This is a great book. Claudia Grey and Rae Carson have been the gold standard of the new Star Wars authors for me. This book is a great companion to the Light of the Jedi book, but adds a great deal to the High Republic era.

The book focuses around 4 new Jedi characters and the crew of frontier "vessel". The characterisation and character development is great. For continuity as well I really like how the event of this book fit together with other book in the series and the honorable mention of characters used in the other book.

I really like the conflict in the Jedi of finding their own paths in life and the force. I also find it interesting how the Jedi are more political, philosophical, and when need militaristic in this time. Depending on which route a Jedi decides to go though they are given combat training the vast majority of them have not and don't expect to use it. Part of the is also explained very well in this book.

After reading this book I would really like to see what is next for everyone in this book and really hope turn up in other book. I already main characters of A Test of Courage will be returning I hope these so as well. This era has suddenly got a lot more interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and LucasFilm Press for the early access to Into the Dark. I really loved this book. I would say it was my favorite out of all the High Republic books so far. The characters in this book were either really likable or in the case of the villains really I interesting. I also enjoyed how they added to the lore with the Drengir. The writing was also excellent. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Claudia Gray for the opportunity to read Star Wars: Into the Dark in exchange for an honest review.

2021 goal: keep up with all Star Wars: The High Republic books as they grow this part of the timeline throughout the various levels of novelization and comics. So far I have only read A Test of Courage (Middle Grade) and Into the Dark (Young Adult, current review). And so far, I like what this line of novels has to offer. I will be reading Light of the Jedi next and expect some very important ties-ins from Into the Dark. I will find out. Into the Dark felt like a lot happened, yet nothing happened at the same time. What I mean is it was a bit long-winded and slow at times, but the characters really grew on me and the given situation and introduction to the enemy of this time period were both well done by Miss Gray.

There is a nice cast of characters introduced in this novel. Reath, a padawan, likes being in the archives. When he is asked to venture out to the Frontier to help push the Republic's reach, he isn't exactly thrilled. Two other Jedi join the trek (though not his master, who, to my understanding, is on Starlight Beacon, a space station placing the stage of Light of the Jedi). Master Cohmac and Master Orla are the Republic's Jedi representatives. Throughout the novel, there are snippets of a mission they went on twenty-five years ago that reflect the Republic trying to reach other planets in the Frontier to get them to join. The three Jedi take passage on a ship called the Vessel (haha, very funny), and the crew consisting of Affie, Leox, and Geode (of which there is quite a bit of humor with this latter character).

These six make their way to the Frontier through hyperspace lanes, but when they get pushed from a crowded lane due to a massive disaster (Starlight Beacon?), the lanes are unusable. Out of hyperspace, the crew finds themselves drawn to a supposedly abandoned space station full of plants and droids that will kill anything that harms said plants.

Here the crew saves a young woman and elderly man from some bandits/pirates or what have you. The Jedi also sense something dark in this space station and plan to bring the darkness back with them to seal in a Jedi Temple. The darkness isn't quite what they expect, and more than one new threat is introduced in this novel, setting the forefront of the High Republic novels to come.

I enjoyed this because it definitely felt like Star Wars, even though it takes place more than one hundred years before the Jedi we know and love as Luke Skywalker. Gray incorporates a fun sense of humor amidst the seriousness of the situation, which is quite admirable. The characters were fun to get to know, and it will be interesting to see what part they continue to play as this new era of Star Wars fiction continues.

Claudia Gray just does not miss. Into the Dark is another fun ride through the Star Wars universe in an exciting new era that is full of tragedy, but abounding in hope. Gray deftly introduces new fan-favorite characters and concepts, while weaving in fun beats from her previous Star Wars works in a story that is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. I read it in one sitting and am looking forward to starting it again!

Here is our review (in French) : https://www.starwars-universe.com/actu-18119-high-republweek-critiques-du-roman-young-adult-into-the-dark-de-claudia-gray.html

I enjoyed this fun dark Star Wars book. It’s another great read to help you enter the new era of Star Wars: The High Republic books.

