Temptation of The Force is the second highly anticipated Phase III novel of the High Republic Initiative. A quick refresher for the initiative: Phase I & III of the High Republic are interconnected arcs, while Phase II is set about 150 years before Phase I. You can look at Phase I as action based as it deals with the order reacting to the threat of Marchion Ro and his Jedi Killing creatures called The Nameless. Phase III is very much a reaction phase as the Jedi deal with the ongoing threat of the Nihil who have cut off a large portion of the Galaxy behind the Stormwall.

The Jedi have scored a significant victory with the return of one of their brightest lights in the order , Avar Kriss.

Avar survived over a year blocked off from the Jedi and has since become instrumental in helping a series of trapped citizens in the Occlusion zone back to Republic space.

During her absence Avar has spent a lot of time searching her feelings about her relationship with Elzar Mann. During her darkest times a message that made it through from Elzar filled her with strength and resolve and broke the major barriers that she had towards loving Elzar.

The theme that has run through many of the characters lives in this phase is choice. Avar has chosen to trust her feelings and reaches for Elzar as he has tried to reach for her in the past. Elzar however has dedicated himself to serving the Jedi council in their strategic maneuvers against Marchion Ro. He is also dealing with the guilt of his past actions when he touched the Dark Side of the Force and took a life. The two of them have almost reversed their previous position in regards to their potential relationship but Avar trusts the song of the Force and confesses her heart.

When Avar and Elzar lead the first major Republic attack against the Nihil the two find the time to face the pain of the past and forge a foundational future together.

If the title and cover wasn't enough of a clue this book primarily focuses on the romance between Avar and Elzar. What Tessa does so brilliantly in this book is creating a balance between the quiet heartfelt moments between the duo, as well as focusing on the greater threats the Galaxy is facing. This book is very much connected to Defy the Storm, a book Tessa co-wrote with Justina Ireland. Many of the emotional heartbeats between various characters grow from the foundation of DTS as well as the creation of the device that is allowing them to pierce the Stormwall.

There is also a wonderful dramatic tension in various story lines with characters from Phase II of the initiative as well as the comics. There is a revolving cast of characters returning to this book that fans love and lets be honest are terrified for! It builds on the energy of this being the home stretch for these characters and it's delightful to see them interact together and see how much they have grown.

There is a tremendous payoff in this novel for readers who have read all of Elzar an Avar's story. For the two of them to build a bridge to each other they need to face all their past mistakes as well as their successes and confront the overwhelming grief that still exists between them because of the loss of Stellan Gios.

So what if you aren't a huge romance fan? Will this book be a struggle to get through? Absolutely not. There will be readers that will sigh and bookmark some swoon worthy dialogue between Avar and Elzar and Stellan fans will find some of those barely healed scabs rubbed a little raw, but the intimacy is so well telegraphed, that if you want to just go ahead and thumb a few pages ahead you will be fine.
The foundational thread and resolution of this book centers around A & E but we also get some fantastic scenes with Marchion Ro, Burryaga and Bell. I was especially touched by Burry. His empathy and willingness to always find a glimmer of light in the darkest of times reveals a potential defense to the recently Discovered Blight roaming the Galaxy, as well as the effect the Nameless creatures have on the Jedi.
I really enjoyed how Tessa was able to connect to the core of each of the characters established in other books and yet give us some unique insights into their hearts and minds. I'm really looking forward to the lingering threads in this book being explored and expanded upon in future books and comics.

The High Republic series embraces romance, and the relationship between Elzar and Avar is one of the most complex and captivating. Tessa Gratton crafts this narrative beautifully, offering a hopeful yet realistic story with expert pacing. For fans of Star Wars lore and the Force, this book is a must-read. Its climactic moments featuring beloved Force users are among the best in High Republic era. Gratton delivers a truly bold narrative: from spine-tingling plot twists to an eagerly anticipated romance that simmers like a volcano about to erupt, Gratton's story captures every thematic element of Star Wars storytelling that fans come to expect.

Continuing the third phase of the High Republic book series, Tessa Gratton's Temptation of the Force is, in my opinion, a wonderfully bold addition. Action, drama, romance and dread fill these pages much to my delight. Our heroes are faced with a new terror that appears to be unstoppable and it's spreading across parts of the Nihil's Occlusion Zone. More than just life is threatened.

Darkness is spreading and the skills of the Jedi are pushed to their limits

This is a must read with a caviat. There are books in the series that almost have to be read before this to fully grasp the weight of these events. Eye of Darkness and Defy The Storm primarily.

