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Star Wars: The High Republic
The Battle of Jedha
After the events of The High Republic: Convergence, the Jedi travel to Jedha in this all-new Star Wars audiobook original.
Jedha. The worn streets of this ancient world serve as a confluence for the galaxy. Visited by all, yet owned by none. Here, the Jedi are but one creed among many worshipping and studying the Force. From the Guardians of the Whills to the Path of the Open Hand, countless beings come to learn, and to share, in peace.
As all of Jedha prepares for its Festival of Balance, the galaxy still reels from the violence on Eiram and E’ronoh. But after foiling a plot to escalate the war between the two planets, the Jedi believe that a lasting peace may be within reach. Master Creighton Sun and Jedi Knight Aida Forte arrive on Jedha with delegations from both planets to formally end the “Forever War.” The Jedi hope that the harmony of Jedha’s many factions, along with the signing of a peace treaty, will create a symbol to the rest of the galaxy of what can be accomplished through unity.
But not all are happy with the Jedi’s involvement or ready to concern themselves with peace. Rumors begin to swirl that the Jedi bring war in their wake. The distrust and anger that for so long fueled the Forever War now threaten to corrupt the communities of Jedha. When violence breaks out on the sacred moon, the war that was meant to end on Jedha may soon engulf the entire world.
Jedha. The worn streets of this ancient world serve as a confluence for the galaxy. Visited by all, yet owned by none. Here, the Jedi are but one creed among many worshipping and studying the Force. From the Guardians of the Whills to the Path of the Open Hand, countless beings come to learn, and to share, in peace.
As all of Jedha prepares for its Festival of Balance, the galaxy still reels from the violence on Eiram and E’ronoh. But after foiling a plot to escalate the war between the two planets, the Jedi believe that a lasting peace may be within reach. Master Creighton Sun and Jedi Knight Aida Forte arrive on Jedha with delegations from both planets to formally end the “Forever War.” The Jedi hope that the harmony of Jedha’s many factions, along with the signing of a peace treaty, will create a symbol to the rest of the galaxy of what can be accomplished through unity.
But not all are happy with the Jedi’s involvement or ready to concern themselves with peace. Rumors begin to swirl that the Jedi bring war in their wake. The distrust and anger that for so long fueled the Forever War now threaten to corrupt the communities of Jedha. When violence breaks out on the sacred moon, the war that was meant to end on Jedha may soon engulf the entire world.
6 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 3, 2023
140 people are currently reading
2745 people want to read
About the author
George Mann
360 books674 followersGeorge Mann is an author and editor, primarily in genre fiction. He was born in Darlington, County Durham in 1978.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
A former editor of Outland, Mann is the author of The Human Abstract, and more recently The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual in his Newbury and Hobbes detective series, set in an alternate Britain, and Ghosts of Manhattan, set in the same universe some decades later.
He wrote the Time Hunter novella "The Severed Man", and co-wrote the series finale, Child of Time.
He has also written numerous short stories, plus Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes audiobooks for Big Finish Productions. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
January 6, 2023
creighton sun is such a dilf
February 13, 2024
This is an audio drama that is part of Phase II of The High Republic series. This can be read as a stand alone. In this one we arrive on Jedha to sign a peace treaty between two warring planets. Will we get to sign the treaty or will be peace be thwarted by those that want the war to continue?
I believe I finally figured out the pattern with the books that are written in this series. For the majority of the book the authors have their characters just milling about and talking and basically doing nothing. The last act will be explosive and exciting and entices the reader to proceed to the next one. That is how it is happening for me including this one. For the most part I was ambivalent about this book. I really did not care until the war broke out and that is when this book captured me. I will give this book props as the book made me finally care about some characters that I have read about previously in other books. Those other books did not accomplish that but this book made me say I would like to see more of this character. That is where this book excels. The character exploration. Especially with one character and his adventure. The book also excels at the production. Star Wars production for audio dramas are top notch. The actors, the sound effects, and the music just demand the reader to be captured by the story.
This was definitely worth a read just for the reason of it being an audio drama. The production is terrific. If I read the book in a written form I probably would have given this two stars as I find this story line just okay. I like the local concentrated area of the two planets story and it does affect the entire galaxy. But my complaint for this series is still there. No detail for what is the motive of the antagonists besides that they are the bad guys and they have to be behind it. I am grateful that this was in audio form to keep my interest.
I believe I finally figured out the pattern with the books that are written in this series. For the majority of the book the authors have their characters just milling about and talking and basically doing nothing. The last act will be explosive and exciting and entices the reader to proceed to the next one. That is how it is happening for me including this one. For the most part I was ambivalent about this book. I really did not care until the war broke out and that is when this book captured me. I will give this book props as the book made me finally care about some characters that I have read about previously in other books. Those other books did not accomplish that but this book made me say I would like to see more of this character. That is where this book excels. The character exploration. Especially with one character and his adventure. The book also excels at the production. Star Wars production for audio dramas are top notch. The actors, the sound effects, and the music just demand the reader to be captured by the story.
This was definitely worth a read just for the reason of it being an audio drama. The production is terrific. If I read the book in a written form I probably would have given this two stars as I find this story line just okay. I like the local concentrated area of the two planets story and it does affect the entire galaxy. But my complaint for this series is still there. No detail for what is the motive of the antagonists besides that they are the bad guys and they have to be behind it. I am grateful that this was in audio form to keep my interest.
November 7, 2023
3.5 stars
this was actually kinda crazy, i like the way george mann writes for star wars!
this was actually kinda crazy, i like the way george mann writes for star wars!
June 14, 2023
This is a great book. It really ties up the Phase II book, junior novels, and comics. I was really happy to see some of my favourite characters from these books return. One as a cameo, and three as the main characters.
The holy city of Jadha is home to a number of different sects and religions devoted to The Force. However, recently, there has been more distension than unity between. The loudest is the anti-Jedi sentiment.
Because of its standing and it being natural ground, it seems like a perfect place to sign the peace treaty between the formerly waring planets of Eitam and E'ronoh. However, not everyone wants peace. A number of people and sects have their own motives, and nobody is safe. Be prepared for all-out war.
This one of the first books since Disney took over that I really saw the Jedi as the awesome warriors I grew up reading during the extended universe. I have found the Disney Jedi to be a lot weaker than the Extended Universe counterparts.
Another thing I really like about this book is that it shows exactly how brutal war and the cost to people caught in the crossfire.
I am glad that the Jedi are starting to peice the clues together, and we might get the origins of creature unleashed in Phase I. I love the continuity between all the different media. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The holy city of Jadha is home to a number of different sects and religions devoted to The Force. However, recently, there has been more distension than unity between. The loudest is the anti-Jedi sentiment.
Because of its standing and it being natural ground, it seems like a perfect place to sign the peace treaty between the formerly waring planets of Eitam and E'ronoh. However, not everyone wants peace. A number of people and sects have their own motives, and nobody is safe. Be prepared for all-out war.
This one of the first books since Disney took over that I really saw the Jedi as the awesome warriors I grew up reading during the extended universe. I have found the Disney Jedi to be a lot weaker than the Extended Universe counterparts.
Another thing I really like about this book is that it shows exactly how brutal war and the cost to people caught in the crossfire.
I am glad that the Jedi are starting to peice the clues together, and we might get the origins of creature unleashed in Phase I. I love the continuity between all the different media. I can't wait to see what happens next.
January 4, 2023
Aaaand this has risen to my second favorite installment of Phase II. 4.5 stars. (Full review to come.)
January 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. Star Wars always does a great job with the production of their audio dramas. The action was so well-written and kept me tied in to the story! I felt that Mann did a wonderful job at allowing the reader to feel as if they are there among the characters.
June 20, 2023
This is a great book. It really ties up the Phase II book, junior novels, and comics. I was really happy to see some of my favourite characters from these books return. One as a cameo, and three as the main characters.
The holy city of Jadha is home to a number of different sects and religions devoted to The Force. However, recently, there has been more distension than unity between. The loudest is the anti-Jedi sentiment.
Because of its standing and it being natural ground, it seems like a perfect place to sign the peace treaty between the formerly waring planets of Eitam and E'ronoh. However, not everyone wants peace. A number of people and sects have their own motives, and nobody is safe. Be prepared for all-out war.
This one of the first books since Disney took over that I really saw the Jedi as the awesome warriors I grew up reading during the extended universe. I have found the Disney Jedi to be a lot weaker than the Extended Universe counterparts.
Another thing I really like about this book is that it shows exactly how brutal war and the cost to people caught in the crossfire.
I am glad that the Jedi are starting to peice the clues together, and we might get the origins of creature unleashed in Phase I. I love the continuity between all the different media. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The holy city of Jadha is home to a number of different sects and religions devoted to The Force. However, recently, there has been more distension than unity between. The loudest is the anti-Jedi sentiment.
Because of its standing and it being natural ground, it seems like a perfect place to sign the peace treaty between the formerly waring planets of Eitam and E'ronoh. However, not everyone wants peace. A number of people and sects have their own motives, and nobody is safe. Be prepared for all-out war.
This one of the first books since Disney took over that I really saw the Jedi as the awesome warriors I grew up reading during the extended universe. I have found the Disney Jedi to be a lot weaker than the Extended Universe counterparts.
Another thing I really like about this book is that it shows exactly how brutal war and the cost to people caught in the crossfire.
I am glad that the Jedi are starting to peice the clues together, and we might get the origins of creature unleashed in Phase I. I love the continuity between all the different media. I can't wait to see what happens next.
April 28, 2023
4.5 stars.
As the title suggests, The Battle of Jedha is a thrilling, action-filled story, yes, it certainly had my blood pumping hard in my chest and my emotions exalted at every turn. However, there was much more depth to it than a simple action-packed joy ride.
Connecting from every book and the main comic series previously released in Phase Two, Wave One of The High Republic we have major characters from all over coming together and the significant conflicts that accompany them all, adding incredible depth and weight to what already was a complicated situation.
Having Jedha as the backdrop of the story just adds flavor and epicness to the story. Getting to visit this mythical planet, of which we have only seen its ruins, was nothing but a lot of fun.
Carrying the political drama and ideological/thematic elements that were first introduced and explored in Convergence plus the civil unrest and dreadful presence explored in Path of Deceit this installment was fated to be nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.
The discussions of peace and war were all deeply interesting and so nuanced that they hit hard every time. It is a fascinating topic handled with care and expanded upon enough for it to become the core and heart of the story naturally.
While there was a great deal more fighting and general mayhem than I would usually assign a political thriller, thus disqualifying it from the genre, it comes close enough to rub that particular itch.
On the other hand, the continued discussion happening around the different views about the Force and how each individual interprets it was gripping and fun. It is not a theme often explored in the Star Wars universe; and so, full of potential.
The action was nothing if not hair-raising and quite simply fun.
Having so many different cogs moving, the situation was a powder keg ready to explode, and when it detonated it was messy and devastating.
Riddled with mystery, the fighting, while impressive and overwhelming, became a backdrop for scheming and subterfuge at every corner.
It became quite impossible to put the book down once everything started happening.
Of course, without good characters, none of these would have mattered half as much, so getting to see some of my old favorites, and getting mentions of some of the others, was a really good move.
Silantra was, without a doubt, the highlight of them all for me. Without the constraints of a middle grade story her character could really shine in all her coolness and she lived to the potential that had been set up for her. Getting her story intertwined with Keth's was quite a lot of fun and I came to enjoy and appreciate their dynamic very much.
Not all of the characters were upstanding citizens, though, and that is what makes the colorful cast so good. Seeing the established villains, plus the more, for the moment, morally grey characters was the perfect contrast. Sure, it was frustrating at times, but in just the right way. After all, how can the light shine without some darkness?
From beginning to end, there really is no time to stop and take a breath, but it is so worth it to be there.
The Battle of Jedha lived to all the expectations I had of it and surpassed them. Filled with action and difficult decisions that will affect the galaxy for centuries to come, it was truly a treat to bear witness to this little section in time, to the heroic actions of many united in their desire to help those in need, and to the mounting dread of the horrors that lurk in the dark corners when you least expect them.
I do wish we had gotten more of golden-time Jedha in its peak time, however.
_____________
Well, that was way more nerve-wracking than I was expecting... but a ton of fun regardless.
RTC.
_____________
Alright! I'm ready to get back into The High Republic. If the comics are anything to go from, this particular entry will be tons of fun.
I don't expect much, just tons of action and a good view of Jedha in all its glory.
“’ Why does every attempt at peace end in death and ruin?’ ‘Perhaps it’s just the cost of peace. That it’s hard-won. That it hurts because it’s worthwhile. Worth fighting for. Precious.’”
As the title suggests, The Battle of Jedha is a thrilling, action-filled story, yes, it certainly had my blood pumping hard in my chest and my emotions exalted at every turn. However, there was much more depth to it than a simple action-packed joy ride.
Connecting from every book and the main comic series previously released in Phase Two, Wave One of The High Republic we have major characters from all over coming together and the significant conflicts that accompany them all, adding incredible depth and weight to what already was a complicated situation.
Having Jedha as the backdrop of the story just adds flavor and epicness to the story. Getting to visit this mythical planet, of which we have only seen its ruins, was nothing but a lot of fun.
“They usually are [willing to talk and listen to one another]. Once everything else has been stripped away. Once they see what’s really at stake and understand that the people they’re trying to hurt are exactly that – people. Just like them.”
Carrying the political drama and ideological/thematic elements that were first introduced and explored in Convergence plus the civil unrest and dreadful presence explored in Path of Deceit this installment was fated to be nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.
The discussions of peace and war were all deeply interesting and so nuanced that they hit hard every time. It is a fascinating topic handled with care and expanded upon enough for it to become the core and heart of the story naturally.
While there was a great deal more fighting and general mayhem than I would usually assign a political thriller, thus disqualifying it from the genre, it comes close enough to rub that particular itch.
On the other hand, the continued discussion happening around the different views about the Force and how each individual interprets it was gripping and fun. It is not a theme often explored in the Star Wars universe; and so, full of potential.
“Soon the whole of Jedha is going to look like this. A graveyard. The peace treaty is as dead as these poor soldiers.”
The action was nothing if not hair-raising and quite simply fun.
Having so many different cogs moving, the situation was a powder keg ready to explode, and when it detonated it was messy and devastating.
Riddled with mystery, the fighting, while impressive and overwhelming, became a backdrop for scheming and subterfuge at every corner.
It became quite impossible to put the book down once everything started happening.
“I’ve come to tell you a story […] A story that’s full of adventure. Of friendship under pressure. Of a young man trying to do the right thing while even the world seems to be against him.”
Of course, without good characters, none of these would have mattered half as much, so getting to see some of my old favorites, and getting mentions of some of the others, was a really good move.
Silantra was, without a doubt, the highlight of them all for me. Without the constraints of a middle grade story her character could really shine in all her coolness and she lived to the potential that had been set up for her. Getting her story intertwined with Keth's was quite a lot of fun and I came to enjoy and appreciate their dynamic very much.
Not all of the characters were upstanding citizens, though, and that is what makes the colorful cast so good. Seeing the established villains, plus the more, for the moment, morally grey characters was the perfect contrast. Sure, it was frustrating at times, but in just the right way. After all, how can the light shine without some darkness?
“No [we’re not back where we started]. Because we tried. And surely trying and failing is better than not trying at all.”
From beginning to end, there really is no time to stop and take a breath, but it is so worth it to be there.
The Battle of Jedha lived to all the expectations I had of it and surpassed them. Filled with action and difficult decisions that will affect the galaxy for centuries to come, it was truly a treat to bear witness to this little section in time, to the heroic actions of many united in their desire to help those in need, and to the mounting dread of the horrors that lurk in the dark corners when you least expect them.
I do wish we had gotten more of golden-time Jedha in its peak time, however.
“Nothing is still forever. Even the desert sands shift to make the landscape anew.”
_____________
Well, that was way more nerve-wracking than I was expecting... but a ton of fun regardless.
RTC.
_____________
Alright! I'm ready to get back into The High Republic. If the comics are anything to go from, this particular entry will be tons of fun.
I don't expect much, just tons of action and a good view of Jedha in all its glory.
February 26, 2023
The Battle of Jedha marks the present climax of the storyline of the second Phase of The High Republic. Set between Convergence and Cataclysm, it can be regarded as the connective episode of the "main" story - while it should be noted that this Phase of The High Republic, to my personal irritation, does not have a main storyline. However, that is a problem of the Phase as a whole and not to be discussed here.
The given audio drama tries to stand on its own and does so quite well. Sure, reading Convergence beforehand helps, but since the characters from that story only play a marginal role here and the listener is being informed about previous events, its easy catch up. Before the actual battle begins, a countdown helps us get a sense of the time passing between scenes while also raising the tension, a smart addition I really liked.
The highlight of this story is definitely its production value. It feels like producers and writers alike have learned from previous criticism and constructed an audio drama that is easier to follow that anything that came before. The sounds don't overshadow the speakers, actors with distinct voices were cast and charaters were adressed by their names when it was unclear who was speaking. The whole cast did a great job at portraying their roles and it was easy to feel fully immersed in the story. Only during the actual battle did it become a bit hard to follow the action, but it was still a major improvement from previous audio dramas.
I really enjoyed how this audio drama touched on topics like the young generation righting the wrongs of their elders, yet I wish that certain topics such as bringing war to a planet - be it intentional or not - would have been explored a bit more.
The writing of The Battle of Jedha was fast-paced and both humorous and occasionally deep. Star Wars audio dramas seem to have a pattern of not progressing the story much, which is a shame, as they should be given the same relevance as a novel, but the story still offered me a good time and I'd gladly re-experience it once the script arrives. Content-wise, I'm a little disappointed there weren't many connections to the other THR works and that the main characters of the audio drama weren't very complex and didn't go through much progress. Additionally, I'm not sure why Silandra Sho isn't on the cover, as she was the standout character of the story and the one who went through the most emotional journey overall. Still, there were a lot of moments I liked and I particularly enjoy that the writing went meta towards the end. That was a really smart tweak!
In conclusion, I really enjoyed my time with The Battle of Jedha and I'm glad it didn't raise the major character death count the way certain other High Republic works did. I got what I wanted from this audio drama - to have a good time and to have something new to discuss with my friends. Other than the first THR audio drama Tempest Runner, I don't think this story is going to have a lasting impact on me and I am wary of the seeming separation of all of the Phase two works, yet I still got characters to root for and kept wanting to continue the story without taking a break - which proves what a fun time it was despite its shortcomings.
For spoiler thoughts on the audio drama, head to my Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/patriciabeiten/st...
The given audio drama tries to stand on its own and does so quite well. Sure, reading Convergence beforehand helps, but since the characters from that story only play a marginal role here and the listener is being informed about previous events, its easy catch up. Before the actual battle begins, a countdown helps us get a sense of the time passing between scenes while also raising the tension, a smart addition I really liked.
The highlight of this story is definitely its production value. It feels like producers and writers alike have learned from previous criticism and constructed an audio drama that is easier to follow that anything that came before. The sounds don't overshadow the speakers, actors with distinct voices were cast and charaters were adressed by their names when it was unclear who was speaking. The whole cast did a great job at portraying their roles and it was easy to feel fully immersed in the story. Only during the actual battle did it become a bit hard to follow the action, but it was still a major improvement from previous audio dramas.
I really enjoyed how this audio drama touched on topics like the young generation righting the wrongs of their elders, yet I wish that certain topics such as bringing war to a planet - be it intentional or not - would have been explored a bit more.
The writing of The Battle of Jedha was fast-paced and both humorous and occasionally deep. Star Wars audio dramas seem to have a pattern of not progressing the story much, which is a shame, as they should be given the same relevance as a novel, but the story still offered me a good time and I'd gladly re-experience it once the script arrives. Content-wise, I'm a little disappointed there weren't many connections to the other THR works and that the main characters of the audio drama weren't very complex and didn't go through much progress. Additionally, I'm not sure why Silandra Sho isn't on the cover, as she was the standout character of the story and the one who went through the most emotional journey overall. Still, there were a lot of moments I liked and I particularly enjoy that the writing went meta towards the end. That was a really smart tweak!
In conclusion, I really enjoyed my time with The Battle of Jedha and I'm glad it didn't raise the major character death count the way certain other High Republic works did. I got what I wanted from this audio drama - to have a good time and to have something new to discuss with my friends. Other than the first THR audio drama Tempest Runner, I don't think this story is going to have a lasting impact on me and I am wary of the seeming separation of all of the Phase two works, yet I still got characters to root for and kept wanting to continue the story without taking a break - which proves what a fun time it was despite its shortcomings.
For spoiler thoughts on the audio drama, head to my Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/patriciabeiten/st...
February 21, 2023
The High Republic has been on a real upswing lately. I've enjoyed every book produced in the beginning of Phase II. "The Battle of Jedha" combines the overall stories of the previous YA, adult, and Middle Grade novels and makes one giant crossover event!
The problem of an Audio drama (or a Script in this case) is that it can often feel too short and be missing too much meat of the story. "Dooku: Jedi Lost" suffered this a little bit, and "Doctor Aphra" suffered this a lot. "Tempest Runner", the only other Audio Drama/Script in the High Republic was able to tell a full and complete story without being too long. However, that felt more like a niche story that wasn't required reading for the HR. I would absolutely say that the Battle of Jedha is required reading if you are at all into the High Republic.
There is a substantial cast in this book. However, I thought that George Mann was able to effectively keep them from feeling the same. There is also an element of mystery in the book that keeps the reader interested. It's not the most well produced or sophisticated mystery, but it is entertaining!
Some characters really stood out to me, particularly Silandra Sho and Creighton Sun. They were unique and served as the primary POV characters to drive the story forward. Several minor characters were great, especially some characters from other HR novels. Keth Cerapath and Silandra Sho probably go through the most complex journey characterwise, but all of the characters have great moments of growth and learning.
This book does set things forward, but the next adult novel "Cataclysm" needs to propel this story forward, otherwise this book and future books will feel for naught.
There are some set ups for the future, but mostly this book is about the epic showdown on Jedha. Almost the entire book takes place there. I like the atmosphere it produced, but would have been interested in going outside the main city and into the wild, but it was still entertaining!
Overall, this is a well produced and right length audio drama (script) and the story was engaging and fun. Hope to see more from George Mann and more Scripts in the future...just release them on the same day next time please! 9.0 out of 10!
The problem of an Audio drama (or a Script in this case) is that it can often feel too short and be missing too much meat of the story. "Dooku: Jedi Lost" suffered this a little bit, and "Doctor Aphra" suffered this a lot. "Tempest Runner", the only other Audio Drama/Script in the High Republic was able to tell a full and complete story without being too long. However, that felt more like a niche story that wasn't required reading for the HR. I would absolutely say that the Battle of Jedha is required reading if you are at all into the High Republic.
There is a substantial cast in this book. However, I thought that George Mann was able to effectively keep them from feeling the same. There is also an element of mystery in the book that keeps the reader interested. It's not the most well produced or sophisticated mystery, but it is entertaining!
Some characters really stood out to me, particularly Silandra Sho and Creighton Sun. They were unique and served as the primary POV characters to drive the story forward. Several minor characters were great, especially some characters from other HR novels. Keth Cerapath and Silandra Sho probably go through the most complex journey characterwise, but all of the characters have great moments of growth and learning.
This book does set things forward, but the next adult novel "Cataclysm" needs to propel this story forward, otherwise this book and future books will feel for naught.
There are some set ups for the future, but mostly this book is about the epic showdown on Jedha. Almost the entire book takes place there. I like the atmosphere it produced, but would have been interested in going outside the main city and into the wild, but it was still entertaining!
Overall, this is a well produced and right length audio drama (script) and the story was engaging and fun. Hope to see more from George Mann and more Scripts in the future...just release them on the same day next time please! 9.0 out of 10!
April 24, 2023
Flashes of brilliance scattered amidst a whole lot of exposition and hue and cry. I'd sign up for a limited animated series following the intergalactic shield-slinging adventures of Silandra Sho, though.
Just Call Her Captain Coruscant.
Just Call Her Captain Coruscant.
April 8, 2023
I love Creighton played by Charlie Cox
April 26, 2023
4.5 Stars Rounded Up:
Um. Wow. This was a lot. I was at the edge of my seat nearly the whole time and could not put this down. I’m still processing it, but here goes.
George Mann has made a war mentioned and shown in Path of Deceit, Quest for the Hidden City, and Convergence feel more real than it ever has, even if the battle ground is worlds away. This script was full to the brim with memorable and interesting characters that popped right out of the script. Silandra Sho and Creighton Sun both had depth I’d never noticed, the Path of the open hands continues to be menacing awful, particularly with the leveler, and new characters like Keth, Mesoon, the Enlightenment Bar crew, and even the Brothers of the Ninth Door were important to the story and made Jedha feel lived in. Sure, there was a speech that walked the line between inspirational and cheesy but what is Star Wars without one of those?
In terms of Star Wars audio dramas, this one seems to me to be the one with the most significant and engaging plot, the most well-developed characters (Characters plural and yes am looking at you Dooku and Aphra and Tempest Runner), and I just feel so happy having read this one, and I think it might rank as one of my top High Republic releases, in addition to Path of Deceit, Midnight Horizon, Rising Storm, Fallen Star, and Out of the Dark.
Audio drama update: The audio drama, after giving it a listen, was just as good, and at some points better than the script, just by virtue of being brought to life. While I didn’t care for the voice of Gella Natai, the standouts were Catherine Ho as Silandra Sho, Raphael Corkhill as Creighton Sun, and January LaVoy as the Mother
Um. Wow. This was a lot. I was at the edge of my seat nearly the whole time and could not put this down. I’m still processing it, but here goes.
George Mann has made a war mentioned and shown in Path of Deceit, Quest for the Hidden City, and Convergence feel more real than it ever has, even if the battle ground is worlds away. This script was full to the brim with memorable and interesting characters that popped right out of the script. Silandra Sho and Creighton Sun both had depth I’d never noticed, the Path of the open hands continues to be menacing awful, particularly with the leveler, and new characters like Keth, Mesoon, the Enlightenment Bar crew, and even the Brothers of the Ninth Door were important to the story and made Jedha feel lived in. Sure, there was a speech that walked the line between inspirational and cheesy but what is Star Wars without one of those?
In terms of Star Wars audio dramas, this one seems to me to be the one with the most significant and engaging plot, the most well-developed characters (Characters plural and yes am looking at you Dooku and Aphra and Tempest Runner), and I just feel so happy having read this one, and I think it might rank as one of my top High Republic releases, in addition to Path of Deceit, Midnight Horizon, Rising Storm, Fallen Star, and Out of the Dark.
Audio drama update: The audio drama, after giving it a listen, was just as good, and at some points better than the script, just by virtue of being brought to life. While I didn’t care for the voice of Gella Natai, the standouts were Catherine Ho as Silandra Sho, Raphael Corkhill as Creighton Sun, and January LaVoy as the Mother
September 26, 2023
Stronger than the last few books for this phase.
March 11, 2023
High Republic Phase 2 keeps delivering and Battle of Jedha is another great entry.
I read the scriptbook for this one as I'm not a huge fan of audiobooks and I am finding the format quite enjoyable. It's not as "meaty/heavy" as a normal book but it works well as a more faster paced, dialoge driven format with minimal descripts on atmosphere, actions and sound effects.
The story itself is a direct sequel to Convergence, so unlike the Phase 1 audiobook(which was more a prequel/sidestory that could be skipped) this is required to read/listen to if you want to keep up on overarching storylines. And I found it fun and engaging, and it was actually very interesting so I kept on reading. Most of the characters are from previous books with some new interesting ones added in.
Overall I am enjoying the smaller scaled, more intimate story they are telling so far in Phase 2 and I'm excited to see where they take it from here.
I read the scriptbook for this one as I'm not a huge fan of audiobooks and I am finding the format quite enjoyable. It's not as "meaty/heavy" as a normal book but it works well as a more faster paced, dialoge driven format with minimal descripts on atmosphere, actions and sound effects.
The story itself is a direct sequel to Convergence, so unlike the Phase 1 audiobook(which was more a prequel/sidestory that could be skipped) this is required to read/listen to if you want to keep up on overarching storylines. And I found it fun and engaging, and it was actually very interesting so I kept on reading. Most of the characters are from previous books with some new interesting ones added in.
Overall I am enjoying the smaller scaled, more intimate story they are telling so far in Phase 2 and I'm excited to see where they take it from here.
January 11, 2023
I had really hoped that this was going to be the Phase Two entry that pulled the whole thing together, and really make me enjoy it.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I also did not like this story.
I didn't really care about any of the Jedi, and the actual conflict of the story is derived from just nonsensical decision making and desperate attempts to undo the plot progression of previous books, because this is a prequel and the story has to be at a certain point by Phase One.
At this point, I'm less excited for more Phase Two, and more just wanting it to be over so we can get back to the characters from the first phase. I'm still somewhat interested in seeing where a few storylines go, but the resolutions to other storylines in this book gives me little faith that they'll be executed in a way that I like.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I also did not like this story.
I didn't really care about any of the Jedi, and the actual conflict of the story is derived from just nonsensical decision making and desperate attempts to undo the plot progression of previous books, because this is a prequel and the story has to be at a certain point by Phase One.
At this point, I'm less excited for more Phase Two, and more just wanting it to be over so we can get back to the characters from the first phase. I'm still somewhat interested in seeing where a few storylines go, but the resolutions to other storylines in this book gives me little faith that they'll be executed in a way that I like.
January 19, 2023
The Battle of Jedha introduces a largely brand-new cast of characters as it tells the story of the peace treaty signing between Eiram and E'ronoh on Jedha. The audio drama was well produced with great performances from all of the narrators.
This is the first Star Wars audio drama that didn't have at least one major character I was familiar with to anchor it, which definitely made the listen a bit more confusing for me. (If only I'd read Quest for the Hidden City before this so I had known Silandra Sho!) Once I got into the swing of things, the look at Jedha during a time of growing discontent was really interesting and paired well with the phase 2 High Republic Marvel comics.
I did find some of the dialogue much more awkward than in other SW audio dramas, which could be a bit distracting from the story.
This is the first Star Wars audio drama that didn't have at least one major character I was familiar with to anchor it, which definitely made the listen a bit more confusing for me. (If only I'd read Quest for the Hidden City before this so I had known Silandra Sho!) Once I got into the swing of things, the look at Jedha during a time of growing discontent was really interesting and paired well with the phase 2 High Republic Marvel comics.
I did find some of the dialogue much more awkward than in other SW audio dramas, which could be a bit distracting from the story.
February 5, 2025
Extremely atmospheric sound and acting makes you feel part of the story.
January 24, 2023
If George Mann has promised us anything regarding his latest work, The Battle Of Jedha, it would be excitement and, well, a battle. The audio drama brings the first three books of The High Republic’s Phase 2 together and guarantees a lot of conflict.
On one hand, we have the Path of the Open hand with their leader, The Mother, wanting to set the Force free and being ready to sacrifice lives to do so. On the other, we have the fragile peace of Eiram and E’ronoh. Master Creighton Sun and Jedi-Knight Aida Forte take to Jedha to oversee the signing of a peace treaty that’s hanging by a thread because not everyone is ready to forgive the war-driven planets. As expected, things go south very soon with assassination attempts and attacks on the ambassadors of both planets causing chaos.
The conflict begins long before the dooming countdown “Time until the Battle begins” reaches zero. Bombs are being planted, mediator Tilson Graf gets killed and the ambassadors of Eiram and E’ronoh survive several assassination attempts.
The voice acting in this production is great. We experience the characters’ emotions and thoughts through their voices and the music without a narrator being necessary. The scenes are guided by background noise - the market has haggling dealers, a soft choir underlies the Church of the Force and even the mysterious and deadly Nameless gets its own growl.
However, audio dramas like this have one disadvantage - they need to tell and can’t show. This especially makes the heat of the battle quite messy.
The fights are a mixture of grunts, moans and bystanders giving you somewhat of an idea of what is going on (“How is she moving her shield like that?”). I struggled a lot with picturing what was going on, especially compared to how easy it is for me when I am reading books.
The end ties up all loose ends the story has drawn and sets us up for more chaos in the future. The Path of the Open Hand retreats back to Dalna and Master Creighton Sun and Aida Forte are set to follow. The Herald has been taken into custody. Eiram and E’ronoh’s war is closer to outbreak than ever.
The Battle Of Jedha has a runtime of well over 5 hours. While it is packed with action and twists, the story itself takes a while to take off. The main reason for this is the many characters we meet as they arrive on Jedha. It reminded me of the beginning of Light of the Jedi (by Charles Soule).
The long introduction is necessary to set up the story and help us make sense of why the different stories all tie together on Jedha. And since the characters are all well written, I do not mind spending time to learn more about them while the story picks up.
The audio drama is also proof that, while The High Republic is advertised by the slogan “You don’t need to read everything”, you do lose a lot of the story if you don’t. I am glad I decided to read Quest of the Hidden City (by George Mann) before listening to it, and you would probably need to listen to The Battle of Jedha to get the full picture of Silandra Sho - but more on her later.
As is known, Cavan Scott’s High Republic comic is set on Jedha, too. This gives us a The Fallen Star-like opportunity to mix the stories together. Yet, the authors chose not to do this.
While it doesn’t bug me that we don’t see Vildar and Creighton enjoying a cup of tea together - I didn’t enjoy the way they handled crossovers in Phase 1 - it also makes Jedha feel small and empty. This is mostly due to the fact that we do not see any other Jedi.
The city is a popular destination among pilgrims and even Jedi come here to reflect and meditate. Yet, Silandra, Creighton and Aida seem to be the only ones present until the very end. I don’t think the story needed a big crossover with the comics, as it does a great job binding the books together, but a side note a’la “I tried to reach Master Leebon, but the comms are still down” would have made the story more realistic and connected. I doubt a highly respected Master like Creighton Sun would simply forget about his brothers and sisters in the Force. Especially since the Jedi are to remain neutral throughout the battle.
What we do get are some of the side characters of the comics. The Enlightenment, run by Kradon Minst, is the setting we meet Keth in. Keth Cerepath is a citizen of Jedha we meet as a regular guest at the bar. He is a young, loveable, if messy young man trying to make it in the ranks of the Church of the Force while longing for adventure. His companion is the droid P3-7A, which can only express itself in the Star Wars equivalent of bible verses. Starting out as a suspect, Keth soon finds himself on a Trail of Shadow-like mystery with Silandra Sho.
George Mann does a fantastic job in bringing the characters of the previous books together. We get a glimpse of Gella, learn that she is still in contact with Axel Greylark, trying to discover his motives and possible co-conspirators. We hear Marda talk about Kevmo and how his death is the Force seeking balance. And of course there is Silandra Sho, the only Jedi carrying a shield.
The Jedi-Master truly shines throughout the story. Her friendly banter with Creighton does add to his character as much as it does to hers. She was already a star in Quest for the Hidden City, being the Master of main character Rooper Nitani. In The Battle of Jedha, we see her in a different role. She travels to Jedha after a mission gone wrong and aims to center herself there. That plan is quickly abandoned when Creighton comes to ask her for help. They go their separate ways and we then follow Silandra around Jedha as she teams up with Keth.
The second part of the story centers around Creighton Sun. His characters gets a lot of depth. Introduced as a minor character in Convergence (by Zoraida Còrdova), we soon learn that he is not as confident and cold as he seems at first. He has a brilliant sense of humor, is burdened with self-doubt and quite awkward when the flirty ambassador of Eiram talks to him.
I loved learning about his friendship with Silandra. They seem to have known each other since they were children, starting their path as Padawans together.
Where Creighton wins in terms of development and depth, Aida Forte falls short. I’d almost argue her spot as a main character here. Oftentimes we see her and Creighton split up, follow the latter and meet back with Aida only to hear a brief recap of what she has been up to. Their development was unbalanced and I do hope we get to see more of Aida in the coming books. For me, Silandra was a clear main character besides Creighton.
All in all, George Mann was able to tell a great story. He elevated the Path from being a rebellious group to a threat, which might not be as deadly as the Nihil they will become, but a threat nonetheless. He showed that their strength not only lies in the monster made weapon against the Jedi but also in them being able to pull people onto their side.
While we get a lot of action, The Battle of Jedha has its soft moments too. Jedi teasing each other, Marda taking care of the Littles and, my favorite, Silandra sitting down in the Enlightenment to tell Keth’s story.
The Battle of Jedha is a thrilling conclusion to the first Wave of The High Republic’s Phase 2.
I am very excited to revisit the story and characters once the script to the audio drama releases in February.
I give The Battle of Jedha by George Mann 4/5 stars.
On one hand, we have the Path of the Open hand with their leader, The Mother, wanting to set the Force free and being ready to sacrifice lives to do so. On the other, we have the fragile peace of Eiram and E’ronoh. Master Creighton Sun and Jedi-Knight Aida Forte take to Jedha to oversee the signing of a peace treaty that’s hanging by a thread because not everyone is ready to forgive the war-driven planets. As expected, things go south very soon with assassination attempts and attacks on the ambassadors of both planets causing chaos.
The conflict begins long before the dooming countdown “Time until the Battle begins” reaches zero. Bombs are being planted, mediator Tilson Graf gets killed and the ambassadors of Eiram and E’ronoh survive several assassination attempts.
The voice acting in this production is great. We experience the characters’ emotions and thoughts through their voices and the music without a narrator being necessary. The scenes are guided by background noise - the market has haggling dealers, a soft choir underlies the Church of the Force and even the mysterious and deadly Nameless gets its own growl.
However, audio dramas like this have one disadvantage - they need to tell and can’t show. This especially makes the heat of the battle quite messy.
The fights are a mixture of grunts, moans and bystanders giving you somewhat of an idea of what is going on (“How is she moving her shield like that?”). I struggled a lot with picturing what was going on, especially compared to how easy it is for me when I am reading books.
The end ties up all loose ends the story has drawn and sets us up for more chaos in the future. The Path of the Open Hand retreats back to Dalna and Master Creighton Sun and Aida Forte are set to follow. The Herald has been taken into custody. Eiram and E’ronoh’s war is closer to outbreak than ever.
The Battle Of Jedha has a runtime of well over 5 hours. While it is packed with action and twists, the story itself takes a while to take off. The main reason for this is the many characters we meet as they arrive on Jedha. It reminded me of the beginning of Light of the Jedi (by Charles Soule).
The long introduction is necessary to set up the story and help us make sense of why the different stories all tie together on Jedha. And since the characters are all well written, I do not mind spending time to learn more about them while the story picks up.
The audio drama is also proof that, while The High Republic is advertised by the slogan “You don’t need to read everything”, you do lose a lot of the story if you don’t. I am glad I decided to read Quest of the Hidden City (by George Mann) before listening to it, and you would probably need to listen to The Battle of Jedha to get the full picture of Silandra Sho - but more on her later.
As is known, Cavan Scott’s High Republic comic is set on Jedha, too. This gives us a The Fallen Star-like opportunity to mix the stories together. Yet, the authors chose not to do this.
While it doesn’t bug me that we don’t see Vildar and Creighton enjoying a cup of tea together - I didn’t enjoy the way they handled crossovers in Phase 1 - it also makes Jedha feel small and empty. This is mostly due to the fact that we do not see any other Jedi.
The city is a popular destination among pilgrims and even Jedi come here to reflect and meditate. Yet, Silandra, Creighton and Aida seem to be the only ones present until the very end. I don’t think the story needed a big crossover with the comics, as it does a great job binding the books together, but a side note a’la “I tried to reach Master Leebon, but the comms are still down” would have made the story more realistic and connected. I doubt a highly respected Master like Creighton Sun would simply forget about his brothers and sisters in the Force. Especially since the Jedi are to remain neutral throughout the battle.
What we do get are some of the side characters of the comics. The Enlightenment, run by Kradon Minst, is the setting we meet Keth in. Keth Cerepath is a citizen of Jedha we meet as a regular guest at the bar. He is a young, loveable, if messy young man trying to make it in the ranks of the Church of the Force while longing for adventure. His companion is the droid P3-7A, which can only express itself in the Star Wars equivalent of bible verses. Starting out as a suspect, Keth soon finds himself on a Trail of Shadow-like mystery with Silandra Sho.
George Mann does a fantastic job in bringing the characters of the previous books together. We get a glimpse of Gella, learn that she is still in contact with Axel Greylark, trying to discover his motives and possible co-conspirators. We hear Marda talk about Kevmo and how his death is the Force seeking balance. And of course there is Silandra Sho, the only Jedi carrying a shield.
The Jedi-Master truly shines throughout the story. Her friendly banter with Creighton does add to his character as much as it does to hers. She was already a star in Quest for the Hidden City, being the Master of main character Rooper Nitani. In The Battle of Jedha, we see her in a different role. She travels to Jedha after a mission gone wrong and aims to center herself there. That plan is quickly abandoned when Creighton comes to ask her for help. They go their separate ways and we then follow Silandra around Jedha as she teams up with Keth.
The second part of the story centers around Creighton Sun. His characters gets a lot of depth. Introduced as a minor character in Convergence (by Zoraida Còrdova), we soon learn that he is not as confident and cold as he seems at first. He has a brilliant sense of humor, is burdened with self-doubt and quite awkward when the flirty ambassador of Eiram talks to him.
I loved learning about his friendship with Silandra. They seem to have known each other since they were children, starting their path as Padawans together.
Where Creighton wins in terms of development and depth, Aida Forte falls short. I’d almost argue her spot as a main character here. Oftentimes we see her and Creighton split up, follow the latter and meet back with Aida only to hear a brief recap of what she has been up to. Their development was unbalanced and I do hope we get to see more of Aida in the coming books. For me, Silandra was a clear main character besides Creighton.
All in all, George Mann was able to tell a great story. He elevated the Path from being a rebellious group to a threat, which might not be as deadly as the Nihil they will become, but a threat nonetheless. He showed that their strength not only lies in the monster made weapon against the Jedi but also in them being able to pull people onto their side.
While we get a lot of action, The Battle of Jedha has its soft moments too. Jedi teasing each other, Marda taking care of the Littles and, my favorite, Silandra sitting down in the Enlightenment to tell Keth’s story.
The Battle of Jedha is a thrilling conclusion to the first Wave of The High Republic’s Phase 2.
I am very excited to revisit the story and characters once the script to the audio drama releases in February.
I give The Battle of Jedha by George Mann 4/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
the audio drama went hard ngl, kinda want all my audiobooks like this now
April 20, 2025
took a month long break halfway through this so... kinda hard to judge. its okay.
January 4, 2023
CAWPILE: 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | Total: 7.86 / 4 stars
January 5, 2023
Started listening to this yesterday and finished listening today. It really captured my attention and had excellent voice acting and sound effects as have all the other Star Wars audio dramas I've listened to. Of the Star Wars audio dramas I've listened to, this has become my favorite, and it also rivals Path of Deceit for my favorite entry in the High Republic Phase II era. I've really enjoyed both George Mann's contributions in Phase II of the High Republic era and hope he gets the opportunity to create more stories in the High Republic time period as I suspect I would be a fan of them.
I really enjoyed seeing the payoff of various characters we met in the other Phase II entries converging on Jedha as I had predicted that they would. I also found the different Force sects fascinating and appreciated the sprinklings of Force lore we got throughout the story. The setting of Jedha is just a really compelling one, and I'm glad that we got to explore it more in this audio drama.
I also enjoyed the continued development of the politics of this era in galactic history and the chance to focus on Silandra Sho was wonderful. She has fast become one of my favorite High Republic Jedi.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say that I wish that Creighton Sun and the Enlightenment barkeeper didn't have names that sounded so similar (though it did help they had radically different voice actors), and I do agree that the Tilson Graff plot line did feel very similar to the Axel Greylark one from earlier in Phase II.
Overall verdict: 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommended for all High Republic fans and fans of Star Wars audio dramas!
I really enjoyed seeing the payoff of various characters we met in the other Phase II entries converging on Jedha as I had predicted that they would. I also found the different Force sects fascinating and appreciated the sprinklings of Force lore we got throughout the story. The setting of Jedha is just a really compelling one, and I'm glad that we got to explore it more in this audio drama.
I also enjoyed the continued development of the politics of this era in galactic history and the chance to focus on Silandra Sho was wonderful. She has fast become one of my favorite High Republic Jedi.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say that I wish that Creighton Sun and the Enlightenment barkeeper didn't have names that sounded so similar (though it did help they had radically different voice actors), and I do agree that the Tilson Graff plot line did feel very similar to the Axel Greylark one from earlier in Phase II.
Overall verdict: 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommended for all High Republic fans and fans of Star Wars audio dramas!
March 12, 2023
Go to @admiralreads on Instagram for my full review!!!
I really enjoyed this book! This was the first time with phase 2 where I felt like all the stories were coming together. It was wonderfully heartbreaking and the more I think about it the more I appreciate the plot. Keth was an amazing addition to the cast of characters. I loved his friendship with Silandra and I wish we got to see more of it.
I really enjoyed this book! This was the first time with phase 2 where I felt like all the stories were coming together. It was wonderfully heartbreaking and the more I think about it the more I appreciate the plot. Keth was an amazing addition to the cast of characters. I loved his friendship with Silandra and I wish we got to see more of it.
August 22, 2023
Good characters, story and lots of action.
November 28, 2023
I don't know if it was the story that was uninteresting, or if I just struggle with the audio drama format, because I found this whole thing to be very meh.
September 11, 2024
In this part of the High Republic Phase 2 story, the incredible naivety and poor planning of the Jedi and the Republic bring disaster to Jedha, a neutral planet that had nothing to do with the conflict between Eiram and E'ronoh. In previous books, we learned about those two planets and their five-year-long "forever war." Royals from each planet married in a gesture that no one in their right mind could believe was going to lead to real peace. And then, to add to the absurdity of the situation, the signing of the peace treaty didn't happen right after the cease-fire, but some time later, and not on either of the planets involved (or, as would seem to have made some sense, on the moon situated between them), but on some other planet (Jedha)—and the prince and princess couldn't be bothered to attend the signing themselves, so they sent ambassadors to take care of it. None of this makes sense to me. The ambassadors arrive at Jedha with troop transports full of soldiers and ordnance, and only the Jedi, dim-witted as they typically are, could be surprised when, a few days later, all-out war breaks out on the planet.
All of this, of course, has been manipulated by the mustache-twirling melodramatic villains, the Path of the Open Hand. It's hard to believe that their goal in encouraging war between Eiram and E'ronoh was to discredit the Jedi, but that seems to be the case. The timeline of Phase 2 feels awkward—when we first encounter the Path, they seem to be a fringe cult with a small handful of members who visit planets to proselytize residents and steal stuff. They had just barely set out in their new spaceship to travel the galaxy as a community. And now in The Battle of Jedha, they've established themselves on Jedha and seem to be well-known by everyone, as if they've been a religion for a long time. I don't know how this fits together.
Despite the ridiculousness of the main plot, and despite the fact that the "show, don't tell" dictum finds no place in the cliched writing, the book actually includes a few intriguing scenes. I liked a couple of the conversations between the Mother and the Jedi, as it hints at how someone could logically argue against the Jedi cult. The way members of the Path stoke the fires of discontent and revenge amongst the inhabitants of Jedha, and the way they can turn all that against the Jedi felt realistic (though, to be fair, the Jedi always seem really shady, so casting suspicions on them is hardly the most challenging end to accomplish). I also enjoyed the fate of Keth, and how we see his example become the kind of story he longed to be part of.
The best part of the book is Keth's kitbashed ceremonial droid, P-3. A droid that can only speak in proverbs and platitudes—that was a brilliant idea in a galaxy that has become crowded with a few types of droids. I only wish that the first part of the story hadn't thrown such suspicion on P-3 for involvement in a bombing, because I felt for a long time after that that the droid did have something to do with it. I would have enjoyed P-3's moments more if I'd realized that it's supposed to be a likeable character and we're not supposed to doubt it. I doubt that droid will show up again, and I wished at the end that it had gone off with a character more likely to be recurring.
The Jedha story was told across a few graphic novels, in addition to this audio drama. I wish the High Republic would just tell a continuous story in one book, rather than dividing everything over so many other books. It's a difficult way to engage with a story, and I think this one would have been much improved by being brought together as one volume in one medium.
I know the Eiram and E'ronoh plot is not yet resolved, but I wouldn't mind if the series drops it entirely at this point and moves on to something else. How can two planets in a five-year war on the outskirts of the galaxy matter to anyone else? It's unbelievable how many times a character in this story affirms that the signing of the peace treaty will be a "momentous" occasion; I feel like the word "momentous" is spoken fifty times. So many books into this series, I feel no investment or interest in this primary plot point. The obvious resonances with the prequel trilogy don't add much except frequently reminding me of how such-and-such a scene is just like something in the prequels. The Acolyte did all of this really well; these books, on the other hand, limp along, occasionally hinting at ways they might be much more intriguing.
All of this, of course, has been manipulated by the mustache-twirling melodramatic villains, the Path of the Open Hand. It's hard to believe that their goal in encouraging war between Eiram and E'ronoh was to discredit the Jedi, but that seems to be the case. The timeline of Phase 2 feels awkward—when we first encounter the Path, they seem to be a fringe cult with a small handful of members who visit planets to proselytize residents and steal stuff. They had just barely set out in their new spaceship to travel the galaxy as a community. And now in The Battle of Jedha, they've established themselves on Jedha and seem to be well-known by everyone, as if they've been a religion for a long time. I don't know how this fits together.
Despite the ridiculousness of the main plot, and despite the fact that the "show, don't tell" dictum finds no place in the cliched writing, the book actually includes a few intriguing scenes. I liked a couple of the conversations between the Mother and the Jedi, as it hints at how someone could logically argue against the Jedi cult. The way members of the Path stoke the fires of discontent and revenge amongst the inhabitants of Jedha, and the way they can turn all that against the Jedi felt realistic (though, to be fair, the Jedi always seem really shady, so casting suspicions on them is hardly the most challenging end to accomplish). I also enjoyed the fate of Keth, and how we see his example become the kind of story he longed to be part of.
The best part of the book is Keth's kitbashed ceremonial droid, P-3. A droid that can only speak in proverbs and platitudes—that was a brilliant idea in a galaxy that has become crowded with a few types of droids. I only wish that the first part of the story hadn't thrown such suspicion on P-3 for involvement in a bombing, because I felt for a long time after that that the droid did have something to do with it. I would have enjoyed P-3's moments more if I'd realized that it's supposed to be a likeable character and we're not supposed to doubt it. I doubt that droid will show up again, and I wished at the end that it had gone off with a character more likely to be recurring.
The Jedha story was told across a few graphic novels, in addition to this audio drama. I wish the High Republic would just tell a continuous story in one book, rather than dividing everything over so many other books. It's a difficult way to engage with a story, and I think this one would have been much improved by being brought together as one volume in one medium.
I know the Eiram and E'ronoh plot is not yet resolved, but I wouldn't mind if the series drops it entirely at this point and moves on to something else. How can two planets in a five-year war on the outskirts of the galaxy matter to anyone else? It's unbelievable how many times a character in this story affirms that the signing of the peace treaty will be a "momentous" occasion; I feel like the word "momentous" is spoken fifty times. So many books into this series, I feel no investment or interest in this primary plot point. The obvious resonances with the prequel trilogy don't add much except frequently reminding me of how such-and-such a scene is just like something in the prequels. The Acolyte did all of this really well; these books, on the other hand, limp along, occasionally hinting at ways they might be much more intriguing.
January 6, 2024
This book is what I needed to get back into Star Wars.
Path of Deceit, currently my second favorite High Republic novel, had me so excited to dive into phase 2.
However, Quest for the Hidden City and Convergence didn’t hold up in comparison. While being thrilling novels, the plots were all over the place.
Battle of Jedha did a phenomenal job tying all three books together and setting a clear path for how phase 2 is going to move forward. The results from the Mother completing the Gaze Electric in POD, the character growth of Silandra and her shield from QFTHC, and the follow up to the Eiram and E'ronoh conflict.
Light of the Jedi was so detailed that the following stories of Phase I fleshed out the galaxy-wide story and pushed the story rapidly on a pretty linear path. Phase II doesn't need to be an exact copy of that and instead simply needed The Battle of Jedha to serve as the foundation for Phase II.
This is a Star Wars novel, so of course everything went bad! The build up to the literal battle of Jedha was executed through a “count down until battle begins: X hours,” which was very thrilling. I mean, the prelude to the novel started with a glimpse at the battle. This is very similar to how Light of the Jedi started and it left me just as excited. The book also went into great detail explaining politics of Star Wars, which is always a thrill to read!
This book made many callouts and further connects to phase 1. It was great to see more Graf and San Tekka conflict as I had grown attached to the conflicts of the clans in phase 1. It was also great seeing Jedha before seeing the “fallout” version of it in Rogue One. It was awesome seeing the small callout to Rogue One (The Protector Statue falling) and it was awesome to see the Guardians of the Whills before yet again, seeing them in Rogue One.
I loved the characters in this book. Silandra, Creighton, and P3 really stood out to me. I know that people complain that Creighton was whiny and all, but I think it really shows that even Jedi Masters can lose their cool in the heat of battle. It shows that he too is human, and not a mystical entity that so many people make the Jedi out to be. And as for Silandra? Great character, I wasn’t expecting her to be such a lead considering she wasn’t on the front cover, nor was I expecting QFTHC to be referenced, but it was very refreshing to follow a well known character. P3 was also great. I really liked the idea of a droid who is just a collection of parts. It was also hilarious seeing him only able to speak in force metaphors. This book did a really great job of taking the character growth, especially the Path of the Open Hand members, and showing that they’re still the same characters. Often times in media the author will switch and characters seem different. George Mann is so awesome and the cast felt the same as the last time we had seen them. George Mann took 3 beautifully crafted stories, and carried on the themes and growth previous authors created.
I really look forward to what the future of what phase 2 holds. Creighton going to Dalna as well as the Path of the Open Hand retreating to Dalna has me really excited. I’m excited to see Axel, my love <3, again as well as Gella’s story of being a Wayseeker that Mann teased throughout the novel. And don’t even get me started on how excited I am to see the nameless again.
This book was a great read, and has left me feeling super excited for phase 2 and eventually getting to phase 3.
tldr: Creighton Sun is a dilf
Path of Deceit, currently my second favorite High Republic novel, had me so excited to dive into phase 2.
However, Quest for the Hidden City and Convergence didn’t hold up in comparison. While being thrilling novels, the plots were all over the place.
Battle of Jedha did a phenomenal job tying all three books together and setting a clear path for how phase 2 is going to move forward. The results from the Mother completing the Gaze Electric in POD, the character growth of Silandra and her shield from QFTHC, and the follow up to the Eiram and E'ronoh conflict.
Light of the Jedi was so detailed that the following stories of Phase I fleshed out the galaxy-wide story and pushed the story rapidly on a pretty linear path. Phase II doesn't need to be an exact copy of that and instead simply needed The Battle of Jedha to serve as the foundation for Phase II.
This is a Star Wars novel, so of course everything went bad! The build up to the literal battle of Jedha was executed through a “count down until battle begins: X hours,” which was very thrilling. I mean, the prelude to the novel started with a glimpse at the battle. This is very similar to how Light of the Jedi started and it left me just as excited. The book also went into great detail explaining politics of Star Wars, which is always a thrill to read!
This book made many callouts and further connects to phase 1. It was great to see more Graf and San Tekka conflict as I had grown attached to the conflicts of the clans in phase 1. It was also great seeing Jedha before seeing the “fallout” version of it in Rogue One. It was awesome seeing the small callout to Rogue One (The Protector Statue falling) and it was awesome to see the Guardians of the Whills before yet again, seeing them in Rogue One.
I loved the characters in this book. Silandra, Creighton, and P3 really stood out to me. I know that people complain that Creighton was whiny and all, but I think it really shows that even Jedi Masters can lose their cool in the heat of battle. It shows that he too is human, and not a mystical entity that so many people make the Jedi out to be. And as for Silandra? Great character, I wasn’t expecting her to be such a lead considering she wasn’t on the front cover, nor was I expecting QFTHC to be referenced, but it was very refreshing to follow a well known character. P3 was also great. I really liked the idea of a droid who is just a collection of parts. It was also hilarious seeing him only able to speak in force metaphors. This book did a really great job of taking the character growth, especially the Path of the Open Hand members, and showing that they’re still the same characters. Often times in media the author will switch and characters seem different. George Mann is so awesome and the cast felt the same as the last time we had seen them. George Mann took 3 beautifully crafted stories, and carried on the themes and growth previous authors created.
I really look forward to what the future of what phase 2 holds. Creighton going to Dalna as well as the Path of the Open Hand retreating to Dalna has me really excited. I’m excited to see Axel, my love <3, again as well as Gella’s story of being a Wayseeker that Mann teased throughout the novel. And don’t even get me started on how excited I am to see the nameless again.
This book was a great read, and has left me feeling super excited for phase 2 and eventually getting to phase 3.
tldr: Creighton Sun is a dilf
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2024
am i super late in writing this review? yes, yes i am. it’s my account, and i make the posts! this was baby’s first full-cast audiobook, and i absolutely loved it. it took me a bit to make sure i had everybody’s names straight, and i think that reading the physical script/book along with it may have helped here (but i did not have the time for that, unfortunately). once i had that down, though, i was fully engaged. this audiobook had me gasping and crying and cackling on my little commutes every day. unfortunately, my distance from it means that i can’t say a ton about it, but i loved the way each character’s journey seemed to intersect with one another, even if only distantly. there was a good mix here of personalities and allegiances, and i liked that we got to see jedha and its culture outside of rogue one, because it feels so much more alive here (for obvious reasons!). the title feels a bit misleading, as the ‘battle’ itself is not really a battle so much as a series of attacks and riots, but nonetheless i was entertained. did i mention the full-cast reading? while i wouldn’t recommend this as an entry point for phase II, i would recommend this as a connecting point for folks who have read convergence or path of deceit before moving on to the sequels for those respective books! i did not do this and i think my reading experience would have been better if i did.
this review is also available on instagram here!
this review is also available on instagram here!
April 18, 2025
I came away disappointed from this reading - this is the script, not the audio drama.
To start with, this constant interconnection of formats - books, comics, dramas - makes has gotten old already. Following the chronology and interconnections becomes more of a - tedious - chase than a fun game and most extra-bits - i.e. not actual books -are not so important.
In the end this is just a piece of the battle of Jedha and not a true narrative of the events as a whole.
And personally, reading it in script format was rather painful. I'd have thought it would be like the plays they made us read in secondary school, only better. But in fact, not so much.
To start with, this constant interconnection of formats - books, comics, dramas - makes has gotten old already. Following the chronology and interconnections becomes more of a - tedious - chase than a fun game and most extra-bits - i.e. not actual books -are not so important.
In the end this is just a piece of the battle of Jedha and not a true narrative of the events as a whole.
And personally, reading it in script format was rather painful. I'd have thought it would be like the plays they made us read in secondary school, only better. But in fact, not so much.
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