I was so excited to get this book. I’ve been trying to read all the Star Wars books. I think this was a great edition to the collection and explains more about what happened during the clone wars.

Though I normally love these “from a different viewpoint” Star Wars anthologies, I’ll admit I was a bit disappointed that this one was more like adaptations of episodes of the series. The writing was good, but I had hoped for some different stories, stuff that expanded upon the world established by the show.

Die siebente Staffel von The Clone Wars ist beendet, aber das heißt noch lange nicht, dass mit Geschichten aus dieser Ära der Star Wars-Timeline nun Schluss ist. Nicht nur wurde kürzlich das Serien-Spin-off The Bad Batch angekündigt, das sich mit der aus Staffel 7 der Serie bekannten, gleichnamigen Spezialeinheit von Clone Troopern befassen wird, auch ein Buch zur Serie, Stories of Light and Dark, erscheint am 13. Oktober dieses Jahres. Wir durften es bereits vorab lesen.

Neue Perspektiven
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark umfasst insgesamt elf Geschichten; zehn davon Nacherzählungen von bekannten Serien-Folgen. Der Twist an der Sache: Die einzelnen Stories fokussieren sich jeweils auf die Perspektive eines einzigen Charakters und erweitern die bekannten Folgen somit um tiefere Einblicke in die Denkweise und Gefühlswelt des jeweiligen Protagonisten.
So erleben wir die Entführung des Senats samt Senatorin Amidala in Hostage Crisis (basierend auf der gleichnamigen Folge aus Staffel 1) beispielsweise aus Anakins Sicht und erfahren, wie sehr er wirklich an Padmé hängt und wie wenig ihm im Vergleich alles andere tatsächlich bedeutet – seine Pflichten und Verantwortungen als Jedi inklusive. Oder wir erleben in The Lost Nightsister (basierend auf der Folge Bounty aus Staffel 4), was in Asajj Ventresses Kopf vorgeht, nachdem sie ihr Schwestern auf Dathomir verloren hat – und wie sie sich erneut darüber klar wird, wie viel Tatendrang tatsächlich noch in ihr steckt.
Die elfte und finale Story knüpft lose an die Ereignisse der Folge Massacre (ebenfalls aus Staffel 4) an, verfolgt jedoch das Schicksal einer weiteren Nightsister.

Autoren-Aufgebot
Um das knappe Dutzend an Geschichten umzusetzen, wurden sowohl bestens bekannte Star Wars Autoren wie Jason Fry (The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition, Star Wars Rebels: Servants of the Empire und weitere), Tom Angleberger (Origami Yoda, Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side! und weitere) oder Zoraida Córdova (Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate, You Owe Me a Ride in From a Certain Point of View), aber auch Neulinge im Krieg der Sterne-Buch-Universum, beispielsweise Yoon Ha Lee oder Anne Ursu, verpflichtet. Die komplette Liste an Geschichten samt Autor und Episode, auf der sie basieren, lautet wie folgt:

• Sharing the Same Face von Jason Fry
basierend auf Folge Ambush (S01 E01)
• Dooku Captured von Lou Anders
basierend auf Folgen Dooku Captures und The Gungan General (S01 E11+E12)
• Hostage Crisis von Preeti Chhibber
basierend auf Folge Hostage Crisis (S01 E22)
• Pursuit of Peace von Anne Ursu
basierend auf Folge Heroes on Both Sides (S03 E10)
• The Shadow of Umbara von Yoon Ha Lee
basierend auf Folgen Darkness on Umbara, The General, Plan of Dissent und Carnage of Krell (S04 E07-E10)
• Bane’s Story von Tom Angleberger
basierend auf Folgen Deception, Friends and Enemies, The Box und Crisis on Naboo (S04 E15-E18)
• The Lost Nightsister von Zoraida Córdova
basierend auf Folge Bounty (S04 E20)
• Dark Vengeance von Rebecca Roanhorse
basierend auf Folge Brothers (S04 E21)
• Almost a Jedi von Sarah Beth Durst
basierend auf Folge A Necessary Bond (S05 E09)
• Kenobi’s Shadow von Greg von Eekhout
basierend auf Folge The Lawless (S05 E16)
• Bug von E. Anne Convery
originale Story, lose basierend auf Folge Massacre (S04 E19)

