The entire High Republic has been so SO wonderful, and so many parts of it interlock together to make this book as great as it is. And I am already a huge fan of Daniel's work. But there is some really special sauce in this one. I love Star Wars, and I can find something to love about every piece of it, but this book is one of the few times in Star Wars where the characters feel like living, breathing people, and not just mythical archetypes or parts of a grand story. It's something I used to love about the Percy Jackson books as a kid — there is humor, and connection, and culture there, that you do not need headcanons, or fanfiction to fill in, like so many stories often do. (I think the highest compliment for something is that people want to write fanfiction about it, but an even higher one is that it doesn't need any at all).
The High Republic has already delivered so wonderfully on representation for POC and for queer people, but this book's focus on Kantam Sy, Star Wars' first HUMAN non-binary character, who is a POC, a Jedi knight, and a former padawan of Yoda's no less, felt like breathing such a sigh of relief. As soon as Kantam was introduced in the comics and other THR media I wanted to know more about them. I didn't know they would quickly rocket to my top 10 Star Wars characters.
As a fan, I have vascillated over the years on my opinions on the Jedi order, and of Yoda. But on recent rewatches of the Clone Wars, and especially reading THR, my opinions have changed a lot. I remember the Last Jedi coming out and despite not being sure about how I felt about Yoda, the scene with him and Luke now brings me to tears every time. This book should be essential reading for any Star Wars fan to really understand the order, or the Jedi, or the Force. Reading it is the written equivalent of the magic you feel watching Yoda's scenes in Empire, and a love letter to moments in Return of the Jedi as well.
There are just SO many wonderful things to say about this book. I laughed, I cried, I remembered why I loved Star Wars, I felt more represented here than in any part of the rest of the galaxy, and most of all, I felt the loss of Order 66 and the Jedi Order even more deeply. Watching Revenge of the Sith after this (and all the High Republic), will be all the more painful.
There is something for everyone here - wonderful new side characters, especially non-Force users, connections to the rest of the canon (like Solo!), kids being kids, a beautiful exploration of depression and trauma, and so much more that I don't want to spoil. I'm going to have to rethink my top 5 Star Wars books, because this might have to go in it now.

Very WIZARD! Seriously. The pairing of my favorite dorkable Padawans Ram Jomaran and Reath Silas was something I didn't know I needed, but now I just always want Ram and Reath to go on adventures together! Ram and Reath's bond are definitely the highlight of this book, but you'll also get great characters like the Bronbrax, Crash and her team, Lula, Zeen, Master Jedi Kantam Sy and Cohmac Vitus. Oh, and did I mention that this book is set on Corellia? And it features Proxima, the sewer worm from Solo. Daniel Jose Older is one of my favorite Star Wars writers - he's a Jedi Master that can deliver on the action, adventure, humor, and wisdom. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Daniel Jose Older’s Midnight Horizon continues the High Republic storyline in the Star Wars universe. Jedi Masters Cohmac Vitus and Kantam Sy along with their padawans Reath Silus and Ram Jomaram are sent to Corellia to investigate some mysterious disappearances on the planet. The Nihil are causing trouble again, and it's up to the Jedi to save the day.

This is the third Star Wars book that I've read by Daniel Jose Older, and I love what he's added to the canon storyline (and how he did so). His ability to balance humorous and serious moments is one of my favorite parts of everything he writes. I do want to note that there is a LOT of detail involved with the book - I think I’ll probably have to read the book again to make sure I caught everything. Readers who aren’t as familiar with the Star Wars universe or the other High Republic books may find themselves lost in the amount of worldbuilding and the number of characters involved in the story.

Ram is my favorite character in Midnight Horizon. Many of the characters from previous High Republic books make an appearance within the pages of Midnight Horizon, but Ram has been my favorite since reading Race to Crashpoint Tower. I also enjoyed reading about Crash and her band of misfits. The big selling point for me with the characters in Midnight Horizon was the inclusion of multiple characters who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Just to give you one example, one of the more prominent characters (Kantam Sy) is non-binary. They are by far one of the more interesting and nuanced characters in the book (especially since they were trained by Master Yoda). I can count the number of non-binary characters I’ve read about in other books on one hand, so I’m excited to be able to add to that number (I hope that number continues to go up in the future).

Overall, Midnight Horizon is another great addition to the Star Wars The High Republic series! It felt like a strong close to the first phase, and I’m excited to see what else is released in the future. I would recommend it to young adult science fiction fans, and readers who are fans of the Star Wars universe as a whole. The book does feature some more mature themes, so it may not be the best choice for an upper middle-grade reader.

Thank you to the author, Disney Lucasfilm Press, Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Star Wars The High Republic: Midnight Horizon immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

Midnight Horizon by Daniel Jose Older is out today! It’s the third young adult novel in The High Republic, and it’s great. It’s definitely my favorite of the YA books so far, and one of the most emotional reads in the series. This is my spoiler free review.

In the first two waves of The High Republic, the young adult novels have felt somewhat set apart from the rest of the books. In Wave One, Light of the Jedi and A Test of Courage dealt with the Nihil and Into the Dark dealt with the Drengir. In Wave Two, The Rising Storm and Race to Crashpoint Tower took place at the exact same time on the same planet, while Out of the Shadows took place months later. None of that is bad, but the YA books just didn’t feel as connected with the rest of their respective waves. Having read all three books in Wave Three, I think it’s the most connected wave, and I liked that a lot. Midnight Horizon is a perfect companion piece to The Fallen Star.

They take place at the same time, but not on the same planet. The Fallen Star takes place mostly on Starlight Beacon in the Outer Rim, while Midnight Horizon mostly takes place in the Core on Corellia. But they still feel so in sync. The events of The Fallen Star ripple out into Midnight Horizon, and Midnight Horizon adds a new level of tension for The Fallen Star. In my review for The Fallen Star I said I missed the galaxy hopping side of the adventure because it was so focused on Starlight Beacon. Midnight Horizon and Mission to Disaster retroactively gave me what I was missing. The Wave Three books wound up feeling very balanced in that way.

