Star Wars: Into the Dark was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Claudia Gray. This is the first YA novel within for the High Republic Era.

SUMMARY: Jedi apprentice Reath Silas is to report to his master on the Starlight Beacon, to work out in the outer rim frontier. He has no interest in such a thing, he'd rather stay on Coruscant and work in the archives. As he and a few other Jedi hitch a ride on hired ship, the vessel, they have to pull out of hyperspace as a galactic emergency unfolds.

An old space station is nearby, the vessel makes its way to the space station, along with a few other ships in the area. They will have to stay there until hyperspace is once again safe to travel. While in the station, a darkness is discovered. The Jedi take it upon themselves to remove the darkness, but with a strange twist, the actions taken lead to a new disorderly Jedi, an odd discovery, and frustration.

CHARACTERS: I'm picking two random characters to talk about.

Cohmac Vitas - He's a Jedi Master, long ago he went on a mission that didn't go as plan. The mishaps of that mission have a long lasting effect on him. He also has a hard time with the rules of the Jedi Order. The training the Jedi receive to have a lack of emotion and attachment, make him angry.

Affie Hollow - She works for the Byne guild, on board the ship called, the vessel. She lost her parents a long time ago, but was taken in by the leader of the guild. So, some day, Affie would take control of the guild. She finds something unusual on the space station which leads to the discover of shady business going on within the guild.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: This book, was actually pretty disappointing. Every single time I open a Star Wars book, I have high hopes and expect excellent storytelling. I really want to enjoy the book I'm spending all my time on. Claudia Gray normally tells fantastic stories in Star Wars, sadly, this is the exception.

Reading Into the Dark was a chore! The magic of Gray’s storytelling was absent. The characters were bland, the villains were awful (as in unintentionally comical), and the story was absolutely boring. There was a secondary story being told in the book about a past mission by a few of the main characters. It was pointless and a waste of ink. Many parts of the story seem to just skip around details. Descriptions were lacking, but for the most part, dialogue wasn't too bad.

The High Republic main villains are the Nihil. This book does have the Nihil, which come across as an afterthought without any sort of intimidation or disturbing factor. The other villains in the book, the Drengir, look creepy if you've seen the art. They are dumb in this story. If you've seen the film/musical of Little Shop of Horrors... you've seen the villains. (Yes, the plant villains speak basic.)

Many aspects of the story had potential had they been altered slightly. The twist that unfolds was disappointing and frustrating.

RATING: I give Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark an F. I did not expect this to happen with a Claudia Gray book... I’m sad.

Do I recommend you pick up and read Star Wars: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray? To get the bigger picture on what's taking place throughout the galaxy during the High Republic, yes. If it your just slightly interested in this era, no.

Into the Dark continues the introduction to the High Republic for another age-group, and shows the great disaster through the eyes of another set of new characters. Besides the threat of the Nihil that was established in Light of the Jedi, a new foe, known as the Drengir, is introduced and the slight information we learn about them is insightful. The presence of the Drengir in Into the Dark isn’t what I was expecting based on the promotion, but I feel like now that the Drengir are in the picture we have an idea of what we’re working with for the main antagonists of this era. In a way, the happenings in Into the Dark related to the Drengir could explain the ending of The High Republic 1 *pure speculation*, and if that’s the case, it would make their presence in this book more purposeful as well as form another connection to the comics. In general I found the first half of the book monotonous; however, the last half really drew me in and I enjoyed reading it. In addition to the monotony in the first half, there were some brief dialogue exchanges, and even phrases, that I felt were out of place for the Star Wars universe as well as for the characters involved in those interactions. As for the characters, we follow along with a decent size group - the scope is roughly the same as in A Test of Courage - and it felt comfortable changing perspectives between the characters throughout. Besides the main character, Reath Silas, the other character mostly followed is Jedi Knight Orla Jareni who ended up being my favorite out of the new characters introduced. Another notable detail is Claudia was able to reference the Amaxine Warriors, who were first introduced in her novel Bloodline, and I thought that was a cool touch. Overall, I feel like Into the Dark does a good job at propelling the audience into the next wave of releases as we leave the introductory period and begin to expand. All three books so far have provided ample opportunities for various expansions to branch from these introductions to continue the overall story in an interesting way, and I’m looking forward to unraveling the darkness that lies ahead. I have a feeling (and hope) that we’ve only skimmed the surface.

