Review – The Greatest Threat to the Galaxy Emerges in ‘The High Republic: Defy the Storm’
At a certain point, I feel incredibly redundant when I discuss how magnificent the High Republic publishing initiative is. Like any series, there are highs and lows in terms of quality. Sometimes, I have been disappointed in a book, comic, or story arc. However, I have never felt cheated as a fan. Far more often, the authors have delivered power-packed punches that land nearly perfect. Defy The Storm, the first young adult novel of Phase 3, by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland, tries to raise the bar and elevate the stakes. It does so rather brilliantly at times, even though I think this novel will eventually slide into the background.
Centered around Vernestra Rwoh and Avon Starros, I was almost too excited to begin the journey. Ultimately, this one will land right in the lower-middle tier of High Republic stories. Of course, this is not to say Defy The Storm is not a good novel. Everyone should grab a copy as soon as possible as it’s available now. It’s a High Republic book that belongs on your shelf, but you won’t remember it as the standout novel or two from the phase.
There are a few reasons for this and mostly it has to do with the characters. I want to begin by saying Vernestra Rwoh is my top-tier High Republic character, and I loved every ounce of her story in this novel. The character Justina Ireland first brought to us in A Test of Courage continues her epic and soul-searching journey in Defy The Storm. It’s easy to connect with Vernestra’s character after all she has gone through. Losing her master and thinking she lost her Padawan all at such a young age is bound to have a profound impact on her psyche. Her role in this book and how her story arc concludes makes me incredibly interested in the dynamic she will add to the next adult novel, Temptation of the Force, in June. In addition, I have to read every Vernestra story a bit differently given how she will be appearing in The Acolyte this year.
Avon Starros is another character I adore. The child genius of the treacherous former Senator Ghirra Starros is a bit of a rebellious wild card in this one. Avon has always been headstrong and marched to the beat of her drum, but the beat borders on dangerous. Gratton and Ireland do a great job of bringing Avon to the brink of losing herself, having her realize what she is and isn’t willing to do to accomplish her goals. I would’ve loved Defy the Storm even more if it had leaned even more into a Vernestra and Avon team-up rather than balancing out with the other characters. This is a really solid novel; it just doesn’t hurdle the bar to be great.
Let’s talk about a few of those other characters. First off, I think Jordanna Sparkburn (who first appeared in Out of the Shadows) is a badass who deserves all the flowers and accolades in the galaxy, but I don’t have any vested interest in her. Second, I don’t hate the character of spoiled rich brat Xylan Graf. The issue is I have never felt an overly strong connection with either one of them. They are written beautifully in the story, but the heart belongs to Avon and Vernestra. Every time I was away from them, I was more waiting to join back with them than I was invested in the Xylan or Jordanna arc.
Now, some crazy events do take place around Jordanna Sparkburn. The more significant larger story event completely revolves around her storyline. The galaxy-shaping calamity she uncovers is something I was not expecting in the slightest. Gratton and Ireland raise the stakes in a way that is grander than anything I had anticipated. Unfortunately, I just wish it had occurred with Vernestra and Avon at the centerpiece of it rather than Jordanna.
The fourth character of the main quartet we follow in Defy the Storm is Xylan Graf. I’ll be honest, I don’t love Xylan as a character. He’s not as charming and polarizing as an Axel Greylark, and falls short of the charisma of other arrogant scoundrels we may remember. He feels a bit second-rate for the kind of character he is, which makes me feel pretty indifferent about him. His character undergoes some curious transformations, and he keeps you on his toes because of his ever-evolving allegiances. The issue with Xylan is that I never really care if he does the right thing or if he lives or dies. If he dies…. He dies (Rocky IV reference. I am so sorry, but not). If he lives, that’s great. I just don’t think he presents a very compelling character at this stage of the story.
Defy The Storm is a worthy launch to the YA novels for Phase 3 of The High Republic. It’s not going to be the standout book you remember most from this phase, but it certainly does some of the heavy lifting for the books to come. Everything will build off this one, and it may get forgotten about amid some epic stories to come, but it will be important to remember how this novel set the stage.
Now, I am not going to get into any deep spoiler territory. I want you to go into these Phase 3 High Republic books as spoiler-free as possible. For a full spoiler review, I will publish a short YouTube video in the coming days. So, if you want to go in completely fresh, I’d stop here, but if you don’t mind a few spoilers, jump on ahead.
Spoiler Territory.
First, I want to begin with Vernestra and Imri. My main draw to this novel was the search for Imri Cantaros. Venrestra had believed her Padawan to be dead, but upon the reunion with Avon, she quickly learns he is alive and needs to be rescued from Nihil space. For many, I imagine this will be the number one draw to the novel as well. I will say I am a bit disappointed in how long it ended up taking Vernestra to find Imri.
Vern discovers that Imri is not, in fact, in need of saving. He is completely committed to the people of the planet he is on. He’s mobilizing relief efforts and countering the Nihil incursion. He has no intentions of leaving. It doesn’t stop there as he even denies his Kyber crystal when Vern returns it to him. He has chosen a new path. He is done fighting. The Nihil has taken so much from the galaxy and forced the Jedi and others to be versions of themselves they don’t want to be. Imri rejects that and has chosen to find a new way. A way without violence. Vernestra not only acknowledges the nobility of his vow, but also the personal growth of her Padawan. The immense pride she has in him is clear, and we get the most touching point in the story. But I’ll leave it there.
I want to spend one moment discussing Avon. I love this kid. We have seen so much growth and change in her character throughout this series, and this was my favorite Avon story yet by far. We got a full-fledged Avon Starros story. More so than she would ever like to admit, she is her mother’s daughter. A brilliant mind with an ability to make cold and calculated decisions. I won’t spoil when, where, or how this happens, but Avon takes her first life in this book. Her arc as a whole is discovering what she is both capable of and balancing that with what she is willing to do. She wants to fight back against the Nihil, but figuring out how she wants to do that is the greatest struggle of all.
Lastly, I mentioned prior how Ireland and Gratton raise the stakes to new heights. Well, boom goes the dynamite because here it is. Something is coming. It’s unclear if this is a new threat we have not yet met, or if this is a new weapon the Nihil may not be able to control, but something is coming. Bigger than the Stormwall and bigger than the Nameless; something is coming. There are so many questions I want answers to, but I’ll have to wait a while to get them. I can’t believe we are already three books into Phase 3.
Defy The Storm was a bold story by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland. While I didn’t resonate completely with the characters they chose to hone in on, it doesn’t change the fact it’s still a solid story. It won’t wind up as many people’s “favorites” from this final phase, but it will serve as a building block for the rest. Defy The Storm takes every threat we thought was surrounding the Jedi and the High Republic and elevates it. Grab a copy wherever you can!
Rating: 7/10
Star Wars: The High Republic: Defy the Storm by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland is available now, wherever books are sold. Special thank you to Disney-Lucasfilm Press for the advance copy 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.
