Next Big Recognition Contest

Round 83

Book Title: Rise of Ren

Specified Chapter: 42 & 43 - Regrets [Two short chapters combined for NBR purposes]

[NOTE: Chapter numbers have changed. If you are reviewing this round for NBR screening, the correct chapter is 43 - Regrets. Link is in the comments.]

Summary Thus Far in Book:  This is the sequel to Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, which many of you have already reviewed a few chapters or even read the entire novel. After unearthing The Journal of the Whills, a book of Jedi history that covers millennia, the Jedi discovered that Master Simikarty had manipulated the basic doctrines of the Order a thousand years earlier. His alterations included the addition of the non-attachment clause and the removal (kidnapping) of Force-sensitive infants from their parents. With the approval of Lor San Tekka, a cleric of the Force, Luke and Naluma adopted the old doctrines and married five years before these chapters.

During their first five years of marriage, Naluma struggled with infertility and the stress of dealing with Padawan Ben Solo while Luke was away on missions. These conditions led to a mental breakdown two years earlier. Through the Force, Luke was able to restore her mental balance, and there have been no incidents since that time. Infertility is still an issue, and Luke is always on guard for a relapse into mental breakdown. Luke and Naluma are both 38. Ben is 15.

Chapter 41 [beginning of the story arc] - Naluma has an accident during saber training while she is sparring with Ben, collapsing in agony.

Author's Note:  Thank you so much for helping me with this story. If you're not a fan of Star Wars, that's fine. Pretend it's a fantasy book with laser swords, telepathy, and telekinesis used by a religious order. The religious order has an academy, training the apprentices. Ben is a troubled apprentice (Padawan), as well as Luke and Naluma's nephew. Luke, Naluma, and Kalder are all Jedi Masters (teachers as well as highly proficient Force [magic] users). That's all you need to know about this world for these chapters. 

Questions:

1. With which character did you associate the most and why?

2. Which metaphors did you find in the chapter and were they effective?

In-line Comment Preference: PLEASE DO NOT USE IN-LINE COMMENTING. 

Genre:  Fanfiction

Rating: PG-13 [TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of mental illness]

▼Winners▼

➤ Winning Comment: 

Oh, my wonderful woman, I'm so glad I was able to cut out an hour to dedicate to at least one of your chapters before life grabs me by the whirlwind and throws me back into chaos.

Even though I'm pressed for time, I won't neglect telling you how stellar you are and how there are three brightly shining bits and bobs about this chapter that make it exceptionally beautiful.

Bit 1: Realism - I go into this later, but honestly, there were a few chords that were struck here. Again, later. Just highlighting this because damn. It was real.

Bob 2: Relationships - One of my favorite scenes was the one with Ben and Han. Why? Because even more complicated than the mother/daughter relationship, is the father/son dynamic. Especially when you're as conflicted as a kid as Ben and you come from two parents who are Han freaking Solo *swoon* and Leia. I really loved Han's attempt at fathering, but the man is just so clueless. I <3 him.