SWBC: 'The Battle of Jedha' review
SWBC: 'The Battle of Jedha' review
Plus: "Young Jedi Adventures" premieres May 4th and includes new children's books.
Review: The Battle of Jedha is even more immersive with the new script book
I love when Star Wars produces audio original stories. They’re masterclasses in immersive audio storytelling with a full cast and superb production quality.
The Battle of Jedha, which was released on Jan. 3, is no different. The “movie in your ears” is the perfect way to mark a turning point in The High Republic phase two and bring together major characters from the first three books.
While I enjoyed the audio original on its own, the arrival of the script book made me love this story and the characters even more.
With the previous audio dramas — Dooku: Jedi Lost, Doctor Aphra, and Tempest Runner — the script books didn’t arrive until months or up to a year after the audio. Star Wars book fans have long been asking for the audiobook and script book to arrive at the same time — or, at least a little closer together.
That finally happened with The Battle of Jedha. Fans only had to wait a little over a month after the audio release to get their hands on the script book. It’s perfect timing, too, with phase two of The High Republic rapidly coming to an end this spring with Cataclysm, Quest for Planet X, and Path of Vengeance.
Some excerpts from my review of The Battle of Jedha script book on Dork Side of the Force:
“On their own, The Battle of Jedha audio original and script book tell the same Star Wars story in different — but still engaging — formats. But together, they provide a truly immersive and thrilling tale of warring worlds, clashing religious sects, mysterious forces manipulating in the shadows, and a group of Jedi caught in the crossfire.”
“The audio original excels with superb production quality and voice cast — a standard for all Star Wars audio dramas. But the script book streamlines the characters and scenes into a much easier to follow along format. Where the audio original certainly entertained me, listening to it along with Mann’s penned script was far more engrossing and made me connect more with the characters.”
“The script book includes detailed scene and act introductions and character names, making it much easier to keep track of where we are and who we’re listening to. Reading the script of what you’re hearing is a fascinating way to fully immerse yourself in a story and the author’s dramatic intent.”
Young Jedi Adventures: First Star Wars series for preschoolers
This newsletter is now a Nubs fan account. I mean, just look at him (the cute blue Jedi youngling who looks like a bear).
Nubs is one of the Jedi younglings debuting in the upcoming Young Jedi Adventures on Disney Plus. The new Star Wars series — created just for preschoolers — arrives on May 4th. The animated series follows a group of younglings learning about the Force and training to become Padawans with Master Yoda as their wise and fearless leader.
With the arrival of Young Jedi Adventures also comes a slate of new children’s books featuring the younglings slated for kids ages 3-7.
Young Jedi Adventures: Jedi Training
Young Jedi Adventures: My First Comic Reader Level 1
Get Well, Nubs
Young Jedi Adventures: World of Reading Level 1: Yoda’s Mission
Young Jedi Adventures: World of Reading Level 1: The Young Jedi
Find more information about these books and the new Disney Plus series in my article for Attractions.
Star Wars books and comics out this week
Feb. 14
Bounty Hunters Vol. 5: The Raid on the Vermillion
The High Republic: The Battle of Jedha (script book)
Feb. 15
Bounty Hunters #31
Star Wars #31
Reading & writing updates
Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars: I’m five chapters in (about 20%) of my eARC and I’m having a great time. This is my first video game tie-in novel, and I’m not a huge gamer overall — I did watch a 4-hour playthrough of Jedi: Fallen Order though. But Battle Scars feels like reading a video game. It’s easy to picture Cal climbing, flipping, and wall-walking, and Merrin blipping in and out using her green flame Nightsister magic. Author Sam Maggs does a great job so far writing a self-aware Star Wars story that’s full of both bite and heart. More details and a full review coming on release day, March 7!
The High Republic: Cataclysm: Thanks to some exciting things in the work, I’m starting to read Cataclysm a little earlier than I planned. That’s fine by me since I’ve been dying to know what happens next with Jedi Gella Nattai and the currently imprisoned Axel Greylark — who graces the cover of this Lydia Kang Star Wars novel. Seeing as this is the last adult book in The High Republic phase two, I expect to have my heart torn out. I am ready to be hurt again. Cataclysm arrives on April 4!
The Winter Soldier: Cold Front: Speaking of being hurt, I would like to have a chat with author Mackenzi Lee about her gut-wrenching Bucky Barnes book. This is not MCU Bucky, but I couldn’t help but picture a young Sebastian Stan anyway. Bouncing between 1941 and 1954, Lee weaves a tale about memory and trauma steeped in WWII and Cold War-era espionage. It’s a YA Disney book, but don’t let that fool you — The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is dark and violent, and heartbreaking. It’s everything I could want in a Winter Soldier story, and now I want to get my hands on more. The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is available now!
I actually did chat with Mackenzi Lee for a story for Attractions:
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Druid’s Call: I may not be a D&D player, but I am pretty excited about the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves movie. Honestly, any high fantasy film filled with dragons, dungeons, mythical beings and creatures, and I’m all in. I’m currently almost halfway through an eARC of The Druid’s Call by E.K. Johnston — a prequel YA novel that explores the origins of the Druid Doric, played by Sophia Lillis in the film. I can’t say much more about the book until the embargo lifts next week. Plus, I’m not finished reading yet. But I will say that so far this prequel could easily be a standalone fantasy novel, and I would love to see more books set in the D&D universe in the future. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Druid’s Call arrives on Feb. 28!
The Foxglove King: Hannah Whitten is an auto-buy author for me. Her Wilderwood duology is a beautiful, dark fairytale imbued with creepy magical forest vibes. Her next book, The Foxglove King, leans even more into the macabre with a story about death magic, cults in catacombs, sainted royalty, and warrior monks. Oh, and Whitten is a Reylo, so many of her stories contained subtle Skywalker saga nods. The Foxglove King releases on March 7!