Cataclysm is a testament to what makes The High Republic so great for me. Lydia Kang has brought us a very engaging, amazingly written book that will serve as some of the best Star Wars has to offer.

Despite the several books before it that are also recommended reading, once you get to Cataclysm you know reading the previous installments has been incredibly worth it for this amazing book alone. This is an excellently paced book that not only gives us phenomenal Jedi action, but beautifully tender and fist-pumping moments from even the most minor of characters. This is Star Wars firing on all cylinders.

The storm was predicted in Path of Deceit. Its strong winds and bands of rain collided in Convergence. By the time of The Battle of Jedha, it had slowly made landfall, but now — in Cataclysm by Lydia Kang — the storm is in full rage and only the combined might of the Jedi Order and the Republic can hope to quell the tempest.

Following the failed signing of a peace treaty between Eiram and E’ronoh on Jedha, all roads lead to Dalna. To everyone involved, it’s becoming painfully obvious that the Path of the Open Hand has been up to no good, but the full extent of its complicity is still not known. Therefore, in different waves and following distinct story arcs, various characters and interests come together at the planet, only to discover that Dalna isn’t as they remember it.

Much like the Path itself, the planet has undergone changes. No longer colorful and in bloom, it’s now dark and foreboding. In fact, throughout the conflict, the planet embodies the storm, pelting everyone with rain and covering everything with darkness. That, of course, is to the Path’s liking. Its leadership has been planning this assault for years. And its dedication shows. From the deep and convoluted cave system to its new and deadly armaments, the Path stands ready to defend itself. More so, it stands ready to make a statement.

RELATED Star Wars The High Republic Omnibus Coming This Fall
Reminiscent of the real world impasse between the Branch Davidians and the federal government at Waco, this conflagration of ideology and firepower devolves quickly. It becomes a field of fire, with extreme violence and suffering everywhere to be seen. And with the leadership’s blessing, it rages out of control, pulling in an ever widening cast of interests until — like the center of a black hole — nothing can remain.

Worlds Kept Apart
Star Wars image of the High Republic moon Eirie
After the botched treaty signing, Jedi are dispatched to assist Chancellor Orlen Mollo. The hope is to restore calm and keep another skirmish from breaking out between Eiram and E’ronoh. Unfortunately for the chancellor and Master Char-Ryl-Roy and Padawan Enya Keen, dark forces are already on the move. A dirty bomb has already been put into place.

The good news is that it doesn’t go off. The bad news is that its detonation is inconsequential. Just its existence — and its location — is enough to foment another round of fighting. A rising tide of destruction seems inevitable — even Xiri A’lbaran and Phan-tu Zenn can’t seem to stem it. The only hope is that the real perpetrators can be found and proof of the crime presented before it’s too late.

Thankfully, clues have been left on the shared moon of Eirie. Persons of interest are found to be guiltier than expected, and a trail of suspicion leads directly to the Path. Aided by Xiri and Phan-tu, the Jedi begin a fact-finding mission with diplomacy as a cover. Yet, as they attempt to parley with the Path, it becomes clear that a peaceful solution isn’t in the works. Especially when word comes that an attack is already underway. An attack that spills over into violence against them.

The Chaos
Love and order can conquer chaos
Axel Greylark begins the book in prison. It’s a fitting place for a boy who grew up feeling confined and stunted and for a man who can’t seem to move on and grow as a person. Even though Axel’s been sidelined, the powers that be still need him for a job. One only he can execute. And so he’s freed, unleashing with him a galaxy worth of chaos.

Of course, with the chaos there’s also order. In this case, a yang to his yin — Gella Nattai. Matched up with Orin Darhga, a Jedi Master with robes full of bad dad jokes, the two follow Axel to Dalna and are quick to confront him with a choice: do the right thing or else be left with the consequences. In this case, the potential capture, humiliation, and death of his mother, Chancellor Kyong Greylark.

If we know anything about Axel, it’s that he can never follow the straight path. And so begins the consequences. It’s a quick and steep decline into death, suffering, and madness as the Leveler is unleashed and hordes of fanatics spill out of the caves like ants to a picnic. Before long, Gella and other Jedi are engaged in a forever war of their own on the surface, defending themselves against an endless onslaught of furious believers. All because a boy grew into a man who couldn’t comprehend the results of his actions.

The Survivors
Dalna before the fighting begins
Following their harrowing turn on Jedha, Master Creighton Sun and Padawan Aida Forte should have been given some R & R. After all, they had just seen the worst in people. Mobs whipped into a frenzy, people clashing on the streets. Instruments of war tearing down neighborhoods. Yet, that isn’t the Jedi way. To sit back and relax.

No, instead of taking it easy, the two continue the good fight, searching for the cause of the unrest. And they find its origin with the Path on Dalna. Almost immediately, they begin an investigation, taking on Jedi Master Yaddle and her youngling, who happen to be in the area. Together, the group land on the planet and find it peaceful enough. Yet, hidden throughout the landscape are large defensive structures. Within them are types of weaponry to repel an invasion. And in the huts surrounding the structures are elderly Path members, all of them having been moved to the surface to stunt any direct or orbital attack.

While Yaddle remains with the ship, Creighton and Aida search the caves, trying to uncover direct evidence of malfeasance. Down there, they get more than they can handle. Before long it’s a chase back to the surface and a frantic attempt at escape. Unfortunately, while trying to get away, their ship is shot down and their means of survival endangered by fields full of enforcer droids.

Leaders To The Rescue In Cataclysm
Leaders of the Star Wars Republic during the High Republic
On Coruscant, Kyong and Jedi Master Yoda are initially informed of what’s going on. They give their blessings and are content with the multiple responses to the Path. Yet, when communication in and out of the system is hijacked and the only message coming through is a demand for the chancellor to come to Dalna alone, the writing is on the wall.

What follows for the chancellor is a humbling experience. It’s a direction she never thought her life would take. And yet, with Axel for a son, it’s a direction that overwhelmingly felt inevitable. She travels to Dalna and she faces her challenge with the poise and respect only a chancellor can summon. She does it for herself, for her son, and for her office. But, most importantly, she does it with others. She does not travel alone.

For the first time in an adult High Republic novel, Yoda makes his presence felt. No longer talked about or mentioned in passing, Yoda travels to Dalna and sees for himself what the Path has been up to. And while Yoda doesn’t end the conflict with a wave of his hand, what he is able to accomplish is worth the wait. It’s worth seeing him in the thick of a battle again. And yet, compared with the destruction wrought and the needless carnage, his actions are overshadowed, made almost pedestrian.

Mother Of All Traps
Fighting about the take place in Cataclysm
This fight, in scale, might not be as large as Jedha’s. It doesn’t encompass a city and multiple factions all trying to ground one another into smithereens. But this fight is more personal. It’s far more focused and — politically — could not be more toxic.

