lesbiannova:

I have seen a few negative reviews of Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising that focus on character bashing of Thalias, because she does not fit the reviewer’s view of what a “Strong Female Character" should be like, due to her role as a caregiver of a sky-walker and her relationship with Thrawn. It bothers me a lot because I find Thalias one of the most interesting characters in Chaos Rising.

I honestly feel that disparaging Thalias’ role as a sky-walker caregiver is missing the point of showing that it helps if sky-walkers have caregivers who are former sky-walkers since they can relate to them better, as seen through Thalias’ relationship with Che'ri. Thalias story also shows what being a (former) sky-walker is like, how it is like to be a Force-Sensitive child who was taken from their original family to serve as a navigator and then once their Force-Sensitivity fades, they have to end the job they were raised to do throughout most of their life and they uncertain future after their service ends.



As for Thalias’ relationship with Thrawn, you may argue that Thalias’ attitude toward Thrawn is hero-worship, but honestly, I cannot blame her for feeling that way. When she and Thrawn met for the first time, she was a 13-year-old who felt anxious and uncertain about her future after her service as a sky-walker ended, and then here came someone who genuinely showed her kindness in ways not even her own caregivers did, and encouraged her to choose her own path. For me, Thalias’ admiration of Thrawn is understandable.



Not to mention, the term “Strong Female Character” has become loaded that I am wary of people, and yes including other women, who insult a woman character for not fitting the mold of a Strong Female Character ™. When it comes to representation of women in fiction, I prefer seeing women get portrayed as complex individuals with various personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and allowed to have agency and important roles in the story, instead of just focusing on how many people they have beaten up or being sassy towards. One of the reasons I love Chaos Rising is that there are multiple women and girl characters who play important roles in the story, particularly Ar'alani, Thalias and Che'ri. Obviously, the plot of the book revolves around Thrawn, but each other main character is given their own focus and goals as well.