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Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy #2
Greater Good
Thrawn and his allies race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy in the second book in the epic Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy from best-selling author Timothy Zahn.
Thrawn's latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. Despite leading the Chiss to victory and bringing glory to the House of Mitth, the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, or mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally.
Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the enemy plot, they discover a chilling truth: rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage their resources, they strike at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters most to them: the security of their family, or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.
Thrawn's latest triumph still rests newly on his shoulders. Despite leading the Chiss to victory and bringing glory to the House of Mitth, the true threat to the Ascendancy has not yet been extinguished. Their foes do not send threats or ultimatums, or mass ships on the edge of the Chaos. Their weapons come cloaked in smiles and generosity: gifts offered freely. Services granted unconditionally.
Across the Ascendancy, seemingly inconsequential events could herald the doom of the Chiss. As Thrawn and the Expansionary Defense Fleet rally to uncover the enemy plot, they discover a chilling truth: rather than invade Chiss capitals or pillage their resources, they strike at the very foundation of the Ascendancy, seeking to widen the rifts between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses below. As rivalry and suspicion sow discord among allies, each warrior must decide what matters most to them: the security of their family, or the survival of the Ascendancy itself.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published April 27, 2021
895 people are currently reading
9894 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Zahn
482 books8,436 followersTimothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 849 reviews
August 16, 2025
A great book. Once again, Zahn delivers on Thrawn. I had one complaint about this book. There was not enough Thrawn in the book. Though this can be forgiven as it did give more insight into the Ascendancy and the other Chiss characters. As well as the mysterious puppet master who has declared war on the Chiss. Even the "memories" section of this book is about the villains rather than about Thrawn in the last book.
Thrawn has made some high-ranking enemies within his own people, who send him on a mission destined to fail. However, as Thrawn says, "the odds are never impossible, just unfavourable." Though there is an even bigger threat that the Chriss are not even aware of.
I liked this book, but I did prefer the first book. This one does set the stage for an attack on the Ascendancy. I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next. What is it that causes Thrawn to finally leave his people, and what family secrets are hinted at the end of this book?
Thrawn has made some high-ranking enemies within his own people, who send him on a mission destined to fail. However, as Thrawn says, "the odds are never impossible, just unfavourable." Though there is an even bigger threat that the Chriss are not even aware of.
I liked this book, but I did prefer the first book. This one does set the stage for an attack on the Ascendancy. I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next. What is it that causes Thrawn to finally leave his people, and what family secrets are hinted at the end of this book?
August 1, 2021
Where did her loyalties lie? She'd sworn an oath to the fleet and the Ascendancy, but she was also a member of the Xodlak family.Greater Good picks up a few months after the end of Chaos Rising. The Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet is sweeping up the remaining groups of the defeated Nikardun, unaware that behind the Nikardun was a greater villain, Jixtus, pulling the strings. This second novel centers on an elaborate plan being implemented by Jixtus to try to foment a civil war between the Nine Ruling Families and the Forty Great Houses of the Chiss Ascendency. Meanwhile, for reasons that are not always clear, Thrawn’s enemies both within and without the Mitth family still plotting to take him down….
…
Again with respect, sir, if you listen to me on anything, please listen to me on this. If Thrawn gets involved in this operation, it's over. And not in a good way.
Greater Good has many of the hallmarks of Mr. Zahn’s earlier Thrawn novels. It’s elaborately plotted, telling one story in the present and a related one from the past in alternating chapters. Once again, there are some strong supporting characters, most notably Senior Captain Lakinda of the Xodlak family. And the story builds to a solid finish with an interesting cliffhanger.
But Greater Good a couple of significant flaws. The whole Haplif/Yoponek/Yomie storyline may be necessary for the plot, but it is pretty tedious and forces the reader to spend a lot of time with some fairly obnoxious characters. Far worse is this: for a series that’s literally titled “Thrawn Ascendancy,” Senior Captain Thrawn plays a shockingly small role in this novel. Developing these other characters and plot lines may have been for the “greater good” of the series (see what I did there? 😄), but the lack of Thrawn here leaves this novel as a disappointing entry in the series.
May 12, 2021
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh...
This book is so mind-numbing... Like, really, REALLY mind-numbing. It's boring. It's pointless. It's redundant. It's basically the exact same book that Zahn published last year with a different cover on it. And again. AGAIN. Thrawn is a relatively MINOR side character in his own damn story!!! His name is on the cover of the book. His name on the cover of the book is BIGGER than the Star Wars logo!!! Why the hell isn't the book ABOUT HIM!!!
Instead, we have this really long, and really stupid plotline about some alien trying to start a Chiss civil war by... growing spices on a farm, and handing out jewelry... for about 2/3 of the entire book. 2/3 of the entire book is about this boring, pointless garbage that ultimately is pretty freaking pointless in the end, while Thrawn is off on a busywork errand without a single chapter in the entire freaking book from his point of view.
Unfortunately, the annoying and boring navigator and her annoying and boring minder from the first book are back and featuring prominently. Again. For some reason.
Remember when Star Wars was Star Wars, and Timothy Zahn could write a good Star Wars Story? Yeah. Me too. Those were good times. Too bad those good times are pretty well over and done with.
Skip it.
Just skip it.
Don't read it.
Don't support it.
Skip it.
It's not worth your time.
it's not worth your money.
Do yourself a favor.
And just skip it.
Oh yeah, and why is it that so many people in authority over Thrawn hate him so much? There's never really an adequate explanation of the reasons behind it. There's one guy. ONE. GUY. Who is shown to have actual reasons for disliking him, which he explains at the end of the book, added on top of the fact that he was demoted to make way for Thrawn in the first book. His first officer. Everyone else just dislikes him because it's required of them by the plot. When there is no other reason for something happening than because the plot says it's that way, you've pretty well failed at telling a story.
This book is so mind-numbing... Like, really, REALLY mind-numbing. It's boring. It's pointless. It's redundant. It's basically the exact same book that Zahn published last year with a different cover on it. And again. AGAIN. Thrawn is a relatively MINOR side character in his own damn story!!! His name is on the cover of the book. His name on the cover of the book is BIGGER than the Star Wars logo!!! Why the hell isn't the book ABOUT HIM!!!
Instead, we have this really long, and really stupid plotline about some alien trying to start a Chiss civil war by... growing spices on a farm, and handing out jewelry... for about 2/3 of the entire book. 2/3 of the entire book is about this boring, pointless garbage that ultimately is pretty freaking pointless in the end, while Thrawn is off on a busywork errand without a single chapter in the entire freaking book from his point of view.
Unfortunately, the annoying and boring navigator and her annoying and boring minder from the first book are back and featuring prominently. Again. For some reason.
Remember when Star Wars was Star Wars, and Timothy Zahn could write a good Star Wars Story? Yeah. Me too. Those were good times. Too bad those good times are pretty well over and done with.
Skip it.
Just skip it.
Don't read it.
Don't support it.
Skip it.
It's not worth your time.
it's not worth your money.
Do yourself a favor.
And just skip it.
Oh yeah, and why is it that so many people in authority over Thrawn hate him so much? There's never really an adequate explanation of the reasons behind it. There's one guy. ONE. GUY. Who is shown to have actual reasons for disliking him, which he explains at the end of the book, added on top of the fact that he was demoted to make way for Thrawn in the first book. His first officer. Everyone else just dislikes him because it's required of them by the plot. When there is no other reason for something happening than because the plot says it's that way, you've pretty well failed at telling a story.
October 5, 2021
This is part of a series and must be read in order. In this one, we still continue our time with Thrawn serving the Chiss Ascendancy. We also see the political machinations of the different families that belong to the Ascendancy.
Unnecessary. That would be the word I would use for this book. Even now I am having a difficult time stating what this book was about because nothing of importance happened. If I had to break it down I guess I would say the Chiss have an enemy. We don't know who it is (I have an inkling) and this enemy uses political machinations in an attempt to thwart the Chiss. That is what we needed. A Star Wars offering that is based on political maneuverings because that worked so well for The Phantom Menace. I wouldn't even mind it so much but the base for these plans were a little outlandish. The antagonist's plan was to use jewelry for the impetus of his plan. Really? That is how we are going to attack the Chiss? With jewelry? To make matters worse this is a book about Thrawn and Thrawn is hardly in it. It was more about the families of the ruling parties or about two teenagers of the Chiss taking a year off to wander about.
I am not the biggest fan of the Thrawn series but in each book there has been something there that I can enjoy. Not this book. I knew this book was not enjoyable when I was two thirds into it and I had no idea how to summarize this book if I had to. The writing was fine. It was just the subject matter as I feel like it was more or less a waste of time. Definitely the worst Thrawn offering so far.