The fallout from this encounter will have plenty of reverberations. Certainly through the rest of this phase but more emphatically into the future, where malcontents like those among the Nihil will see strikes like this one as a sign of Jedi and Republic weakness. Despite the technical win, this is a misstep for the good guys. It’s a chink in the vaulted armor. And it will undoubtedly lead to more rounds of setbacks and more bloodshed until the proper people are brought to justice. But that’s for another story.

Grading Cataclysm
This novel is a page turner. In a good way. There are many characters to follow but Kang aptly weaves their stories and actions together into a seamless whole. While at time the action tends to overstep on personal character moments, there’s enough breathing room for contemplation. Which is a good thing, because this book requires contemplation.

Certainly it would have been nice having more of the Mother and the Ro cousins, but this story is correctly focused on the Jedi and the Republic. It’s centered on the good guys and their inability to give up on their morals and belief in redemption. Thus, the trap that almost ensnares them.

In the end, though, love wins out. Along with law and order. And the promise that as long as the Jedi and Republic still stand, right will triumph over wrong.

See podcast review below! I really enjoyed this book, with the qualm that it definitely struggles with having too many perspectives at play.

I love these books so much. More, I says! More High Republic! And more Axel / Gella shipping, please.

Lydia Kang’s debut Star Wars novel exceeds expectations: the pacing is ideal and shifting between multiple perspectives is effectively executed. Most things in Phase II are nicely wrapped up and this book launches readers into the final phase; I couldn’t ask for a better mid-point conclusion!

The storm was predicted in Path of Deceit. Its strong winds and bands of rain collided in Convergence. By the time of The Battle of Jedha, it had slowly made landfall, but now — in Cataclysm by Lydia Kang — the storm is in full rage and only the combined might of the Jedi Order and the Republic can hope to quell the tempest.

Following the failed signing of a peace treaty between Eiram and E’ronoh on Jedha, all roads lead to Dalna. To everyone involved, it’s becoming painfully obvious that the Path of the Open Hand has been up to no good, but the full extent of its complicity is still not known. Therefore, in different waves and following distinct story arcs, various characters and interests come together at the planet, only to discover that Dalna isn’t as they remember it.

Much like the Path itself, the planet has undergone changes. No longer colorful and in bloom, it’s now dark and foreboding. In fact, throughout the conflict, the planet embodies the storm, pelting everyone with rain and covering everything with darkness. That, of course, is to the Path’s liking. Its leadership has been planning this assault for years. And its dedication shows. From the deep and convoluted cave system to its new and deadly armaments, the Path stands ready to defend itself. More so, it stands ready to make a statement.

RELATED Star Wars The High Republic Omnibus Coming This Fall
Reminiscent of the real world impasse between the Branch Davidians and the federal government at Waco, this conflagration of ideology and firepower devolves quickly. It becomes a field of fire, with extreme violence and suffering everywhere to be seen. And with the leadership’s blessing, it rages out of control, pulling in an ever widening cast of interests until — like the center of a black hole — nothing can remain.

Worlds Kept Apart
Star Wars image of the High Republic moon Eirie
After the botched treaty signing, Jedi are dispatched to assist Chancellor Orlen Mollo. The hope is to restore calm and keep another skirmish from breaking out between Eiram and E’ronoh. Unfortunately for the chancellor and Master Char-Ryl-Roy and Padawan Enya Keen, dark forces are already on the move. A dirty bomb has already been put into place.

The good news is that it doesn’t go off. The bad news is that its detonation is inconsequential. Just its existence — and its location — is enough to foment another round of fighting. A rising tide of destruction seems inevitable — even Xiri A’lbaran and Phan-tu Zenn can’t seem to stem it. The only hope is that the real perpetrators can be found and proof of the crime presented before it’s too late.

Thankfully, clues have been left on the shared moon of Eirie. Persons of interest are found to be guiltier than expected, and a trail of suspicion leads directly to the Path. Aided by Xiri and Phan-tu, the Jedi begin a fact-finding mission with diplomacy as a cover. Yet, as they attempt to parley with the Path, it becomes clear that a peaceful solution isn’t in the works. Especially when word comes that an attack is already underway. An attack that spills over into violence against them.

The Chaos
Love and order can conquer chaos
Axel Greylark begins the book in prison. It’s a fitting place for a boy who grew up feeling confined and stunted and for a man who can’t seem to move on and grow as a person. Even though Axel’s been sidelined, the powers that be still need him for a job. One only he can execute. And so he’s freed, unleashing with him a galaxy worth of chaos.

Of course, with the chaos there’s also order. In this case, a yang to his yin — Gella Nattai. Matched up with Orin Darhga, a Jedi Master with robes full of bad dad jokes, the two follow Axel to Dalna and are quick to confront him with a choice: do the right thing or else be left with the consequences. In this case, the potential capture, humiliation, and death of his mother, Chancellor Kyong Greylark.

If we know anything about Axel, it’s that he can never follow the straight path. And so begins the consequences. It’s a quick and steep decline into death, suffering, and madness as the Leveler is unleashed and hordes of fanatics spill out of the caves like ants to a picnic. Before long, Gella and other Jedi are engaged in a forever war of their own on the surface, defending themselves against an endless onslaught of furious believers. All because a boy grew into a man who couldn’t comprehend the results of his actions.

The Survivors
Dalna before the fighting begins
Following their harrowing turn on Jedha, Master Creighton Sun and Padawan Aida Forte should have been given some R & R. After all, they had just seen the worst in people. Mobs whipped into a frenzy, people clashing on the streets. Instruments of war tearing down neighborhoods. Yet, that isn’t the Jedi way. To sit back and relax.

No, instead of taking it easy, the two continue the good fight, searching for the cause of the unrest. And they find its origin with the Path on Dalna. Almost immediately, they begin an investigation, taking on Jedi Master Yaddle and her youngling, who happen to be in the area. Together, the group land on the planet and find it peaceful enough. Yet, hidden throughout the landscape are large defensive structures. Within them are types of weaponry to repel an invasion. And in the huts surrounding the structures are elderly Path members, all of them having been moved to the surface to stunt any direct or orbital attack.

While Yaddle remains with the ship, Creighton and Aida search the caves, trying to uncover direct evidence of malfeasance. Down there, they get more than they can handle. Before long it’s a chase back to the surface and a frantic attempt at escape. Unfortunately, while trying to get away, their ship is shot down and their means of survival endangered by fields full of enforcer droids.

Leaders To The Rescue In Cataclysm
Leaders of the Star Wars Republic during the High Republic
On Coruscant, Kyong and Jedi Master Yoda are initially informed of what’s going on. They give their blessings and are content with the multiple responses to the Path. Yet, when communication in and out of the system is hijacked and the only message coming through is a demand for the chancellor to come to Dalna alone, the writing is on the wall.

What follows for the chancellor is a humbling experience. It’s a direction she never thought her life would take. And yet, with Axel for a son, it’s a direction that overwhelmingly felt inevitable. She travels to Dalna and she faces her challenge with the poise and respect only a chancellor can summon. She does it for herself, for her son, and for her office. But, most importantly, she does it with others. She does not travel alone.

For the first time in an adult High Republic novel, Yoda makes his presence felt. No longer talked about or mentioned in passing, Yoda travels to Dalna and sees for himself what the Path has been up to. And while Yoda doesn’t end the conflict with a wave of his hand, what he is able to accomplish is worth the wait. It’s worth seeing him in the thick of a battle again. And yet, compared with the destruction wrought and the needless carnage, his actions are overshadowed, made almost pedestrian.

Mother Of All Traps
Fighting about the take place in Cataclysm
This fight, in scale, might not be as large as Jedha’s. It doesn’t encompass a city and multiple factions all trying to ground one another into smithereens. But this fight is more personal. It’s far more focused and — politically — could not be more toxic.

The fallout from this encounter will have plenty of reverberations. Certainly through the rest of this phase but more emphatically into the future, where malcontents like those among the Nihil will see strikes like this one as a sign of Jedi and Republic weakness. Despite the technical win, this is a misstep for the good guys. It’s a chink in the vaulted armor. And it will undoubtedly lead to more rounds of setbacks and more bloodshed until the proper people are brought to justice. But that’s for another story.

Grading Cataclysm
This novel is a page turner. In a good way. There are many characters to follow but Kang aptly weaves their stories and actions together into a seamless whole. While at time the action tends to overstep on personal character moments, there’s enough breathing room for contemplation. Which is a good thing, because this book requires contemplation.

Certainly it would have been nice having more of the Mother and the Ro cousins, but this story is correctly focused on the Jedi and the Republic. It’s centered on the good guys and their inability to give up on their morals and belief in redemption. Thus, the trap that almost ensnares them.

In the end, though, love wins out. Along with law and order. And the promise that as long as the Jedi and Republic still stand, right will triumph over wrong.

My review for Dork Side of the Force: "Lydia Kang’s Cataclysm is an incredibly intense convergence of violence against the High Republic Jedi"

"As The High Republic phase two races toward an epic conclusion, author Lydia Kang delivers one of the most brutal and beautiful Star Wars books out there with Cataclysm.

Cataclysm, the last adult book in this phase, gave off the same vibes and energy as books like The Rising Storm, The Fallen Star, and even Revenge of the Sith. Something very bad was going to happen, and not everyone would make it out alive."

"I couldn’t help but share that creeping sense of impending doom from page 1 of Cataclysm. It’s one of the most uneasy Star Wars reads with a hefty dose of helplessness."

"But there is still beauty and hope between all this horror and heartbreak. One epic battle on Dalna may have ended, but the overarching war of phase two is far from over. Still, the High Republic Jedi refuse to see the light at the end of this dark, death-filled tunnel."

"With this being Kang’s first full-length Star Wars novel, she exceeds expectations when it comes to story pacing and juggling multiple POVs. The beginning kicks off immediately following the events of Convergence and The Battle of Jedha, deftly dropping in quick reminders of what just happened and to whom.

From there, the action and intensity keep escalating and don’t let up until the final few chapters. The structure and pacing of the chapters and vignettes left me breathless and unable to put the book down, staying up until the wee hours of the morning because I just had to know how it all ends."

"While part of a larger story, Cataclysm has all the traits of the best Star Wars books — courageous Jedi, fearsome villains, and love powerful enough to change the fate of the galaxy."

Cataclysm is the final adult novel of Phase 2 of Star Wars The High Republic. Written by Lydia Kang (who’s previous Star Wars credit was the short story Right Hand Man from 2020’s From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back), Cataclysm is everything I enjoy about a Star Wars novel: a breakneck pace, intrigue, emotion, and overall an enjoyable reading experience.

Cataclysm overlaps with and then continues the storyline of the events of The Battle of Jedha, the breakdown of Eiram and E’ronoh’s peace treaty which causes chaos for the Jedi and pleasure for The Path of the Open Hand. The Path continues its penchant for causing disruption when a ship containing a biological weapon is discovered on the moon the two planets share, ratcheting up the interplanetary tension even more. Can the Jedi and the Republic work together amidst mounting chaos to bring peace once and for all?

Cataclysm is the first Star Wars novel in recent memory that I can truly say I did not want to put down. From page one, Lydia Kang’s ability to keep the number of characters and storylines balanced while chapter by chapter keeping me wanting more made for an utterly enjoyable experience. Oftentimes I can get overwhelmed or confused by the sheer number of characters that inhabit a book (Star Wars or otherwise) but for a number of reasons, this wasn’t the case for me with Cataclysm. First, it’s helpful that Cataclysm comes at the back half of Phase 2’s release schedule, so the majority of these characters have already been introduced. Secondly, it’s Kang herself who deserves credit for being able to switch between each character’s distinct POV while keeping readers interested in the overall narrative, no small featl! I should note that Cataclysm should not be read as a standalone Star Wars novel, I’d say the entirety of The High Republic Phase 2 should be read (including comics), in publication order, before picking this book up.

A lot of readers (myself included) were anticipating getting more from our boy Axel Greylark, who graces Cataclysm’s cover (stunningly rendered by Yihyoung Li). His personality and bad boy image were some of the best parts of 2022’s Convergence, but this time around we get to explore him in greater depth. Cataclysm peels back his layers and shows how someone who’s been emotionally damaged since childhood can continue to make mistakes even while taking baby steps to redemption. His actions remain questionable, but he’s not without hope. I especially loved seeing him through the eyes of his mother, Chancellor Kyong Greylark. Kyong goes on her own journey of coming to terms with her past, how she balanced her responsibilities as a single mother with her responsibilities as chancellor and how that shaped her son. As a parent myself, I sympathized with Kyong’s struggle to find balance between the personal and professional; for me she’s the standout character of the novel.

I really enjoyed having more Path of the Open Hand in Cataclysm. I’ve felt like since their introduction in Path of Deceit they’ve kind of been in the background, but here they’re solidly front and center as the baddies of the book (though I’m still missing my girl Marda!). The Mother has a new henchman vying for her attention, Binnot Ullo, whose dastardly deeds bring destruction and death to anyone who gets in his way. A good chunk of the story takes place on Dalna where numerous Jedi (including Yaddle!) go head to head with the Path who are still using the Nameless to wreak havoc on force users in addition to a cadre of weapons and droids which cement them as anything but peaceful.

Cataclysm does a stellar job of moving the storyline of Phase 2 forward while telling its own contained tale. Kang expertly blends tons of action with beautiful moments of humanity and emotion, making Cataclysm one of my all time favorite High Republic novels to date. Cataclysm is also available as an audiobook complete with music, sound effects and Marc Thompson’s epic narration and voice acting skills (some of the best I’ve heard from him). I give Cataclysm 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢/5 – highly recommend!

