SWBC: Review of 'Cataclysm' and an updated High Republic reading guide
Plus: All the Star Wars books and comics arriving in April, and a look at new Essential Legends books coming soon.
Review: The High Republic: Cataclysm
Phase two of The High Republic is one step closer to a sure-to-be grand finale with this week’s release of Cataclysm by Lydia Kang.
This book hurt so good. I cried reading Chapter 29 … and pretty much the rest of the book after that. Still, there was so much hope and light in between bits of horror and brutality.
Oh, and Lydia Kang wrote some of the best battle scenes I’ve ever read in Star Wars — and they weren’t even in space!
Some snippets from my review for Dork Side of the Force:
“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.”
“It’s hard to explain what exactly the Path does and why in Cataclysm without giving away too much of the plot. But I will say that many questions posted throughout phase two are answered in this book — in particular, pivotal moments on the evolution journey from Path of the Open Hand to the ruthless Nihil of phase one.”
“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.”
“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.”
More reviews from phase two of The High Republic:
Updated: A guide to reading The High Republic
With this week’s release of Cataclysm by Lydia Kang, phase two of The High Republic is racing toward an epic — and probably heartbreaking — conclusion. The finale of the phase is Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott — a YA novel due out on May 2.
Back in December, I wrote a handy guide to reading The High Republic, including my reviews, timeline spots, and answers to frequently asked questions. But we’ve had a few new Star Wars books release since then, and it was time to update that guide and give it space in its own post — which also makes it easier for me to freshen it up whenever new books come out.
So, bookmark this page for everything you need to know about reading The High Republic — explainers of phase one and two, FAQs, reading order and release order, and the latest news on what’s coming next.
Have more questions about The High Republic era of Star Wars? Drop them in the comments!
The Mandalorian season 3, episode 6: “Guns for Hire”
Some snippets from my review of The Mandalorian season 3, episode 6 for Winter Is Coming:
The Mandalorian season three took a page straight out of Law & Order, CSI, and even a bit of The X-Files for the sixth episode, "Guns for Hire."
At times it felt like misplaced filler and lacked enough punch to move the plot forward. But with Bryce Dallas Howard in the director's chair again, this week's episode of The Mandalorian still shows Star Wars at its quirky, campy best.
While the episode was certainly fun and silly Star Wars — and we're not complaining about the focus on Bo-Katan — "Guns for Hire" feels disjointed and misplaced within the rest of the season. With only two episodes left, we can't help but wonder if this quirky side mission and reclamation of the Darksaber would have hit better earlier on.
The colorful prequel-era silliness and cop drama banter bring vibrancy and delight to the episode. But it just doesn't feel like the episode fits within the larger story of The Mandalorian season three.
Coming soon: Another wave of Essential Legends paperbacks
I say it every time new Essential Legends books are announced — these are the prettiest covers yet.
For the last couple of years, Del Rey (transitioning into Random House Worlds) has been rereleasing former Expanded Universe books with new cover art and a nicer trade paperback format via the Essential Legends Collection. There have been 17 Essential Legends books released so far, with three more set to arrive in May.
Then comes wave 7, due out on Aug. 15:
The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams
Republic Commando: Triple Zero by Karen Traviss (book 2 of the Republic Commando Series)
Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn
Survivor’s Quest by Timothy Zahn
Star Wars books and comics out this week and this month
April 4
Star Wars 100 Objects: Illuminating Finds from a Galaxy Far, Far Away
The High Republic: Cataclysm
The High Republic: Quest for Planet X
The High Republic Phase 1 YA paperback box set
April 5
Hidden Empire #5
Star Wars #33
Star Wars: The Dark Side Pocket Expert
Hyperspace Stories Annual: Jaxxon 2023
More top picks for April
Return of the Jedi: Ewoks #1 (April 12)
Star Wars Timelines (April 25)
The High Republic Adventures: Quest of the Jedi (April 26)