The Clone Wars begin in Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade excerpt

Since their introduction in Star Wars Rebels, the Inquisitors have played an important role in Star Wars canon. Between the Ahsoka novel, the Darth Vader comics, Jedi: Fallen Order, and the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series, more information continues to be revealed about the Inquisitors.

The upcoming novel Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah Dawson promises to shed even more light on the Inquisitorius. The novel follows Iskat Akaris, an Inquisitor who was first introduced in the Darth Vader comics. When the story begins, Iskat is a Jedi Padawan, with the novel showing her journey from Jedi to Inquisitor.

StarWars.com released the first excerpt from the book, which shows Iskat and her Jedi Master on Geonosis during Attack of the Clones. They are among the many Jedi who have been called to Geonosis to save a captive Obi-Wan Kenobi from Separatist forces. It is fascinating to get the perspective of a Jedi who was called to Geonosis, not knowing that the battle will be the beginning of the Clone Wars:

"The Jedi had surprisingly little intel regarding the mission; they only knew that Obi-Wan Kenobi had been ambushed by the massing Separatist army. Every available Jedi in fighting form was on a ship right now, just like Iskat. Unlike her missions with Master Vey, she had no way to know what role she would play, but she was excited to be among her fellow Jedi and pleased that the masters had deemed her skilled enough to take part in such an important undertaking."

Iskat’s enthusiasm and pride are heartbreaking when knowing that she will go on to become an Inquisitor who will hunt Jedi and Force-sensitive children.

The Battle of Geonosis is a great starting point for this story as it will be the first step in Iskat losing faith in the Jedi Order, as she experiences firsthand how they are unable to stop a galactic war from breaking out. She is there from the beginning of the conflict that will make her increasingly disillusioned with the Jedi and ultimately drive her toward the dark side of the Force.

In addition to Iskat’s eagerness to prove herself, the excerpt emphasizes how little the Jedi knew before making their dramatic entrance during the Battle of Geonosis:

"He held out a holoprojector, and an image of Mace Windu appeared, lightsaber ready in his other hand.“Klefan Opus here,” the master said. “We’re on the ground, to the northwest.”“Welcome to Geonosis. We need your detachment to help secure the arena where Count Dooku is preparing to execute Obi-Wan, along with Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala.”There were gasps and whispers around the shuttle. Why was Skywalker here? And how had a senator become involved?"

After reading this novel, the Battle of Geonosis will feel a little different when watching Attack of the Clones, especially when watching the Jedi who arrive to help save Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé.

The Clone Wars explored the impact that the galactic conflict had on Jedi Padawans such as Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee, as did Mike Chen’s novel Brotherhood by exploring the impact of Padawan Mill Alibeth. This new novel will also explore how the Clone Wars shaped a Jedi Padawan into becoming an Inquisitor.

Rise of the Red Blade seems poised to be a personal and tragic story of a Jedi falling to the dark side while also providing more insight into the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire.

Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade will be released on July 18, 2023.