But this is a review for Midnight Horizon, so let’s get back on track. Young adult books are always about growing up. The characters are usually teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Or in this case, Padawans on the cusp of Knighthood. Many of the characters in Midnight Horizon are from The High Republic Adventures comic series and the middle grade book Race to Crashpoint Tower, which are stories meant for a younger audience. And we get to see them grow up a lot in this book. The early half of the book was full of shenanigans and tomfoolery and the wackier side of Star Wars. I think I expected a goofy character like Ram to be automatically “aged up” to fit the tone of YA book instead of a middle grade book, if that makes sense. But he’s the same goofy kid. Fortunately I love Ram, but the overall tone kind of surprised me in the first half. But I am telling you, there is a turning point where everything shifts. The shenanigans are over, and it’s time for these kids to grow up. And it’s made so much more impactful because we got to have some goofy fun with these characters at the start. Because things get dark. It’s kind of like why we spend so much time with the Hobbits at the start of Fellowship of the Ring. We need some fun, peaceful times so we know what’s at stake later on. We need some light so it can be contrasted by the darkness to come.

Like I said, most of the action takes place on Corellia, which is used to great dramatic and thematic effect. Older naturally pulls in a lot of super fun Corellian stuff I think Star Wars fans will enjoy. Like the Grindalids. We get to see a little more of their culture and territory and how they operate and they have a moment that quite literally made my jaw drop. It’s so cool getting some city-based Star Wars action. The planet’s association with shipbuilding is, of course, a big deal. And its location in the Core is central to one of the story’s main themes of community.

We are all the Republic. That’s been a catchphrase the High Republic era has thrown around over and over as we see the Jedi and the Republic expand into the Outer Rim. They go to these new worlds and assure them that they’re just as much part of the Republic as Coruscant. But then we head to the Core to see for ourselves and there is a completely different attitude there. They don’t take the Nihil seriously. They don’t even care about the Nihil, that’s a problem for the Outer Rim, not the Core! So there is a sense of elitism among the Core planets. But then we focus in on Corellia, and we see it again. There is a subplot about a union dispute on one of Corellia’s moon’s, and the rich and powerful laugh it off. The thing is, a problem for part of your community is a problem for the entire community. The Nihil will eventually make their way to your doorstep if you choose to sit back and just let the Outer Rim handle it. If one part of your community is struggling and you just ignore it, are they really part of your community?

Several of the characters are also in search of their place within their own community. Zeen struggles to be with the Jedi despite not being a member of their Order. She worries what her relationship with Lula will mean as she continues down the Jedi path. Crash, a Corellian character who works as a bodyguard has to learn how to be a better member to her community of bodyguards, and has to learn what it really means to serve her larger community of Corellians. The Nihil are able to get a foothold within Corellia specifically because the people in power haven’t properly cared for their community.

In the case of the Jedi, there is also a lot said about how and when to let go of members of your community. Dealing with attachment is a constant theme for Jedi characters, but I really loved seeing how it was dealt with in Midnight Horizon. Because we know what happens to Starlight Beacon in The Fallen Star. The discussion of how to best serve those people trapped on the station while our characters are across the galaxy is spelled out so well and so emotionally.

And like I said, this book is emotional. It got me good and teary eyed at the end. It was wild to look at my notes from the first half and compare them to the second half. It goes from a fun little Star Wars romp to OH MY GOD NO so fast! Reaching the end gave me the same feeling of exhaustion and exhilaration that The Rising Storm did.

Part of that was due to the teases given for what’s to come. Mostly for Phase Two, but for Phase Three as well. We’ve still got some comic issues to go in Phase One, but all of the books have been released. And with over a year worth of storytelling in The High Republic, I am just as excited as ever to see it continue!

For Daniel José Older’s final kick at The High Republic can book-wise (I’m assuming), he doesn’t stray too far from his comfort zone, turning in what essentially is a YA comic book with Star Wars: Midnight Horizon. If you’ve read his IDW run up to issue #12, and his middle grade book Race to Crashpoint Tower, then the measure and dramatis personae should be familiar as this book, more or less, puts a cap on that run. And because each entry and wave all connect to a broader High Republic scheme, you should be conversant with what’s going on…assuming you’ve kept up. Fortunately for me, Daniel’s IDW run is the one I’ve kept up with so characters like Zeen Mrala and Lula Talisola have become not only familiar, but anticipated.

Yes, I’ve become attached to this particular group, a list which could also include Ram Jomaram, Vernestra Rwoh, Reath Silas, and a few non-Jedi supporting characters. While heavies such as Avar Kriss, Sskeer, and Elzar Mann get cosplayed, this younger group is over here, providing what I think is the substance. The reason I believe is simple; the senior staff really doesn’t look and act that much different from the Jedi we’ve grown up with, do they? They mostly walk the same, talk the same, and swing the old stick the same. But these emotional adolescents on the other hand—these still fresh young minds and critical thinkers—provide so many more amazing opportunities to question some of the more reticent ideas of the Jedi. But we’ll get to that in a second.

As you should know by now, the reason the Nihil are so effective is because they don’t follow the “rules.” You know, those guiding principles and basic decorum we all are supposed to follow, etiquette. They are unpredictable. Like a newbie Texas hold’em player at a table full of old pros, they are chaos creators. And so, imagine their surprise, the fine shipbuilding folks of Corellia, when the Nihil leave the cozy confines of the Outer Rim and head to the Core. And the reason they chose Corellia has something to do with what’s happening across all of Wave 3, the destruction of the Starlight Beacon, but that won’t be revealed here. Their mere presence gets the brass’s attention, and like a moth to a flame, they send some reliable space wizards to check it out. In reality, they are spread pretty thin, and they pointed to whomever was in the room. What they didn’t know, what they couldn’t know at the time, is they were sending this foursome into a bit of hornet’s nest, dropping them into a sinister plot meant to further destabilize the Republic and drop some serious Nihil-bombs.