When it comes to The High Republic, the magic is in the storytellers. Cataclysm, being Lydia Kang's first entry into the series, proves that Star Wars stories are best told in parts, by different people, all working toward the same end point while giving unique voices to each entry.

Cataclysm is one of those books you can't help but love even when it hurts you. It's heartwarming where it needs to be, tragic at its most treacherous corners, but powerful all the way through its narrative. Its characters come alive on the page. Its stakes are high. Its lows cut deep.

It is the kind of Star Wars story that reminds you why you keep coming back to Star Wars stories. It feels like an ending, but really, it's a beginning for so many more stories to come.

The escalation of the Battle of Jedha has brought no rest for the Jedi, the Republic, and ultimately the conflicting worlds of Eiram and E’ronoh—whose peace treaty has been broken, and their only hope to stop the Forever War now seems almost impossible. The High Republic Phase II continues in its second wave with Cataclysm by Lydia Kang—resuming where the audio drama The Battle of Jedha left off and immediately immersing the reader into an epic drama that can only be compared to Phase I’s The Rising Storm.

Cataclysm is among the best installments of The High Republic (and Star Wars publishing) for many reasons. For starters, Lydia Kang takes the already established characterization from Zoraida Córdova’s Convergence and George Mann’s The Battle of Jedha and truly solidifies and elevates each protagonist’s storyline. Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran’s love strengthens; Master Creighton Sun and Jedi Knight Aida Forte, Master Char-Ryl-Roy and Enya Keen face the ultimate challenge; Chancellor Kyong Greylark is forced to make a tough decision; Gella Nattai’s emotional connection to Axel Greylark is put to the test, and Axel himself must decide who he wants to be moving forward. Cataclysm also brings more characters (old and new) into the mix on the good side, but what really makes the novel hit the target are the villains. The Path of the Open Hand finally reveals itself, and it’s all out war (a nice parallel to The Rising Storm). Although the Mother still plays a crucial role, it’s a new foe that will do all the dirty work: Binnot Ullo is one hell of an opponent who will not stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Kang doesn’t stop excelling in character development, the dramatic events that slowly escalate into a cataclysm (as the novel title suggests) will forever scar The High Republic fans. The novel is long and satisfying, and it’s a testament to the author’s fine writing—with intriguing storylines that will capture the readers who have been waiting for a while now for all the mystery and all the deception to bear fruit (although The Battle of Jedha was an excellent precursor to this tale). Without diving too deeply into spoiler territory, Cataclysm is full of tragedy, loss, and unexpected twists and turns that make this book a true page turner and arguably the best Star Wars book of the year (so far).

The second wave of The High Republic Phase II has officially begun. Make sure to grab a copy of Cataclysm today from your favorite book store, available both in physical (or digital) and audio book narrated by Marc Thompson, all with a gorgeous cover art by Yiyhoung Li featuring Axel Greylark!

Lydia Kang sets Phase II of The High Republic ablaze with the most action-packed entry yet! And once the action kicks off, it does NOT stop. The characters are all pushed to their limits and every time I thought I knew where the story was going, things shifted and kept me guessing!

Political family drama! Weaponized zealots! Lightsaber theft! Solid dad jokes! Nameless horrors! And a Yaddle in battle!

Cataclysm shifts into overdrive and doesn’t let up on its characters or the readers. The action is used wonderfully to give the characters moments of growth, choice, and power in a way that is often missed in action-heavy media. Relationships are twisted, tested, and reforged and some of the questions we have had since Phase I start to be answered.

This is a must-read for any High Republic fan who wants to dig deeper into the threat the Path represents for the Jedi and the relationships among the characters we’ve met along the way!

Sal P.

The second adult novel in Phase 2 of The High Republic is here! Trust me when I say that nothing in the High Republic will be the same again after this book. It’s another massive game changer that continues to impress and entertain.

Cataclysm directly follows The Battle of Jedha and reunites us with characters from Convergence. Gella is back along with Axel and everyone else from the phase so far. In fact, this book really feels like a big culmination of everything so far. I think I said that for the Battle of Jedha but it is even more true here. Each High Republic book builds off what came before and Cataclysm is no exception. If you have skipped anything, especially The Battle of Jedha, then you will be quite lost as to what’s happening. All the setup from previous books is paying off in a big way.

We return to Eiram and E’ronoh and once more their conflict plays a crucial role in the story. Throughout this entire phase, the conflict between the worlds has been the catalyst for all the events. Wow, it’s almost like that’s in the title. At the same time, Gella is headed to speak with Axel, who is still imprisoned for his crimes in Convergence. Once again, the chapters with the two of them were my favorite parts of the book. Both are such wonderful characters and their dynamic really kept me entertained.

I don't want to spoil much but I will say that Yaddle is also a character for the majority of the book and after seeing her in Tales of the Jedi she is just as much of a fantastic character here.

Cataclysm is easily one of the biggest and best books of the High Republic so far. It has massive implications for the future of the galaxy. And if you go back and take a look at the first phase you will see even more connections being to bloom. I loved it and can’t wait for the final two books of the phase!

As one of the final installments of the High Republic Phase II, this book had a LOT of work to do, both character and plot-wise. I was ASTONISHED at the sheer amount of both it was able to accomplish, while also feeling like a fitting end to the phase. It also has some truly iconic Star Wars-y moments, much like Convergence, that remind you why you love Star Wars, and the themes that make it great. In a vast story that had to pull together so many characters and threads, it even took the time for small moments of Jedi philosophy and galactic worldbuilding that felt IMPERATIVE for any Star Wars fan to read.

The stand out character, however, is not a Jedi, but Chancellor Kyong Greylark, who represents something not explored enough in Star Wars - moms. Not only a mother, but an older working mother with a troubled relationship with her son. A great new take on the badass and complex female politician in Star Wars, like Leia Organa, Padmé Amidala, Satine Kryze, and Lina Soh. In essence, this book is a Star War between two moms - Kyong, and the Mother of the Path, which represents such a refreshing take for Star Wars.

For those interested in the differences between religions and cults being explored in the Mandalorian, the Path of the Open Hand continues to be a GREAT example of what a REAL cult looks like and what a cult can be radicalized to do because of faith in Star Wars, a theme truly not explored enough in this galaxy.

For those who enjoyed Convergence, its main quad of characters were treated with care and depth, despite so much else going on. In addition, his novel was able to introduce even more new characters and give them depth — Yaddle and her youngling were another great highlight. (Another win for mom figures, or in this case more of a grandma?)

I know a High Republic book or comic rocks when it makes me think about Order 66, and all that was lost. This book does not only that, but has some eerie foreshadowing and parallels to how Palpatine will take down the Jedi Order hundreds of years in the future.

