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Star Wars: The High Republic
Star Wars: Cataclysm (The High Republic)
After the thrilling events of The High Republic: Convergence, the Jedi race to confront the Path of the Open Hand and end the Forever War.
After five years of conflict, the planets Eiram and E'ronoh are on the cusp of real peace. But when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha, violence reignites on the beleaguered worlds. Together, the royal heirs of both planets—Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A'lbaran—working alongside the Jedi, have uncovered evidence that the conflict is being orchestrated by outside forces, and all signs point to the mysterious Path of the Open Hand, whom the Jedi also suspect of causing the disaster on Jedha.
With time—and answers—in short supply, the Jedi must divide their focus between helping quell the renewed violence on Eiram and E'ronoh and investigating the Path. Among them is Gella Nattai, who turns to the one person she believes can unravel the mystery but the last person she wants to trust: Axel Greylark. The chancellor's son, imprisoned for his crimes, has always sought to unburden himself of the weight of his family name. Will he reconcile with the Jedi and aid in their quest for justice and peace, or embrace the Path's promise of true freedom?
As all roads lead to Dalna, Gella and her allies prepare to take on a foe unlike any they've ever faced. And it will take all of their trust in the Force, and in one another, to survive.
After five years of conflict, the planets Eiram and E'ronoh are on the cusp of real peace. But when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha, violence reignites on the beleaguered worlds. Together, the royal heirs of both planets—Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A'lbaran—working alongside the Jedi, have uncovered evidence that the conflict is being orchestrated by outside forces, and all signs point to the mysterious Path of the Open Hand, whom the Jedi also suspect of causing the disaster on Jedha.
With time—and answers—in short supply, the Jedi must divide their focus between helping quell the renewed violence on Eiram and E'ronoh and investigating the Path. Among them is Gella Nattai, who turns to the one person she believes can unravel the mystery but the last person she wants to trust: Axel Greylark. The chancellor's son, imprisoned for his crimes, has always sought to unburden himself of the weight of his family name. Will he reconcile with the Jedi and aid in their quest for justice and peace, or embrace the Path's promise of true freedom?
As all roads lead to Dalna, Gella and her allies prepare to take on a foe unlike any they've ever faced. And it will take all of their trust in the Force, and in one another, to survive.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2023
224 people are currently reading
3317 people want to read
About the author
Lydia Kang
24 books2,371 followersI love salt more than chocolate. I'm somewhat small, yet deceptively strong. Sort of like an ant.
I'm a part time doc, full time family member, and if you offer me snacks, I'll be a friend for life.
My adult fiction centers around historical mysteries in New York City, with splashes of forensics, anatomy, apothecary medicine, and chemistry! A BEAUTIFUL POISON takes place in 1918 at the height of the influenza epidemic; THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL centers around the illegal grave robbing world; and forthcoming in July 2020 is OPIUM AND ABSINTHE, with--you guessed it--opium and absinthe. And possibly vampires!
I have three nonfiction adult titles written with Nate Pederson: QUACKERY: A Short History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything, 2017; PATIENT ZERO: A Curious History of the World's Worst Diseases; and PSEUDOSCIENCE: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and Why We Love Them.
My most recent YA novel is releasing in October 2025, entitled K-Jane (Quill Tree Books) about a Korean American girl who doesn't feel Korean enough and decides to educate herself on all things K-Pop, K-food, K-drama, and things get pretty out of hand! I am also the author of TOXIC, a space opera about a created, teen girl who's abandoned on a biological spaceship, and the mercenary boy doomed to die on it. I've also written THE NOVEMBER GIRL, set on a remote island on Lake Superior. A girl with violence running through her veins meets a boy running away from an abusive home life.
I'm also the author of the Star Wars novel CATACLYSM, which is part of The High Republic series of books that take place several hundred years before the movies begin.
And as always, there are more books to come!
I'm a part time doc, full time family member, and if you offer me snacks, I'll be a friend for life.
My adult fiction centers around historical mysteries in New York City, with splashes of forensics, anatomy, apothecary medicine, and chemistry! A BEAUTIFUL POISON takes place in 1918 at the height of the influenza epidemic; THE IMPOSSIBLE GIRL centers around the illegal grave robbing world; and forthcoming in July 2020 is OPIUM AND ABSINTHE, with--you guessed it--opium and absinthe. And possibly vampires!
I have three nonfiction adult titles written with Nate Pederson: QUACKERY: A Short History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything, 2017; PATIENT ZERO: A Curious History of the World's Worst Diseases; and PSEUDOSCIENCE: An Amusing History of Crackpot Ideas and Why We Love Them.
My most recent YA novel is releasing in October 2025, entitled K-Jane (Quill Tree Books) about a Korean American girl who doesn't feel Korean enough and decides to educate herself on all things K-Pop, K-food, K-drama, and things get pretty out of hand! I am also the author of TOXIC, a space opera about a created, teen girl who's abandoned on a biological spaceship, and the mercenary boy doomed to die on it. I've also written THE NOVEMBER GIRL, set on a remote island on Lake Superior. A girl with violence running through her veins meets a boy running away from an abusive home life.
I'm also the author of the Star Wars novel CATACLYSM, which is part of The High Republic series of books that take place several hundred years before the movies begin.
And as always, there are more books to come!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
April 5, 2023
The High Republic has really hit its stride recently. While phase 2 is not as big as phase 1, it has certainly produced some fantastic books in all the age groups. The adult novels come with the main plot line of the series, really have been excellent.
This one is no different.
When it comes to writing style, Lydia Kang really understands Star Wars and the High Republic. There were several moments in here that felt quintessentially Star Wars, and several moments that also felt quintessentially High Republic. Particularly in the character interactions.
The political situation of this book picks right up after the audio drama/script “The Battle of Jedha” and features all of the characters from the adults storyline so far. And several new faces show up as well.
There is one character (who I won’t reveal because of spoilers) who has to take care of a younger child. The way this character dealt with the various emotions of being patient with the child, being frustrated with the child, and being protective of the child, really felt natural and well written. Even though I don’t have children, as a teacher I can totally empathize with the emotions this character deals with.
I also really enjoyed the set ups and payoffs of this book. It felt like every character had a proper set up as a proper payoff. This is very difficult to pull off in a multi-protagonist story, it works really well.
There are some great moments of humor, and some great moments of sorrow for the characters. I attached to some of the phase 1 characters and plot lines, but I didn’t feel connected to a majority of them. However, I do feel that way with most of the characters of phase 2, and this book is partially responsible.
This book also sets of questions that I hope are paid off in the final phase 2 YA novel “Path of Vengeance”.
The last 150 pages were really one giant climax. It felt like a “Sanderlanche” (If you are a Brandon Sanderson fan, you probably know what that means). I think the climax went on a little too long, but it was still fantastic overall. Only a few scenes I would change.
To go further would delve into spoilers, but suffice it to say I loved this book and cannot wait to read more, not only from the High Republic, but also from Lydia Kang. Well done. 9.5 out of 10!
This one is no different.
When it comes to writing style, Lydia Kang really understands Star Wars and the High Republic. There were several moments in here that felt quintessentially Star Wars, and several moments that also felt quintessentially High Republic. Particularly in the character interactions.
The political situation of this book picks right up after the audio drama/script “The Battle of Jedha” and features all of the characters from the adults storyline so far. And several new faces show up as well.
There is one character (who I won’t reveal because of spoilers) who has to take care of a younger child. The way this character dealt with the various emotions of being patient with the child, being frustrated with the child, and being protective of the child, really felt natural and well written. Even though I don’t have children, as a teacher I can totally empathize with the emotions this character deals with.