The Clone Wars neu erlebt
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark mag wenig Neues in Sachen eigentlicher Stories bieten, gibt uns dafür allerdings tiefere Einblicke in einzelne Folgen der Serie und öffnet somit Sichtweisen auf bekannte Ereignisse, die wir so noch nicht hatten. Mit der originalen Erzählung Bug bekommen wir zudem eine Geschichte, die sich mit einer interessanten Gruppierung des Star Wars Universums befasst, der meiner Meinung nach bislang leider ohnehin noch viel zu wenig Beachtung geschenkt wurde, den Nightsisters. Wer die Clone Wars-Serie liebt und noch mehr über ihre Charaktere bzw. die Ära selbst erfahren möchte, der sollte sich auch Stories of Light and Dark nicht entgehen lassen.

The Clone Wars might have ended this May, in a truly spectacular way, but plenty of fans will and are just interacting with the content for the first time. With the anthology The Clone Wars – Stories of Light and Dark, fans new and old gain a new perspective on some of the show’s most popular or memorable episodes, alongside some great new art in the style of the show. For first timers, or younger audiences not yet ready for watching the show, Stories of Light and Dark is an excellent way to familiarize them with the series, while longtime fans will enjoy the new way to experience the show.

One of my favorite aspects to Stories of Light and Dark stems from its basic premise, the different point of views retelling certain episodes. In every story, minus one, the POVs were excellent expansions on familiar episodes, providing new insights or deeper meaning to events for the characters featured. In Padmé’s tale, we get to see her internalized struggle with loving the idea of the Republic and knowing its failures while striving to still make change; for Asajj Ventress, we get the more in-depth look at her coming to terms with her new life, after being spurned by Count Dooku, and forging a new one, while honoring her family and sisters; with Cad Bane, we get a fun spin on an Obi-Wan focused tale; and Maul’s searing hatred and determination comes to life in ways only prose could cover that even the episodes couldn’t touch. As a fan of TCW, and easily remembering each episode(s) these stories cover, the new perspective adds extra layers to old favorites, providing new context for characters’ actions and words, adding something special to any re-watching. For fans who haven’t gotten into TCW yet, or for those younger fans who might not yet grasp some of the show’s lessons, Stories is the perfect introduction and explainer to some of its bigger concepts. There’s a great mix of characters and a few surprising perspectives, while the breadth of storylines also matches the show’s penchant for different tones and genres. I also really appreciated how the overall episode picks told a somewhat cohesive story between themselves of the war and for some characters.

Before I dive into each story, I definitely need to focus on the great, TCW-styled art from Ksenia Zelentsova, who fans might know better by her social media handle lorna_ka. I’ve been a big fan of her work since Star Wars Rebels first released, as many of her fan-art pieces tugged at the heartstrings, and she’s continued to impress ever since. Getting the chance to design official work for Stories, from the cover to character pieces before each new tale, is well-deserved and long overdue for her. I really enjoyed how she’s able to both retain much of what makes her work so special and eye-popping and still match the specific art style of TCW. It was an excellent choice to involve Zelentsova and it adds plenty to the overall package. Find more of her work at her site!

Now I’m going to dive into each tale!

Sharing the Same Face – Written by Jason Fry
(Based on S1 Ep. 1 “Ambush”)

It’s only fitting the first of the Stories is TCW’s first episode, as it sets the stage of the war, the Jedi’s place in the conflict and concerns with it, while introducing the individuality of the clones that defines the show. Jason Fry’s handling of Yoda is basically pitch-perfect, capturing his aloofness and deep connection to the Force, especially when he dives into how Yoda takes his time to sense life on each new planet he visits. One of the best scenes of the episode, which was a great indicator of how the show would treat the clones for the rest of its run, is when Yoda sits down the clones in the cave, preparing for the coming battle, and letting us see it through Yoda’s eyes is like the final ingredient in a favorite recipe; it brings it all together. In fact, Fry adds even more to it by including some ruminations from Yoda about retaining the clones’ individualities will ensure the Jedi don’t lose themselves to the war. This tale really is just full of great moments, mind you!