This book has it all, Jedi, scoundrels, pirates, mystery, adventure, tragedy and fun. I recommend once you read this book to go and pick up the other High Republic books and comics. There are so many connections to the Marvel and IDW comics. I love that you can find characters in the Star Wars the High Republic books in the comics. You can see the artists interpretations of the characters you read about it in this book and other Star Wars the High Republic books. Star Wars the High Republic is truly an interconnected epic story.

I also enjoyed the references this book makes to planets and people you find in Star Wars cartoons, comics, and movies. There are so many details that Star Wars fans will love.

The one thing I noticed about this book are there are a lot of new characters you get introduced to in the first two chapters. You learn a lot about these new characters all at once. So things can get a bit confusing as you get to know all these fun new characters.

Trust in the force and enjoy another great Star Wars the High Republic book.

Stay awesome and keep reading!

ARC from Netgalley.
Along with the adult "Light of the Jedi" and the juvenile "A Test of Courage", "Into the Dark" is the Young Adult foray into this new era of Star Wars. For the first time (definitely in a long time, but maybe ever) we have a Jedi who is not adventure seeking or needing to always put himself in danger. Padawan Reath Silas is very content studying the Archives, and is often given leave to do so, but when his Master Jora Malli is summoned to the frontier for a position on Starlight Beacon, he knows he must join her.
Taking the ship "Vessel", Reath joins: Captain Leox Gyasi; Copilot Affie Hollow, daughter of the head of a shipping company; Geode, a species that basically resembles a rock (very hilarious scene involving him); Knight Dez Rydan, Master Malli's previous Padawan; Orla Jareni, a Wayfinder, or Jedi that chooses to find their way in The Force separate from the Council's guidance (when did this practice go away?? Could have been very helpful for lots of Jedi we already know of!); and Master Cohmac Vitus, who studies folklore and legends.
Same as the others, the disaster of the Legacy Run shuts down hyperspace, and this crew gets stranded onboard a space station. And while there is definitely an encounter with The Nihil (enemies of the previous High Republic books) we are also introduced to a new threat: the Drengir. Drengir are sentient, amorphous, plant-like carnivores. They are held dormant in the station by the presence of 3 statue artifacts attuned to act as a prison for the Dark Side of the Force. Once released, the Drengir show just why they were needed to be stopped.
Obviously the book covers a lot of ground, but I really enjoyed this cast of characters. Different motivations and internal reveals give rich life to all of them and I definitely look forward to seeing the Adult, Juvenile, and Teen books begin to react together.
Strong recommend. The High Republic is very strong for Star Wars right now.

Psst.... where's Master Yoda?

The Star Wars new series consisting of three novels at this point has been tremendous. The High Republic has kicked off with a bang. Highlighting all of these novels, Into the Dark truly is the best. In typical Claudia Gray fashion this book never stops. With incredibly deep characters, moving storylines, complex action sequences, and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end, this book is truly can’t miss..

This book is seriously one of the most enjoyable reads I've found in awhile! I should've prefaced this by saying that I'm a Star Wars fan, and this book made me happier than some of the recent films. I was especially happy because this book checks off a lot of the boxes for what I want in a good Star Wars story: good characters, a plot with some wrinkles/philosophical depth, and dizzying action sequences. All in all, I'm really, really excited to invest more time into the High Republic series because it's obvious a lot of time, love, and passion went into crafting a love letter to what makes Star Wars so great.

This is a solid Star Wars novel by Claudia Gray. I will be adding this book to my library collection immediately.

PODCAST EPISODE (audio): Star Wars: The High Republic is here! Mike Celestino (Laughing Place / Who’s The Bossk Podcast) and Drew Kaplan (Star Wars Maven) join Sarah and Richard on a spoiler-free discussion of the first three High Republic novels.

Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4DNMcfGoTL6LeVHPuh93qL

Into the Dark by Claudia Gray
Publish Date: 2/2/21
Story Overview: Padawan Reath Silas is being sent from galactic capital of Coruscant to the undeveloped frontier—and he is not happy about it. He’d rather stay at the Jedi Temple, studying the archives. But when the ship he’s traveling on is knocked out of hyperspace in a galactic-wide disaster, Reath and his fellow Jedi and travelers find refuge on an abandoned space station. But then strange things start happening – mysterious dark side visions. The Jedi investigate the station, and an ancient mystery is revealed that could harm The Republic on a huge scale.

