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A review by ericadawson
Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
It's been years since I've read a Star Wars book and enjoyed it, but Star Wars: Light of the Jed blew me away from start to finish.
The thread of hope that laced through the entire story never once felt overdone or cliche, and the steady goodness of the Jedi, even at their own expense, was such a breath of fresh air. There is death and destruction, but there is also the chance for peace. There is violence and pain, but there's love, as well.
While I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style (at times it felt a bit hand-holdy to me, other times the prose/format was just okay) I loved the cleverness of the plot and worldbuilding itself. I never would have thought that a plot surrounding hyperspace lanes could be so gripping and so layered. The political worldbuilding was clear cut, but it's also clear that the consequences far outpace was any of the heroes could ever think possible. This book deepened my love for both the Jedi and Star Wars, as well as deepening my understanding of the Force. It's an amazing contextualizer for the fall of the Jedi.
I remember seeing other High Republic fans always cheer about characters named Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss (the former more than the latter, although I myself would flip the attention) and they were right to. But my other faves are Loden Greatstorm and Bell Zettifar. Rarely do I ever root for two characters with romantic tension in a book (or anything else) but two characters in this series really grabbed me the moment they appeared on the page.
Highly recommend. A refreshing look at Star Wars for those who might be seeking something truly positive and unique that falls outside what we normally get from the franchise.
The thread of hope that laced through the entire story never once felt overdone or cliche, and the steady goodness of the Jedi, even at their own expense, was such a breath of fresh air. There is death and destruction, but there is also the chance for peace. There is violence and pain, but there's love, as well.
While I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style (at times it felt a bit hand-holdy to me, other times the prose/format was just okay) I loved the cleverness of the plot and worldbuilding itself. I never would have thought that a plot surrounding hyperspace lanes could be so gripping and so layered. The political worldbuilding was clear cut, but it's also clear that the consequences far outpace was any of the heroes could ever think possible. This book deepened my love for both the Jedi and Star Wars, as well as deepening my understanding of the Force. It's an amazing contextualizer for the fall of the Jedi.
I remember seeing other High Republic fans always cheer about characters named Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss (the former more than the latter, although I myself would flip the attention) and they were right to. But my other faves are Loden Greatstorm and Bell Zettifar. Rarely do I ever root for two characters with romantic tension in a book (or anything else) but two characters in this series really grabbed me the moment they appeared on the page.
Highly recommend. A refreshing look at Star Wars for those who might be seeking something truly positive and unique that falls outside what we normally get from the franchise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood