Star Wars: The High Republic: Convergence
It is an age of exploration. Jedi travel the galaxy, expanding their understanding of the Force and all the worlds and beings connected by it. Meanwhile, the Republic, led by its two chancellors, works to unite worlds in an ever-growing community among near and distant stars.
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.
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Release Date: 6th April 2023
Page Count: 384 pages
ISBN: 9781529150131
On the warring worlds of Eiram and Eronoh a temporary and tenuous ceasefire hangs as both planets wait for much needed aid and supplies. Eronoh Captain and Princess Xiri Albaran, clings on desperately to hope of a break in her father’s relentless war-mongering whilst Eiram Prince Phan-tu Zenn works to administer relief to his more impoverished citizens, those suffering most in the historic war. Sabotage and arrival of two independent Republic ships one housing Jedi and the other one the Republic Chancellors throws events into chaos and acts as a catalyst for a journey of unlikely companions, love, loss and union that will change both worlds forever.
I can’t tell you how good it is to be back in
The High Republic. After my initial trepidation at the announcement that phase 2 will be set 150 years before the events of Phase 1, I am happy to report that
Convergence, the first adult novel of Phase 2, more than lives up to the lofty expectations set by the previous Phase and serves as am impactful first half in this two part story. In her debut
High Republic work, Cordova has given us some of the most memorable characters and connections in
The High Republic, rivalled only by the recent YA release,
Path of Deceit.
I expect some to be surprised by the change of pace of
Convergence compared to the previously released adult novels. This is a story that, while it has it’s epic and action packed moments, is definitely more about character and seems almost a reaction to the (unfair) criticism of the first phase having too many characters and not spending enough time with any of them save for Reath, Bell and Vern.
Light of the Jedi, The Rising Storm and
The Fallen Star all focused around different, galaxy shattering disasters where
Convergence’s central conflict definitely feels a lot more localized and smaller in scale. This is in keeping with the canon as the events of
Light of the Jedi were meant to be the first thing the Jedi have dealt with on that scale in hundreds of years and signals the start of their descent from their golden age.
The more considered and less frantic pacing allows for some of the best character work I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying recently. The central relationship between Xiri, Phan-tu, Jedi Knight Gella Nataii and Coruscanti playboy Axel Greylark feels natural and earned and you can’t help but feel an attachment to the friendship that builds between them. If these High Republic writers weren’t so ‘cruel’ I’d go as far to say that we have our new Luke, Leia and Han (it really feels like that!). Of course things can’t ever be so straightforward but this is a spoiler free review so I’ll just say this is definitely a High Republic story, in every sadistic sense of the title.
Like I said earlier, I can see some people taking issue with the slower pace compared to Phase 1’s adult novels but I really think we have something special here. This is quite clearly a two part story, the titles chosen for this wave and the second wave due early next year makes that quite clear with each book having obvious sequels due very soon rather than Phase 1’s more standalone stories that fed into a larger narrative. Lydia Kang will be taking over babysitting duties of these particular characters with next year’s Cataclysm and I honestly can’t wait. This book and Path of Vengeance have given us some of the series’, best characters so far and have set up the next wave to be explosive and most likely full of heartbreak. I blame Cavan Scott. He set a distressing precedent with the The Rising Storm and one that the subsequent authors have been more than happy to meet, maniacal laughs and all.