How does this fit in to Star Wars?
Events within this book occur immediately after and part of the fallout of the Great Disaster detailed in The Light of the Jedi.

Interesting Passages:
"The Vessel bucked under them like a blurrg having a bad day,"

“The Jedi elders have identified three main kinds of Force artifacts,” he said to the assembled group in the comm area. “There are artifacts that contain certain memories or even personalities of past Force users. There are artifacts that enhance a Jedi’s ability to use the Force. And then there are artifacts that hinder or confound that ability—Force dampeners, you could call them.”

I just finished my second High Republic novel in about as many weeks. I think it goes without saying I’m really enjoying these new Star Wars books.
Into the Dark by Claudia Grey is the first young adult novel in the new publishing initiative and the last novel two be released in what is being referred to as stage one. It focuses on a smaller group of characters than Light of the Jedi and is headlined by a Jedi Padawan being sent out on a mission when he would much rather be studying in the archives.
This ragtag team, in classic Star Wars fashion, bandies together when The Great Disaster, detailed in Light of the Jedi, hits their corner of the outer rim as they find themselves trapped on a long thought abandoned space station that seems to be serving as an arboretum of sorts.
I didn’t connect to it quite as much as I did Light of the Jedi but I still very much enjoyed the story. The characters are what really shone for me though, the freighter crew and Reath especially but the other Jedi were interesting as well.
I don’t think I’m going to read the middle grade book, A Test of Courage, though I’ve heard it is very good, but I will keep up with other other novels at they release.
I’m glad there are two ongoing comic book series coming out monthly at the moment, they should tie me over until the next novel in July.

Claudia Gray is my favorite author of the new Star Wars canon, and so I was excited to see a new book from her set in this entirely unexplored part of the Star Wars universe timeline. As expected from Gray, the book is filled with intriguing new characters and well drawn action sequences. We are introduced to new Jedi, new settings, and a mysterious space station with possible Sith connections.

For anyone who has wanted to dive into Star Wars but has been daunted by the sheer volume of printed media that exists, this is a great jumping off point. Since the High Republic stories take place well before any of the movie canon, there is no plot of character knowledge already assumed. If you've been in the Star Wars fandom for awhile, this is also well worth your time since it's a completely original story and Claudia Gray is a wonderful Star Wars writer. I'm looking forward to seeing what else the High Republic has in store.

A great continuation of the High Republic. I’ve read The Light of the Jedi and was eager for more. This book has a different tone. It’s a little lighter, a little more casual. It feels good. Even though there is plenty of danger, you don’t lose sight of the characters.

It was interesting to see a character like Reath. One who was far more interested in research than in actual fighting. It was so good to see him grow into his own.

The continuation of the Nihil, getting to see more of their group, it was amazing. With how small Star Wars had started to feel, this really opens the world back up.

The writing is easy to follow and fun. I had a hard time putting it down to give my eyes a break. When it was done I was a little bumped. I wanted more of the characters and to see their journeys. It was a great installment and I’ll be looking for other work by the author.

I absolutely love Claudia Gray. She is by far the strongest Star Wars writer in the current Canon.
Into the Dark runs along the same timeline as Light of the Jedi, but from the viewpoint of a Padawan named Reath and their adventure trying to get to Starlight Beacon during the Event that tore the hyper lanes apart.
There are little hints of what is not dead, including ancient Sith, which will bring delight to Expanded Universe fans too.
Secret Sith artefacts and symbols being traced all over the Galaxy, along with the Jedi showing us their true abilities in battle provides a great foundation to this new era we are exploring.
A new evil sentient species hell bent on destroying planets that are the stuff that nightmares are made of!
Overall, this was a great book- it will take us a while to learn and embed into this new universe, but exciting times are ahead for sure!

Padawan Reath Silas has to leave the archives behind to continue training in the frontier. When their ship is knocked out of hyperspace, they take refuge on an abandoned space station, along with other ships. But the feeling of the Dark is strong aboard the station. Action and adventure abound.