Like your Star Wars weird? You’re in luck as Into the Dark is at times very weird, but it somehow all works. Yes, Claudia let’s her freak flag fly a little complete with insidious carnivorous trees that make Ents look dovish by comparison. And there’s even living breathing rocks who not only happen to be navigators but are essential beings. Throw in some smugglers, Jedi, Nihil, evil death plants, pissed off gardening droids, and you’ve got yourself a party, or Claudia Gray’s version of one.

Compared to the other The High Republic launch titles, Into the Dark is a slow burn, certainly when you compare it to Light of the Jedi, which puts a cinderblock on the gas pedal and leaves it there. Where Charles Soule deploys a full-frontal assault on your senses, Claudia lures you in with a more philosophical recitation. She instead explores the space first before delivering an emotional Spirit Bomb to the gut. As Into the Dark revels in its form, creating depth, intrigue, and excitement, it also lures you into a pensive state, turning what could have been a run-of-the-mill “B” plot into something revelatory.

The structure we’re used to, things go right/things go wrong, start fast/end slow, then repeat, doesn’t necessarily apply here. This is more a psychological thriller than space adventure, so don’t expect a thrill ride of epic proportions, this isn’t that. There are lessons to be learned here that don’t necessarily reveal themselves until late in the book. And like Master & Apprentice, this third act is lights out good which makes Into the Dark both about the journey and the destination. Which, the more I think about it, was Master Malli’s plan all along.

And even though there’s nothing simple about Into the Dark, this line courtesy of Reath Silas sums it all up pretty nicely…

“What simple words for describing a nightmare indeed.”

You can read my full review below.

Claudia delivered again! This book, while sampling only a portion of the Star Wars galaxy, paints a larger picture on the state of the Republic and of the Jedi and the Order. It's at times a thriller/horror story, an adventure novel and a character study on many fronts. Claudia Gray has a way of catching characters in flux and is a master of dynamic relationships. I won't say more than that, but I can say that I loved the overall tone of this book from its claustrophobia to its humor. This book has me excited for the rest of the High Republic stories.

(4.5 out of 5)

"Star Wars: Into the Dark" is an excellent entry in this ongoing saga of "The High Republic." It seems to stand on its own, requiring little knowledge of anything that’s happened in the rest of the event. What’s on display here is an excellently crafted, character-driven story that follows this group of characters as they uncover the mysteries of a strange space station. The pacing is quick and breezy, with the prose split between the points of view of all of the characters. The plot is easy to follow, feeling both epic in scale and delightfully intimate. The characters are so well-sketched, feeling wholly believable, authentic, and lived in. Every aspect of this book works remarkably well and, aside from the slow(ish) beginning, I loved every page of it. I’m eager to see what else Gray may write for The High Republic and I’d love to see these characters pop up in one of the future stories. Until then, this book is a wonderful read for Star Wars fans of all ages and I thoroughly recommend it.

(full review at the link attached to this review)

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can’t help but comparing this book to the other Star Wars High Republic book I read for NetGalley-A Test of Courage-and I think that it was better than this book. The random flashbacks-though they gave insight to the older Jedi-chopped up the story and made it a frustrating read.

Into the Dark, by Claudia Gray, is part of the new High Republic series, and thus part of the new Star Wars Disney Canon world. Personally though, it's the fact that it's written by Claudia Gray that had me so excited about this read. She's one of my favorite Star Wars authors, and I will read anything she deigns to write.

The relationship between Padawan and Masters is complex, and designed to teach both parties more about their paths. This is a fact that has never been more true, as Padawan Reath Silas is sent off on an adventure he never wanted, or intended, to have.

He was content to stay on Coruscant, with access to the libraries and all the research he could ever have wanted. Instead, he was called out into the frontier by his Master. Unfortunately, something goes awry before he ever makes it there, as a disaster strikes. Now, Reath Silas and the other Jedi in his company are going to have to fight for their lives.

“'Adventure' is usually a euphemism for 'going places that have lots of bugs.'”

Into the Dark was very much not the book that I expected. In many ways, it was better. It was fascinating to dive a bit further into the High Republic (no, I haven't read Light of the Jedi – yet). More than that, I was fascinated to see a time when the Jedi were strong, and not openly battling such a war.