The tale ends with Yoda having an intriguing vision of the future…

Dooku Captured and The Gungan General – Written by Lou Anders
(Based of S1 Ep11/12 “Dooku Captured” and “The Gungan General”)

In my recent Count Dooku character concierge article, I put the few episodes this tale adapts onto my list of important ones to watch about the Count, and I'm delighted these are the ones picked for his tale! Much of the fun and humor of Dooku tied to Obi-Wan and Anakin, forced to assist their escape from Hondo Ohnaka so he can as well, carries over, while Anders’ ability to seep Dooku’s disdain for the Jedi, his situation, and being accosted by pirates so thoroughly in every moment is what really makes this tale shine. Dooku is recording a message for his Master, Darth Sidious, and this aspect recalls his penchant for recording holo-messages as seen in Dooku: Jedi Lost. I particularly enjoyed his thoughts on Anakin’s training, Rael Averross (primarily in Master & Apprentice), a mention or two of Qui-Gon, though noticing Anakin’s darker tendencies and wondering how to use them were of the most interest.

Hostage Crisis – Written by Preeti Chhibber
(Based on S1 Ep. 22 “Hostage Crisis”)

Chhibber chooses to show us Anakin’s love for Padmé through his own POV in “Hostage Crisis,” providing a unique and eye-opening way to frame Skywalker’s feelings. It both holds hints of his later obsessiveness seen in TCW’s sixth season and how he rationalizes his deep feelings for her while being a Jedi. One of his final thoughts regarding Padmé, as she holds his lightsaber, is my favorite of the story, as it only highlights how unfortunate the Jedi weren’t allowed to nurture his feelings for her/he had to hide them. Also, I feel like this only worked so well since it was written by a woman, which hasn’t been often for Anakin.

Pursuit of Peace – Written by Anne Ursu
(Based on S3 Ep. 11 “Heroes on Both Sides”)

The Padmé renaissance of late, from two YA novels and featured in a comic issue, is only a small portion of all the love and focus she should be receiving, and “Pursuit of Peace” makes it clear how much more can be done with her character. Exploring the corruption of the Republic, which at times felt like it mirrors our current political climate, we see how Padmé both understands the roadblocks and near futility of the fight but soldiers on anyways because she has so much hope and is willing to work in the grey areas to find a better solution. There’s a rousing speech in the end from Padmé that hits home more now we have her internalizations about working within the Senate’s corrupt ways and is among my favorite moments in the book.

The Shadow of Umbara – Written by Yoon Ha Lee
(Based on S4 Ep. 7/8/9/10 “Darkness on Umbara,” “The General,” “Plan of Dissent,” and “Carnage of Krell”)

The Umbara arc in season 4 is among my top arcs in the entire show, for how it tests clones like Rex, Fives, and Jesse, those who we had become fan favorites at that point, in new and unexpected ways. Unfortunately, I felt like “The Shadow of Umbara” fell a bit flat, as Rex’s POV is too limited, barely expanding on what is said or done, making this more of a straight retelling instead. If ever one of these Stories would’ve benefited episodes more with expanded thoughts from its main character, this was it and Rex doesn’t quite get that treatment. It’s still an overall good story, since it’s the same as the episodes’, but it doesn’t take advantage of the new medium.

Bane’s Story – Written by Tom Angleberger
(Based off of S4 Ep. 15/16/17/18 “Deception,” “Friends and Enemies,” “The Box,” and “Crisis on Naboo”)

Regardless of your feelings on Cad Bane, a character I’ve enjoyed for the most part due to his design (those jet boots!), pivoting to his POV, especially after such known and established characters, results in what I felt was one of the top Stories. With “Bane's Story,” Bane is our narrator, recounting the episodes of Undercover Obi-Wan to fellow prisoners, young Boba Fett and Bossk, and his POV makes it feel like both a true gunslinger western and 50’s gangster, which fit exceptionally well for the arc and is the distillation of Bane himself. In fact, it was such a refreshing way to explore the story, with some custom Bane flourishes, that made me like the character even more and could have the potential to change your mind on him too. Made me wish more Stories were from less familiar characters’ POV.

