On the close-orbiting planets of Eiram and E’ronoh, the growing pains of a galaxy with limited resources but unlimited ambition are felt keenly. The two worlds’ hatred for each other has fueled half a decade of escalating conflict and now threatens to consume surrounding systems. The last hope for peace emerges when heirs from the planets’ royal families plan to marry.
Before lasting peace can be established, an assassination attempt targeting the couple tilts Eiram and E’ronoh back into all-out war. To save both worlds, Jedi Knight Gella Nattai volunteers to uncover the culprit, while Chancellor Kyong appoints her own son, Axel Greylark, to represent the Republic’s interests in the investigation.
But Axel’s deep distrust of the Jedi sparks against Gella’s faith in the Force. She’s never met such a puffed-up, privileged party boy, and he’s never met a more self-serious, relentless do-gooder. The harder they work to untangle the shadowy web of the investigation, the more complicated the conspiracy appears to be. With accusations flying and potential enemies in every shadow, the pair will have to work together to have any hope of bringing the truth to light and saving both worlds.
Ok, wow. We’re really here, getting settled into Phase Two of The High Republic. So far I’ve read:
-PATH OF DECEIT, the first YA novel in Phase Two
-QUEST FOR THE HIDDEN CITY, the first middle grade novel in Phase Two
-the first two issues of the adult comic from Marvel
-the first issue of THE HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES, the YA comic from Dark Horse.
And everything has been fucking amazing, unsurprisingly. I think I’ve managed to read pretty much everything that’s been released from Phase Two so far! Next up will be THE BATTLE OF JEDHA audiobook, THE BLADE comic miniseries, and oh!!! I am FERAL waiting for a cover reveal for the Phase Two manga, THE EDGE OF BALANCE (I’m pretending I never saw the leaked version and that’s that about that.) I want to figure out more ways to talk about all these great things, because The High Republic is just some of the best storytelling going, and some of my absolute favorite Star Wars, period. I mean, please, someone come talk to me about Matty & Vildar from the new Marvel comic because I AM OBSESSED.
But anyway, this is a review for CONVERGENCE, the first adult novel in Phase Two. This is Zoraida Córdova’s first adult Star Wars novel, but she does have a couple of Star Wars short stories out there, as well as the YA novel, A CRASH OF FATE (which I adored!!)
CONVERGENCE introduces us to a really big cast of characters & takes place primarily on two planets: Eiram & E’ronoh, “twin” planets that have been locked in a forever war. The conflict between these two worlds and the role the Jedi played in it was hinted at in places during Phase One of The High Republic, but here we see that conflict come into focus.
A humanitarian relief mission in the space between these two worlds goes wrong, and that’s where we meet the young Jedi Knight on the cover of the book, Gella Nattai. She has kind of a pensive & moody vibe, and I loved everything about her. She is constantly pushing herself to become a better Jedi, but also seems to question a lot about the Jedi way at the same time.
She winds up as part of this core group of four young characters trying, in their own ways, to prevent further escalation of the hostilities between Eiram & E’ronoh. The heirs of both planets are desperate to see the two worlds form some type of fragile alliance, even if it means giving up on their own respective hopes & plans. There are some tropes in CONVERGENCE that will feel familiar & delightful to romance readers, and I thought that was a really nice touch by Córdova.
Xiri A’lbaran wound up being a new favorite character of mine. She’s the princess & heir of E’ronoh, but also the captain of Thylefire Squadron and a total badass. There’s a handful of sequences featuring Xiri & Phan-tu Zenn, the kind-hearted prince of Eiram, that are just breathtaking & as thrilling as anything that’s happened in The High Republic!
And then…there’s Axel Greylark. Wow.
WOW.
This is one of the most chaotic, charismatic, and deeply flawed characters in the Star Wars world, like. Holy shit. He’s the spoiled son of a politician, but he contains multitudes. MULTITUDES, I SAY!! He’s on the cover of the next adult High Republic novel, Lydia Kang’s CATACLYSM, holding a lightsaber that SUPER does not belong to him!
Axel & Gella make for one of the more fascinating duos in The High Republic, with Gella seemingly determined to find the good in Axel, and Axel determined to prove her wrong.
Oof.
CONVERGENCE was phenomenal! There are so many great characters in this book…just a really interesting & diverse group of people, and some truly unique additions to the Star Wars universe. There’s a lot going on in this book, but Córdova keeps a pretty tight focus on the core group of characters. There’s plenty of political machinations here, assassination attempts, a lot of commentary on social issues, and even a bit of environmental/climate fiction.
Oh, and cults. Definitely cults.
The High Republic continues to be some of my very favorite Star Wars EVER! Phase Two is shaping up to be every bit as exciting as Phase One was, and I’m so excited to see where things go from here!!
May the Force be with you!!
Grimdark Dad 