Light of the Jedi is the perfect Star Wars opener for a new era. With a strong opening act, compelling new characters, an entire new era of storytelling to discover and the galaxy practically wide-open for exploration, this strong outing by Charles Soule grips the reader tight on a hyperspace jump into the golden age of the Jedi. I cannot overstate how much this book means to me, and how glad I am that we have The High Republic in our lives. Light of the Jedi and its ancillary and subsequent tales ooze creativity and suspense, and standout characters like Loden Greatstorm, Bell Zettifar and Marchion Ro will be sure to entertain readers for years to come - if they survive the dangers on the galactic frontier.

Light of the Jedi is a thoroughly engaging start to a new era of publishing. The list of characters can overwhelm at first, but the reader grows quickly accustomed

Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule is the first novel set in the new High Republic era of Star Wars. I’ll be honest, I had a lot of hopes going into this book and this entire publishing effort. I have been excited for the chance to dive into new characters and new settings and a new take on the Jedi and the Republic with a new villain in a part of the Star Wars timeline that hasn’t ever really been covered. So, did Light of the Jedi meet my expectations?

Not only did it meet, but I would say it greatly exceeded them. This is immediately one of my favorite Star Wars books of all time. Both Canon and Legends. I don’t know what it is about Soule and the way he writes Star Wars but he just speaks to me. It doesn’t matter if he’s writing comics or novels. Normal people of the galaxy or Jedi. Good guys or bad guys. It all just screams Star Wars to me. He balances the new with the familiar effortlessly. I can’t imagine a better setup to the High Republic to get me so invested in everything that’s happening.

Let’s start by talking about the Great Disaster, because that has been touted as the event that kicks off the entire storytelling world of the era. And I won’t be getting into spoilers today, so don’t worry about that. But the opening chapters of this book are so intense and engaging and exciting but also does all the heavy lifting introducing our new heroes both within the Jedi Order and the Republic. And there are a lot of new Jedi, but they all feel unique and they’re all likable for different reasons and have their own struggles. The same with the regular, everyday people of the Republic. It doesn’t matter who he’s writing but Soule makes you fall in love with so many people very quickly. And then, you know, because this is a disaster, some of them are lost. And I felt it, even early on. I can’t count the amount of times I uttered, uh, dank ferric to myself while reading this book.

I talk a lot about the scene in The Force Awakens where Finn and Poe first meet. I meeting new characters and falling in love with them, and that scene really sold me on who those characters were and their relationship and I was immediately rooting for them. Light of the Jedi does that over and over and over. The Great Disaster is one of the coolest, most creative openings I can remember in a Star Wars book in a long time.

Something I feel like I’ve been saying for years now is that I want the book side of the universe to be able to tell larger stories. I’ve certainly enjoyed many Star Wars books since 2015, but many of them feel like the existed to support the movies or animated shows. I loved stories like Thrawn and Phasma, but they were focused on just one character and were released as tie-ins for Star Wars Rebels or The Last Jedi. I’ve been missing the days of Legends where, even if the New Jedi Order and the Yuuzhan Vong had mixed reception, we were really expanding the universe instead of just exploring things we already knew.

Light of the Jedi feels like a Legends book. It’s not restricted by the movies or the TV shows or any of the surrounding content because...there isn’t any. The books used to be the backbone of the Star Wars universe. That’s how we learned more about new threats, new conflicts, new characters, and so on. I don’t know if that’s going to change down the line, but for now the books and comics are once again the backbone of at least one area of Star Wars. They are the driving force of expanding Star Wars instead of just recontextualizing it, and it shows.

So let’s talk about that new era. We’re two hundred years before any of the films. I do think the way it’s presented might take some getting used to for some people. There’s a bit of a joke with the Legends Old Republic era. Everything looks different, but basically acts exactly the same despite being four thousand years before the movies. The High Republic doesn’t feel super different on the surface. I wouldn’t say the technology is something they’re trying to highlight, like, look how different this is! But it does seem different if you’re like me and you’re looking for that. But I didn’t find it to be distracting at all. I enjoyed it. I’m curious how that will make the galaxy look when we do jump thousands of years in the past, but in the context of the High Republic I’m really digging it.

What does actively feel different, as in the differences are highlighted, is the Republic itself. As the title of the era would suggest, this is kind of when it’s at its most ideal. It’s got a Chancellor who truly cares. It’s got citizens who truly care. The Jedi don’t seem like they are distant and disconnected from the people they’re meant to protect. I loved how it all felt. I’ve been speculating that this series might be like the beginning of the downfall of both the Jedi and the Republic. I still think that’s true, but now I also see it as a real tragedy.

But at the same time, especially looking back at the real world and the way 2020 went, it gave me a lot of hope. I mean we are seeing a terrible disaster unfold across the galaxy, and there is a government in place that cares. That wants to do everything it can to protect every endangered life. It’s really nice to read a story about various groups of people coming together to work together to do everything they can to help. The politicians don’t back down in the face of political or economic pressure. They make decisions with the interest of the citizens in mind. It felt like a story at least I really needed at this point in time.

And it sucks that it’s going to degrade, but let’s look at one of the possible causes of the eventual downfall of the Republic and the Jedi: the Nihil. They’re awesome villains. I’m not going to go into too much detail about who they are or how they operate because that’s all really fun to discover on your own. But rest assured, they are different, and I’m thrilled about that. If the Sith are all about power and domination, they’re almost like the extreme opposite of that. Total freedom, but a freedom that’s twisted and gone too far. Freedom to take what you want and destroy what you want. Freedom from consequences. Chaotic, but with enough order to keep them interesting. I liked their structure, their leaders, the big bad, and their motivations, both those that are clear and those that are not. And they’re an enemy that challenges the Jedi Order and the Republic. A big theme of The Clone Wars series is about how the Jedi lost their way and part of that was participating in the fighting at all. So I was curious how this conflict would be any different. How would the Jedi take part. So much of Star Wars is about when it’s right and necessary to stand and fight, and I’m glad that wasn’t at all ignored here.

There are also plenty of mysteries and dangling threads established in Light of the Jedi that make me so excited for the future, because this isn’t just a one off book. This is the first in a series. I felt satisfied by the story that was told and the arcs of the characters, but I was also plenty intrigued and excited about what’s to come, which I assume will be picked up in Cavan Scott’s novel The Rising Storm coming out this July. And of course there are also connections to the comics that are about to begin. But they don’t dominate the story. This book very easily could have felt like all setup for what’s to come. But it doesn’t. It feels like it’s own thing. A complete and thrilling story through and through with new, fantastic characters that I can’t wait to learn more about. And on top of all that it’s a story that has something to say. A story that offers new insights into what it means to be a Jedi, or in a more practical real world sense, what it means to be a power for good.

Light of the Jedi has immediately entered one of my favorite Star Wars books of all time. I need to just sit with it a little longer, but I could see it being a frontrunner for favorite Star Wars book period. I connect so much with how Charles Soule writes Star Wars, but it also sets up the kind of storytelling I have been waiting for in the new Star Wars canon. If you’re like me in that sense, get this book. If you’re a fan of the Jedi, I think you’ll love the new directions this book explores. I absolutely cannot wait to see this series continue.