The Republic has found a way to break through the Stormwall. Little by little, the Jedi are doing everything they can to salvage the worlds devastated by both the Nihil and a new mysterious threat. One thing’s for sure: They won’t save the galaxy alone. It’s going to take leaning on each other and drawing on one another’s strength to restore peace.

Since its intense beginnings, The High Republic has featured character bonds that shimmer when strengthened and crumble when shattered. This book is no exception. Pairing key characters together to weave intertwining storylines together creates an instant page-turner prior fans of these novels will absolutely devour.

While not Tessa Gratton’s first entry into The High Republic initiative, it’s some of the best work the author has blessed us with so far (I remain convinced that “A Closed Fist Has No Claws” from the Tales of Light and Life anthology is the best thing Tessa has ever written). Temptation is fierce. It is captivating. With every new chapter, it is increasingly impossible to predict what might happen next. And that is the beauty of it — the tangible uncertainty running not just through the characters, but bleeding into the hearts of readers as well.

Even Star Wars books have the power to attach us to feelings we recognize, despite these stories being set in a fictional universe, taking place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. When Avar and Elzar struggle to put their feelings into words, we understand that. When Bell and Burry’s friendship becomes the very thing that holds each of them together, we get that. When Porter and Viess relentlessly butt heads almost purely out of spite, we know that. We have been there. We have (maybe) sat with those feelings.

But what Temptation does best of all is set up the events of future High Republic stories in a way that reveals almost nothing about where the overarching story is headed. And that’s a good thing.

Establishing a new threat with seemingly no way to stop it, furthering the narrative that Marchion Ro is so addicted to power that he is losing his hold on reality. Bringing Elzar and Avar back together without tying all the lose ends between them.

The book tells a complete, dynamic story while establishing a strong foothold in the middle of a much larger tale. As a storyteller, that is an extremely challenging feat. But Tessa Gratton put in the work, and it paid off. And that’s not even counting the jaw-dropping writing itself — there were sentences in this book that made me stop mid-paragraph so that I could only begin to process what I just read. This truly is one of the most fascinating Star Wars books I’ve read in a while.

There is so much more I want to say about this book, but don’t worry. A spoiler-filled hour-long discussion is coming up next month.

At the end of the latest installment in The High Republic series, we are left to wonder — as we should: How is this all really going to end — and is that ending actually going to be a launch pad for a brand-new journey we can’t even imagine could exist yet?

After The Eye of Darkness and the YA novel Defy the Storm, The High Republic continues the fight against the Nihil in Temptation of the Force. Not only does this book finally break the sense of hopelessness and depressing tones that has loomed over the Republic and the Jedi, it finally dives deep into Marchion Ro’s characterization, fleshing out his apparent brute and careless personality that was portrayed so far and revealing his true motivations and plans to defeat whoever stands in his way.

Although Temptation of the Force features several beloved characters introduced in the previous novels, it heavily focuses on Avar and Elzar’s romantic relationship (hence the title) and Marchion Ro’s inner thoughts and conversations with none other than my favorite character, Marda. However, there are plenty of surprises throughout the novel and some serious character development for other fan favorites, especially Burryaga (no spoilers here)!

While reading Temptation of the Force, readers might feel like things come to a final resolution, only to be unexpectedly replaced by even greater, galactic threats that add unpredictability while still keeping the story extremely satisfying–leaving the fans surprised and excited for the next, final chapters of this publishing initiative.

The Jedi do what they can to help those trapped behind the Stormwall. Marchion Ro searches out a new danger with his Nameless in tow. The Republic and Jedi put together a plan to free Naboo. And Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann are reunited and it feels so good!

Tessa Gratton brings us a story of loss, compassion, despair, and hope during The High Republic. And amidst the pain and suffering the Nihil spread, love unfolds. But will it bring happiness or pain?

The High Republic storytelling continues to be among the best Star Wars stories ever told. Tessa Gratton explores the Jedi up against enemies who decimate hope across the galaxy. Not only that, but we have a Jedi love story! Two Jedi weighing their choices, desires, and destinies against their duties. The characters have been through hell and back and continue to strive for the light at the end of the tunnel. And just when you think things can’t get worse something new and devastating takes hold!

This is a must-read for any High Republic fan of light, life, and romance! All happening while Ro keeps the galaxy burning!

Sal P.

“This is Jedi Avar Kriss. Help is on the way.”

