Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for an e-Arc of Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark

In our household, Star Wars is a way of life, so words could not express my excitement when I was approved for this arc. 

My middle son is obsessed with The Clone Wars making this latest Anthology installment a must-read. Familiar faces lead you on adventures shedding new light and perspective on the stories you know and love, which I attribute to the uniqueness of each Author that has contributed to this book. 

Between the creative story and impressive art work, I recommend this book to all ages and fans of Star Wars!

Star wars the clone wars stories of Light and Dark is pretty much episodes of the T.v series in book format. To me this is great as i love the show and having the book allows me to enjoy the episodes when i cant be near a wifi connection and my library of shows. This is geared towards younger readers so the really dark episodes are not included which makes this great if you have a little jedi at home who loves stories from the galaxy far far away like me.

Admittedly when I first started reading this book, I thought I was going to get new stories from one of my favorite tv series. As I was reading I kept thinking "this is an episode I watched." Then the next one, the same thing happened. I looked it up and sure enough these are retellings of some of the more loved episodes or story arcs from the show. 

That didn't stop me from enjoying this new take. The additional details, especially for inner monologues were a fresh perspective. All the authors did a wonderful job at bringing the characters to life in print form as well. Fans of Star Wars and the Clone Wars should definitely give it a read, just know beforehand that there aren't any new stories being told.

“Rush not into fights. Long is the war. Only by surviving it will you prevail.”

– Yoda

Back in 2008, the idea of a Star Wars weekly cartoon was fresh and new in our heads. I would gather the kids (who were very small in those days) and we would have an adventure each week. The Clone Wars series grew and so did our kids. We followed all the way through, from the Battle of Christophsis to the Siege of Mandalore…

We return to the Clone War in this middle-grade anthology that is perfect for introducing younger readers to the world of The Clone Wars! I enjoy seeing a fresh perspective on something familiar and stories written to introduce new fans to the wonderful world of Star Wars!

The Clone Wars is such a vast and beautiful tapestry that the stories range far and wide. This anthology is no different. Each story and author brings a unique perspective to their telling and the voices each ring with their own unique tone.

In addition to the stunning cover of the book, each story has an illustration by Lorna-ka. I’ve been following her art since I started seeing her pieces of Star Wars Rebels and her style is nothing short of breathtaking. Her art is always so inspired and what she has done for this book is no different. It’s wonderful to see her art on a project like this and I’m super happy that she was able to lend her talents here and I hope to see her art on many more things in the future!

The clones.

At the crux of this war are the clones themselves. Bred only for war and called to action there are a lot of moral questions and ambiguity in their story. We see stories here not only through their eyes, but also the Jedi who fight with them, and even the separatists who fight against them. Yoda, who looks past their identical faces to see each individual for who they are. Rex, who fights and sacrifices so much alongside so many of his brothers. General Krell who sees them only as strategic pieces to be used and expended. The clones’ stories are such a tragic unique outlook on what these beings are.

Warriors? Brothers? Pawns? Friends? Leaders? Allies? Property?

It all comes down to who you ask. And what you see.

The stories range from heroes to Sith, senator to soldier, and Jedi to Nightsister. One thing these stories gives us that their The Clone Wars episodes doesn’t is telling us a story in their words, through their thoughts. Cad Bane recounts his adventures to his prison buddies. Dooku writes in his journal about his misadventures on Florrum. Maul speaks of his true legend. A youngling finds she has the bravery to become a Jedi. The first person stories offer such a unique insight from their storytellers that simply couldn’t be done in any other way.

I mean, c’mon… you KNOW you want to read Dooku’s diary…

While most of the stories are familiar to those who have watched The Clone Wars, there are still so many fresh insights and new details to be gleaned. There is one original story by one of my favorite people E. Anne Convery full of some Nightsister sorcery and storytelling and it is definitely my favorite thing. I love the mystery and wonder that a story can hold even in a galaxy full of spaceships and laser guns.

While the book is a middle-grade book and definitely geared towards that age group, Star Wars has that quality that transcends those limits.

Besides, only a Sith deals in absolutes anyway…

For those wanting to introduce younger readers to the Siege of Mandalore, or the Ohnaka Gang, or Padme’s pursuit of peace this book would probably be perfect! I love anthologies and I think this one has something for everyone!