Unnecessary. That would be the word I would use for this book. Even now I am having a difficult time stating what this book was about because nothing of importance happened. If I had to break it down I guess I would say the Chiss have an enemy. We don't know who it is (I have an inkling) and this enemy uses political machinations in an attempt to thwart the Chiss. That is what we needed. A Star Wars offering that is based on political maneuverings because that worked so well for The Phantom Menace. I wouldn't even mind it so much but the base for these plans were a little outlandish. The antagonist's plan was to use jewelry for the impetus of his plan. Really? That is how we are going to attack the Chiss? With jewelry? To make matters worse this is a book about Thrawn and Thrawn is hardly in it. It was more about the families of the ruling parties or about two teenagers of the Chiss taking a year off to wander about.
I am not the biggest fan of the Thrawn series but in each book there has been something there that I can enjoy. Not this book. I knew this book was not enjoyable when I was two thirds into it and I had no idea how to summarize this book if I had to. The writing was fine. It was just the subject matter as I feel like it was more or less a waste of time. Definitely the worst Thrawn offering so far.
April 27, 2021
Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Book II: Greater Good) suffers from “middle book fatigue” but offers up compelling political intrigue, expansive world-building, and a healthy dose of battle strategy. (READ MORE: https://yourmoneygeek.com/star-wars-t...)
With the triumph of Thrawn’s latest victory for the Chiss resting on his shoulders, he and his allies find themselves in a race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy that has yet to be extinguished. But the enemy is almost as clever as the Sherlockian-like Thrawn, opting to further the rifts between the ruling families, rather than attack them among the stars in battle.
These enemies bring some of the most interesting elements within the novel, revealing their infiltration through rich flashbacks. If you enjoy familial drama, then the rivalries between the ruling Chiss families will captivate you.
While the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy boasts the fan-favorite Thrawn as the central character, his own story often takes the backseat in terms of narrative structure. Thrawn is the sun of the trilogy and the books are simply exploring the characters that are caught in his orbit. The plots that do directly relate to Thrawn feel lackluster — we’re told about his flaws, but they never fully come into play.
Zahn is a master at creating characters and Greater Good has a plethora of interesting characters that interact with each other in various ways, but I was still left wanting to know more about them. When so much of the story is driven by character choices and conflict, having so many uniquely different characters can be frustrating.
You might be intimidated by the size of Greater Good, but Timothy Zahn has a true genius for writing prose that keeps you engaged with it’s fast-paced style. At times the story wanders away from the central plot, to the extent that key factors set-up in the first half of the book are forgotten by the second half, but it ultimately manages to tie it together in the end.
I have a passing interest in Thrawn and his exploits, so Greater Good falls somewhere within my “good Star Wars books” ranking. It’s a fun read, with intriguing characters, but in the end it’s just alright for me. The Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy started strong with Chaos Rising, however Greater Good has left me hoping it can pull off a strong finish.
Whatever my qualms with Thrawn Ascendancy, there is something truly special about having a series written by Timothy Zahn about a character that he created thirty years ago in Heir to the Empire. Nine years ago this month, Disney’s acquisition de-canonized the Expanded Universe and Grand Admiral Thrawn, but — against all odds — he was brought back to the canon through Star Wars: Rebels, The Mandalorian, and his own novelizations.
For fans of Thrawn, the Thrawn Ascendancy and all of Timothy Zahn’s work is a dream come true and this trilogy is bound to find a special place on the bookshelves of Star Wars fans.
With the triumph of Thrawn’s latest victory for the Chiss resting on his shoulders, he and his allies find themselves in a race to save the Chiss Ascendancy from an unseen enemy that has yet to be extinguished. But the enemy is almost as clever as the Sherlockian-like Thrawn, opting to further the rifts between the ruling families, rather than attack them among the stars in battle.
These enemies bring some of the most interesting elements within the novel, revealing their infiltration through rich flashbacks. If you enjoy familial drama, then the rivalries between the ruling Chiss families will captivate you.
While the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy boasts the fan-favorite Thrawn as the central character, his own story often takes the backseat in terms of narrative structure. Thrawn is the sun of the trilogy and the books are simply exploring the characters that are caught in his orbit. The plots that do directly relate to Thrawn feel lackluster — we’re told about his flaws, but they never fully come into play.
Zahn is a master at creating characters and Greater Good has a plethora of interesting characters that interact with each other in various ways, but I was still left wanting to know more about them. When so much of the story is driven by character choices and conflict, having so many uniquely different characters can be frustrating.
You might be intimidated by the size of Greater Good, but Timothy Zahn has a true genius for writing prose that keeps you engaged with it’s fast-paced style. At times the story wanders away from the central plot, to the extent that key factors set-up in the first half of the book are forgotten by the second half, but it ultimately manages to tie it together in the end.
I have a passing interest in Thrawn and his exploits, so Greater Good falls somewhere within my “good Star Wars books” ranking. It’s a fun read, with intriguing characters, but in the end it’s just alright for me. The Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy started strong with Chaos Rising, however Greater Good has left me hoping it can pull off a strong finish.
Whatever my qualms with Thrawn Ascendancy, there is something truly special about having a series written by Timothy Zahn about a character that he created thirty years ago in Heir to the Empire. Nine years ago this month, Disney’s acquisition de-canonized the Expanded Universe and Grand Admiral Thrawn, but — against all odds — he was brought back to the canon through Star Wars: Rebels, The Mandalorian, and his own novelizations.
For fans of Thrawn, the Thrawn Ascendancy and all of Timothy Zahn’s work is a dream come true and this trilogy is bound to find a special place on the bookshelves of Star Wars fans.
Want to read
October 29, 2020This may be one of the greatest Star Wars covers ever.
May 2, 2021
I'm a fan of Timothy Zahn and have enjoyed all of his Thrawn books. As a matter of fact, I think Thrawn might be my favorite non-Lucas-created Star Wars character. But the first Thrawn Ascendancy book was just okay for me and this second just wasn't very good at all.
There was a lot about this book that went wrong. There were elbows all over the place in this story. Many moons ago, when Zahn introduced us to Thrawn, he gave his character this long, intricate name, based on his family name, personal name and and occupation/clan/2nd name, each part separated by an apostrophe. Each character also had a shortened version of their name that made storytelling more practical by using the last few letters of the clan name, the given name and a letter or two from the occupation/clan. To Zahn's thinking, I'm sure he wanted to separate Thrawn from the known Star Wars galaxy and make him somewhat exotic and different. When it was just Thrawn, that wasn't a problem. But in this series, the stories take place in the Chiss Ascendancy and so we have a large cast of Chiss characters.
On board ships within the fleet, that isn't too big of a problem. Many of the families can be mixed into the crew. But on the planets of the Chiss, and within their political spheres, many, if not all of the characters in a scene have the first few letters in their names. In particular, much of this story takes place among the family Xolak, so all of the common names for every characters start with L-A-K. It's ridiculous. This story didn't have the greatest pace to start with but the tediousness of trying to remember which Lak-name was which was beyond aggravating. It's a hole Zahn dug himself into a long time ago and I'm not sure how he could have changed it now but he should have tried something. There are at least 10 characters of consequence in this book whose name starts with Lak. It's disruptive. Constantly.
The book is centered more around Chiss politics and the families and their desires to move up in status or hold on to status. Look: there are a lot of really good political intrigue books out there. The backstabbing, the manipulation, the intricacy--it can be great fodder for a story. Zahn tries but fails to make it work here. There's a subtleness to the con going on in the background that's done well and I like that it wasn't too convoluted, but honestly, it could have used a few more layers and a bit more oomph. I won't spoil the plot here, but if I told you what this story was about, you probably wouldn't be interested enough to read it.
The good? Zahn shines when he let's his Thrawn character out of the box. The space battles, the strategies, the way he dissects a situation to it's core in a matter of minutes--sometimes seconds--and employs his defense or attack is always fun. I wish there had been more of that. This book splits between a bunch of perspectives, including back and forth in time. It's too much of everyone else and not enough of Thrawn. His role is largely diminished in this book--the parts where he was featured read with pace and interest. The rest? Did not.
When it comes to Star Wars books, I feel like you have to read them just have a full understanding of things going on in other areas (the new movies, the streaming shows, the other books, etc.) and missing one potentially tears you out of the loop. So, for that reason alone, I suspect you should read this one but don't rush to it. If you can get this from the library you'll probably be less salty than I am after paying for it. And maybe this is worth reading along with something else. It's an easy enough book to put down and there's nothing challenging enough to get through if you come back sporadically other than the name issue which will be an issue even if you read it straight though.