Avar Kriss

This dad read Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton, the next adult novel entry in The High Republic phase 3. What Gratton has achieved with this book is nothing short of outstanding. With prose that’s full of imagery and emotions, engaging storylines that move the entire initiative forward, and a thesis on the Jedi love, Temptation of the Force ranks among some of the strongest ever from The High Republic.

Since the start of phase 3, the chess pieces have slowly been moving to position all parties to the conclusion of The High Republic narrative. Temptation of the Force essentially is the second chapter of a three-part narrative, and like another second chapter The Empire Strikes Back, its strengths lie in deep character exploration while advancing the overall story. I’ve had my frustrations with some of the other phase 3 books, mostly in terms of focusing on smaller portions of certain characters and their place in the overall storyline and my feeling that the larger narrative isn’t moving quickly enough. Those frustrations have been quelled with Temptation of the Force, as the book solidifies everything that’s come before it while thrillingly catapulting things forward (phase 3 concludes with Charles Soule’s Trials of the Jedi coming in Spring 2025).

Similar to how I felt Lydia Kang handled multiple storylines in phase 2’s Cataclysm, Gratton mixes characters and storylines in Temptation of the Force in a way that kept me entertained and engaged the entire time. Unlike the YA or middle grade novels, the adult High Republic books typically take on a grander scope, juggling multiple storylines and points-of-view, and necessarily so. Sometimes this tactic can be challenging to keep up with or confusing if the included cast of characters is so diverse and broad that it requires a character encyclopedia just to keep up. Gratton handles each and every storyline with the utmost care and even the characters who I found least interesting (sorry Cair San Tekka and Xylan Graf) have a part to play and the overall book is stronger for their inclusion.

At the heart of Temptation of the Force is the relationship between Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann. I have been amongst the rabid fanbase waiting eagerly to see just where things go with these two. What Gratton has achieved with between Avar and Elzar is nothing short of genius. This isn’t simply a tale of two childhood friends who simply need to hookup. Gratton explores how they’ve both been affected by grief and how their commitment to the Jedi Order and the Force is a reality that they both must face. Through Avar, Gratton lays out beautifully her thoughts on the Order and love, a scene that affected me strongly; it’s some of the best writing Star Wars has ever seen. There are a number of key Avar and Elzar chapters that will leave fans stunned, thrilled, and hopefully left profoundly impacted. I can’t overstate how brilliantly this relationship is handled, it's simply transcendent.

The Marchion Ro we saw last in was an Evereni adrift. Having defeated the Jedi and set up his Stormwall, he petulantly left all the politicking to Ghirra Starros. In Temptation, Marchion’s on a side quest to get to the bottom of the blight and to figure out how it affects his Nameless (and if it can be weaponized). Along the way, Marchion is haunted by a family ghost, a character I was thrilled to see him share scenes with, one who goes nameless in the novel and in this review. The Marchion we start with and the Marchion that ends the novel are two vastly different people and I cannot wait to see where things go from here.

I want to discuss Burryaga but to do so would spoil too much. All I’ll say is that if you didn’t already love him you will after Temptation of the Force. His POV is a beautiful mixture of heartbreak and determination.

Temptation of the Force is weakest when it delves into the intricacies and technical breakdown of how the Jedi attempt to combat the Stormwall. And by weakest, I mean that the character-based stuff is so strong that these aspects simply pale in comparison. Additionally, a few space battle scenes are critical to the plot, and while these scenes typically aren't my favorites, Gratton handles them well enough.

Temptation of the Force is Star Wars literature at its best. Tessa Gratton has crafted one of the strongest adult novels of the entire High Republic initiative. With a story that propels things into the second half of the phase, beautiful reflections on the Jedi and love and outstanding character development, Temptation of the Force is easily a 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢/5 for me - highly recommend!

*From my review for my Space Wizards Book Club newsletter*

Temptation of the Force was among my most anticipated Star Wars releases of the year. It met and exceeded my expectations, delivering satisfying and emotionally dynamic character studies with a steady pace moving Phase 3 of The High Republic forward.

I’ll cut to the chase — this book is incredible. It’s moving, intense, and chock full of edge-of-your-seat moments. It’s romantic and sweet, and one of the few Star Wars books that fully embraces and explores the power of romantic love among its characters.

As the second adult book in Phase 3, Temptation of the Force had to keep the momentum of The Eye of Darkness and expand storylines just enough to tease how this all will end next spring. The novel not only built upon previously plotted stories, Temptation of the Force also delved into the minds and emotions of its characters so well that it stands on its own.