The Lost Nightsister – Written by Zoraida Córdova
(Based on S4 Ep. 20 “Bounty”)

Asajj Ventress has such a compelling story throughout the show and Córdova’s dive into one of the best episodes for her only makes that episode better. The internal struggle strengthens Ventress’ arc in “Bounty,” shedding her Sith past and forging a destiny of her own, as we get deep into how the loss of her Nightsister family impacted her, the Sith teachings and rejection affected her, and how her inner strength is what helps her rise above it all. It’s honestly one of the best Ventress episodes in the show and this tale therefore is one the best prose Ventress appearances to date as well. Definitely a highlight of the collection.

Dark Vengeance – Written by Rebecca Roanhorse
(Based on S4 Ep. 21/22 “Brothers" and "Revenge")

I could take a whole Maul book written by Roanhorse, as she deliciously captures Sam Witwer's energy in his performance of the character that "Dark Vengeance" might as well been narrated by Witwer in my head; some of the previous Maul-centric books, and comics, have contained far too much animalistic Maul and sounded too one-note. Instead, Roanhorse allows us to see the birth of the calculating, resourceful Maul and it only adds to his iconic return in the show, especially with the way he frames his choices and strategies to the unnamed child he's telling his story to (which is meant to be us, I imagine); the rationalization, as a way not to freak out a child listening (and therefore a younger kid reading), for his sacrifice of innocents in a village to draw out Obi-Wan is a devilishly fantastic bit of writing. I particularly enjoyed the new part at the end, about waiting.

Almost a Jedi – Written by Sarah Beth Durst
(Based on S5 Ep. 9 “A Necessary Bond”)

As much as I enjoyed Bane’s POV earlier, the surprise of this story focusing on Katooni's POV from the Youngling's Arc, getting to see how both her and Ahsoka grow as Jedi, makes “Almost a Jedi” my favorite tale within this collection! Glimpsing Ahsoka from Katooni’s POV does a couple of wonderful things: it offers fans a window into seeing Ahsoka for the first time and/or how young girls and boys perceive her, a unique luxury on both accounts since she’s now such a vital and recognizable character in the fandom; and it highlights Ahsoka’s growth and selflessness, as having these scenes from her POV instead would've likely resulted in her saying she’s simply doing what must be done, but Katooni frames it as heroic as it deserves. For Katooni, watching her understand how to trust in herself, and the Force, was a fun little journey that adds even more to her role in the Youngling's Arc, while it should be an excellent message for younger readers. If they ever do a second volume of this, I hope more of the stories take the unexpected POV to teach both about familiar characters and lesser focused ones.


Kenobi’s Shadow – Written by Greg van Eekhout
(Based on S5 Ep. 16 “Lawless”)

Obi-Wan’s stanch support of the Jedi Code, despite his near flirtation with leaving early in his career, has always been a great thing to push and pull him against during this timeframe and “Lawless” is one of those episodes that test him unlike anything before. “Kenobi’s Shadow” takes it and adds some rather touching, important scenes, while the quality and depth of the introspection rivals Obi-Wan’s meditations in Legends novel Kenobi. There’s some original scenes, like the opening one between him and Anakin, that really opens a rare window into Obi-Wan’s hidden struggle with his emotions, while highlights how great of a teacher he could’ve been for Anakin if all his apprentices’ vices weren’t against the Code. There’s extra emotional resonance with the death of Satine, as while the animation certainly conveyed his struggle not to give into the dark side, to strike down Maul, but a prose version allows for even more nuance. I also enjoyed the connective tissue of this story and “Dark Vengeance,” carrying over the show’s serialized storytelling to the book.

Bug – Written by E. Anne Convery
(Based on S4 Ep. 19 “Massacre”)

*Awaiting review once tale is released*

Here are a few other things:

In early July, each author revealed their story and discussed their process in writing them. Definitely worth checking out!
Other The Clone Wars content this year includes: Of course the grand finale to the show, its final season, which was worth the wait and hype; and IDW's miniseries, The Clone Wars - Battle Tales, an all-ages fun blast that feels like the earlier seasons.