Here is our review (in French) : https://www.starwars-universe.com/actu-18098-critiques-de-light-of-the-jedi-de-charles-soule.html

PODCAST SHOW NOTES: 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.

Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule
Publish Date: 1/5/21
Story Overview: It’s a golden age. Worlds under the republic flourish, and the Jedi keep the peace and help expand the Senate’s and High Republic’s reach to the Frontier. Starlight Beacon, a space station in the (outer rim) is about to open, extending the Republic’s reach even further. But this is when a great disaster occurs – a shocking catastrophe in hyperspace. The Jedi work together to deal with the fallout and discover the cause of this hyperspace disaster. Meanwhile a sinister threat starts to form on the edges of the galaxy, in the form of the Nihil – a group of marauders with a dark secret.

How does this fit into Star Wars?
Light of the Jedi establishes the Jedi, the galaxy at this point in time, and spends 100 pages detailing the Great Disaster, and fallout from the great disaster. Then the book turns into a “murder-mystery” of sorts as it explores the mystery behind the great disaster and establishes the Big Bad of this era – The Nihil.

Interesting Passages:
“The Force sang to Jedi Master Avar Kriss, a choir that was the entirety of the Hetzal system, life and death in constant, contrapuntal motion. What Avar heard as a song, Elzar Mann saw as a deep, endless, storm-tossed sea. The Wookiee Burryaga was a single leaf on a gigantic tree with deep-dug roots and sky-high limbs. Douglas Sunvale saw the Force as a huge, interlocked set of gears, made of an endless variety of materials from crystal to bone.”

Earlier this month, Disney Lucasfilm Press kicked off a new era of Star Wars: The High Republic. This is an era several centuries before the events of the movies and is previously unexplored in the current canon. The first book is Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule, and DLP was kind enough to send me a copy to review. I have to say that I freaking loved this book. I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers for everyone.

This book is absolutely incredible. Soule does such an amazing job of painting a picture of the galaxy during the High Republic. The characters are unique, and it was very easy to fall in love with each of them for how different they were. Also, Soule does something that more people need to do, make main characters be other species than human! Yes, there are some humans, and I love them, but it’s so refreshing to hear about Duros, Sullustan, Wookie, and Twi’lek Jedi to name a few. It’s something that I enjoyed about Justina Ireland’s A Test of Courage. Now, if only the movies could follow suit and have a main character be non-human.

Something else that I appreciate about Light of the Jedi that might be more of a problem with the books I normally read, his main focus is the story and not the characters. That doesn’t mean that the characters aren’t well-written or fleshed out. In fact, he does an amazing job of building those characters. However, he doesn’t have one to three characters that we’re following around. The book is written in a way where it feels like we simply follow the story and see the characters as they interact with the story. This is in contrast to most books that have a main protagonist that almost every moment of every chapter follows and then you’re told what else was happening via another character expositing the information to our main hero. It felt more like how a TV show might handle a stor,y and I really liked it.

Soule did a great job at building the world and the characters, and he also did a great job of starting the High Republic. Towards the end of the book I was really curious as to how it would tie into the larger picture because it looked more closed-ended, but sure enough, he was able to circumvent my expectations and leave it more open while also creating a pretty clear path for where the story is headed.

Light of the Jedi has quickly become one of my favorite works in Star Wars in the last few years. I had become greatly disenchanted by the Jedi. They seemed boring. This book really rekindled a flame for me though. It helped me see Jedi differently, and that’s because Jedi were different. Soule explained how the Force works differently for each Jedi and really brought the Force alive as opposed to it feeling like a mere tool. For example, Avar Kriss sees the Force as music, while one of my favorite characters, Elzar Mann, sees it more like an ocean. In all honesty, I read a few chapters and immediately went, “Wow, the Jedi in the prequels suck.” Don’t get me wrong, Obi-Wan Kenobi is still my favorite character. However, after seeing what the Jedi could do in the High Republic, the Jedi from the prequels just pale in comparison.

I also like how Soule highlighted the ways that Jedi approach things differently. There are some that are more like how we think of Jedi in terms of being more rigid about the Force, but then there’s Elzar who is constantly wanting to tinker with the Force or a non-Force user thinking of a way to use the Force to help a situation.

Light of the Jedi is absolutely incredible. I cannot recommend this title enough to fans of Star Wars. It quickly became one of my favorite titles, and I cannot wait to continue reading about the High Republic.

Star Wars: The High Republic – Light of the Jedi, has kicked off an all new era in the galaxy far, far away. I’ve shared my general thoughts on the overall debut stories, but now the book has launched, I thought it’d be fun to go a bit more in depth on Charles Soule’s novel; what it means, the connections made, and what could be coming next.

This post will NOT shy away from spoilers. So if you haven’t had a chance to read through the new novel, you might want to check out our spoiler-free review first and come back to this later. If you have read it, or just eager for some juicy details, then let’s keep going!

A Time of Peace
Before we dive into the specific events of the book itself, I want to talk a little bit about the time period. Taking place 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace doesn’t feel like enough time to really set things apart, but they’ve done an excellent job making it feel completely different than anything we’ve seen before.

Most notably, we’re diving into the story and approaching these characters from a place of peace. While this seems antithetical for a series with WAR literally in the name, the approach makes for some interesting storytelling.

Obviously, being set in “peacetime” doesn’t mean there’s no conflict. In fact, we’re kicking things off right at the time when the Jedi find themselves up against an enemy they’ve never faced before. There are plenty of smaller conflicts, planetary disputes, and such to deal with, but there’s no galactic-spanning war taking place that can affect everyone’s lives.

In fact, The High Republic is a time of expansion, and the reason is one that intrigues me a great deal. Considering Star Wars deals with hyperspace travel that gets our heroes all over the galaxy, it seems strange that just 200 years prior to the movies, they seemed so limited in how they traveled. Hyperspace is still around, but the lanes are still dangerous, and require prospecting-style pioneering to forge new routes.

It seems like there’s a good reason for that. While nothing is directly spelled out, there are hints and teases about events from the even more distant past. There are mentions of the “Great Sith Wars” and we know from other media that the Mandalorian wars were a thing at some point. Though it doesn’t get specific it sounds like one of the big conflicts ultimately set the galaxy back; a sort of “Dark Ages” they had to recover from. There’s even a mention of how the galaxy was bigger before, and that Chancellor Soh is trying to reclaim what was lost via her “Great Works” and this expansion.

There’s a wealth of story potential in those tidbits. Whether they’re explored more in these stories, or in other mediums, it’s an interesting tidbit that makes this era feel more grounded and make sense in the larger context of the galaxy.

The Great Disaster
Also known as the Great Hyperspace Disaster, this is the major event that not only kicks off the novel, but plays a significant role throughout all of The High Republic stories at launch. It brings in a ridiculous amount of Jedi (more than we’ve seen in action before) to try and avert total disaster and save as many lives as possible.

