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Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest For Planet X Book Review

“Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest For Planet X” is the weakest book in Phase 2.

Written by Tessa Gratton, “Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest For Planet X” is set after “Star Wars: The High Republic: The Battle Of Jedha” and runs concurrent with “Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm.” There’s 3 interconnected stories here. The first involved Path of the Open Hand member Fel Ix on a mission to sabotage communication buoys. The second involves Jedi Padawan Rooper Nitani joining young Hyperspace Prospector Dass and pilot/Dass friend Sky Graf (who comes from a wealthy Hyperspace Prospector family) attempting to find the uncharted Planet X. Dass wants to go to retrieve a ship while Sky has ulterior motives. The third storyline involves Sky’s brother Helis who was set to take place in a Hyperspace Chase, but whose ship was “borrowed” by Sky. Helis is trying to get his ship back by tracking Sky. Naturally, the trip doesn’t go as planned. 

Accompanied by illustrations from Petur Antonsson, “Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest For Planet X” suffers from feeling too much like a side quest. While the story does provide plenty of characterization for Rooper, Fel Ix (an intriguing Path member), Sky and Dass, it ultimately comes across as a filler/in between book before Phase 2’s finale “Star Wars: The High Republic: Path Of Vengeance.” That’s not to say that the story doesn’t have its moments. Not only does it tie into the eventful “Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest For The Hidden City,” but it also contains a few enticing tidbits ala The Path visiting Planet X. Gratton also does a fine job with world building and delving into the aspects of Phase 2 ala Hyperspace Prospecting as well.

Where ‘Planet X’ falls short is with the tone. Granted, this is very much a YA novel, but it’s a little bizarre to read this after the much more adult ‘Cataclysm.’ Stranger still, ‘Planet X’ also severely downplays the events of ‘Cataclysm.’ In that respect, it feels like it is missing some major connective tissue. It’s perfectly understandable that there are High Republic books for various age groups, but if you’re absorbing it all, it’s bit jarring to see this more lighthearted book with cheeseball lines like “Sure, Helis, when the ice sharks arrange a tap dance” while knowing a bloody battle is taking place on Dalna with the Jedi and Path. It just seems like the story should be more substantial than it is especially with it being the penultimate Phase 2 book.

April 13, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Book review | Jedi, Star Wars Books, Star Wars: The High Republic, Star Wars: The High Republic: Quest For Planet X Book Review