“Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade” by Delilah S. Dawson gives us an opportunity to peek inside the Inquisitorius and to find out what motivates a Jedi to abandon the Order and join the enemy ranks.
Iskat Akaris is a Pkorian, the only one of her species in the Jedi Order. A brilliant student, she has an encounter with a Sith text, which provokes her curiosity but she’s denied by her Master. Eventually they are recalled to Geonosis at the start of the Clone Wars. She notices she has an uncanny ability for battle after she is emotionally stunned by killing her first sentient being. During the battle, her Master is gravely wounded and delirious, mentioning a name she doesn’t recognize.
With her Master dead, she is unmoored and tries to find out more about this other person, which she now realizes was under her Master’s protection at some time, and was also from her same species. Afterwards, the needs of the Clone Wars have her knighted in a hurried ceremony along other Padawans, including Anakin Skywalker.
After behaving recklessly on a mission, she is put on administrative duties and kept away from the war, which angers her but gives her the opportunity to meet Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. During a final mission, the war ends with Order 66 and she is captured and offered a spot in the Inquisitorius.
She fights for her place, with encounters with other Inquisitors, and before committing herself totally, she requests a shuttle and travels to her place of origin where she finds out her mother had had Jedi abilities but left the order and became an alcoholic. When Iskat was born she delivered them to the Jedi.
Iskat chooses between their home planet and the Inquisitors, settling for the latter, and eventually rises up to the ranks becoming a powerful member.
The novel is quite interesting, very well constructed and I enjoyed it a lot. Delilah S. Dawson is one of my favorite writers and her talents are shown here, fleshing out a character who previously only had minor appearances elsewhere. Greatly recommended!
Korpilandia 