The core of the novel is the continued fight over the Stormwall — the Jedi and Republic forces trying to take it down and circumventing it to help people trapped behind it in the meantime, and the Nihil fighting to keep the swath of the galaxy they forcefully annexed over a year ago. There’s also a mysterious new Blight destroying every bit of life it touches, no matter which side it’s on.

With Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann on the cover and “temptation” in the title, it was all but confirmed we’d finally get to see the two childhood best friends become lovers. The synopsis also teased the two “embracing their true desires.” I’m hyped for every new High Republic book, but even the slightest possibility of romance made me 100 times more excited for Temptation of the Force.

This is a spoiler-free review, but I will scream from the rooftops how satisfying this book is in the romance department. Temptation of the Force is a beautifully written reminder that the Star Wars galaxy of stories wouldn’t exist without love. If you love love — romantic, platonic, love for life and light, etc. — you will love this book.

Avar and Elzar explore what love means for the Jedi and how they can use that compassion and care not to possess but be better heroes of light and life — together. Bell and Burryaga struggle to reflect on and move forward through their traumas, but realize that love for life, each other, and other living beings are what keeps them going.

Overall, Temptation of the Force is a superb exploration of love, attachment, passion, and balancing those heady emotions. There’s no big battle that brings together all the characters for a needle-moving last stand. There are, however, several intense, gutwrenching, and tear-jerking moments throughout the book. All of these characters, in their own ways, are trying to wrest back power, keep power, or make things right for the innocents caught between the Nihil and Republic sides of the galaxy.

As the title implies, each character is tempted. By love, revenge, desperation, and power. While temptation can be a dangerous thing to give in to, some characters discover how freeing and powerful succumbing feels.

Temptation of the Force both stands apart and ties together previous storylines and books yet to come. The novel ends on an epic cliffhanger that I simply won’t recover from until I can get my hands on Trials of the Jedi.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

I have never been as eager to read a High Republic book as I was to read Temptation of The Force. The promise of Elzar and Avar being the focus of the novel, the cover art, all of it came together for me. And when I started to read this one I had trouble putting it down. There was one particular night when it hit 12 in the morning and I had to stop myself from reading so I could get some sleep. Never before had this happened with me and a High Republic book.

Temptation of The Force by Tessa Gratton is the second adult novel in the third wave of High Republic books. It is also the penultimate adult novel as only one more is to follow in January. Needless to say I loved this book.

It heavily focuses on The surviving Jedi at this point and we get to spend a lot of time with each of them as they overcome their fears and find their direction and purpose. What I really liked was the time spent with Avar and Elzar. Even though they moved through a lot of dealing with Stellans death on their own in Eye of Darkness, we get ton see them navigate that as well as other issues together which I loved.

A lot of setup here is from other High Republic novels, specifically the YA novel Defy the Storm so that is almost required reading for this.

All in all Temptation of The Force is one of the best High Republic novels yet and quite possibly my new favorite!