This novel, like some of my other Star Wars favorites, also explores themes of redemption and atonement. In a novel focused on a gigantic battle where many die, the assumption that some will follow the "sacrificial death as redemption" trope wouldn't be out of place. But Cataclysm navigates that with the level of nuance and care that so much of the rest of Star Wars lacks.

My only critiques of this novel are probably more critiques of Phase II as a whole, and may not be the fault of this one author but the architecture as a whole (how it solves the issue of the Levelers being present here in the past while the Jedi know nothing about them in the future in Phase I, the seeming pointlessness of the Battle of Jedha arc, etc).

After the Battle of Jedha, the Forever War between Eiram and E’ronoh continues to rage. The Jedi, believing the mysterious Path of the Open Hand is behind the war, travel to Dalna to get to the bottom of recent events. Join me as I review The High Republic: Cataclysm!

I say this with a lot of love in my heart, but I also know it’s a loaded sentence: The High Republic: Cataclysm feels like a Penguin Random House novel from THR Phase I. I’ll unpack this as the review goes on, but I couldn’t shake this thought as I continued to read it. In a lot of ways, Phase II has felt a lot different from Phase I, and not just because it has a (mostly) new crop of authors with only minimal contributions from the core Luminous writers. Phase II has been largely more intimate (Convergence, The Blade); it takes a lot more time in certain events (The Battle of Jedha, Marvel’s The High Republic {Vol. 2}, Dark Horse’s The High Republic Adventures); and it is shorter (two waves instead of three). Lydia Kang’s debut novel in Star Wars (but not her first writing ever, as she was featured in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back) brings all of the scale of Phase I’s novels, at times foregoing character work in favor of events.

high republic cataclysm full coverI’m sure people are curious, so let me go ahead and clear up some timeline stuff: this book is a sequel to both Zoraida Cordova’s Convergence and George Mann’s The Battle of Jedha. In a way that was unheard of in Phase I, this book directly ties into those two books and I would argue need to be read after those two. I know people like to say that you can start any where in The High Republic, but I genuinely feel like the authors are working to build this out as a full series, compared to Phase I’s loosely connected trilogy. This story builds on both the character dynamics introduced in Convergence and the events of The Battle of Jedha. What else do you need to read? Well, we’ll return to that question later.

I noted above Cataclysm is a bit grander in scale than the rest of Phase II has been, bringing in a larger cast of main characters than any previous Phase II book has so far. (You may quibble with the way I define a “main character” as you read both this review and the book itself, but I felt like more characters had a more centered role here than in previous books.) This feels like Phase I again: even though I’ve read all of Phase II, and I’ve read a lot of it at least twice, I still had a pen in hand to remember who was who and who was where. I think my own review will illustrate this a bit better, so I’ll continue. The main characters, following from Convergence, are Gella Nattai and Axel Greylark. Both are, essentially, where we left them from Convergence. Gella has become a Jedi Wayseeker, seeking to follow the Force wherever it leads her. Unfortunately(?) for her, the Force seems to continue to lead her back to Axel. Axel, after his betrayal and revelation in Convergence, finds himself locked away, hidden from the galaxy, but not from Gella. The two reconnect, and find themselves swept up into the larger conflict with the Path of the Open Hand. The pair really steal the book, and I enjoyed their interactions here so much more than I had in the original novel. Their dynamic was altered, but familiar. Their interactions really brought out the best (and worst) in each other and themselves, which I thought did some great character work for the two.

Unfortunately, I’m not sure many other characters had as much of a chance to develop in the novel due to “time”/page constraints. The novel also brings back Xiri A’lbaran and Phan-Tu Zenn, the Heirs of Eiram and E’ronoh who you’ve heard so much about. In a lot of ways, the romantic angle of Convergence didn’t work for me, and I didn’t like Axel very much, but I would’ve been happy if these four remained the core of the novel. But we also have a different story, featuring Enya Keen and Char-Ryl-Roy, Jedi sent to investigate the Path of the Open Hand. These two, I feel, serve more to move the plot along than as characters with full character arcs. While we’ve gotten to know them over the Phase, I don’t feel like, if their story ends here, I will remember a ton about them. Finally, there are villains and some surprising heroes (whom I won’t spoil here!) that continue to round out the cast, making the character list feel huge, reminiscent of early THR. I do think this book might’ve done well without so many characters, but I think they all felt necessary because of the plot of the book.

axel greylark Concept Art High Republic Phase 2So, in light of that, let me talk about the plotting and pacing of the novel. The first wave of Phase II spent a lot of time leading up to the Battle of Jedha, with the Path of the Open Hand’s involvement in the Forever War occupying most of our thought process. But now, the Battle of Jedha is behind us, the Phase moves forward to investigate the Path of the Open Hand directly. There are, without spoiling specifics, a LOT of new developments in the Path since the Battle of Jedha. Some of these developments in the Path were very welcome, while a few maybe felt like they came from left field. (Or, from a different story. One you’ll have to read and purchase elsewhere. But we’ll return to that.) These developments turn into a climactic battle around the half-way point…and then battle becomes the second half of the book. I mentioned above there were a lot of characters to manage in the novel, so now pair that feeling with the thought half of this novel covers a single battle. To draw another Phase I comparison, this felt like The Rising Storm: a long battle in general, with many many many POVs, and not a lot of time to develop characters. At times, when I thought the battle was winding down so we could deal a little bit with the fallout of the battle, something would revive the battle, making it feel longer than usual again. I would have liked the battle to have been condensed and a few more pages be given to the main characters.

One last major point before a few odds and ends, I suppose. I think one major question, which I began to address above, might be: how much of Phase II do I need to read to understand this book? Like I said, at least the Penguin Random House novels. I don’t have a feeling either of Marvel’s series or THR Adventures will factor in much, but I do have a strong hunch we’ll see The Nameless Terror connect with this book in a pretty major way. When you read a THR novel, there are moments where, in my opinion, the book essentially screams for an editor’s asterisk, telling you: “this happened in [story].” In The Rising Storm, it was Ram restoring communications off-screen. In this novel, I didn’t feel as many of those points early on. It wasn’t until a little later that I felt a bunch of editor’s notes coming, telling me to check out a different story. These didn’t affect my enjoyment of the novel, thankfully, but I did feel a few scenes begged for further exposition, but were probably left for another book to cover.

As I move into the odds and ends here, I’m worried I’ve painted a picture of a bad book for you. I want to do away with that a little, but I don’t want to spoil the book for you. So let me spend some time on what I enjoyed. Gella and Axel’s character work was really well done, and I went from feeling either ambivalent or against them to actually enjoying them as characters. I still don’t like Axel, but I like not liking Axel now. I might even put them into a top ten list of favorite THR characters in general, now. I liked some of the changes to the Path of the Open Hand, and a lot were ones I was hoping to see a little bit sooner. Even though they (seemingly) came out of left field, I expect we’ll see some explanation for them soon. I liked some of the overall narrative moves this book makes, answering quite a few questions and filling in a lot of Phase I/III gaps we might’ve had. I liked some of the cameo characters, even if I’m not sure (yet) they are much more than cameos.

