Back in the Game (COMPLETE)

Check In Time!!!

I'm at a point in this story where I know how the ending is going to go, but it's still a bit hazy as to exactly how I'm going to get there. It's like I have a map that shows me landmarks I need to pass, but it doesn't show the road to take to find them. 

With this in mind, I figured now is as good a time as any to check in with readers to see if they have an opinion. Feedback *may* influence the who, what, where, and how of the next chain of events, although the when and the why are already set in stone. To respond, just comment on one of the paragraphs below, or if you would rather do it privately, send me a message. 

Themes: Not necessarily the theme of war, politics, Star Wars, etc, but literary themes. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, a literary theme takes a topic (example: economics in war) and conveys a message about it (example: business profit from war, which cause them to encourage it and value profit over life). Are there any themes that you like or dislike? Are there themes you wish you were seeing? Some of the theme topics I intentionally focus on are war, mental health, and authority vs. relationships.

Characters: This is mostly a review section, since at this point, it's hard to remove or add characters that aren't already involved in the story. For characters that have already been introduced, are there any characters that you would like to see more of? Less of? Are there certain aspects of characters that you think are loyal to canon/enhance canon? Are there certain aspects of characters that you think are disloyal to canon/belittle canon? Note: Barriss and Maul are characters that I intend to expand on and write about more in the future.

Core Plot: The overall plot of this story is supposed to be the Clone War, particularly its evolution since the death of Palpatine/Sideous. Does this seem like the core story, or are subplots interrupting it too much? Can you point out certain points of development since My Clone Wars: Season 7 - Blurred Sides ?

Subplots: There are multiple subplots surrounding the main plot of the story, some of the most notable (in this season) being Ahsoka's perception of the Jedi, Anakin and Padme's marriage and future children, and Maul's quest to claim the throne of the Sith. Are these subplots stealing too much of the spotlight from the core plot? Are they not being developed enough? Are there any subplots that are distracting and redundant? Are there any subplots that should be introduced?

Writing Style: This is the third book I have done for my Clone Wars series, and while I have gotten into a rhythm while writing them, I may have also developed some poor habits. Are there techniques that distract you significantly from enjoying (or not enjoying) the story? Also, as a bit of a confidence booster for me :) , are there any techniques that enhance your reading experience?

Literary Style: Season 7 was definitely a linear narrative, with regular increments of time passing between episodes (the second integer in the chapter title). It was very focused on a problem that the protagonist was faced with, and it ended when that problem had been resolved. Season 8 was focused on character development, and put more emphasis on internal struggle and change rather than external circumstances. There was no physical opposition that the protagonist had to overcome. Season 9 utilizes both styles and attempts to link the two together. Much of the content is dedicated to showing how current (and past) events are having an effect on characters in the moment, and how those effects affect their next actions. Which of these styles did you enjoy most and why?

Anything else I missed: Are there factors in my writing that I'm not paying attention to? Are there things you have seen other writers do that would improve my story (please provide examples, if able). 

I know this is asking a lot, but now that I'm two and a half books deep, I think it's time that I evaluate how well I'm doing. Few people have given me feedback in the comments, which I understand isn't convenient, and is why I am asking for it specifically. Thanks to all who participate. 

Lots of love! <3

-Sparkplug02