Likewise, I loved every new character introduced in this book. And trust me, there were a lot of them. Not all of them were Jedi, but many were. Silas isn't the only perspective in this book, despite what the description may have you think (surprising, as I said).

The other perspectives really help to flesh out the world, and provide different insight on the same situation. I'm sure that every reader will go into this book and come out with a different favorite, but that's to be expected.

Claudia Gray really did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the characters, the timeline, and the importance of the training process – for both the Padawan and the Master. It's an understated lesson, but one that carries so much weight with it.

Personally, I can't help but hope that we'll be seeing more of her work for the High Republic, as I seriously am already feeling like I'm going through withdrawal. I want more of this timeline, and more of her writing. Preferably together.

Claudia Gray once again delivers another instant favorite! Into the Dark is overflowing with loveable characters full of depth, growth, and quirks. We take our next steps deeper into The High Republic and find even more danger and darkness along the way. I love how the story takes a few of the Star Wars archetypes we are so familiar with and changes them up. For example, our main character Reath Silas is a Padawan who likes books and studying the archives and dislikes adventure and excitement! In a galaxy as massive and deep as Star Wars, it's great when storytellers find ways to change things up and give us something new.

The story is full of adventure (despite Reath's wishes,) exploration, mystery, and darkness! The tone of the book surprised me as it went along. While I wouldn't call it a horror story, there were some thrilling moments and scares for our characters along the way. There were countless details that I loved like the Kyber Arch, Padawan parties, the Amaxines, under the Jedi Temple, Wayseeking, the Byne Guild, and the Starlight Beacon! The characters bring originality and depth to the tale and I hope we see more of them in the future.

Especially Leox.

And Geode.

And Orla.

Okay just give me everyone...

I felt this was a great continuation of Light of the Jedi in the High Republic era. I enjoyed learning more about the Nihil and the threat they make to the Jedi. Can't wait to read more from this era!

I was ecstatic to receive Into the Dark as my first read from the new set of Star Wars books and comics set in the age of the High Republic. Centuries before the Republic, Empire, and First Order, these stories introduce us to new characters and worlds, while still connecting to the familiar Star Wars universe.

There have been other stories published in the Star Wars: The High Republic prior to this one, but I read this as a standalone. I've read some of Claudia Gray's previous Star Wars works, one of my favorites being Leia: Princess of Alderaan , and other fans of her work will enjoy her exploration of a new Star Wars era.

The main character of Into the Dark is Reath Silas, a Jedi Padawan who's more comfortable in the Jedi archives than just about anywhere else. When his Master accepts a position out on the frontier, Reath begrudgingly arranges transport to meet her there. This is where the real adventure begins, as the ship he's traveling on is knocked out of hyperspace.

Throughout the story, we're introduced to a wide variety of characters, many of which have their own points of view throughout the story. There are so many characters that it can be hard, at times, to keep up with what each characters are doing. I loved being introduced to and spending time with the different characters, but it did take me a little longer to read due to the jumping back and forth. While Reath is the main character, in many ways this is an ensemble cast of characters that share the story.

Some aspects of the plot were predictable, but I loved the extra pieces of information and new things that we learn about the Jedi and the High Republic era that are scattered throughout the book. Reading this as a standalone didn't take away from my understanding or appreciation for the book, though I'm sure there were references I missed from the previously published books. I'm excited to read and see more from both Claudia Gray and the High Republic publications.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What does it mean to follow the path of a Jedi?

What does it mean to truly trust the Force?

I won't spoil anything from INTO THE DARK, except to say that it's everything you're expecting and everything you aren't all at once.

It's not a story of romance, but instead a different, dare I say refreshing kind of love. It's not a mystery, yet its questions and promises for answers make it impossible not to keep turning pages.

The book is a little bit of everything there is to love about a Star Wars story, plus demon plants and a giant (sentient?) rock.

Once again, Claudia Gray has given us a story that captures our hearts, breaks them, pieces them back together again -- all while forcing us to think more deeply about the principles of Star Wars we have always known, but may have never viewed from a different angle.

I can't wait until everyone has their hands on this book.

And I'm even more excited for whatever Gray has in store for us in the near future.

It would be difficult to doubt that it will exceed expectation

<i> I received this book via Disney Publishing Worldwide (on NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. </i>

What an exciting story in a new era of SW we have yet to explore! I found The High Republic a fascinating time to read about. It was exciting to see places like Coruscant, Naboo, and Alderaan were already established planets during this time. Gray truly captured the SW feels in the book and gave us a great look into The Republic and Jedi at this time.