It’s a powerful introduction to these new Jedi and the era on the whole. More importantly, it sets the stage for a mystery to be solved.

The disaster itself stems from a massive transport vessel, The Legacy Run (heading to the Outer Rim loaded up with expansion bound frontiers people), encountering a problem within Hyperspace. It results in the Legacy Run breaking apart in transit, with various transport pods, and pieces of debris exiting hyperspace at random points to wreak all manner of havoc.

Even after calming things from the initial emergence, pieces of the ship continue to appear. Dealing with chunks of debris moving fast enough to obliterate entire continents/worlds is bad enough, but an even bigger concern is whether or not Hyperspace remains safe to use. If one incident like this can affect multiple worlds and billions of lives, can they risk doing so again and again?

Thus, they must solve the mystery of how the disaster happened. This mystery comprises much of the rest of the book which puts them squarely in the path of the Nihil

Riding the Storm
The Nihil are the new villains of this era. Though initially thought of as nothing more than simple raiders on the outskirts of the galaxy, it quickly becomes clear they’re a significant threat. Light of the Jedi does a great job fleshing out this new organization, with the story jumping back and forth between their leaders and those of the Republic.

The Nihil have a singular goal in mind: do what they want, whenever they want it. They have no real limits, and thrive on chaos. Somehow, they still have a loose hierarchy they follow (much of which is based around storm terminology) but are essentially guided by the heads of three distinct factions.



Like all triumvirates, they don’t like each other much. In their society of “survival of the fittest” they’re always on guard against one another. This mentality helps keep them in balance, along with a lone figure name Marchion Ro.

Marchion is the ‘Eye of the Nihil’ and despite not being a leader of the organization (initially anyway), serves an important role. The key to the Nihil’s success, and controlling fear in the Outer Rim, is their ability to appear suddenly anywhere and everywhere. And THAT ability is thanks to Marchion and his father before him.

They are stewards of “the paths” which allow the Nihil to traverse hyperspace in unique ways. While everyone else must do so along carefully charted courses, they’re able to do things otherwise thought impossible. Marchion provides these paths to the leaders of the Nihil, and in exchange, he gets a cut of all their plunder. The Eye of the Nihil, however, isn’t content to simply play a background role for the marauders and has other ideas in mind.

Marchion’s Plan
While Marchion doles out the paths, he isn’t the one who discovers them. Secreted aboard his flagship is Mari San Tekka who’s been kept alive well beyond when her lifespan should have ended. Using a special medical housing pod designed to keep her alive for as long as possible.

Somehow, she’s able to traverse hyperspace almost like others pilot through regular space. It’s a skill that allows her to find new, safe, ways to-and-from virtually anywhere. To me, the description of her abilities felt almost exactly like what we’ve seen from the Chiss ‘Sky-walkers’ who use the Force to travel hyperspace.

It’s an interesting connection and something I suspect will come into play further down the road. Perhaps it has something to do with the Republic developing further along to the hyperspace travel we see them using a couple hundred years later.

Either way, Marchion, like his father before him, is using Mari to build an archive of ‘paths’ he can use towards his real goal: revenge. Though this doesn’t become fully revealed until near the end of the novel, it’s clear that Marchion is pulling the strings from the behind the scenes for a while. Ultimately, he ends up putting himself in a position to lead the Nihil completely and totally.

He also manages to capture the great Jedi Master, Loden Greatstorm. It’s here, near the very end of the novel, we learn that Marchion (which isn’t his real name) has a history with the Jedi and hates them a great deal:

“His family had trusted the Jedi once, and it cost them everything.”

Sadly, we don’t get any answers on what that connection is (we’ve got a lot more books on the horizon to explore that), but it’s clear Marchion isn’t merely out to make the Nihil richer. He wants to end the Jedi Order completely. He’s using Mari to that end, and it’s revealed they were the cause of the Great Disaster to begin with. From the start of the book to the end, we’re seeing Marchion’s plans in action….

Strange Tool
Probably the biggest mystery left dangling in Light of the Jedi is one of the tools Marchion has in his possession. It’s a rod that fits in his hand and glows purplish when he holds it. It’s also carved with strange symbols, fire, and screaming faces…you know, just wholesome stuff.

There’s no telling what exactly it is, or how it’s used, but it has something to do with how he came into contact with the Jedi in his past, and he believes it is a key to handling the Jedi.

The device also seems to have some connection to the terrifying vision Elzar Mann (who works with Avar Kriss throughout the novel) has in the epilogue. He sees Jedi mutilated and killed while fighting against “awful things that lived in the dark. Things that lived in the deep.”

It sounds pretty bad and sets the stage for a bigger threat for The High Republic on the whole. Notably, however, this vision is tinged in a sickly purple color, kind like how the rod glows purple. Sure, perhaps purple is the standard for how Elzar Mann sees his visions and I’m just reaching here, but I think the connection is more than coincidental. Whatever this tool is that Marchion has, it has the power to do some serious damage against the Jedi. Maybe it’s an old Sith artifact his family came across. No telling at this point, but I’m damn excited to learn more about it (hopefully soon).

Charles Soule's "Star Wars: Light of the Jedi" is one of the first Star Wars books in a while to take world-building to the extreme and, without a doubt, stick the landing to near perfection. "Light of the Jedi" has a ton of heart despite needing to lay *so* much groundwork for this new time period. Sometimes the details can feel a bit overwhelming with all of the new names and societal hierarchies to familiarize ourselves with, but, once you're able to look past this challenging aspect of the book, it becomes so easy to invest yourself in this emotionally rich story.

Charles distinctly sets up the Jedi Order, the Republic, and the Nihil by making each group's motivation (especially in relation to one another) compelling and clear, raising tensions to insurmountable levels. Several sequences in the book kept me on the edge of my seat, including the Great Disaster that plagues the first third of the book. "Light of the Jedi" also has plenty of cliffhanger moments that make turning the next page unavoidable. By the end, it's clear that "Light of the Jedi" is only the tip of the iceberg in relation to the entirety of the High Republic, and my excitement is heightened by truly not knowing what comes next.

One thing I loved most is that rather than deifying the Jedi, Soule shows us an Order that's still caught up in useless philosophical debates 200 years before the fall, spelling out an even newer disaster to come. "Light of the Jedi" is not Jedi propaganda, despite it being their "Golden Age" but instead underscores each individual connection to the Force. Ironically, it's the Jedi's attachment to one another that allowed this book to be much more character-driven than I initially thought—also, romance!! I kept coming back for characters such as Avar Kriss, who is the definitive Luminous Being, or Burryaga Agaburry, whose empathic abilities make him one-of-a-kind Force-sensitive Wookiee. It's the way in which Charles vividly wrote these characters through an authentic lens that makes me eager to see where the journey takes them next. This book left me floored in many ways, and it's hard to believe it's only the beginning.