Overall, Cataclysm feels to me the same way Phase II has felt so far. On their own, each book has been mostly good. As a whole, this novel doesn’t elevate Phase II beyond “good.” This book, like the rest of Phase II, has some really enjoyable stuff, but I end up liking it mostly for what it contributes to Phases I/III. I look forward to the possibility of more stories featuring Axel and Gella at any point in their lives (like Gella as a Pathfinder or Axel with the Path), and I look forward to seeing how the final battle of this book is built out with the conclusion of Phase II.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.

Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm van auteur Lydia Kang (From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back: ’Right-Hand Man’) is de nieuwste roman in de tweede fase van The High Republic. Het boek vervolgt het verhaal over de fragiele vrede tussen de zusterplaneten Eiram en E’ronoh. In Convergence van Zoraida Cordova trouwden Xiri en Phan-tu om zo eindelijk vrede te sluiten tussen hun beide planeten. In The Battle of Jedha van George Mann vinden de vredesonderhandelingen tussen vertegenwoordigers van de planeten plaats op Jedha, maar die worden bruut verstoord door een terroristische aanslag. In Cataclysm laten Xiri en Phan-tu het er niet bij zitten en gaan zelf op onderzoek uit om de partij die de vrede kosten wat kost lijkt te willen blokkeren te achterhalen. Alle aanwijzingen wijzen richting de planeet Dalna waar de Path of the Open Hand cult gehuisvest is. Niet alleen Xiri en Phan-tu komen op Dalna terecht, ook een handjevol Jedi vinden hun weg naar die planeet en eenmaal daar aanwezig is de situatie gevaarlijker dan ze verwacht hadden.

Het boek volgt een flink aantal personages, van Xiri en Pahn-tu, naar Gella Nattai en Axel Greylark, naar de Mother en haar handlangers, naar Master Yaddle en youngling Cippa en ook chancellors Mollo en Greylark hebben grote rollen in het verhaal. We springen dus regelmatig heen en weer tussen zijsporen die uiteindelijk allemaal samenkomen, maar Kang weet het allemaal vrij overzichtelijk te houden. En, ook prettig, we krijgen deze keer zowaar meer antwoorden dan nieuwe vragen.

Een hoogtepunt voor mij was de grote aanwezigheid van Yaddle, in Phase I kwam ze kort al even langs, maar in Cataclysm krijgt ze de kans om even de show te stelen. En de combinatie van Yaddle met Cippa was erg vermakelijk, er is eigenlijk altijd een leuk samenspel tussen de twee.

Voorkennis van de eerdere boeken van Phase II is wel min of meer essentieel, Kang geeft genoeg achtergrondinformatie om te snappen wat er gebeurt, maar het boek is honderd procent een vervolg op de gebeurtenissen uit Path of Deceit, Convergence en The Battle of Jedha. Het is niet nodig, maar mijn advies is om die drie eerst te lezen/luisteren voor je aan Cataclysm begint. De overige boeken en de comics kun je als je zo efficiënt mogelijk wil lezen buiten beschouwing laten.

Kang schrijft verder erg prettig, het verhaal is – ondanks de vele personages – goed te volgen en het is eigenlijk geen moment saai. Ik had nog geen hele grote band met de hoofdpersonages in het verhaal, maar Kang heeft veel bekende Phase II personages naar mijn idee veel meer persoonlijkheid gegeven dan ze tot dusver hadden. Het gebrek aan persoonlijkheid is tot nu toe voor mij het grootste struikelblok voor Phase II geweest, helemaal in vergelijking met het voorgaande Phase I. Na dit boek gelezen te hebben mag Lydia Kang wat mij betreft in Phase III aan de slag met de personages waar we in Phase I al van zijn gaan houden.

Al met al dus een prima boek, dat sterk leunt op zijn voorgangers, maar qua diepgang de lat een stuk hoger legt. Als je Phase II van The High Republic aan het volgen ben mag je dit boek uiteraard niet overslaan, en als Phase II je tot dusver nog niet echt heeft weten te boeien kan Lydia Kang daar met Cataclysm misschien verandering in brengen. Het kan wat mij betreft, net als zijn voorgangers, niet tippen aan de boeken van Phase I, maar het zet zeker een stap in de goede richting.

Cataclysm is a solid entry into Phase 2 of The High Republic but struggles under the heavy plot work required to round out the adult novels for this phase. Readers who appreciated the intimate, character-driven work of Zoraida Córdova's Convergence may be less-favorable towards Lydia Kang's fast-paced, narrative-driven novel.

Regarding the characters, Axel "I can fix him" Greylark is still a stand-out, although certain pieces of characterization showcase the challenge inherent with alternating authors. Kyong Greylark is the character who most benefits from Kang's writing style. The author is passionate about exploring the nuances of the Chancellor and her relationship with her son. This relationship is one of the novel's highlights. Our secondary protagonist, Jedi Knight Gella Nattai, feels like herself, albeit with less focus as the dual-novels covers' might suggest–this is Axel's book, Convergence was Gella's. The new characters, including the delightful Jedi Knight Orrin are engaging, but introducing new characters in a finale (looking at you, Regald Cole) can be hit-or-miss. Our star-crossed lovers from Convergence, Xiri A'lbaran and Phan-tu Zenn, are mostly absent.

The writing itself is of a similar style to most of the adult novels of The High Republic, which is to say, plot-focused and captures the novel's high level of action in an engaging and easy-to-follow way. Stylistically, Kang is more distant and neutral, especially toward the characters' inner workings. This is more in line with much of Star Wars publishing but something to adjust for if readers are especially fond of the more distinctive and stylized narration of Córdova and Daniel Josè Older.

Towards the end of The High Republic Phase 1, it seemed like all roads were leading to Dalna. As Phase 2 begins to wind down, the same appears to be true, but this time around, Lydia Kang’s Cataclysm leaves us with many more answers than questions. A small mercy in a book jam packed with action and thrills that will leave you reeling by the end.

The story picks up shortly after the events of Convergence and nearly concurrently with Battle of Jedha as the Eiram/E’ronoh peace talks fell through, and the two planets are facing the prospect of war yet again. Not helping matters are the Path of the Open Hand, who plant two agents on the moon between the warring worlds to entice them to war if the skirmish on Jedha does not.