That’s the basic idea here in Midnight Horizon, that’s the reason we get to spend some time on a planet mostly known for its kickass shipbuilding. And not merely content to give us more of the same, Daniel takes full advantage of the opportunity to splash a bit of color on an otherwise drab environment, and he does so to great effect here. He makes Corellia, Coronet City in particular, more dynamic than ever showing both the gusto and the grime of its upper and lower corridors....

To read the full review, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/star-wars-the-high-republic-midnight-horizon-book-review/

Midnight Horizon is Your New favorite SW Book

Star Wars: The High Republic - Midnight Horizon
Written by Daniel José Older
January 2022

Review Written by Henry Wood

Up until now, Justina Ireland’s Out of the Shadows has been my favorite High Republic book, but Daniel José Older’s Midnight Horizon has taken the cake. The novel is very much an extension of the excellent Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures also written by Daniel José Older, with Ram Jamoram, Kantam Sy, and Zeen Mrala being in the main cast of the novel. They are joined by returning favorites, Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus and his padawan Reath Silas, as well as the newcomer, Alys “Crash” Ongwa, who debuted in January’s Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures 2021 Annual, along with her crew.

The novel takes place almost exclusively on Corellia, a planet made famous in Star Wars Legends, and seen recently in live action in Solo: A Star Wars Story. In fact, the novel has some interesting connections to film, namely in the way it gives us more background on the Grindalids, and includes a cameo by Lady Proxima, the boss of the White Worms gang that Han and Qi’ra ran with. Older’s book also provides a lot of worldbuilding for Corellia, including setting up an entire political system. But setting up and establishing lore is only one of the amazing things that this book does.

Another great thing in this book is how it balances so many characters so well. Along with the six characters mentioned above, the book also provides some moments from the perspective of Lula Talisola, Kantam Sy’s padawan and Zeen Mrala’s love interest. That is seven perspectives that the book provides, and while that may seem like a lot, the book never feels overwhelming or like it’s trying to do much. It feels natural. It all feels like part of the story. One of the problems that books with a lot of characters can run into is that the characters start to feel too similar, but Older does a great job making each character feel different, feel unique.

The newcomer, Crash Ongwa, based lovingly on Doctor Aphra writer Alyssa Wong, anchors this story as the character who understands and explains how Corellia works to Zeen and the Jedi. None of the Jedi, especially the padawans, have ever been to Corellia and therefore are not accustomed to the specific way that Corellia operates. In addition to that narrative purpose she serves, she also has an accessible emotional arc that will connect to young adults.

Crash has to navigate her relationships with her employees, who are also her friends. One such friend is a Grindalid named Prybolt, who is killed at the beginning of the book and whose death largely sets the plot in motion. After his death, Crash pushes everybody away, including her childhood friend and galactic superstar, Svi’no Achapat. She is also in love with Svi’no, something Svi’no feels the same about. She is 19 and has just assumed control of her mother’s Body Guard company, she is growing up, something most young adults are forced to do.

It is an arc that mirrors what Reath Silas has been doing since Claudia Gray’s Into the Dark. Since that novel, he has been forced into doing things that he did not want to do, into situations that scare him. Throughout Into the Dark and Justina Ireland’s Out of the Shadows, Reath becomes more comfortable with doing things that scare him, and more accustomed to being in dangerous situations. His journey continues here as, like Crash, he is forced to come into his own as an adult. While navigating a complicated political situation on Corellia and the threat of the Nihil, Reath is also forced to navigate his relationship with the Force. Reath is forced to find the “path.” Throughout the battle with the Nihil, Reath comes to the conclusion that there is no one “path.” After the battle he is knighted by his Master, Cohmac Vitus, completing one part of his journey, by realizing that his journey is never truly complete.

The third coming of age arc is for Jedi Knight Kantam Sy, whose story is told through flashbacks during the novel as they tell it to Cohmac Vitus. Kantam recalls their training with Master Yoda, and how they fell in love with a circus performer named Aytar. They decided to leave the order and follow Aytar around the galaxy. They eventually break-up and Kantam goes their own way. Kantam is able to let go of Aytar, even though they have feelings for him.

After a few years, they end up on Naboo and find a group of orphans, two of whom, a boy and a girl, are abducted by a bird and flown up a mountain. Using their force powers, Kantam attempts to rescue them but is only able to save the girl. However, it turns out that the girl saved the boy, using the same force technique that she had just seen Kantam use. This girl is the future Padawan of Kantam Sy, Lula Talisola. Kantam takes the girl to Yoda on Andovar and has an emotional heart to heart with their former master. Kantam is knighted, and eventually goes on to be Lula’s master.

While not being present in the book for long, Lula Talisola casts a long shadow over the book for both her master, Kantam Sy, and the girl she’s in love with Zeen Mrala. Zeen is one of the protagonists of Older and Harvey Tolibao’s Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures. Zeen is struggling with that same attachment that Kantam struggled with when they were her age. Zeen is force sensitive, but she is not a Jedi, she was discovered too late.

Zeen is in love with Lula and views herself as a burden to Lula’s dream of becoming one of the greatest Jedi ever. Zeen is about to leave, to never return to her friends on Starlight Beacon, but she gets a call from Ram and Reath on Corellia, asking for help. She goes to help them and becomes involved in a war with Nihil, desperate to help her friends. When the dust settles on the war is over, Starlight Beacon has fallen and Lula is missing, presumed dead. This leaves Zeen at a crossroads, as she refuses to believe that the girl she loves is dead. Zeen’s arc has an ending in this book; one that sets up another journey that I, personally, can’t wait to see.

Of all the wave three novels, there have been a few themes that connect them all. One of those themes is political corruption. The Nihil have spent the time since wave two, or even possibly before that, infiltrating the political ranks of the Republic and various planets around the mid rim and even in the Core Worlds. One of those Core Worlds was Corellia. The Nihil, led by Sabata Krill, introduced in The High Republic Adventures, made deals with multiple Corellian politicians, getting their soldiers to infiltrate the Coronet City Municipal Police. While all of this was happening, there was a union dispute on Gus Talon, a moon of Corellia, which drew both CorSec and the local Jedi away.

