The Living Force, set one year before The Phantom Menace, is a great character-driven novel that takes all twelve members of the Jedi Council to Kwenn. Having at least 12 perspectives does make The Living Force feel a bit longer, slowing down the pace a bit; however, it gives readers a chance to spend more intimate time with a larger cast of compelling characters and viewpoints. The heavy character-focused nature also makes it a great bridge from the High Republic to the Republic era; if you’ve ever wondered how the Jedi of the High Republic era became the Jedi of the Fall of the Republic era, this novel captures that transition. The Living Force may be one of the first novels in a while that would easily have a broad readership—prequel fans, High Republic readers, and EU fans alike—so it is easy to recommend.

When the Phantom Menace debuted Star Wars fans were able to see the Jedi in a completely new light. At the center of young Anakin Skywalkers journey is his fateful meeting with the twelve Jedi Masters in the temple in Coruscant.

In The Living Force John Jackson Miller takes that snapshot of the council and builds out a story that shows us a grand adventure the council takes before the events of Episode I, that will enhance how you see these characters in the future.

The story kicks off when Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan are returning from a mission in the outer reaches. Qui-Gon shares with the council the growing changes the galaxy is facing as the Jedi close outposts and move closer to the core worlds in general and Coruscant specifically.

Qui-Gon issues a challenge to the Masters. He asks them to reconsider their isolation and to see the greater galaxy once more and to see the power of interacting and changing the life of just one person.

The Council takes the challenge to heart and decides to return to one of the Jedi's Great Works the revitalization of the planet Kween, a planet of many interconnected cities.

The greatest joy I had with this book was learning more about the individual Masters as Miller paired them in situations that highlighted their skills as individual Jedi and as teams. My favorite, and the source of so many laugh out loud moments was Yarael Poof and Ki-Adi-Mundi. These two long lived beings approach the changed world of Kween with very different reactions and personalities.

Each member of the council finds themselves guided to be of use to very specific areas of Kween . Even Piell encounters a group of hungry students cut off from teachers and even basic care needs like food. Yaddle encounters a young woman looking to do more for her career and her home world but remains stuck as an assistant to high maintenance news anchors. Depa Billaba suffers at the hands of pirates as her former Master Mace Windu frets for her fate and leads a small fierce attack force to attempt a rescue.
Milller succeeds greatly at giving each of these Masters time to shine and time to learn. Yet even though the Force is with them, and they inspire a significant level of faith in the Jedi and in working together as a community, the story tugs at your heart as we know where the Jedi and the republic will end up in a very short time.

Miller is a Legend among long time Star Wars book fans, and he handles this story masterfully. I also was very appreciative of how a unified canon timeline can produce a book that fits so perfectly in the time line it represents. The efforts of the story group were very evident in this book to me. With nods to the High Republic, as well as character cameos from the cinematic world, this book satisfies on so many levels.

I also love how novels can fill in spaces that fans can still question about the cinematic world of Star Wars. I don't think a book should exist to fix perceived holes in stories, but this novel does give credence to how quickly the galaxy turns on the Jedi. Through the machinations of a Sith lord hiding in the midst of a bureaucratic system, the Jedi are systematically withdrawing to the core leaving many citizens defenseless against pirates, cartels and the Hutt clans. Though the Jedi feel they are being guided by the Force all the local citizens can do is notice how much worse their lives are in their absence as outposts continue to close across the galaxy. Overall though this book shows us the power of the Force to guide and inspire, and it left me hopeful that Kween has weathered the storms of galactic war and still remembers the impact the Jedi had on their world in their most desperate times.

I was very fortunate to do a combo read of this book along with the audio version narrated by Marc Thompson. I hope readers have a chance to experience both formats of the novel but I have to give a shout out to the excellence Marc Thompson brings to this production. There are a multitude of characters and emotional beats in this story and Marc performs them all spectacularly. This book is the perfect read as we gear up for the Anniversary of The Phantom Menace and is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face as you see these Masters brief appearance in the film.
Thank you Random House Worlds and Penguin Random House audio for review copies of this book.

