Into the Dark Part 4 of 4

[colls]

Welcome to our last check-in and discussion posts for our Book of the Month.

This month’s book is Into the Dark by Claudia Gray
Part IV, Chapters 20-26

Into the Dark Part 4 of 4

1. How do you think Reath and Cohmac will get along as Master and Padawan?

2. Do you think Affie and her crew will have trouble with other former members of the Guild?

3. What do you think the future holds for Nan and her place with the Nihil?

4. Will Dez and Orla find the peace and balance they seem to be seeking?

5. Other thoughts? How did you like the book overall?



FYI - There's no need to answer all (or any) of the questions above - they're just talking points to get us started. Informal chatter is more than welcome! In-person book clubs often veer off topic, it's okay if we do as well. :)

Comments

[brokenmnemonic]

1. Reath appears in the High Republic comics that follow this novel, although it's set very soon afterwards, so I think it's a bit early to tell what'll happen with both of them in the long term. Cohmac's opinions on the dark side and the Jedi make me wonder if he's going to end up in hot water with the Council at some point.

2. I'm not sure that I have a feel for how much the guild as a whole was benefitting from the dodgy practises, or whether it was just a select group. I suspect there are definitely going to be at least a few people carrying grudges, but I'm hoping that we may see them in future books.

3. I'm curious how much Nan's actions could have attracted the attention of any of the Tempests. I think it was just her storm that got involved with the station?

4. Well, Orla appears in the comics...

5. Overall, I enjoyed this. The Drengyr weren't what I expected based on the later comments, but I really enjoyed the glimpses from the past that the station gave us, and the actions the Sith took there. I'm a sucker for things from the past in stories. I was intrigued by Cohmac's comments about the Jedi and the dark side because of how much of a contrast the Jedi are the Je'ddai, but I want to know what it was that made the Jedi so determined to only use and study the lightside. The Je'ddai may have been influenced in their practises by the fact that they lived on a very force-sensitive world, where straying to far from the balance could actually produce dangerous weather events and disasters. This book also left me comparing what's been shown of the Council, it's attitude, and the standards of behaviour imposed on the Jedi with what was shown of the Council in the prequel movies.

[colls]

Your comments are making me want to dive into the comics a bit... ;)

I always find the comparisons of the Council in various time frames to be interesting.

[brokenmnemonic]

I may continue to sprinkle temptation in your path ;)

[kittywhite]

1. I’m actually excited to see this as Star Wars usually does polar opposite personality types for Master and Padawan pairs which is why I was freaking out thinking Reath would end up with Dez. I seriously breathed a sigh of relief when that conversation ended!
I think they’ll work out ok unless Cohmac goes off the deep end. Maybe helping Reath deal with the loss of Jora will also get Cohmac to healthily work on letting go of the feelings about his own master’s death.

2. Yes, Scover can’t have been the only one benefiting from the arrangement and now those who also were aren’t going to be happy it’s over. There’s also the fact that it could be seen that Affie “betrayed” her foster mother and the guild so I expect quite a few “Traitor!” to be thrown at her in coming stories.

3. Nan is an interesting case, I’m surprised she got a one on one audience with Ro right at the end as I didn’t think she was that high up/important? Guess there really is more to her than meets the eye.

4. I think Dez will but Orla feels like a character to me that they will want to keep around and her being off in the middle of nowhere acting independently doesn’t leave her that available for plot use.

5. I enjoyed this book more than Light of the Jedi due to the smaller cast and more linear plot. It kept me interested and wanting to read so it’s a win there. I hope that future High Republic books build off events that happened here and we see more appearances by everyone...including Geode. Seriously Geode turning up to save Reath was the best part of the finale for me :D

[colls]

1. Right?!! I do think they have similar goals and characteristics. I would've found him running off with Orla to be okay, but maybe too soon for him to become so disillusioned with the Council. Cohmac was a much more logical choice.

2. I get that sense as well, and don't think that story is over yet.

5. Same. I found the plot of the Light of the Jedi to be action packed and informative, but found it hard to connect with any characters.

Yes! And in helping Orla buy her ship was a nice touch, too. You could say Geode is a rock star, isn't he?
(/sorrynotsorry - LOL)

[kittywhite]

When it was mentioned that Geode was at the Club in one chapter I had a mental image of a rock wearing sunglasses and a giant gold chain!

[colls]

:D I can picture Geode with some bling!