For more of my thoughts on "Star Wars: Light of the Jedi," check out our nearly three-hour podcast episode at friendsoftheforcepod.com. (4.5/5)

This review was published as part of a larger Star Wars The High Republic special which can be found here:
https://unaltered.at/2021/01/13/special-reviews-star-wars-the-high-republic/

Light of the Jedi von Charles Soule läutet die Ära der High Republic ein und dient als Quasi-Ausgangswerk für alle weiteren Bücher, Comics und Kurzgeschichten der neuen Epoche. Die Galaxie startet in ein neues Zeitalter: Die neue Raumstation Starlight Beacon steht kurz vor ihrer Eröffnung und soll dazu beitragen, den Outer Rim von einem größtenteils unerforschten Randgebiet der Galaxie zu einem vollwertigen Teil der friedlichen und ständig expandierenden Republik zu machen.

Als Resultat zieht es immer mehr Bürger aus den inneren und Kernregionen zu den Monden und Planeten des Äußeren Randes und der Frachter Legacy Run ist nur eines von vielen Schiffen, das sie dorthin befördert. Unter der Leitung der erfahrenen Captain Hedda Casset besteht für niemanden an Bord Grund, sich während der Reise durch den Hyperraum zu sorgen, doch aller Erfahrung zum Trotz geschieht das eigentlich Unmögliche: Ein fremdes Objekt taucht mitten im Hyperraum vor der Legacy Run auf und zwingt Casset zu einem fatalen Manöver, das zwar eine Kollision verhindert, aber dennoch eines der größten Desaster einläutet, das der Outer Rim seit Jahrhunderten gesehen hat: Das Great Disaster. Als Bruchstücke der Legacy Run als mit nahezu Lichtgeschwindigkeit reisende Geschosse unberechenbar in den Realraum zurückkehren, nehmen sie direkten Kurs auf bewohnte Planeten und Monde – und kein System trifft es so hart wie das Hetzal-System, in dem Billionen von Leben auf dem Spiel stehen.

Light of the Jedi präsentiert uns nicht nur das Great Disaster, das als Auslöser der Ereignisse aller Werke von Phase 1 der Hight Republic-Ära dient, sondern stellt uns auch einige der wichtigsten Akteure dieser vor, darunter die Jedi-Meister Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann und Loden Greatstorm, aber auch Kanzlerin Lina Soh, die mit ihrer idealistischen Leitung der Republik für Wohlstand, Toleranz und Einigkeit steht. Das Buch ist in mehrere, parallel laufende Erzählungen unterteilt, die uns unterschiedliche Aspekte der neuen Epoche vorstellen und allesamt ein großes Ganzes bilden. Viele Dinge, die wir hier kennenlernen, haben eindeutigen Einführungs-Charakter, das geht aber nicht auf Kosten der eigentlichen Story des Buches, die sich vor allem auf die Bedrohung des Hetzal Systems fokussiert.

Lob muss hier eindeutig darauf ausgesprochen werden, wie vielschichtig die Jedi der High Republic schon jetzt präsentiert werden. Während die Jedi in den Prequels und auch Clone Wars meist als wenig mehr als gute, dem Licht und Jedi-Kodex folgende und somit im Grunde recht eindimensionale Persönlichkeiten gezeigt wurden, bekommen wir hier nun eine ganze Riege an unterschiedlichen Charakteren zu sehen, die sich durch ihre eigenen Schrägheiten, Ansichten zur Macht und ihren Seiten, internen Konflikte und mehr auszeichnen.

Die interessantesten neuen Charaktere sind in Light of the Jedi aber tatsächlich weder die Jedi noch die Agenten der Republik, sondern die Nihil – die großen Widersacher der High Republic-Ära. Piraten sind cool – Weltraumpiraten noch viel cooler – und während wir in den letzten Jahren mehr als genug Vertreter der romantischen Piratensorte getroffen haben, die im Grunde bloß zwielichtige Charmeure waren, haben wir es hier mit der tatsächlich skrupellosen Art zu tun, die vor absolut nichts zurückschreckt, wenn es ihren eigenen Motiven nutzt. Mit ihrem Anführer Marchion Ro, hinter dem offensichtlich mehr steckt, als es selbst Light of the Jedi offenbart, wird zudem ein spannend geschriebener Antagonist eingeführt, dessen Motive genauso schattenhaft sind wie seine Herkunft.

Light of the Jedi bietet einen gelungenen Einstieg in die neue Epoche und erwähnt auch bereits viele Charaktere am Rande, die Helden ihrer eigenen High Republic-Werke sind. Als zentraler Punkt der gesamten, stark verwobenen Serie, solltet ihr Charles Soules Buch auf jeden Fall als Basiswerk für alle anderen Storys der Ära lesen.

The best part of Soule's adult Star Wars novel LIGHT OF THE JEDI, that mostly occurs in the first part of the book, is the deep description of the Force within and among the Jedi and citizens of the Republic. Reading descriptions of the different ways the Jedi summoned the Force, such as song for Jedi master Avar Kriss, was peaceful in a different way than watching it onscreen in the blockbuster films. Next is the page-turning action that the nefarious Nihil create with their destruction.
Although LIGHT OF THE JEDI introduces many brave and/or venomous characters (with a couple mentions of Yoda!) they are not developed well enough, save heroine Avar Kriss and the intriguingly evil Marchion Ro (the Eye of the Nihil).

Thank you very much Disney Publishing Worldwide, Del Rey, and NetGalley for this historic e-ARC!

Yes, if the Jedi weren’t seeking a better form of passive aggression over the ruling class to solve yet another galactic crisis, they themselves systematically created, then, it wouldn’t be the Jedi, would it? So, if laser swords, earth-toned flowing robes, and moody thinkers are your connection to Star Wars, you’re in luck, because Star Wars: Light of the Jedi has plenty of it.

In fact, Soule has crammed so much Jedi into one book you may have a hard time figuring out who the lead character is, but here’s a little secret, there isn’t one. Not in the traditional “farm boy” sense anyways, and that’s just one of the ways this new/old era looks to separate itself from the old/new. And here’s another spoiler, it works.

While this may be Soule’s first Star Wars book, it’s not his first fiction book. He’s written a couple of non-SW novels previously, good ones in fact, so I had zero reservations about his ability to tell a long-form story. What I didn’t realize is that he was hell bent on completely undoing a time period that until now had been unencumbered by war. Yes, as the summary states and has been well publicized, this thing kicks off with their version of a big bang. But rather than a run up or calm period of reflection to lure us into a false sense of security, Charles decides bombastic is a better approach and opens the floodgates.

Billed as the starting point, Light of the Jedi accomplishes many things in a world that will always be somewhat beholden to that familiar aesthetic. It introduces us to a host of new Star Wars “things” while managing to feel exciting and fresh at the same time. Yes, these aren’t the droids you’re looking for if your thing is Imperial blockades, pouty chosen ones, or zippity-zappity’s. Pappa’s got a brand-new bag and its pretty fucking cool.

