What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars: The High Republic
Light of the Jedi
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2021)Long before the First Order, before the Empire, before even The Phantom Menace. . . Jedi lit the way for the galaxy in The High Republic
It is a golden age. Intrepid hyperspace scouts expand the reach of the Repubic to the furthest stars, worlds flourish under the benevolent leadership of the Senate, and peace reigns, enforced by the wisdom and strength of the renowned order of Force users known as the Jedi. With the Jedi at the height of their power, the free citizens of the galaxy are confident in their ability to weather any storm But the even brightest light can cast a shadow, and some storms defy any preparation.
When a shocking catastrophe in hyperspace tears a ship to pieces, the flurry of shrapnel emerging from the disaster threatens an entire system. No sooner does the call for help go out than the Jedi race to the scene. The scope of the emergence, however, is enough to push even Jedi to their limit. As the sky breaks open and destruction rains down upon the peaceful alliance they helped to build, the Jedi must trust in the Force to see them through a day in which a single mistake could cost billions of lives.
Even as the Jedi battle valiantly against calamity, something truly deadly grows beyond the boundary of the Republic. The hyperspace disaster is far more sinister than the Jedi could ever suspect. A threat hides in the darkness, far from the light of the age, and harbors a secret that could strike fear into even a Jedi's heart.
It is a golden age. Intrepid hyperspace scouts expand the reach of the Repubic to the furthest stars, worlds flourish under the benevolent leadership of the Senate, and peace reigns, enforced by the wisdom and strength of the renowned order of Force users known as the Jedi. With the Jedi at the height of their power, the free citizens of the galaxy are confident in their ability to weather any storm But the even brightest light can cast a shadow, and some storms defy any preparation.
When a shocking catastrophe in hyperspace tears a ship to pieces, the flurry of shrapnel emerging from the disaster threatens an entire system. No sooner does the call for help go out than the Jedi race to the scene. The scope of the emergence, however, is enough to push even Jedi to their limit. As the sky breaks open and destruction rains down upon the peaceful alliance they helped to build, the Jedi must trust in the Force to see them through a day in which a single mistake could cost billions of lives.
Even as the Jedi battle valiantly against calamity, something truly deadly grows beyond the boundary of the Republic. The hyperspace disaster is far more sinister than the Jedi could ever suspect. A threat hides in the darkness, far from the light of the age, and harbors a secret that could strike fear into even a Jedi's heart.
407 pages, ebook
First published January 5, 2021
4829 people are currently reading
30328 people want to read
About the author
Charles Soule
1,518 books1,688 followersCharles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,981 reviews
January 11, 2021
WE ARE ALL THE REPUBLIC
Charles Soule first came to prominence as a comics writer, including some Star Wars titles such as the extremely well received Star Wars: Darth Vader - Dark Lord of the Sith series but, as proven by his excellent The Oracle Year, prose novels are equally within his wheelhouse.
As the leadoff (adult) novel of Lucasfilm's High Republic publishing initiative he had a lot of responsibility with this one, both to the readers and his fellow Project Luminous authors, and he delivered in a major way.
Giddy up, my young padawan!
The characters? Quirky, well-defined and memorable. The settings? Mostly original and well-developed. The action sequences? Thrilling. The do? Derring.
But what I most wanted to talk about in this review is the point on which most tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away live or die: the villains.
Enter the Nihil
These Mad Max looking lunatics are the depraved flipside of the Galactic Republic: reavers, killers, pirates and wholesale hedonists who exist in the (metaphorical) shadows cast by initiatives like the Republic's Starlight Beacon space station in the Outer Rim, meant to bring unity, progress and fellow-feeling among the more rugged planets of that area of space. Their leaders are just reflections of this canny wantonness: they seek not to rule the Galaxy but to prey upon it at their whim. At least, almost all of them.
Beware the gaze of the Eye
I don't want to get too much into Marchion Ro for fear of spoiling what he's all about, but trust me when I say that Soule has added a wholly original, unpredictable and downright fiendish Big Bad into the Canon, which at this point can not be an easy feat. I can't wait to see what he does with the character next, and what his actions and their repercussions will mean for the characters throughout the High Republic books to come.
TL;DR: A fantastic Space Opera in conversation with the Star Wars we know and love but boldly telling original stories, and I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
Charles Soule first came to prominence as a comics writer, including some Star Wars titles such as the extremely well received Star Wars: Darth Vader - Dark Lord of the Sith series but, as proven by his excellent The Oracle Year, prose novels are equally within his wheelhouse.
As the leadoff (adult) novel of Lucasfilm's High Republic publishing initiative he had a lot of responsibility with this one, both to the readers and his fellow Project Luminous authors, and he delivered in a major way.
Giddy up, my young padawan!
The characters? Quirky, well-defined and memorable. The settings? Mostly original and well-developed. The action sequences? Thrilling. The do? Derring.
But what I most wanted to talk about in this review is the point on which most tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away live or die: the villains.
Enter the Nihil
These Mad Max looking lunatics are the depraved flipside of the Galactic Republic: reavers, killers, pirates and wholesale hedonists who exist in the (metaphorical) shadows cast by initiatives like the Republic's Starlight Beacon space station in the Outer Rim, meant to bring unity, progress and fellow-feeling among the more rugged planets of that area of space. Their leaders are just reflections of this canny wantonness: they seek not to rule the Galaxy but to prey upon it at their whim. At least, almost all of them.
Beware the gaze of the Eye
I don't want to get too much into Marchion Ro for fear of spoiling what he's all about, but trust me when I say that Soule has added a wholly original, unpredictable and downright fiendish Big Bad into the Canon, which at this point can not be an easy feat. I can't wait to see what he does with the character next, and what his actions and their repercussions will mean for the characters throughout the High Republic books to come.
TL;DR: A fantastic Space Opera in conversation with the Star Wars we know and love but boldly telling original stories, and I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
August 6, 2025
A good start to the new era of the Star Wars. A lot of new characters, old worlds, but in a new setting. I did find the book a bit slow, but that is understandable as they are creating a new world.
The Republic is expanding into the Outer Rim. However, not everyone is happy the Republic is coming.
I do like that fact, though there are a lot more Jedi they all have there one fears, wants and desires. This is a great introduction to the Jedi embarking on a new frontier.
Only one thing I did not like about this book is, as soon as I get into one or a groups story the chapter finishes on a cliffhanger, then the next chapter is following another person or group. Thrn the same thing happens again. One of my favourite authors gets me with thus continually.
Overall, it's very good stuff. I have been waiting a long time for this series to start, and I am glad to say it did not dissapointment.i can't wait to see what happens next.
The Republic is expanding into the Outer Rim. However, not everyone is happy the Republic is coming.
I do like that fact, though there are a lot more Jedi they all have there one fears, wants and desires. This is a great introduction to the Jedi embarking on a new frontier.
Only one thing I did not like about this book is, as soon as I get into one or a groups story the chapter finishes on a cliffhanger, then the next chapter is following another person or group. Thrn the same thing happens again. One of my favourite authors gets me with thus continually.
Overall, it's very good stuff. I have been waiting a long time for this series to start, and I am glad to say it did not dissapointment.i can't wait to see what happens next.
January 16, 2021
This was a book I approached with great enthusiasm. A new era in Star Wars with substantial free reign to decide what galaxy-spanning adventures to tell. A Republic before the dark times, before corruption and evil reduced it to a shadow of what it once was. A Jedi Order devoid of their self-serving involvement in politics. It’s an idea with potential, and Lucasfilm certainly thought so because they created a series from it. Starting with this one.
Sad to say this is not a great start to a new series. It’s not, like Rise of Skywalker, so bad it ruins any hope of future stories. But it’s never compelling either. And the fundamental problem lies in the writing style. Soule’s a graphic novelist by inclination and this reads like the worst elements of a comic book mixed in with the worst of a novel. Everything is very immediate. Rather than one flowing narrative we have a series of small scenes and minor problems. These scenes feel detached from one another. And I can’t explain how because they are interlinked. They only feel like private universes. And yet somehow we never dive deep. The guys on the cover are as much enigmas to me now as when I picked up the book — a mess of new names with few details and precious little personality attached. They remind me of Pritchett’s review of Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace — if I had to describe who these guys were I’d say they were Jedilike. No other character traits can be attached.
For something setting up a much bigger universe the catalyst is pretty insignificant. One transport explodes in hyperspace and suddenly half the Outer Rim is in danger of being wiped out. Seriously, shouldn’t the galaxy-threatening incident seem a little more… grandiose? Why would you even let old starships fly if one explosion could wipe out entire worlds? Does that make our heroes playing with hyperspace jumps callous mass murderers? How big is this ship anyway? And why why why do the fragments of the transport pop up in so many different systems (always aimed directly at a major planet) and across several weeks? By the book’s end pieces are still falling out of hyperspace! I know this is space fantasy but that doesn’t even make sense on its own terms.
