Life got very busy, so it took me way longer to read than I planned, but I did finally finish Zoraida Córdova's Convergence as I try to catch up on The High Republic. I loved the book a lot! The beginning of the book has a lot to establish between plenty of new characters, the state of the galaxy and a big conflict between two planets, but by the end of the book I was all in on the characters and the story, and struggled to put it down sometimes! I found myself physically gasping or reacting to certain reveals, and I would definitely recommend this book to Star Wars fans who are looking for a star-crossed romance and fascinating character exploration.
Spoilers ahead for Convergence by Zoraida Córdova!
I have to talk about how much I loved Gella Nattai. I was really drawn in by her. She's a Jedi who is still trying to find her place within the Force and the Jedi Order. She loves being a Jedi, but she feels a bit unmoored as she's out in the galaxy. While she loves her Jedi peers, she tends to keep to herself and focus on her own meditation and solitude over making connections with others. I loved Gella's occasional awkwardness, and also how different of a role she plays in different groups. Among other Jedi she seems impulsive, while with other characters she seems much more straight-laced. I loved Gella's arc, and especially her sentiment about how being a Jedi is so core to who she is. At the end of the book she declares herself a Wayseeker, which I thought was a perfect ending for her.
Phan-Tu and Xiri were two characters I was very much on board with right away, and only grew more in love with throughout the book. Xiri is the princess (and military captain) of the desert planet E'ronoh, while Phan-Tu is the prince of the neighboring oceanic planet Eiram. Eiram and E'ronoh have been locked in war for generations, with both planets suffering greatly, yet peace always being out of reach because of long-held grudges and mistrust. However, Xiri crashes on Eiram after a conflict in the space between the planets during what is supposed to be a neutral supply exchange (sabotaged by the Path of the Open Hand once again causing trouble in the Phase II era). Her ship lands in the ocean, but being raised on a desert planet her whole life, Xiri is unable to swim. Phan-Tu jumps in the water and brings her to safety on the shore, but Xiri, of course, flips them over and pulls a knife on him.
It was early in the book, but funnily enough that was the scene that had me sold on this story. I was enjoying everything up to this, but it's hard to resist a classic set-up to star-crossed lovers on opposite sides of the war. Both are passionate about their worlds, but also want peace and are frustrated with older generations refusing to let go of past wounds. The two differ as well, with Xiri being the tough warrior from the desert while Phan-Tu has a softer kindness to him- though both are still strong-willed and compassionate.
After long debates and talks, Xiri and Phan-Tu have the idea to get married to unite their worlds. The pair go on a tour across both planets guarded by Gella Nattai and Axel Greylark (who we'll get to later), where they come up against varying sentiments on the union, as well as uncovering a conspiracy to try and disrupt it, which of course they're able to foil eventually. And along the way, naturally, Xiri and Phan-Tu do fall in love, and it is so, so sweet to see how their care for each other grows. I was very invested in their relationship and how their differing personalities made them stronger as one, which will no doubt help them in ruling their planet going forward.
Convergence is a classic fairytale in the truest sense. With princesses and princes, warring kingdoms, noble knights, it has everything you need to strike that balance between a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away and once upon a time in a kingdom far away.
Now finally, we have Axel Greylark.
It took me a little bit to warm up to Axel, I'll admit. He was an entertaining character, but presented himself as a careless, spoiled rich kid who got into trouble without a thought on the impact it has on others. He is the son of one of two chancellors, and uses that money and influence to his advantage, even when his mother is frustrated. But I quickly started to love the character. He still had his snarky sense of humor and "too good for this" attitude, but I felt like I could see how he cared for others and I learned a little more about his past and really felt for him.
So when it turns out that he was working for the Path the WHOLE TIME? I actually felt very betrayed by him on a personal level.
I don't hate Axel, though. I understood how he got to where he is, and I could see him struggling with morality and balancing the clear affection he had for characters like Gella and Phan-Tu with his assignments. The epilogue shows Axel in a Republic prison, though the Mother has reached out to contact him. I do hope we see Axel's inner conflict lead to him making the right choices in the future, though I fear it will be a long road for him.
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