One of my favorite things about Light of the Jedi, and The High Republic in general, is that it’s absolutely grounded in an ethos where inchoate Padawan’s learn the ropes and Master’s warm to the idea of profound fallibility. This is of course the basis for many Star Wars stories but in this case it’s of particular interest because the Jedi in many ways still have that new car smell. There’s not much rust on this freighter as of yet so we are witness to many of these Jedi making critical errors for the first time. Missteps that future Jedi will benefit from and also provide us, the reader, with some context the next time “learning from the mistakes of the past” comes around. This is true across the entire line up of phase one books, novels, and comic books coming your way.

Light of the Jedi is divided up into three parts, the aforementioned The Great Disaster, which is followed by The Paths, and finally The Storm. The book has that in media res opener we all know about where things fall apart quickly and a very Empire Strikes Back second and third act. As the first book of many to come, the result is exactly as you would expect, with things ending up significantly more complicated than before and the Jedi mostly licking their wounds on the Starlight Beacon.

Aside from a few cutaways to check in on the Nihil, things mostly stay in a straight line making it easy to follow along despite the chaos…and there is a fair bit of chaos. But don’t worry, the left side of Soule’s brain kicks in and makes sense of it all with impressive ease, all while maintaining the book’s high entertainment value. One thing that you should know about Charles is that he’s both a lawyer and a musician, which means both sides of his brain get a fair bit of use. And in Light of the Jedi you could easily see that this could’ve been a clusterfuck of ideas that went off the rails, but Soule’s logical and innovative sides came together to keep things both cohesive and fun.

Charles throws nearly everything at the wall, and what’s most impressive, for me anyways, is that it all sticks. This is a winner for this publishing initiative and will serve not only as a great story for the mass market Star Wars crowd, but as a handy reference book for the many High Republic stories that have yet to come. This isn’t the genesis of The High Republic era, but it is the beginning of the end.

See full review at link below.

Charles Soule is a good writer and has done a solid job introducing all the basics of the High Republic, and it is a good starting point for this new Star Wars transmedia project. Light of the Jedi also a masterclass of detailed worldbuilding. However, the heroes lack characterization and they seem, at times, brainwashed. Unless you have been craving the Kennedy’s Camelot and Superhero!Jedi, this novel might make you roll your eyes a little bit. That said, if you are in the market for full-metal villains and wholesome laser sword heroics, Light of the Jedi might be just your jam.

This review of "Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi" may contain minor spoilers.

A new era of Star Wars storytelling has begun. "Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi" by Charles Soule, set 200 years prior to the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, is our first foray into this golden age for the galaxy. There's peace and prosperity and the phrase “We are all the Republic” is on everyone's lips. However, tragedy looms and the repercussions will soon be felt everywhere.

As "Light of the Jedi" opens, a ship called Legacy Run is ferrying settlers to the Outer Rim territories. A routine trip through hyperspace. Until a deadly encounter results in the ship tearing itself apart, scattering the remnants of wreckage throughout hyperspace and onto trajectories that will cause mass destruction and casualties. These events become known as “Emergences.” Chancellor of the Republic Lina Soh tasks the Republic Defense Coalition (RDC) and the Jedi Order with investigating the cause of the tragedy and anticipating Emergences in the hope further losses will be avoided.

All this is set against the backdrop of the opening of Starlight Beacon, and outpost located in the Outer Rim designed to foster unity. The Beacon is a space station featuring an embassy, medical and cultural facilities, a security force, and a Jedi temple. It is the first of many ambitious endeavors planned by Chancellor Soh. What comes from the tragedy of Legacy Run and the Emergences threatens those plans. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the initial tragedy, the chancellor shuts down hyperspace travel, leaving many worlds cut off from the rest of the galaxy.

Into the mix come the Nihil.

The Nihil are pirates, beholden to no laws or mores, living purely to satisfy their own wanton desires. They are adept at using uncharted pathways through hyperspace, allowing them to come and go without warning and in secret. They wear monstrous masks designed to instill fear in their victims. They're a growing threat — even beyond their acts of piracy — that must be faced by the Republic, and the Jedi.

Many compelling and complex characters are introduced in "Light of the Jedi," from Republic leaders to Jedi, and even to the Nihil. A few standouts for me include Jedi Master Avar Kriss, who experiences the Force as song, and Jedi Knight Elvar Mann who feels the Force as a deep sea, never experiencing it quite the same way twice. He likes to push the limits, a tendency that has kept him off the Jedi Council. The Master/Padawan duo of Loden Greatstorm and Bell Zettifar call to mind Qui-Gon Jinn and the young Obi-Wan Kenobi with their banter and mutual respect. And then there's Marchion Ro, known as the Eye of the Nihil. He holds the secret to the hidden hyperspace pathways, along with a strong desire to bend the Nihil to his design.

Charles Soule does a masterful job of world-building in "Light of the Jedi," creating the new while grounding the story in the familiar with names such as Jedi Master Yoda and the surname San Tekka, alongside planets and locations that are already known. It couldn't have been an easy task, stepping out first to establish this new era, but it all feels like Star Wars. Soule has also written “Starlight: Part 1: Go Together,” a short story created exclusively for Star Wars Insider Issue #199 in which you meet the husband and wife team of Joss and Pikka Arden, project managers on Starlight Beacon. The story goes hand-in-hand nicely with Light of the Jedi. It's not required reading, but recommended if you have access to the latest issue.

"Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi" propels you forward through the story, making it an exciting read and the perfect set-up for what's to come from The High Republic. Charles Soule has a writing style that is very accessible, and he doesn't waste a word. I was already somewhat intrigued by The High Republic, but now I'm truly eager to see how all the stories (books, comics, graphic novels) intertwine and what effect they will have on Star Wars lore in the future. I'm expecting only good things based on this auspicious start.


Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.

Podcast Review Link

https://whattheforce.ca/intro-to-the-high-republic-with-interview-of-charles-soule/

Light of the Jedi kicks off the highly anticipated High Republic era with a swirling storm of events that leave you jumping from various perspectives around the galaxy, meeting new characters along the way from both sides. There are a lot of new faces kind of thrown at you all at once, and for the majority of Part I, the transitions between character’s perspectives aren’t the smoothest. However, near the start of Part II, the transitions smooth out as I feel that’s where Soule finds his rhythm and the rest is history. One of the things Light of the Jedi does right is providing a variety of characters to meet and follow along with allowing for almost everyone to find at least one character to gravitate towards to increase investment in the stories told here as well as in the future. I found myself hoping certain characters would be followed up on more throughout the book, some characters got more time than others, but I’m hoping there will be more books following up on the characters presented with more detail so everyone has their time to shine. Overall, Light of the Jedi is a good starting point to this new era and sets the stage for what’s to come. While there are some familiar things, there are also new ideas sprinkled in - some sit better than others - but it’s refreshing to see something new. The main new element are the antagonists of this era: the Nihil - this group is vile and that’s wording it kindly. I doubt Light of the Jedi displays the true nature of the Nihil since it’s so early, at least I’m hoping there’s more to unravel, but honestly I’m nervous to see what’s next. The Nihil are an intriguing band of criminals, ‘space vikings’ is a fair comparison, that have different operations than we’re used to seeing in Star Wars. Overall it was an enjoyable book to read, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

The High Republic, an all-new era of Star Wars storytelling set 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, begins with Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. The novel introduces soon-to-be iconic characters, ships, and a new threat for the galaxy: the Nihil. Soule—along with the rest of the Luminous Five, Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Cavan Scott, and Daniel José Older—built The High Republic from the ground up, and even though Light of the Jedi is predominantly never-read-before lore, its core is pure Star Wars.

