Interesting but female empowerment story

Liked the lore but didn't like that it very much a female driven story. Makes it hard to identify with if it isnt a realistic representation of gender. Not a single good male character that has a large character arc. Only a mention of someone else story that happened off screen, and in only one chapter. A morally gray male character isn't a good character I enjoy or can identify with.

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A solid entry, but don’t start here

The High Republic is a series that very much rewards those who read everything. I am pleased to say that I have caught most of the books, if few of the comics. Sadly, the ones I did miss really were relevant here as they cover Vernestra Rwoh’s story - Mission to Disaster, Out of the Shadows and Midnight Horizon are suggested reading for full context outside of the main High Republic adult novels. Despite that, I’ve not read any of them, and I enjoyed this entry plenty.

Since I missed out on most of Vernestra’s story, I missed most of the pathos of her arc throughout this book, but the story beats of a Jedi finding her particular way through the Force through her hardships are a familiar and comfortable story for a veteran Star Wars fan. Fortunately for me, the non-Jedi cast provided plenty of good story beats to sink my teeth into.

Avon Starros is an interesting character to pick up with the context of her mother’s ascendance in The Eye of Darkness, and her arc is solid if predictable but is greatly elevated by her companions. Xylen Graf is part Axel Greylark, part Lando Calrissian, and all entertaining, Deva Lompop is a welcome addition to the serious side of Star Wars scoundrels, and Jordanna Sparkburn is something of a grounding presence bringing some relatable anxieties to contrast against the grander concerns of the rest of the cast. Defy the Storm is none of these characters’ first appearance as I understand, but the authors do well to fill the unlearned reader in just enough to understand these characters and enjoy their plots.

This book does have a couple of moments which will be important for future adult novels I am sure, though I anticipate a basic recap will be given in Temptation of the Force. Those recaps will lack the gravitas of those moments however.

Regarding narration and sound, I liked the narrator’s voice work, though it is not as wide ranging as the much-beloved Marc Thompson’s. There is one line which stuck out because the audio mixing was wrong and I had to crank up the volume to make it out behind the filter applied by the production team and the music and SFX. Props to the team however, this is the first slip I have noticed in a couple dozen Star Wars audiobooks. The SFX were as good as always, authentic to the Galaxy Far Far Away. The music is welcome, though I miss the iconic themes of the original and prequel trilogies which make regular and welcome appearances in audiobooks set in those eras. I do appreciate the artistic intent to use era appropriate themes to develop the High Republic’s identity, and mark it as one of the things I love about the High Republic - an absolute commitment to the multimedia of the project, down to the music of its audiobooks.

If you are not following the High Republic already, you can skip this entry, and definitely do not start here. However, for the High Republic readers, it is worth a read, you will have a good time.

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