– Sal P.

“I remember when you could trust a Jedi to at least give you a fair fight.

Well, times change.”

– Cad Bane

Descriptives 

Page count: Hardcover, 352 

Author: Various Authors 

Intended Audience: Ages 8-12 

Timeline: Follows Attack of the Clones, precedes Revenge of the Sith Main characters: All main characters from The Clone Wars 

Brief synopsis: The time of the Clone Wars is a period of great conflict, and this book shares some of the time’s greatest stories.

Gut Feeling 

I did not do my research on this book before reading it, so I didn’t know it was sort of a novelization of The Clone Wars. It obviously doesn’t cover the entire series, but some of the best stories from the series are told. I will say that the most popular arcs are not included, like Mortis, the Yoda arc, and Mandalore, but that is ok. I recognized some of the stories as my personal favorites, and I gained more appreciation for others. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster. I have been trying to rewatch the series, but as most of you know, it is a grind to do so. There are a ton of episodes, and some of them can be filler. This book is a great alternative to rewatching the series because it gave me a different perspective on some of the best episodes and arcs. Even though this book’s intended audience is young, I really enjoyed the read. The only downside is that the writing was simple (as it should be because of the intended audience) and there weren’t any new plot points within the stories. However, I didn’t expect there to be, I’m just being nit picky. I enjoyed the book so let’s get into the details.

Characters (8/10 pts) 

This book covers a wide array of characters. We get stories from the perspective of protagonists, antagonists, Force users, and non-Force users. Because of that, there are many chances for characters to develop. However, because there are no new scenes added, there aren’t moments where characters can develop, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t develop within the scenes we are already familiar with. The book gives us a glimpse into what characters are thinking throughout the story, which lets us learn more about them. This is the obvious advantage of novels over movies and TV shows, and this book definitely took advantage of it. Another tool used in this book was developing characters through the perspective of others. We can learn a lot about a character about how another thinks of them. For example, Darth Vader got great character development in Rebels by how Kanan and Ezra reacted to being around him. This is how a character’s reputation is established. This book certainly did that for several characters (Ahsoka is the main one I think of). So, overall, despite not being able to add new scenes to the stories, the authors of this book did a great job developing characters. I am giving 8 points for this section.

Writing Style (8.25/10 pts) 

There are a multitude of authors that wrote this book, this means that there are a multitude of writing styles. A lot of times when there is a book written by multiple authors, it is preferable that it seems like it is written by one author. However, considering this book, I’m glad that it was obvious it was written by different authors. Each chapter had its own style and it made the writing feel fresh and new. The stories were told in the traditional third person, first person from  the protagonist’s viewpoint, and also first person from a secondary character’s viewpoint. Because we are already familiar with the stories, switching up how the stories were told kept it interesting. It is also important to note that the book is written for children, so the style overall is much simpler than what most of us are accustomed to. But I would be remiss to take away points for that. Overall, the writing style was slightly better than what I expected so I am giving 8.25 points.

Plot (7/10 pts) 

I’ve mentioned it before, but the book doesn’t really add anything new to the plot that we are already familiar with and was already set in stone from the TV show. In novelizations, I usually look at what the book added to the plot with extra scenes. This can pull the entire stories together and fill in missing gaps. This book does not do that, but it didn’t really need to as the stories within the TV shows are more fleshed out than the movies. But this still means that the book won’t score great in this section because it is just retelling stories. However, there are still a couple reasons why this book will gain some points back. First, it pulled from the best stories within the series. If it pulled some from some of less popular arcs, the plot would not have been as strong. Second, the stories were told from different angles. This gives a different perspective on the story that we are already familiar with. This gives us a more complete understanding of what is happening. These are what the book did well, but it doesn’t fully overcome not being able to add new scenes. I am giving 7 points.

 Intrigue (9/10 pts) 

There were a multitude of things that added to the book’s intrigue making it the strongest section. First, because the stories told were some of the best within the series, there weren’t many low points in the book. Each chapter, which each included a different story, had an exciting story! They all had a slight build up with an exciting and climatic ending. Second, because most of us will be familiar with the story, it makes the reading go by easier. For the most part, we know what to expect while reading so it is easier to comprehend. Third, because the writing style is simple, it is not difficult to read much of the book in one sitting. If you are an active reader, this is certainly one that you can read in a single day or just a few days. However, because nothing new is added, I understand why that could take away from the intrigue. That is the one downside and is keeping the book from scoring even higher. Despite that, I am still giving a strong score of 9 points. 

