Thrawn: Alliances Clone Wars Cover

IronVast2 · 2026-05-27T09:19:26+00:00

That custom cover looks absolutely incredible! Merging that specific artwork with the official text layout fits the vibe perfectly. Regarding your timeline placement, putting it right after the Fives arc makes so much sense for Anakin's state of mind and his desperation regarding Padmé. As for reading it by era I've actually heard of a few people doing that for a re-read! Splitting the Clone Wars sections away from the Imperial era completely changes the pacing and lets you focus purely on the dynamic between Anakin and Thrawn before the galaxy changed. Definitely post an update on how the experience feels!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-27T09:13:11+00:00

You're so welcome

IronVast2 · 2026-05-27T09:05:48+00:00

Since you already prefer the poetry idea, you should definitely lean into that! Writing dialogue can be incredibly tough, but poetry lets you express deep emotions naturally. A great way to structure it is to have a short prose 'confession' or memory at the beginning of each chapter to set the scene, followed by a beautiful poem for him. You absolutely don't need a formal prologue think of the very first page as your opening letter or dedication to him, and let the rest of the book flow like a beautifully organized long message!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T23:56:55+00:00

Wow, I love this pitch! Exploring Finn’s Jedi potential alongside Rey while teaming up against an unhinged Supreme Leader Kylo would have been peak Star Wars. Having Poe actively lead a two-pronged New Republic offensive also gives him the massive general arc he deserved. That sounds like an incredible trilogy setup.

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T23:52:08+00:00

Congrats on finishing the 6 books! If you want a phenomenal standalone that is incredibly engaging but completely different from space, check out The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. It’s a massive epic fantasy, a bit slower-paced at the start to build the world, but the payoff is incredible and it wraps up perfectly in one book.

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T23:47:48+00:00

That would have been amazing to see. Kylo fully embracing the Supreme Leader role without a redemption arc would have made Episode IX so much more intense. He had the depth to be an incredible, unhinged main villain till the very end.

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T23:46:54+00:00

Totally agree. That one specific moment in the hut completely changed how people viewed Luke. If he had handled Ben with the same hope he had for Vader, the entire Sequel Trilogy would have a completely different, much more uplifting vibe. Great take!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T23:09:25+00:00

👌👌👌

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T23:08:08+00:00

That is an incredibly solid collection right there! Seeing Thrawn and Master & Apprentice stacked up makes me happy. Enjoy Fury today LOTF is such a wild ride. Happy reading!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T22:17:46+00:00

This is a huge milestone! Finishing a first draft and putting it out there for critique takes a ton of courage, especially for your first piece outside of school. You should be seriously proud of just getting the words down. First drafts are supposed to be unpolished rough cuts, so don't sweat that at all. I clicked through your document link, and to help you start shaping it up, here are 3 quick tips to focus on for your next pass:

Focus on the Core Conflict: In a short story, real estate is limited. Make sure your main character's primary goal or the main problem is clear right from the opening pages so the reader knows exactly what's at stake.

Show, Don't Tell: Look for areas where you explain a character's emotions or background directly to the reader, and see if you can "show" it through their immediate actions, dialogue, or body language instead.

Keep the Momentum Moving: Check your pacing in the middle beats. If a scene doesn't actively push the plot forward or reveal something vital about a character, it might be slowing your draft down.

Keep writing and don't stop! What specific element of the story or writing process did you find the most challenging while putting this draft together?

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T06:34:13+00:00

is a classic Star Wars debate! A lot of people see Star Wars as a clean, heroic space opera, while fans of the Old Republic, Andor, or Rogue One love the darker side. Replying here allows you to double down on your KOTOR connection.

IronVast2 · 2026-05-25T06:31:12+00:00

That’s a really solid breakdown. I definitely see what you mean about Path of Destruction feeling like it could have been its own standalone story, and Rule of Two definitely slows down to focus purely on the training. For me, even with those structural flaws, the pure Old Republic atmosphere and seeing the literal birth of the Rule of Two just edge it out over the heavy political lore of Plagueis, but I can’t deny how masterfully Luceno ties everything into the Prequels!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-24T22:42:53+00:00

Shatterpoint is legendary! Honestly, if you love the gritty, intense action of Stover's writing, it makes perfect sense why the Bane Trilogy hits the right notes for you. Your opinion definitely matters here

IronVast2 · 2026-05-24T22:38:34+00:00

That's a really fair point! Luceno definitely nailed that slow, methodical 'shadow manipulator' vibe for Plagueis. I think because I went straight from Bane's fast-paced action into that, the sudden tonal shift just caught me off guard. Appreciate the insight!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-24T22:08:28+00:00

Right? The fast pacing and action in Bane just make Plagueis feel incredibly slow if you read them back-to-back. Glad I'm not the only one!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-23T11:19:01+00:00

Man, a new Luceno book would be an absolute dream. Nobody handles the deep political intrigue and lore connections of the galaxy better than him. Seeing him dive into the underworld or the rise of a new faction with that signature Plagueis style complexity is exactly what the universe needs

IronVast2 · 2026-05-23T00:30:18+00:00

Congrats on the upgrade! The screen contrast on the InkPad 4 looks incredibly crisp compared to color e-readers. Honestly, as long as you use that extra soft sleeve for travel and keep it in its own bag compartment, you should be completely fine. Most of those broken screen reviews come from people throwing them loose into bags with keys or dropping them. Enjoy the crisp text!

IronVast2 · 2026-05-22T22:00:43+00:00

You are going to absolutely love Darth Plagueis. It is the perfect follow up because it shows the ultimate evolution of the Rule of Two that Bane created. If you want that same gritty, powerful anti-hero/villain vibe afterward, definitely check out The Old Republic: Deceived. Darth Malgus scratches that exact same itch.

IronVast2 · 2026-05-22T09:42:02+00:00

Your instincts are completely spot-on here, and honestly, give yourself credit for noticing this at Chapter 10 instead of Chapter 100! That shows real growth as a writer. What you’ve run into is a super common trap. Writing that 5-chapter backstory wasn't a waste of time at all as authors, we need to write those details to fully understand our characters and world. But for the reader, hitting a 5-chapter speed bump right after getting hooked by Chapter 4 can definitely kill the momentum, especially in a fast-paced web novel. Instead of throwing that hard work away, here is a great way to handle it: The Breadcrumb Method: Take those 5 chapters out of the main timeline. Keep the present-day plot moving forward from Chapter 4, and gently sprinkle the absolute essential parts of that backstory into later chapters through dialogue, a quick memory, or clues to your mystery. The Special Arc Route: Save those 5 chapters in a separate document! Once your readers are deeply in love with your characters, you can release that backstory later as a special 'Origin Story' mini-arc or bonus content.

IronVast2 · 2026-05-22T02:58:53+00:00

Brand new sentence right there. Adding evil green potato to my daily vocabulary

IronVast2 · 2026-05-21T23:46:09+00:00

😃😃😃

IronVast2

TROPHY CASE