So it's a solid 2 stars for me. I don't recommend it as a book you might enjoy, but perhaps as a necessary evil for understanding the full background of a great character who is going to play a part in many of the new projects in the works. I expect better from Zahn.
There was a lot about this book that went wrong. There were elbows all over the place in this story. Many moons ago, when Zahn introduced us to Thrawn, he gave his character this long, intricate name, based on his family name, personal name and and occupation/clan/2nd name, each part separated by an apostrophe. Each character also had a shortened version of their name that made storytelling more practical by using the last few letters of the clan name, the given name and a letter or two from the occupation/clan. To Zahn's thinking, I'm sure he wanted to separate Thrawn from the known Star Wars galaxy and make him somewhat exotic and different. When it was just Thrawn, that wasn't a problem. But in this series, the stories take place in the Chiss Ascendancy and so we have a large cast of Chiss characters.
On board ships within the fleet, that isn't too big of a problem. Many of the families can be mixed into the crew. But on the planets of the Chiss, and within their political spheres, many, if not all of the characters in a scene have the first few letters in their names. In particular, much of this story takes place among the family Xolak, so all of the common names for every characters start with L-A-K. It's ridiculous. This story didn't have the greatest pace to start with but the tediousness of trying to remember which Lak-name was which was beyond aggravating. It's a hole Zahn dug himself into a long time ago and I'm not sure how he could have changed it now but he should have tried something. There are at least 10 characters of consequence in this book whose name starts with Lak. It's disruptive. Constantly.
The book is centered more around Chiss politics and the families and their desires to move up in status or hold on to status. Look: there are a lot of really good political intrigue books out there. The backstabbing, the manipulation, the intricacy--it can be great fodder for a story. Zahn tries but fails to make it work here. There's a subtleness to the con going on in the background that's done well and I like that it wasn't too convoluted, but honestly, it could have used a few more layers and a bit more oomph. I won't spoil the plot here, but if I told you what this story was about, you probably wouldn't be interested enough to read it.
The good? Zahn shines when he let's his Thrawn character out of the box. The space battles, the strategies, the way he dissects a situation to it's core in a matter of minutes--sometimes seconds--and employs his defense or attack is always fun. I wish there had been more of that. This book splits between a bunch of perspectives, including back and forth in time. It's too much of everyone else and not enough of Thrawn. His role is largely diminished in this book--the parts where he was featured read with pace and interest. The rest? Did not.
When it comes to Star Wars books, I feel like you have to read them just have a full understanding of things going on in other areas (the new movies, the streaming shows, the other books, etc.) and missing one potentially tears you out of the loop. So, for that reason alone, I suspect you should read this one but don't rush to it. If you can get this from the library you'll probably be less salty than I am after paying for it. And maybe this is worth reading along with something else. It's an easy enough book to put down and there's nothing challenging enough to get through if you come back sporadically other than the name issue which will be an issue even if you read it straight though.
So it's a solid 2 stars for me. I don't recommend it as a book you might enjoy, but perhaps as a necessary evil for understanding the full background of a great character who is going to play a part in many of the new projects in the works. I expect better from Zahn.
November 21, 2023
This is truly a fun story. A story about intelligence, deceit, politics and strategy. Awesome how things end up coming together.
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May 15, 2021
#1 Chaos Rising: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
*
I thiiiiink I read Greater Good at the wrong time in my life? I didn't really connect to the story or cared much about what was going on with all the different perspectives. Thrawn and Thalias and Ar'alani were still fantastic characters, though, and the final chapters were the best part of the book.
*
I thiiiiink I read Greater Good at the wrong time in my life? I didn't really connect to the story or cared much about what was going on with all the different perspectives. Thrawn and Thalias and Ar'alani were still fantastic characters, though, and the final chapters were the best part of the book.
July 19, 2021
Most of my quibbles here I have already quibbled in my review of the previous book, so I'll spare you.
Thrawn Ascendant
This time out the future Imperial Grand Admiral (as mentioned on The Mandalorian! Exciting!) almost felt like a side character as we spend much less time in close proximity to him and the few characters who are close to him, such as Ar'alani and Thalias. Instead we spend probably altogether too much time hanging out with a new and devious adversary named Haplif of the Agbui as well as a group of alien refugees who seem pretty nonchalant about their continued existence following the seeming destruction of their homeworld via Civil War.
Got Chiss?
Other familiar characters, such as the Mitth family politico and Thrawn anti-fan #1 Thurfian, make their appearances and we get to know a lot more about Chiss values and civilization, and as always are treated to ingenious battle tactics in the variety of tight spots Thrawn and co. find themselves in.
Looking forward to the final book in the series if only to learn how (if?) this all ties in to the grander Star Wars saga we know and (I hope) still love.
Thrawn Ascendant
This time out the future Imperial Grand Admiral (as mentioned on The Mandalorian! Exciting!) almost felt like a side character as we spend much less time in close proximity to him and the few characters who are close to him, such as Ar'alani and Thalias. Instead we spend probably altogether too much time hanging out with a new and devious adversary named Haplif of the Agbui as well as a group of alien refugees who seem pretty nonchalant about their continued existence following the seeming destruction of their homeworld via Civil War.
Got Chiss?
Other familiar characters, such as the Mitth family politico and Thrawn anti-fan #1 Thurfian, make their appearances and we get to know a lot more about Chiss values and civilization, and as always are treated to ingenious battle tactics in the variety of tight spots Thrawn and co. find themselves in.
Looking forward to the final book in the series if only to learn how (if?) this all ties in to the grander Star Wars saga we know and (I hope) still love.
June 6, 2021
I'm not quite sure what to say on this one, but I'm going to give it a try.
This wasn't a book I loved. I really enjoyed Chaos Rising, and count it as the first book that really turned me on to Thrawn and made me see his appeal to fans. What I loved most about the first book was seeing how others saw Thrawn. They saw him as a mentor, a trusted ally, a traitor/threat. A true highlight for me was Ar’Alani and Thrawn’s interactions with one another, where they played on their strengths. In book 2, all our characters are apart from one another and we don't get that great character drama. We add a new hero perspective, and a new villain perspective, on top of both the major and minor threads that carry over from the first book and the once that start with the new characters. This book feels needlessly complicated and felt like it could have been accomplished in a shorter, more compact volume, or have this trilogy just be a duology.
As for the audiobook: I'd highly recommend reading this book in the audiobook format if you choose to pick it up! Marc Thompson delivers an excellent performance, portraying a cast of characters with a wide variety of accents and inflections. The music and effects on this audiobook are also top notch, creating a world distinct from the world in Lesser Space but one that is still recognizable as Star Wars.
This wasn't a book I loved. I really enjoyed Chaos Rising, and count it as the first book that really turned me on to Thrawn and made me see his appeal to fans. What I loved most about the first book was seeing how others saw Thrawn. They saw him as a mentor, a trusted ally, a traitor/threat. A true highlight for me was Ar’Alani and Thrawn’s interactions with one another, where they played on their strengths. In book 2, all our characters are apart from one another and we don't get that great character drama. We add a new hero perspective, and a new villain perspective, on top of both the major and minor threads that carry over from the first book and the once that start with the new characters. This book feels needlessly complicated and felt like it could have been accomplished in a shorter, more compact volume, or have this trilogy just be a duology.
As for the audiobook: I'd highly recommend reading this book in the audiobook format if you choose to pick it up! Marc Thompson delivers an excellent performance, portraying a cast of characters with a wide variety of accents and inflections. The music and effects on this audiobook are also top notch, creating a world distinct from the world in Lesser Space but one that is still recognizable as Star Wars.
April 21, 2021
Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Timothy Zahn. The book was published by Del Rey (thank you for the advanced material). Greater Good is the second installment of the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy.
SUMMARY:
Thrawn is tasked with finding out if the Vagaari Pirates are returning to Ascendancy space to cause havoc or if they have possibly allied with the Paataatus. During this investigation, Thrawn has a run-in with a group of refugees who believe their world and/or its inhabitants have been destroyed. The leader of these people has the authority to order the rest of her race, to end their life to join the "beyond," to be one with their world once again, in a different form. Thrawn takes it upon himself to prevent these people from killing themselves and to find their world.
Elsewhere, a rare/expensive material is given to a member of the Xodlak family as a gift. The after affects of this gift brings the Xodlak family to call its members together, withdrawing warriors and officials within the Ascendency to report in to a family "emergency." The Xodlak find the origins of this material and want to claim it for themselves, this could potentially bring them back into a ruling family status.
