SWBC: Why 'Jedi: Battle Scars' is one of the most romantic & riveting Star Wars books

Plus: Review of "The Mandalorian" season 3 episode 2, and a cover reveal for The High Republic YA story collection.

Mar 08, 2023

Review: Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars

It’s been a while since I updated my list of favorite Star Wars books. But Jedi: Battle Scars easily fits in as one of the best ever — and one that features everything I could want in a Star Wars book.

There are Jedi, of course. Messy and complicated ones, at that. There’s also a space witch (Merrin), who’s struggling to reignite her green fire magick. There’s also romance and juicy bookish tropes like found family, one bed, and a dash of enemies to lovers. And the tiniest hint of a future enemies to friends to lovers storyline.

While Cal is featured most prominently on the cover and the book follows multiple POVs, Merrin is the true star of Battle Scars. And not just because she gets a romantic plot point. Battle Scars truly cements Merrin as a member of the Mantis family — a group that cares for one another just as much as they push each other to be better.

Author Maggs lets Merrin rightfully rage at the injustices she’s been dealt throughout her life. She is no righteous Jedi, she is much, much worse. And I will continue to support her rights and wrongs.

Some snippets from my review for Dork Side of the Force:

“Author Sam Maggs has managed to turn a tie-in novel that bridges the gap between two video games into one of the most romantic and riveting Star Wars books of all time. Jedi: Battle Scars blows every expectation out of the water for a thrilling and intimate tale of messy found family and finding your fire and purpose in the galaxy.”

“Battle Scars scores points right from the start with its straightforward, steady-paced plot. The mission to retrieve the weapon drives the story and action forward, but the core of the 304-page novel is the messy, complicated, and baggage-heavy crew of the Mantis.”

“If you finished Fallen Order wishing there was more Merrin, Battle Scars delivers tenfold. The last Nightsister of Dathomir has let her anger and want for revenge fuel her ever since she left her home planet. Along the way she became part of a family that she cares deeply about, even when she doesn’t know how to say it.”

“For a short, self-contained story whose purpose is to set up for the next game, Battle Scars breaks out of its own mold to be one of the most charming and exciting Star Wars books out there.”

Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars by Sam Maggs is available now.

Review: The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2

Holy Mythosaur, Din Djarin. What a chilling ending to The Mandalorian season 3, episode 2: “The Mines of Mandalore.”

Full of myths and monsters in the mines, the episode sees Din get redemption in the Living Waters and proves Bo-Katan Kryze both wrong and right about the supposed curse on Mandalore. Even as the lighting in the episode often makes it hard to see the action, episode 2 sets up the core of what will likely be the theme of the rest of the season: retaking and restoring Mandalore.

Some snippets from my review for Winter is Coming:

“The second episode of The Mandalorian's third season, "The Mines of Mandalore," is intense on many levels, driving the story forward at a dizzying pace. Still, even as Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), Grogu, and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) descend into the depths of their ravaged homeworld, the episode never loses sight of one of the core themes of this season: expanding the mythos of Mandalore.”

“Din landing on Mandalore is also where the episode's pacing ramps up, forgoing showing a lot of travel time beyond walking and jetpacking. Instead, we see Din fighting off native Alamites inside the Sundari city center and Din getting ensnared in a mech trap that looks like a flea. Luckily, Grogu is around for more than just his cute looks and adorable one-liners.”

“While the Mythosaur is huge and dangerous, the appearance of one doesn't feel like the arrival of a villain for Din to fight. Instead, it appears to mark a turning point or a catalyst for the next phase of Din and Bo-Katan's relationship and the future of Mandalore.”

“Despite some disjointed pacing in the first two episodes, The Mandalorian continues to deliver depth and nuance as well as some fan service and Easter eggs. That's thanks in large part to the multitude of directors for each episode. The second episode was directed by Rachel Morrison (Mudbound), who helps craft a visually stunning and thoughtful story that incorporates mythology and horror.”

The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life

Phase two of The High Republic may be ending in May, but the next big project from this era of Star Wars is a young adult anthology of short stories penned by every High Republic author.

On Tuesday, Entertainment Weekly got to exclusively reveal the stunning cover and an excerpt for Tales of Light and Life. The collection of stories is set to arrive on Sept. 5, 2023.

The excerpt, from Claudia Gray’s story After the Fall, takes place after the fall of Starlight Beacon and the events of the author’s The Fallen Star. And it’s told from the POV of Affie Hollow, leader of the ragtag crew of the Vessel, which has crashed on Eiram.

“They'd landed on a small plateau, one that looked down on the coastal city and the broad stretch of ocean beyond. The waves broke around an enormous, jagged, carbon-scored metal hulk that was barely recognizable as the bottom half of Starlight Beacon. All the great meeting halls for dignitaries across the galaxy—the offices of Republic officials and the Jedi Knights—were just wreckage for sea creatures to swim through now. The breeze still carried the acrid scent of burned wire and plastics; Affie didn't want to think of what else polluted the air.”

Read the full excerpt here.

Star Wars: The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life is available to preorder now.

Star Wars books coming soon

Being in a Star Wars renaissance means frequently celebrating the release of new books and comics and still having several more to look forward to. It’s a great time to be a journalist, content creator, and fan of Star Wars. Here are the two books that are next on my list.

The High Republic: Chronicles of the Jedi: An Illustrated Guide to the Galaxy’s Golden Age

It’s been over two years since the new era of Star Wars launched, so it’s the perfect time for a glossy in-universe guide and art book for The High Republic.

Chronicles of the Jedi: An Illustrated Guide to the Galaxy’s Golden Age is just that — a deluxe hardcover book filled with illustrations, concept art, character profiles, lightsaber and ship designs, and deeper explanations of this historic time period for the Jedi and the Republic.

Chronicles of the Jedi is a must-have for High Republic fans and Star Wars book collectors. The book arrives on March 21 from Insight Editions — who so graciously sent me a review copy that should arrive any day now.

A full review is coming soon!

The High Republic: Cataclysm

There’s less than a month until the next High Republic arrives — Cataclysm by Lydia Kang. The novel is the second and last adult book in The High Republic phase two, building upon the thrills of Convergence and The Battle of Jedha and setting up for a (most likely) devastating conclusion to the phase.

The last excerpt from Cataclysm saw a tense reunion between Jedi Gella Nattai and imprisoned space rake Axel Greylark. The latest excerpt, shared by StarWars.com, sees the Jedi arriving on Dalna as they continue to investigate the true culprit behind the failed peace talks between Eiram and E’ronoh and the tragedies on Jedha — a.k.a. The Path of the Open Hand.

A full review of Cataclysm will arrive on release day, April 4.

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