Xiri and Phan-tu, now a married couple, find themselves struggling with what that means for them, exactly. With strongly-held loyalties to their homeworlds, splitting their priorities doesn’t come easily for either of them, no matter how they might feel about one another personally. As they work to keep their planets from going back to war, more and more Jedi find themselves drawn into the conflict, which spreads from the neutral moon to the world of Dalna, in pursuit of the Path of the Open Hand.

Also along for the ride, and engaged in some drama of their own, are Axel Greylark and Gella Nattai, who went their separate ways at the end of Convergence, but are forced back together in Cataclysm when Gella realizes Axel might have information helpful to their fight.

I’ve made no secret of my love for Xiri, Phan-tu, Gella and Axel, and while I love them just as much now, this book was also bittersweet. In a bid to wrap up plot points from the Phase as a whole, and to set us up for the next phase, I feel like I was only just getting to know them, and now we have to say goodbye already, giving the book an overall bitersweet feeling. I’d love to be wrong, though, and to have some of them pop up later on, even after the High Republic initiative wraps up.

For a series that seems to relish in posing as many questions as it answers — meaning Star Wars as a whole, and not just The High Republic — I was surprised with the amount of conclusive, satisfying answers we get to mysteries that have been left hanging over a year since Phase I wrapped up. Plot points I suspected would be relevant were, in fact, relevant and their connection to the events of the “present day” (read: Phase I and III) is made clear. In that respect I can say that although there are still two books to go in Phase II (and however many comics) things are winding down in a very satisfying way.

Cataclysm is out April 4, 2023. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.

Lydia Kang makes her The High Republic debut with the second adult novel and beginning of the end for Phase II, Cataclysm. Picking up after the disastrous events of The Battle of Jedha, the Forever War reignited between Eiram and E’ronoh, Cataclysm sees the Jedi and Republic searching for answers, leading them to a confrontation with the mysterious Path of the Open Hand cult. And what does the disgraced son of one of the Chancellors have to do with it? Many of Phase II’s threads collide in this packed yet eventful novel, where humor, heart, well-written characters, and a dazzling display of this era’s interesting aspects intertwine with a memorable final act.

While I’ve enjoyed some of the bigger, adult learning books of Phase II so far, Cataclysm builds on their foundations to make itself one of the best of the Phase, as Lydia Kang skillfully pulls on characters and lingering story threads and whips them together into something emotional and operatic. Knowledge of previous books, especially Convergence and Path of Deceit, will enhance your reading experience, adding to the emotional weight of Cataclysm’s journey to confrontation, though new readers wouldn’t feel terribly left out as Kang provides enough background information everyone’s largely on the same page once the book really gets cooking. There’s a big cast here, as the main characters across the aforementioned titles, as well as The Battle of Jedha, continue on, while Kang still manages to fit in new or familiar characters to great effect as well. I never once felt like any one character was being ignored over the other per se, but there were a few times I wished we got more from one character or another, if only because of how well Kang writes them and less to do with the amount of pages they have. And while Cataclysm is only the start of the final wave of content for Phase II: Quest of the Jedi, there’s a ringing finality to its many parts, as major events permeating the era come to a close, while certain choices and background for how things progress to Phase I’s story begin to take shape. In fact, the knowledge this Phase is almost over, while not feeling as strong of a Phase as the first overall, adds some bittersweetness to Cataclysm’s quality and story, as things are just really getting good and attachment is finally forming to these characters and yet it’s all about to end, so while it’s too late, it’s still appreciated.

At this point in the Phase II timeline, the signing of the peace treaty between Eiram and E’ronoh, central planets to this Phase’s storyline, has failed due to a variety of reasons, though mostly through machinations by the Path of the Open Hand. By the beginning of Cataclysm, this isn’t widely known due to the meager communications infrastructure already in place and being built by joint Republic and Jedi teams throughout the Outer Rim, the Pathfinders. As the news trickles in across the galaxy about the peace treaty failure, and the Path of the Open Hand wastes no time in further stirring the controversy, while the Jedi, the Republic, and the hopeful prince and princess from the two planets struggle to understand to find a way to bring the renewed fighting to a definitive close. The cult’s plans and the communication issues rampart in this era lead to confrontations that crescendo into the novel’s final act, a pulse-pounding battle hinted at in Phase I which lives up to expectations due to the many players involved and Kang’s ability to jump between them and keep the big battle moving forward.

First introduced in Convergence, Xiri A’lbaran of Eiram and Phan-tu Zenn of E’ronoh are still early in their marriage and thus have multiple layers to contend with in their attempts to bond their two planets and stop any further fighting. On a personal level, understanding how to treat one another and how to make this into more than just a marriage of convenience, to truly express their feelings for one another, is a big thread throughout Cataclysm and one I appreciated because it felt like a natural progression from where Convergence ended, as their union wasn’t going to solve all their personal problems immediately. How they come together is cathartic both for them and for readers in Cataclysm, and really endured me to them as characters by its end. Beyond their personal hurdles, they must convince the entrenched minds of their planets’ ruling bodies after the peace treaty news trickles in and the Path of the Open Hand’s trickery with bioweapons exacerbates the news’ impact. While the overall outcome is a hard-won resolution which feels earned due to said fight, something I’ll get into later, it felt a little too neat a bow on everything that’s transpired across the novels/audio drama, though with this being a shorter Phase it was unavoidable.

Another memorable pair from Convergence are Jedi Knight Gella Nattai and Axel Greylark, the son of one of the era’s Chancellors, Kyong Greylark, and they play a prominent and engaging role in Cataclysm as well, if not better than the first novel. For Gella, she’s still pulled towards Axel despite his actions on Eiram, where he destroyed deadly toxins yet left the planet vulnerable, struggling to make terms with how everyone else thinks she should feel about him against how she actually feels about him. She’s paired with Jedi Master Orin Darhga (one of my favorite new characters), or more like he senses she’s in need and tags along with her, terrible jokes in tow, and the two form a jovial bond as he sticks with her through thick and thin to help her with her emotions and place in the Force, which fluctuates as Axel floats in and out of her life again. I really enjoyed Gella’s journey throughout Cataclysm and she continues to be one I hope we’ll get more stories with her in the future, though I’m not sure the Phase as the space for them at this point. As for Axel, there’s certainly been a difference of opinion on the character since his debut and Cataclysm might not seem to rock the boat of anyone’s opinion at the beginning, and even though I was a fan from the start, I believe how his story progresses here should turn everyone into a believer. The introduction of Binnot Ullo, Axel’s friend within the Path of the Open Hand whose aspirations in the novel spark conflict for Axel and the Path itself, felt a little too late in Axel’s story, but their interactions force Axel’s internal battle, as he knows how he feels about and around Gella, while Binnot, and even the Path’s leader the Mother, offer him what he’s always wanted to feel…so which does he want more and how do his choices affect the larger conflict? The answer was as interesting as I hoped and as I imagined his internal battle could be from Convergence, which is why I think detractors and fans alike will find his arc in Cataclysm far more satisfying. Together, Axel and Gella are the two characters I enjoyed the most throughout the novel, though there were some others who came close.