Will Thrawn save the alien race from committing mass suicide? Will the Xodlak family bring about civil war? Will Jixtus get the answers he's seeking? You'll have to read the novel to find the answers to those questions!
CHARACTERS:
There are so many characters in this tale that push the plot forward. I'm going to mention just a few.
Thrawn, as always seems to have the upper hand. He's a problem solver, a leader, and an artist. He still has an issue with authority. Ba'kif (the General of the Chiss Defense Force) lets Thrawn know that the Ascendency is hesitant in allowing Thrawn to venture too far out of known space. Thrawn's confrontation with Yiv the Benevolent brought unwanted attention by the Syndicure. As a result, the Syndicure doesn't want the Expansionary Defense Fleet to be spread out too thin across space. Thrawn... disagrees. Thrawn has to be reminded of the Ascendancy policy - no military action should be taken unless Ascendancy territory is attacked first!
Likinda, Commander of the Chiss warship, Grayshrike, has an interesting conflict that arises between her morality and the Xodlak family. With the events that she faces, it gives us deeper insight as to how the families operate.
Jixtus was mentioned briefly in The first book, Chaos Rising. In this tale, he is brought into the story a lot more, but still just a mysterious robed figure with a spy gathering intel on the Chiss. He's very interested in how the Chiss navigate through space. He believes the Chiss have a navigational device from the people in lessor space, taken from the people long ago when the Chiss had taken part in their wars. Jixtus wants this device.
Quote of the book comes from one of the Chiss upon receiving a gift:
"If one wants the joy of giving, one must in turn except the humbleness of receiving, as to allow others their own joy."
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
I was pleased with book one, Chaos Rising. Was I pleased with part two, Greater Good? Yes! This book offers an excellent story. It's widely known as the second book in a Thrawn trilogy, but it's so much more than just a Thrawn story. There are many characters in this book that play a critical role in pushing the plot forward.
There is a lot of conflict in this story, and it's handled so well. Zahn brings in a whole new level of drama in this book involving differences in alien species, Chiss families, and authoritative conflict within the Ascendancy itself. Thrawn is usually predictable in that, he's perfect... he knows how to resolve everything - always. While that's mostly true, the other characters ground the story, making the novel so interesting and unpredictable. I can't wait to see how Timothy Zahn concludes the Thrawn Ascendency trilogy.
There are a few things I have to say about the Audiobook production. First, the positive - Marc Thompson does an excellent job narrating the story. He's highly entertaining and puts in a lot of effort with each character of the book.
The negative, I feel that in some parts the music was misplaced and/or too loud. the narration was a little too slow for my taste, which made it a little difficult following along with the story.
Rating: This book receives a B+
SUMMARY:
Thrawn is tasked with finding out if the Vagaari Pirates are returning to Ascendancy space to cause havoc or if they have possibly allied with the Paataatus. During this investigation, Thrawn has a run-in with a group of refugees who believe their world and/or its inhabitants have been destroyed. The leader of these people has the authority to order the rest of her race, to end their life to join the "beyond," to be one with their world once again, in a different form. Thrawn takes it upon himself to prevent these people from killing themselves and to find their world.
Elsewhere, a rare/expensive material is given to a member of the Xodlak family as a gift. The after affects of this gift brings the Xodlak family to call its members together, withdrawing warriors and officials within the Ascendency to report in to a family "emergency." The Xodlak find the origins of this material and want to claim it for themselves, this could potentially bring them back into a ruling family status.
Will Thrawn save the alien race from committing mass suicide? Will the Xodlak family bring about civil war? Will Jixtus get the answers he's seeking? You'll have to read the novel to find the answers to those questions!
CHARACTERS:
There are so many characters in this tale that push the plot forward. I'm going to mention just a few.
Thrawn, as always seems to have the upper hand. He's a problem solver, a leader, and an artist. He still has an issue with authority. Ba'kif (the General of the Chiss Defense Force) lets Thrawn know that the Ascendency is hesitant in allowing Thrawn to venture too far out of known space. Thrawn's confrontation with Yiv the Benevolent brought unwanted attention by the Syndicure. As a result, the Syndicure doesn't want the Expansionary Defense Fleet to be spread out too thin across space. Thrawn... disagrees. Thrawn has to be reminded of the Ascendancy policy - no military action should be taken unless Ascendancy territory is attacked first!
Likinda, Commander of the Chiss warship, Grayshrike, has an interesting conflict that arises between her morality and the Xodlak family. With the events that she faces, it gives us deeper insight as to how the families operate.
Jixtus was mentioned briefly in The first book, Chaos Rising. In this tale, he is brought into the story a lot more, but still just a mysterious robed figure with a spy gathering intel on the Chiss. He's very interested in how the Chiss navigate through space. He believes the Chiss have a navigational device from the people in lessor space, taken from the people long ago when the Chiss had taken part in their wars. Jixtus wants this device.
Quote of the book comes from one of the Chiss upon receiving a gift:
"If one wants the joy of giving, one must in turn except the humbleness of receiving, as to allow others their own joy."
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
I was pleased with book one, Chaos Rising. Was I pleased with part two, Greater Good? Yes! This book offers an excellent story. It's widely known as the second book in a Thrawn trilogy, but it's so much more than just a Thrawn story. There are many characters in this book that play a critical role in pushing the plot forward.
There is a lot of conflict in this story, and it's handled so well. Zahn brings in a whole new level of drama in this book involving differences in alien species, Chiss families, and authoritative conflict within the Ascendancy itself. Thrawn is usually predictable in that, he's perfect... he knows how to resolve everything - always. While that's mostly true, the other characters ground the story, making the novel so interesting and unpredictable. I can't wait to see how Timothy Zahn concludes the Thrawn Ascendency trilogy.
There are a few things I have to say about the Audiobook production. First, the positive - Marc Thompson does an excellent job narrating the story. He's highly entertaining and puts in a lot of effort with each character of the book.
The negative, I feel that in some parts the music was misplaced and/or too loud. the narration was a little too slow for my taste, which made it a little difficult following along with the story.
Rating: This book receives a B+
October 5, 2023
This second book in the "Ascendancy" series is good, but by far the weakest of the three. Yes, if you're wondering, my dumbass read them out of order. Both the first and the third were really enjoyable.
This one shows us the efforts of Jixtus to try to further manipulate the Chiss. He attempts to do this by instigating a civil war. The intricate politics of Chiss life is interesting and I enjoyed those parts. All the parts with Thrawn also shine. It's the rest of the book, and there's plenty of it, that focuses on the random characters where it gets a bit long. They are not characters anyone cares about and their habits and backstory make for poor reading.
Still a good and fun read overall. I read it in the Airports and train stations during my recent vacation so it served its purpose. Nothing really to recommend but it's good enough.
This one shows us the efforts of Jixtus to try to further manipulate the Chiss. He attempts to do this by instigating a civil war. The intricate politics of Chiss life is interesting and I enjoyed those parts. All the parts with Thrawn also shine. It's the rest of the book, and there's plenty of it, that focuses on the random characters where it gets a bit long. They are not characters anyone cares about and their habits and backstory make for poor reading.
Still a good and fun read overall. I read it in the Airports and train stations during my recent vacation so it served its purpose. Nothing really to recommend but it's good enough.
April 21, 2025
the bird migration, I’m
June 6, 2023
Timothy Zahn's "Greater Good" is a captivating addition to the Thrawn series, offering a unique narrative that diverges from the traditional Thrawn-focused storyline. While Thrawn's presence may not dominate the pages as in previous books, his unmistakable influence permeates the story, acting as the cohesive force that holds the ensemble cast together.
One of the most compelling aspects of "Greater Good" is how it skillfully explores the development of secondary characters under Thrawn's tutelage. Zahn expertly portrays how Thrawn's strategic brilliance pushes those around him to their limits, revealing new layers to their personalities. As I immersed myself in the story, I found myself aligned with Thrawn's thinking, gradually piecing together his plans alongside his officers. This dynamic adds a fascinating layer to the narrative, as Thrawn elevates his crew and engages them in unexpected ways.
The book's deliberate pacing enhances its immersive qualities, allowing readers to savor the intricate political intrigue and the complex dynamics amongst the Chiss families. Zahn's meticulous attention to detail is evident, creating a world where every decision carries weight and alliances are fluid. While it may not cater to those seeking non-stop action, the methodical pacing is a treat for fans of nuanced storytelling and character development. It provides the space necessary to delve into the depths of the narrative, fully exploring the motivations, conflicts, and moral dilemmas faced by the characters.
