{first of Star Wars Legends chronology; sci-fi, science fiction, Star Wars Legends, Jedi, quest} (2013)

Having watched the Star Wars films I thought I would try reading the books. I started with this one as it's the first chronologically in the Star Wars Legends series (the original Lucasfilm canon, before Disney took over); to be honest, it may have been a handicap to jump in here with no other knowledge about the expanded universe (EU).

The story is set when all the Je'daii - the ancestors of the Jedi - lived in the Tythan galaxy. The protagonist is Lanoree Brock who is chasing her brother Dal who, though born a Je'daii, was always antagonistic to the Force; he may be involved in something that could put the entire galaxy at risk. This is told partly in flashbacks to their childhoods and partly now, as Lanoree follows Dal's trail across the galaxy.

Although the story is told from a Je'daii point of view, and they're supposed to be in balance with the Force, you can see that they seem to ride rough shod over other people's/ nations feelings - for their own good, of course 😉 - but they don't even notice that they're being arrogant and you can understand why they're not always welcome

The Je'daii say, “There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.” But they are ignorant of your lives, your struggles, and their superiority blinds them. They say, “There is no fear; there is power.” Yet in their power they are smug. And I will make them fear me.
—Despot Queen Hadiya, 10,658 TYA

I don't see how the events in this story are significant to the story of the Jedi, nor could I tell how the Je'daii differed from the Jedi but understanding may come the further into the series I read.

(April 2023) ( )

I am going to start the review by saying that I have not ever read the comics, so my only introduction into the Dawn of Jedi series has been this book. I am also a huge Star Wars fan having read almost all of the Extended Universe books, except the comics. With all that written, I don't know what it was about this book, but I just couldn't get into it.

This takes place way before the great Sith wars, before the Old Republic books, there are no lightsabers, but there are Je'daii who carry both the light and the dark side of the Force at the same time. Lanoree Block is strong with the Force, but her brother Dal seems to be lacking Force abilities. Both have been trained, but only one came forth. The other was thought to be dead until Lanoree is sent on a special mission find her brother and stop him.

The story jumps back and forth between Lanoree's quest and her training. There is a good deal of action, but I found Lanoree's character lacking for some reason. It wasn't the writing, the writing was well done, but I think it was just the story. I honestly found myself not really caring if she found her brother or not. The interaction between Lanoree and her co-pilot were fun, but I just didn't feel any sympathy for them during the battles. I found myself wanting more of the past story of Lanoree and Dal's training sessions. I looked forward to ending the quest chapters for the training chapters/sections. That seemed to be a better story to me. Lanoree is described as a loner for the Je'daii and she seems annoyed by the fact that she has a co-pilot and as the reader, so did I. I imagined the story if it is almost all flashback until she reaches the planet. Instead, we get an ok action story, mixed with some good training session narratives.

I really wanted to like this more since the timeline seems like a great place to tell a story. How did the light and the dark form? When did lightsabers form? What was the first fight like? These would make great stories, but this wasn't it. ( )

It was entertaining, but the principal character come to me as a inept "detective" that don't do the appropriate questions and left the major investigation to her companions. ( )

As a Je'daii Ranger, Lanoree works for the Jedi Order and travels the known world on different assignments and missions. But all of those previous missions seem pale next to her newest one; to hunt down the brother she thought was long dead, and kill him. In the years he's been gone, he's established the Stargazer sect and their belief system. The Stargazers long to leave the Tython system and return to the system their ancestors once immigrated from. They are fanatic in their insistence that there's more to the world than just what's on Tython – and are determined to discover it by any means necessary.

Rumours have it they have gotten their hands on dark matter that will allow them to open an intergalactic gateway that lets them return to the world of their ancestors. But this dark matter also threatens to rip the entire Tython galaxy apart if activated. Lanorre's mission is to stop them and with that, save the galaxy. By her side, she has a morally dubious Twi'lek called Tre Sana who seems to have a darker past than he lets on – but also a dream of starting over. But the only way to do that is to help Lanoree; something that isn't always easy. Especially as they keep running into trouble everywhere they go.

The setting of the book is way, way back in the early days of the Jedi Order; then known as the Je'daii. It's during a time when the Je'daii were all trained on the planet of Tython; a place where both the light and the dark sides of the force were present. The Je'daii believe in a balance between the two sides. While the light side is perhaps favoured, they're equally important and true peace can't be achieved without balance between the two different aspects of the Force.

Even though the Je'daii Order is already many thousand years old when Into the Void begin, it's part of the ancient history of the Jedi and their use of the Force – and their strong, loyal belief in it. There is a lot of similarity between the Je'daii and the Jedi but just like with our own real ancestors, there is a lot that is different too. It's a historic study in the early days of the Jedi and their usage of the Force; not just in battle but in their every day life. They live by the Force, let it flow through them. Just as much as the book is about Lanoree and the Stargazers, it is a historic study into what the Jedi started out as.

Lanoree is a pretty standard Star Wars main character; especially when it comes to stand alone books. She is extremely loyal and dedicated to her work; she literally lives in her ship as much as possible. The central thing in her life is and has always been the Force; it is the reason for her whole being and as a Ranger, she considers herself serving the Force in general rather than a worker for the Je'daii Council. But she still remains a bit of a stereotype; not really given her own quirks or any traits and mannerisms that truly lets her develop into a person; not just a character.

Tre Sana, her somewhat reculant companion, is given more of a personality; his opinions and emotions are explored in a way Lanoree's aren't. His are always about him while most of what we discover about Lanoree is linked to her brother during their Great Journey. He was the one I was nervous for whenever they stumbled onto trouble – simply because he was allowed to be a person enough for me to care about him.

The language is quite stiff; it's something I'm quite used to as the Star Wars books usually have a certain kind of scientific language that doesn't flow as well as, like say, a book by Fredrik Backman or Maggie Stiefvater. But there's usually a charm to it. There was not really one to Into the Void's, however. I found it extremely difficult to get through the book; having to start over once or twice. I couldn't find myself interested enough to try very hard, either.

But what I think is the book's biggest flaw is the fact that it should have been made into two books – one about Lanoree and her brother's Great Journey and one about Lanoree's mission to stop the Stargazers. There was too much plot to cover in way too few pages and instead, both stories felt very rushed and were never fleshed out properly. I would've loved that; the characters had been given a chance to be explored enough to feel alive, and the stories would've been given as much attention as they both needed.

Although, as much as I struggled with this book and as much as it currently holds the bottom place when it comes to Star Wars book rankings, it was lovely to read more about the early days of the Jedi. ( )

A story from close to the very foundations of the Jedi order and the beginning of everything Star Wars. A must read for any avid player of Star Wars The Old Republic. ( )