In The Living Force volgen we de leden van de Jedi Council – niet enkele leden, nee ALLE TWAALF de leden van de Jedi Council – ongeveer een jaar voor de gebeurtenissen van The Phantom Menace. Qui-Gon Jinn en Obi-Wan Kenobi keren terug van een missie in ”de Slice”, een gedeelte van het sterrenstelsel dat het steeds zwaarder krijgt. Bedrijven vertrekken naar rijkere gebieden in het sterrenstelsel, de Jedi sluiten outposts die ze niet meer gebruiken, en bewoners vertrekken omdat piraten de overhand krijgen. Op de terugweg van de sluiting van een Jedi Outpost ontmoeten Qui-Gon en zijn Padawan een groep wezens die om die reden hun thuis verlaten hebben en op Coruscant opzoek gaan naar een beter leven. Qui-Gon grijpt deze situatie, aan om de Council aan te spreken op het feit dat de Jedi de laatste tijd veel te weinig bezig zijn met het helpen van inwoners van het sterrenstelsel, en zich te veel op het grotere plaatje en de Force zelf richten. Hij daagt ze uit om allen op zijn minst één persoon te helpen, met een grote of kleine daad, individuen zijn volgens Qui-Gon net zo belangrijk als complete planeten. En wanneer vervolgens duidelijk wordt dat de Jedi Outpost op de planeet Kwenn op de nominatie staat om gesloten te worden, besluit de gehele Council om af te reizen naar Kwenn om daar het tweehonderdjarig bestaan van deze outpost te vieren, ter plekken te beoordelen of het sluiten van dergelijke outposts wel echt nodig is, en om met zijn allen weer eens dichter bij het gewone volk te komen.

Onderweg naar Kwenn splitsen de Council leden zich op en beleven los van elkaar kleine avonturen met gewone inwoners van Kwenn en omstreken. Ze lossen onder anderen relatieproblemen op, helpen kleine ondernemers, gestrande zeedieren, en ontspoorde leerlingen van een school. Al deze kleine avonturen komen geleidelijk aan samen om een groter probleem op te lossen. Zilastra, de leider van de piratenbende bekend als de Riftwalkers, heeft namelijk een plan opgezet om wraak te nemen op de Jedi voor een onrecht dat ze haar, naar haar idee, jaren geleden hebben aangedaan. En wat is nou een beter moment om dat te doen dan wanneer alle Council Leden toevallig in de buurt zijn.

The Living Force is naar mijn idee een ontzettend leuk verhaal waar veel mensen van zullen genieten. Het is geen groots spannend avontuur, het verloopt allemaal vrij langzaam en we houden ons juist vooral met kleine dingen bezig. Maar dat is het hele punt van het verhaal. De Jedi die zich met kleine dingen bezig houden: gestrande zeedieren, geen grote oorlogen; kinderen die hun vertrouwen in hun school en ouderen hebben verloren, geen Sith die op het punt staan het sterrenstelsel over te nemen. Persoonlijke problemen, die een persoonlijke aanpak nodig hebben. Iets wat de Jedi bijna vergeten zijn.

De kleine verhaaltjes zelf zijn origineel en allemaal vrij grappig, ik bedoel: Yarael Poof, meer hoef ik niet te zeggen tegen hen die het boek al gelezen hebben. De interacties tussen de Jedi zijn stuk voor stuk geweldig en het is ontzettend leuk om de Jedi die we 25 jaar geleden op het witte doek leerde kennen als bijpersonages die toekeken toen Mace Windu bij Anakin zijn ”cup, speeder, cup” test afnam, daadwerkelijk te leren kennen als volwaardige personages. De meeste council leden hebben nooit echt de kans gehad om zichzelf te ontplooien, maar in The Living Force krijgen ze daar allemaal de kans voor. Ze hebben allemaal hun eigen specialiteiten, eigenaardigheden en persoonlijkheden. En na het lezen van dit boek wil ik dol graag meer tijd met hen allen doorbrengen. Later dit jaar verschijnt Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss waarin we met Mace op avontuur gaan, ik zou het niet erg vinden als elk van de Jedi Masters van de Jedi Council in dit tijdperk een eigen boek krijgt waarin we ze beter leren kennen.

Het ruim 16 uur durende audioboek is ingesproken door niemand minder dan veteraan Marc Thompson en is een waar genot om naar te luisteren, en als ik een aanbeveling mag doen is het om dit boek in audio format te verslinden! Marc zet weer een knap staaltje acteerwerk neer en geeft elk van de Jedi Masters een overduidelijke en herkenbare stem, waar mogelijk natuurlijk gebaseerd op hoe we ze al eerder gehoord hebben. En waar dit boek in tekst al ontzettend grappig is, weet Marc daar met zijn kunsten nog eens een flinke schep humor bovenop te gooien. En weer: Yarael Poof!

Het tempo van het algemene verhaal is vrij laag, we spenderen veel tijd aan kleine dingen, maar nogmaals: dat is het hele punt van het boek. Naast de kleinere problemen die opgelost worden speelt er dus een overkoepelend verhaal waar alle Jedi samen voor in actie moeten komen, en hoewel Miller zijn best doet om die dreiging groot te laten voelen, voelde dat vooral toch een beetje als een bijzaak. Ik was volledig content geweest als Zilastra enkel een van de kleinere verhalen geweest was. Al was het samenknopen van alle kleinere verhalen een leuke kers op de taart.