Moreover, "Greater Good" delves into the timeless theme of found family, a core element of the Star Wars universe. Zahn deftly tests the boundaries of loyalty, challenging characters' preconceived notions of where their allegiances truly lie. As loyalties are questioned and alliances strained, readers embark on a thought-provoking journey that explores the delicate balance between duty and personal connections. The exploration of these profound themes adds emotional depth and resonance to the story, elevating it beyond a mere adventure.
While "Greater Good" may not be the most accessible entry point for newcomers to the Thrawn series, it offers a rewarding experience for dedicated fans. Zahn's masterful storytelling and attention to detail ensure that readers are fully engaged with the story, even if the deliberate pacing can require patience at times. With its compelling character arcs, intricate plotting, and thematic depth, "Greater Good" continues to expand the rich tapestry of the Star Wars universe, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final installment of the Ascendancy trilogy.
One of the most compelling aspects of "Greater Good" is how it skillfully explores the development of secondary characters under Thrawn's tutelage. Zahn expertly portrays how Thrawn's strategic brilliance pushes those around him to their limits, revealing new layers to their personalities. As I immersed myself in the story, I found myself aligned with Thrawn's thinking, gradually piecing together his plans alongside his officers. This dynamic adds a fascinating layer to the narrative, as Thrawn elevates his crew and engages them in unexpected ways.
The book's deliberate pacing enhances its immersive qualities, allowing readers to savor the intricate political intrigue and the complex dynamics amongst the Chiss families. Zahn's meticulous attention to detail is evident, creating a world where every decision carries weight and alliances are fluid. While it may not cater to those seeking non-stop action, the methodical pacing is a treat for fans of nuanced storytelling and character development. It provides the space necessary to delve into the depths of the narrative, fully exploring the motivations, conflicts, and moral dilemmas faced by the characters.
Moreover, "Greater Good" delves into the timeless theme of found family, a core element of the Star Wars universe. Zahn deftly tests the boundaries of loyalty, challenging characters' preconceived notions of where their allegiances truly lie. As loyalties are questioned and alliances strained, readers embark on a thought-provoking journey that explores the delicate balance between duty and personal connections. The exploration of these profound themes adds emotional depth and resonance to the story, elevating it beyond a mere adventure.
While "Greater Good" may not be the most accessible entry point for newcomers to the Thrawn series, it offers a rewarding experience for dedicated fans. Zahn's masterful storytelling and attention to detail ensure that readers are fully engaged with the story, even if the deliberate pacing can require patience at times. With its compelling character arcs, intricate plotting, and thematic depth, "Greater Good" continues to expand the rich tapestry of the Star Wars universe, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final installment of the Ascendancy trilogy.
June 7, 2021
Greater Good is the second book of the Thrawn Asdendancy Trilogy and it definitely suffers what I call “second book syndrome” meaning it’s all about moving puzzle pieces. Slowly. There were some definite boring sections.
It was still good - I did get my fix of Thrawn’s military prowess - but he wasn’t as front and center as I had hoped, we spent a lot of time with secondary characters.
I was a little sad that I was able to figure out pretty easily how this one would end - except with all the time spent on set up, I felt the ending was a bit...phoned in.
I’m still excited to see how this will conclude with the release of the third book later this year.
It was still good - I did get my fix of Thrawn’s military prowess - but he wasn’t as front and center as I had hoped, we spent a lot of time with secondary characters.
I was a little sad that I was able to figure out pretty easily how this one would end - except with all the time spent on set up, I felt the ending was a bit...phoned in.
I’m still excited to see how this will conclude with the release of the third book later this year.
August 23, 2021
going to pretend i didn’t have to google the character list every few chapters because i kept getting confued by all the similar names
May 30, 2024
(Source)
■ Chaos Rising - ★★★★☆
TL,DR: I would say, skip it and watch this summary about it by Star Wars News Net on Youtube (linky link). I highly recommend their podcast review of the book as well (linky link)
I really liked the first book in this series, wtf happened here???
My Thoughts 💭
■ Plot:
This takes place a couple months after the first book with multiple POVs and plot points. Bare with me as I try to explain them in the simplest, non-spoilery terms possible.
Plot point 1: Thrawn, Ara’lani, and a new character named Lakinda, a commander of another ship, are cleaning up the last of the Nikardun forces.
2: We have Thurfian, one of the higher ups from the last book, who is still trying to kick Thrawn out of the Ascendency by climbing the political ladder to become Speaker.
3: Haplif, a minion of the mysterious bad guy Jixtus who is trying to start a civil war within the Ascendency.
4: Refugees, from one of the worlds Haplif has already destroyed via civil war in the Chaos, have fled to a nearby planet. Thrawn goes rogue to find a way to help return them to their world and find out who caused the civil war.
5: Haplif is trying to make contact with the higher ups in the Ascendency by manipulating a Chiss couple named Yoponek and Yomie as they are in their “wandering year”, a year used by younger Chiss to explore the Ascendency.
6: Haplif thinks he can manipulate an ambitious Xodlak official named Lakuviv to make Jixtus’ plan come into fruition.
And there are many, many more but they dive into spoiler territory so I’ll leave it at that.
As you can tell this book is full of plot points, POV shifts, and so much detail. Most of it is mind-numbing and redundant setup for another book. That is why I say this book draaaaaaaaags, the space battles and dialogue especially. There are so many space battles that I could not follow them for the life of me. There were so many plot points, I didn't know which incoming ones were new or already established from a previous chapter. There is no sense of plot structure. Everything is given in a Point A to Point B style that feels very flat. This made it feel like I didn't know where the story was going and it left me extremely bored for most of the audiobook.
■ Writing:
The trust Zahn puts in his readers was very refreshing and appreciated in the first book, Chaos Rising. In this book, however, the writing gives too little with too much. Like I said before, plot points and POV shifts are not consistent. If you’re not 100% paying attention, you become lost and confused very quickly. Listen, I don't need Zahn to hold my hand with his writing, but throwing me a bone or two every once in a while would have been nice.
■ Characters:
They are so many characters and almost all of them, except the ones with an asterisk*, have a POV chapter or part of one.
Thrawn: Chiss Jesus. Or Sherlock Holmes?
Throughout the book, I liked to compare our main man Thrawn to Jesus. According to many religions (and I'm paraphrasing of course), Jesus was a pretty popular guy that everyone had an opinion about and was the most perfect person ever. Thrawn is about the same in this series. He has his flaws, but in every scene he is in he always comes out on top. His enemies with the Ascendency also think he’s great, even if they don’t agree with the methods he uses. Everyone in the Chiss Ascendancy and I mean everyone has an opinion about the guy. No one will stfu about him for just one second! He’s barely in the book and doesn't even have his own full POV chapter! Most of the people in his fleet like Samakro and Lakinda absolutely hate his guts for some reason. They have nothing better to do with their lives but think about what Thrawn is doing at that very second that could hurt them or the Ascendancy in some way or fashion. It was nauseating! Will everyone just calm down!? He is ONE GUY! One guy in the whole Chiss Ascendancy full of billions and billions of people on zillions of planets! Calm yourselves!
Before I came up with the Jesus analogy, I thought of Thrawn as Sherlock Holmes. Thrawn is a tactical and cultural genius. Thrawn, in the very few scenes he is in, is always playing guessing games with Samakro, his leading officer, or anyone else he’s in a scene with. He never, and I mean never, just says what is thinking out right. He has to make everyone figure it out first. And despite being the Chiss Sherlock of his time, he just can’t seem to figure out politics. That’s right. The book heavily establishes that Thrawn is a complete dumb dumb when it comes to politics, and yet he can tell just by the way someone is speaking and the clothing they wear where that person is from, their rank in society, and how they’re feeling at that moment???? I don’t buy it, but I guess Zahn had to give Thrawn some kind of visible flaw or he would be Palpatine 2.0.
Ara’lani: A baddie and my wife #2
Ara’lani is not in this book much. Most of her presence from the first book is replaced by Lakinda. Still, she is my favorite female character.
Haplif: The civil war mastermind
A member of the Agbui species that works for Jixtus. I honestly like Haplif’s POV chapters. I mostly see them as side stories that I would have liked to read as a separate book to this one. Oh well, we got what we got.
Samakro: Thrawn’s Watson
All I remember Samkro doing in this book when he’s not around Thrawn is bitching and moaning about what Thrawn was doing and how he doesn’t like Thailias. Then when he is around Thrawn he is always thinking how much of a tactical prodigy he is and how he would follow his orders to the letter, but he still doesn’t like him. He honestly could have been left out of the book and there would be no difference. The same could be said for most of the characters, but I digress.
