Friends, friends, friends.
Welcome back to Teatime Reading where there are books in progress.
So far, I have been enjoying the new time period for the Star Wars galaxy with the High Republic stories, but I have favored the YA/middle grade stories over the adult novels up to this point.
That started to change with the newest book in the High Republic era: The Rising Storm.
The tension and drama of the Nihil’s terrorist attack at the Republic Fair made the preceding events in the earlier books feel even more crucial and significant. When I say that this book had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, the only reason that it isn’t a literal statement is that I was standing on edge and pacing around my house as well.
I’ve been open about the fact that Marchion Ro was an incredibly compelling villain as the Eye of the Nihil. In The Rising Storm, the level of Machiavellian politicking escalated and I got even more curious to see the Republic’s response.
However, if The Light of the Jedi was special because of the Nihil and if the middle-grade/YA books worked because of the young Jedi and Padawans like Vernestra Rwoh, then The Rising Storm worked because of Elzar Mann, Stellan Gios, and Padawan Bell Zettifar and his charhound Ember.
The Rising Storm was an intense High Republic adventure and it got me incredibly fired up for the future of this era. Some of the challenges of this time-period still remained. The world-building sometimes took priority over the characters, although this was better handled in this outing. The nuance and importance of this generation of the Jedi Order also felt exceptionally well-handled.
At least up to this point, the High Republic has struck a remarkable balance between danger and polish, action and politicking. I can’t wait to see what we get next from these characters.
Until next time, keep your galactic bookmarks close.
Peace, Love, Pages.
Note: As Always, Affiliate Links are here for your convenience at no cost to you. All reading was at my own expense.