Ścieżka zemsty

Star Wars: The High Republic

by Cavan Scott, Anna Hikiert-Bereza (Translator)

Ścieżki, które wybieramy, zawsze mają swoją cenę…

Kuzynki Marda i Yana Ro należą do Ścieżki Otwartej Dłoni, ale nie mogłyby bardziej się od siebie różnić. Sekta, dowodzona przez charyzmatyczną kobietę zwaną Matką, wierzy, że Moc nie powinna być wykorzystywana przez nikogo, zwłaszcza przez Jedi. Marda jest wierna naukom grupy, podczas gdy Yana pozostaje wobec nich sceptyczna. Ale kiedy misja Ścieżki na Księżycu Pielgrzymów, Jedzie, kończy się wybuchem przemocy, dwie kuzynki zaczyna dzielić przepaść głębsza niż kiedykolwiek wcześniej.

Marda, obwiniająca Jedi za zamieszki na Jedzie i zdeterminowana, by udowodnić, że zasługuje na swoje miejsce w szeregach sekty, dołącza do niebezpiecznej wyprawy na legendarną Planetę X w poszukiwaniu kolejnych tajemniczych stworzeń z gatunku, z którego pochodzi Niwelator, aby wykorzystać je przeciwko Jedi. Planeta wydaje się być istnym rajem… ale pod jej powierzchnią czają się niewyobrażalnie koszmary…

Yana z kolei zawiera sojusz z najbardziej niespodziewaną osobą: Heroldem, ojcem jej zmarłej w tragicznych okolicznościach ukochanej. Choć niechętnie, będą musieli współpracować, aby zrealizować ich wspólny cel – chęć wyrwania Ścieżki spod kontroli Matki.

Połączone więzami krwi, ale rozdzielone wiarą, dwie młode kobiety staną na rozdrożu: to, którą ścieżką zdecydują się kroczyć, zaważy nie tylko na losach ich samych, ale i całej galaktyki…

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Space Opera

512 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

is a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.

Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating is 3.5 stars.

This is the concluding novel of Phase II of this series. Even though these were printed after Phase I these take place before that timeline of events. These books are similar to the prequel movies to the original trilogy in that way. In this one the Path has retreated back to their home planet after the events on Jedha. The problem is that the Jedi are not done with them.

I am going to stick with my analogy of the second phase being like the prequel movies. So that would make this book Revenge of the Sith because it has to tie up all the different plot lines while setting up what happens next which we already know about. Much like that particular movie this book succeeds in that role. We need to have the Path in the position we see them in the first phase and we do. We need for it to make sense and it does. While doing this it also has to be enjoyable and it is. This book actually surprised me how well the author connected the dots with all the different story arcs. These arcs are from the novels as well as the comics. I enjoyed his use of the characters and I am so surprised that a character from the comics quickly became a favorite of mine. I did have some issues with this book and not all of it can be blamed on this author. I still do not connect with the majority of the characters of the overall series. I just do not feel like they are properly fleshed out and that includes ones in this book. Also, and I am showing my age here, but there were a couple of quick sentences that were cheap and tawdry. I do not need to know how a character feels about sex while reminiscing about her dead partner. Star Wars is meant to be a space fantasy between good and evil while displaying moral messages. Disney authors seem to throw in a quick hit of an adult situation to show how progressive they are. It is not needed and it comes off like they are doing it on purpose to prove a point. I am not reading an adult erotic novel which I have no problem with. Just not in this universe.

I compared this to a movie. Just like that movie I liked it but this is far from perfect. It works perfectly for the time frame and it entertained me. It had issues and plot holes but overall I am satisfied with it in the end. just like that movie. Hey. It even had a couple of scenes that made me cringe just like the movie with Vader yelling "Nooooo" when the Emperor told him about Padme.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite the final book for Phase 2 of the High Republic (technically there is another book coming out later this year, but as of now this wraps up Phase 2 and launches into Phase 3).

This book is momentous because of how long it is. Not only is it the longest High Republic YA book in terms of page count, but it also has the smallest font size of the books, really emphasizing the length. Because of the font change, I do believe this also marks the longest YA novel in all of Star Wars, surpassing “Lost Stars”.

This book certainly covers a lot of ground. We follow the characters Yana Ro and Marda Ro as they leave Jedha and prepare for the final showdown with the Jedi on Dalna. We’ve already gotten the Jedi perspective of what happens in “Cataclysm”, but here we get the villains perspective. I quite enjoyed seeing how Marda and Yana developed opposite viewpoints as the book progressed, and we see how they change over time. If you enjoyed reading about them in “Path of Deceit”, you will really enjoy this book.

We also get some Jedi in the book, Mattie and Oliviah. These Jedi characters are fine, but don’t stand out in the greater High Republic storyline. Probably the biggest problem in Phase 2 is that the Jedi aren’t necessarily as memorable as the Jedi in Phase 1.

