Wayseeker

Over the years Star Wars has become a complicated beast, even the first film was a Space Opera that had a lot going on. Throw in various timelines and you have an epic on your hands, but some of the simpler stories are the ones that work the best. The Acolyte was series that expanded on The High Republic era of Star Wars set years before any Skywalker. Justina Ireland had the option to go full Space Opera with the tie in novel Star Wars: The Acolyte: Wayseeker, but instead created this well-structured two hander. 

Vernestra Rwoh is what is known as a Wayseeker, a Jedi who sets off to find their own path. She lets the force guide her to remote planets, helping the locals, rather than trying to be involved in intergalactic politics. It has been ten years, and the Jedi Council need Vernestra back. There is a specialist mission that they believe Vernestra will be able to deal with best. They send reclusive archivist Jedi Knight Indara to fetch her, not the best fit it would seem, but the Force works in mysterious ways. 

I enjoy an epic Star Wars tie in novel, but it is simpler tales like Wayseeker that I feel work even better. This is a simpler story told from two perspectives, the wise Vernerstra and the hesitant Indara. Although they are Master and Knight, the relationship has that Padawan feel to it. The book reads like a minor adventure in the Star Wars universe, and this is why it works. The Avengers are not sent out to solve every crime and you do not need all the Jedi Council to tackle a vicious arms dealer. 

The book is a science fiction crime thriller. Someone has kidnapped a scientist and is producing a device that can nullify lightsabres. Vernerstra and Indara follow the clues that take them to several planets. Their relationship builds as they start to discover more about one another. It was interesting to see the same event from the different perspectives; the chapters were slightly staggered so that you witnessed the last action again from the previous chapter through new eyes. 

Although the stakes do not initially appear universe shattering, the potential is there should the nullifying technology become widespread. This is an existential threat, but nebulous. To make the action hotter, Ireland has created an arms dealer that you can really grow to dislike. Entitled and evil, hopped up on Spice and power, this is a character who is unpredictable and creates many of the twists and shocks in the book. 

I enjoyed the focus and driven nature of Wayseeker. It contains characters that fans on the miniseries will recognise, but it is not packed with cameos from the wider cannon, although Yoda is present. It works well as a Star Wars book, even if you do not know the characters. The two protagonists follow the ways of the Jedi, but like with all the best Jedi, struggle. Vernerstra can balance love with being a Jedi, whilst Indara must come to terms with mistakes in her life. 

If you read more Star Wars and books, particularly on Jedi, it starts to become obvious that on the surface these Jedi may appear cool, but inside they are embroiled. Focussing on two characters allows Ireland to explore two ways of how a Jedi deals with being part of the order, whilst still allows for a fun, focussed, action thriller. Wayseeker feels like a Star Wars novel that tackles the universe on a smaller scale but works better for it.