I really liked each new character we were introduced to. The new Jedi each brought their own unique personalities and ways of looking at the Order to the story. Reath Silas, our Padawan learner, is the main character for this story. I really liked him. I liked how he was a Jedi who enjoyed reading the Archives more rather than seeing action. Whereas, fellow Jedi on this trip, Dez Rydan was all about jumping into action. Our older Jedi, Orla Jareni and Vitus Cohmac, bring great personalities to the story as well. I loved the introduction to the Wayseeker Jedi. It was interesting to see Jedi being able to be more open about fully not following or agreeing with the Council. As we are used to, from Episode I-III, the Council's decision is final.

We are also introduced to a crew of The Byrne Guild's on the ship The Vessel; Leox, Affie, and Geode. I found each of these characters entertaining to the story. Geode was the most interesting due to he said absolutely nothing verbally yet had so much to say. Geode is described as some sort of rock species which I found fascinating. Not a type of species we are used to hearing about in SW.

The plot kept my interest the entire time. Once the passengers and crew, on the Vessel, arrive at the abandoned space station the book really picked up speed, especially once they returned to the station. Gray tied the story together so perfectly bringing in plots we know of, The Sith, with new ones such as the Nihils and Drengir. The Drengir are intriguing as they are plants that seem very deadly to deal with. The unraveling of the truth of the space station got better as each mystery was solved.

The Jedi during THR seemed a bit more relaxed and not as tied down to the Order. They were dedicated to the calling of being a Jedi, but also seemed to have more emotions than the Prequel era Jedis. Anger, of course, remained the main one they tried to avoid. I saw this particularly with a quote from Cohmac where he discusses the master and apprentice relationship. About not understanding how they (the Jedi Order) expect them not to become attached. Calling it unfair and wrong. This idea made me think a lot about Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship. Also learning that the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was built on top of Sith shrine was wild.

I highly enjoyed reading Into the Dark and I'm looking forward to reading and understanding more about life during The High Republic.

This was a great read. I confess that this is the first Star Wars book I have ever read, however I have listened to several audio books. This book was certainly different from what I was expecting. It was more of a slow burn than I was expecting too. That said, it was very well written. What action sequences there are, were very well executed. However, while the action scenes were good, the actual story is what impresses me most about this book. The last 30% in particular were simply splendid! I must give the author praise, the characters were very well thought out and very believable. I also liked how each of the Jedi not only went on a journey physically but also emotionally as well. I only have two criticisms about this book, and they are minor ones at that. Firstly I found that while I loved the frequent shifts that took place in character perspectives, it was somewhat jarring. However considering the copy I read was only an uncorrected proof, this could easily be remedied during editing. My last criticism is that I found the lack of physical descriptions provided for all of the various species that are in this book somewhat annoying. While I am familiar with Star Wars and many of the species that appear in the movies, and some of the comics. I still found myself having to stop reading so that I could google a certain species that appears, in order to form a better idea of what they actually look like. While I am certain that die hard fans would not have this issue, for myself and especially potential new Star Wars fans, adding brief physical descriptions for the many different species that appear in this book would certainly help improve the readers experience. In conclusion, I really liked this book. the story was well though out and well written. Even in its current form, I would certainly recommended it to not only those who like Star Wars, but also to those who simply love some well written Sci-Fi.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC! Great writing, hard to put the book down. Interesting first look into the High Republic, looking forward to reading more from this era. Introduced a large array of new characters, slightly difficult to keep track of them all at first, but well worth the effort. Highly recommended for Star Wars fans.

Star Wars: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray is the latest of the High Republic storyline. Every few weeks since January 5th has seen new material released about the High Republic, a time a few centuries before Anakin Skywalker is even born. The Outer Rim doesn’t want to join the Republic. The Expansion Region remains a dangerous place and everything in between tends to be worse. Each novel build on the one before it so if it feels like you’re missing something, that’s why. How does Into the Dark measure up?

