Really bad

This book is poorly written, stuffed with descriptive cliches, and offers nothing in the way of interesting lore to the Star Wars universe. Jumbled and hinting at more interesting stories we don't get to hear, each section jars with the previous one.

The performance was fine, but the story was written in such a way as to make all the protagonists dialogue stilted and forced with her main companion.

It's always odd to hear a narrator imitating the voice of the opposite gender. Most are quite passable, but this was a particularly bad one. Takes me out of the story I guess.

Mostly I spent the time wondering why all the characters were so stupid. Protagonist is almost entirely unlikable. Kind of like watching the prequel movies. As a fan of the expanded universe or whatever Disney is calling the books now, I'm disappointed.

27 people found this helpful

Pleasant surprise, best SW novels of late

What, no Marc Thompson?!? He pretty much makes or breaks any SW audiobook. He's like that familiar security blanket. And he's dang good.

But so was January LaVoy. Though she's no Marc Thompson, she rises to the challenge and exceeded my expectations, and quite frankly, I enjoyed her more than other non-Marc Thompson SW narrators. Not only that, it was fitting to have a female narrator with a novel that featured a female Jed'aii front and center.

Now, the story. I've been quite disappointed with the direction of SW novels as of late. Not enough to turn me away completely, but I think the quality of the stuff coming out lately has not been as great, the overarching story arcs/time frames (The Old Republic, namely) has been lacking for me.

This has revived my interest. This story is extremely interesting and opened up a whole new door in the SW universe. I still have some unanswered questions on the background (maybe I should read the comic book series) but perhaps as this period in the SW canon becomes more developed (here's hoping...) the answers will become more apparent. But there is a lot of potential in this time period that I am hoping for more to come out...

47 people found this helpful

Mediocre

This book had so much potential but the story was vague in its important story elements, its characters undeveloped and borderline child-like, and was horribly cliche. Didn't sound like it was written by an experienced author.

11 people found this helpful

A lot of not much

Would you try another book from Tim Lebbon and/or January LaVoy?

Probably not

What was most disappointing about Tim Lebbon’s story?

The story was pretty bland and ultimately lifeless. If this hadn't been a Star Wars novel nobody would have published it. The main character was annoying, the villain one dimensional and pretty much everyone else in the story was a stock villain or bit player. I also found the use of the Star Wars themes in an attempt to create tension that simply doesn't exist was pretty sad.

What three words best describe January LaVoy’s performance?

Potatoes, not stuffing.

What character would you cut from Into the Void?

The real question is "what character would I keep?"

Any additional comments?

If you are the kind of person who puts "jedi" as your religion on official documents then this book will no doubt thrill you from the first syllable to the last implied period. Otherwise it fills your ears with harmless sound for a few hours.

24 people found this helpful

Good Lord Save Your TIME

As a Star Wars book, this is really not great. As a book book, its horrible. Terrible writing.

My main issue with this book. The whole reason for the conflict in this book is the Jedi pushing a kid to use the Force knowing that he has no ability in it. They ignore YEARS of this, knowing all it did was make the kid seriously unhappy and quite unhinged. He hated everything and they ignored the fact that he was NOT a force user. So wrong on so many levels.

First of all, he is supposed to have parents who constantly ignore his torment and constantly pressure him to just give into the Force like its a choice. Even after they realize he has no gift with the Force, they keep making him do what other Jedi kids do. They make him go through the trials. Serious negligence and I can't imagine Jedi parents (who can uniquely feel and understand the damage they are doing to him) doing that.

Second of all, you have his teachers. Je'daii who are WELL AWARE HE HAS NO FORCE ABILITY still pushing him every second as though it will somehow fix itself if he just tries hard enough. I know these people cant be that dumb. This was BEYOND negligent and thoroughly abusive. Everything about this scenario is unrealistic in the world of Star Wars and the Jedi, beginning or no.

This colored everything else about the book. Add to it, that its poorly written and I am out without finishing it. Screw this. The man dies at the end because people ignored him, tormented him, and held him to an impossible standard. I would rather not read that shit.

On the bright side the narrator did a great job.

17 people found this helpful

Good Story and Important Jedi Origin History

Finding out details of Jedi History and details about Tython the planet with the earliest Jedi temples was really interesting. Also how the Jedi "Rangers" operated was cool. I am glad to recommend this book

3 people found this helpful

Not read by Marc Thompson, still very good

What about January LaVoy’s performance did you like?

I was originally dubious about January LaVoy narrating this over Marc Thompson (who I love), but she really pulls you into the book as much as Marc does for me. Good choice!

12 people found this helpful

Why is this not a movie?

Amazing writing and wonderful narration. This book should be made into a movie. Maybe a new trilogy?

2 people found this helpful

Fascinating take on Star wars history

This is my first story with the jedi predecessors, the jedaii. I love the difference in how they understood the force and balance compared to the duality of thr Jedi/sith. as usual, star wars stories leave you wanting more.

2 people found this helpful

Sharp writing and a great story!

What made the experience of listening to Into the Void: Star Wars the most enjoyable?

Tim Lebbon's world building and prose. The man can write this stuff!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Into the Void: Star Wars?

The whole thing was so good that I can't really select one moment. And I really can't say that about too many recent Star Wars novels.

Have you listened to any of January LaVoy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nope. She was pretty good. I enjoyed hearing a woman's voice in a Star Wars book with a female protagonist. Marc Thompson is pure awesome and all but this was a nice change. I felt January made it easier to feel like we were inside Lanoree's head.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The climax of the novel was very emotional.

Any additional comments?

Lebbon does an outstanding job inter-cutting a flashback of Lanoree's Je'daii training with her brother, Dal, and her pursuit of him 9 years later. It gave the novel a balance and depth that it wouldn't have had had Lebbon simply stuck with the chase and nothing but. It also serves to explain the differences between the modern Jedi and the ancient Je'daii.

16 people found this helpful