The novel immediately grabs the reader’s attention with a hyperspace anomaly that soon turns into a potential threat of catastrophic proportions. Each short (but fulfilling) chapter depicts the state of emergency of the anomaly from different perspectives—giving the reader the opportunity to slowly get introduced to the new characters, ships, and locations.

Part One of Light of the Jedi mainly focuses on the Republic and the Jedi—both factions represented in a new light compared to what we have come to know in Star Wars so far. The Republic, led by Chancellor Lina Soh, is one of peace and purpose, focused on bringing the best of the galaxy by working together in unison. This sense of unity and collaboration, especially with the Jedi, is solidified with Star Wars‘ newest catchphrase: “We are all the Republic.”

As the title suggests, the Jedi are at their purest, their connection to the light side of the Force stronger than ever before. Soule beautifully describes each Jedi’s representation of the Force and how they are able to become one with it at a much deeper level. Among the Jedi ranks, Light of the Jedi‘s protagonists include the brightest, most selfless Master of the Order Avar Kriss, the unorthodox Knight Elzar Mann, and the wise teacher Master Twi’lek Loden Greatstorm along with his Padawan Bell Zettifar. Although most of the novel focuses on these characters, Light of the Jedi does not shy away from pivotal side character cameos, some of which—like Jedi Master Trandoshan Sskeer and the Padawan Wookiee Burryaga—will star in other upcoming stories within The High Republic. And yes, even Grandmaster Yoda gets mentioned a few times!

Light of the Jedi features new, unique ships; among them, the Jedi Vectors. These compact, mosquito-like fighters of sleek design (inspired by some early Clone Wars designs for Episode III) are fascinating to say the least as they can only be activated and piloted by Jedi who through the Force are able to become formidable opponents and near impossible targets.

Part Two slows down the book’s pace, and the reader finally gets invited into the Nihil world. The new villains are the worst kind of people—murderers, thieves, and even kidnappers—they take what they want and leave a trail of destruction and death as they disappear like ghosts. Despite their less than noble values, the Nihil are an intriguing bunch. Their organization’s social and military hierarchy (their ranking inspired by the storm) gives complexity to the characters, but what makes the Nihil story interesting is the lies and deception spread among themselves, always looking for opportunities to raise the ranks and gain more power and wealth. Among the leaders of the Nihil is Marchion Ro, whose imposing and mysterious presence make him a fearful villain. However, his role as merely an observer within the Nihil leadership might not give him enough weight in the story until the final chapters of the book where he finally comes out as the big bad foe.

Part Three is a cliffhanger right up to the last page of the book. From epic space battles to jaw dropping plot twists, Soule’s writing is delightfully cinematic, making Light of the Jedi an irresistible page-turner. The ending will leave the reader full of questions, wanting to find out what lies ahead for the new heroes and villains. Are you ready to experience the beginning of the new era of Star Wars? Then make sure to grab a copy of Light of the Jedi today and share your thoughts with a comment below or on our social media.

We are all the Republic.

"Light of the Jedi" comes with high expectations as the first book to explore the High Republic time period and to kick off a fresh new era of Star Wars. It delivers and then some, and ends on a juicy cliffhanger that has all the trappings to set up a new epic of stories and characters 200 years before the events of the prequel films.

During the High Republic, the Jedi Order was at the height of its power, influence, and size. The Jedi serve the Republic and its citizens, but they aren't a Force-wielding police force or "space monks," as some Outer Rim characters call them. The book shows some Jedi as almost ethereal beings that can tap into and wield a force of pure light and goodness. Others it shows as more human and flawed, but those flaws eventually grow into strengths as the Jedi are forced to confront a massive group of space pirates called the Nihil.

For both sides, there isn't just one main character in this book, there are about a dozen or more to follow, which is a bit overwhelming in the first several chapters. "Light of the Jedi" is both quintessential Star Wars adventures and a collection of philosophical statements about good vs. evil and the gray areas in between.

Set so far in the past, it doesn't directly connect to the Skywalker saga beyond casual mentions of a certain ancient Master Jedi. As such, it's a solid, fresh start for a new Star Wars saga that will hopefully, eventually set up and connect to shows like "The Acolyte." And, there are a bunch of scenes that made me want to take up studying the physics of light speed.

We first learned about Project Luminous (which would eventually be announced as The High Republic) all the way back at Star Wars Celebration Chicago in April 2019. It's been a long road to get to the point of reading this book, but I'm so glad it's here!

LIGHT OF THE JEDI takes us to a time of the glorious High Republic, a time 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace where the peaceful Republic is flourishing and the Jedi are thriving. Chancellor Lina Soh implements Great Works, major projects that work to benefit citizens of the Republic and help those not yet a part of it. Stationed in the Outer Rim, the brand-new Starlight Beacon is one such project. But not all is well when a ship gets torn apart in hyperspace, hurtling ship fragments into nearby planetary systems and threatening entire planets. This spurs the Republic and the Jedi into action, working to stop what seems like an unknowable threat...

The book serves as an introduction to this time frame, showing us the disaster all the while establishing the galaxy and its inhabitants. LIGHT OF THE JEDI is action packed and bursting with details that help us to further understand how this time period in Star Wars is different from the movies we all know and love.

What I loved most about this book were all the awesome Jedi we were introduced to throughout the story. While I find that I can be cynical about the Order itself, each Jedi is loveable, and I see readers favorites all over the board. Standouts for me include Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, Loden Greatstorm and Bell Zettifar, and Buryaga. I find it hard to narrow it down to just a few! Charles Soule does a great job making each Jedi unique, sharing many of the ways that they interpret the Force differently. Avar Kriss sees the Force as a song, whereas Elzar Mann sees the Force as an endless sea. As someone who loves the “Fishing in the Deluge” story from Ken Liu’s THE LEGENDS OF LUKE SKYWALKER and how it introduced the Force as the Tide, these different interpretations of the Force are delightful. And because we are introduced to so many Jedi, we get to see the bones of many exciting relationships to come in future stories.

The Nihil as the villains are also exciting (and scary!) additions to the Star Wars universe. A group of marauders, they are led by Marchion Ro, who has access to an ability that makes the group unlike any other group of rogues in the galaxy. They are unlike the Star Wars villains of the past that are governmental, bureaucratic, or Sith. Rather, they are outsiders who will do whatever they can to achieve their goals of money and power in the galaxy. They are unexpected, and their tactics are often legitimately frightening. I can’t wait to see more from them!