Longtime Star Wars fans will recognize Corellia as a shipbuilding planet; and the Nihil planned to take advantage of this, stealing these top of the line Republic Cruisers to attack Starlight Beacon as it was falling. It was an ingenious plan by Marchion Ro, Krix Kamerat and Sabata Krill and sets up an epic showdown between the Nihil and the remaining Jedi and their new friends, led by Crash.

They are finally thwarted when Ram Jamoram, Jedi Padawan and engineer extraordinaire, is able to stop the final ships from taking off. But this is not just an action sequence. While it is awesome, it also fits very clearly with Ram’s character arc. Ram’s emotional journey is about him coming to terms with his emotions. He feels empty at the beginning of the book and by the end, with the help of his friend Reath, he is able to find balance, and it is through that balance that he is able to combine his ability in the force and his abilities as an engineer to take down these ships and saving the galaxy from even more Nihil destruction. Let me just take this moment to say that Ram Jamoram and Anakin Skywalkers would have been best friends. Sorry but that just needed to be said. Oh, and Ram canonically coined the term “wizard” in this book, so yeah, he and Anakin would be bffs.

But this is what makes the book so good, it has both the emotional arcs and the action that makes us all fall in love with Star Wars. It both feels like the end of a story, and sets up something that readers can look forward to. The next Phase of High Republic stories, starting this summer, will go 150 years in the past, and it sounds awesome, but I, for one, can’t wait till we get to see these characters again.

Star Wars: The High Republic: Midnight Horizon by D. J. Older is a book of two very different halves. Just when the reader may be lulled by a ponderous and unfocused start into thinking that the Star Wars: The High Republic initiative may finally have its first unambiguous dud, the book is rescued by a character-focused final act that immensely enrichens this era of a Galaxy Far, Far Away.

This Young Adult novel occupies a tricky place within the increasingly sprawling High Republic line, which chronicles the adventures of the Jedi Knights two centuries before the Star Wars saga. While earlier media has dealt with the war between the Jedi and their sinister Nihil enemies in the galaxy’s Outer Rim fringes, Midnight Horizon spends the vast majority of its time on the Core world of Corellia, familiar to fans from the opening scenes of Solo: A Star Wars Story. As a small group of Jedi investigate a number of seemingly minor disturbances with local help, it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems, and even the glittering Core is not as distant from the war, or the Nihil, as its sheltered inhabitants believe.

By this point, the full extent of The High Republic’s increasingly elaborate interconnectivity is clear. Midnight Horizon certainly weaves in threads and individuals from numerous earlier books, most notably the character of Reath Silas, protagonist of the line’s two prior YA books Into The Dark and Out of the Shadows. Its real function, however, is as the de facto finale of Older’s own High Republic Adventures IDW comic series. Readers who have not been following the saga of Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala there will likely find themselves lost here, particularly in the early stages when the book goes out of its way to tie up various loose ends from its comics predecessor, not all of which receive further payoff in these pages.

And those early stages are often rough indeed. In a now-familiar problem for the line, Midnight Horizon lacks focus throughout its first half, moving awkwardly between a dizzying range of character perspectives. Unfortunately, early glimpses at established characters like Reath or Zeen tend to be brief and unfulfilling, recapping their stories to date without contributing anything fresh. On the other hand, the extensive space devoted to the brand-new character of Crash, an unorthodox Corellian ‘businesswoman’, is badly squandered. While Crash herself shows flashes of promise, the machinations around her gang and the underbelly of Corellian politics quickly become tedious and contribute to a lethargic sense of pacing which is only worsened by the book’s considerable length. After almost 250 pages of this, readers could be forgiven for fearing that the High Republic’s consistent record of producing highly readable books seemed destined to fall at the final hurdle of its first phase.

A little after the halfway point, however, something strange happens. Subtly rather than all at once, Midnight Horizon shifts gears as though to tackle each of its earlier problems one by one. A gradual sense of focus is restored as the number of perspectives is both pared down and better distributed, correcting the imbalances of prior chapters. The greatest beneficiaries are the established characters, who settle into a set of entertaining dynamics that allow Older to brilliantly play off the characters of other authors, notably Reath and his Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus, against his own stalwarts Ram Jomaram and Kantam Sy. Indeed, the latter in particular may be the book’s greatest breakthrough character. After spending their prior existence as an entertaining but peripheral character in Older’s High Republic Adventures, their background is fully set out in a series of poignant and memorable flashbacks which tie beautifully into the book’s core themes. This is only the starkest of Midnight Horizon’s multiple character successes; virtually all of the main players enjoy standout scenes in the climactic chapters, and fans of Zeen and Reath, in particular, will find reasons for appreciation – and emotion.

This book also deserves special mention for its effective representation, including a non-binary lead and the further development of a prominent, gorgeously-written same-sex romance heavily seeded in prior stories. This inclusivity has become a welcome hallmark of the entire High Republic line, and it can only be hoped that Star Wars on the screen will take a lead from the publishing arm so that it can become a new normal for the franchise as a whole and no longer needs to be singled out for praise.

All of this leaves Midnight Horizon in a peculiar place. The plodding opening chapters show the High Republic at its worst; demanding a high level of engagement without bothering to earn it, and endlessly throwing more new things at the reader while refusing to develop what has already been created. Yet just when it’s tempting to write the whole book off, Older’s undeniable skill at character-writing first salvages the book and then improbably leads it to soar enough to match the High Republic at its best. The result is undoubtedly a disjointed affair, but it’s one that ultimately rewards the reader patient enough to stick with it.

Midnight Horizon closes this chapter of the High Republic phase 1 novels beautifully and memorably. This novel revisits characters we are already familiar with yet Older brings even more to the table expanding upon these characters stories, history, and most of all deepens these characters connections to each other and their audience. Older is also able to introduce a cast of brand new characters and seamlessly integrate them into the universe and the plot, while allowing the audience to care about them just as much as the already familiar characters.