In many ways, this book pays off storylines from the adult, YA, and even the Middle Grade storylines. It truly is a finale book. However, “Cataclysm” was an “Event” book and felt bigger and grander. This story pays off quite a lot, but because it is so focused on the villain characters and the perspectives are much narrower, it doesn’t feel as “eventful”. I prefer the style of the adult books, but I must say Cavan Scott does a good job with YA. It overall didn’t feel cheesy, and with a few exceptions I did enjoy the way he handled teen characters and romance.

Much like “Path of Deceit”, this book does an excellent job of examining how cults work. The Path of the Open Hand says some nice stuff, but when you see the things the Mother does in this book, its quite horrific. The way the members of the Path all accept what the Mother says blindly and how they all follow her lead was really well handled.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable book. I certainly like this book and “Path of Deceit” way more than I like the YA books of Phase 1. However, I don’t believe the story will stick with me the way other types of SW books will. It will not be a favorite, and these characters are well written, but not that impactful to me. I’ll give the book an 8 out of 10! Well done Cavan Scott!

[Alexandra Elend Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

“And we all get scared from time to time. Guardians, daring-but-handsome thieves, even overtalking Padawans. The question is how we deal with it. Do we run and hide, or do we face our fear and damn the consequences?”

Path of Vengeance is the last book in Phase Two, Wave Two of The High Republic Chronicles and quite the perfect way to close this era of the series with a bang and a very twisted, eerie, and dark atmosphere, appropriate for the things we know will come.

While it is not as action-packed as its counterpart, Cataclysm, it was nothing short of an entertaining and fascinating conclusion that checked all the expectations that had been set up and tied into Phase One quite well.

Filling in the blanks to the events from Cataclysm and closing the story of The Path of the Open Hand, Cavan Scott delivers the closing notes to this period in a very befitting turn of events.

“The past was gone, the future was empty, and the present was only pain.”

Tying everything together in this last installment was really fun, especially including the characters from the comic series to the rooster, and quite prominently at that.

Vildar and Tey will forever be some of my new favorite characters, especially Tey, and expending any extra amount of time with their banter and sassiness, even if it is two different brands of it, was exactly what I needed to make this book the perfect ending. Exploring more of Oliviah's character was nice but the definite highlight was having Matty here.

Through the comic series I fell in love with Matty's character and giving her more time to shine, alone and undisturbed, here just cemented that idea in my head. She is quite possibly one of the coolest characters from this rooster based solely on her tremendous courage and temerity.

It is, however, just a little bit inconvenient bringing characters from the comic series into the main book series, but it's intertwined in a mostly seamless way, so even if you have never read from them before you'll be quick to get the idea of who they are and form some attachment to them.

Certainly, the only characters I really cared about were Matty, Yana and Marda. And these three girls really bring everything to a head and quite the perfect close.

“The Force would be free only if people like her stayed on the path she had chosen, the path that offered gifts freely given, including the gift of life.”

While there are certainly a good many things going on through the story, one of the most compelling ones is seeing the twists and turns that the stories of cousins Marda and Yana Ro take and how those paths will guide them and shape the galaxy, in the most subtle of ways.

Truly, the cousins' experiences shaped and defined this book completely.

As the title suggests, this is not a happy-go-lucky story in the least; no, it's dripping with paranoia, darkness, and the most cloying fanaticism there is. All so vividly explored through the cousins in ways that more than once made my skin crawl.

It was certainly an appropriate feeling for what needed to connect to less happy times, to more dire situations, to strife and pain.

Yes, it was not happy, but it was certainly fascinating. The Path of the Open Hand has been a very ominous presence in the story since the beginning of this Phase and seeing the way things twisted and ended up was satisfying and unnerving all at the same time. And, of course, their fate was very closely tied with the fate of the Ro cousins.

“But maybe this was reality for her cousin, a future as jagged as the lighting bolts on her face.”

While I mostly liked the ending and was quite pleased with it, I do have to say that the ultimate end of the Mother and the revelation of her motivations and objectives fell a bit flat as it came a little too late to really make an impact.

For a character that carried such a big impression through much of the story, one would really expect the Mother's character to be more impactful than it was... yet again, it is not a complete loss as her flatness does enhance the jagged and sharp edges of other characters.

It all did come together quite well in the end, and we end up with quite the adventurous and distorted story to set the mood for the next, and last, Phase of this series.

“Jedi can be afraid. Jedi can be scared. There’s no shame in it. Everyone is scared at one time or another. The difference for a Jedi is that we know fear is fleeting and should never win. A Jedi never runs from their fear. They face it, safe in the knowledge that the Force is with them, and they are one with the Force. The Force is with them, and they are one with the Force. The Force is with them, and they are one with the Force!”

____________

Well, that was a trip, for sure and certain.