My one major criticism of this book is that it can easily get a bit jumbled. Despite having read the book and taken notes and knowing Star Wars pretty well, I still left with a few questions relating to the timeline of the disaster. I hope that in the future, we’ll get a clear timeline (perhaps literally an image) of how time passes and the order of the stories, even if they overlap. Despite this, I didn’t have much trouble putting the pieces together as the story went on, and don’t think that it brings the book down in any major way.

Readers who enjoy character-driven stories might have a bit of trouble with this one, since it focuses on laying the groundwork for all the stories to come, but I still believe that the foundation will be really important going forward. The book takes us to an imaginative new time that feels both familiar and daringly new, all with a really thrilling story that just zips by. This book also serves as a great entry point to the Star Wars fan who hasn't picked up the books yet! Ultimately, I'd highly recommend LIGHT OF THE JEDI to any fan who's ready to try a story in a brand new time and go beyond what they know of Star Wars!

The long-awaited High Republic era is upon us and Star Wars fans no longer have to speculate about the catastrophic events that set off a new generation of stories. For fans who feel fatigued with Star Wars tales set within the confines of the trilogy of trilogies, The High Republic era is a much-needed breath of fresh air. 

Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi is the recommended entrance point into The High Republic era, among the trio of releases on January 5th. The novel starts strong and it carries through with that same intensity through to the last pages. Soule is quite gifted when it comes to world-building; each planetary interlude, interaction on the bridge, and conversation between characters is vividly crafted.

Despite that, I still personally struggled to connect with the new characters. I found myself returning to StarWars.com time and time again to remind myself of what the characters looked like.

While Star Wars fans who are online and plugged into the fandom have had no trouble tracking down illustrations and additional character details for the High Republic, I do worry for readers who pick up these books on bookstore shelves without previous knowledge on the new era. They may find it difficult to jump into a world with brand new characters and I secretly wish that each book in the series had a character poster chart included.

The book is laid out into three parts. The first introduces “The Great Disaster,” which is an overarching plot point for the High Republic series; the second is “The Paths,” and the third is “The Storm.” In between each part is an interlude, introducing the Nihil, as well as focusing on the Council.

I did like how Soule chose to structure Light of the Jedi, though at times it felt like I was being introduced to so many new characters that it was a little overwhelming. I would recommend reading each part, which would be around 120 pages at a time, and then letting them settle for a while before proceeding to the next part. The chapters bounce between characters; introducing readers to Avar Kriss, Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm, Bell Zettifar, Burryaga Agaburry, Te’Ami, and Mikkel Sutmani.

The High Republic era is also the golden era of the Jedi. They are seen as beacons of hope, protectors, and guardians of good. Having the knowledge of where the Jedi ultimately end up some three hundred years later, makes for a very interesting read. The lightsaber is not seen as a weapon to strike down enemies, but a tool for good. Master and Padawan alike are very powerful, and the Jedi all work together towards a common goal.

It’s very inspiring to read, if not a little sad to consider just how far the Jedi fell. Any time that Star Wars can retroactively add to the story to further the conflict in the media we already know, they’ve caught my interest.

The Nihil, who are positioned as the antagonists within the High Republic era, are fascinating. I enjoyed the way that these characters were introduced and I was left wanting to know more about their motivations, culture, and identity within the galaxy. I’m always keen to know more about why the antagonists are the antagonists in a story.

Light of the Jedi is a brilliant introduction into a new era for Star Wars. It delivers fast-paced action, high stakes, intriguing characters, and charts a course into the unknown, which is sure to capture the attention of readers. Charles Soule delivers yet another brilliant piece of Star Wars content, with the same dedication, care, and creativity that he’s doled out in the past.

Despite my own issues with getting invested in the story, Light of the Jedi is a must-read for Star Wars fans, and I truly feel that The High Republic era has the potential to create a really fascinating area for new storytelling. Soule was a perfect choice for writing the entry point into a brand new era.

After months of waiting, including an unforeseen delay, The High Republic publishing initiative finally begins! Light of the Jedi, written by Charles Soule, is the opening salvo for the entire project, building out a galaxy 200 years before the prequels, introducing us to its key players and conflicts, and setting the stage for what’s to come. Soule accomplishes those numerous goals with Light of the Jedi, and then some, plus provides a riveting, excellent Star Wars adventure which effectively builds hype for the rest of the initiative.

With the burden of setting the stage for the rest of The High Republic, you’d think Light of the Jedi would be a hefty, dense tome with tons of exposition and overloaded with details of all shapes and sizes, which does not sound like a fun start to, well, anything beyond a 14 book fantasy series. Thankfully, LotJ balances the act of setting up the era, like the little and big details, with introductions to tons of characters and somehow manages to avoid being a tome-sized work and be a thrill-ride of a story from start to finish. It helps the era is being built across other books and comics, like A Test of Courage, which launches the same day as LotJ, or The High Republic series from Marvel launching later this month, so the burden is spread out amongst the releases and gives Soule some room to focus more on a fun, sprawling tale rather than the particulars. If you’ve read the opening 8 chapters, a gift to readers prior to its release, or through the sampler of all the opening works, LotJ’s pace stays roughly the same throughout, which is a particular skill of Soule’s in his previous original novels, and while it dips and slows shortly after the Great Hyperspace Disaster’s first strike is resolved, building up the Nihil and more characters you’ll meet and follow, it kicks back into high gear and doesn’t let up afterwards.

Some 200 years prior to the prequel era, the Republic is at peace and using the time wisely, as Chancellor Lina Soh expands their borders and builds Great Works, including the Starlight Beacon, set to bring the light of the Republic to the Outer Rim. Before it’s completed, disaster strikes, as the passenger ship Legacy Run tears apart in hyperspace, trying to avoid an object hurtling towards it, and pieces emerge from hyperspace at random and unpredictable times and places, creating fear and destruction throughout the Outer Rim. The Jedi and the Republic, who work side by side, though the Jedi remain independent and may do as they wish, happen to be close enough to an Emergence in the Hetzal system, managing to save the system from catastrophic destruction in an impressive display of the Jedi’s abilities during this era and the Republic’s expansive resources. As a Republic task force tries to understand how it happened, and prevent it in the future, a threat lurches out from the shadows: the Nihil, a group of marauders, whom take and destroy at will and whim. They aren’t directly related to the Great Hyperspace Disaster, but they are taking advantage of it, causing mayhem regardless, which puts them into the sights of the Jedi and Republic. As the Nihil clash with the two connected forces, the rush to prevent more disaster gains desperation, not just to save more lives, but for political reasons too, as what good will the Starlight Beacon and Republic assistance to the Outer Rim be if they can’t tackle this emergency?

LotJ lacks a main character, but I felt like this was the right decision, as it would be very limiting to focus on only one or two characters and attempt to fill in and give perspective to the era and its big, galaxy changing events. Instead, it has an abundance of characters’ points-of-views, whose lives and decisions impact and react to the changing galaxy around them, pushing along the plot more than the plot ever pushes them around, if at all. Several characters are recurring POVs, but even the one or two chapter POV characters manage to feel as fleshed out, relatable, and/or compelling to read as the more frequent ones. I managed to get attached to most of the characters, even rooting or begrudgingly enjoying the villains, and Soule adds plenty of effective tension with his penchant for killing off many of them, even ones you’d not expect, but that never stopped or prevented me from trying to root for them all (to some extent). If there wasn’t more material set in the era, all telling a connected, interwoven story, I’d be concerned about the various POV switches or character turnover to some extent, but regardless Soule’s style takes me back to reading A Sword of Fire and Ice series, more commonly known as Game of Thrones, for how it jumps characters and isn’t afraid to take chances, and that’s definitely a big plus in LotJ’s favor.