Een onverwacht puntje dat in dit verhaal voorbij komt is een referentie aan Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas. Hijzelf speelt geen rol in het verhaal, maar zijn naam komt naar voren in het verleden van andere personages. Maar dat gebeurt wel op een manier waardoor ik het gevoel krijg dat we zijn naam in de nabije toekomst vaker voorbij gaan zien komen.

Wellicht dat niet iedereen op een verhaal als The Living Force zit te wachten, ik kan me goed voorstellen dat men opzoek is naar meer actie dan we hier krijgen, maar wat mij betreft is dit een geweldige afwisseling van het tempo en de spanning waar we in andere boeken aan gewend zijn geraakt. Helemaal na de emotionele achtbanen waar The High Republic ons steeds in meesleurt is het wel eens leuk om het wat rustiger aan te doen. The Living Force is wat dat betreft zeker geen verplichte kost als je enkel opzoek bent naar belangrijke verhalen in de Star Wars wereld, maar qua uitdieping van deze personages is het wat mij betreft onmisbaar. En als je opzoek bent naar wat humor mag je dit boek zeker niet missen. Het is een waardige toevoeging aan mijn boekenkast, en ik ben er vrij zeker van dat ik dit boek nog vaker zal herlezen/luisteren.

The Galactic Republic isn’t what it used to be — and neither is the Jedi Order.

Many years ago, Jedi were stationed in outposts across the galaxy to better serve the worlds and communities most in need. Now, many of these outposts are closing. And it’s becoming rare for members of the Jedi Council especially to find a reason to leave the temple on Coruscant.

A year out from the events of The Phantom Menace, are the Jedi really serving the galaxy as they vow to do? This is the question John Jackson Miller presents at the start of his brand-new novel, Star Wars: The Living Force.

The book follows all 12 members of the Jedi Council — and Qui-Gon Jinn, plus padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi — as they embark on a special mission to a Jedi outpost they plan to shut down. As you might imagine, chaos ensues the moment they arrive.

Those who call Kwen home could use some help from the Jedi. But the Jedi are about to discover that they, too, can learn a lot from those they are helping.

One of many things Miller does well in his Star Wars books is making you care not just about the main players, but also the supporting characters as well. I may have a new favorite Star Wars character, and they’re a very small part of the story — but they also fit so well into the overall message the story is telling that they are, at least to me, just as important as the Jedi Masters we follow throughout the book.

This book actually did make me laugh, and cry, but it made me think deeply about our world (and the worlds of Star Wars) as well. One question the book prompts in particular has stuck with me since I finished it over a month ago: Is purpose found in a place, a role, a community? Or do we find our purpose within ourselves, and carry that purpose with us wherever we go?

Not everyone reads Star Wars for philosophical reasons, and that’s okay! That’s why this book is also laugh-out-loud funny at points. And as usual, Miller also writes an unforgettable villain who is just as compelling as the story’s heroes. I sometimes struggle to connect with villains in Star Wars books, but not this time.

The Living Force is a book many different fans will love. It’s set before the prequels, and there aren’t many of those in Canon so far (outside of The High Republic series). But it also ties nicely into the prequels, especially The Phantom Menace. It’s also a fun read for High Republic fans — it doesn’t rely heavily on anything from the era, and you don’t have to have read THR to enjoy The Living Force, but it’s fun to see the small connections between that era and this one, and compare the Jedi of then to those of “now.”

And if you want to hear more about The Living Force from the author himself — and a more in-depth look at the author’s Star Wars stories over the years — our Now This Is Lit interview isn’t all you’re going to get. Stay tuned …

Review in my Space Wizards Book Club blog and newsletter:

What happens when Qui-Gon Jinn bullies the Jedi Council to leave their tall temple and help one person? An all-Council field trip to a planet with a High Republic-era Jedi outpost up for decommissioning.

Otherwise known as The Living Force by John Jackson Miller, the author’s first Star Wars novel in 10 years.

This road trip to the planet Kwenn is an attempt to get the Councilers back to their roots as Jedi — helping individual people and representing peace and light to the larger galaxy. It’s an act of goodwill, and for many of the Masters, a nostalgic vacation of sorts.

What Miller does with the Councilors — all 12 of them — is an impressive feat. Each of them gets POV chapters as they navigate smaller missions around the Gem Cities of Kwenn. It’s through these more intimate missions that the Jedi gain some self-awareness about how much the Order’s priorities have shifted over the centuries.