The Clone Wars - Stories of Light and Dark is a unique and fantastic way to experience the show, whether you've seen the entire series (multiple times) or are a young reader curious about it (and everyone in-between).

+ Specific POVs offer new insight to familiar (or new) characters/episodes

+ Surprise and original POVs shine brightest

+ Art from Ksenia Zelentsova really rounds out the experience

- Small falter on one tale

Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.

{Review will go live on book's release date so shortlink won't work till then}

If your a Star Wars fan! This is the book for you! It follows a lot of the characters from clone wars and gives you some back stories to some of the secondary characters like cad bane for example . My son loved this book, he is a huge Star Wars fan and told me this is a book he would share with other fans! Great for pre teen and up

Your Money Geek thanks Disney Lucasfilm Press and NetGallery for providing us with a free copy for review.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Stories of Light and Dark is the perfect companion for any fan of The Clone Wars. It features moments of joy, tragedy, love, and brotherhood — running the full gamut of emotions for some of the galaxy’s most beloved characters.

Just because The Clone Wars series has ended, doesn’t mean we’re done receiving stories about it. In a series of eleven stories, the newest Star Wars anthology gives readers a rare look into the psyche of both light and dark side characters during pivotal moments throughout the animated series.

**Contains Minor Spoilers**

As is typical with anthologies, several stories stand out among the rest, but as a whole the collection offers a heartfelt tribute to some of the series’ fan-favorite episodes. It is always refreshing to see familiar events retold from a certain point of view.

Jason Fry — “Sharing the Same Face” (based on the episode “Ambush”)

Fry gets inside of Yoda’s mind, providing readers with the Jedi Master’s inner thoughts as he comes to terms with the gravity of what the Clones mean. Yoda grapples with realities of engineering men to be little more than droids, when they are individuals with unique personalities and opinions.

Lou Anders — “Dooku Captured” (based on the episodes “Dooku Captured” and “The Gungan General”)

Have you ever wanted to get a look inside of Dooku’s mind? Well, Anders offers a rather unique and humorous look at his thoughts as he relates his encounter with Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in a holorecording.

Preeti Chhibber — “Hostage Crisis” (based on the episode of the same name)

Chhibber flawlessly taps into Anakin's mind, exploring his romantic feelings for Padmé before his fall to the dark side. She captures the innocence of his love for his wife, while playing upon the all-consuming nature of it.

Anne Ursu — “Pursuit of Peace” (based on the episode “Heroes on Both Sides”)

Padmé’s penchant for political negotiations is no easy feat to write, yet Ursu perfectly captures the essence of the head-strong Senator as she takes on peace negotiations in the Separatist’s territory.

Yoon Ha Lee — “The Shadow of Umbara” (based on the episodes “Darkness on Umbara,” “The General,” “Plan of Dissent,” and “Carnage of Krell”)

I think it’s safe to say that Rex is one of the most beloved characters from The Clone Wars and Ha Lee explores his perspective during the battle for Umbara and the fallout of General Krell’s betrayal. The sense of individuality and humanity in each Clone is palpable throughout the story.

Tom Angleberger — “Bane’s Story” (based on the episodes “Deception,” “Friends and Enemies,” “The Box,” and “Crisis on Naboo”)

If you were hoping for a Space Western in this anthology, Angleberger delivers with his retelling of the “Crisis on Naboo” from Cad Bane’s perspective. Who doesn’t love getting the perspective of one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy?

Zoraida Córdova — “The Lost Nightsister” (based on the episode “Bounty”)

Córdova’s chapter picks up on the heels of tragedy, following Ventress witnessing the deaths of her sisters. It’s a thrilling retelling, allowing readers to follow Asajj Ventress’ journey as she reclaims her agency and proves that she truly is a badass.

Rebecca Roanhorse — “Dark Vengeance” (based on the episode “Brothers”)

Roanhorse deftly tackles the return of Darth Maul by getting inside of his twisted mind and exploring his obsession with Obi-Wan Kenobi and his own internal struggles. It’s fun to get a glimpse inside a deeply troubled character like Maul.