Honestly, the highlight of the book for me was the little cameos of Vildar and Tey that I wasn't expecting but I certainly adored.

RTC.
____________

I'll be honest, I'm afraid of this book; or, rather, I'm afraid of how much pain this book will inflict in me. Considering my growing dislike for The Path of the Open Hand I don't see myself having a good time reading about them... but, gosh, I'm so morbidly fascinated.

As things go, I need to know how this whole fiasco is going to end, because this is the last book in this wave and in this phase which just makes things more complicated and nerve-wracking.

Hopefully, I'll get some satisfaction out of how things go in this book, though I'm afraid of the things that need to align so that what happens in previous books can happen.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it was all about the friends we made along the Path?


This is Oliviah Zeveron. Turns out she was important. Who knew?

I will reserve a little judgement until after I've read volume 2 of the author's comics run, but I wish it did not have to be so.

[Zain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phase 2 of The High Republic concludes within the pages of "Path of Vengeance," and as I began the book, anticipation lingered in the air. Setting off on this final journey, the saga unfolded with the promise of climactic moments, only to leave behind a bittersweet aftertaste of dissatisfaction.

Phase 1 of the High Republic series saw each book propel the story forward, contributing to its progression. In contrast, Phase 2, particularly "Path of Vengeance," takes a different approach by revisiting familiar events from alternate perspectives. While the concept has potential, its execution left much to be desired. If Phase 2 had been extended, this angle could have been more enjoyable. Unfortunately, as it stands, this narrative choice was a significant letdown.

The book is divided into three parts, with the first section delving into extensions of previously unexplored scenes from earlier material. While a few new elements are introduced, the tone feels predominantly expository. Given that this book serves as our conclusion, this approach comes across as redundant. This has been a recurring concern for me throughout phase 2. Although I usually hold a deep appreciation for Cavan's narratives, this pattern further underscores the muddled nature of this phase.

The writing style, while not a significant concern, did manage to catch me off guard. The inclusion of terms like 'baddie' and contemporary 2023 slang within the context of The High Republic's setting seemed discordant and disruptive. While integrating modern language into a futuristic world can enhance the narrative, it should seamlessly uphold the immersion without detracting from the story. Regrettably, in this instance, it came across as a rather awkward endeavor to resonate with younger readers, but the execution ultimately fell short of the intended impact.

With a hefty page count surpassing 500, my expectations were primed for a substantial feast. However, I found myself nibbling on a series of appetizers, only to be informed that the kitchen had abruptly closed before the main course could be served. The book propels forward like a whirlwind, maintaining a feverish pace as we transition from character to character, covering an extensive amount of ground. Yet, this rapid movement comes at a cost — the sacrifice of meaningful character development and emotional resonance. The depth and weight that would have enriched the narrative seem overshadowed by the rapid progression.

Fans of the comics will find satisfaction in the prominent appearance of characters from this phase. While certain character explorations are limited due to pacing, this continuation rewards those invested in the full story, creating a deeper connection as narrative threads interweave. This integration of familiar faces not only adds familiarity but also reinforces the tapestry of the author's expansive universe, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Without getting into spoiler territory, by the time I was turning the last pages, I found myself left with a plethora of unanswered questions, each one casting a shadow over the intricate tapestry of experiences woven throughout this installment, ultimately leaving an undeniable ache in the wake of the journey. It's as if the book intentionally left us suspended in mid air, pondering the fates of specific characters and story arcs. While a bit of mystery can be engaging, in this case, and for the purpose of this phase, it left me feeling incomplete and unsatisfying.

Overall, the Path of Vengeance provides an entertaining reading experience. Taken on its own merits, I might even consider giving it a higher rating. However, when viewed as a conclusion to an arc, even this assessment feels somewhat generous.

[Chelsea Zukowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, as always, to Disney Books for sending a review copy of Path of Vengeance.

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

"As the concluding novel in phase two of The High Republic, Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott proves to be one of the boldest and bleakest entries in Star Wars literature. The overall theme of the book is women in their villain eras, and we’re just along for the deliciously dark ride."

"It’s not easy to discuss Path of Vengeance without spoiling too much, but the story does overlap with key events in The Battle of Jedha and Cataclysm. The first several chapters are recaps of sorts but also plunge right into the chaotic action of the Battle of Jedha — this time, from Marda’s and Yana’s perspectives."

"It’s no surprise that author Cavan Scott has landed another hit with Path of Vengeance. The author is one of the most beloved writers in Star Wars literature.

While vastly different stories, Path of Vengeance is easily comparable to Scott’s The Rising Storm. Both books are thrilling page-turners that fly through epic battles without missing a character beat or crucial detail. Scott spares no expense detailing the horrors of war and the Nameless creatures that turn Force-users into petrified husks.

The novel more than delivers on its promises of despair and darkness but with just enough touches of hope and light. Path of Vengeance is an incredible book, and together with Path of Deceit, represents a masterpiece in Star Wars storytelling."