This is one year before The Phantom Menace — the calm before the stormy last years of the Republic and the Jedi Order. This Jedi Order — and especially the Council — is increasingly isolated from the larger galaxy as it focuses on the cosmic Force and the needs of the Republic Senate.

Gone are the days of thousands of Jedi spread throughout the galaxy at outposts and temples seen during The High Republic era — frequently referenced in The Living Force.

Through this trip to visit one such outpost before it’s decommissioned, the Jedi Council is confronted with how much they’ve changed since their Golden Age and how the galaxy’s people feel about them. Spoiler: It’s not great.

It’s when the Councilors face indifference, scorn, and even hostility from the people living and struggling in this part of the galaxy that they begin to question what it means to be a Jedi. And the answer is different for every single Jedi Council member.

As the era of The High Republic came to a close, being a Jedi became about working ever closer with the Republic Senate to serve the entire planetary systems and the greater good of the galaxy. For many Jedi, that also meant protecting peace as a defense group against villainy and continuing to study the histories and ways of the Force.

But the challenge posited by Qui-Gon isn’t about acting like a Jedi through one’s missions and studies, but about individual people — part of the living Force. To truly serve the Force and be a true Jedi, he says, is to help people — even just one person.

What follows that challenge is a wild trip to Kwenn, where some Councilors are paired together on seemingly innocuous missions to help people — many of them in small ways but with big impact. These pairings and the individual POVs were an excellent way to highlight the differing viewpoints and similarities amongst the Jedi Council as well as perspectives of more obscure Jedi from the prequel era.

With an ensemble cast of 12 Jedi (plus a chaotic villain and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan), The Living Force is a beast of a character-driven book. But this is Miller’s forte – introspective, poignant character work. The action and battle sequences are pretty good, too, but it’s with the individual characters we get the heart of the story.

The Living Force is just as full of quiet, emotional moments as it is of epic action sequences and Jedi badassery. It’s also one of the funniest Star Wars books out there — a bold statement about a story starring several centuries-old Jedi Masters who embody the term crotchety.

This book elicited the full range of emotions — laughing, giggling, kicking my feet, tearing up, and quite a bit of side-eyeing. Looking at you, Yarael Poof.

The Living Force is a quintessential Star Wars read full of pure, comforting, prequel-era goodness.

Ripe for even more stories during this transitional period, the book also has wide appeal to all types of Star Wars fans. I wouldn’t be surprised if The Living Force becomes many people’s first Star Wars book — I will certainly begin recommending it to new readers.

Author John Jackson Miller returns to the galaxy far, far away with a new, surprising tale that takes the entire Jedi Council, Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi to the once prosperous planet Kwenn. While in previous storytelling the twelve pillar members of the Jedi Order have been mainly focusing on galaxy-wide problems, The Living Force narrows down their scope—finding the decommissioning of yet another Jedi Outpost left over from the Republic’s golden age on Kwenn a call to action to restore hope among its inhabitants, which have been enduring neglect from the Republic and a constant pirate oppression.

This is the book no Star Wars reader thought they ever needed. For starters, who knew each member of the Jedi Council would be so fascinating when placed in a mundane, non-political setting? The author does wonders to characterization while keeping the focus on the actual plot that centers around Kwenn and the celebration of the Jedi Outpost. Faced with the insurmountable task of revitalizing the citizen hope in the Jedi and the Republic, each member finds a way to help in small and big ways, striping down their formalities and really getting their hands dirty—whether it’s restoring businesses, cleaning up archives, or taking down a major pirate plot to take over the planet. The latter slowly becomes the main plot of the story, with new intriguing antagonists emerging to go up against the Jedi and an upcoming alliance that will lead to likely the Order’s first unofficial military operation in ages.

John Jackson Miller doesn’t stop there; The Living Force has so many beautiful layers that are revealed on each page turn, interconnecting past and future events—delivering fond memories of the High Republic era and preluding the Clone Wars and the Rise of the Empire. Although these details are sprinkled throughout the novel, they never seem to interfere with the main storyline, which is arguably the most fun and entertaining read so far in Star Wars publishing. The dynamics between some members of the Council are hilarious while contrasted by darker and more adult tones on the pirate side. The leader of these marauders, Zilastra is one hell of a character—her motivations and ambitions make her extremely dangerous not just to Kwenn but especially to the Jedi, testing their beliefs and actions throughout the novel.

The Living Force is a standalone Star Wars tale that is satisfying from beginning to end, one that gives new, refreshing light to the Jedi Council and explores a new sector of the galaxy that begs to be further developed (especially in the High Republic era). The novel is out now, with a stunning ensemble cover by Oliver Cuthbertson, narrated by the always energetic Marc Thompson!