Temptation of the Force van auteur Tessa Gratton speelt zich enkele maanden na The Eye of Darkness van George Mann af. We volgen verschillende groepjes personages maar de nadruk ligt vooral op Jedi Masters Avar Kriss en Elzar Mann die proberen inwoners van Naboo te bevrijden van de Nihil. We volgen ook Bell Zettifar en Burryaga die planeten dicht bij de grens van de Occlusion Zone afgaan om de inwoners daar te helpen en voor te bereiden op een mogelijke bezetting door de Nihil. Ook volgen we Marchion Ro, de leider van de Nihil, die in zijn eentje onderzoek doet naar een mysterieuze plaag die een hoop – ogelijk ongerelateerde – planeten aandoet en zijn interesse gewekt heeft. De plaag lijkt alles om zich heen aan te tasten met symptomen die lijken op het effect dat de Nameless op Force users hebben. Om diezelfde reden raakt ook Burryaga geïnteresseerd in het fenomeen.
Avar en Elzar hebben het niet alleen zwaar met de hele Nihil situatie, ze zijn na tijden lang van elkaar gescheiden te zijn geweest eindelijk weer dicht bij elkaar, en ze worstelen nog steeds met het verlies van Stellan, maar ook met de gevoelens die ze voor elkaar hebben. Elzar zit er zo mee dat hij zelfs advies vraagt van Master Yoda. Maar uiteindelijk is het aan de twee zelf om uit te zoeken hoe ze verder gaan.
Naast de grotere verhaallijnen zien we ook wat kleinere aftakkingen, senator Ghirra Starros en haar dochter Avan hebben een rol in het grotere geheel. Xylan Graf en zijn man Cair San Tekka krijgen ook de nodige aandacht, helemaal omdat ze een sleutelrol spelen in het probleem dat de Nihil Stormwall heet. Plus dat Cair één van de mensen is die op Naboo opgesloten zit en gered moet worden. Ook zien we Porter Engle weer terug, hij is nog steeds op jacht naar General Vies, en die jacht is min of meer een op zichzelf staande verhaallijn die weinig met het grotere verhaal van doen heef.
Het overkoepelende verhaal in Temptation of the Force richt zich op een eental verschillende doelen, die allemaal belangrijk zijn, maar het geheel voelt meer als een opzet naar een grote finale in Trials of the Jedi van Charles Soule, die we begin volgend jaar verwachten. Het verhaal is zeker niet oninteressant, maar een grote overwinning, of echt een groot probleem is er niet echt. Het zijn allemaal kleine stappen naar een groter geheel. Vooral Marchions verhaallijn lijkt meer bijzaak en achtergrond dan dat hij een grote vijand is hier. Hij is rustig zijn ding aan het doen met de plaag en houdt zich niet echt met de Jedi, of zelfs de Nihil, bezig.
Net als voorgaande boeken worden alle belangrijke dingen uit eerdere verhalen kort uitgelegd, het is niet noodzakelijk om eerdere boeken te lezen om te snappen wat er gaande is. De plaag werd in Defy the Storm geïntroduceerd en de belangrijke gebeurtenissen die daarmee samen hingen worden hier kort samengevat. Maar naar mate we dichter bij het einde van Phase III komen – we hebben op dit moment nog een jaar te gaan tot het laatste verhaal in The High Republic Phase III – heb ik wel het idee dat ”nu” instappen steeds lastiger wordt. Ik zou dan ook aanraden om eerst de rest van Phase III (en het liefst natuurlijk ook Phase I) te lezen voor je verder in Phase III gaat rondsnuffelen. We zijn echt bezig met een opbouw naar een groot spektakel.
Het 17 uur durende audioboek wordt weer voorgelezen door de welbekende Marc Thompson, en zoals je van hem mag verwachten is het weer een genot om naar te luisteren. Marc krijgt het altijd voor elkaar om de luisteraar het gevoel te geven naar een grotere cast te luisteren, en elk personage een unieke en herkenbare stem te geven. Wat de overige productie betreft zit het natuurlijk ook weer goed, er zijn genoeg subtiele geluidseffecten om je het gevoel te geven een vlieg op de muur te zijn tijdens deze gebeurtenissen. De muziek is ook weer subtiel aanwezig, al had ik het idee dat ze deze keer wat creatiever met muziek omgaan dan in het verleden. Er waren wat muziekfragmenten die er meer uitsprongen dan we de afgelopen jaren gezien gehoord hebben.
Tessa schrijft erg fijn, ze houdt een prettig tempo aan en geeft genoeg detail om een duidelijk plaatje te schetsen, maar raakt niet verdwaald in onnodige beschrijvingen. Als je Path of Deceit prettig vond weglezen zal dat hier ook weer het geval zijn.
Alles bij elkaar heb ik weer genoten van deze aanvulling aan het High Republic verhaal, al deed het me vooral verlangen naar meer. Ik wil zo graag weten waar dit verhaal naartoe gaat. Wat staat onze helden nog te wachten, hoe loopt dit alles af waardoor de Nameless geheel vergeten lijken te zijn in de verhalen verderop in de tijdlijn. Laat het volgende boek maar komen. For Light and Life!

Tessa Gratton’s other forays into the High Republic have been so enjoyable that I couldn’t wait until this book. It had some of my favorite characterization for Avar Kriss, and such wonderful, nuanced conversations on the Jedi and attachment that make the High Republic so special.

I had been struggling with Marchion Ro as a villain for a few installments before this, and although some questions remain, I found him to be the most enjoyable to watch in this book.

Tessa did a masterful job of dealing with so MANY characters. Cair San Tekka is a delight that I did not expect to get so much more time with in this novel.

It occurred to me, about halfway through Tessa Gratton’s Temptation of the Force that this is the second to last adult novel of The High Republic. Of course, we’ve got the audio drama coming this December, and several more books, and even more comics coming between now and the end, but that sense of building to a grand finale became harder to shake once it settled in. Fortunately, Temptation of the Force doesn’t ask you to shake that feeling. It embraces it wholeheartedly, setting the stage and building everything to a boiling point in a way that makes it impossible to put down.