Che’ri* and Thailas: The best of this book
Thailas doesn’t really do much in this book, but the stuff she does begrudgingly do is because Thrawn asks her to do it. Che’ri on the other hand is the cutest most amazing sky-walker in the history of the Ascendency and must be protected at all costs!
Lakuviv: Haplif’s playing card
A Chiss Xodlak official that Haplif manipulates to start a civil war between the Chiss. He wants the Xodlak to once again be a part of the ruling families.
Lakinda: Xodlak pride incarnate
A Senior Captain of the spaceship Graystrike that is helping Ara'lani's ship Vigilant clean up Nikardun ships. She is always trying to show up Thrawn and Ara'lani at every turn and always thinking about what Thrawn is doing, even more than Samakro. Since she is a part of the Xodlak family, it's understandable and even explained more in detail at the end, however throughout all her many POV chapters, she just got on my nerves.
Yoponek* and Yomie*: The betrothed couple
The couple Haplif is trying to get to introduce him to Lakuviv.
I’ll go ahead and say it: Yoponek is obviously the bottom in the relationship. While he is constantly giving in to Haplif’s manipulative bullshit, Yomie knows better. Love that for her.
Audiobook Notes 🎧
Marc Thompson's back must be on the verge of needing surgery after carrying this book so much. In the first book, I found his narration cringe but I've gotten used to it. The audiobook is the only reason I could even finish this book after I refused to pick up the hardcover again. I will say that some Chiss have an odd country accent. I know it is normal in Star Wars for different people on different planets to have Earth based accents but with so many other accents to choose from, it was just a strange choice.
Recommendation 👎
According to Goodreads star rating system, a two star is "ok" and a three star is "I liked it". Well, I can't say I liked this book as it was nauseatingly boring, but I can't say it was ok either as in terms of a Star Wars product it was pretty bad. However, I didn't "dislike" it enough for one star. So I'll leave it at 1.5. I honestly think that people who have read Zahn’s previous work will love this, so if that’s you, knock yourself out.
★.5☆☆☆☆
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Where to get a copy: 📚
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ℹ Disclosure:
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May 12, 2021
A chore to finish it
Big fan since book 1 of Thrawn 'Heir to the Empire' but it saddens me to say this this book bored me.
Needlessly complicated. And simply not fun.
Too little Thrawn. Book one I enjoyed his interaction with the women in his world. This had very little of that.
The side characters were dull. Haplif was creepy. His part is poorly written
His interaction with Yoponek and Yomie was too contrived and seemed out of place in this book.
Sky-walkers need their rest and then a good meal. I get it.
May the force be with book three
Big fan since book 1 of Thrawn 'Heir to the Empire' but it saddens me to say this this book bored me.
Needlessly complicated. And simply not fun.
Too little Thrawn. Book one I enjoyed his interaction with the women in his world. This had very little of that.
The side characters were dull. Haplif was creepy. His part is poorly written
His interaction with Yoponek and Yomie was too contrived and seemed out of place in this book.
Sky-walkers need their rest and then a good meal. I get it.
May the force be with book three
May 13, 2023
Here we go, Thrawn (and Zahn) does it again! I’m going to have to jump right into the conclusion.
August 18, 2023
Timothy Zahn is a freaking genius, pulling all of these layers at the end.
Only 4 stars because some of the political maneuvering dragged in the first 3rd of the book.
Only 4 stars because some of the political maneuvering dragged in the first 3rd of the book.
May 7, 2021
This dad read the anticipated next entry into Timothy Zahn’s newest Thrawn trilogy, “Star Wars Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good” released April 27, 2021 by Del Rey. Having really enjoyed 2020’s “Ascendancy: Chaos Rising” I had my hopes set high for this one. Too high it turns out.
For the majority of this book I found myself confused, struggling to keep up with the plot and honestly bored. Zahn’s writing skills are stellar, however with the pure headcount of characters (many of them having very similar-sounding names) and variety of subplots, “Greater Good” meandered like a ship lost in space a majority of the time. The goal of this new trilogy is to delve deeply into the Chiss Ascendancy, a large sector of The Chaos (Wild Space) home to a variety of planets who are organized into families. A power structure has existed in the Ascendancy for generations where various families have been a part of the ruling class – a unique setting that Zahn set up well in the first book. Where this second book differs from the first is that instead of focusing solely on Thrawn and his individual character journey, Zahn is widening the scope of the story to include more Chiss family drama. We’re introduced to more planets, more politics and more small players. Having a large cast of characters is by no means a bad thing and they all play important parts in the story. For me it was a reading experience that felt more like a chore to keep up with rather than a pleasure. Having said that, upon completing the book all of the plotlines do fall into place and a satisfying resolution occurs. But I can’t help but wonder how much more enjoyable the journey to get to the end could have been.
There were parts that I did enjoy. Seeing Thrawn back doing what he does best is just so much fun. Zahn writes him in a way that while readers likely know what to expect from Thrawn, it’s always mysterious and fun seeing it all play out. Joining him are returning favorites of mine Admiral Ar’alani, caretaker Thalias and navigator Che’ri. I wish we could have spent more time with all of them in book two, they’re part of the ensemble instead of being lead characters, but I’ll take what I can get.
The fact that this new trilogy is so unlike anything else that exists in Star Wars is a good thing. I could argue myself out of this by saying that there are no points of reference to let readers know this is still Star Wars: no Jedi, no lightsabers, no Empire, no Grogu! I’m still choosing to view this as a positive thing though. In the Ascendancy, the galaxy is wide open to possibilities and in Zahn’s capable hands I’ll continue to do what I always do, get my hopes up for the next one. Also a juicy cliffhanger never hurts!
Was this book my absolute favorite new Star Wars work? No. Do I still recommend it if you love Thrawn/Zahn? Yes.
For the majority of this book I found myself confused, struggling to keep up with the plot and honestly bored. Zahn’s writing skills are stellar, however with the pure headcount of characters (many of them having very similar-sounding names) and variety of subplots, “Greater Good” meandered like a ship lost in space a majority of the time. The goal of this new trilogy is to delve deeply into the Chiss Ascendancy, a large sector of The Chaos (Wild Space) home to a variety of planets who are organized into families. A power structure has existed in the Ascendancy for generations where various families have been a part of the ruling class – a unique setting that Zahn set up well in the first book. Where this second book differs from the first is that instead of focusing solely on Thrawn and his individual character journey, Zahn is widening the scope of the story to include more Chiss family drama. We’re introduced to more planets, more politics and more small players. Having a large cast of characters is by no means a bad thing and they all play important parts in the story. For me it was a reading experience that felt more like a chore to keep up with rather than a pleasure. Having said that, upon completing the book all of the plotlines do fall into place and a satisfying resolution occurs. But I can’t help but wonder how much more enjoyable the journey to get to the end could have been.
There were parts that I did enjoy. Seeing Thrawn back doing what he does best is just so much fun. Zahn writes him in a way that while readers likely know what to expect from Thrawn, it’s always mysterious and fun seeing it all play out. Joining him are returning favorites of mine Admiral Ar’alani, caretaker Thalias and navigator Che’ri. I wish we could have spent more time with all of them in book two, they’re part of the ensemble instead of being lead characters, but I’ll take what I can get.
The fact that this new trilogy is so unlike anything else that exists in Star Wars is a good thing. I could argue myself out of this by saying that there are no points of reference to let readers know this is still Star Wars: no Jedi, no lightsabers, no Empire, no Grogu! I’m still choosing to view this as a positive thing though. In the Ascendancy, the galaxy is wide open to possibilities and in Zahn’s capable hands I’ll continue to do what I always do, get my hopes up for the next one. Also a juicy cliffhanger never hurts!
Was this book my absolute favorite new Star Wars work? No. Do I still recommend it if you love Thrawn/Zahn? Yes.
August 27, 2021
Zahn continues to surprise and amaze me, and this book was no exception! It delivered on all the promised Thrawnness (that IS a word.) and gave more depth and story to newer characters introduced in the first book ( Thrawn Ascendency: Chaos Rising)! Though the other characters in the book are (usually) great, I do wish there were more chapters about Thrawn himself.
I particularly love/hate Zahn's agonizing cliffhanger at the end (I NEED ANSWERS!). Unanswered mysteries are unfolded just as new, shrouded secrets are revealed, in this thrilling sequel to Chaos Rising!
