Jane Austen Star Wars

"Should we go dance, Jedi Master Elzar Mann?"

Avar Kriss is not exactly my favorite character of the High Republic.

And if plokoonsbookclub is right (and he normally is) about her similarities with Obi-Wan, I might have a hint why.

But, I love Elzar very much (the Jedi experimentalist!), and his relationship with Avar in "Light of the Jedi" is intriguing and definitely one of the highlights of the book.

She glanced at him. He looked good. Happy, his dark eyes shining, a grin lighting up his face, though that could be due to the drink in his hand, some green stuff in a stemless glass bowl. []

"Varykino," he said, gesturing with his drink toward the island. "That's the name of the island. It's an artists' retreat, a place for creative outcasts, to live together and think deep thoughts." [] Elzar glanced at her. He ran a hand through his dark hair, cut short, with a natural wave to it.

"Sound nice, actually," he said. "We should remember it, once we're too old for the Order to make use of us anymore. I wouldn't mind spending my days in quiet contemplation. Maybe figure out how to catch a fish with the Force." []

"As long as we lay in a steady supply of this stuff. By the light, that's good."

"Let me try," Avar said, and he handed her the bowl. []

It was easy to forget they were there to continue the investigation into the ongoing galactic emergency. She forced herself to focus. Quiet contemplation could wait for retirement— and for a moment, just one, she let herself consider the idea of spending that time with Elzar Mann— something she would never tell him; he would never let her hear the end of it.

And, yes.

I am totally craving for more of this Jane Austen Star Wars.

Using Soule own words:

She was reading something on a datapad, her eyes rapt. Probably one of the Jedi romances she was always obsessed with. [] They were all set at outposts on the far Republic frontiers, full of unrequited love and longing glances... the only action was the lightsaber battles that were clearly a substitute for what the character really wanted to do.

[Photo: the splendid (and huge!) pin by @sparkofhopepins, which is a lovely, generous human being].