[Swati Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! Cavan Scott’s writing is taut and thrilling, the action is fast-paced and I couldn’t put it down!

I love these characters and loved how deep we went into the thoughts of the narrators. Highly recommend if you’ve read the rest of The High Republic phase 2

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might just be the best canon novel I've read.

Closing out the rather lackluster phase two, this novel brings us back to the quality of the previous young adult novels in this phase, and even surpasses it.

It perfectly sets up various aspects of phase one in really awesome, satisfying ways, and the mystery of the Nameless is still kept in-tact, telling us just enough to find them even more amazing and fascinating for the next phase.

The Path of the Open Hand's slow turn into what will eventually become the Nihil is absolutely marvellous, and whilst the Jedi characters are pretty good, it is characters like Marda & Yana Ro, the Mother, and the Herald who really shine in this book.

I cannot praise this book enough! It may not be as good as the best of the EU, but it is the closest canon has got for me. And it might be my favourite novel of the High Republic publishing initiative so far, certainly in the young adult department.

[Sal Perales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Cavan Scott book.

So I probably don’t need to tell you it’s full of complicated characters, gut-wrenching fear, mortal danger, and emotional damage.

Marda Ro is ready to guide the Path against those who abuse the Force. And she’ll use whatever she can to restore balance. After the Battle of Jedha, the Mother readies the Path to defend themselves on Dalna. With the Jedi closing in, will Marda and her cousin Yana free the Force? Or will they bring nothing but sorrow?

Cavan Scott once again brings the pain in yet another edge-of-your-seat thrilling book. While the events overlap with both The Battle of Jedha and Cataclysm, nothing feels repetitive. In fact, the story adds depth and layers with brand-new points of view. The story twists like a knife, savage and shocking. And while it seems that Phase II is at an end, the threads left leave us wondering about the future, and where they connect to the Nihil, The Jedi, and the upcoming trials. Like all High Republic books this one is enjoyable on its own, but if you’ve followed Marda and Yana’s story in other books and comics you’ll get much more enjoyment out of it. Brace yourself for all the tension, apprehension, and misdirection you can handle. The story is a beautiful dark web of fear, hope, and darkness.

This is a must-read for fans of Marda and Yana and any who might be curious about the origins behind familiar evereni!

Sal P.

Full review at https://theroguerebels.com/2023/05/01...

[Raoul · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Star Wars: Path of Vengeance is a young adult novel set during Phase II of The High Republic and serves as a follow-up to Path of Deceit. The story focuses on Marda Ro as she becomes more deeply involved in a cult-like group, the Path of the Open Hand, and the book serves as an examination of how belief, isolation, and manipulation can draw someone into fanaticism. It takes place before, during, and after the events of Cataclysm, tying up Phase II plotlines and leading directly into Phase I. While the book adds important context to the era, a lot of the POV characters didn’t really click with me, which made it harder to stay fully engaged.

6 out of 10

[Joshua Bishop · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a really weird book and hard to get into. It simultaneously takes place before, during, and after Cataclysm and I didn’t think that it was nearly as good. I couldn’t get behind a lot of the POV characters - I found Marda and Matty to both be frustrating narrators. Honestly if you’re looking for a High Republic book to skip, this might be it.

[Matt town · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is weird... It came out after 'Cataclysm' but honestly should be read before.... But this book does have a much more satisfying conclusion to the path of the open hand and Phase 2 as a whole... So I'm not sure which to recommend reading first!

[eclipse · Rating 5 out of 5]

marda ro girlie you have got to go to therapy!!! this is not good for you!!!

yana ro give me one chance

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will call this a very strong 3.5 star book. The conclusion to the Open Hand storyline is solid, and the writing is first class...but...I'm sorry, these are the stupidest Jedi ever. They have all the evidence in front of them that the Leveler exists as a creature...but apparently they are so dumb that they can't put 2 & 2 together to figure it out. There is arrogance...but this is beyond arrogance. How did they even survive to get this far? To say nothing of how a creature like the Leveler exists...that needs some explanation. It's irritations like this that keep me from loving this series, and merely admiring it at best.

[Saimi Korhonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I didn’t know it before, but I know it now. They will come for us. The Nameless Horror. The Shrii Ka Rai. They will come for us all. The storm shall rise and the stars fall, all because you cross the Veil. Because of you. The Force will die. The Force no more.”

Path of Vengeance is the finale of Phase 2 of the High Republic saga. The book follows three young women - Evereni cousins of the Path Marda and Yana Ro, and Padawan Matty Cathley - as they face their greatest challenges yet and carve their own paths. Featuring terrifying monsters, epic battles, shocking twists and awesome character work, this book wraps up Phase 2 really well, giving the reader answers to some of the most burning questions surrounding the High Republic, while also leaving fans desperate for Phase 3.

