Published: November 22, 2022
Publisher: Del Rey
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Cover Artist: Yihyoung Li
Timeline: 382 BBY
Hardback: RRP $28.99/£20.00, ISBN – 978-1529150117, 368 pages
Paperback: RRP $14.99/£9.99, ISBN – 978-1529150131, 368 pages (Due April 6, 2023)
eBook: RRP $17.99/£15.00, ISBN – 780593358641 , 368 pages
Audiobook: RRP $25.00/£20.00, ISBN – 9780593632970, 809 minutes
The synopsis;
It is an age of exploration. Jedi travel the galaxy, expanding their understanding of the Force and all the worlds and beings connected by it. Meanwhile, the Republic, led by its two chancellors, works to unite worlds in an ever-growing community among near and distant stars.
On the close-orbiting planets of Eiram and E’ronoh, the growing pains of a galaxy with limited resources but unlimited ambition are felt keenly. The two worlds’ hatred for each other has fueled half a decade of escalating conflict and now threatens to consume surrounding systems. The last hope for peace emerges when heirs from the planets’ royal families plan to marry.
Before lasting peace can be established, an assassination attempt targeting the couple tilts Eiram and E’ronoh back into all-out war. To save both worlds, Jedi Knight Gella Nattai volunteers to uncover the culprit, while Chancellor Kyong appoints her own son, Axel Greylark, to represent the Republic’s interests in the investigation.
But Axel’s deep distrust of the Jedi sparks against Gella’s faith in the Force. She’s never met such a puffed-up, privileged party boy, and he’s never met a more self-serious, relentless do-gooder. The harder they work to untangle the shadowy web of the investigation, the more complicated the conspiracy appears to be. With accusations flying and potential enemies in every shadow, the pair will have to work together to have any hope of bringing the truth to light and saving both worlds.
The review;
It is a time of exploration in the galaxy as the Republic stretches its reach into the wild frontiers of the Outer Rim, strengthening communications and finding new hyperspace routes. Amidst this time of prosperity, the planets of Eiram and E’ronoh are at war. Located in the same system and only separated by a thin strand of space, a tentative ceasefire has been ordered to try and halt the devastation of the Forever War. However, when a relief mission causes these tentative boundaries to be crossed, it seems all hopes for peace might be lost once more.
Yet is all as it appears? As the Jedi are ordered to try and stop war breaking out once more between these two neighbours, it seems that outside forces may be deliberately wreaking havoc.
Kat: Set around a hundred and fifty years before the events of Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule, this is how Convergence opens. Without any reference points for fans, we’re quickly introduced to a new set of characters in this part of space. Considering how Phase I ended, with many of our favourite High Republic characters either dead or injured (#burryagalives), I will admit that it took some time to get into this novel. I was eager for a continuation of those stories, rather than a jump back further in time. Did you find it a bit difficult to begin with Mark?
Mark: Completely! In Phase I, we had to orient ourselves for the first time, admittedly with some trepidation to what was coming. But we were prepared that there would be some adjustment as it was the start of a new era. With Convergence, we thought we knew the state of the galaxy, the major players, and what to expect. However, throw in an extra hundred and fifty years and that rocked me, and just like you, I had a hard time adjusting. I really feel for Zoraida Córdova, to come into this era, with the expectations that are incredibly high and have to introduce a completely new era within an era. It’s no small order! I think it’s something that has really been a struggle for the phase at the moment, particularly as we are all eager to see a continuation of the story we fell in love with.
Now, before we move onto the actual story, I think we should probably address this slightly further, as for me, it’s the Wampa in the room. With such a highly regarded series, with such a well-planned storyline spanning multiple forms of media and with such a shocking end to Phase I, why on Earth would the creators of this project jump back a hundred and fifty years? Because the problem is, we don’t know why and I’m sure there is a reason that will become evident the further into the phase we go. I think once this reason has been established, all that we’re reading now will make more sense and be even more enjoyable. Would you agree, Kat? And have the creators earnt our trust enough to give us a jarring Phase II?
