah. I might try Phase 2, but we'll see. I did love Bell tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
izzyttt's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Once again Claudia Gray kills me with her Star Wars stories. This was SO GOOD!
Much like the Hyperspace Disaster, this doesn’t let up at all. The beginning is a little slow, but once the action gets going it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. And what and ending!
I absolutely love Elzar Mann. He’s my favourite character. Reminds me a lot of Anakin, and I believes he serves as a great contrast and window as to what could’ve happened if Ani hadn’t given into the dark side.
Some characters I like less, like Geode for whom I don’t care about at all, and Nan who I just find boring.
Definitely one of the best THR books so far!
Much like the Hyperspace Disaster, this doesn’t let up at all. The beginning is a little slow, but once the action gets going it keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. And what and ending!
I absolutely love Elzar Mann. He’s my favourite character. Reminds me a lot of Anakin, and I believes he serves as a great contrast and window as to what could’ve happened if Ani hadn’t given into the dark side.
Some characters I like less, like Geode for whom I don’t care about at all, and Nan who I just find boring.
Definitely one of the best THR books so far!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Xenophobia and War
Minor: Torture and Death of parent
parenthesis_enjoyer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Murder and Sexual content
Minor: Medical trauma
abigail_reads06's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🫠 I’m totally fine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Gun violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content
carter1315's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Medical trauma
asexualandriod's review
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, and Violence
margaridams's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
ehmannky's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Every time I read a Claudia Gray book I'm reminded why she's my favorite of all the modern Star Wars writers. The Fallen Star was so fast paced and tense and just wonderfully written. I loved the way that Elzar and Stellan's friendship was highlighted and that Bell got to shine so much in this book. I think my main complaint is I want the villains of this series to die already, but I know that we're still in phase 1 so I have to suffer with Ro for however long. It's a great installment and I had a lot of fun reading it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Death
billyjepma's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.75
While probably the weakest entry in the trilogy of High Republic novels, The Fallen Star is still a taut thriller of a read with many satisfying highs and payoffs. The book is essentially the Star Wars version of Titanic in that it's an emotionally operatic disaster story. That setting proves to be the book's best and worst quality, as it leads to thrilling moments of heroism and heartbreak while also feeling more by the numbers than it should.
Gray is one of the best writers working in Star Wars, but some of the sparks she's known for are somewhat lacking here. It almost feels like the requirements of the book muscled out some of the usually incisive characterizations she's known for. That's not to say there are no memorable character moments—Elzar Mann's arc across the trilogy has been a steady highlight for me, and that's never been more true than it is in The Fallen Star. But for a book with multiple and significant deaths, only a few of them actually feel notable. The plot is pretty simple, but there are too many forces at play, muddying the stakes and making the book feel more crowded than it is. Some of the threats introduced here are chilling, to be sure, yet are so thinly developed that the danger they represent never feels as tangible as it should've.
As a piece of spectacle, The Fallen Star is (mostly) successful. It leaves the world and its characters (who I love far more than I would've expected possible, considering how relatively new they are to me) in a fascinating state I'm anxious to see continued. I can't say I'm sold on the idea of Phase 2 of THR going back in time and putting this current story on hiatus, but I'm choosing to remain optimistic, as the minds behind it haven't given me much reason to doubt them yet.
Gray is one of the best writers working in Star Wars, but some of the sparks she's known for are somewhat lacking here. It almost feels like the requirements of the book muscled out some of the usually incisive characterizations she's known for. That's not to say there are no memorable character moments—Elzar Mann's arc across the trilogy has been a steady highlight for me, and that's never been more true than it is in The Fallen Star. But for a book with multiple and significant deaths, only a few of them actually feel notable. The plot is pretty simple, but there are too many forces at play, muddying the stakes and making the book feel more crowded than it is. Some of the threats introduced here are chilling, to be sure, yet are so thinly developed that the danger they represent never feels as tangible as it should've.
As a piece of spectacle, The Fallen Star is (mostly) successful. It leaves the world and its characters (who I love far more than I would've expected possible, considering how relatively new they are to me) in a fascinating state I'm anxious to see continued. I can't say I'm sold on the idea of Phase 2 of THR going back in time and putting this current story on hiatus, but I'm choosing to remain optimistic, as the minds behind it haven't given me much reason to doubt them yet.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Grief