The story follows both the Jedi and their Republic allies, as well as the Nihil as the two engage in a fight over the Stormwall — with the Jedi fighting to take it down, or at the very least breach it — and the Nihil fighting to maintain the power they’ve won. At the same time, both sides are now dealing with a new Blight, first seen in Defy the Storm, that destroys all life it comes in contact with.

Where this book truly stands out, particularly with the real world climate in which it is released, is how spread thin the characters are. There isn’t one Big Battle they’re all gearing up to fight — though I’m certain that’s where the series will culminate. At this stage, we just find our heroes each pursuing their own avenue all in the name of doing what they consider to be the right thing. Communication isn’t always possible, nor is mobilization. Instead they’re just left to survive and fight in the best way they can, sometimes contradicting the efforts of others, including those they love, but with everyone united in a vaguely common cause.

That really is what’s at the heart of this story. As Gratton mentions in their author’s note at the end of the book, Temptation of the Force is truly a story about love, and that shines through on every page. Whatever kind of love it might be, it has a home in this book. That line in Attack of the Clones where Anakin tells Padmé that the Jedi are, in their way, encouraged to love, is really examined here in the way the characters all interact — or in some cases, don’t — with one another.

RIP Anakin Skywalker, you would have loved Temptation of the Force.

Temptation of the Force hits shelves on June 11. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.

Author Tessa Gratton delivers an impactful punch as she follows up the threads set up in previous Phase III books The Eye of Darkness (by George Mann) and Defy the Storm (by Tessa and Justina Ireland). With a title like Temptation of the Force and a cover (by Grant Griffin) featuring Jedi's Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann shooting longing glances at one another, the question in everyone's mind was if they would finally admit their feelings for each other and boy do we get the answer.

I loved that throughout the book, the Jedi and their contacts behind the Stormwall were still continuing to focus on helping those planets in need and smuggling refugees back into Republic territory which was a theme set up early during Phase III. Winning this conflict will not be just by taking the fight to the Nihil and Marchion Ro, but by helping the people that are suffering under Nihil occupation. But an offensive against them will and does come.

It was always going to be a challenge to successfully write this romance between two Jedi. The idea of Jedi not being able to love, the fear of attachments and selfishness have been a part of Star Wars for decades and to effectively and satisfyingly explore those concepts and come out the other end with a love story that challenged those ideas but also didn't erase what had come before was not going to be easy. In my opinion, Tessa Gratton achieved this and expanded on the meaning of what attachments and connections mean to a Jedi.

I love that we got a different Marchion Ro in Temptation of the Force. Yes, he was as ominous and scary as before but he was also doing his own research and going out doing experiments by himself trying to figure out what the blight was and how it affected different living and inanimate things. But in the end he is a hunter and this was a hunt for him.

Temptation of the Force delivered the Avar Kriss-Elzar Mann romance that we were waiting and hoping for while also giving us great action set pieces, compassionate Jedi feeling connected to even dying Drengir, and Xylan Graf mainly caring for is own survival.

Tessa Gratton’s The High Republic: Temptation of the Force starts Wave II of The High Republic’s Phase III with plenty of heart, pulse-pounding action, and hair-raising developments in the Republic and Jedi’s struggles against the Nihil, leaving readers as hungry as the Nameless for more!