Kat: I completely agree and trust that this era of the High Republic will give us a reason for this time jump. Just in the opening of Convergence, we see a galaxy that is not fond of the Jedi Order interfering, especially in the more independent Outer Rim. This is quite different to how the Jedi are portrayed as saviours during the Golden Age of the Republic. I think what this era might be setting up is how the Jedi earned the trust of the galaxy, its citizens, and became so closely tied with the Republic Senate.
After a relief mission goes terribly wrong between the neighbouring planets of Eiram and E’ronoh, the Republic dispatches one of its Chancellors along with the Jedi to try and re-establish peace. Within the first few chapters we’re introduced to several new Jedi – Knight Gella Nattai, Padawan Enya Keen, Master Char-Ryl-Roy, and Master Creighton Sun. What really struck me was just how different each of them was. Both Master’s are very laid back and calm, coming into a tense situation with a very open outlook. They’re not here to place blame on anyone. Meanwhile Gella’s judgement is a little clouded as she’d recently been part of a failed Pathfinder mission. Compare this to the youthful enthusiasm of Enya, and we’ve got a very distinctive group who didn’t feel like anyone from Phase I.
Mark: Which is what Córdova has done so well, to create characters that really are unique. With the vast number of characters in Phase I, to still be able to create unique and memorable characters at this stage is a testimony to her. As with the Jedi, the chancellors also feel very different during this time and it’s the first time where there are actually two chancellors: Kyong Greylark and Orlen Mollo. I really like this pair, I don’t even know how they got elected, how they even make it work, but you can see throughout the story that they strangely complement each other. Now this is a pair I would love to have a time jump for to see the politics behind dual leaders and the teething problems of having a pair of chancellors. Córdova also makes Mollo a Quarren, a species that is usually found in more underhanded affairs. So, it was a pleasant surprise to see them at the height of galactic politics.
Córdova has to really hit this out of the gate immediately, to give us something that is very unique and worth reading, rather than just a copy of the books and characters that have come before. The Jedi, the chancellors are all examples of how she does this so well. We then have the planets Eiram and E’ronoh, creating a Romeo and Juliet situation of two planets eternally at war. One of them is water based, the other desert. Both needing one another to support the other but never being able to. This dynamic that carries on throughout the story was one of my favourite parts about this story. Was this to your liking Kat?
Kat: Córdova’s entry into the Star Wars literature universe was A Crash of Fate, which was a whirlwind romance set on Batuu. So, I was happy to see her continuing her romance themes into this book, with the planets reflecting their respective royalty. Phan-tu Zenn is the heir to Eiram, and I must admit he is the Juliet of this story! He doesn’t understand the hate that has developed between these two worlds and wants to find a way to peace. He’s got a beautiful connection to the waters of Eiram and I love how so many of his metaphors and sayings relate to the seas.
Then there’s Xiri Al’baran, princess of E’ronoh, who could not be more of his opposite. She’s fiery, strong willed, and a trained warrior. She would sooner impale herself on her own dagger than fall into the hands of the people of Eiram. She sees the planet as her enemy for not supplying the precious water that E’ronoh so desperately needs. With this premise I was worried that their romance would seem forced – that they were only becoming closer because of how it would benefit their planets, but that was not the case. Xiri and Phan-tu slowly develop a beautiful relationship, one that takes effort as they work through the indoctrinated hatred they’ve been raised to believe.
Mark: Star Wars romance is always a tricky one. If you ever listen to Irvin Kershiner talk about it, you can see just how much thought goes into it, trying not to make it too gushy or too corny. When the romance started in this book, I was slightly worried. It is Romeo and Juliet, which on the surface should make it predictable. However, as we progress through the story, as we get to know the characters, I can’t help but enjoy the romance. But more than that, their realisation that their planets come first, that they have a responsibility to do what’s right for their planets even if their parents haven’t. They actually put this before what they feel, yet it is through this that their romance is cemented. I thought it was very well done.