What can I say - I love Reath Silas. This guy just wants to be left alone in the highest tower in the castle library where he can write histories and read books. And here is is, stuck on some janky space station infested by evil plants somewhere in the Outer Rim. Come on, man. (The idea of a Jedi who has no interest in action or adventure is a fascinating one.)

This is the 3rd of the High Republic books I've read, and I really like them. This one, written by Claudia Gray, was not a disappointment. It was fast action with an interesting plot, and there were some really great characters. I really loved the station as a setting, and Gray did an amazing job using the idea of being stuck on an abandoned space station with all its dark nooks and crannies to her advantage.

Overall, this new High Republic endeavor has (in my opinion) been a successful one, and I am really looking forward to the next round of releases.

A bit slow to start, but once it got there, the plot was engaging and surprisingly dark. Also surprisingly funny, which provided a nice balance. The cast was a bit big, but succeeded in making each of them unique and interesting. It made me wish we could focus a little closer on some of them, but with the variety there's a character to appeal to anyone. It makes me curious to see where the High Republic series will go.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Into the Dark is a 2021-Canon release set within the era of The High Republic; known as the golden age of the Jedi. The events in the three recent High Republic books all take place concurrently in the year 232 BBY. As you discover in this novel, this is the year of the Great Disaster, an event that caused numerous ships galaxy-wide to be suddenly launched out of hyperspace. It also destroyed moons and created a great amount of debris causing further problems for ships and navigators.

To be clear, the events in this book take place before any previous media you may have watched or read. We're talking all new Star Wars goodness! Now with that little bit of timeline info out of the way, let's get into the review, shall we?

Jedi Padawan, Reath Silas, dreams of days spent pouring through the archives versus deep space adventures. He's comfortable in Coruscant, known to be the center of the Core System and home to the Jedi Temple. When his Master, Jora Malli, gets assigned to the new space station, the Starlight Beacon, in the Outer Rim territories, he has to go with. An assignment he's not happy about.

Malli takes off early, leaving Silas to travel aboard The Vessel, a civilian transport ship, with three other Jedi: Master Cohmac Vitus, Orla Jareni and Dez Rydan. The only other passengers aboard The Vessel include its Captain, Leox Gyasi, Co-Pilot, Affie Hollow, and Navigator, Geode.

It's during their journey to Starlight Beacon that the aforementioned Great Disaster occurs, virtually ejecting them from the hyperspace channels and stranding them in deep space. As you can imagine, that's not good.

The group discovers an ancient space station, the Amaxine, that seems to be abandoned. Unfortunately for the intrepid crew and passengers of The Vessel, they aren't the only ones to discover the station and not everyone is friendly. Making matters worse, the dilapidated Station may not be as abandoned as it appears.

Claudia Gray, surprising no one, did an exceptional job bringing this story to life. It was an absolute joy to read and learn about this earlier era of Star Wars history. The characters were incredibly well done. I loved their interactions with one another and getting to read from all of their perspectives. My favorite character was obviously Geode. If you read the book, you will quickly discover why. He was the best and I loved every scene that he was in.

There is a ton, a ton, a ton of action, with some very serious baddies that need to be stopped. A lot of the action focuses on some ancient idols that were discovered on the station, thought to have been left there by the Sith.

I would highly recommend this story to any Star Wars fan, or really even someone who is just looking to get into the books. This is the literal beginning. What better place to start? Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney LucasFilms, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. It was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait to pick up the rest of The High Republic materials!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy for review.

Into the Dark was a fantastic addition to Star Wars canon. The High Republic is a completely unknown time in Star Wars lore, and it is nice to see it start to become fleshed out. There were a lot of point of view characters which made it difficult at times to keep track of what was going on, but it did not detract from the overall story. The main character, Reath, was a much different Jedi than we are used to seeing. He is not very strong in the Force, but he makes up for it with a keen intellect and prefers to study the archives than go on epic adventures. Seeing his character progression from beginning to end was interesting and made sense in a way that did not feel rushed. I would definitely recommend this to Star Wars fans. They will not be disappointed.