The Jedi Council upholds the ideals of the Jedi, peaceful protectors and guardians of the people. But after returning from a mission, unorthodox Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn issues a challenge. One that makes the Jedi Council realize they may be too isolated from the galaxy, and more importantly, the people. But outside of the Jedi temple, real people face real dangers. And although the Jedi famously do not crave adventure and excitement, they just might get their fill anyway.

John Jackson Miller hits us with a story that you can’t miss. The Jedi Council road trip! I mean, how can you NOT already be on board? The entire council from The Phantom Menace goes out for a work retreat! Seriously! I don’t think I need to explain any further. You’re already imagining the possibilities!

Gambling pirates! Celebrations of renewal! The Unquenchable Flame! And community outreach!

The Jedi Council rises to the challenge and sets out to see the galaxy with fresh eyes. The story fits wonderfully between The High Republic and the Fall of the Jedi eras showing parallels and how the Jedi have changed over the centuries. The story feels personal in a way Jedi stories rarely do, but it’s that very thing that makes it matter. Stories with galaxy-spanning stakes are all well and good, but like the Jedi, we should take time to look at the people who live out in the galaxy. All of them. It’s a story that brings Jedi compassion and empathy into focus. And it’s a lesson we can all learn as we remember to get out into the world and connect with others.

This is a must-read for fans looking to see the Jedi Council touch grass and reconnect with the galaxy they are charged with protecting!

“We will see the people of Kwenn- and they will see us.”
- Depa Billaba

Thanks to Random House Worlds for the review copy of this book.

This dad read Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller! Set one year before The Phantom Menace, The Living Force is an ensemble piece that dives into the personalities of the Jedi Order of the prequel era like never before. Becoming more and more isolated on Coruscant, the Jedi Order are closing outposts left and right, with one more on the planet Kwenn likely next on the list. At the exhortation of Master Qui-Gon Jinn, the entire Jedi Council head to Kwenn, once a symbol of hope of a bygone era, as they face challenges on scales both large and small. Can the Jedi Order work together to help Kwenn’s citizens and, ultimately, themselves?

Admittedly, the Prequel Era isn’t at the top of my favorite list for Star Wars, so my expectations were relatively low going into this book and I ended up really enjoying it! From the get go, Miller nails the characterizations of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, something that immediately engrossed me in the world of the story. From each of their individual temperaments and personalities to their beloved master and apprentice relationship, it all just works.

Taking on the entire Jedi Council as lead characters is no small task and Miller handles it brilliantly. Each council member is given individual attention so we get to know them in ways we never have before. Especially for characters like Ki-Adi-Mundi, Saesee Tiin, Even Piell, and Adi Gallia, a novel is the perfect way to explore their motivations and distinct personalities. Never does the cast of characters feel overwhelming or their paired-off storylines disparate; The Living Force is a master class in how to tell an entertaining story with a large ensemble cast.

For a story in which the stakes are understandably low, I also really enjoyed the threat the villains pose in The Living Force. In the sector of space in which the majority of the story takes place, there are a number of pirate crews who are threatening the peace. One pirate leader, a Nautolan named Zilastra, has an intense hatred for the Jedi; this combined with her ambition and cruelty makes for one highly entertaining baddie. Her motivations aren’t one note which makes her fascinating, plus she’s certifiably unhinged – there’s definitely never a dull moment when she’s on the page. It’s a smart move to make the threats in this book contained to its specific plot, as we all know there are far larger threats lurking in the background of the galaxy at large during this time.

For fans of The High Republic, The Living Force is kind of a jump forward to the events currently going on in Phase 3. It will be fun to see just how all the dots eventually connect, and I imagine The Living Force will warrant a reread by the time The High Republic wraps up. Just to be clear, no prior knowledge of The High Republic is needed to enjoy The Living Force as a standalone novel.

The Living Force took me by surprise in the best way possible with its mixture of plotline, characters, humor (one of the funniest Star Wars books in recent memory), and connections to other eras. I give The Living Force 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢/5 – highly recommend!

I had such a great time reading The Living Force. It was a welcome step back in to Prequel era Star Wars. John Jackson Miller does a fantastic job navigating the 12 Jedi masters without the book meandering. From its pacing and humor to its introspection and action, The Living Force has quickly become one of my favorite new Star Wars stories.

What if…the members of the Jedi Council went on a field trip together? A bit simply put perhaps, but that’s the central premise behind John Jackson Miller’s The Living Force, which follows the entirety of the Jedi Council as they head to Kwenn, where an old Jedi Outpost is set to be decommissioned, on a mission of goodwill to the greater galaxy.