As you say Kat, Phan-tu is the Juliet, but I liked to see that role reversal, to see the woman in charge. There’s an awful lot of inclusion in this book and none of it seems forced. Phan-tu is actually adopted, Xiri is the more warrior-like, and Phan-tu has two mothers. They are all an integral part of the story and Córdova weaves them beautifully together. Of course, there’s some things she doesn’t change, because if you have Phan-tu, a ‘golden boy’, well you have to have the ‘bad boy’. In walks Axel Greylark…
Kat: Axel Greylark. Oh, Axel! He is my favourite character from this book and is so complex. On the surface you have the typical bad boy. He’s a gambler, scoundrel, and has talked his way out of prison numerous times. Axel uses his name to his advantage, and being son of the chancellor means he apparently can get away with anything. Yet underneath this sarcastic, charming persona is a young man who is deeply troubled. Axel has lost his father, which he blames himself for, and feels that his mother has buried herself in her work. Axel’s hiding his pain beneath false smiles and incredibly expensive capes.
Somehow, he’s also vital in bringing Phan-tu and Xiri together, helping them to arrange their engagement tour across both planets. Axel knows how to play people, which has its benefits when on senatorial missions for his mother yet can also make Axel quite manipulative. Throughout Convergence I could never tell whether Axel was doing things truly for the good of the Republic or just for his own gain, which is really great character writing.
Mark: That’s what kept bringing me back again and again. You have someone in the Han Solo role, yet one with huge parental issues, that you never can tell why he is doing something or for whose benefit. At times, I don’t even think Axel knew. He is the character that certainly steals the show, and I can’t imagine we won’t see him in future publications, particularly as the son of a chancellor.
We can’t read Greylark and another mystery readers have to solve are events on the Timekeeper Moon. Equipment that seems off, bodies piling up, both sides hating each other, all set away from civilization. There is an atmosphere that is more akin to The Thing or Alien, and I loved it. Córdova is able to move from horror/mystery, to gripping romance within chapters, creating a story that really has something for everyone. It also means you’re never quite sure what sort of story you’re reading (as if the time shift for Phase II wasn’t enough confusion). However, I think Córdova does this to keep us on our toes, to show just how messed up this situation is between the two rival planets.
Kat: And let’s not forget who else is adding to this mystery. The Path of the Open Hand. Several of their children are stationed on E’ronoh and they start to spread their open hatred as soon as the Jedi arrive. Things are pretty rough on the surface of E’ronoh, there’s rationing and not enough supplies to go around, so the Path are not helping matters at all.
I definitely picked up on the horror vibes as well, especially as tensions rise through the plot. Things are off. There’s sabotage, murders underneath the Jedi’s noses, and everyone is blaming everyone else. And when the heirs decide to split up from the main group you know everything is going to blow up. Rule number one to survive this kind of situation – do not split up!
Mark: The Path of the Open Hand are cropping up in all the publications, which makes me think they are pivotal to this movement back in time. That and these two planets. There is something here that, even though we don’t know it yet, will have a profound impact on the stories we are wanting to read about Starlight and the Nihil. I think this is going to be one of those novels that fans come back to very quickly when Phase III is up and running.
So where does this stand in terms of High Republic publications? Although this isn’t the first release for Phase II, due to a lack of a digital copy for Path of Deceit, this will be what a lot of readers will read first to orientate themselves into Phase II. This is a very different book to Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. It is a lot more focused and a lot less epic in its galactic scope, but I think that is a good thing. Comparisons are obviously going to be drawn to Phase I and this is a different thing entirely. No one knows why we’ve had this time jump. There are a lot of questions with very few answers. Córdova has to try and navigate all of this with something unique, with characters that can stand on their own two feet when all we want to read are the characters from Phase I. It’s a tall order!
Kat: Convergence has a lot of new galactic ground to cover, yet it manages to do so in this focussed way with these new characters. It does feel a lot more personal than Light of the Jedi, especially as each character gets their time to shine in their own POVs. If fans can put aside their burning questions from Phase I (too soon?) then Convergence offers so much about the frontier of the galaxy. This is the Outer Rim as we’ve never seen it before, and this is the Republic just starting to expand its reach. Something on Eiram and E’ronoh is going to be important, and the Path will stop at nothing to prevent peace between these worlds.
Availability;
Star Wars: The High Republic – Convergence by Zoraida Córdova was release on November 22, 2022 and was published by Del Rey. It is available from bookstores on the high street and online, including Amazon UK and Amazon US.