And worse still, we have waaaay too much time to think about these failings because everything takes way too long to get going. It’s a bizarre combination — we jump right into the middle of things with no time to relax or meet these characters yet somehow the action never goes anywhere. Major multi-chapter plotlines include getting guards to open a landing bay, slowing pieces of debris using the Force, learning to jump off cliffs, rescuing a small family, and designing a circuit of droids to calculate hyperspace routes (and keeping them cool). These are the main plots. I guess what I’m saying is that with rare exceptions this all feels like fluff. Somehow.
The book is not devoid of any good points. The new setting seems like it might be interesting in future books (what is this Starlight Beacon we see at the end?) and the cast of empty faces offer enough variety to be filled in later by other authors. The Nihil have the potential to be interesting. They’re not interesting here of course. They’re just a callous biker gang in space. But the end sets them up to transition into space vikings, and as little sense as that makes in context it’s a more interesting prospect than what we get or even another continuation of the Sith/Jedi conflict (if you’re doing that can you least go further back in the Republic to when legions of Jedi fought legions of Sith?).
I must say my enthusiasm for this new series is significantly dampened. There are enough pieces here to make this a potentially compelling setting for adventures… but this won’t be one of them. And a series like this really needs to start out with their best. Perhaps I’m being unfair to the author. It may be that the book’s faults come from the limitations placed on the debut novel. Maybe the shallow, interchangeable characters were just the author trying to set up too many protagonists for other authors. And maybe the drawn-out plots that take forever to bring us nowhere come from being given too narrow a stretch of plot to expand on. It certainly feels like a book written by a committee. But that doesn’t change the fact that the book simply isn’t very good.
Sad to say this is not a great start to a new series. It’s not, like Rise of Skywalker, so bad it ruins any hope of future stories. But it’s never compelling either. And the fundamental problem lies in the writing style. Soule’s a graphic novelist by inclination and this reads like the worst elements of a comic book mixed in with the worst of a novel. Everything is very immediate. Rather than one flowing narrative we have a series of small scenes and minor problems. These scenes feel detached from one another. And I can’t explain how because they are interlinked. They only feel like private universes. And yet somehow we never dive deep. The guys on the cover are as much enigmas to me now as when I picked up the book — a mess of new names with few details and precious little personality attached. They remind me of Pritchett’s review of Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace — if I had to describe who these guys were I’d say they were Jedilike. No other character traits can be attached.
For something setting up a much bigger universe the catalyst is pretty insignificant. One transport explodes in hyperspace and suddenly half the Outer Rim is in danger of being wiped out. Seriously, shouldn’t the galaxy-threatening incident seem a little more… grandiose? Why would you even let old starships fly if one explosion could wipe out entire worlds? Does that make our heroes playing with hyperspace jumps callous mass murderers? How big is this ship anyway? And why why why do the fragments of the transport pop up in so many different systems (always aimed directly at a major planet) and across several weeks? By the book’s end pieces are still falling out of hyperspace! I know this is space fantasy but that doesn’t even make sense on its own terms.
And worse still, we have waaaay too much time to think about these failings because everything takes way too long to get going. It’s a bizarre combination — we jump right into the middle of things with no time to relax or meet these characters yet somehow the action never goes anywhere. Major multi-chapter plotlines include getting guards to open a landing bay, slowing pieces of debris using the Force, learning to jump off cliffs, rescuing a small family, and designing a circuit of droids to calculate hyperspace routes (and keeping them cool). These are the main plots. I guess what I’m saying is that with rare exceptions this all feels like fluff. Somehow.
The book is not devoid of any good points. The new setting seems like it might be interesting in future books (what is this Starlight Beacon we see at the end?) and the cast of empty faces offer enough variety to be filled in later by other authors. The Nihil have the potential to be interesting. They’re not interesting here of course. They’re just a callous biker gang in space. But the end sets them up to transition into space vikings, and as little sense as that makes in context it’s a more interesting prospect than what we get or even another continuation of the Sith/Jedi conflict (if you’re doing that can you least go further back in the Republic to when legions of Jedi fought legions of Sith?).
