The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark - Book Review

After over four months since the heartbreaking conclusion of The Clone Wars—ending with its seventh season on Disney+—fans have been left with a huge hole in their hearts. However, the announcement of The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, just as the beloved show neared its final moments, brought a new hope to the most devoted aficionados. This collection of some of the most memorable moments within the series—seen through the eyes of the character experiencing them—is finally available in both paper and audio formats.

What makes Stories of Light and Dark so special is the all-star author ensemble that gathered to retell the stories: Jason Fry, Lou Anders, Preeti Chhibber, Anne Ursu, Yoon Ha Lee, Tom Angleberger, Zoraida Córdova, Rebecca Roanhorse, Sarah Beth Durst, and Greg van Eekhout deliver new story perspectives from a central character, whether it’s from a holo recording, a collection of inner thoughts, or just a different point of view based on the original episode(s)—a formula similar to Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization. Completing this anthology is a new story inspired by the episode Massacre, diving into the lore of the Nightsisters of Dathomir—written by E. Anne Convery.

Each story is preceded by the gorgeous artwork of artist Ksenia Zelentsova—who portraits each protagonist with pleasing blue-gray tones that marry perfectly with Leigh Zieske’s book design. Zelentsova also designed the eye-catching cover for the book, which perfectly captures the essence of The Clone Wars.

If that wasn’t enough to get the fans excited, the audiobook for Stories of Light and Dark brings this trip down memory lane to an emotional level. Some of The Clone Wars veterans—Catherine Taber, James Arnold Taylor, Matt Lanter, Sam Witwer, Corey Burton, Nika Futterman, and Olivia Hack reprise their legendary roles from the series—from Padmé Amidala to Anakin Skywalker, from Count Dooku to Maul—each voice actor delivering outstanding performances that will make the listeners fall in love with the characters all over again.

Each story is read by one actor, so besides reprising their iconic roles, they all had the opportunity to do their own vocal takes on all the characters within their story. One worthy mention goes to James Arnold Taylor—whose takes on Yoda, Captain Rex, and Maul are probably among the most entertaining—strikingly similar to the ones performed by Tom Kane, Dee Bradley Baker, and Sam Witwer respectively in the TV show.

The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark is the perfect way to rejoice some of the best tales in the Star Wars canon. Whether you are a devoted fan or are just now being introduced to The Clone Wars, this book is a must read and/or listen. For the ultimate experience, grab a physical copy and read along while listening to the audiobook so you can feast your eyes on Zelentsova’s art while immersing yourself in the full audio experience. Get your copy now and share your favorite stories from this amazing anthology!