Review: Lydia Kang Delivers a High Republic Masterpiece in ‘Star Wars: Cataclysm’
The High Republic is my favorite era in Star Wars. It’s a way of introducing something entirely new to the audience, while keeping its stories feeling so familiar in a chills inducing way. The diversity within the stories is beautiful to behold. When I began Cataclysm, I was excited but had no idea how grand in scale this book would be. Somehow, a half dozen storylines are intricately woven-together, creating a tapestry so purely Star Wars it left me breathless. If you enjoyed The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott, you will enjoy Cataclysm as they hold similar vibes. Lydia Kang deserves all of the flowers, accolades, and recognition she can get because Cataclysm is as close to a Star Wars novel masterpiece as I can recall.
Much like Convergence, this is filled with love, hope, and the fight for a better tomorrow. There is a terrifying darkness facing our heroes. In the face of that darkness, Cataclysm provides us with what all the great Star Wars stories do, but adds in a special flair of Lydia Kang. Within the pages is the piercing feeling of hope and unbridled optimism that against all odds, anything is still possible in this galaxy far, far away.
The Across the Stars theme will be blasting in your head, as the love story with Xiri and Phan-Tu is yet again a beacon of light in a sea of darkness. Their relationship continues to be one of the best things not only of Phase II, but of the entirety of the High Republic. The finding love and holding onto it against all odds type of storyline is one I am a sucker for every time. Kang does a masterful job of strengthening Xiri and Phan-Tu’s love for each other without the delusion that such a path will be easy.
The Jedi are pushed to the brink against The Path of the Open Hand and the Nameless terror they unleash. There are several Jedi we will follow throughout the novel, and while you may be trying hard to keep up with everything happening, trust me when I say that all paths will merge in epic fashion. As is a High Republic staple, we’re introduced to a few new Jedi, but this novel also keeps up with our favorite Jedi from the previous book. Gella Natai, Creighton Sun, and more will be at the forefront of the Jedi storylines.
I can’t mention Gella Natai without mentioning Axel Greylark. I have a lot to say about Axel, but for now, I will keep it brief. He is undoubtedly a favorite of mine. His journey is infuriating, inspiring, and one that will keep you banging your head against the wall more often than you let out a fist pump of joy. He is just a perfect character: plain and simple.
Moving forward, this review will contain a few minor spoilers, but there’s no way I will divulge any of the greater plot points. If you’re like me and love coming into new stories fresh, please do so! There are many intricate storylines weaving together to form one uniform vision in Cataclysm. The previous novels in Phase II were much smaller in scope and scale. We have mostly stayed in a central location and been entrenched in one main storyline. In Cataclysm, the reader is taken on a journey across the galaxy. All roads lead to the home of the Path of the Open Hand on Dalna.
Minor spoilers ahead.
The peace talks on Jedha between Eiram and E’ronoh have erupted in flames. Quite literally, in fact. The Path of the Open Hand saw to that. As the news of the broken talks and lives lost on both sides is making its way back to the two respective planets, the Path is trying to ensure this war stays fueled for the long haul. Binnot Ullo, a devoted member of the Path and follower of its leader, The Mother, is charged with stealthily delivering large shipments of Klytobacter to the area. Klytobacter is a bioweapon of mass proportions. Once unleashed, it can be a planet killer. Binnot’s job is making sure Eiram believes this is a bioweapon E’ronoh plans to unleash.
Since peace talks are presently fractured, it won’t take much to stoke the flames of war back into a frenzy. A devastating bio-weapon like this could spell instant doom for any hope of future peace talks but also the relationship between Xiri and Phan-Tu.
Given their two planets are always on the brink of war, it can be said the two have had as difficult a beginning to their marriage as possible. The make quite the pair; Xiri, the soldier princess who desperately wants to find a way other than violence, and Phan-Tu, the gentler Prince of Eriam. Like everyone in a new relationship, they are still learning how to communicate best with one another. Tensions are higher than ever since the talk of peace began, and the two work together to solve the Klytobacter crisis.
Xiri and Phan-Tu gain the help of some old friends as Jedi Master Char-Ryl-Roy and his Padawan Enya Keen arrive to help them sort out this mess. Upon interrogating Binnot and his associate, they discover that Binnot is not only a member of the Path but also a Force-sensitive being hiding in their midst. Remember, the Path loathes Force users. They are an affront to everything they stand for.
Upon this discovery, there is a violent altercation where Binnot gets away and someone, and I won’t say who is gravely injured. The next step for Xiri is simple: she must go to Dalna. In order to secure a future for her people, she knows she must get to the bottom of this. In hopes of establishing peace, she takes no military forces along. Instead, she’s joined by Master Char-Ryl-Roy, Padawan Enya Keen, and one Phan-Tu as a stowaway. I’ll leave that little nugget for you to digest further when you read the novel.