Sarah Beth Durst — “Almost A Jedi” (based on the episode “A Necessary Bond”)

This was perhaps the most unique retelling in the anthology. Durst approaches Ahsoka’s character from the eyes of Katooni, one of the Jedi younglings under her watch. There’s something so innocent in Katooni’s admiration for Ahsoka and her own desires to become a Jedi, that will likely resonate with any fan who pretended that they were a Jedi as a child.

Greg van Eekhout —“Kenobi’s Shadow” (based on the episode “The Lawless”)

One of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s most tragic moments in The Clone Wars is retold by van Eekhout with just as much emotion and pain as we saw on the screen. Kenobi’s emotions are palpable as he struggles with the inner turmoil that all Jedi are faced with when they suffer a devastating loss. A few additional scenes are added to this retelling which further underlines the bond between Anakin and Obi-Wan.

Anne Convery — “Bug” (based on the episode “Massacre”)

At the time that I received my copy, “Bug” was not yet available to review. Convery is set to create an original story for the anthology, centered around the Nightsisters.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Stories of Light and Dark is rated for readers ages 8-12, but just as The Clone Wars tackled the bleak realities of war and the intricacies of human emotion, this anthology will resonate with readers of all ages.

A great book that takes place during the Clone Wars cartoon series. Favorite characters and villains show up. Will please any Clone Wars fan

As an avid Star Wars fan, and by proxy an avid Clone Wars fan, I was excited to pick this up. My own enjoyment, however, was tampered by the fact that these stories bring nothing new to the Clone Wars narrative, but rather recap various episodes throughout the show.

However, this book would be perfect for anyone who enjoys film novelizations, or a young reader who loves the Clone Wars and would enjoy experiencing the show through reading rather than watching. The writing was excellent and the characters they chose were great! Objectively speaking, this is a solid Star Wars anthology.

I really enjoyed this book and all of these stories! They were a fun representation of the Clone Wars series as a whole, but also gave me new insight into some of my favorite episodes/storylines. Some of my favorite stories in this book were Maul coming back to a fierce creature, the emotional Obi-Wan story where he loses a friend on Mandalore and the story about Padme trying to stop the bill in the Senate that would put more money on Clone Troopers.

While all of these stories are similar to those shown in the show, I valued reading it 1.) because I enjoy reading more than TV but also 2.) it provided detail from the person's point of view that the show isn't always able to go into.

I always struggle with these sorts of books. Basically each short story contained in this volume is a recap of one of the episodes (or arc of episodes) in the Clone Wars television show. The illustrations before each chapter are beautiful and the episodes are well chosen. I think Yoda was a strange choice as he is not a major focus in the clone wars as others that were omitted such as Honda Ohnaka. Also, the Ahsoka story is not really focused on Ashoka. I had high hopes for this one, but was ultimately left with a recap with little to no new content.

What an amazing set of stories! As with any anthology, some stories are better than others, and I think that largely depends on which characters you like more, but Stories of Light and Dark hit it out of the park!

As someone who has had a hit or miss relationship with the Clone Wars, I really loved being able to see episodes from a new perspective. You get to see how Obi Wan felt about Satine, how Padme and Rex are navigating this never ending war, and even how Ventress is trying to put her life back together. I read this after rereading Dark Disciple and it was amazing to see how well every aspect of the Clone wars is interconnected.

Whether you are a new fan or a die-hard, you definitely won’t want to miss this!

I enjoyed this book, which was a collection of stories about characters from the Clone Wars series. We have stories featuring Yoda,
Count Dooku (that was hilarious), Anakin Skywalker, Asajj Ventress, Padme Amidala, Captain Rex, Cad Bane, Darth Maul, Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Another additional story called Bug, was not ready to be included in this advance copy. Each story highlighted the character well.

Yoda showed his wisdom, command of the Force and compassion for others as well as his tactical skill.

Count Dooku's story was one of my favorites, showcasing his arrogance and irritation at his foes Kenobi and Skywalker.

Anakin's tale showed his overconfidence and his love for his wife Padme.

Padme showed the elegant diplomat that she is, attempting to bring peace in galaxy at war.