I also really enjoyed the set ups and payoffs of this book. It felt like every character had a proper set up as a proper payoff. This is very difficult to pull off in a multi-protagonist story, it works really well.
There are some great moments of humor, and some great moments of sorrow for the characters. I attached to some of the phase 1 characters and plot lines, but I didn’t feel connected to a majority of them. However, I do feel that way with most of the characters of phase 2, and this book is partially responsible.
This book also sets of questions that I hope are paid off in the final phase 2 YA novel “Path of Vengeance”.
The last 150 pages were really one giant climax. It felt like a “Sanderlanche” (If you are a Brandon Sanderson fan, you probably know what that means). I think the climax went on a little too long, but it was still fantastic overall. Only a few scenes I would change.
To go further would delve into spoilers, but suffice it to say I loved this book and cannot wait to read more, not only from the High Republic, but also from Lydia Kang. Well done. 9.5 out of 10!
March 23, 2023
This doesn't happen to me often ... but Cataclysm has just about left me speechless.
I'll have plenty of deeper thoughts in my full reviews, and I'll let the book sit with me for a day or two while I process it. But my genuine raw reaction is - wow.
It's almost like Star Wars adding more and more authors to its roster is a GOOD thing.
This book is a delight and a tragedy all at once. I am thrilled, and also an empty vessel. Here Star Wars goes again, hurting me, and I just let it. I JUST. LET. IT.
(Read this book. Please.)
I'll have plenty of deeper thoughts in my full reviews, and I'll let the book sit with me for a day or two while I process it. But my genuine raw reaction is - wow.
It's almost like Star Wars adding more and more authors to its roster is a GOOD thing.
This book is a delight and a tragedy all at once. I am thrilled, and also an empty vessel. Here Star Wars goes again, hurting me, and I just let it. I JUST. LET. IT.
(Read this book. Please.)
August 5, 2023
I am absolutely mystified by all the glowing reviews of this book. I have a high tolerance for poor writing, but this book was a bridge too far even for me. The prose is offensively bad. More than half of the sentences have glaring flaws on the basic structural level—they lack coherence, misuse words, break grammar and punctuation rules, and are bloated with redundancies. One doesn't read this book as much as they translate it, struggling to suss out what each sentence is supposed to mean, sorting through the clutter of incompetence to arrive at a reasonable guess as to the author's intent. It makes for an exhausting, demoralizing, depressing reading experience.
What is especially infuriating about this book is that Lydia Kang clearly thinks she is writing lovely and lyrical prose. She constantly inserts grandiose metaphors and poetic turns of phrase that usually fall apart if you think about them for more than a second:
"At the heart of the Jedi is a heart that fights for good."
This is doubly problematic. Specifying that a person's heart is located at their heart is redundant and awkward. Furthermore, "the Jedi" is plural but "heart" is singular, suggesting that amongst all of the Jedi Order there exists only one heart. This sentence should be, "The heart of a Jedi is a heart that fights for good."
"There was a dampened feeling in the center of his being, like when you threw a stone into the water hoping it would float, but knowing the reality."
Ah yes, that relatable moment when you throw a stone in the water hoping it will float, something we all do. Really dampens the center of your being, doesn't it?
Kang also is obsessed with certain words, to a bizarre extent. She loves the word "holler" and uses it in every possible context. To my mind, "holler" is a word with humorous and old-fashioned connotations. It's something a cowboy would do, perhaps, or an old grandpa. But the number of times in the book that this word is used in a serious context is staggering. I swear, it's used thirty times or more. At one point, a Jedi character "hollers with relief" after discovering their friend is alive. Kang also loves the word "suffused," although I'm not convinced she knows what it means. In fact, many of the words in this book are used incorrectly—not just awkwardly, but incorrectly.
There are so many redundancies in this book. Phrases like "burned hotly" and "wet waterlogged cords" make the prose feel weighed down with excess matter, as if cancerous cells are multiplying through its body, like when you jump in a pot of boiling water, hollering in pain, and hope the heat will suffuse your agony away, but know the reality. And it's not just redundancies: so many of the words in this book are superfluous flab. A simple copy edit could have cut this book down by a third.
It's hard for me to engage with the characters and story when the writing is so cataclysmically awful. But I'll touch on them briefly, I suppose.
Most of the characters are fairly stagnant and one-dimensional. Axel and Kyong Greylark both have clear arcs, and their storylines definitely had the potential to be interesting and compelling if built on a foundation of basic authorial competence. I did actually enjoy the character of Cippa Tarko, an impetuous and volatile Arkanian youngling under the care of Master Yaddle. Her ability to see in the infrared spectrum also made for some interesting sequences. There were no other standout characters, or rather none who stood out for good reasons. Orin Darhga is an obnoxiously quippy Jedi who for some reason is aggressively British, using words like "mate" and "innit." The villain, the dreadfully named Binnot Ullo, is compelling in theory: the idea of has plenty of potential. But in practice, he is quite generic and dull.
The character relationships are forced and underdeveloped. Xiri and Phan-tu's romance, which was rushed and perfunctory in Convergence, continues to underwhelm. Two relationships have mild potential: Kyong and Axel's fraught mother-son dynamic, and Yaddle and Cippa's mentor-mentee relationship. But as with everything else in this book, the potential is never realized due to the atrocious writing.
The entire final third of Cataclysm is an extended action sequence. Kang played to her weaknesses with this decision. Her battle scenes read like plot summaries, an emotionless summary of heroes' various flips and spins, jammed full of characters hollering in pain, joy, or communication.
I don't have much more to say about this book. It was an actively unpleasant reading experience, and made me depressed about the state of Star Wars publishing, and of literature in general. There are kernels of potential in this story, but none of them are realized. Raw meat has the potential to be cooked and seasoned to perfection, but it's still raw meat, and eating it is not just revolting, but actively harmful.
Avoid this book, I beseech you. Shun it, spurn it, flee from it. You have been warned.
What is especially infuriating about this book is that Lydia Kang clearly thinks she is writing lovely and lyrical prose. She constantly inserts grandiose metaphors and poetic turns of phrase that usually fall apart if you think about them for more than a second:
"At the heart of the Jedi is a heart that fights for good."
This is doubly problematic. Specifying that a person's heart is located at their heart is redundant and awkward. Furthermore, "the Jedi" is plural but "heart" is singular, suggesting that amongst all of the Jedi Order there exists only one heart. This sentence should be, "The heart of a Jedi is a heart that fights for good."
"There was a dampened feeling in the center of his being, like when you threw a stone into the water hoping it would float, but knowing the reality."
Ah yes, that relatable moment when you throw a stone in the water hoping it will float, something we all do. Really dampens the center of your being, doesn't it?
Kang also is obsessed with certain words, to a bizarre extent. She loves the word "holler" and uses it in every possible context. To my mind, "holler" is a word with humorous and old-fashioned connotations. It's something a cowboy would do, perhaps, or an old grandpa. But the number of times in the book that this word is used in a serious context is staggering. I swear, it's used thirty times or more. At one point, a Jedi character "hollers with relief" after discovering their friend is alive. Kang also loves the word "suffused," although I'm not convinced she knows what it means. In fact, many of the words in this book are used incorrectly—not just awkwardly, but incorrectly.
There are so many redundancies in this book. Phrases like "burned hotly" and "wet waterlogged cords" make the prose feel weighed down with excess matter, as if cancerous cells are multiplying through its body, like when you jump in a pot of boiling water, hollering in pain, and hope the heat will suffuse your agony away, but know the reality. And it's not just redundancies: so many of the words in this book are superfluous flab. A simple copy edit could have cut this book down by a third.