Besides the obvious wildness of having the entire Jedi council present and playing an active role in the story, the most interesting aspect of the novel is what Miller chooses to do with the Jedi council, and the questions he chooses to tackle by their very presence. By the time we get to The Phantom Menace, the Council is very much in a state of removal from the galaxy at large. They ponder questions of the larger force, and tackle the issues brought to them by the Republic, but the connection they have with the broader galaxy is gone. The High Republic days of Jedi outposts, exploration, and living and training out among the greater galaxy are no more — or rare — as the interests of the Order become increasingly entwined with those of the Republic. If the High Republic was the precedent, then The Living Force is the payoff for that sort of thinking.

All this is to say that for all the Jedi Council are our protagonists, we aren’t necessarily rooting for them, as we can see this sort of philosophical, detached mentality has already begun to take over the older members, and we see that the institution as a whole is starting to buckle under the weight of its own presumed grandeur. Even when they do make an attempt to connect with the locals on Kwenn, and try to resolve their problems, as Qui-Gon Jinn suggested they do, its clear many of them have forgotten what it even means to help on such a fundamental level. It’s also clear, with the way a young Obi-Wan Kenobi struggles with the same thing very early on, that this level of care and outreach for the larger galaxy is something they don’t even really teach or emphasize anymore.

That’s not to imply that the council are heartless or anything, far from it. This is still a novel, and there is still a journey for them to all go on, but what The Living Force does best, perhaps, is tackle the question of the role of the Jedi in the galaxy in so direct a way that it becomes startlingly clear to the reader how and why the Order became too big to fail.

The Living Force hits shelves on April 9. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.

“But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force.” Those legendary words spoken by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn to his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi during The Phantom Menace are the driving force (no pun intended) of John Jackson Miller’s The Living Force. After being challenged by the “rogue Jedi”, the Jedi Council vows to show the people that they are still the guiding light in the galaxy.

Being pulled by the desires of the Galactic Senate and their duty to protect the galaxy, the Jedi Council had begun abandoning Jedi outpost along the Outer Rim, leaving those worlds and their inhabitants to fend for themselves against the growing criminal element in the sector. Returning to Coruscant after one of these outpost closures, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi experienced firsthand the results of those decisions and the Jedi Master decides to approach the Council with a proposition. To leave the comforts of the Jedi Temple and venture to meet the people where they lived. A section of the galaxy that stretched from the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim, known as The Slice had become a haven for pirate gangs and Zilastra, leader of the Riftwalkers, had taken advantage of the Jedi and Republic forces abandonment of the sector to establish herself as the up-and-coming force to be reckoned with. Add to that her secret hatred of the Jedi and you get a nice setup for a great villain.

The Living Force is a delight to read. From the opening chapter with Qui-Gon Jinn dispensing life advice to a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, who doesn’t waste time in uttering his famous line “Hello there“, and teaching him how to listen and make friends with people so he could better understand their problems and needs. It is also a fun book. You may think that having twelve stoic Jedi Masters makes for a boring read but it is far from that. I particularly love the sort of running joke of Qui-Gon and Kenobi constantly running into bumbling pirates Lobber, Ghirra, and Wingo. I think that John Jackson Miller did a good job in giving every character enough page time to make their inclusions worthwhile. It could have easily turned to a soup where everything is mixed in and you can’t tell one character from another or go the other way with some Jedi taking control of the story at the sake of relegating others to the background but all have their time to shine.

The Living Force is a must have for Star Wars fans and fans of the Jedi. Although there are moments that make you question the Jedi complicity in the upcoming fall of the Republic, it mainly reinforces the idea that the Jedi are, above all, good.

It's been 10 years since John Jackson Miller wrote a new Star Wars novel, but he hasn’t missed a beat with his return, The Living Force, a riveting romp of a book which takes full advantage of its expansive cast and the era it’s set in to explore the themes and foundations of the prequel trilogy.

Set a year before The Phantom Menace, The Living Force finds Qui-Gon Jinn, who alongside his Padawan learner Obi-Wan Kenobi, encountering the repercussions of their closures of the Jedi outposts, which leads them to make a request to the Jedi Council to address their worryingly frequent withdrawal from the galaxy to their gilded towers on Coruscant. After some convincing amongst themselves, the Jedi Council rises to the challenge, heading to Kwenn’s Jedi Outpost, built during the planet’s restoration as part of the Great Works of the High Republic era, to celebrate its bicentennial and meet Jinn’s simple mandate: help one person. It sounds simple but, naturally, is far more complicated than expected, as the situation on Kwenn, and indeed the Outer Rim itself as the Jedi and Republic seemingly withdraw their focus and criminal elements fill the space, is not what any on the Jedi Council quite expect from the Republic’s reports detailing more of the economic impact and not the personal impact of their choices. And lucky for us it’s far more complicated, as John Jackson Miller weaves an absolutely entertaining tale which takes full advantage of each member of the Jedi Council, as they all find ways their specific talents can be used on Kwenn and the unfolding situation, though it’s often not clear how their actions will help until the exciting and enjoyable climax. Some are featured more than others, though this is Depa Billaba’s novel the most and for good reason, but it’s so refreshing to see each one’s distinct personalities come into play, from Saesee Tiin’s gruff demeanor, Even Piell’s more brash yet youthful ideas, Yarael Poof’s gut-busting humor, to even Yoda’s syntax, as each part is vital to see Kwenn’s many problems, and a growing pirate incursion in the area, solved.