I must say my enthusiasm for this new series is significantly dampened. There are enough pieces here to make this a potentially compelling setting for adventures… but this won’t be one of them. And a series like this really needs to start out with their best. Perhaps I’m being unfair to the author. It may be that the book’s faults come from the limitations placed on the debut novel. Maybe the shallow, interchangeable characters were just the author trying to set up too many protagonists for other authors. And maybe the drawn-out plots that take forever to bring us nowhere come from being given too narrow a stretch of plot to expand on. It certainly feels like a book written by a committee. But that doesn’t change the fact that the book simply isn’t very good.
March 9, 2021
This book was awesome and adding it to my buy list!!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 2, 2022
4.75 stars.
Writing this review is somehow hard because I have so many feelings about it all that not sound like a mess is not gonna be easy. So bear with me.
I've been a fan of Star Wars for as long as I can remember. I've been a huge fan for years. I've read a couple of the books centered on this universe and liked them well enough. In all that time, I had never encountered a book that enamored me and made me feel so immersed in the world as Light of the Jedi managed in a very short amount of time.
Centered in the High Republic a time of peace and prosperity through the galaxy under the ambitious direction of Chancellor Lina Soh and with the glorious Jedi Order shedding its light we have a hopeful and incredibly inspiring story.
Seriously, I was absolutely obsessed with it from the very first page and it never lost its appealing nature even a little bit.
There are so many factors that contribute to make this a totally amazing and memorable book. One of them is the incredible pacing of the story.
We are dropped right into the thick of things from the very beginning. Witnessing an event that will change the Republic forever and how things operate. It is such an intense moment that I could hardly catch my breath.
It was so incredibly emotional and action-packed I was an absolute mess by the end of part one. No, I was an absolute mess by the end of the first chapter. We are in the center of the action and everything that is going, living it first hand and experiencing all the emotions that the characters are living right alongside them. Even better, we can see some pretty cool action bits that I loved with all my heart.
The mix of the emotional and the mysterious, the action and epicness and hopelessness, is an intoxicating combination that set my veins on fire and my heart racing.
From beginning to end there is little rest, and, I mean, how could there be when something so massive is happening? Which makes the book fly by. Because honestly? I could not put it down.
The characters were all just amazing and so incredibly easy to connect with all of them. From those that were with us for a few paragraphs - there to further our understanding of the situation - to the ones that will, hopefully, see us through the next couple of books as well.
All of them stole a little piece of my heart.
I loved how through them we can see how much the galaxy will change in the future. These people are a different sort of people from the Jedi to every being that lives in this vast galaxy. In the way they looked at the world I could see the true differences and experience the time period more fully.
Of course, I have some of them that I just can't help but love a little bit more. Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann were incredibly cool and I love their friendship and their dynamic. Kriss' way of seeing the Force especially stole my heart.
Porter Engle and Loden Greatstorm were very wise and very joyful. A true change from the solemn masters we have later on. Seeing their quirkiness and their peculiarities were so fun and made me smile all the time.
Lina Soh and her Great Works made me love this woman that is so ambitious and determined and inspiring. I wish we had seen her more.
But, truly, I don't think I didn't like even one of the characters, small or great, from this book. Because there is something to like about each and every one of them. Each with a lot of personality and depth, given to them even if they were to appear for a few paragraphs. And it shows, because my absolute favorite character is Minister Ecka who we have for a very short time.
The antagonist of the book - I refuse to call them villains - were just so totally amazing as well.
Eerie and chaotic, full of cruelty and contempt the Nihil set the tone for the story on a completely different level and add a ton of different shades to it all.
A great story needs a great force to rise against, that will complicate things and test the level they can go, their commitment, and their resistance.
I was really feeling the Nihil and the whole culture they have created for themselves was incredibly interesting and engrossing. Sure, it was messed up a lot of the time and it made me hate them some but that is the beauty of it all. Maybe right now they are, well, what they are, but the fact that we know how things will end adds a layer of eeriness and foreboding to the whole thing. A feeling that was aptly captured and transmitted with every word.
To make things even better, we have Soules beautiful writing.
No, it wasn't overly done or flowery or anything like that but he did have a way to make you connect deeply with everything between seconds a fit that is not so easily achieved as one may want to believe.
It wasn't even just with the characters but with the places and situations as well.
The way he could go from breaking my heart one second to making me laugh my eyes out the next. With no warning and without breaking any of the atmosphere of the moment - which was often quite important - he just made me do a complete turn on how I was feeling.