Phase 2 of the High Republic has been a mixed bag for me. I have loved aspects of it and I love the overall story arc, what it has to say about philosophical clashes, fanatic faith and the Force, but on the other hand, none of the characters have stuck with me like the characters of Phase 1 did. Because of that, none of the books in this phase have hit me like, say, Midnight Horizon or The Fallen Star. I think Path of Vengeance is a wonderfully written book and it feels like a satisfying conclusion to this phase, but I just didn't love it. I do think Phase 2 is absolutely worth the read for any High Republic fan. It develops this era so well and I cannot wait to see how the events of this phase effect phase 3 and my eventual re-read of phase 1.

The character work in this novel was wonderful. Marda and Yana have been two of the standout characters of this phase for me, and I really enjoyed how their stories were wrapped up. Following Marda as she becomes more and more zealous and fanatic was intriguing, although sometimes frustrating and unsettling. Seeing Yana try to free herself while also trying to save her cousin from slipping and fulfilling what she sees as her duty to the girl she loved and lost, was cool. The fracturing relationship between the cousins was well done and developed. Matty is a delight and I loved getting to spend more time with her. Her arc of dealing with her grief, learning to conquer her fear and finding strength within herself was very satisfying - through her, Scott dealt with classic Jedi stuff, like, how to handle negative emotions and the significance of the Force for the Jedi, and as someone who has always loved the Jedi and all the more mystical and philosophical sides of that lifestyle, I was living. The side characters were all solid - for example, I really enjoyed the Mother's storyline and finally getting to see what her deal was, as I did Oliviah's plot line, even though I do hope she would've been a more prominent character in the phase before this, as she is super crucial to the plot now. Some of her scenes would've probably hit harder if she had been more than a supporting, irregular character before this.

The clash between the Path and the Jedi has been wonderful to follow. Seeing the way different people interpret the Force and the debates surrounding what the Force is and means, has always been something I have found very interesting - it has been one of my favorite aspects of phase 2. The Path's development from a peaceful, pacifist organization to a more militant, aggressive group we see them become in this novel has been fascinating, just like following the power dynamics shifting between the Mother, the Herald and Marda has been. I like what this phase has had to say about religion. Faith in itself can be beautiful and life-affirming, but when faith turns into cult-like behaviour, mindless obedience and a tool used to brand other people as evil, monstrous or inhuman, that's when things get dangerous. That's when faith becomes something bad. Especially Marda's journey deals a lot with these themes and ideas of free will vs. obedience, and how people good at heart can be twisted into something else by manipulative leaders and harsh dogmas.

Path of Vengeance left me feeling both satisfied and more desperate than ever to get the first book of phase 3 in my hands. We got answers to many questions - such as who began the Nihil, and where does the Shrii Ka Rai lullaby come from - but we were also left confused about some things in the best of ways. Even if this phase has not been as dear to me as phase 1, I do think it was, overall, built and crafted really well. It gives a lot of backstory and depth to things already introduced earlier and leaves you off with mysteries to be wrapped up later on all the while feeling like a complete, individual story.

One more thing before I wrap up, I just have to say that knowing how much Cavan Scott loves writing horror and creepy shit, I can only imagine how joyous writing some of the sections surrounding the Nameless must have been for him. The Nameless are truly terrifying, alien, creepy and strange, and I loved seeing more of where they come from, what they are like and how they behave. Planet X, the home planet of the Nameless, was another delightfully weird and spooky place while also sounding like an absolute paradise, and I definitely want to learn more about that planet!

No, I lied before, this is my one last comment: how cute are Tey and Vildar?!?!!

So, overall, I really enjoyed this novel even if I didn't love it. It's a great conclusion to this phase and yet another great story by Cavan Scott. He truly is one of the best writers working in SW right now!

[ina m · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
a great conclusion to phase 2.
the first two parts were slightly boring but the third act was just amazing.

[Kels · Rating 4 out of 5]

ro family sexy

[Admiral Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I love the high republic! Marda and Yana both got amazing storylines that let me satisfied. Full review on Instagram @admiralreads 5/14

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This book should have been so exciting, but I was…bored. I struggled to want to pick it up and felt very little for any of the characters. That wasn’t due to a lack of action in the story, but it just didn’t connect with me. One reason might be that there was a ton of telling-rather-than-showing at the beginning of the book, including about some events that were big enough they could have been the climax of one of the other books, but instead they were hastily thrown in here as backstory. Also, none of the characters felt really distinctive or drew my sympathy. I couldn’t even remember that Matty was a Twi’leck because she was described so little. Sunshine Dobbs has been in multiple HR books but he’s also been described so little that Wookieepedia doesn’t even have a single physical descriptor listed for him other than that he’s a human male. These characters just make so little impression on me because they’re poorly described, some of the personalities run together, and in this case there were a bunch of new characters in this book compared to the other Phase 2 books.

I think this book is supposed to end High Republic Phase 2, and it did give closure to some of the storylines (what happened on Dalna from a more complete perspective than Cataclysm had, what the Mother was doing and what happened to her, where the Leveler/Nameless came from and how the extra ones got to Dalna, what happened with the Ro cousins and how one of them ended up with the Gaze Electric). However, it still left a few big questions for me—especially, since the Leveler and its kind were such a big part of the fight on Dalna, and there are now a bunch of Jedi who saw/experienced its effects as well as people who went to retrieve the creatures, WHY is it such a surprise to the Jedi 150 years later in the stories of Phase 1?? I feel like this takes away some of the punch of mystery that happens there, of Loden Greatstorm’s death and all that happen on Starlight Beacon, because there’s *no way* they shouldn’t have known about this major event in their history. The Leveler/the Nameless were a major cause of death at the battle on Dalna, and too many Jedi also felt its effects yet survived. It should have been known.

Overall I think I liked the books in Phase 2 better than in Phase 1, but this was an exception to that. A kind of disappointing end to me.

[Caleb Likes Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have unfortunately found Phase 2 of The High Republic to be rather lackluster, despite having some good parts. I was hoping this final book would provide an excellent ending; while the very end of this book and this phase concludes with quite a bang, the book as a whole feels to me more like a whimper.

There are things I enjoyed here. First, I find the Path of the Open Hand in general to be a fascinating concept. I love the idea of Force cults in Star Wars and this one has intrigued me since they were first introduced back in Path of Deceit. I always enjoy getting more of them. I also enjoyed the Ro cousins, particularly Yana, as well as the Mother. I also enjoyed some of the dialogues in here, especially relating to the conflict between the Path and the Jedi, and their previous run-ins with one another. There’s some really well done action here which I always enjoyed reading, and the ending especially ends in pretty spectacular fashion. The book’s split into three parts, the third being the final 100 pages or so, and easily being the most exciting part of the book for me. Thankfully, while I didn’t love the book overall, the ending did leave me with a positive feeling.

That said, there is more to this book than the ending, and frankly I did not care for the rest. Phase 2 in general has an issue for me in that it just doesn’t draw me in the way that Phase 1 did (and, I assume, how Phase 3 will). As I said, the Path and some of the characters are interesting, but this book feels much like the others in Phase 2 in terms of my engagement and interest. Outside of those few characters I mentioned, there are none here I particularly care about, and the story in general didn’t have much of interest to me. And while I did enjoy the ending as a whole, there is a revelation about the Mother and her motives that I thought fell quite flat—not necessarily a poorly done revelation, but just not as compelling as I would have imagined.

Overall this book continues the general feeling of Phase 2 just not quite being for me. It’s not a bad book by any means, and there are some excellent portions, but as a whole it just feels a bit meh for me.

Rating: 6.5/10

[Coen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this, and I freaking LOVED IT. Best book of Phase 2 of The High Republic for me. By far. I will have to let it settle a while to write an actual 'review' for it (let's be real here, my reviews aren't reviews but just me rambling on an on about the book) but it will come!

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This more-or-less final volume in the Phase 2 of the High Republic (a few more books come after this, but Path of Vengeance basically concludes the main storyline) brings some interesting story elements to the series—but then it falters badly at the end. Like so many books in this series, Path of Vengeance returns to events that have already taken place and gives a different perspective on them. I have mostly been annoyed by this technique in the series, because it has felt (especially in the Battle of Jedha arc) like one story broken up across multiple books. In this case, however, the tactic works pretty well. The first time through the battle on Dalna, in Cataclysm, didn’t feel incomplete, and now Path of Vengeance fills in some gaps—especially, what Yana and Marda did during these events, which was the one element that did seem missing from Cataclysm.

I liked the changes to Yana’s character throughout this story (when she wasn’t moping about Kor), and the idea of a race in Star Wars that sees the people who have died because of them intrigues me. I’m not sure if we’ll see this again, but it’s a detail worth spending more time with in another story.

Marda’s character changes, however . . . Her motivations often seem like baffling nonsense. She has confronted the two-facedness of the Path and the Mother previously and again in this book, and so her fully radicalized takeover when she returns to Dalna from Planet X doesn’t feel correct at all. Again and again, the authors of this series have taken what might have been an interesting philosophical critique of the Jedi and other cults in Star Wars, and instead turned it into a quick, same-old action movie. It’s especially frustrating when The Acolyte, which really did create a grown-up, full-reckoning look at Star Wars mythology, has been canceled, but these throwaway books keep coming.

Worse than Marda’s characterization is the Big Reveal at the end. We learn that Oliviah Zeveron, some random Jedi who hasn’t seemed important at all up to this point (and is also one of many Star Wars characters who has been run through with a lightsaber but quickly recovered, no worse for the wear), is the sister of the Mother of the Path, and this whole plot in all these books was just a lame “I’m so upset the Jedi chose my sister instead of me, so now I’ll take it out on everyone in the galaxy” story. Plot devices like this continue to keep Star Wars storytelling at the most basic, worthless level. The motivation of many of the females in this series comes from emotional responses to feeling jilted by a lover or a community. It all feels so insulting.

Three more (short, thankfully!) books to complete Phase 2, and then I’ll look back at elements that would be worth bringing into film, and places where the series went wrong.

Final notes:

--Matty Cathley has to be one of the most obnoxious Star Wars characters ever. I can’t believe she survived to the end of the book. What exactly do Jedi padawans learn?

--Star Wars authors need to be much more careful about bringing current slang into their books. Reading a character referred to as a “badass” doesn’t work at all in Star Wars.

--I love it when Star Wars draws on tropes from sci-fi and horror, but these authors need to stay far, far away from romance. It almost never works well in Star Wars, and the too-frequent moments that it shows up in Phase 2 books are entirely cringey and awful. This series would have been much better without romance, especially when failed romance provides the primary motivation for female characters to become evil.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's safe to say that Path of Vengeance is the book that got the most insane reactions out of me this year. In terms of reading experience, this one gets a 5+ star rating, and I'd give a lot to experience it for the first time again.

Path of Vengeance is divided into three parts, with the first one overlapping quite severely with the comic run of this phase of The High Republic. While that leads to some inital confusion, I liked this approach and getting to see these scenes both in art and in prose. Accordingly, PoV introduces Matty Cathley and Oliviah Zeveron as new protagonists and therefore ends up being a novel told completely from the perspective of women. While I loved Matty and her character arc much more in the novel than in the comic, where she was often only a sidekick, Oliviah turned out to be quite the disappointment for me. In this book, she seemed distant and downright unlikeable, which is truly a shame after the comic showed her to be a badass and steadfast Jedi.

The second part of the novel is truly a ride, and Yana and Marda's chapters show some of the best storytelling this Phase has to offer. These chapters leave you reeling, shocked, confused and so much more. It is in the third part of the novel that - just like Cataclysm - it slightly lost me. Unfortunately a big plot twist does not work as it was spoiled in a character video on YouTube months in advance, and additionally, the ending leaves too many questions unanswered. Thus, after closing the book and letting it sink in for a while, after the adrenaline subsides, the ending turns into a double-edged sword: both extremely satisfying and a logical conclusion to each character's arc, as well as not quite fulfulling due to the many answers still owed to us.

In the end, when I combine my excellent reading experience with the flaws of the plot, Path of Vengeance becomes an intense journey worth following and reading, yet one that might only unveil its full force when Phase III calls back to it. In the meantime, I will be hoping for more tales of the Ro cousins, whereever they may be.

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a bad book. Straight off, I was tempted to give this 2 stars, but the absolute slog that is the second half of this book makes it 1. And honestly, by the end, if I could give a half star I would.

I have no idea why I hoped that Cavan Scott would get better, he kind of did for the first half, but this guy just straight up should not write any more books and stick to comics.

The outright, obvious disdain for Jedi, in a Star Wars series, really bothers me. Write them as foolish, write them as naive, but not stupid. The entire book, the Jedi are complete morons. How is that compelling in any way for a Star Wars fan?

Marda, is an obnoxious protagonist. She's a crappy character. The pouting, the feel bad for me, the simple thought patterns, at least the Mother came off slightly interesting, Marda was just this 2 dimensional shell of a character that maybe with a better author could have brought out something interesting. And it's not a young adult thing, I've read tons of young adult novels. She just has go away heat from me.

This book, for the story it tells, for what it wants to say, is easily 200 pages too long. It has been one of the most challenging books I've read in my entire life, and I have read a LOT of books.

I refuse to read another book by this author again. He's just bad. He's bad at setting scenes, he's bad at character work, he's bad at writing concisely.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gonna give this 4 stars, and then I read part 3. Every piece of the puzzle becomes relevant as our heroes (and villains) hurtle towards the conclusion. II was truly invested in every character from Yana to Matty to the Mother and yes, even Marda. It took me forever because I didn’t want it to end but I am so glad I read this.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So chilling. A fitting end to Phase 2! This book was such a treat, and I didn’t want it to end. Cavan, as always, did a fantastic job creating an enticing story for Star Wars readers. The character work, the pacing, and the action was very well done. Bravo!

[natka · Rating 5 out of 5]

dobry koniec...

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading this last night. It was an intense read with some horror elements and some significant lore details that make this feel like truly essential reading for Phase II of the High Republic era and shed some more light on the question of what we were supposed to learn from this extended "flashback" as it were to the Phase II era from the Phase I era before traveling forward in time again to Phase I.

This book really cemented Mattie as a favorite High Republic Jedi of the Phase II era. She is just very upbeat, energetic, and doesn't hesitate to pour out exactly what is in her mind and heart. It's very endearing and I want all the best things for her.

I do enjoy the continued expansion of the culture and various Force religions on Jedha. We get a lot of interesting lore like the hidden Archives under the statue of the Jedi that was destroyed in the Battle of Jedha.

What a bombshell drop that the Rod of Daybreak and the Rod of Seasons are combined what is needed to control the Leveler and that the Rod of Daybreak was hidden in the Archives beneath the Jedi statue. It really connects back to Path of Deceit and also makes the Yoda and Creighton Sun decision to cover up everything related to the Levelers all the more infuriating. Since it might have been possible to figure out more about the Levelers just by analyzing what was stolen from the Archives.

Some horror vibes with both Marda and Yana seeing the "ghosts" of those they have lost: Kevmo and Koi respectively. Kevmo especially seems to be far more bitter as a "ghost" than he ever was in life.

Marda's story really shows how people can be radicalized by a cult.

We do finally get to go to Planet X, home of the Levelers and see the Force nexus planet where the Levelers are from. It feels like great payoff especially since we didn't get to visit Planet X in the book entitled Quest for Planet X. It is just very satisfying to be able to travel to this planet at last after hearing so much about it during the Phase II era.

I think most people expected the Mother to be related to Oliviah from the comics but it is kind of a cool twist to have her be Oliviah's sister rather than Oliviah's mother. And to have her grudge against the Jedi not be that the Jedi took a family member away from her but that the Jedi didn't choose to train her.

I think this was my favorite and most moving depiction of the battle of Dalna in all the Phase II materials we have gotten so far.

And reading about the aftermath of the Battle of Dalna in this book really makes it all the more frustrating for me to think about the "coverup" that Yoda and Creighton Sun did in terms of keeping information on the Levelers out of the Temple Archives because it feels like the Jedi are collecting the clues and could have started to piece them together and unravel the mystery if the truth wasn't actively suppressed because Yoda and Creighton didn't want the other Jedi to panic:rolleyes:

Overall, this feels like a worthy sequel to Path of Deceit.

Final verdict: 5 out of 5 stars

[Josh Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Low 7/10

Phase 2 certainly wasn’t a waste of time. I honestly loved Cataclysm, Path of Deceit had an insane ending, Battle of Jedha was pretty good (although would’ve been better as a novel) but I also feel a little confused on its existence. This is an issue that will likely be made more clear (whether in a good or bad way) in phase 3.

The book itself is good but has a lot of characters that had very dramatic shifts in character pretty fast. Marda Ro goes on a rollercoaster this book and I’m left feeling completely unsure about her as a character. Another problem I have with this book and pretty much this entire phase is how mid the Jedi are. Phase 1 had Loden, Stellan, Avar, ELZAR, and Bell who are ALL way better than any Jedi in this phase. This books Jedi characters are Azlin, Oliviah, and Maddy and they are all fine. Nothing bad but nothing exceptional in anyway.

I still quite like The Mother and the Path in general but I really wish more focus was given to Jedi this phase as there were some that were good but just came out underdeveloped

This might actually be my least favorite book of the phase, I think Path of Deceits ending raises it above this even though this is probably more consistent and Convergence deals more with the Jedi and the state of the galaxy which is more interesting to me.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Path of the Open Hand are retreating to Dalna where they will make their final stand against the Force-abusing Jedi. Marda Ro is now the Guide and should be as faithful to the Mother as she has always been, but doubts have begun to grow. Meanwhile, her cousin Yana Ro has only ever been faithful to her family... but the Path may tear them apart for good.

I've already talked at length about the issues with Phase II and here is another prime example of it. These major plot details should have been in the adult novels, which needed to contain the main thrust of the storyline (something that would have made the Phase run more smoothly). Those books, unfortunately, added nothing truly meaningful to the arc and ought to have been the YA storyline instead. Honestly, what on Earth were these authors thinking!? It's a great way to alienate adult readers... you know, those folks with disposable income.

Another great weakness of this book is that it had to info dump the events of the audiobook. As a result, there was too much recapping, too much "telling". What a slog. Phase II is also slightly shorter, so Cavan Scott had to cram in every important detail he could into the pages of this novel. It's a bit of a mess. I will grudgingly admit that it could have been more of a mess, as Scott managed to make some of it acceptable. The Big Reveal, alas...no one could fix that.

I've disliked Phase II as a whole, but it would have redeemed itself if the climax had managed to stick the landing. It did not.

Side note - my Australian-printed copy had multiple spelling errors, though I'm pretty sure this was due to someone not knowing how to properly find/replace Americanisms in the manuscript. Oops. I actually emailed the publisher about this, because it's the 2nd recent Star Wars book to have the issue... no response, so I will assume they realised and hoped no one would notice lol