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Now that Disney has taken over Lucasfilm—with the intention of releasing a whole slew of new Star Wars films—it’s time to start searching for new Star Wars material. The best place to start? The hundreds of official Star Wars novels—including Into the Void, the first novel in author Tim Lebbon’s new Dawn of the Jedi series.
The story takes place about 25,000 years before the original Star Wars film. Gifted young Je’daii Ranger Lanoree Brock lives a lonely life, traveling through the galaxy alone to do the Je’daii Council’s business—but that’s how she prefers it.
Lanoree’s life takes a shocking turn when she’s summoned by the Council and given an important mission. A group calling themselves the Stargazers is gathering dark matter with the intention of building a device that could destroy the entire galaxy. Lanoree is called to investigate because of her personal connection: the group’s leader is Dalien Brock, the brother she thought she lost years ago. Now she must work with a reformed criminal to track down her brother and stop him—all the while reflecting on their childhood and wondering what she’ll do when she finally finds him.
The Star Wars universe is definitely a complicated one. It has its own histories and mythologies, its own intricate technologies, and a wide variety of species—each with its own abilities and idiosyncrasies. Still, despite the layers upon layers of complexities, Into the Void is a surprisingly effortless read.
On one hand, Into the Void fits neatly into the Star Wars universe. Anyone who’s seen the films will be able to picture the characters, the ships, and the various settings—even though the story takes place thousands of years before the movies. And all you need is a basic knowledge of the Force to understand Lanoree’s abilities.
On the other hand, though, the story isn’t so connected to the Star Wars universe that newcomers will get lost in the details. You don’t need to be a lifelong Star Wars fan—or a longtime reader of Star Wars novels—to understand the characters and their stories. After all, at its heart, it’s just a story about two very different siblings and the choices that each one makes.
Readers get to know both Brock siblings through a series of flashbacks to their youth. As Lanoree grows in the Force, Dal struggles with it, resisting the lessons that the Je’daii Masters try to teach him. And although Lanoree is the hero of the story—and Dal is the story’s villain—you’ll understand both perspectives. You’ll even feel sorry for Dal as he deals with the challenges and frustrations that he faces during his training.
Of course, Into the Void isn’t just a bunch of family drama. It’s also filled with action and adventure, as Lanoree tracks Dal and his followers, facing new dangers at every step of the way. For the most part, it’s action with a conscience, as Lanoree is well aware of the consequences of her actions—but the violence gets more intense (and more shocking) as her mission becomes more serious.
With its careful balance of action and drama, Into the Void is both thrilling and thoughtful. So whether you’ve spent your life immersed in the Star Wars universe or you’re just a curious newcomer (like me), you’re sure to be captivated by this fast-paced Je’daii adventure.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