What does it add? (6.25/10 pts) 

This is where the book is going to get its first real weak score. While I really enjoyed the read, it doesn’t really add anything new to the Star Wars universe. It is retelling stories that already exist within the universe and doesn’t add any new scenes. However, that doesn’t mean that the book adds absolutely nothing. Through some of the characters’ thoughts, specifically Yoda, we do learn a little more about using the Force. However, it really isn’t that substantial. This leaves the score for this section to be only 6.25 points, but it shouldn’t deter you from reading it.

Logic (0 pts) 

There is nothing in The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark that added to nor took away from the logic within the Star Wars universe. So, I am neither adding nor taking away extra points. 

Final Thoughts 

So, my final score for The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is a 7.7/10, or a C plus. This rating is slightly below average what I give Star Wars novels, but please don’t let that deter you from reading the book. If you love The Clone Wars, this is a great trip down memory lane! It is a much easier alternative than rewatching the entire series. Also, if you have not gotten a chance to watch the series, this also serves as a great introduction to the series. It highlights what makes the series so good. It is a quick and easy read and as long as you have even any interest in reading it, I think you’ll enjoy it! The only reason I can think of for you not wanting to read it is if you want something new to Star Wars. If so, there are other options available to youo. But I enjoyed this book, and it is likely that you will too.

Personally, one of my very favorite characters in the franchise is Padmé, and I jump at almost any chance to read more about her. As such, reading Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark has been so fun! Not only does the anthology include one-shots throughout the TV show’s timespan, featuring characters like Padmé, Ventress, Bane, & Darth Maul, but it also includes some fantastic authors, such as Zoraida Córdova, Jason Fry, and Rebecca Roanhorse. I have loved reading it, and almost feel like I’m back watching extra episodes of the TV show when I read it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to revisit one of my favorite shows (as well as giving me a glimpse into one of my favorite Mandalorian Duchesses 😉)! So excited for its Pub Day tomorrow, 8/25!

A decent collection of stories showing different perspectives of key events from the excellent tv series, The Clone Wars.  Not my favourite Star Wars collection since I found some of the stories to be a bit to much of a rehash of an episode but still an entertaining read by a number of great authors.

If you’re a fan of the Star Wars: The Cline Wars series, the stories in this book will feel familiar. That’s both good and bad. Some of the stories come off like a novelization of existing Clone Wars episodes without adding anything to the experience. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy reading it. But I already get enough of someone commentating. exactly what is going on in real time while we’re watching from my 6 year old son.

If you’re trying to decide between this book and another book, maybe skip this one. If you really want to relive Clone Wars episodes in print form, this will be your jam.

The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is a short story collection of Clone Wars episodes. This collection retells episodes from new perspectives and has one brand new story to tell as well.

I have to be honest, I did not expect much going in to this novel. I am baffled why this impressive list of authors were asked to retell stories, when they could have created new ones for us to enjoy. My assumptions were correct. This book does not bring much to the table, and did not even use what I would consider to be the best episodes of the Clone Wars. 

All is not lost though, I did enjoy getting in to Kenobi’s head during Kenobi’s Shadow and Maul’s retelling of his encounter with Obi-Wan in Dark Vengeance. Stories like the two previously mentioned are written well, I’m just not sure what purpose they serve.

I will mention that the brand new story “Bug” was not included in my review copy, I am unsure why that is, but I will be eagerly awaiting the release so that I can check it out. 

Overall, I believe this is a missed opportunity. I understand that it is a middle grade novel, but I think a whole collection of new stories would have been great for fans young and old. I recommend this to a younger audience who has yet to see The Clone Wars series, but I can not recommend to anyone else. I give it a 2 out of 5 stars. 

*Thank you to Disney Publishing for an early review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc to review.

First things first, please be aware that this is a collection of short stories based on actual episodes of the Clone Wars show. I was initially disappointed because I was inunder the mistaken impression that these were all new stories set in-universe. So imagine my dismay when upon starting the first story in the book, about Yoda and 3 clone troopers I immediately recognized the story as being an actual episode of the Clone Wars.