At one point, I was bawling my eyes out, not quite, slow trickles of tears, no, the whole, ugly, full package. So emotional I could barely handle the chapters. And then, at other points, I was laughing at the silliest thing. No, it wasn't something forced or that felt out-of-place in the least but rather comedic moments that came by naturally.
I appreciate the way he managed to work with everything he had. Adding to his book humor, gloom, grief, joy, hope, despair, happiness, and light all in a tightly wound package.
Even though it had all the action and uncertainty to it I did love the romance that is softly sprinkled through the book.
And by that, I mean that I am thoroughly obsessed with it all.
There is also the beautiful representation of the deep connection between padawan-and-master that was so pure to read about and so fun to see... I love deep connections, I love when the characters feel deeply and have meaningful, important relationships, it doesn't quite matter the type of this love - friendship or romance or familial - if it's well done I will love it. So I did had a blast with these beautiful dynamics.
It also helped to soften the blows that some of the other circumstances were creating and make them all the harder when things got complicated. As they are prone to do. Especially because Soule did not pull any punches.
So, it was nice to have these expected bits of comfort to retreat to when the going got tough.
One of the reasons I think I loved this book as much as I did is because is new and fresh but at the same time worn and comfortable like a well-loved sweater.
I always enjoy Star Wars books, sure, but I haven't quite found one that fascinated me before. All of those books are set in time periods that are constricting, with characters that I know well, there is little to surprise me or that won't generate a very, very clear expectation as to what I want to happen. It could hardly be any other way.
With Light of the Jedi there was none of that. I didn't have any idea of what could happen, what I wanted, where I wanted to go, or how anyone should act - or if they were acting according to my specific, predetermined, set of ideals - but just the sweet reality of discovery and a journey that I was anxious to embark on.
I got a lot more than I bargained for.
Couple that with a world that didn't need to be explained to me in more than broad brush-strokes, where I was merely discovering new facets of things I already know deeply, well, it made me feel very comfortable from the start but kept me on my toes every second.
_____________________
That. Was. So. Amazing.
I was expecting a great book but this one surpassed all my expectations a thousand times.
And that ending has me looking forward with great anticipation for the next books. Such great trepidation.
This review is gonna be a good-old rant, so prepare yourselves.
RTC.
____________________
I can not believe that this day has finally arrived and I can read this beauty, this era that has always been so interesting and that has so much to offer.
Excited is the understatement of the century as to how I feel about this.
Am I expecting the sun, the moon, and the stars from this book? Yes, I absolutely am. And I don't regret one single second of it... hopefully, I won't at the end either.
However the case, it looks like it's gonna be a fun adventure centered in a world that I've loved for my whole life. If nothing else, I'm gonna fangirl to my heart content with it.
“We’re all the Republic.”
Writing this review is somehow hard because I have so many feelings about it all that not sound like a mess is not gonna be easy. So bear with me.
I've been a fan of Star Wars for as long as I can remember. I've been a huge fan for years. I've read a couple of the books centered on this universe and liked them well enough. In all that time, I had never encountered a book that enamored me and made me feel so immersed in the world as Light of the Jedi managed in a very short amount of time.
Centered in the High Republic a time of peace and prosperity through the galaxy under the ambitious direction of Chancellor Lina Soh and with the glorious Jedi Order shedding its light we have a hopeful and incredibly inspiring story.
Seriously, I was absolutely obsessed with it from the very first page and it never lost its appealing nature even a little bit.
“They could… tap into something [the Jedi] It wasn’t just the Force. It was their Order itself. It gave them confidence, a structure, a willingness to make choices to serve the larger purpose of spreading light in the galaxy. It made them bold, and made them strong.”
There are so many factors that contribute to make this a totally amazing and memorable book. One of them is the incredible pacing of the story.
We are dropped right into the thick of things from the very beginning. Witnessing an event that will change the Republic forever and how things operate. It is such an intense moment that I could hardly catch my breath.
It was so incredibly emotional and action-packed I was an absolute mess by the end of part one. No, I was an absolute mess by the end of the first chapter. We are in the center of the action and everything that is going, living it first hand and experiencing all the emotions that the characters are living right alongside them. Even better, we can see some pretty cool action bits that I loved with all my heart.
The mix of the emotional and the mysterious, the action and epicness and hopelessness, is an intoxicating combination that set my veins on fire and my heart racing.
From beginning to end there is little rest, and, I mean, how could there be when something so massive is happening? Which makes the book fly by. Because honestly? I could not put it down.