Most of the cast from other recent adult novels feature prominent as well, with Yaddle (!!), Kyong, Enya Keen, Creighton Sun, Aida Forte, and second Chanceller Mollo making memorable splashes mainly for how Lydia Kang manages to give them fitting arcs within all the other characters and the big arching plot. For Yaddle, fans won’t be disappointed in the slightest, since her brief appearance in Phase I was both enticing but left them wanting more, as her unique situation with a young Force prodigy and involvement with the novel’s larger story delivers on her potential. She juggles these responsibilities with pose and grace…and humility, of course and if she’s not in Phase III more I might have to riot. Also, there’s a scene between her and Yoda, using the Force together, where the descriptions are hauntingly beautiful and are among a lot of prose which has stuck with me long after finishing Cataclysm. Jedi Master Creighton and Jedi Knight Aida, the stars of the audiodrama The Battle of Jedha, go on their own emotional journey as they try to stop the fallout from the peace talks failing getting even worse, and having listened to/read TBoJ only strengthens Kang’s characterizations of them and raised the stakes of their involvement in the final battle. Enya Keen was a fun side character in Convergence but in Cataclysm she rises far higher, especially when she makes a big choice about giving her kyber away in hopes of opening a dialogue with the Path, the resulting fallout a fascinating dissection of what it takes or means to be a Jedi, while her obsession with rebuilding a droid she found leads to some fun places. Lastly, Kyong Greylark’s arc, and how it revolves around Axel and coming to terms with her own choices which led to his current state, was a surprise highlight of the novel, as she was one I was both happy how much we had with her but suddenly I wanted more, especially knowing the rest of the Phase is likely focused elsewhere as it comes to a close in May. In fact, I feel like Kyong’s tale links to a common refrain from fans about the High Republic overall, as we’d like to spend more time in the era than just push the plot forward, and while it makes sense each Phase would be more focused, one can only hope writers can return to the era and give us more of these characters in the future.

After getting my hands on the script book for The Battle of Jedha audio drama, the combination of audio and extra descriptions helped elevate the titular battle more in my eyes, but it still felt lacking for all the build up to it. In contrast, Cataclysm’s Battle of Dalna, teased towards the end of Phase I’s content, feels like a proper battle from the start, to the point it far out dwarfs the one on Jedha in scope, stakes intensity, and emotional connection. Kang’s writing, as I mentioned earlier, allows her to jump between characters and keep things coherent, and while it might go on too long, it paints such a vivid and devastating picture, especially with a few deaths (I shed a tear or twelve!), it’s one of the most memorable and truly epic feeling battles in High Republic writings since the Attack on Valo in Phase I’s The Rising Storm. A lot of how things are allowed to escalate to such conditions stem from the era’s burgeoning communications network spearheaded by the Pathfinder teams. While other entries in Phase II have included ways the communication system, and lack thereof, could help and hinder efforts by the Republic and Jedi, like where Jedha’s communication was interrupted due to storms in TBoJ or lack of working communication puts innocent lives at risk in Quest for the Hidden City, this is the first time all era I really felt how much it could affect this Phase’s story. Eiram and E’ronoh purposefully cut themselves off by destroying the newly installed communication buoys, meaning there’s a heavier reliance on the EX droids, little probe-droid looking things that ferry messages across the galaxy. Bad actors prove both the EX droid and buoys have their shortcomings, either spreading misinformation or disseminating information only they want to get out (topically minded but Cataclysm doesn’t dig into it too much), and it was an interesting way, linked specifically to this part of the era’s differences, to heighten the stakes and make it easier for the Path of the Open Hand to get away with their nefarious plans. It certainly made me wish more of Phase II used the establishing communication systems to its advantage, but I can also see it becoming rote too quickly if every story hinged on it being important. Regardless, Cataclysm, alongside Quest for the Hidden City and Path of Deceit, really saturates itself with Phase II’s eccentricities and is better off for it.

The only thing I hold against Cataclysm besides a few little comments I’ve littered throughout the review is the continued distance we’ve been kept from learning more about the Path of the Open Hand. We see more of their machinations in the novel, but not enough to make it clear how most of its members were willing to go along with the less pacifist approach, while a whole new subsection of the group develops off-page during the big battle and there’s not a lot of details how/why it happens. The Mother is nebulous, as always, but at this point in the Phase it feels less mysterious and more like we're purposefully stalling, with the full reveal one fans have mostly put together likely coming at the end of the Phase and it might feel too little too late to care for her side of the story. At this point in Phase I, I felt like we had a little better handle on Marchion Ro, while the Mother remains too aloof that it strains credibility she took over this group and brought it to this point. There’s something interesting I talk about in the spoiler section below in regards to her, but the lack of more definitive Mother details certainly holds back Cataclysm’s big battle as it’s not always clear how or why this cult would be so willing to go to such extremes, while there’s not a lot of tension if escalations can be avoided because they are so clearly antagonistic to start.

The High Republic – Cataclysm by Lydia Kang is Phase II’s best entry yet, and while it builds off the bones off what’s come before, not having read everything beforehand isn’t complete necessary to enjoy the excellent character journeys and riveting continuation/intriguing finality to many parts of the era’s story.

{review link will go live on March 21}

Phase One of The High Republic really found a diehard vocal community. When Phase 2 of the initiative announced that they were going back in time 150 years and bringing us a whole new slate of writers I was cautious but a little protective. Cataclysm however is the novel that truly cemented my awe and enjoyment of the collaborative energy of the phase two architects. The dominant forces of the Phase 2 stories have centered around Faith, Manipulation and Secrets.The Jedi of this era have been woefully ignorant of the power and Manipulation of the Path of the open hand. As readers of Phase 1 we have watched the events play out with a sense of ominous dread and now in Cataclysm we see several pieces of the puzzle come to roost as all threads lead back to Jedha. What I loved so much about this book was how Lydia brought so many threads from the other phase 2 books together into a wonderfully unified and action filled read. I spent half this book trying to yell at certain characters to not go there, or oh no you are in trouble and also spending time dreading the loss of one of my potential beloveds. This story really builds in intensity and often heartbreak. Kang brings so much to this story in so many levels. She deepens and explores many of the pairings we have come to love and ship over the course of phase 2. I was especially drawn to her exploration of the nuances between Axel and Gella and the bonds of Mother and Son with Chancellor Greylark..The finale of this novel was so intense I had to take a break from it a few times but it ended up being one of the most satisfying endings of Phase 2 for me. And YADDLE OMG !!! Lydia Kang deserves to write a Yaddle novel so much! I'm so excited to see where the last few novels and comics of this phase bring us. I also am supremely impressed with the collaborative abilities of the Sophomore crew of the High Republic!