For Master Char-Ryl-Roy and his Padawan Enya, this was a great novel. There were plenty more opportunities to explore their relationship and these two characters as individuals in this novel. It’s not that Convergence did them dirty it just wasn’t essential to the story to further flesh them out. For Enya, this is a coming-of-age story. She’s thrust in front of danger she has never faced before, and forced to make choices unfair to one so young. I fell in love with the spirit of this character as the book went on.
Now, it’s time I spent a moment talking about two characters who left such a permanent imprint on each other in the previous novel. I have no doubt Axel Greylark will be a fan favorite of the High Republic era. I loved this rebellious character in Convergence, and now I’m head over feels after reading Cataclysm. He will have you frustrated with nearly every decision he makes, but he’s a character you always give a second chance to.
You can’t mention Axel without bringing up his dear Jedi Knight: Gella Natai. She is still trying to forgive herself for her mistakes in Convergence. Her plans of beginning her Wayseeker journey are temporarily put on hold when a message from Creighton Sun informs her of the disaster on Jedha and the suspicion of the Path of the Open Hand. She instantly decided to pay Axel a visit in his prison cell to gain information on the path.
She is joined on this journey by Jedi Master Orin Darhga. Orin was both an acquired taste for Gella and myself. His unique sense of humor certainly took some getting used to. He is the classic guy who uses humor to lessen the tension of any situation. Trust me, dad joke one-liners will wear you down. Eventually, just like Gella, I began to love the old Jedi.
Axel and Gella have been stars of Phase II, and they shine even brighter in Cataclysm. Axel is still plagued by his past choices and the nagging voice of doubt that always enters his head. He’s bogged down by the weight of a trauma that began in his early years, along with a deep mistrust of anyone who might want to help him. No matter how many awful choices he makes you’ll continuously want to root for this guy. His arc in this book is one of my favorites, and he will need the help of his Jedi Knight if he wants a chance at redemption.
Gella, however, is someone hyper-focused on something Axel can’t understand. He’s been weighted down by the feeling of disappointing others or trying to live up to standard. Gella is the opposite. At one point, she shares an old prayer with him from the Guardians of the Whills.
“In darkness, cold. In light, cold. The old sun brings no heat. But there is heat in breath and life. In life, there is the Force, In the Force, there is life. And the Force is eternal.”
She is concerned with moving beyond social constructs like disappointment and perfection. Let those all go and just trust in the Force. Her journey is one of deep introspection and finding inner peace. She can’t achieve this without closure with Axel. Their stories are intertwined in a web of complexity and confusing emotions.
For my Creighton Sun fans, don’t think I forgot about you! There is plenty of time devoted to the wisened Jedi Knight. Creighton and his dear friend Aida Forte were on the battlefield of Jedha. As the dust on Jedha begins to settle, they immediately petition Yoda and Chancellor Kyong Greylark to go to Dalna and investigate further.
Creighton and Aida’s bond is one of true friendship. Perhaps someday we can get more stories with the two at the helm because their dynamic is special. They see each other at their best and their worst. The strengths and weaknesses of each are known by the other. They are with each other through and through.
Alongside Creighton and Aida is none other than Yaddle herself. She is joined by a youngling in her care named Cippa. The return of Yaddle continues as she is popping up all over the place now, and I am here for it. Kang displays Yaddle’s fierceness as a protector and nurturing spirit as a mentor in the novel. She and Yoda join together and have a jaw-dropping inspiring moment in this book. You will be glad I didn’t spoil it here.
All roads lead to Dalna in Star Wars: Cataclysm. The Mother is willing to unleash anything and everything she has at her disposal to wreak chaos upon the galaxy. Her agenda matters more than anything or anyone. The Path of the Open Hand is unlike any threat the Jedi and the Republic have ever faced. With The Nameless creatures at their disposal, they make for a terrifying combination. They are a bone chilling cult. I can’t imagine reading Star Wars: Cataclysm without my skin crawling each time we spend time with the Path.
Love, hope, and redemption percolate the air in this one. The struggle is mighty as we see a jam-packed novel with a full-scale battle unseen since The Rising Storm. I won’t lie to you; there will be sacrifices. Happy and sad tears will drip from your face onto the pages, but the heart of Cataclysm is as pure as Star Wars can be. The fight for survival, love, and a future, fuels a book that will leave your heart racing.
Special thanks to Random House Worlds for the ARC used in this review!
RATING: 10/10
Finding ways to nonchalantly incorporate Star Wars quotes into 8th grade classroom, Tyler lives and breathes Star Wars. His morning tradition is sending the latest number in the countdown for different Star Wars projects and loves engaging in uplifting Star Wars dialogue. If you are passionate about Star Wars you can follow him on Twitter at TyBrad5.
