by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: The High Republic Mission to Disaster is a young reader/junior reader book set just before the events of The Fallen Star. It was written by bestselling author, Justina Ireland. Thank you Disney-Lucasfilm Press for providing a copy for review.
Summary: The young Avon Starros is kidnapped from Port Haileap, on the mid rim world Kirima by the Nihil. Avon is shocked to learn that the Nihil have been kidnapping children around the galaxy and forcing them to be new recruits in the Nihil. Jedi Vernestra and her padawan Imri go on a mission in hopes to recover their friend, Avon. Chaos also irrupts on Dalna, as world damaging groundquakes break the world. The Jedi need to move quick if they are to successfully evacuate the planet with the help of Starlight Beacon.
Overall Thoughts:I really don’t like being negative… I really don’t, and as I’ve made clear on several other reviews, I want to enjoy the books I spend my time reading. Mission to Disaster is just way too dull. I had some fun with the previous young reader books from wave one and two, but Mission to Disaster was a chore. I’d pick the book up with intentions of reading several chapters, but I couldn’t do it. I could only spend about 20 minutes per reading session.
Many bits of the story are not consistent with previous High Republic storytelling. Certain villain traits that have already been established and well known by the Jedi are completely forgotten and brought up like it’s something new. The previous adult novel, The Rising Storm also suffered from this lack of consistency. If a special story group is not sifting through the books… one is needed. If there is a story group overseeing the books… new members are needed.
The Characters are not interesting, they’re bland. This is supposed to be a children’s book, please stop putting in sexual content/references in these books. I really hate giving a negative review, but it had to happen. I open each book with high hopes and want to have fun. As of this review, two of the three books in the High Republic wave 3 have been extremely disappointing. I really hope this isn’t a sign of more disappointment in the next phase.
Rating for Star Wars: The High Republic: Mission to Disaster: D-
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Race to Crashpoint Tower was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Daniel Jose Older. Older is also writing the Star Wars Adventures High Republic series.
Summary: The Republic is getting ready to celebrate its accomplishments on the planet Valo, at the Republic Fair. Chancellor Soh will be present, along with many Jedi, to celebrate the unity and power of the Republic.
A security alert reaches a young Padawan, Ram, there seems to be an issue at Crashpoint Tower (a communications tower). Ram takes it upon himself to go check out the tower. It’s the Nihil! Ram does his best to fight them off, to see what it was they were doing to the tower.
When Ram attempts to reach his master or any other Jedi to inform them of what he’d witnessed but he has no luck! Somehow, Ram must reach out to Starlight Beacon, to inform them that the Nihil have been spotted on Valo, and have tampered with the communications tower.
Disaster strikes at the Republic Fair!
Characters:
Ram Jomaram is a Padawan in Lonisa City on the planet Valo. He loves tinkering with machinery, breaking them down, understanding how they work, and putting them back together. His love and understanding of machines, such as droids, speeders, etc. really helps him attune to the force. He’s a peaceful young man with hopes of remaining on the quiet and peaceful Valo. He’s slightly fearful and a intimidated by the thought of battle. However, he knows fear is all in the mind, he just needs to learn to control himself.
Lula Talisola, from the High Republic Adventures comic series plays a large roll in this book! She knows that her attachment to things and people are a great weakness. Not only is her attachment a weakness, but she fears it could bring her down, into darker places of the force. Lula wants to break away from her attachments, it’s the only way she could possibly achieve her life long goal of becoming one of the greatest Jedi Masters. Vernestra Rowh becomes somewhat of a mentor to Lula, helping her through this emotional set back.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: Race to Crashpoint Tower was pretty good! I wasn’t a big fan of Older’s previous Star Wars book, Last Shot. But my dislike for that story, will stay with that book, not the author. I open each book with an open mind, ready for adventure. I’m pleased to say I enjoyed this story.
The event that takes place in this book is one that, once again, knocks the galaxy off its feet. The execution of this event was a little muddled down, but after I let it marinate in my brain for a bit, it’s better off that way. After all, this is a kids book and shouldn’t be graphic, besides, the event on Valo is the primary focus of the adult novel, The Rising Storm, I recommend reading that book before this one to get a better understand of what’s happening on Valo. This story doesn’t focus too much on all that is happening during the tragedy. It’s focused on certain characters being pushed to their limits, and the tasks they needed to accomplish to help resolve the tragedy at hand.