Captain Rex's story was another favorite, learning how to follow his orders and champion his brother soldiers.

Cad Bane's tale was similar to Dooku, another rant about his skills and the lack of everyone else to meet his high standards. Another favorite of mine.

Ahsoka showed her courage, fearlessness and leadership ability.

The two standout stories for me were Darth Maul, very well written and fitting his character perfectly.

Obi-Wan's tale showed him actually taking a page out of Anakin's playbook. This was my personal favorite.

While this book is aimed at young adults, the tales were all well written and ran the gamut from funny and heartwarming to sad and heartbreaking. I can't wait for the audiobook version. A definite must read and you don't have to be familiar with the show to enjoy these tales found herein.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy and the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful book.
#StarWarstheCloneWarsStoriesofLightandDark

I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stories of Light and Dark is an anthology of many familiar tales from The Clone Wars cartoon series, each focusing on pivotal episodes for specific characters. I'm a huge fan of The Clone Wars and I was extremely excited to read this. It definitely helped bring more nuance to many beloved characters. While it was nice to revisit these these episodes, I do wish more had happened than just retelling exactly what had happened on the show. If someone had just recently watched those episodes, I don't think they'd be very interested in this book.

Overall, a great book for those interested in The Clone Wars and it could be used as a great intro for the series!

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me an e-arc of this book!

This book is an anthology of many episodes that we've seen in the Clone Wars show. The only added bonus is that these episodes are related by different character's POVs' like Yoda, Maul, Dooku, Anakin, Obi-Wan and many more. This is an amazing middle-grade book for younger fans but I also highly recommend it to any Star Wars fan.

It's a collection of eleven stories and each one has a different writing style. I think it was refreshing to read from many perspectives. It added so much more depth to these major events that occurred during that era. I don't want to go much further than that because it might be spoilery for those of you who haven't watch the show. Clone Wars have become one of my favorite Tv Show of all time. It has so many amazing Star Wars content & lore. It's filled with all of these amazing characters we've seen in the movies but we get the opportunity to learn even more about them. I cannot stop recommending this series. It's why I love Star Wars. After it ended, I was so sad. I wanted more of my favorite characters and I'm so grateful that I got a copy of these books.

Reading this anthology made me revisit so many episodes in a unique way. However, I wish we had some "deleted scenes". What I mean by that is even if we're visiting these episodes from a distinct character's POV, I wish we had a bonus scene that would've added way more depth to the character. For example, the last POV in this book ends in a bonus scene that we never saw in the show and i really appreciated it.

I hope that Lucasfilm is coming with more content and books about The Clone Wars because it is my favorite. I will read anything from this era. I gave this amazing anthology 4 stars out of 5. I had so much fun!

This book is coming out on August 25 and you can go pre-order your copy on Amazon or Book Depository :)

An incredibly well made book that offers much more than just a retelling of old episodes. It adds new layers to the episodes chosen, and leads me with the urge to re watch some of then due to me having this new context. It's certainly at its best when it adapts single episodes instead of arcs, because you get a lot more insight to what the characters are thinking. My favorite chapters were the first and last, I thought they added the most to the original episodes. I also really enjoyed the adaptation of Dooku Captured.

Overall A really good read I would recommend to any Clone Wars fan.

I’m not sure if this would appeal to non-Star Wars fans, but I definitely think my students who love Star Wars, especially the Clone Wars tv series, will enjoy this book. It’s a collection of short stories which makes it easy to read one story at a time and still feel satisfied without needing to read the whole thing at once. Each story gives insight into a different character, both the good guys and the bad guys.

A nice walk down memory lane or an extended directors cut of the episodes they’re based on. The artwork is lovely. A nice indicator about who the chapter is about before you read it. . I enjoyed the extra insight into the characters and what was just subtext on the show. I’ve seen all the episodes many times even some of the slower ones so the show dialogue was less engaging at times. I loved some stories and liked others Some of the stories weren’t written in a normal he said she said formula and it was interesting. The story was told not just from the character’s POV but in their own words. I could have kept reading more stories like some from season 6 or 7. The new nightsister story advertised or the story by Filoni’s own wife Anne wasn’t in the review copy I read. Perhaps they’re one and the same. It’s understandable since it’s an unfinished version and the story/stories might not be ready. I look forward to getting my own finished copy in August. I know a diehard fan in his late 30s isn’t the main demographic the book is made for. Maybe I’ll read it to my baby daughter when she’s older. I’m gonna raise her on Star Wars cartoons.