Midnight Horizon picks up where we left off with these characters and as a comic reader I personally love that characters from the comics are introduced into a novel format which really allows to expand upon them, giving the audience much more time with characters such as Lula and Zeen, something that can often be limiting in a comic/graphic novel format. The plot is definitely a slow burn with a very satisfying and thrilling climax. There was a particular storyline with a character in this novel that revisits an age old conversation within the Star Wars fandom and provides more context to the inner workings and complicated history of the Jedi Order that deepens the impact of actions and events of stories much later in the timeline. The story is also able to wrap up nicely while leaving the audience wanting (and patiently waiting) to see these characters again.

From reading Older's other published works, particularly those that exist within the star wars universe he has a very distinct style that works very well with the cast of characters and is really able to capture the individual personalities of characters while keeping a memorable tone within the narration of the entire story. Older is able to capture intense and amazing moments throughout the story that I found myself quite emotional multiple times, both happy and sad tears were shed.

Above all my absolute favorite aspect of Midnight Horizon was the incredible inclusion of characters belonging to the LGBTQA+ community. These characters are well rounded and their stories are relatable, creating a more inclusive space in the Star Wars universe for the audience while also making the universe with such a wide variety of species and planets much more authentic.

Midnight Horizon dives deep into intense and mature themes that is both palatable and digestible for its target audience. However don't let the YA label stop you from reading this novel, I highly recommend it to anyone.

Once again, YA Star Wars just keeps winning. These have by far been my favorite High Republic stories, and MIDNIGHT HORIZON is no exception.

Daniel José Older's prose is stunning, and that's just one of the many things that makes this book both beautiful and heartbreaking. The Nihil are coated in darkness, the Jedi are as conflicted as ever, and the romance is present but not forced, it adds light and hope to a very dark story about war, and how there are no winners on either side.

You'll cheer for the heroes and absolutely hate the villains. But most importantly, you'll laugh, cry, and stop to catch your breath all in the same book.

If you haven't given The High Republic a chance, I really hope you'll change your mind.

Daniel José Older’s “Midnight Horizon” has a ton of heart. It includes some of the most memorable and personal moments we’ve seen in The High Republic series. Sometimes the pacing felt a little slow, but the second half of the novel in particular is amazing and packed with wonderful character work. Overall, this is a great novel. 8/10

My full review can be found here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZhoJL5vqZF/?utm_medium=copy_link

Daniel Jose Older crafted a fantastic book in "Midnight Horizon." It is an excellent addition to the High Republic series and a fantastic continuation of many of the young adult characters. The story moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire novel.. Of the two Older novels in this series, this one is by far the best and truly shows his talents as an author.

The Jedi believe that the Nihil are – again – on the run! But when weird things happen on Corellia, are the villainous marauders far behind? Read Chris’s review on Midnight Horizon!


Daniel José Older is quickly becoming one of my favorite Star Wars authors. Specifically, in The High Republic I was instantly enamored with his work in IDW’s The High Republic Adventures, but he quickly showed quite a bit of range in writing the middle grade book Race to Crashpoint Tower and now a young adult novel. One of Older’s most important touches, in my opinion, is how he always has an easily identifiable theme within his books. This makes sure that the plot has some overarching meaning and not just “events happen”. This means that all of the characters have an identifiable character arc and not just “these people were here”. (I think both of these hypothetical critiques are fairly leveled at other books in the THR series.)

High Republic Midnight Horizon WalmartFans of The High Republic Adventures will be overjoyed to learn that Midnight Horizon effectively operates as the prose capstone to the mini-series in a few ways: the characters’ emotional and personal arcs were started in the series; the events were set up in the series; and the series contains the book’s extremely high energy. These ideas will serve as the backbone of the review because otherwise, there would be so much to discuss!

First, the characters’ emotional and personal arcs. One thing that I appreciated really early in this book is that each character had a clear emotional conflict that was laid out in the opening few chapters of the book. Lula Talisola wrestles with the emotional weight of what it means to be a Jedi – and what that means you might have to give up. Zeen Mirala wrestles with the depth of what she’s gotten into since joining Starlight Beacon…or whom she has gotten into with. Reath Silas and Ram Jamoram pair nicely as Padawans trying to find their emotional core in a galaxy of death and danger. Even Masters Kantam Sy and Cohmac Vitus have to process what being a Jedi means to them. I could go on and on, as there are still more characters with emotional journeys in this book (an impressive feat on its own). I could EASILY go on and on about the details here – some are very exciting, like seeing Reath actually be a teenager a bit with kids his own age, while some are extremely emotional, like Zeen – but I don’t want to turn this into a spoiler review.

All of that to say this: this book succeeds on so many levels of crafting an intimate novel, one where characters are personally invested in each other and personally invested in the plot of the novel. The High Republic has fallen into the trap before where events override individual character stories, but this novel keeps the balance more level. The novel bounces between groups of characters and I think I was happy to see the next POV chapter, no matter who it was. Some novels, like the Wheel of Time or Stormlight Archive, have you bouncing between three POVs, but you would rather they spent more time in one or the other (less on Shallan, more on Navani!), but I didn’t feel that here. I would’ve been equally happy with one more chapter on the given POV or been happy if it switched to either of the others. This speaks extremely well to the novel here, and it means that I found myself enjoying it the entire way through.

I also don’t want to go into spoilers – even though other sources have, by this time, already spoken of one of the relationships, but I’d be remiss as a reviewer to not note the depth of new dimensions of representation here. Older pushes the representation bar a lot higher than it has been before with this novel in surprising ways. (One relationship I did not see coming, but to discuss the context would rob, I think, a big part of the story’s emotional beats. Sorry! Better just read the novel to see the multi-faceted relationships and representations!) As someone who doesn’t generally connect with most romantic storylines, I was afraid such a focus on relational beats would be lost on me, but I was drawn into the emotional levels of these relationships. Generally, I was pleasantly surprised by how deep the characters’ emotional journeys were and the depth to which we plumbed the relational lives of these characters.

