Review: Cavan Scott’s ‘Path of Vengeance’ Delivers an Epic Set Up to Phase III of the High Republic
A few names come to mind when you think of the pantheon of Star Wars authors. Cavan Scott belongs in the conversation to be on the shortlist, if not a bonafide lock. From his work on Dooku: Jedi Lost, multiple High Republic novels, and many comic creations, he has a track record and resume to match up against anyone. While I don’t think this latest novel, Path of Vengeance, is in the upper tier of Cavan Scott’s Star Wars gifts to us, I still believe there are so many incredible takeaways to be found!
Path of Vengeance, in many ways, is exactly what it needs to be. It delivers satisfying conclusions to nearly every character yet to be fleshed out fully in the novels, but also serves as a wonderful segway as we gear up for an epic Phase III of High Republic publishing. The Ro family serves as the heartbeat and soul of this story, and I wouldn’t want it to be any other way. Being the two most important main characters from Path of Deceit to survive, I am glad Scott delivered in giving them the time in this book to cap off their journey. Marda and Yana are such interesting characters to read because they are forever intertwined due to their familial relationship, but come with completely different personalities. However, Scott dives deep in this book giving each a deeply introspective story. The heartbreaking losses from Path of Deceit took a massive toll on each of them, and their inner battles parallel each other perfectly.
For Yana, the hole in her heart from Kor’s death still looms large. The betrayal of The Mother (Leader of the Path of the Open Hand) instills a quiet rage ready to burst. As I said before, this story provides a deeply introspective look into Yana and Marda. Yana sees and hears her deceased girlfriend Kor throughout the book in her mind. There are shades of Qi’ra with Yana, as she can’t quite get out of the life she has been thrust into. While she certainly has more opportunities to walk away than a Qi’ra might, she feels chained by the relationships of past and present to stay the course and see her vengeance played out.
The story gave the Ro family exactly what we needed, but for Marda, I must admit I was a bit underwhelmed. Much like her cousin Yana, she carries the weight of the dead with her. As Yana sees and hears Kor, Marda sees and hears Kevmo Zink. If you recall, Kevmo was the young Padawan Marda fell in love with. She even carries Kevmo’s lightsaber with her throughout the book and serves as a major symbol of the storm raging within her throughout. Marda’s concluding arc was completely satisfying and even chilling, but the journey in getting there felt a bit over the top and half-baked.
Some of the issues I had with the journey were likely due to just the right amount of work needed to bring this phase of High Republic publishing to a satisfying point to set the stage for the final phase. The pacing of this one can be a bit jarring and move you around quite quickly if you aren’t prepared for it. I’d harken it a bit to the season three finale of The Mandalorian. It brought some epic Star Wars highs but with it half-baked lows.
For fans of Marvel’s The High Republic comics, Cavan Scott has been feasting us, and you won’t be disappointed. Matty Cathley and Oliviah Zeveron are the Jedi at the front and center of this story. I couldn’t have been more excited about this move by Scott, as those have been my two favorite characters to follow from the comic arc. Matty, in particular, is so relatable. She can’t stand loose ends and wants to get a move on right away. If there is a problem, she wants to solve it right away. If there is silence, she wants to fill the void. She is a chattery, upbeat, vibrant character for which I have an eternal soft spot. Characters who bring an abundance of optimism are a treat, especially in an era plagued by existential fear.
Matty is sent to Dalna, the home of the Path of the Open Hand, by her new Jedi Master, Vildar Mac. She is to join Oliviah as they investigate what might be going on with the Path. She carries a massive burden on her shoulders that leaves you guessing what it could be throughout the entirety of the novel, but comes with some massive results. The results were something I wish could’ve been played out over a longer period, but still provide that jaw-dropping moment you expect in any Cavan Scott piece.
Oliviah is a stoic and stern Jedi. She doesn’t open up to just anyone, and she doesn’t offer praise lightly. Though she and Matty have spent a considerable amount of time together on Jedha, you wouldn’t mistake them for friends. The two are forced to learn to both rely on and trust each other along the way.
The last piece to the puzzle is The Mother, or Elicia, to those who truly know her. Path of Vengeance gives us our heaviest dose of The Mother, and rightfully so. She is the leader of the Path. Remember, the Path believes the “Force should be set free,” and any who use the Force for their good are manipulating it in a harmful way. They despise everything the Jedi stand for. The Mother has the Path so fixated on the Jedi as an enemy, the lines of communication and hopes for reconciliation appear to be at an end. Path of Vengeance delivers the goods on finally bringing The Mother out of the shadows and putting her into the spotlight. She’s conniving, power-hungry, full of hatred, and ready to wreak havoc. I hate her. She’s exactly the villain I needed.
One does simply bring up The Mother without mentioning her “loyal” pet: the Leveler. It, and other creatures of the species dubbed “the Nameless,” have served as perhaps the most terrifying beast in Star Wars history. In Path of Vengeance, we get to travel back to the home of these creatures, Planet X. If you read the Eye of the Storm comics, you will have an idea of what this place looks like and the brilliance of it all. If not, Scott does a brilliant job of bringing the vibrance and terror of the planet to life. The Mother is desperate for as many more of these Force-feeding terrors as she can get her claws on.
Overall, Path of Vengeance does its job well. The result ties a bow on many of the remaining characters we have been following. While the journey can feel a bit hasty due to the sheer volume of what needs to be resolved, Scott plays his hand well. The story serves as a fantastic end to this prequel phase. The introspective tale balances perfectly with the events of its predecessor. Writing characters working through intense emotions and fighting through deep trauma is a specialty of Scott’s. Just read his portrayal of Dooku or Elzar Mann. Yana and Marda get a similar treatment here.
There are so many more journeys I want to go on with characters not just from Path of Vengeance but other Phase II novels as well. Hopefully, we will get to come back to them someday. For now, your imagination will be able to run wild, which is part of the beauty of Star Wars.
Rating: 7/10
Star Wars: The High Republic – Path of Vengeance is available now wherever books are sold. The audiobook format of the novel will be available June 6, 2023. Special thanks to Disney-Lucasfilm Press for the ARC used in this review.
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.