The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is written by Lou Anders, Tom Angleberger, Preeti Chhibber, Zoraida Córdova, Jason Fry, Yoon Ha Lee, Rebecca Roanhorse, Anne Ursu and Greg Van Eekhout. The short stories retell Clone Wars episodes from perspectives rarely seen in the expanded universe — Yoda narrates the first episode, and Dooku shares his snarky view on the events of “Dooku Captured.”
More emotional stories are related by Anakin and Padmé, who filter episodes through their mutual love and relationship anxiety, heightened by readers’ full knowledge of where the story is going. As Padmé in particular balances her friendships and her lack of confidence in herself in “Pursuit of Peace,” she echoes the deep character of the novels rather than the weak damsel of the films. In fact, her story echoes Queen’s Peril as it explores how her public persona has transformed from the stoic queen to the senator expected to move others with her carefully channeled passion. Meanwhile, fan-favorite Ahsoka’s story is told more through one of her young admirers she aids in building a lightsaber. (Her lack of a story of her own is a surprising omission but one that works thematically with her outsider status and final exile.) Asajj Ventress, meanwhile, intrigues readers with her nuanced personality, filled with rage at her mistreatment and a surprising empathy for another young victim. This story truly benefits from the extra insights of prose. Likewise, in Rex’s tale, he spends quite a long time struggling with the ethics of obeying a bad commander and thus particularly benefits from the new format.
Of course, the nastiest, most selfish characters can be the most fun. Hondo gets a chance to snark as he explains, “Now, if you ask Moralo Eval, he’ll probably tell you something different. I wouldn’t be surprised if that ugly old wheeze bag tried to blame it all on me. I’ll tell you what really happened: the true story of the biggest crime ever attempted this side of Kessel.” Still, the most delightful voice belongs to maddened Darth Maul as he describes his resurrection and overwhelming hatred for Obi-Wan in a story brimming with personality. As it begins, “Tell me, child, do you know who I am? Do they whisper my name in the classrooms of your academy, down the winding halls of your space station, in the hollows and fields of your farming planet, or across the dunes of your desert home?” Maul continues through his angry reminiscences of tangling with Obi-Wan, focus of his total obsession. This is followed by Obi-Wan’s own epic adventure trying to save his lost love, but it can’t match up to his spitting, hissing nemesis. It’s a fun return to the best, most impactful episodes for prexisting fans or an introduction for new ones now that it’s all on Disney plus. There’s little new information in this Clone Wars celebration, but plenty of fun. https://medium.com/pop-off/star-wars-novels-summer-2020-aedae4eb9d6d?source=friends_link&sk=da882f663da349a799cbed4d8c43cd83

The Clone Wars: Stores of Light and Dark does an amazing job of retelling Clone Wars stories, with the written format allowing authors to go more in-depth with how characters feel and what they are thinking. As an avid fan of the Clone Wars show, I was apprehensive to whether the stories in the book would simply reword what had already been in the show. I'm glad to say that is not the case at all, with each individual author adding insightful thoughts and character moments all around. Some stories in Light and Dark have completely changed my opinion on the arc within the show itself, and with some arcs I'll never look at them the same. I would highly recommend fans of The Clone Wars to read this book.

This is a great YA book, in a similar vein to From a Certain Point of View, but taking key episodes of The Clone Wars and re-writing then from a different first person.
There are a couple of little nods to the OT “I’m here to rescue you!” (as one example) and the episodes selected were all fairly iconic in the series.
The great thing about this is that you don’t have to have watched TCW to enjoy this. Each shirt story stands its own ground.
Without going into any spoilers, the short stories give great insight into the thoughts emotions and mindsets of the characters, adding richness to some of the episodes (if you recognise them) and depth to the prequel trilogy if you haven’t watched TCW.

Overall, a really solid read