High Republic Midnight Horizon Full CoverSecond, I do want to discuss, far more briefly, that this story was set up in the IDW series, but it read fine on its own. I criticized The Fallen Star for relying too heavily on both consuming everything already and your plans to consume the remainder of Phase I, but I don’t think that criticism would be well-leveled here. There is quite a bit of background for all of the characters, both Jedi and Nihil, in the IDW series, but I thought that you could get to know these characters well if you only read the book. The subterfuge on Corellia is both set up in the novel and ties into the events of the destruction of Starlight enough that you wouldn’t need the comics or novel to fully buy-in. I thought that this book did uniquely well in being tied in well with other books without needing them. (But, oh wow, the depth you will get from this book if you have already read everything else!)

Third, this book takes the energy level of the IDW series and translates it directly into prose. The IDW all-ages series runs at a mile a minute, quick reads with emotional depth. But since it focuses on younger teenagers, the Gen-Z/young Millennial energy is high. Lots of quips, lots of jokes, lots of slang-y language. I almost got tired trying to keep up with this book’s energy at times! But I definitely commend Older’s ability to write such a high energy book. It is a YA novel, after all!

There really would be a lot more to talk about this book once more people have had the chance to read it. I think most readers will enjoy it a lot, and most readers might be surprised by how much they find out there is to discuss. But, for the sake of a non-spoiler review, I will simply say this much: Older’s energetic novel is a fast-paced, yet emotionally rich, adventure story with a surprising range of character depth and relational dimensions that will excite any fan of THR or SW, setting the stage for far more explosive and intimate stories in the future.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor!

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher at no charge in order to provide a review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.

Midnight Horizon is an excellent addition to Star Wars: The High Republic. This story beautifully expands upon established key themes of the series while introducing some new heartwarming and at times, heart wrenching, themes. This is a story of love, sacrifice, and of course hope. It is also a story which perfectly encapsulates the heart of the Jedi as they were always intended to be.

Though this book is a young adult novel, it walks the line between young adult and adult with more complex politics interwoven into a story that at its core follows the fight between good and evil. Adult readers will certainly get as much out of this book as their young adult counterparts. The action scenes in this novel are intense and exciting and will have readers holding their breath. Where this novel truly shines however, is through its incredible development of pre established characters in the series and fascinating political intrigue.

This novel is fast paced from the beginning and readers will be continually left wondering what's next while feeling satisfied with every piece of the story along the way.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The High Republic era continues with Midnight Horizon from veteran Star Wars contributing author, Daniel Jose Older. This installment features a huge and varied cast of characters, many of whom will be familiar to Readers of previous HR-books.

The main action is set on the planet of Corellia and more specifically in its capital of Coronet City. Jedi Masters Kantam Sy and Cohmac Vitus get sent there, along with Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jamoram, to investigate a possible Nihil attack on the Core Worlds. Known for its massive shipyards, Corellia would be a tantalizing target for the evil Nihil raiders.

It's on Corellia that Reath and Ram run into Crash, a bold young security specialist who lost one of her close friends during the recent attack. The young people team up and infiltrate the Coronet City night life, including a wacky ruse involving an intergalactic pop star, while the Masters pursue more mainstream channels of investigation.

This book was so packed full of action my head is still spinning. This is definitely one that I will need to read again in order to be able to pick up on all the finer points. Older's passion for the Star Wars galaxy is evident on every page. You can absolutely tell this is a person with vast knowledge of the world, characters and lore. It's not just action, however. This story is full of insights into many popular HR-characters.

Since this era began, the characters we have come to know have been through so much. There's a lot to process. I like getting the chance to go along with them on that journey.

Some of you may be wondering about my 3.5-star rating; although rounding up to a 4, it may seem low to some. Basically, for me, I wasn't as swept away in this installment as I have been with earlier works. I rate novels based off a comparison to other novels in the same genre that I have read. Star Wars, in my opinion, being a genre unto itself, that is what I am comparing this reading experience with.

I'll be honest, I did get lost at times trying to keep up with all the characters and action. Additionally, I found my attention sort of waxing and waning amongst the separate lines of the plot. With this being said, I fully accept that may be more of a me problem, than a problem with the actual book.

I respect this author's contribution to this world so much. I think the level of content here is fantastic. I just may need to read it again in order to be able to soak it all in. It's really good though, so I actually wouldn't mind...

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney LucasFilms Press, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I appreciate it so much!! I have absolutely adored my time spent with the new High Republic materials and definitely recommend them to any Star Wars fan.

Midnight Horizon closes the chapter on Phase One of The High Republic Series in a way that is both overwhelmingly powerful and extremely poignant to the audience. Building upon characters, planets, and relationships that we have formed attachments to, it beautifully sets the stage for what is next to come.

Older's writing humanizes every character in a way that does not feel too "heavy". He dives deep into who these characters are, fleshing out their place in the galaxy. From Reath to Crash, these characters feel palpable. They are so incredibly relatable and throughout reading, I connected with every character on a personal level. It didn't feel like I was JUST reading a Star Wars novel. It felt like I was reading an actual look into their lives.

The writing itself must also be commended. YA novels sometimes walk the line of being "too simple". But Older not only makes sure that the language is accessible for younger readers, but writes in a way where every line flows seamlessly together. The book is complex and thrilling enough for adults, but still keeps the target audience in mind.

As a high school English teacher, I am always looking for novels with strong representation. Far too often, our curriculums do not reflect our students. Older's seamless way of including LGBTQIA+ characters not only makes this book a new staple for my students who are Star Wars fans, but a great bridge for students who are looking to see themselves represented more within the Star Wars universe.

This book is a slow-burn but once you're hooked, you better strap in for the ride.