It's hard for me to engage with the characters and story when the writing is so cataclysmically awful. But I'll touch on them briefly, I suppose.
Most of the characters are fairly stagnant and one-dimensional. Axel and Kyong Greylark both have clear arcs, and their storylines definitely had the potential to be interesting and compelling if built on a foundation of basic authorial competence. I did actually enjoy the character of Cippa Tarko, an impetuous and volatile Arkanian youngling under the care of Master Yaddle. Her ability to see in the infrared spectrum also made for some interesting sequences. There were no other standout characters, or rather none who stood out for good reasons. Orin Darhga is an obnoxiously quippy Jedi who for some reason is aggressively British, using words like "mate" and "innit." The villain, the dreadfully named Binnot Ullo, is compelling in theory: the idea of has plenty of potential. But in practice, he is quite generic and dull.
The character relationships are forced and underdeveloped. Xiri and Phan-tu's romance, which was rushed and perfunctory in Convergence, continues to underwhelm. Two relationships have mild potential: Kyong and Axel's fraught mother-son dynamic, and Yaddle and Cippa's mentor-mentee relationship. But as with everything else in this book, the potential is never realized due to the atrocious writing.
The entire final third of Cataclysm is an extended action sequence. Kang played to her weaknesses with this decision. Her battle scenes read like plot summaries, an emotionless summary of heroes' various flips and spins, jammed full of characters hollering in pain, joy, or communication.
I don't have much more to say about this book. It was an actively unpleasant reading experience, and made me depressed about the state of Star Wars publishing, and of literature in general. There are kernels of potential in this story, but none of them are realized. Raw meat has the potential to be cooked and seasoned to perfection, but it's still raw meat, and eating it is not just revolting, but actively harmful.
Avoid this book, I beseech you. Shun it, spurn it, flee from it. You have been warned.
November 26, 2023
the only character i care for here is axel
April 4, 2024
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
This continues the action of Phase II of The High Republic series. We pick up the action up from the last book as the peace treaty was never signed between the two warring planets. Meanwhile, the Jedi know that there is something out there that could do real damage to them.
This might be the best book out of both phases from this series. I have been vocal saying that I am not a fan of this series as I really do not get the Star Wars feeling from most of the offerings in this series. I did with this one. This book offered political maneuvers, the Jedi being protectors and using the force, and a terrific battle. I enjoyed that the author gave me a sense that I was in this universe and it also had ramifications as we lost people. But that also is where this book somewhat lost me too and why I could not give it four stars. Even though we lost people the status quo basically didn't change. It seems like the purpose of this book was to thin the herd on both sides. I could argue that characters are basically in the same spot they were at the beginning of the book. Well, besides the ones that died. There was also an introduction to a character that I have no idea what the purpose was and that we spent a good amount of time. I thought the book lost momentum when we spent time with this character.
I enjoyed the book as it was a fun space adventure that I like when I am in this universe. Sadly, that is not always the case with this series. The problem that this book suffered from is it is basically filler as there is hardly any progression with the overall plot. I imagine the author really could not do much as this phase is a prequel to the first phase. Her hands are probably tied with her attempting to have anything monumental to happen. That being said it is a fun read that captured the vibe of this galaxy.
This continues the action of Phase II of The High Republic series. We pick up the action up from the last book as the peace treaty was never signed between the two warring planets. Meanwhile, the Jedi know that there is something out there that could do real damage to them.
This might be the best book out of both phases from this series. I have been vocal saying that I am not a fan of this series as I really do not get the Star Wars feeling from most of the offerings in this series. I did with this one. This book offered political maneuvers, the Jedi being protectors and using the force, and a terrific battle. I enjoyed that the author gave me a sense that I was in this universe and it also had ramifications as we lost people. But that also is where this book somewhat lost me too and why I could not give it four stars. Even though we lost people the status quo basically didn't change. It seems like the purpose of this book was to thin the herd on both sides. I could argue that characters are basically in the same spot they were at the beginning of the book. Well, besides the ones that died. There was also an introduction to a character that I have no idea what the purpose was and that we spent a good amount of time. I thought the book lost momentum when we spent time with this character.
I enjoyed the book as it was a fun space adventure that I like when I am in this universe. Sadly, that is not always the case with this series. The problem that this book suffered from is it is basically filler as there is hardly any progression with the overall plot. I imagine the author really could not do much as this phase is a prequel to the first phase. Her hands are probably tied with her attempting to have anything monumental to happen. That being said it is a fun read that captured the vibe of this galaxy.
August 26, 2023
A very good book. This book continues straight from the Battle of Jedha. In fact, the first couple of chapters run alongside that book from a different point of view.
The Path of the Open Hand has been interfering in the peace talk between the planets Eiram and E'ronoh for a while now. Always in the background and always silencing any anybody how can lead to them. However, some are starting to join the dots, but are they just being pulled into a bigger deadlier trap?
My favourite things about this book are seeing some of my favourite High Republic characters again, like Gella Nattai, Master Creighton Sun, Masters Yoda, and Yaddle. Also, I have felt the Jedi in the Fusney era are a bit water down compared to the Legonds/EU versions, but her they are shown as the awesome warriors they should be. Their never stop fighting till they have saved everyone or died trying to give me goose bumps. I like the redemption side story. The realism to the horrors of war is shown very well. Also, I like how they show the people at the top of the cults really only care about themselves and what is in it for them.
The only complaint I had about this book is that it was too slow till about halfway through. I do understand why this was needed. There is a lot to cover and lots of different characters and clues to follow. I would love to read more about the saviour's of this book. I think there are a lot more stories to tell.
The Path of the Open Hand has been interfering in the peace talk between the planets Eiram and E'ronoh for a while now. Always in the background and always silencing any anybody how can lead to them. However, some are starting to join the dots, but are they just being pulled into a bigger deadlier trap?
My favourite things about this book are seeing some of my favourite High Republic characters again, like Gella Nattai, Master Creighton Sun, Masters Yoda, and Yaddle. Also, I have felt the Jedi in the Fusney era are a bit water down compared to the Legonds/EU versions, but her they are shown as the awesome warriors they should be. Their never stop fighting till they have saved everyone or died trying to give me goose bumps. I like the redemption side story. The realism to the horrors of war is shown very well. Also, I like how they show the people at the top of the cults really only care about themselves and what is in it for them.
The only complaint I had about this book is that it was too slow till about halfway through. I do understand why this was needed. There is a lot to cover and lots of different characters and clues to follow. I would love to read more about the saviour's of this book. I think there are a lot more stories to tell.
April 22, 2024
I am giving this a very solid 4 out of 5 stars; I thought this was a very exciting read. Truthfully it would’ve been 5 stars, but I thought some of the POV shifts were a little too haphazard for me.
I thought this was a good conclusion to the standard Phase II High Republic novels. There was a substantial amount of battle and excitement that kept the adrenaline up for most of the read.
The essential point of this novel was to wrap up major plot points while also setting the stage for what had occurred in the Phase I novels, which I think it did both well and also a little last. At one point Yoda states they won’t talk about the nameless which is how we find out “no one” knew about them in Phase I.
I will leave the rest of the review to the reader as this is an exciting tale that folks should experience unbiased. Well worth the read!
I thought this was a good conclusion to the standard Phase II High Republic novels. There was a substantial amount of battle and excitement that kept the adrenaline up for most of the read.
The essential point of this novel was to wrap up major plot points while also setting the stage for what had occurred in the Phase I novels, which I think it did both well and also a little last. At one point Yoda states they won’t talk about the nameless which is how we find out “no one” knew about them in Phase I.
I will leave the rest of the review to the reader as this is an exciting tale that folks should experience unbiased. Well worth the read!
September 14, 2023
star wars loves to introduce characters and then kill them and i fall for it everytime
July 25, 2024
IM SO???? THAT WAS SO????
now that i’ve had time to process it the one thing that would’ve made this book perfect is if the polycule had a group cuddle
now that i’ve had time to process it the one thing that would’ve made this book perfect is if the polycule had a group cuddle
June 13, 2023
I am so emotionally exhausted. Time to read the next book.
May 27, 2023
Perhaps the strongest novel in this Phase II of the High Republic initiative, with a tense infiltration mission escalating into the titular cataclysm of violence and destruction which was, for me anyway, quite a shocking development since when I thought of "The Path of the Open Hand" I still mostly thought of the agrarian cultists with a sideline in Force artifact larceny from Path of Deceit, not But, as is so often the joy and the pain of the initiative, I am reliably informed by the good folks at Youtini that events afoot in both the Marvel comics line and the newly released Path of Vengeance will clarify all of this.
Lastly, if Disney can't figure out a way to use the characters of Axel and Kyong Greylark in live action played by Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh they are really leaving money on the table.
Lastly, if Disney can't figure out a way to use the characters of Axel and Kyong Greylark in live action played by Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh they are really leaving money on the table.
April 29, 2023
star wars needs more drunken scottish jedi tbh
May 13, 2023
“I was put on this ship to put out fires. And here you are, searching for an inferno about to spark.”
What an intense ride this was.
Following the events of Convergence I was ready for another highly political and scheming story but that couldn't be further from what Cataclysm actually gives us.
With the foundation for this era firmly established, a fun and diverse cast of characters, and a plot that we've been piecing together for several installments now we get an epic, catastrophic, and nerve-wracking adventure, an adventure that will answer long-standing questions and start the ending of an era.
It was thrilling and heartfelt and quite a fun way to say goodbye to these characters.
“We’ve been so busy following the blueprints of our own mutual destruction that we can’t see the obvious. That we can be the architects of good.”
From beginning to end, we really have no moment of rest or peace.
Thanks to the events from The Battle of Jedha we have an intense re-entry into our story, something that makes it comfortable and natural. The escalation of events is dreadful and increasingly terrifying but well-executed and gripping. I liked it a lot. However, this being a more physical entry does mean that much of what absolutely dazzled me in the previous book is gone in this one, and that is a loss I felt deeply.
In a way, this continuation felt somewhat dissonant to what had been built before. It felt, at times, like the story was trying to reach much more than it was supposed to.
Now, this might sound like I disliked it, when the case is the contrary. Yes, I was expecting this book to focus on the two warring planets Eiram and E'ronoh, and it still did in a way, but the story expanding and becoming much bigger was not a bad element to add. After all, it all was treated pretty naturally and organically, so the shift was not jarring or off-putting, just confusing and a bit befuddling.
“There is no losing, until there is nothing worth saving., And there is much to save, Master Sun. Even when we feel most alone, there is always something to save.”
Mostly, though, the things that kept me captivated and turning pages were the characters.
The cast is massive, gathering characters from all across a few books to converge into a huge conflict. Each of them with some previous attachment created in their own stories, which made it easy to care deeply about the results of all of this.
Axel Greylark remains, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite character of this phase and will pass to the halls of my favorite Star Wars characters. The way his arc was handled was really compelling and believable. His story is something that we needed more in this universe. Couple that with how fun and complicated his relationships with Gella and Kyong are and we have the mix for quite an explosive cocktail.
While we did not get as much of Xiri and Phan-tu as I would have wanted, what we did get was exactly what I wanted from the two of them. I continued to enjoy their relationship a lot.
Surprisingly, while I did not care for her much in the first book, Kyong Greylark became quite the highlight of the book for me. Her vibrant, strong, heartbroken, and dignified way of carrying herself, so full of contradictions and so imperfect, endeared her to my heart a great deal. I can safely say that the Greylarks are just some of my favorite people.
As for the rest of the cast, well, I really did enjoy all of them. It is impressive that Kang wrote so many little story arcs so well, so tightly, to the point that everyone can find someone to relate, to resonate with.
“It occurred to her that this wasn’t sadness. And it wasn’t weakness, either. Her tears were part of her. And they would evaporate and leave their faint watermarks upon her, like so much of the last few months.”
In the end, Cataclysm honors its name with quite the massive, terrifying clash between our two factions. Epic, thrilling, and devastating are some of the words that come to mind when thinking about it; and it most certainly made an impression on history.
Of course, as was to be expected from this little detour into the past, there are some pretty major connections to present-time events and mysteries that enrich the overall plot and just chill the blood, which is fun to connect and see.
One thing is certain, Cataclysm fits perfectly alongside the standard and epicness of the rest of The High Republic Era stories and earns all my love.
“Everything had converged into a cataclysm of violence.”
___________________
While this book does not compare to its predecessor in the way it stole my heart it was a fine way to conclude this story.
I really like how it ended up connecting to the present time in The High Republic Chronicles.
Plus, Axel Greylark. That's it.
____________________
I can't believe this took me so long to pick up... though, I guess, it wasn't all that long either way.
Be it as it may, I am beyond excited to read this sequel to Convergence which was a book I greatly enjoyed. Getting to see the beloved characters again will be amazing, though without Axel I'm not sure it'll be quite the same.
Whatever the case, I'm ready for this, hopefully, action-filled political thriller and to be terrified of The Path of the Open Hand all over again.
June 4, 2024
This was excellent—the best book of The High Republic Phase 2 I’ve read so far, and my favorite since Phase 1.
The biggest point in favor of this book for me was the plot. There was always something interesting or exciting going on, and the scale of events just grew bigger over time. I was always invested in what was happening and what was coming next. The action at the end of the book is fantastically done, providing a huge and explosive third act that was tons of fun to read. I really enjoyed the setup of the two planets Eiram and E’ronoh in Convergence, and the way that’s followed up in this book was excellent. I also particularly enjoyed Axel Greylark’s side of the story—he was my favorite character in Convergence, which is still the case here. He’s a complex and interesting character that I really enjoy seeing. I especially enjoyed the dynamic he has with his mother, one of two Chancellors. It was also great to see more of the Path of the Open Hand, which has been one of my favorite aspects of Phase 2 so far.
As for negatives, the only thing to point out for me is a lack of interest in many of the characters. Save for Axel, Chancellor Greylark, and to a lesser degree Gella and Binnot, none of the characters stood out to me much. I enjoyed the dynamics they had and the roles they occupied, but not much as far as the characters themselves. They’re good but not terribly memorable to me. However, the excellent plot and events of the book more than make up for some lacking characters.
Overall this was an excellent entry in The High Republic. I’d decently enjoyed Phase 2 but found the last book to be somewhat underwhelming, so this book was a pleasant surprise.
Rating: 9/10
The biggest point in favor of this book for me was the plot. There was always something interesting or exciting going on, and the scale of events just grew bigger over time. I was always invested in what was happening and what was coming next. The action at the end of the book is fantastically done, providing a huge and explosive third act that was tons of fun to read. I really enjoyed the setup of the two planets Eiram and E’ronoh in Convergence, and the way that’s followed up in this book was excellent. I also particularly enjoyed Axel Greylark’s side of the story—he was my favorite character in Convergence, which is still the case here. He’s a complex and interesting character that I really enjoy seeing. I especially enjoyed the dynamic he has with his mother, one of two Chancellors. It was also great to see more of the Path of the Open Hand, which has been one of my favorite aspects of Phase 2 so far.
As for negatives, the only thing to point out for me is a lack of interest in many of the characters. Save for Axel, Chancellor Greylark, and to a lesser degree Gella and Binnot, none of the characters stood out to me much. I enjoyed the dynamics they had and the roles they occupied, but not much as far as the characters themselves. They’re good but not terribly memorable to me. However, the excellent plot and events of the book more than make up for some lacking characters.
Overall this was an excellent entry in The High Republic. I’d decently enjoyed Phase 2 but found the last book to be somewhat underwhelming, so this book was a pleasant surprise.
Rating: 9/10
April 29, 2023
10/10 - Spoiler free review, minor spoilers in the "themes" section!
----
OVERALL THOUGHTS
If you’re like me and loved Convergence, Cataclysm is right up your alley! This is the second adult novel in Phase II of The High Republic, taking place after Convergence and The Battle Of Jedha, picking up where we left off with everything happening on Eiram, E’ronoh, Dalna and Jedha and weaving all these threads into a beautiful and tragic tapestry.
This was my first time reading anything from Lydia Kang; her style and beautiful prose captivated me from the very first page, and when I tell you I couldn’t put this book down, I really mean it.
----
THE PLOT
This novel picks up where everyone else left off, tying together characters and plot threads from all of the previous Phase II books. While it seems perhaps a bit daunting to have so many characters and ideas in the same book, the alternating points of view make it so that everything comes together quite naturally, while simultaneously allowing the reader to get a glimpse at everyone and, more precisely at every side of the story.
What I absolutely loved in this instalment is that everything Phase II built up for us all comes into motion in a thrilling plot that had me on the edge of my seat at every turn. I simply could not put this book down, it was so captivating I had no other choice but to keep turning the pages until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.
It actually took me a couple of days to finally sit down and write this review. I suppose I needed some time to process this incredible story and let it sit with me, letting myself take in every emotion this book made me feel. And also because it sort of left me with a bad book hangover because.. Why does it have to end?
Lydia Kang absolutely nailed the pacing of this story, ultimately making this book a real page-turner and giving the reader no rest. We have everything from political schemes and agendas to personal relationships being challenged by duty and many more; when they called the book “Cataclysm” they knew what they were doing to us!
----
THE CHARACTERS
This time around, we have a lot more central characters than we did in Convergence, simply because Cataclysm brings everyone together from all the other Phase II books. It’s a lot of characters. But you also know them from previous books, so it’s not as difficult as it seems to keep track of who is who, and who is doing what and where.
Lydia Kang has a way of writing the characters that really helps the reader to keep up with what’s happening to who; at this point I even had some memory tricks help me keep track. The character development is so unbelievably good; I was in awe of the amount of work that went into making sure every character progresses through the story.
Also, when I saw that an important part of the story was going to be with the two chancellors, I was the tiniest bit skeptical because they weren’t the most riveting characters in the other books. But they also weren’t central. Lydia Kang gives so much dimension to Kyong Greylark that she quickly became one of my favourites from this book.
----
THE THEMES
It wouldn’t be a High Republic book if it didn’t deal with so many essential themes; as I’ve said before, what really fascinates me in Phase II are the relationships between the characters and how the authors explore the dynamics and the psychology behind every bond. When it comes to Cataclysm, I was absolutely blown away by the questions it contemplates.
The highlight for me was really in Axel’s character and his many relationships bringing something drastically different out of him. How he acts all very confident but reverts back to puppy mode when the Mother is around, how he is so stuck in the same mechanisms and repeats the same bad decisions over and over because it’s the only thing he knows how to do, how he wants to change so badly but never asks for help that he needs.
His bond with Gella is what I live for. I often have this conversation with people but I don’t think relationships can always be defined with the labels of “friendship” or “romance”. A lot of people disagree with me on this, but I think the relationship between Gella and Axel is the kind you can’t put a label on. It’s a form of friendship, sure. But it’s also a bond in which they grow deeply rooted in each other, it’s a bond that defies everything. It’s neither “casual friendship” nor “romance”, and at the same time it’s not “not that”, if that makes sense. I think there is so much more in that relationship that can’t be defined by words. It’s like Axel found someone who can actually see him for real for the first time.
This novel also deals with making mistakes and, more importantly, owning your responsibility of those mistakes. I’m glad we’re able to see this theme studied from several points of view and not only one, which gives it a lot more dimension and reach. The whole dynamic between Kyong and Axel Greylark really shines through the exploration of this theme and I’m all here for it.
----
TO CONCLUDE
What else is there to say that hasn’t already been said? That book completely blew me away; it was absolutely phenomenal and kept me turning the pages. The prose is beautiful, I did tab a whole bunch of pages so I could just go back to these moments. I’ll just wrap up before I run out of space and say that this book now haunts me every minute of every day. Please let Lydia Kang write more Star Wars books, she’s awesome.
----
OVERALL THOUGHTS
If you’re like me and loved Convergence, Cataclysm is right up your alley! This is the second adult novel in Phase II of The High Republic, taking place after Convergence and The Battle Of Jedha, picking up where we left off with everything happening on Eiram, E’ronoh, Dalna and Jedha and weaving all these threads into a beautiful and tragic tapestry.
This was my first time reading anything from Lydia Kang; her style and beautiful prose captivated me from the very first page, and when I tell you I couldn’t put this book down, I really mean it.
----
THE PLOT
This novel picks up where everyone else left off, tying together characters and plot threads from all of the previous Phase II books. While it seems perhaps a bit daunting to have so many characters and ideas in the same book, the alternating points of view make it so that everything comes together quite naturally, while simultaneously allowing the reader to get a glimpse at everyone and, more precisely at every side of the story.
What I absolutely loved in this instalment is that everything Phase II built up for us all comes into motion in a thrilling plot that had me on the edge of my seat at every turn. I simply could not put this book down, it was so captivating I had no other choice but to keep turning the pages until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.
It actually took me a couple of days to finally sit down and write this review. I suppose I needed some time to process this incredible story and let it sit with me, letting myself take in every emotion this book made me feel. And also because it sort of left me with a bad book hangover because.. Why does it have to end?
Lydia Kang absolutely nailed the pacing of this story, ultimately making this book a real page-turner and giving the reader no rest. We have everything from political schemes and agendas to personal relationships being challenged by duty and many more; when they called the book “Cataclysm” they knew what they were doing to us!
----
THE CHARACTERS
This time around, we have a lot more central characters than we did in Convergence, simply because Cataclysm brings everyone together from all the other Phase II books. It’s a lot of characters. But you also know them from previous books, so it’s not as difficult as it seems to keep track of who is who, and who is doing what and where.
Lydia Kang has a way of writing the characters that really helps the reader to keep up with what’s happening to who; at this point I even had some memory tricks help me keep track. The character development is so unbelievably good; I was in awe of the amount of work that went into making sure every character progresses through the story.
Also, when I saw that an important part of the story was going to be with the two chancellors, I was the tiniest bit skeptical because they weren’t the most riveting characters in the other books. But they also weren’t central. Lydia Kang gives so much dimension to Kyong Greylark that she quickly became one of my favourites from this book.
----
THE THEMES
It wouldn’t be a High Republic book if it didn’t deal with so many essential themes; as I’ve said before, what really fascinates me in Phase II are the relationships between the characters and how the authors explore the dynamics and the psychology behind every bond. When it comes to Cataclysm, I was absolutely blown away by the questions it contemplates.
The highlight for me was really in Axel’s character and his many relationships bringing something drastically different out of him. How he acts all very confident but reverts back to puppy mode when the Mother is around, how he is so stuck in the same mechanisms and repeats the same bad decisions over and over because it’s the only thing he knows how to do, how he wants to change so badly but never asks for help that he needs.