I only have a few issues with the story, mostly with the dialogue. Some of the names of people and creatures are far too goofy. The Nihil are a vicious bunch, but the other villains that show up, the Drengir, are just far to silly to be taken serious. However, it is a book designed for kids, so it’s fine, the Drengir are a decent fit for this age group.
It’s quite fun to see familiar characters from the other books and comics weave through the multiple stories in the High Republic era. In this young reader book, we have several characters and locations that make an appearance, and they’re handled so well. I really enjoy how the characters each have a personal conflict or set back that they must overcome. The challenges they face are both interesting and risky.
I highly recommend reading The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott before diving into this book. Race to Crashpoint Tower is a fun junior reader book, and it reads really fast.
Rating: This book receives a B+
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: A Test of Courage was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Justina Ireland. This is the second tale within the High Republic and Era. A Test of Courage is a young readers book and is published by Disney-Lucasfilm Press.
SUMMARY: A few members of the Nihil are at Port Haileap, with a plan to infiltrate the luxury liner ship, the Steady Wing. They want to cause chaos, to instill fear in the republic, and most importantly, to make a name for themselves and impress one of the Tempest Runners, which is one of the leaders in the Nihil.
There are many people on the Steady Wing, all headed to the Starlight Beacon’s opening ceremony. When the Nihil’s plans for the Steady Wing come to fruition, a young group of survivors find themselves alone on a moon, far off from space lanes. The group consists of two young Jedi, the son of the Dalna Ambassador, and another child with the familiar name in the Star Wars comic line, Starros. The group must figure out how to survive on the terrifying moon, and somehow reach out to someone among the stars to rescue them.
Will the youth survive? Will the young Jedi stray from their path and give into fear? What more does the Nihil have planned? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
CHARACTERS: We have a few characters to talk about, I’ll mention one character I found a little interesting and another I was annoyed by.
Vernestra Rwoh is a green skinned Mirialan. She’ a prodigy within the Jedi Order, passing the Jedi trials at the age of just 15, one of the youngest Jedi Knights around. She’s not too thrilled with her first mission as a Jedi Knight, spending time on the planet Dalna. She’s keeping an eye on an ambassadors daughter, making sure she’s kept safe. She’s good with a lightsaber, but still a little unsure of herself. She’s young for a Knight, and must face some difficult decisions when she’s thrust into an unexpected disaster.
Honesty Weft, son of the Dalna Ambassador. Honesty does not want to be on the Steady Wing, he’d much rather find out what vocation would suit him best, he’d like to be a warrior, to join the Dalna military. Even though the planet hasn’t had a full scale war in a century. But, his father wants Honesty with him, to witness diplomacy first hand as they attempt to join the Republic. Honesty is a very emotional young man. Who cry’s about absolutely everything.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: This book was fine. It’s a young readers story, and for some reason I find the young reader books pretty tedious. The story isn’t bad at all, it’s just very simple and straight forward. The book definitely has a mature theme, with a lot of death and some violent moments. For a kids story, I’d think if it were a film, it would still have to be PG-13. There are some really dark moments.
The characters are written well. Honestly, I found only two characters interesting, the others I could have done without. The idea that one of the young Jedi is a prodigy was a bit silly, I think the story would have been more interesting if the cast contained not 1 Padawan, but 2 or maybe even 3. The Nihil didn’t seem to intemidating in the book, of course they did a dark deed, but they were just dumb villians, I would say that’s most likely due to the targeted age group for the book, then again… the book was packed with death and other dark points.
The dialogue was well written. Some of the plot points were really interesting as one of the youth turns toward a darker path. We get a good tease at some of the lore of the Jedi, and their conflict with the Sith. Like I said, the book was fine, it wasn’t bad at all, but I wouldn’t say it was great.
Do I recommend you pick up Star Wars: The High Republic: A Test of Courage? If you are a completest, yes. If you could care less about young reader books, I think you could pass on this one.
RATING: I give this novel an B-