After that initial disappointment subsided I proceeded to thoroughly enjoy the book. As with all collections some stories are stronger than others, but all in all, if you are a fan of the series and would like to revisit some of the stories from an alternate viewpoint than the actual episode this is your book.

I especially enjoyed Captain Rex's story and also Asajj Ventress's.

If you liked From a Certain Point of View, you’ll love Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Stories of Light and Dark, which is in the same vane as the former. This book has a great variety of stories from The Clone Wars, told from the perspective of many fan-favorite characters. Every story starts with a beautiful illustration of the character that the story focuses on, which is a great way to signal the reader as to the topic before reading a single word. Even though these stories were retellings of episodes of The Clone Wars, they didn’t feel redundant in any way. I enjoyed all of the stories, but my favorite in particular was “The Shadow of Umbara” by Yoon Ha Lee. That arc was one of my favorites of the entire show, and to get a retelling of it entirely from Captain Rex’s perspective was enjoyable for me. Overall, this book is a terrific read for any fan of The Clone Wars.

This book is a straightforward, faithful adaptation of The Clone Wars episodes with not much content outside their animated counterparts. At its best, the stories add some depth through their main characters' inner thoughts and perspectives. The "Pursuit of Peace" and "The Lost Nightsister" are the standouts in this respect. The NetGalley copy did not include "Bug," which is the the original story in the book.

If you're a fan of The Clone Wars and want to relive your favorite episodes in short story form, this book is for you.

As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I couldn't be happier that Netgalley has allowed me to read this ARC!  A huge THANK YOU to you!

I have been reading Star Wars anthologies since "A Certain Point of View."  That collection set a high standard for me.  I am pleased to report that The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark was just as fantastic, if not better!  I LOVED the Clone Wars: the series and everything about this collection is fantastic.  What makes this unique is that though we know what happened during the Clone Wars, we haven't seen everyone's perspectives on it.  Therefore, what a treat it is to read the lesser characters achieve their spotlight!  Hear their stories and see the war from their point of view! 

I already ordered a hardback copy and will be getting the Audible version as well to hear Matt Lanter narrate!  Zoraida Cordova is a fantastic author as well!  I'm hoping they create more! 

Perhaps a Rebels anthology.....?

In “Star Wars: The Clone Wars¬¬—Stories of Light and Dark,” eleven talented authors combine to deliver a fitting tribute to a much beloved (and much binged) element of the Star Wars franchise. While there are no new stories here—each chapter closely follows an episode or an arc from the television series—the authors take advantage of the short-story anthology format to present new and interesting perspectives on what we’ve already seen. While I wouldn't have minded some new adventures sprinkled in (like we got from the first "From a Certain Point of View"), what we do get is a fresh look inside the heads of some of the series’ most beloved characters, highlighting their motivations, their fears, and personalities in a way that’s both suitable for younger readers and rewarding for older fans. A must read for fans of the show.

If you love Star Wars, and especially the television show The Clone Wars, then you will absolutely love this little anthology.

This series of stories is set in The Clone Wars timeline, and man is it good. We visit many familiar faces and continue learning more about their stories. Yoda, Padme, Ahsoka, so many good characters are revisited! It's a great way for nostalgic feeling for old fans and a great way to make new ones. It is also an amazing way to dive into some old stories in a new light. Especially with a variety of new authors to check out since they each bring their own spunk to this marvellous universe.

I highly recommend picking this book up if you love Star Wars! I loved sneaking back into the magical world I grew up with. 

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Clone Wars Stories of Light and Dark (Mostly Spoiler Free) Review

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney for supplying the advanced copy! 

When I first heard about this middle-grade book, I was cautiously excited. On the one hand we would be returning to The Clone Wars but on the other hand, we would mostly be getting retellings of older stories with the addition of one completely original story. 

Thankfully this book exceeded all my expectations. Each chapter takes on a different Clone Wars episode or story arc but none of them are simple retellings. Rather, each story features a first-person narrative from one character involved in the respective episodes, adding depth and richness to the Clone Wars.

For example, the first story is a Yoda-focused adaptation of Ambush, the first episode of The Clone Wars. Contemplating Yoda’s thoughts about the clones while they doubt themselves is captivating and makes the story worth visiting, even if you are a fan of the show and have seen the episode. Plus, prepare for some cool extra bonus Yoda scenes. Each story mines for similar insights, making them all worth reading. 