All of the authors picked for this project have prior Star Wars experience. Gray has written several novels, including Lost Stars which proved that Star Wars could have a Young Adult Romance. If only the characters had been seen again. Alas, the romance is set to a bare minimum here although it’s nice that Leox Gyasi is Asexual. Gray does excel at people discovering their lives might not be what they thought they were. Perhaps that’s an overarching theme of Star Wars in general, from Luke Skywalker to Din Djarin. The inner angst and turmoil is exquisite especially when it comes to the Force and how Jedi are trained. Most fandom knowledge comes from Luke or Kanan Jarrus, training from limited knowledge. This book and others give firsthand insight into the training before Palpatine can corrupt it.

Into the Dark is one of the fastest paced Star Wars novels. Every five to ten pages is a new twist. The turns are great, but at times, it suffers from too many character perspectives. It’s hard to keep track of everyone even though Gray does try to give each a distinctive voice. On first reading, the excitement and eagerness overpowered reading it carefully and two characters had been confused as one character called different names at different times. The second reading revealed the mistake and others made in that first reading. The published version probably makes all of this easier by having the proper format to chapters and Point of View changes while the Advanced Reader Copy contained the book in one large file.

The main character, Reath, is the typical teenage male, even with a lightsaber. Way more interesting is Leox Gyasi, who is sure to become a fan favorite. Gray always reveals who she bases characters on, and Gyasi was inspired by young Matthew McConaughey. Imagine him in Sahara, but more allergic to clothing. Along with the secretly sweet disposition, Gyasi speaks in a manner that could confuse even Gatalentans. ‘That sounds like Master Yoda on spice,’ complains another character in their head, which has to be one of the funniest lines ever written in a Star Wars book. He also smells like spice for a very good reason. In this earlier time, it seems that spice is more like marijuana than the harder versions that appear later.

There are far too many fandom questions to list them all. The Star Wars universe feels like it was composed of contemporary literature before a sudden discovery of a treasure trove of 19th century manuscripts. Now fans get to study how their beloved universe came to be. Also planned for the High Republic line along with the books are comics and at least one television series. Hopefully, some of Gray’s characters will appear especially Gyasi. Star Wars: Into the Dark is an enjoyable read that whets the appetite for the other related material.

Admittedly, this one started slower than most of the other Claudia Gray Star Wars books I’ve read, but once she set the proverbial table, the feast was more than worth it. By the middle third of the book, it becomes clear that not everything was as it seemed and there was a fresh surprise around every corner – and I read the last third of the book in a single sitting! We’re introduced to an entirely fresh cast of richly detailed characters and presented with an intricately woven plot. By the end, Gray ties all the arcs into satisfying conclusions while leaving open paths I hope we get to explore with this new band of heroes.

After the enormous success of the first novels and comic, The High Republic returns in February with a new adventure by the all-time favorite Star Wars author, Claudia Gray. Into the Dark tells the story of Padawan Reath Silas—whose original plans to join his master Jora Malli to her new assignment at Starlight Beacon turns into a frightening mission aboard an abandoned space station.

Author Claudia Gray does it again. Into the Dark is an incredible journey full of mystery, surprises, terror, but also fun. Set during the events of Light of the Jedi, the main plot has a certain similarity to the one of A Test of Courage, both featuring a journey to Starlight Beacon gone bad, with the difference that Into the Dark is (as the name suggests) a much darker and mysterious tale. Gray’s horror and sci-fi inspiration outside the galaxy far, far away is evident—creating a fresh new adventure that is still as Star Wars as readers would expect.

The novel introduces the readers to new and compelling characters—from the Jedi Reath, Dez, Cohmac, and Orla to the Vessel crew composed of Affie, Leox, and Geode. Although Reath is the main character throughout the story, the others get plenty of spotlight and development.

Reath Silas is probably one of the most relatable characters in The High Republic. Oftentimes Jedi are portrayed as these informidable warriors whose problem solving mostly involves lightsaber fights and mind control. However, Reath is the opposite of this stereotype. He is a scholar first and foremost—he would rather stroll around the Jedi Archives than hopping on a thrilling adventure. Throughout the events of Into the Dark, Reath is forced to step outside his comfort zone, but even so he stays true to himself. His fallibility and humanity allow the readers to step into his shoes and truly immerse into the story.

Besides the main plot, Into the Dark incorporates a flashback storyline enriching the character development of Cohmac and Orla. Although this part of the novel does not greatly impact the main storyline, it is important for further understanding of the characters and how their decisions made in the past could affect the present events.