Considering Miller’s forte has largely been lone Jedi, cut off/without/or defying the Jedi Council, with critiques of the Council itself sprinkled in his works, which he admits to in The Living Force's Acknowledgements section, it’s big change of pace for the author and he rises to the challenge admirably. He manages to say something along the way about the Council’s strength while also pointing out its flaws, all while making every character one exciting to follow and explore. It’s a true thrill to see it all unfold, and even the main antagonist is worth loving to hate so much, I had a joyous smile across my face the entire way through, as Miller often plays with characters exactly as you’d expect but also in surprising ways which deepen them in meaningful context and yet digs at the problems with the Order in this era. With such a large cast, Miller ensures there’s plenty of women and people of color who take the forefront, especially those who are the leads of the book, so the diversity and parity are there in important ways. My minor quibble with representation was the lack of LGBTQIA+, a disappointment to some degree as it felt strange considering how much more inclusive the Saga has become in the 10 years since Miller last wrote, as canon/High Republic have pushed it in big, important ways. I’m not saying every story needs to have it, but after reading so many novels which have been more inclusive, it just felt strange at first. My only other issue was the initial way I felt most non-humans were presented, especially a specific group I took to calling the Three Stooges (a loving nickname by the end), but thankfully it doesn't take long for the tone to change, especially considering most of the cast and those they meet aren’t human, Miller manages to balance out the “non-humans are the bad beings” issue the novel starts with. There’s a reason I would reread Kenobi 2-3 times a year for quite some time or reread A New Dawn several times in the decade since, as Miller manages characters and their motivations in such a way it’s always a delight to see them cause what’s unfolding in the story and see again the way he explores their motivations and The Living Force is no exception, as it will be my next must reread, especially once The High Republic wraps up Phase III and The Acolyte is out, all building towards this and the prequels.

As I mentioned earlier, The Living Force is all about the Jedi Council, but the novel’s central member of the group is Depa Billaba in a role that, considering Miller wrote one part of her Padawan’s journey, feels long overdue and exactly what she needed at the same time. As far as I can ever recall, Depa’s never had top billing in a story before, but The Living Force is better for it, as her investigation into a Jedi initiate’s death embroils her in the middle of a larger plot by the book’s main antagonist, Zilastra, all while she comes to terms with her commitment to the Order, its tenants like non-attachments, her own history prior to being in the Order, and having had Mace Windu as her former Master, now her peer. Her struggles with the tenants of attachments and squaring that with wanting to do the right thing was a compelling throughline for her, especially in the rare scenes she has with Mace (which are packed with some great honesty), as it stems both from her trying to pull an enthusiastic young initiative in Zilastra’s Riftwalker pirate gang out of the leader’s thrall as well as her own history with pirates and growing up in the area. I certainly left TLF wanting more of every character, even the antagonist given her backstory, but Depa’s journey, and how much adversity she overcomes to see the outcome she wants, left me anxious for more of her story the most. While there’s always room for more, there’s a finality to what Miller covers here however, her arc in TLF is a complete and totally satisfying one, leading to the Depa who will become Caleb Dume aka Kanan Jarrus’s Master, so even if it’s a long time before she gets such a big role again, this comes off as a great way to cover her development in this timeframe.

