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A review by writteninthestarwars
Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Many thanks to Del Rey UK for sending me a copy for review!
Rise of the Red Blade is a heartbreaking exploration of what it means to follow a path you're convinced you're destined for, no matter the cost to yourself or to those around you. Through Iskat, Delilah S. Dawson tells the story of a girl who has always felt like she doesn't belong, like she isn't enough for the life she's been given. Throughout the Clone Wars and after, she finds what she believes is her long-awaited acceptance in the embrace of the dark side.
Outside of The High Republic, this is the first Star Wars book recently published in a while that I've thoroughly enjoyed in almost every aspect. Thematically and story-wise, it hit all the right notes for me. Iskat is a deeply complicated and nuanced character whose devolution is painful to witness. Her experience of the Clone Wars is so vastly different from every other one we've seen thus far and really adds some perspective and nuance to that era. I enjoyed learning more about the Inquisitorious and the relationships between the so-called brothers and sisters.
Still, I did have a few hang-ups. There were some chracterisations I didn't entirely agree with, or that I felt went a bit far, and some storylines that didn't feel as fully developed or earned as I would have liked. I go into more spoiler detail below. Even with these, though, I appreciated how much this book made me really think. It's not often we get to read the perspective of a Clone Wars Jedi who thrives in chaos and pain rather than in peace. It definitely gave me a lot to think about.
This is a spoiler for a character that appears, but not for any events. First is with the characterization of Mace Windu. I understand that Iskat needs to have difficult relationships with the Order and, therefore, the Jedi Masters. It would not be natural for her character to like Mace. But there were moments with him where I didn't quite believe the animosity was coming just from Iskat, but maybe from the author, too. I fully admit that this could, in turn, be my own bias for Mace speaking. I have become quite protective of his character over the past couple of years after seeing how awfully people in the fandom discuss him when it comes to characters like Anakin and Ahsoka. How much blame they put on him for Anakin's own choices, Ahsoka's own words. I can't help but feel like further characterisation of him like that in canon material, without anything else available to balance it in the other direction, only adds fuel to the fire. Maybe I would feel differently if we had canon books that explored his character fully. Regardless, I can't help that I didn't feel comfortable with some of the dialogue, especially when considering how matters were handled differently when it came to, say, Yoda or Ki Adi Mundi.
My other hang-up was the ending. Or, I guess, the the process to the ending. I enjoyed Tualon and Iskat's relationship, but I didn't want to just hear about it. Some deeper exploration into their feelings and how they combated or were influenced by the dark side might have helped the entire story feel more full-circle and emotional for me. What do I have to do to get Star Wars to let me have some romance even if it's dark ...
Rise of the Red Blade is a heartbreaking exploration of what it means to follow a path you're convinced you're destined for, no matter the cost to yourself or to those around you. Through Iskat, Delilah S. Dawson tells the story of a girl who has always felt like she doesn't belong, like she isn't enough for the life she's been given. Throughout the Clone Wars and after, she finds what she believes is her long-awaited acceptance in the embrace of the dark side.
Outside of The High Republic, this is the first Star Wars book recently published in a while that I've thoroughly enjoyed in almost every aspect. Thematically and story-wise, it hit all the right notes for me. Iskat is a deeply complicated and nuanced character whose devolution is painful to witness. Her experience of the Clone Wars is so vastly different from every other one we've seen thus far and really adds some perspective and nuance to that era. I enjoyed learning more about the Inquisitorious and the relationships between the so-called brothers and sisters.
Still, I did have a few hang-ups. There were some chracterisations I didn't entirely agree with, or that I felt went a bit far, and some storylines that didn't feel as fully developed or earned as I would have liked. I go into more spoiler detail below. Even with these, though, I appreciated how much this book made me really think. It's not often we get to read the perspective of a Clone Wars Jedi who thrives in chaos and pain rather than in peace. It definitely gave me a lot to think about.
This is a spoiler for a character that appears, but not for any events.
My other hang-up was the ending. Or, I guess, the the process to the ending.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide