Book Review: Tales of Light and Life
While there might technically currently be a lull between Phases of Star Wars: The High Republic, that doesn’t mean we have to go completely without in the lead-up to Phase 3. With the release of the new Young Adult anthology, Tales of Light and Life, a series of mini-adventures and slice of life stories set across Phase 1 and 2, fans can catch up with old favorites, say goodbye to others, and generally enjoy a medium in which Star Wars storytelling really thrives.
With the main overall plots of Phase 1 and 2 being so action heavy, with a lot of moving pieces and characters to check in with, it doesn’t leave a ton of time for the smaller character beats — backstory, one-off adventures, time for characters to really feel their feelings. This is where Tales of Light and Life truly thrives. I’ve long maintained that every part of The High Republic’s story matters, and these shorts are no exception. The actual events of the stories are remarkably self-contained, but the time they give us with the characters, and the increased understanding of who they are, is the real heart of the book. Without spoiling anything, here’s a quick round-up:
Zoraida Córdova’s “The Queen’s Bloom” gives those of us already missing that rake with a heart of gold, Axel Greylark, a sweet, exciting prequel story that sets up how he became who we come to know in Convergence. This was what I wanted from the core four characters in Phase 2’s adult books. Who are they when removed from the larger issues at play, when they are arguably their own biggest issue? In this sense, “The Queen’s Bloom” delivered beautifully. It also features a blink-and-you-miss-it moment that I will officially be reading way too much into.
Tessa Gratton’s “A Closed Fist Has No Claws” is perhaps one of the most chilling Star Wars short stories I have ever read, written with a narrative style that intentionally leaves the reader ill-at-ease. Things that should make the reader feel closer to the narrator instead reveal to us how little we actually know.
George Mann’s “Shield of the Jedi” and Daniel José Older’s “The Lonely Traveller Is Home” are both sweet, slice-of-life stories that catch us up with some of The High Republic’s younger characters and act as a sort of reprieve in the chaos. Claudia Gray’s “After the Fall”, Justina Ireland’s “The Force Provides”, Charles Soule’s “All Jedi Walk Their Own Path”, and Cavan Scott’s “Light in the Darkness” are individual reflections of grief centered around characters reeling from the fall of the Starlight Beacon, and their own horrific losses they’ve had to endure in the lead-up to that, setting the stage for where we’ll find them in Phase 3. And finally Lydia Kang’s “The Call of Coruscant” brings new characters into the mix, widening the story and giving us some idea of the new avenues Phase 3 will explore.
I would caution new readers interested in The High Republic when it comes to finding their entry point into the story. While these shorts are a perfect sampling of what’s available, every single one of them contains massive story spoilers for the rest of the books. If that’s not an issue for you, then this is a great place to start. If it is, consider it a treat for when you catch up. As for those looking for small doses of High Republic stories until Phase 3 begins in earnest, Tales of Light and Life is absolutely not one to be missed.
Tales of Light and Life is available on September 5. Special thank you to Disney Books for the advance copy for review purposes.