Into the Dark could not be an authentic Star Wars story without an iconic crew. Affie Hollow, Leox Gyasi, and Geode make one of the most diverse and fascinating crews in The High Republic and possibly in all Star Wars storytelling. Among the crew mates, Affie is the main character—representing the Young Adult audience. She is the daughter of the owner of the Byne Guild, learning the business while trying to figure out her place within it. Leox (inspired by a 90’s Matthew McConaughey) could be identified as the Han Solo archetype, but Gray goes beyond just that by creating a fascinating character—a free spirit with a unique view of the galaxy and a passion for spice sticks. Geode, well … Geode is an enigmatic character the readers may or may not understand even after finishing Into the Dark.

The novel takes its name from the events within the mysterious space station, where the Vessel crew, along with the Jedi, are faced against a new, ancient threat. These monsters are the perfect addition to the horror genre within Star Wars—fueling fear amongst the Jedi. The Nihil make yet another appearance to The High Republic, further sedimenting their status as official enemies of the Republic and the Jedi Order. However, compared to their portrayal in Light of the Jedi and A Test of Courage, Gray brings more complexity to the murderous space pirates through a different perspective.

Are you ready to step into the dark? Then make sure to get your own copy of The High Republic: Into the Dark today and let us know your thoughts about this mysterious and frightening journey.

For Light and Life.

***ARC received via netgalley & the publisher. Thank you!***
First, let me be emphatically honest: I have really liked the other Claudia Gray Star Wars novels I've read. She ranks among my current favorite Star Wars writers, and so I went into this book with a lot of enthusiasm, and expecting to enjoy it. I did.

The High Republic: Into the Dark, or as I'll refer to it from here on out, Into the Dark, is a fun YA novel which follows padawan Reath Silas' journey to the frontiers of space to meet up with his Jedi Master. Into the Dark takes place during the heights of the Republic and the Jedi order's influence. Reath is not a thrill-seeker, he's a scholar. He'd rather stay in Coruscant with the Jedi archives than travel for an adventure. It's...fun, honestly seeing a bookworm Jedi. Joined with him are three other Jedi, and the small crew of the ship called the Vessel that they board to reach the frontiers.

From there, things go wrong. Hyperspace lanes are littered with debris from a massive ship being destroyed by the Nihil, and the Vessel is forced to detour to an old abandoned space station, alongside a handful of other ships forced to detour to avoid collision in hyperspace. It's a tense collective of sudden refugees and the Jedi navigating a space station that seems to be hiding many ominous secrets under the leaves of its beautiful arboretum.

The points of view hop around a bit between Reath and the other Jedi (Dez Rydan, his master's former padawan; Orla Jareni, a wayseeker; and Cohmac Vitus, a folklore/archives specialist), as well as the pilots Loex Gyasi, and co-pilot Affie Hollow. A third member of the piloting crew, Geode, is actually one of my favorites. He's some kind of sentient-rock/crystalline species which talks not at all, but says quite a lot. I had lots of fun with the characters, and really only wish I had more time with them. One of the best things about this book is the use of the dark side and the eerie feelings the Jedi get while first exploring the space station. Something isn't right, and they're all determined to do something about it.

The problem is, *what* can they do, when they're not sure what the dark side has in store?

First of all, I have to say that I am very excited about this new part of the Star Wars Universe and I look forward to reading more of the books involved! Into the Dark follows multiple characters on a journey away from the core systems to the frontier and Starlight Beacon. At times, it was difficult to keep up with the various storylines, especially since there were flashbacks included as well, but the complexities made for a much more interesting story. I also think the finished copies of the book will be easier to follow with corrected formatting and all of those aspects that are not part of advanced copies. One of my favorite parts of the story was how the characters think about and discuss the Republic and Jedi Order in more complex ways than we usual see in the Star Wars films. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those looking to explore this new era of The High Republic!

Claudia gray is one of the best writers in the new Star Wars novels. She’s written my favorite book, Lost Stars and I’ve enjoyed all of them, including this one.

The only reason I didn’t give this one 5 stars was I had a rough time keeping track of the different characters (there are quite a few) and the transitions between them.

Besides that it was a great story in this era of Star Wars that we haven’t explored yet. It still is familiar with names of planets and alien races that we know from the classic films, but we also meet new ones. The Jedi are similar to how they are in the prequel trilogy, but just slightly different in paths they can take and that their sabers don’t seem to be used often.

Definitely give this a read, especially if you like Claudia Grays books, but go in prepared for the myriad of characters.