His bond with Gella is what I live for. I often have this conversation with people but I don’t think relationships can always be defined with the labels of “friendship” or “romance”. A lot of people disagree with me on this, but I think the relationship between Gella and Axel is the kind you can’t put a label on. It’s a form of friendship, sure. But it’s also a bond in which they grow deeply rooted in each other, it’s a bond that defies everything. It’s neither “casual friendship” nor “romance”, and at the same time it’s not “not that”, if that makes sense. I think there is so much more in that relationship that can’t be defined by words. It’s like Axel found someone who can actually see him for real for the first time.
This novel also deals with making mistakes and, more importantly, owning your responsibility of those mistakes. I’m glad we’re able to see this theme studied from several points of view and not only one, which gives it a lot more dimension and reach. The whole dynamic between Kyong and Axel Greylark really shines through the exploration of this theme and I’m all here for it.
----
TO CONCLUDE
What else is there to say that hasn’t already been said? That book completely blew me away; it was absolutely phenomenal and kept me turning the pages. The prose is beautiful, I did tab a whole bunch of pages so I could just go back to these moments. I’ll just wrap up before I run out of space and say that this book now haunts me every minute of every day. Please let Lydia Kang write more Star Wars books, she’s awesome.
May 2, 2023
4.5 rounded up
May 7, 2023
Lydia Kang’s Cataclysm marks the end of The High Republic Phase II’s adult duology. Picking up where Zoraida Córdova’s Convergence left off, Kang takes Axel Greylark and Jedi Gella Nattai into the heat of conflict on Dalna. Axel is a standout character in this era of THR. In Cataclysm, I really enjoyed the exploration of Axel’s relationship with his mother, Chancellor Kyong Greylark. Axel’s need to break free of family pressures combined with Kyong’s neverending duties as a political figure set the stage for a family clash that pushes them to their limits. The Jedi also face the wrath of the Path on Dalna, making this the perfect era of Star Wars for anyone interested in cults. Kang did a fantastic job of wrapping up this phase and I’m waiting on the edge of my seat for Phase III to start in a few months!
Thanks to PRH for the review copy !!
Thanks to PRH for the review copy !!
April 3, 2024
axel greylark, no one flops quite like you
———
after finishing this, i couldn’t help but feel just… disappointed. i was anticipating this book SO much, as i kept saying in my review for convergence, but i’m so confused. how did we manage to get from the intense pining and emotional turmoil of axelgella to… whatever this was? their relationship was literally not addressed at all. the book even says that axel thinks of gella as a “friend” BULLSHIT. i did not go through that entire love confession in convergence for it to be treated like it never happened. axel and gella are barely in this book together at all. what the fuck. i don’t understand why they couldn’t have brought back zoraida cordova for this second book because idk but clearly lydia kang thought that axelgella was not the vibe.
i just didn’t like the plot either. i’m getting really tired of high republic books just covering one major battle and that’s it. it’s getting very repetitive
i honestly think i need to take a break from the series and read something else. i’ve been reading the series basically nonstop for 5 months. i’ll come back to thr a bit later
anyways like 2.4 stars, not quite good enough to be 2.5
———
after finishing this, i couldn’t help but feel just… disappointed. i was anticipating this book SO much, as i kept saying in my review for convergence, but i’m so confused. how did we manage to get from the intense pining and emotional turmoil of axelgella to… whatever this was? their relationship was literally not addressed at all. the book even says that axel thinks of gella as a “friend” BULLSHIT. i did not go through that entire love confession in convergence for it to be treated like it never happened. axel and gella are barely in this book together at all. what the fuck. i don’t understand why they couldn’t have brought back zoraida cordova for this second book because idk but clearly lydia kang thought that axelgella was not the vibe.
i just didn’t like the plot either. i’m getting really tired of high republic books just covering one major battle and that’s it. it’s getting very repetitive
i honestly think i need to take a break from the series and read something else. i’ve been reading the series basically nonstop for 5 months. i’ll come back to thr a bit later
anyways like 2.4 stars, not quite good enough to be 2.5
September 25, 2023
I was hoping for a lot more after how excellent Convergence was. I don't feel comfortable waxing negative on books, so I will only say that this one was rather dispassionate. A 400-pg outline of a better book. Star Wars readers deserve more thoughtful storytelling. You can only lean on the source material so much, and I fear this is first in a line of books that stays surface-level because "Hey, it's Star Wars. You know how this goes."
September 4, 2023
This was, without a doubt, the best book of Phase 2 so far. It pushed the plot forward a lot, the characters were well written and went through more development than any of the phase 2 books gave us, and the latter half of the book had me on the edge of my seat (or bed) with every word. More Lydia Kang in Star Wars, please!
April 1, 2023
and when i start calling axel my kitten…
April 6, 2023
Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm by Lydia Kang is the second adult novel in phase two of the High Republic and her first Foray into full-length Star Wars literature. Concerning High Republic books, the weakest has been her predecessor Zoraida Córdova's Convergence. Whether Lydia Kang will be able to capture lightning in a bottle that was Phase One is a complex question for many readers, but for me? It's a little column A, a little of column B. Spoilers Follow For Entire Book:
The Good:
Firstly, I want to point out how well Kang writes. Her prose is very workmanlike and has an excellent rhythm to it. She knows exactly when to switch point-of-view, and how much that contributes to the feel of a good Star Wars novel. However, the biggest strength she brings to the table is her dialogue, it's snappy with no growing pains with the characters' voices that you sometimes get with a new author taking over. Her pacing is also great, I was glued to my book as soon as it arrived finding it quite hard to put down.
Orin Darhga:
Xiri/Phan-tu:
Amazing Build-Up:
The Bad:
Unfortunately, this duology of High Republic Adult books has been very much a mixed bag. There is stuff I like, but I don't know if I would recommend them as must-reads for people wanting more insight on Phase One as it stands. Phase Two still has a plethora of comics and one more YA novel yet to release, so maybe that last jig-saw puzzle piece will snap into an aha moment for me, but that is yet to be determined
Axel Greylark:
The Mother:
Yoda:
Lackluster Payoff:
The Problem With Prequels:
General High Republic Issues:
TL;DR:
Overall, Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm earns a good ranking from me (3/5 Stars), Lydia Kang did an excellent job writing the story, but there are some plot elements I don't enjoy and a slew of inherited problems that the entire second phase of the High Republic has had. A lot of Phase Two's success for me is depending on Path of Vengeance to tie things up in a meaningful way.
The Good:
Firstly, I want to point out how well Kang writes. Her prose is very workmanlike and has an excellent rhythm to it. She knows exactly when to switch point-of-view, and how much that contributes to the feel of a good Star Wars novel. However, the biggest strength she brings to the table is her dialogue, it's snappy with no growing pains with the characters' voices that you sometimes get with a new author taking over. Her pacing is also great, I was glued to my book as soon as it arrived finding it quite hard to put down.
Orin Darhga:
Xiri/Phan-tu:
Amazing Build-Up:
The Bad:
Unfortunately, this duology of High Republic Adult books has been very much a mixed bag. There is stuff I like, but I don't know if I would recommend them as must-reads for people wanting more insight on Phase One as it stands. Phase Two still has a plethora of comics and one more YA novel yet to release, so maybe that last jig-saw puzzle piece will snap into an aha moment for me, but that is yet to be determined
Axel Greylark:
The Mother:
Yoda:
Lackluster Payoff:
The Problem With Prequels:
General High Republic Issues:
TL;DR:
Overall, Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm earns a good ranking from me (3/5 Stars), Lydia Kang did an excellent job writing the story, but there are some plot elements I don't enjoy and a slew of inherited problems that the entire second phase of the High Republic has had. A lot of Phase Two's success for me is depending on Path of Vengeance to tie things up in a meaningful way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
☆☆☆☆☆
This books was everything and more.
Will I ever get over it? No. Is it my new favourite book from the high republic? 100%.
I still don't know how to put my feelings to words but this book was just incredibly thrilling and emotional. I love all the characters (especially you Enya and Xiri) and the pacing of this book was amazing. Even though there were so many characters and different situations going on at the same time I enjoyed every single perspective and love how it all unfolded at the end. Nevertheless I still understand some points from some negatively reviews...
Little spoiler: One thing I still don't understand is why the author suddenly made Gella and Axel 'just friends' and how the Path suddenly changed so much since Path of Deceit? I hope there will be an explanation in Path of Vengence and I really need all of these characters to make a comeback in future projects because I just don't want to let them go (and the embarrassingly amount of tears I shed for them last night)
I hope both side of your pillow are cold tonight Lydia Kang
This books was everything and more.
Will I ever get over it? No. Is it my new favourite book from the high republic? 100%.
I still don't know how to put my feelings to words but this book was just incredibly thrilling and emotional. I love all the characters (especially you Enya and Xiri) and the pacing of this book was amazing. Even though there were so many characters and different situations going on at the same time I enjoyed every single perspective and love how it all unfolded at the end. Nevertheless I still understand some points from some negatively reviews...
Little spoiler: One thing I still don't understand is why the author suddenly made Gella and Axel 'just friends' and how the Path suddenly changed so much since Path of Deceit? I hope there will be an explanation in Path of Vengence and I really need all of these characters to make a comeback in future projects because I just don't want to let them go (and the embarrassingly amount of tears I shed for them last night)
I hope both side of your pillow are cold tonight Lydia Kang
May 6, 2023
Cataclysm is the final adult novel of Phase 2 of Star Wars The High Republic. Written by Lydia Kang (who’s previous Star Wars credit was the short story Right Hand Man from 2020’s From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back), Cataclysm is everything I enjoy about a Star Wars novel: a breakneck pace, intrigue, emotion, and overall an enjoyable reading experience.
Cataclysm overlaps with and then continues the storyline of the events of The Battle of Jedha, the breakdown of Eiram and E’ronoh’s peace treaty which causes chaos for the Jedi and pleasure for The Path of the Open Hand. The Path continues its penchant for causing disruption when a ship containing a biological weapon is discovered on the moon the two planets share, ratcheting up the interplanetary tension even more. Can the Jedi and the Republic work together amidst mounting chaos to bring peace once and for all?
Cataclysm is the first Star Wars novel in recent memory that I can truly say I did not want to put down. From page one, Lydia Kang’s ability to keep the number of characters and storylines balanced while chapter by chapter keeping me wanting more made for an utterly enjoyable experience. Oftentimes I can get overwhelmed or confused by the sheer number of characters that inhabit a book (Star Wars or otherwise) but for a number of reasons, this wasn’t the case for me with Cataclysm. First, it’s helpful that Cataclysm comes at the back half of Phase 2’s release schedule, so the majority of these characters have already been introduced. Secondly, it’s Kang herself who deserves credit for being able to switch between each character’s distinct POV while keeping readers interested in the overall narrative, no small featl! I should note that Cataclysm should not be read as a standalone Star Wars novel, I’d say the entirety of The High Republic Phase 2 should be read (including comics), in publication order, before picking this book up.
A lot of readers (myself included) were anticipating getting more from our boy Axel Greylark, who graces Cataclysm’s cover (stunningly rendered by Yihyoung Li). His personality and bad boy image were some of the best parts of 2022’s Convergence, but this time around we get to explore him in greater depth. Cataclysm peels back his layers and shows how someone who’s been emotionally damaged since childhood can continue to make mistakes even while taking baby steps to redemption. His actions remain questionable, but he’s not without hope. I especially loved seeing him through the eyes of his mother, Chancellor Kyong Greylark. Kyong goes on her own journey of coming to terms with her past, how she balanced her responsibilities as a single mother with her responsibilities as chancellor and how that shaped her son. As a parent myself, I sympathized with Kyong’s struggle to find balance between the personal and professional; for me she’s the standout character of the novel.
I really enjoyed having more Path of the Open Hand in Cataclysm. I’ve felt like since their introduction in Path of Deceit they’ve kind of been in the background, but here they’re solidly front and center as the baddies of the book (though I’m still missing my girl Marda!). The Mother has a new henchman vying for her attention, Binnot Ullo, whose dastardly deeds bring destruction and death to anyone who gets in his way. A good chunk of the story takes place on Dalna where numerous Jedi (including Yaddle!) go head to head with the Path who are still using the Nameless to wreak havoc on force users in addition to a cadre of weapons and droids which cement them as anything but peaceful.
Cataclysm does a stellar job of moving the storyline of Phase 2 forward while telling its own contained tale. Kang expertly blends tons of action with beautiful moments of humanity and emotion, making Cataclysm one of my all time favorite High Republic novels to date. Cataclysm is also available as an audiobook complete with music, sound effects and Marc Thompson’s epic narration and voice acting skills (some of the best I’ve heard from him). I give Cataclysm 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢/5 – highly recommend!
Cataclysm overlaps with and then continues the storyline of the events of The Battle of Jedha, the breakdown of Eiram and E’ronoh’s peace treaty which causes chaos for the Jedi and pleasure for The Path of the Open Hand. The Path continues its penchant for causing disruption when a ship containing a biological weapon is discovered on the moon the two planets share, ratcheting up the interplanetary tension even more. Can the Jedi and the Republic work together amidst mounting chaos to bring peace once and for all?
Cataclysm is the first Star Wars novel in recent memory that I can truly say I did not want to put down. From page one, Lydia Kang’s ability to keep the number of characters and storylines balanced while chapter by chapter keeping me wanting more made for an utterly enjoyable experience. Oftentimes I can get overwhelmed or confused by the sheer number of characters that inhabit a book (Star Wars or otherwise) but for a number of reasons, this wasn’t the case for me with Cataclysm. First, it’s helpful that Cataclysm comes at the back half of Phase 2’s release schedule, so the majority of these characters have already been introduced. Secondly, it’s Kang herself who deserves credit for being able to switch between each character’s distinct POV while keeping readers interested in the overall narrative, no small featl! I should note that Cataclysm should not be read as a standalone Star Wars novel, I’d say the entirety of The High Republic Phase 2 should be read (including comics), in publication order, before picking this book up.
A lot of readers (myself included) were anticipating getting more from our boy Axel Greylark, who graces Cataclysm’s cover (stunningly rendered by Yihyoung Li). His personality and bad boy image were some of the best parts of 2022’s Convergence, but this time around we get to explore him in greater depth. Cataclysm peels back his layers and shows how someone who’s been emotionally damaged since childhood can continue to make mistakes even while taking baby steps to redemption. His actions remain questionable, but he’s not without hope. I especially loved seeing him through the eyes of his mother, Chancellor Kyong Greylark. Kyong goes on her own journey of coming to terms with her past, how she balanced her responsibilities as a single mother with her responsibilities as chancellor and how that shaped her son. As a parent myself, I sympathized with Kyong’s struggle to find balance between the personal and professional; for me she’s the standout character of the novel.
I really enjoyed having more Path of the Open Hand in Cataclysm. I’ve felt like since their introduction in Path of Deceit they’ve kind of been in the background, but here they’re solidly front and center as the baddies of the book (though I’m still missing my girl Marda!). The Mother has a new henchman vying for her attention, Binnot Ullo, whose dastardly deeds bring destruction and death to anyone who gets in his way. A good chunk of the story takes place on Dalna where numerous Jedi (including Yaddle!) go head to head with the Path who are still using the Nameless to wreak havoc on force users in addition to a cadre of weapons and droids which cement them as anything but peaceful.
Cataclysm does a stellar job of moving the storyline of Phase 2 forward while telling its own contained tale. Kang expertly blends tons of action with beautiful moments of humanity and emotion, making Cataclysm one of my all time favorite High Republic novels to date. Cataclysm is also available as an audiobook complete with music, sound effects and Marc Thompson’s epic narration and voice acting skills (some of the best I’ve heard from him). I give Cataclysm 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢/5 – highly recommend!
May 30, 2025
Towards the end of The High Republic Phase 1, it seemed like all roads were leading to Dalna. As Phase 2 begins to wind down, the same appears to be true, but this time around, Lydia Kang’s Cataclysm leaves us with many more answers than questions. A small mercy in a book jam packed with action and thrills that will leave you reeling by the end.
The story picks up shortly after the events of Convergence and nearly concurrently with Battle of Jedha as the Eiram/E’ronoh peace talks fell through, and the two planets are facing the prospect of war yet again. Not helping matters are the Path of the Open Hand, who plant two agents on the moon between the warring worlds to entice them to war if the skirmish on Jedha does not.
Xiri and Phan-tu, now a married couple, find themselves struggling with what that means for them, exactly. With strongly-held loyalties to their homeworlds, splitting their priorities doesn’t come easily for either of them, no matter how they might feel about one another personally. As they work to keep their planets from going back to war, more and more Jedi find themselves drawn into the conflict, which spreads from the neutral moon to the world of Dalna, in pursuit of the Path of the Open Hand.
Also along for the ride, and engaged in some drama of their own, are Axel Greylark and Gella Nattai, who went their separate ways at the end of Convergence, but are forced back together in Cataclysm when Gella realizes Axel might have information helpful to their fight.
I’ve made no secret of my love for Xiri, Phan-tu, Gella and Axel, and while I love them just as much now, this book was also bittersweet. In a bid to wrap up plot points from the Phase as a whole, and to set us up for the next phase, I feel like I was only just getting to know them, and now we have to say goodbye already, giving the book an overall bitersweet feeling. I’d love to be wrong, though, and to have some of them pop up later on, even after the High Republic initiative wraps up.
For a series that seems to relish in posing as many questions as it answers — meaning Star Wars as a whole, and not just The High Republic — I was surprised with the amount of conclusive, satisfying answers we get to mysteries that have been left hanging over a year since Phase I wrapped up. Plot points I suspected would be relevant were, in fact, relevant and their connection to the events of the “present day” (read: Phase I and III) is made clear. In that respect I can say that although there are still two books to go in Phase II (and however many comics) things are winding down in a very satisfying way.
Cataclysm is out April 4, 2023. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.
The story picks up shortly after the events of Convergence and nearly concurrently with Battle of Jedha as the Eiram/E’ronoh peace talks fell through, and the two planets are facing the prospect of war yet again. Not helping matters are the Path of the Open Hand, who plant two agents on the moon between the warring worlds to entice them to war if the skirmish on Jedha does not.
Xiri and Phan-tu, now a married couple, find themselves struggling with what that means for them, exactly. With strongly-held loyalties to their homeworlds, splitting their priorities doesn’t come easily for either of them, no matter how they might feel about one another personally. As they work to keep their planets from going back to war, more and more Jedi find themselves drawn into the conflict, which spreads from the neutral moon to the world of Dalna, in pursuit of the Path of the Open Hand.
Also along for the ride, and engaged in some drama of their own, are Axel Greylark and Gella Nattai, who went their separate ways at the end of Convergence, but are forced back together in Cataclysm when Gella realizes Axel might have information helpful to their fight.
I’ve made no secret of my love for Xiri, Phan-tu, Gella and Axel, and while I love them just as much now, this book was also bittersweet. In a bid to wrap up plot points from the Phase as a whole, and to set us up for the next phase, I feel like I was only just getting to know them, and now we have to say goodbye already, giving the book an overall bitersweet feeling. I’d love to be wrong, though, and to have some of them pop up later on, even after the High Republic initiative wraps up.
For a series that seems to relish in posing as many questions as it answers — meaning Star Wars as a whole, and not just The High Republic — I was surprised with the amount of conclusive, satisfying answers we get to mysteries that have been left hanging over a year since Phase I wrapped up. Plot points I suspected would be relevant were, in fact, relevant and their connection to the events of the “present day” (read: Phase I and III) is made clear. In that respect I can say that although there are still two books to go in Phase II (and however many comics) things are winding down in a very satisfying way.
Cataclysm is out April 4, 2023. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.
May 28, 2023
High Republic Phase 2 delivers yet another great book. Stakes are higher than ever in Cataclysm as the Jedi and allies face their toughest challenge yet.
This book starts directly after the events of The Battle of Jedha as the Jedi tries to find answers to what happened there. This book is very well paced (unlike Convergence where I felt it dragged a bit in the middle to late parts), and kept the momentum going all the way to the end. A LOT of characters in this one as basically all the ones from the previous Phase 2 books are involved, but I feel like Kang did a really good job at giving every character enough page time to shine. Also some surprise characters appeared which I liked.
Spoilers
I like the High Republic a lot and think its great Star Wars, and am very excited to finish up Phase 2, which has been very good and to the future of Phase 3.
I give this one a very strong 4.
This book starts directly after the events of The Battle of Jedha as the Jedi tries to find answers to what happened there. This book is very well paced (unlike Convergence where I felt it dragged a bit in the middle to late parts), and kept the momentum going all the way to the end. A LOT of characters in this one as basically all the ones from the previous Phase 2 books are involved, but I feel like Kang did a really good job at giving every character enough page time to shine. Also some surprise characters appeared which I liked.
Spoilers
I like the High Republic a lot and think its great Star Wars, and am very excited to finish up Phase 2, which has been very good and to the future of Phase 3.
I give this one a very strong 4.
July 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Star Wars: Cataclysm does an excellent job of blending the political intrigue from Convergence with the emotional and chaotic fallout of the Battle of Jedha. The plot is tightly woven and the pacing stays strong throughout, keeping the stakes high and the characters compelling. For me, this is not only the standout book of Phase II—it’s also a serious contender for one of the best books in The High Republic overall.
9 out of 10
Star Wars: Cataclysm does an excellent job of blending the political intrigue from Convergence with the emotional and chaotic fallout of the Battle of Jedha. The plot is tightly woven and the pacing stays strong throughout, keeping the stakes high and the characters compelling. For me, this is not only the standout book of Phase II—it’s also a serious contender for one of the best books in The High Republic overall.
9 out of 10
May 22, 2023
Excellent Entry
This is up there for my favorite The High Republic novel. It had everything I wanted. Terrifying threat to the Jedi, a villain you hated and wanted to see end badly and it had tons of action. The Axel character was a bit annoying at times but all the other characters held their own. Also great seeing some Jedi legends here.
This is up there for my favorite The High Republic novel. It had everything I wanted. Terrifying threat to the Jedi, a villain you hated and wanted to see end badly and it had tons of action. The Axel character was a bit annoying at times but all the other characters held their own. Also great seeing some Jedi legends here.
December 20, 2023
This phase of the High Republic just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't really like the Romeo and Juliet storyline that took up a lot of these two books, and I didn't really care about any of the other characters either. Oh well, onto the next book instead.
2.5/5 stars
2.5/5 stars
December 21, 2023
Lydia Kang the goat
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