YOUR GUIDE TO THE STAR WARS EXPANDED UNIVERSE
Youtini is a one-of-a-kind experience that came soon after I received my Mass Communications Journalism degree in Advertising.
For a good handful of years, I’ve assisted the company in social media engagement, live-streaming content, database entry, and writing blog articles and email blasts.
The galaxy’s #1 place for book reviews and reading guides.
In this Retro Review, we reexamine Claudia Gray's smash hit, Bloodline, three years after the novel's initial release.
SUMMARY
The Empire’s been demolished, and the New Republic has risen from its ashes. But disarray continues to run its course within the newfound government, tearing it into two opposing parties: The Populists and the Centrists.
This is Claudia Gray’s Bloodline.
The Populists believe each system should rule itself independently, while the Centrists argue a single entity should enforce peace and stability throughout the galaxy. Naturally, the Populists are hesitant to adopt a government that could give rise to another Emperor, but the Centrists cannot abide the idea of chaos returning to the far reaches of the galaxy. During a ceremony honoring the late Bail Organa for his heroism, the two parties bicker with each other enough for Populist Senator Leia Organa to finally settle on a retirement plan.
Before Leia steps away from politics for good, she decides to go on one final mission.
The Youtini reading guides are the cornerstone of every reader’s journey. Below are just a couple of my own contributions.
Where the light shines...darkness follows…
The Jedi and Sith have battled for centuries in a rivalry that spans the dawn of time. For every battle, the dark side persists in a never-ending quest for unlimited power.
Through an ancient practice called the Rule of Two, a Sith Lord broadens their Force capabilities to its limit while passing those teachings onto a single apprentice. Having only two Sith exist at a time ensures that a concentrated source of knowledge and power will be passed down countless generations without spreading thin like the abundant Jedi. A powerful Sith Lord who went by Darth Bane sought to reestablish this rule when the Sith had forgotten their old ways.
An individual with raw strength through the Force can sometimes teeter on the edge of light and dark. To a Sith Lord, such a person can become either a major threat or the perfect apprentice. The ultimate tools can be used to seduce an unbalanced Force user to the dark side:
Fear. Anger. Hate.
Once a Sith apprentice is strong enough, they challenge their master in a fight to the death. If the apprentice succeeds, they become the new master and repeat the cycle by finding an apprentice of their own to train. And thus, the Sith legacy rages on for centuries.
No one can forget the day the galaxy went dark. Everyone felt it, and everyone knew. The day the Empire was born.
In one fell swoop, Chancellor Palpatine gripped the freedom of democracy and crushed it in his bare fists. With an entire army and loyal apprentice at his command, the new Emperor had complete control over the known universe. In the years since his reign, citizens of the Galactic Empire learned that it is futile to resist. Evil had won.
But there are those still willing to fight, and so the war is not over. Those who have lost families and homes. Those with nothing left to lose. The Empire can’t win as long as the Rebel Alliance stands strong.
So don’t give up hope. Never give up hope.
Just a bunch of nerds taking over social media.
Even though the Youtini team is spread across the planet, we still celebrated the little things together. I encouraged my fellow community members to send me their lovely photos to turn into a collage that will last a lifetime.
Aren’t customer photos the best? ❤️
When people took the time to show their appreciation, we showed it right back by giving them a spot on our timeline. It’s no surprise that these small gestures bring about loyal fans!
Jocasta beats the Algebra lady by a long shot. To prove it, I whipped up this meme-centric promo for our old book recommendation algorithm.
Always set up polls. People love polls.
The Star Wars Expanded Universe is home to hundreds of unique characters that have never made it to the big screen but are just as special. Since there are so many, it’s almost impossible to know them all!
Help out your audience by giving them newfound information to store in their noggin.
Our CEO was basically Han Solo in this pic. Totally not jealous… anyway, customers love seeing the face of the company. It’s almost as though the business is run by a human 🤔
When you win at Photoshop.
THE SACRED TEXTS!!! The best memes are the ones that never get old, and this one still lives on to this day. That made it a perfect choice for hinting at our upcoming book-tracking system.
A few of our Youtini members met in person for the first time during Star Wars Celebration Chicago 2019. This doesn’t happen often, so we made sure to share these heartfelt moments every time.
Who knows this one? Raise your hand! ✋
One of the best ways to get engagement is to simply ask for it. If it’s easy and fun enough, you’d be amazed to see how many people willingly lend their voice.
I saw an opportunity and I took it. Don’t @ me.
What is he looking at?? The anticipation is killing me!
There’s no better way to raise a bit of hype than by giving a little tease of what’s to come.
Hot off the press!
As with many aspects of Youtini, releasing news articles in a timely manner was a collaborative effort.
More Youtini goodness…
On top of the main branding, Youtini had much more to offer, like community chat groups and podcast shows.
The Youtini Cantina
The Youtini Cantina is a Facebook group where fans can share their Star Wars reading experiences and participate in book discussions.
Group members used to vote on their favorite novels during Cantina Brawl tournaments, hosted by me!
The Living Force Podcast
The Living Force is Youtini’s main podcast show where your hosts talk about the latest news in Star Wars books, reading advice, and opinions.
Legends Lookback
Legends Lookback is a Patreon-exclusive bonus show that you can access by being a Patron of Youtini. Legends Lookback is where your hosts talk about novels that were released before the Disney acquisition.
Listen to me guest-star in the episode about Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, published in 1978!