I suspect this could end up a lot of people's favorite High Republic book. It's a lot of fun which some amazing character moments and overall I think it is the perfect closer to the books of Phase One. It works well as a novel taking place alongside The Fallen Star giving a glimpse of action happening in another part of the galaxy (Corellia) while we know other favorite characters are in a different sort of danger back on Starlight.

The plot is great, balancing humorous moments with intense action but the characters and their relationships are what steal the show. Reath and Ram have such a sweet friendship and I could read 10000 books focused on them having adventures together. Reath in particular has a fantastic arc throughout this book that I feel culminates his Phase One journey perfectly. Cohmac and Kantam Sy also have a great dynamic throughout. Kantam's past gets told in flashbacks throughout and I loved getting to know them more after enjoying them in the High Republic Adventures comics and it's fascinating to see how the story of their past ultimately affects Cohmac. Another notable duo is Lula and Zeen (also from the High Republic Adventures comics). The development of their relationship in the comics beautiful and there are some wonderful moments between the two of them in this book that I know lots of readers will love.

In addition to our main POV characters (Reath, Ram, Cohman, Kantam, Zeen) we are introduced to Crash, a security specialist on Corellia, providing the necessary non-Jedi/Corellian POV as our characters work to figure out what exactly the Nihil are up to. I had a similar reaction to Crash that I did with Sylvestri in Out of the Shadows in which it took me a bit to warm up to her since part of me really wanted to get back to the perspectives I was already attached to (an effect of the High Republic already having such a large cast). That being said I adored her by the end and her interactions with the rest of the characters were great.

Of all of the Wave Three High Republic books, I think that Midnight Horizon has the strongest ending. Lots of plot elements and character arcs come to a satisfying conclusion while still posing questions for the next two phases and I cannot wait to see where the rest of the High Republic story goes.

Snippets from my review: https://dorksideoftheforce.com/2022/02/01/review-star-wars-midnight-horizon-soulful-action-packed/

Midnight Horizon burns slowly at first before flaring to life with a lengthy, climactic battle and some of the most touching, relatable soul-searching we’ve seen thus far in The High Republic.

If you’ve read Daniel Jose Older’s THR Adventures, you’ll recognize most of Midnight Horizon’s dramatis personae and their unique personalities. Older brings even more depth and complexity to these characters in Midnight Horizon, and it’s clear on every single page just how much he loves his Jedi, their Padawans and the dynamic he built among them over the last year.

At this point in The High Republic (the end of Phase I), the Jedi and the Republic are still reeling from too many losses. From the Great Disaster and the attack on the Republic Fair on Valo to the horrific death of a beloved Jedi Master, the weary Jedi are spread thin. And all of these tragedies are the fault of the Nihil, whom the Republic believes it finally has on the run.

And while this wave of The High Republic concludes with the destruction of Starlight Beacon (The Fallen Star), we don’t see those events play out in Midnight Horizon. The book’s Jedi feel the pain and terror of its loss, however, as they uncover what Corellia has to do with the space station’s demise and what the Nihil have planned for the future as they creep their way into the Core.

And while Midnight Horizon is one book that’s a better read after catching up on The High Republic Adventures, it’s a beautifully-wrought conclusion to the first phase of the Star Wars era — with an excellent cliffhanger teasing what’s coming next.

Midnight Horizon is the Star Wars book I’ve been waiting for. The latest YA installment in the groundbreaking High Republic project, Daniel Jose Older’s new novel is an action-packed and insightful look into the galaxy far, far away in midst of the Republic’s ongoing conflict with the Nihil, a group of mysterious raiders and extremists who plague the Outer Rim. Midnight Horizon reunites audiences with a cast of familiar characters, including Jedi Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram and their Force-sensitive companion Zeen Mrala, and introduces new ones, like the charismatic teenage bodyguard Crash Ongwa and her crew. The Padawans and their Masters must team up with Crash as the Nihil threat reaches the galaxy’s Core at last.

Midnight Horizon is dynamic, compelling, and intensely readable. It’s vivid and colorful in its portrayal of Corellia, a planet central to Star Wars lore but as-of-yet unexplored in the High Republic era, and the story’s central conflicts evoke real tension and feel relevant even as they address delightfully speculative threats like the Nihil. And Older masterfully balances interiority and action; even in the midst of intrigue and battle, each character struggles with intrapersonal challenges: Ram grapples with a post-traumatic response in the wake of his encounters with the Nihil on Valo, Zeen must confront her intense and unwieldy feelings for a close friend, and Reath seeks an answer to a question that’s been plaguing him for months: what does it mean to put us first?

Older drawers readers into a world in which there’s no such thing as apoliticism, where standing up for what’s right means choosing a side. He depicts the apathy of those who are protected by their wealth and power with biting disapproval. The book’s primary antagonists, the Nihil – a nebulous and hodge-podge group that changes with each depiction in the High Republic project and whose members have been, in turn, raider pirates, political anarchists, and religious devotees – are here represented as a crisis that lacks sufficient attention, a portrayal that resonates in the midst of the ongoing Climate Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. Yet even as the book grapples with familiar injustices, Midnight Horizon is deeply, radically hopeful. It’s a hallmark of Star Wars storytelling that’s taken a forefront in the High Republic era, and Older delivers beautifully on the High Republic’s refusal to give in to despair. Older presents a world in which change is possible if one is willing to fight for it. His characters are bound together and empowered by their love, friendship, and care for each other – among other relationships, Older has crafted one of the most compelling (and sorely needed) queer love stories I’ve ever read – even while they muse and meditate on the Jedi virtue of non-attachment. Midnight Horizon is, indeed, the Star Wars book I’ve been waiting for – action-packed, nuanced, thoughtful, and queer as hell – but, more than that, it’s the Star Wars book we all need right now.

OMFG. This book was so good. I stayed up until 2:30 AM this morning because I could not put it down. It is hard to talk about this book without giving away spoilers because so much happens! So, I'll just start by saying something big to give you an idea of how much I adored this book. This is now my favorite of all The High Republic books! Not only that, this book has some of the best Star Wars scenes to ever grace the page. I read A LOT of Star Wars. So, for me to stay that is truly the highest praise I can think of.