Set after The High Republic: Defy the Storm, The High Republic: Temptation of the Force covers a longer swath of time as it finds the Republic and Jedi conflict with the Nihil at a standstill, with both sides devising ways to bring it to an end, be it the Republic and Jedi hoping to destroy the Stormwall for good or Marchion Ro investigating new toys to help spread his campaign of chaos. Over the course of the novel, both sides make significant headways into their respective problems and goals, with victories and surprises for everyone, making for an absolutely packed experience from start to finish that will leave readers eager to see what could possible come next. And yet, as big as Temptation and which happens inside it feels, it leaves readers with the impression, between Tempest Breaker and Trials of the Jedi alone, the finale for Phase III will be more massive than we can possibly imagine. Tessa Gratton has been behind several recent releases, from the aforementioned Defy the Storm, Quest for Planet X, Path of Deceit, and “A Closed Fist Has No Claws” in Tales of Light and Life, and somehow Gratton infuses Temptation of the Force with everything which made those memorable entries, deftly handling the burgeoning feelings of Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, Burryaga’s lingering trauma and how he faces a dastardly new horror springing up in the galaxy, to Marchion Ro’s excited exploration of said horror. She does this by having a good selection of point-of-view characters, expanding on a few which fans have wanted and this era has eagerly needed, and really diving into each one to the point they feel like they drive the expansive plot more than the plot itself. In fact, it was more of the journey these characters go on which kept me flipping to the very end, as I loved (for better or worse) hearing how these moments affected them, as it grounded the events and helped them feel more than just big, galactic ones. As always, there are plenty of returning characters, some who have featured more prominently in other reading levels or mediums, but readers shouldn’t ever really feel left out if they aren’t enjoying other parts of the era, as there’s enough explanation provided one can understand the context, while the forward momentum of Temptation of the Force means what’s happening now feels more important than what happened prior. Overall, yes Temptation is packed, and sometimes feels like it, but it’s a thrilling ride that’s hard to put down, as its events and its character mix for an engaging experience I ended up enjoying even over the excellent Phase III start of The Eye of Darkness.

As a more direct sequel to the aforementioned Eye, Temptation picking up the lingering threads of Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann’s deepening connection was a must and the name/cover of the novel set a promise it will. Without a doubt, Gratton succeeds in dealing with what comes next for the pair, helping unpack not only their actions in Phase I and the repercussions of them, but also what it would mean for them to still be the Jedi the galaxy needs of them yet exploring how intimate they can take their bond. With Avar Kriss, we’ve gone from a dearth of POV for the character in Phase I to a thankfully heavy dosage in Phase III, as Eye had already corrected this and yet somehow Temptation takes even further. One of my favorite things about Eye’s depiction of Avar was getting back into her music focused take on the Force and Gratton doubles down on it here, though as Avar begins to intertwine with Elzar, exploring their feelings for one another, I adored the way his oceanic perspective on the Force blends into hers, and vice versa, as well as how Avar connects their two takes on the Force to help him make a decision one way or another. Yet while her and Elzar’s exploration will be of great focus and even greater screaming in social media posts, I was very pleased how it’s just one part of both their stories, especially Avar, as Temptation does a lot of heavy lifting with her past decisions and explores what brought her to make such choices, to stray as much as she did, to the point Keeve Trennis had to stop her from killing Lourna Dee. How she processes the guilt of Starlight Beacon’s fall, and Stellan Gios’ death with it, and her actions to flee the Order, and Elzar, that led her to be stuck behind the Stormwall in the first place strengthens what makes her such a compelling character and truly makes up for her limited Phase I POV. In fact, having her finding a more comfortable role for herself within the Order, understanding when and when not to lead, explores how well she understands the Force and what it means to be a beacon not just for the Order, but the galaxy, in the fight against the Nihil’s darkness. As for Elzar, the more eager and emotionally revealing Jedi is the one with the bigger questions and concerns about exploring their feelings for one another, as his past brushes with the dark side, one of which Temptation thankfully finally unpacks, creates uncertainty over the potential of giving into what the Order calls attachments. Having Avar be the confident one on this journey, finding little ways to help convince him yet never pushing him to make a choice makes sense for his problems with emotional control in the past, while I really enjoyed how it helps differentiate from forbidden Jedi love stories in the past (namely Attack of the Clones), keeping the dynamic fresh and surprising at times. Outside of this, Elzar bouncing between his role as liaison with Lina Soh and an offer from the Jedi Council forces him to confront a lot of his past deeds and actions, like what happened with Chancey Yarrow on Starlight Beacon (which Vernestra Rwoh confronts him about in Defy to get this ball rolling). Having been on Coruscant much of Phase III already, it was nice to have him out in the field more, experimenting a little again with the Force as he parses through his own feelings to see if connecting with Avar is worth a risk and what he wants next from the Force and what he wants to do, what role he wants to take in the Order. Overall, the choices they end up making, and their rationalizations along the way, are cleverly written and properly explored, while its never overbearing and reads like just another aspect, as central as it might be, to what makes Temptation overall so great (much like Gratton and Justina Ireland pulled off in Path of Deceit).