We meet a myriad of Jedi characters, focusing mostly on Avar Kriss, one of the era’s premier Jedi Masters whose particular skills come in handy at Hetzal and the trials afterwards; Bell Zettifar, a Padawan sure of his place in the Force but struggling in some aspects; He trains under the relentless and humorous Loden Greatstorm, a Twi’lek Master, who I grew quite fond of my the novel’s end; and Elzar Mann, a Jedi Knight being denied the status of Master only because his experimentation with the Force goes a little too far for the Council’s liking, who ended up being my favorite Jedi of all those revealed; Mann and Kriss have a surprisingly deep and long-standing bond together, as well as with Master Stellan Gios, but we don’t spend much time with him here. We meet and interact with even more, from soon to be Starlight Beacon’s Jedi leader, Jora Malli; Sskeer, Trandoshan Master and friend of Jora’s, whose own apprentice stars in the upcoming The High Republic comic; Burrayaga, a young Wookiee Jedi with strong empath skills; Porter Engle, a very old Jedi Master who has retired as a chef, but his formidable skills are seen again when trouble strikes; and a few familiar names and faces, due to the longevity of some of their ages. In this era, the Jedi feel different than the prequels, as they are out amongst the people of the galaxy, just as likely to solve a system-wide disaster as to respond to calls for help from local farmers over little disputes…it ends up making the Jedi feel like how Obi-Wan Kenobi described them to Luke Skywalker, as there is yet to be any corruption or Sith working against them. It’s a lot of fun to see Jedi in this light, being harbingers of justice, trusting in the Force to fly their specially designed ships and other equipment, taking up residence on many different planets via their outpost system, therefore not stuck up in an ivory tower/ away from the people, and also how they are given room to grow in the Force; I hope it’s how we’ll see Rey Skywalker’s efforts pan out as well in the future. For now though, I’m eager to see more of the Jedi like this, especially when each one sees the Force in unique and specific ways, like Bell sees it as a fire, Kriss as a song, and Mann as an ocean, and no one way is more correct than the other, but they are all interesting ways for the characters to connect to the mystical field; it would get real boring real fast to have this many Jedi characters and they all see the Force the same way. How they adapt to and react to the coming challenges, which the book’s finale sets up quite the gauntlet, is something I’m eager to see explored in the rest of the initiative.

Beyond the Jedi, many Republic affiliated characters, from Senators to the Chancellor herself, are also introduced and visited as POVs, while characters from various planets effected by the Emergences, especially Hetzalians, come and go as POV characters as well. I appreciate the depth of the options here, as Soule is able to provide many different perspectives to the problems facing the galaxy with these Emergences, from the scantech who first spots the disaster heading Hetzal’s way, the tech guru who devises a unique way to predict new Emergences, the husbands at the head of the San Tekka clan and their knowledge on hyperspace; the Republic Coalition Forces Admiral Kronara focusing the efforts of the resources the planets of the coalition offer to tackle the catastrophe, to Lina Soh, a Chancellor who truly believes in the good of the Republic, her great works, and the slogan echoing around the galaxy: We are all the Republic. It isn’t simply a snappy line, but it’s a rallying cry for people across the galaxy, spreading the feeling of connectedness and driving the desire to help anyone on any planet, not driving in wedges where grudges fester or showing favoritism to any specific planet; like all of Star Wars, there’s social commentary in it as well, since the slogan rings alongside rallying cries here in the real world against the fascist who took over the White House for 4 years, who offered an excuse for fascist feelings festering in our country to be normalized, while similar situations and outcries expanded across the world, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement coming to prominence when it always should’ve been at the forefront of the current landscape. In the end, the line is a heartening thought and having the galaxy believe in it, and follow through on it in their actions, shows how well an idea like that could begin to work to offer everyone the chance to feel accepted and part of something bigger…which makes the Nihil and their antithesis to the statement such a compelling and dangerous enemy.

The Nihil are a group of marauders and raiders in the Outer Rim, terrorizing the territories by appearing and disappearing seemingly at will, a frightening and effective technique tied to a strange and unique hyperspace technology known as Paths. With chaos affecting the Outer Rim due to the Legacy Run disaster and the Emergences, and the Republic slowly working their way into their terrain, the Nihil attempt to take advantage of the situation and keep the Republic at bay, though their story gets more wrapped up in events than any of their number realize. The book offers plenty of sections devoted to the POV of the Nihil, mainly focused on their leadership, which is made up of three Tempest Runners, which basically run three independent factions within the Nihil, and then the Eye of the Nihil, whose place in decisions arises from their ability to provide the group with the mysterious Paths. Marchion Ro, the Eye of the Nihil who inherited the position of his father, might be my favorite character of the novel, as his ability to adjust his methods to achieve his very own specific goals is both compelling and frightening to watch unfold; he reminds me of the other ‘villains’ in Soule’s previous original novels, specifically Anyone: A Novel, as he writes them as deep, complex characters with their own motivations, as they truly see themselves as the heroes of their own stories. The Tempest Runners, Kassav Milliko, Lourna Dee, and Pan Eyta all provide unique and often entertaining perspectives to being the Nihil that leaves the group still feeling villainous, but offers a more nuanced portrayal than we normally get in Star Wars with factions like the Empire and First Order; Lourna Dee is my favorite of the three, for her stealth focused ship, ruthlessness, and practicality. There was a lot of concern leading up to the release that the Nihil were perpetuating a stereotype with having the Nihil be made up of all non-human members of the galaxy, but both Light of the Jedi and A Test of Courage reveal there are a number of humans within the organization as well; it’s still proportionally stacked towards non-humans, but the galaxy’s feelings towards the Nihil aren’t born from an anti-non-human standpoint (yet), but rather from their actions and involvement with the disasters wrecking the galaxy. It’s still something to watch as the initiative unfolds, but without trying, LotJ addresses some of those concerns. Regardless, the path (sorry not sorry) the Nihil end up on by the end of the book promises quite the significant and troublesome threat going forward. Beyond them, the novel ends with hints at an even larger picture of events, suggesting the scope of the initiative will be more expansive than we imagined/they’ve been telling us.

The High Republic – Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule is the opening jolt a big, expansive initiative like The High Republic needed, building out the era organically, introducing a ton of its cast and story, and preparing us for the rest of the initiative. If you were on the fence about The High Republic, LotJ should assuage any lingering doubts; if you’ve been hyped for the project, it’ll live up to expectations; and if you’re looking for a great place to jump into Star Wars books in general, you couldn’t ask for a better place to land.