Kirkus Review

The Stormwall blockades hundreds of worlds from Republic aid, but as the Nihil expand their empire, cracks in the wall threaten the future of their impenetrable domination. Avon Starros loathes everything about the Nihil. She lacks the ruthlessness that drove her ambitious senator mother to betray the Republic for a seat beside Marchion Ro. One year ago, during the fall of Starlight Beacon, Avon helped her friend Imri, a Jedi Padawan, hide from the Force Eaters, but it's only a matter of time before the Nihil find him. With the help of an unlikely team, all with their own motives for breaking through the Stormwall, Avon embarks on a mission of rescue and revenge. Only one person, a Jedi, has ever cracked the Stormwall's defenses, but that's enough to give Avon hope. Chapters alternate between the perspectives of Avon (a teen genius), Xylan Graf (an opportunistic theoretician held hostage by the Nihil), Jordanna Sparkburn (a San Tekka in search of her family), and Vernestra Rwoh (a grieving Jedi Knight, who's on sabbatical). The first half of the book lags due to the slow setup, but once the characters set off on their personal missions, the pace flies at hyperspeed toward a satisfying cliffhanger ending. Most characters have brown or tan skin, and the story casually includes representation of queer characters and relationships. An adventure with a slow start but one that's worth the wait. (timeline) (Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.