I was hooked from the opening scene. Older's style of describing action completely sucked me into the story, and the opening set the stage for all the awesome stuff to come. The world-building was excellent, and I loved the grittiness of Corellia and getting to see more of that world. Jedi in an all out bar brawl? Who knew that's exactly what I needed to read? lol. I will say, however, that it took me a while to get used to the writing of some of the main characters because the first two parts of the book utilized a more juvenile writing style. If you like Older's humor, you'll probably really like it, but if you don't, please hang in there because it faded more into the background as the book progressed. Personally, I didn't mind it and actually found some of the jokes quite funny, but the writing style for the first third of the book felt like it would have been more appropriate for a middle grade installment.

I enjoyed each of the characters' journeys in this book. Reath struggled with finding his path, which is something I think most teenager's (and many adults) can easily relate to, and Ram had to figure out how to balance his extreme emotions. The characters from Older's comic book series also played a huge role here, and I enjoyed seeing Zeen grow up a lot while having to deal with her feelings about Lula and Krix. The new characters were enjoyable and had a found family feel to them, and Crash's character taught important lessons about the downfalls of isolating yourself from those you love and the privilege often associated with neutrality. I was quite surprised to see the adult characters get so much character development, as well. I loved getting to know Kantam better, and Cohmac made some big decisions here that left me feeling unsettled.

There were so many great themes in this book, but the ones that resonated with me the most were attachment and emotional balance. All of the character's struggled with these topics as they fought for their lives and watched the horror at Starlight Beacon unfold from afar. Older used his words expertly to build scenes that had me right there alongside the characters as they tackled these things head on. I was an emotional mess by the end of this book, and I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever cried so much over a Star Wars book. All the danger, fear, loss, and fury just felt so real while reading. I was completely lost in it. On a lighter note, I have come away from this first phase of the The High Republic wondering how the Jedi could have screwed up so much with Anakin after pretty much ALL of them during this time period wanted to leave the Order because of attachment/relationship problems. lol. I guess Yoda didn't learn much from the struggles of his colleagues. ;)

I'd be remiss if I didn't take a second to also point out that I think this is the queerest Star Wars has ever been. I loved all the representation in this book, and it was done in a way that was seamless.

Overall, the action, emotion, and excellent character progression all combined to make this book one of my favorite Star Wars books ever. It was an excellent ending that wrapped up the YA trilogy storyline, and the larger phase one story, perfectly. The last part of this book blew my mind, and I would probably kill to see it on the screen. Sorry. That's not a very Jedi-like thing to say, but it's true. :) So, what are you waiting for?! Go read it now! Obviously, I rate this book 5 out of 5 shining stars!

As part of the conclusion to Phase I of The High Republic, author Daniel José Older makes his Young Adult debut in the all-new era of Star Wars storytelling with Midnight Horizon—and man, it is a stellar one. The novel is almost like an extension of Older’s IDW comic series, The High Republic Adventures (particularly the events of the 12th issue), with Padawans Ram Jomaram, Zeen Mrala, and Jedi Master Kantam Sy taking the spotlight along with Reath Silas and Cohmac Vitus (who were first introduced by Claudia Gray’s Into the Dark). To balance out the Jedi-centered tale, the novel (re)introduces one of Star Wars’ most fascinating new characters: Alys “Crash” Ongwa (inspired by Doctor Aphra comic writer Alyssa Wong), whose first brief appearance (along with her crew) was included in The High Republic Adventures Annual 2021 with the short story Crash and the Crew Do What They Do. The two parties join forces to investigate and eventually fight an unexpected Nihil threat in the Core world of Corellia, just as the tragic fall of Starlight Beacon takes place in the Outer Rim.

Midnight Horizon could be considered the best Star Wars book of 2022 so far, and here’s why. Not only does the book feature Older’s best comedic writing (the author’s use of galactic slang and playful dialogs always feels fresh and entertaining); love, friendship, and the pursuit of one’s path are the key themes of this beautiful story. For love, Older delves deeper into the relationship between Lula and Zeen as well as giving a glimpse of Kantam’s romantic past. For friendship, Midnight Horizon pairs Ram and Reath together—turning their casual friendship into a strong brotherly bond. And in terms of the pursuit of one’s path, the author excels in character development—especially with Ram and Reath’s struggles in finding their true purpose in life that eventually evolves into resolution as each one of them faces ultimate tests of courage.

Although Midnight Horizon is strongly focused on the Jedi (surprisingly leaving the villain point of view aside), what makes half of this novel so enjoyable is Crash and her team of bodyguards. Her overly-caffed and punchy sense of humor is immensely funny; however, Crash’s vulnerable side is what makes this new character so compelling. Not only that, but Older’s research on diplomatic protection work for Crash and her team (heavily influenced by writer Shawn Taylor) really drives the action-oriented side of Midnight Horizon in an organized fashion—never feeling out of place and perfectly marrying with the beautiful details that Older put into describing the neon-lit streets of Coronet City.

Daniel José Older’s latest YA novel not only was a triumph in terms of compelling and entertaining storytelling but also gave readers and fans a level of inclusivity and diversity that just feels natural and never forced. From Lula and Zeen’s unspoken love to Kantam’s beautiful relationship outside the Jedi Order to even Crash’s romantically complicated work dynamics with one of her clients—the author put all these gorgeous characters front and center of the tale in a way that celebrates and rightfully represents the LGBTQIA+ community within our beloved galaxy far, far away.

Midnight Horizon is an incredibly fun and emotional story that continues to prove that The High Republic is without a doubt one of the best eras of all Star Wars storytelling. If you are still sobbing from reading The Fallen Star, then this novel will definitely reinvigorate your spirit while still hitting you hard emotionally. Have you picked up Midnight Horizon yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Make sure to pick up your copy now and let us know about your favorite moments on our social media outlets.