Zilastra, the leader of the Riftwalkers pirate gang, was an easy favorite in the novel, because as much as you want to hate her, you can’t help but love her spiraling larger schemes, resourcefulness, and ruthlessness. There’s an aspect to her backstory I felt TLF did better with than a villain from Phase II of The High Republic, as it’s seeded earlier and is more directly addressed before the novel ends (and speaks to the larger story of the prequels at the same time), and Miller does a fantastic job of funneling that anger into a character whose actions feel born from her own decisions, not that of the plot, especially the more grandiose her designs become as things get personal.  Honestly, it was infectious to watch her plot schemes, as her initial set of plans and the way Miller spreads out the details on them kept me guessing but as the scene plays out where it’s all revealed, all the hints along the way clicked, marking one of the more deadly and ingenious ideas by a gang leader. Miller has a knack for coming up with compelling and interesting antagonists, just look at Kenobi and A New Dawn’s non-Force wielding ones, as while she is technically the villain, and does some rather despicable things, she comes off as the victim of her circumstances, though of course she didn’t have to go down the dark path like she choose, but you can almost understand why she did and that’s what makes her so endlessly compelling. Kylah (who reminded me of Newt in Aliens but far more outspoken), a young human who can sneak around the bowels of spaceships since she’s smaller and is integral in Zilastra’s early plans, is the girl Depa is trying to remove from Zilastra’s influence, and I love the way the push/pull of Depa and Zilastra over her reflects more on the two adults. For Zilastra, it addresses what happened in her past and how, despite her feelings about it, her actions make her no better than the one who did something similar to her in the past, even though this was her chance to do different. For Depa, it awakens in her something that’ll lead to her fateful time with Caleb/Kanan. In the end, Zilastra was a delight to read, keeping me on my toes even against all these plot armored characters!

All the Jedi Council members feature in significant ways across the events of The Living Force and it was incredible how well Miller was able to balance them all, still tell this story, and give a great focus on Depa and Zilastra. In big ways and small ways, each one goes on a journey to end up fulfilling Qui-Gon’s mission of helping one person, and I appreciated how it was something tailored to their talents. I’ll go over each member briefly and what I thought about their time in TLF: Yarael Poof’s humor left me with a pained side due to how much I laughed, as even he goes there with how his name sounds, while his long-life perspective reasoning for being the way he is now was a cool way to deal with longer living characters, so overall he almost stole the show out of all the Council members; Eeth Koth has quite the experience in TLF, which starts out with a hoarding situation I never thought about happening in a galaxy far, far away but glad we finally saw something like it, and ends on something touching and a little surprising, with hints of his life post-Order 66; Even Piell gets wrapped up with the children of Kwenn for some fun shenanigans, but it’s his overall gruff demeanor and feelings of being misunderstood that made me eager for more stories with him; Adi Gallia might be the one who overall has the shortest appearances, but her parts are impactful and did a lot for her character, especially as Yoda and her talk through some choices; Saesee Tiin and Plo Koon were teamed up for most of TLF and they worked even better together than expected, as they even out each other’s more peculiar skills and stoic mindsets; Oppo Rancisis, who was the main architect of Kwenn’s renewal some 200 years before, connects to the planet again in surprising and delightful ways, and I’m glad he’s finally gotten such a big part of a story, while I loved how free he gets to be in the water; Yaddle, who recently delighted in The High Republic: Cataclysm, does so again as she becomes, surprisingly enough, the public face of the Jedi’s efforts on Kwenn; Yoda’s sections include one of the most beautiful scenes in the novel, mimicking a fateful moment yet to come in his life, that left me absolutely dripping with tears; Mace Windu finds himself aboard a ship conscripted by the Republic for Depa’s mission, where his interactions with the ship’s ornery captain gives him a better idea of the morale of those stuck helping the Republic keep the peace without a formal military, and offers a prescient glimpse of the Jedi Order’s ease at becoming part the eventual Republic forces; Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's parts fit so well with their rapport in The Phantom Menace, and make Obi-Wan's line about picking up more lifeforms all the more hilarious given their interactions with the Three Stooges, while I liked how Miller still sneaks in some of the disconnect between the two as well. I was worried such a large cast would drown out certain members, but each character here goes on a journey readers, or the characters themselves, won't soon forget.

The Living Force by John Jackson Miller is an excellent reminder of what makes the author a celebrated one, as he goes against his normal grain and offers up an expansive cast, humbling ideas about the Order and the Prequel era, gives Depa Billaba her due, and crafts a memorable villain, to name a few things that add up to a vastly readable (again and again) experience.

A stellar novel exploring the pre-The Phantom Menace Jedi Council. Often, it's hard to remember that each member of the Council is a unique individual for some, as they have limited screen time in the films. I found it particularly enlightening to see the Jedi acting--perhaps in a last gasp sort of way--to take action on an old outpost.

On one hand, I see the tie-ins to The High Republic and its many outposts during that time in which many were built to expand the Jedi's influence. On the other, we see mentions of Palpatine sowing the seeds of whittling down the Jedi Order to lead to its eventual downfall, which is really cool. There's also some neat continuity lore by mentioning Jinn's denial of a Council seat, which was one of my favorite parts of Master & Apprentice.

On the whole, a good addition to the Star Wars collection. And though our site doesn't post public reviews, I'm certainly grateful for the copy (as a Wookieepedia administrator) to prepare for the novel's release in advance and have some of the major wiki updates ready ahead of time.