One thing is, and this is why I wish I could give a 4.5, is that there are quite a few "d--n!" and "h--l!" exclamations in here (although never from Thrawn himself, I notice), as there was in most of Zahn's Star Wars Canon novels. I really wish he did what he used to do with his now Lengendised SW books and kept out ANY language or that stuff.
I would recommend instead Zahn's Legend Star Wars novels, they are fabulous!
I particularly love/hate Zahn's agonizing cliffhanger at the end (I NEED ANSWERS!). Unanswered mysteries are unfolded just as new, shrouded secrets are revealed, in this thrilling sequel to Chaos Rising!
One thing is, and this is why I wish I could give a 4.5, is that there are quite a few "d--n!" and "h--l!" exclamations in here (although never from Thrawn himself, I notice), as there was in most of Zahn's Star Wars Canon novels. I really wish he did what he used to do with his now Lengendised SW books and kept out ANY language or that stuff.
I would recommend instead Zahn's Legend Star Wars novels, they are fabulous!
May 6, 2021
This book has plenty of intrigue and military action to keep it interesting, but it suffers from quite a few defects. It's cast is too large and not developed very well and there is an epidemic of plot points clearly present only to set up the sequel (a common side effect of middle-parters). Due to Chiss naming conventions, there are far too many characters whose name starts with "L-A-K". Finally, and most importantly, this book did not feature nearly enough of it's title character.
It's disappointing because Zahn's work is usually much more efficient and focused than this. Hopefully, the final entry in the Ascendency trilogy will be better.
It's disappointing because Zahn's work is usually much more efficient and focused than this. Hopefully, the final entry in the Ascendency trilogy will be better.
February 6, 2024
There are so many moving parts in this novel and the constant shifting between characters (many of whom have similar names) and timelines made the plot difficult to follow at first. Further along the pieces began to fall into place and I began to enjoy it more. I couldn't help but wish for more focus on Thrawn and less on his enemies, but I appreciated the complexity of the story and the way everything came together at the end. It was just very different from the previous novels and I didn't enjoy it quite as much.
May 14, 2021
Another fun installment in the Thrawn Saga. I am looking forward to book 3. I just wish that Thrawn was a more central character in this one.
April 9, 2022
I would actually rate this 3.5, but I'll bump it to a 4 since that's not an option.
Overall a good book, but it had moments through the middle where the story got a bit slow for me, though the final sequence was pretty fun and had me glued to the page. What brings the book down for me though is the overarching threat of the villains in the story/series.
As always, I love how the different characters interact with and react to Thrawn and his ability to read people and situations. I love seeing how these characters view him and how they either struggle or excel at times in their attempts to keep up with him. I also really enjoy in this novel, and in the series as a whole, the crafting and presentation of Chiss culture and society. Thrawn and the Chiss are something that Zahn clearly enjoys fleshing out, and I love how much detail and care he brings to these characters and this part of Star Wars.
What brings this book down, and as much as I love Thrawn and the Chiss, also brings down this series as a whole is the threat posed by the Grysks and their pawns, the Agbui. Though the idea of a group that can manipulate the Chiss into a civil war that will bring them down from within is compelling on the surface, I never find myself feeling a true threat or menace from the Grysks. It may be that they're so hidden in the background that it's tough to get a read on them, but I just don't see them as a villainous threat that drives the novel/series. That goes for the Agbui as well in this specific novel. Though they're able to easily manipulate the Chiss into doing what they want them to do, I just don't feel the Agbui to be a major threat to the Chiss. I think for me it's because beyond a couple of acts of violence from Haplif, their attack on the Chiss is mostly made up of subtle influence and manipulation. I feel that if there had been a bit more direct action thrown in as well that I would have taken the Agbui more seriously.
Overall, though, the book is pretty good and I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends in Lesser Evil.
Overall a good book, but it had moments through the middle where the story got a bit slow for me, though the final sequence was pretty fun and had me glued to the page. What brings the book down for me though is the overarching threat of the villains in the story/series.
As always, I love how the different characters interact with and react to Thrawn and his ability to read people and situations. I love seeing how these characters view him and how they either struggle or excel at times in their attempts to keep up with him. I also really enjoy in this novel, and in the series as a whole, the crafting and presentation of Chiss culture and society. Thrawn and the Chiss are something that Zahn clearly enjoys fleshing out, and I love how much detail and care he brings to these characters and this part of Star Wars.
What brings this book down, and as much as I love Thrawn and the Chiss, also brings down this series as a whole is the threat posed by the Grysks and their pawns, the Agbui. Though the idea of a group that can manipulate the Chiss into a civil war that will bring them down from within is compelling on the surface, I never find myself feeling a true threat or menace from the Grysks. It may be that they're so hidden in the background that it's tough to get a read on them, but I just don't see them as a villainous threat that drives the novel/series. That goes for the Agbui as well in this specific novel. Though they're able to easily manipulate the Chiss into doing what they want them to do, I just don't feel the Agbui to be a major threat to the Chiss. I think for me it's because beyond a couple of acts of violence from Haplif, their attack on the Chiss is mostly made up of subtle influence and manipulation. I feel that if there had been a bit more direct action thrown in as well that I would have taken the Agbui more seriously.
Overall, though, the book is pretty good and I'm looking forward to seeing how it ends in Lesser Evil.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2022
While I preferred the story of the first Thrawn Ascendency book to this one, I still have to praise the production, the writing, and the narration of yet another amazing addition to the backstory of this awesome character. This sequel also very much sets the stage for future details and the looming question of WHAT will be the final push toward Thrawn’s exile from the Ascendency.
July 18, 2022
https://imaginelec.blogspot.com/2022/...
Après un premier tome de très bonne facture qui nous en apprenait plus sur la jeunesse du Grand Amiral Thrawn et nous faisais plonger dans les rouages de la société Chiss, il est tant de poursuivre l’histoire et de lever un peu le voile sur ce qui se trame autours de l’Ascendance et de cet ennemie de l’ombre entr’aperçu à la fin du tome précédent.
Petit changement de structure dans ce second volet puisque d’une part le nombre de personnages secondaire que l’on va suivre de près augmente et d’autre part, si les analyses du premier tome sont encore là, elle ne vont plus se concentrer sur le passé de Thrawn mais sur l’un des ennemis au coeur de l’intrigue et son parcours récent impliquant un bon nombre de manipulations.
Il en résulte que le futur Grand Amiral est bien moins présent dans ce roman. Si ceux qui ne jure que par lui pourrait éventuellement être déçu de cette place réduite, le roman bénéficie grandement de cette diversification des points de vue car l’entourage de Thrawn est très interessant et mérite bien ce développement.
* * *
Côté intrigue, si on a parfois le sentiment d’être dans le flou complet, c’est qu’une toile de mensonges et manipulations se met en place tout au long du roman.
Il est parfois difficile de comprendre où veulent en venir certains protagonistes, et la vision d’ensemble ne se dévoilera qu’à la fin.
Evidemment, nous sommes dans une trilogie et le plan global de l’antagoniste de même son identité resteront encore dans le l’ombres et le roman se conclue une nouvelle fois sur un cliffhanger efficace qui fait languir pour la suite.
* * *
Si on peut éventuellement reprocher quelques facilité dans l’usage de l’intelligence tactique de Thrawn de même qu’un peu de lenteur dans un roman bien épais, on passe quoi qu’il en soi un excellent moment à continuer de découvrir cette Ascendance Chiss ainsi que son représentant le plus populaire auprès des fans de Star Wars.
Zhan livre une copie de qualité, et j’ai hâte de voir où tout cela va nous mener !
Après un premier tome de très bonne facture qui nous en apprenait plus sur la jeunesse du Grand Amiral Thrawn et nous faisais plonger dans les rouages de la société Chiss, il est tant de poursuivre l’histoire et de lever un peu le voile sur ce qui se trame autours de l’Ascendance et de cet ennemie de l’ombre entr’aperçu à la fin du tome précédent.
Petit changement de structure dans ce second volet puisque d’une part le nombre de personnages secondaire que l’on va suivre de près augmente et d’autre part, si les analyses du premier tome sont encore là, elle ne vont plus se concentrer sur le passé de Thrawn mais sur l’un des ennemis au coeur de l’intrigue et son parcours récent impliquant un bon nombre de manipulations.
Il en résulte que le futur Grand Amiral est bien moins présent dans ce roman. Si ceux qui ne jure que par lui pourrait éventuellement être déçu de cette place réduite, le roman bénéficie grandement de cette diversification des points de vue car l’entourage de Thrawn est très interessant et mérite bien ce développement.
* * *
Côté intrigue, si on a parfois le sentiment d’être dans le flou complet, c’est qu’une toile de mensonges et manipulations se met en place tout au long du roman.
Il est parfois difficile de comprendre où veulent en venir certains protagonistes, et la vision d’ensemble ne se dévoilera qu’à la fin.
Evidemment, nous sommes dans une trilogie et le plan global de l’antagoniste de même son identité resteront encore dans le l’ombres et le roman se conclue une nouvelle fois sur un cliffhanger efficace qui fait languir pour la suite.
* * *
Si on peut éventuellement reprocher quelques facilité dans l’usage de l’intelligence tactique de Thrawn de même qu’un peu de lenteur dans un roman bien épais, on passe quoi qu’il en soi un excellent moment à continuer de découvrir cette Ascendance Chiss ainsi que son représentant le plus populaire auprès des fans de Star Wars.
Zhan livre une copie de qualité, et j’ai hâte de voir où tout cela va nous mener !
July 7, 2023
I’m going to try to be as spoiler-free as possible.
A few things to start of this review:
~ The Memories sections bridge the 9 months between books 1 and 2 of this trilogy. After Yiv is defeated, Haplif and Jixtus want to politically (and militarily, because they’re the Chiss) take down the Chiss. They boast about destroying a world (which I forgot about completely as I read). Haplif’s POV is focused on within these memories.
Any time I’ll talk about the Memories, I’ll do a double dash before and after (--)
~ There is both a lot of military tactics (as Thrawn is wont to do) and politics. The biggest political issues stem from the 40 Lesser Families, mainly the Xodlak one. Through these struggles, we truly see what glory and honor--and family--mean among the Chiss. The hierarchy of the Chiss is quite telling. Too, we better understand the alliances between the Lesser and Ruling families.
With the Xodlak family, all the core names begin with L-A-K. Unlike with other families like the Mitth (T-H), the fact that the first three letters are the same made a lot of names blend together. I personally had a LOT of trouble keeping up with who’s who.
I really want a map of Chiss space.
Ar’alani and Thrawn work VERY well together. The question comes up as to whether Ar’alani learned from Thrawn or the other way around. She has indeed learned well.
Thurfian analyzes Thrawn well in chapter 1: that “he loses all the time” but with each loss and disaster “is followed so quickly by a glowing success that everyone forgets or ignores what came before.” Thurfian may hate Thrawn, but he is quite an interesting character to read.
Thrawn always comes up with crazy battle plans. I like Thrawn’s crazy.
Thalias is asked by Uingali to meet with the Magys, the head of a matriarchal society, to convince them to go back to their home planet and not kill themselves. It’s a very important subplot, but a lot with the Magys and her suicidal tendencies is quite annoying. The plot is left open by the end of the book. Though we do know the answer to the question: Did the Nikarduns destroy the planet or just take it over?
The Magys though are overall interesting in that they are...if not Force users or even sensitive, accept that it exists and respects it as the Beyond.
Mid-Captain Sarako is NOT HAPPY with Thalias being the ambassador the Magys; after all, she’s just a Caretaker. Despite his suspicions, I’m glad they have the opportunity to talk. Between Thalias and Che’ri, even more information about Sky-Walkers is provided. I like that Sarako isn’t the only one who is confused as to why certain aspects are never actually addressed and/or holistically understood.
I like Sarako overall. He's fair. he doesn't like Thrawn and doesn't trust Thalias, but he is overall fair and a fun person to read.
-- We see just how hard Haplif worked in 3-9 months to learn Cheunh and about the Chill in general. And then how he manipulated them. Shoot, how the Agbui manipulate in general. --
Indeed, we meet a yuba rancher named Lakphro, along with his family, and he doesn’t trust Haplif from the moment they meet. I like Lakphro from the start, and like him even more as the book progresses.
-- The Grand Migration IS quite interesting once Jixtus points out his observations. The Agbui work with a young couple Yomie and Yoponek. Yomie is bloody awesome. I love how she integrates journaling and note-taking within her art. --
I feel very bad for Senior Captain Lakinda. The notion of honor and glory is so embedded in her understanding of life that she feels like everyone looks down on her; that she’s always a fool. Her desire to be better (and have more honor) leads her to be susceptible to a nasty scheme.
Because Lakuviv is crazy pants.
Memories VI makes me loathe Haplif. As if I didn’t hate him before.
But my memory is so shoddy that I didn’t remember details about the characters when opening this book.
The truth about the mines and metals is so predictable and foreshadowed along the way that I’m almost mad I didn’t recognize it, but I truly am blind to some of those things. I love that Lakinda immediately accepts that truth, and recognizes that different mindsets doesn’t mean any one person is better or worse than another. And that, in the end, Chiss is greater than family.
At the end, Thrawn’s political incompetence really helps.
The end is ominous.
What I didn’t like: The phrases “hun-bun” and “yokel”
A few things to start of this review:
~ The Memories sections bridge the 9 months between books 1 and 2 of this trilogy. After Yiv is defeated, Haplif and Jixtus want to politically (and militarily, because they’re the Chiss) take down the Chiss. They boast about destroying a world (which I forgot about completely as I read). Haplif’s POV is focused on within these memories.
Any time I’ll talk about the Memories, I’ll do a double dash before and after (--)
~ There is both a lot of military tactics (as Thrawn is wont to do) and politics. The biggest political issues stem from the 40 Lesser Families, mainly the Xodlak one. Through these struggles, we truly see what glory and honor--and family--mean among the Chiss. The hierarchy of the Chiss is quite telling. Too, we better understand the alliances between the Lesser and Ruling families.
With the Xodlak family, all the core names begin with L-A-K. Unlike with other families like the Mitth (T-H), the fact that the first three letters are the same made a lot of names blend together. I personally had a LOT of trouble keeping up with who’s who.
I really want a map of Chiss space.
Ar’alani and Thrawn work VERY well together. The question comes up as to whether Ar’alani learned from Thrawn or the other way around. She has indeed learned well.
Thurfian analyzes Thrawn well in chapter 1: that “he loses all the time” but with each loss and disaster “is followed so quickly by a glowing success that everyone forgets or ignores what came before.” Thurfian may hate Thrawn, but he is quite an interesting character to read.
Thrawn always comes up with crazy battle plans. I like Thrawn’s crazy.
Thalias is asked by Uingali to meet with the Magys, the head of a matriarchal society, to convince them to go back to their home planet and not kill themselves. It’s a very important subplot, but a lot with the Magys and her suicidal tendencies is quite annoying. The plot is left open by the end of the book. Though we do know the answer to the question: Did the Nikarduns destroy the planet or just take it over?
The Magys though are overall interesting in that they are...if not Force users or even sensitive, accept that it exists and respects it as the Beyond.
Mid-Captain Sarako is NOT HAPPY with Thalias being the ambassador the Magys; after all, she’s just a Caretaker. Despite his suspicions, I’m glad they have the opportunity to talk. Between Thalias and Che’ri, even more information about Sky-Walkers is provided. I like that Sarako isn’t the only one who is confused as to why certain aspects are never actually addressed and/or holistically understood.
I like Sarako overall. He's fair. he doesn't like Thrawn and doesn't trust Thalias, but he is overall fair and a fun person to read.
-- We see just how hard Haplif worked in 3-9 months to learn Cheunh and about the Chill in general. And then how he manipulated them. Shoot, how the Agbui manipulate in general. --
Indeed, we meet a yuba rancher named Lakphro, along with his family, and he doesn’t trust Haplif from the moment they meet. I like Lakphro from the start, and like him even more as the book progresses.
-- The Grand Migration IS quite interesting once Jixtus points out his observations. The Agbui work with a young couple Yomie and Yoponek. Yomie is bloody awesome. I love how she integrates journaling and note-taking within her art. --
I feel very bad for Senior Captain Lakinda. The notion of honor and glory is so embedded in her understanding of life that she feels like everyone looks down on her; that she’s always a fool. Her desire to be better (and have more honor) leads her to be susceptible to a nasty scheme.
Because Lakuviv is crazy pants.
Memories VI makes me loathe Haplif. As if I didn’t hate him before.
But my memory is so shoddy that I didn’t remember details about the characters when opening this book.
The truth about the mines and metals is so predictable and foreshadowed along the way that I’m almost mad I didn’t recognize it, but I truly am blind to some of those things. I love that Lakinda immediately accepts that truth, and recognizes that different mindsets doesn’t mean any one person is better or worse than another. And that, in the end, Chiss is greater than family.
At the end, Thrawn’s political incompetence really helps.
The end is ominous.
What I didn’t like: The phrases “hun-bun” and “yokel”
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