Two of the best stories are seen through the eyes of unexpected characters. The Obi-Wan bounty hunter arc is shared through the eyes of Cad Bane which provides a unique perspective. Perhaps the most random perspective is that of Katooni, one of the padawans who ran into Hondo after undertaking the trials on Ilum. Reading that story imbued with her thoughts made for a rewarding and fun experience.

None of this is to say the book was perfect for me. It is a middle-grade book and sometimes that was evident in the writing. If you can get past that and the fact that only one of the stories is an original, then you are golden and should definitely check this book out. Despite the middle-grade writing, this book captures the Star Wars and Clone Wars magic for all audiences.

8.5/10

Disclaimer: The original story, the Nightsister-centric “Bug” was not included in the advanced copy but if it is anywhere near the quality of the rest of the book, it is sure to be great.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, recounts important events from the eyes of favorite characters. Basically, you get a bit more insight into some of the big episodes from The Clone Wars series.

I have not finished the series yet (I know... but I’m almost done👍🏼) so I’m assuming the later stories are also like the beginning ones and part of the show, but can’t confirm. Regardless, I liked reading them.

This is a middle grade book, so for me, the stories were easy to get through and it was a fast read. As they were short stories, there wasn’t a lot to them, but again, I thought they were well written and I loved jumping back into the universe.

I do think you should read this with the show. The show is amazing, and dare I say, better than the movies. To get the full experience of the short stories, it is nice to have the full timeline and set of events.

This will be available on 25AUG2020

Fans of The Clone Wars, unite! It seems that every time The Clone Wars fades away, it returns triumphantly. From the Lost Episodes on Netflix to the novel Dark Disciple to season 7 on Disney+, it's the story that keeps on giving. That tradition continued with Stories of Light and Dark.

This collection of short stories takes some of the most famous arcs from the television series and hands the reigns over to new authors for re-telling. Not only was it fun to re-live some of the best moments from the series, it was refreshing to get such beloved stories from a new perspective. First-person Cad Bane? Yes, please!

I sincerely hope that there will be more stories to come. Whether in short story format or in a full-length novel like Dark Disciple by Christie Golden, these stories just have a way of grabbing the reader from the very first word and effortlessly throwing them into that galaxy far, far away.

While the TV series may be officially over, there are still many, many more stories to be told (and re-told) from The Clone Wars. Here's to getting some of them with this collection, and here's to getting many more in the future.

Long live The Clone Wars!

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is a fresh take on the animated series that has become a often-binged staple of Star Wars fans young and old. A talented stable of authors has adapted iconic episodes and story-arcs for inclusion in this anthology. Some are from a different character’s perspective from what we see in the tv show: the Senate hostage crisis is told from Anakin’s point of view rather than Padmé’s, for example. Other stories are told in a first-person-POV so as to lend a heavily-stylized slant to the familiar story. This is at the same time interesting, entertaining, and surprising—especially when we get inside the mind of a character such as Count Dooku! 

As is to be expected with a collection of short stories, some stories work better than others. In this case, Rebecca Roanhorse’s Darth Maul story especially a standout for its deliciously dark grasp of the character and its gravitas. 

The story isn’t all adaptations, though. One original Clone Wars story was written specifically for this book. While more original stories as opposed to adaptations would have been welcome, all in all this is a very entertaining and delightful Star Wars book, giving insight into the minds of several characters who are underserved in Star Wars storytelling, such as Yoda, Asajj Ventress, and Count Dooku.

I would recommend this book to younger readers looking for something quick, fun, and digestible; for fans of the Clone Wars; as well as for long-time fans as an example of a fresh perspective in Star Wars storytelling.

Thank you to Disney/Lucasfilm Press and Netgalley for the early review edition.

'The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark' retells some of the classic animated Star Wars stories and unfortunately is nothing more than an adaptation.

The approach of some authors (Rebecca Ronahorse, Lou Anders) allows you to look at famous stories from a slightly different perspective, but a lot of stories are just dry repetition of the series.

If you are a Star Wars fan, I recommend that you spend your time and money on some other, more interesting books, which have been published recently.