Tales of Light and Life Story-by-Story SPOILER Review

 

The Queen’s Bloom - Zoraida Córdova 

Everyone’s favorite Phase II character (except mine), Axel Greylark is the focus of the first story of the anthology, and he is at university causing trouble and skiving off work using his status (there’s a surprise!). Despite this, he takes time to make friends with the lower paid staff and even helps a janitor with money - do I like Axel now? When a swish party is attacked by a gang of thieves Axel has a telling first meeting with a pivotal person a character in his life. The most interesting part of the story for me was meeting Axel’s father Lexxir who was clearly a very good influence on his son, and shows just how much his death would affect Axel in the future.

🌕🌕🌕🌘🌑/5

A Closed Fist Has No Claws - Tessa Gratton

The second story sees Marda Ro traveling the galaxy, looking for more Evereni, all the while gathering followers and feeding the occasional Jedi to the Leveler. She finds Evereni twins on the planet Siquay, and a possible father to her future children. There are some fun Easter eggs as she visits Dantooine and Ryloth, and the story provides possible threads to Marchion and his parents.

🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑/5

Shield of the Jedi by George Mann

Shield of the Jedi is set several years after the events of Phase II and sees Silandra Sho reveal that Rooper is ready to face her trials, which is to retrieve Silandra’s shield. The events take place on Batuu (there’s mention of a workshop 👀), and Rooper follows the force to a village under attack from vicious creatures.  Rooper learns a vital lesson and passes her trial whereupon Silandra passes on her shield to the new Jedi Knight. The story is a real pleasure that feels exactly like the middle grade novels the characters first appeared in, and gives us a rarely seen glimpse into a padawan’s trial.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑/5

The Lonely Traveler Is Home by DJ Older

Of course Daniel’s story is about Ram Jomaram, who else would it be?! Ram and the High Republic Adventures gang are on Starlight Beacon, and Ram tries to plan a surprise party for Zeen to cheer her up. It feels straight out of the comics and is all the better for it.

🌕🌕🌕🌖🌑/5

After the Fall by Claudia Gray

After the Fall follows the crew of the Vessel on Eiram in the days, weeks and months following the fall of Starlight Beacon.   Affine and the crew look to help the survivors of the disaster all the while feeling like she needs to do more and dealing with the fallout of collapse of the Byne Guild which was a story thread I was glad to see come back. It’s good to be back in what feels like the present, and see plenty of familiar faces but I will say there was not enough Geode!

🌕🌕🌕🌖🌑/5

The Force Provides by Justina Ireland

At Celebration this year we found out that our girl Vernestra Rwoh would appear in the Acolyte so I was very happy to find Justina had written a Vern story for this Anthology. 

Vernestra suffers nightmarish visions of the horror of Starlight, and it seems Imri, Avon and J-6 may be gone, she disagrees with the Jedi continuing to fight the Nihil, believing it is now the Republic’s responsibility and that the Jedi should not be fighting a war. She ignores the recall to Coruscant and instead becomes a sort of unofficial Wayseeker following the force to help those in need. This was my favorite story so far, mainly because it felt the most personal, and leads Vern down a very interesting path as she tries to find her own way and the solve riddle Mari San Tekka gave her.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗/5

All Jedi Walk Their Own Path by Charles Soule

Charles Soule’s story gives s the answer we were all waiting for, BURRYAGA LIVES!!! Bell Zettifar struggles between continuing the search for his friend and obeying the Council’s recall order to Coruscant. He decision is informed through flashbacks to a mission with his former master Loden Greatstorm when Loden followed the force rather than orders.

“All Jedi walk their own path. The way we help people, the way we interpret the Force and serve the goals of the light…when all is said and done, Council or no, we must guide ourselves” 

Hell stays on Eiram and joins a fishing crew which eventually leads him to Burryaga. While Burry’s return is wonderful the real highlight is getting more of Loden and Bell’s relationship.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖/5

Light in the Darkness by Cavan Scott

Set after the fall of Starlight, the story follows Kian & Hoi siblings on the planet Ena as they fight back against the Hutt Cartel who have come to pillage their planet as the Jedi & Republic reel from their defeat. Eventually MASTER Keeve Trennis arrives along with Terec & Ceret to save the day. For me this was probably the most disappointing story of the anthology, as it didn’t focus enough on the characters we already knew, and despite showing the state of the Galaxy it didn’t feel particularly important.

🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑/5

The Call of Coruscant by Lydia Kang

Master Mirro Lox and his padawan Amadeo Azzazzo are recalled to Coruscant following the Starlight Beacon disaster. Master Lox was a padawan with Avar, Stellan and Elgar and he senses loss, upon their return Master Maia Tsoo informs them about the Nihil partition and that the planets of Utapau, Pandora, Ryloth and Lasan are all at risk. Padawan Azzazzo has been raised away from Coruscant and is excited to explore the city planet, and the story becomes a Padawan’s lost night, where he learns a valuable lesson. While a lighter hearted story, I hope Master Lox and Amadeo are characters we revisit in Phase III.

🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑/5

Jonny O