The Wookiee Jedi Knight Burryaga takes a surprising yet welcomed step into main character POV, normally reserved for his friend Bell Zettifar. While it was sad not to have Bell as a main POV, as he’s been for all adult novels to date, he’s still present in all of Burry’s sections, while Burry’s rise to prominence is a fascinating decision by Gratton, as his empathetic connection to the world, which we see in his connection with the Force digging into the roots the planet he’s on, and his recent trauma of being trapped in an underwater cave come against two of the more frightening obstacles facing the Jedi. Burry and Bell’s job of helping planets prepare for or evacuate if they sit at the current edge of the Stormwall, which has expanded beyond what it did in Eye, results in them embroiled with a mystery of reappearing Drengir and what the creatures seem to be fleeing from: a blight, which its effects are not unlike the Nameless’ to the Jedi, but it affects everything it touches. The blight was first introduced in Defy the Storm (and I assumed it was a Nihil/Baron Boolan thing, but I was wrong) and Temptation expands on it in intriguing and frightening ways, while its presence and what it’s doing to delicate ecosystems weighs on an already struggling Burry. His fight over the lingering trauma and having to sense more and more emotions despite his own turmoil pushes Burry like never before and it really helped make the blight not just a physical problem, but an emotional one as well, and I’m very much concerned to see what happens with it going forward. To top it off, he uncovers an extremely unconventional method to combat the Nameless, which comes with a lot of risk, but is it worth it to prevent more death by the Nameless? And is it the way to end the threat or just a temporary stopgap? Burry and the Jedi will have to figure it out soon to make sure no one else ends up as dust or too far gone for the Jedi to help them…

Given Gratton’s “A Closed Fist Has No Claws” story exploring Marda Ro and the Evereni in the aftermath of Phase II, I was really hyped to read what she’d bring to POV sections with Marchion Ro and she did not disappoint (Chapter 37 is a highlight out of many great sections for him). I’ve enjoyed other authors’ work with Marchion, but of all the Luminous authors so far, Gratton’s take is easily my favorite, as she really conveys his disinterest in the mundane and how he’s always seeking the thrill of a worthy adversary, believing himself an apex predator unmatched. Temptation sees Marchion focused on exploring the blight like Burry and Bell are, though he’s approaching it from a vastly different mindset, and what he uncovers only serves to make him more frightening in the tales to come, while offering some hints or clues on the larger mysteries of the era. He continues to keep everyone, Nihil and Jedi alike, on their toes—as well as us readers at home—and the finale of the book certainly comes with another great twist to his plans. He’s not the only Nihil Temptation focuses on, giving Ghirra Starros more time in the spotlight as well. Given how Defy the Storm gave us her daughter Avon’s POV, I enjoyed how Gratton follows-up on this, as while there wasn’t many real mentions of Avon from the Ghirra POV we had in The Eye of Darkness, this is a great balance of bringing back Avon into Ghirra’s thoughts alongside the woman’s ambitions with her choices and the Nihil themselves. Ghirra’s actions and how they’ll likely come to affect her family, not just her daughter but those generations later too, continue to make her a more compelling character each time she appears. I also appreciate her sections as beyond some of Elzar and Lina’s, it was a chance for the era to get some politicking in, and while it’s still lacking overall for the entire era, at least they still return to it.

Much like Burry’s POV, I was surprised but definitely delighted in Cari San Tekka inhabiting plenty of Temptation, as his time in Defy the Storm and his mission to help ferry people across the Stormwall sounded ripe for exploration. His marriage with Xylan Graf, scion of the rival family who has helped the Nihil with the technology, if only to stay alive, is given more details and their relationship, as messy and as complicated as it is, goes in unexpected and interesting places. While the young adult and middle grade novels often have the most non-Jedi characters, Cair’s section in Temptation was a great way to see the larger conflict from the ground level, from how the common person is trying to help the situation against the Nihil and what it looks like when the Jedi arrive, or have to flee, especially in a vital moment on Naboo. Temptation of the Force also features Vernestra Rwoh’s first full adult novel appearance, and by the time the novel is actually out, we’ll likely have seen her in the live-action TV show, The Acolyte, which premieres a week before Temptation releases! Vernestra’s long been a favorite of mine, and while Defy the Storm features more about her mysterious Path from Mari San Tekka than you’ll get here, her experiences so far and figuring out what she wants to focus on going forward make her time in Temptation a worthy addition to her story. I especially like what she gets involved with towards the end, and certain interactions she has, which only made me love her character more.

If The High Republic: Temptation of the Force is truly Tessa Gratton’s last contribution to Phase III, she couldn’t have gone out on a higher note, setting up and hoisting forward Phase III towards its end with lots of big moments which don’t sacrifice a stellar character focus in the process, making it feel much more about them than the journey.

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