“The Republic was not one world. It was many, each unique in ways large and small. Solving one problem inevitably caused others. There were intractable cultural, historical, economic, and military conflicts among inhabitants of worlds. There were warlords and agitators and malcontents and other less-easy-to-handle enemies – plagues and strange magical factions on hidden worlds who believed they should conquer the galaxy and, yes, even hyperspace anomalies. But the key was this – and Chancellor Soh believed it to her very soul, and had made it the cornerstone of her entire government: You could not solve those problems individually. It was ridiculous to even try. What you could do, however, was make various peoples of this high era of the Galactic Republic see one another as people. As brothers and sisters and cousins and friends, or if nothing else, just as colleagues in the shared goal of building a galaxy that welcomed all, heard all, and did its best to avoid hurting anyone. Truly tried its best. If you could make that happen, then problems didn’t have to be solved. Many would solve themselves, because people believed in the Republic more than they believed in their own goals, and would be open to that magical word – compromise.”
The characters were all just amazing and so incredibly easy to connect with all of them. From those that were with us for a few paragraphs - there to further our understanding of the situation - to the ones that will, hopefully, see us through the next couple of books as well.
All of them stole a little piece of my heart.
I loved how through them we can see how much the galaxy will change in the future. These people are a different sort of people from the Jedi to every being that lives in this vast galaxy. In the way they looked at the world I could see the true differences and experience the time period more fully.
Of course, I have some of them that I just can't help but love a little bit more. Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann were incredibly cool and I love their friendship and their dynamic. Kriss' way of seeing the Force especially stole my heart.
Porter Engle and Loden Greatstorm were very wise and very joyful. A true change from the solemn masters we have later on. Seeing their quirkiness and their peculiarities were so fun and made me smile all the time.
Lina Soh and her Great Works made me love this woman that is so ambitious and determined and inspiring. I wish we had seen her more.
But, truly, I don't think I didn't like even one of the characters, small or great, from this book. Because there is something to like about each and every one of them. Each with a lot of personality and depth, given to them even if they were to appear for a few paragraphs. And it shows, because my absolute favorite character is Minister Ecka who we have for a very short time.
“For the Nihil, Kassav thought. For the storm.”
The antagonist of the book - I refuse to call them villains - were just so totally amazing as well.
Eerie and chaotic, full of cruelty and contempt the Nihil set the tone for the story on a completely different level and add a ton of different shades to it all.
A great story needs a great force to rise against, that will complicate things and test the level they can go, their commitment, and their resistance.
I was really feeling the Nihil and the whole culture they have created for themselves was incredibly interesting and engrossing. Sure, it was messed up a lot of the time and it made me hate them some but that is the beauty of it all. Maybe right now they are, well, what they are, but the fact that we know how things will end adds a layer of eeriness and foreboding to the whole thing. A feeling that was aptly captured and transmitted with every word.
“Avar could sense the weariness in the song, of all her companions in her great Order, these heroes who had all stayed to save people they had never met and probably never would, people who would never know the choice or the sacrifice being made on their behalf. None of that mattered […] Her great Order was with her, as she was with them, and the Force was with them all.”
To make things even better, we have Soules beautiful writing.
No, it wasn't overly done or flowery or anything like that but he did have a way to make you connect deeply with everything between seconds a fit that is not so easily achieved as one may want to believe.
It wasn't even just with the characters but with the places and situations as well.
The way he could go from breaking my heart one second to making me laugh my eyes out the next. With no warning and without breaking any of the atmosphere of the moment - which was often quite important - he just made me do a complete turn on how I was feeling.
At one point, I was bawling my eyes out, not quite, slow trickles of tears, no, the whole, ugly, full package. So emotional I could barely handle the chapters. And then, at other points, I was laughing at the silliest thing. No, it wasn't something forced or that felt out-of-place in the least but rather comedic moments that came by naturally.
I appreciate the way he managed to work with everything he had. Adding to his book humor, gloom, grief, joy, hope, despair, happiness, and light all in a tightly wound package.
“What matters are the choices you make in your life, not where you came from.”
Even though it had all the action and uncertainty to it I did love the romance that is softly sprinkled through the book.
And by that, I mean that I am thoroughly obsessed with it all.
There is also the beautiful representation of the deep connection between padawan-and-master that was so pure to read about and so fun to see... I love deep connections, I love when the characters feel deeply and have meaningful, important relationships, it doesn't quite matter the type of this love - friendship or romance or familial - if it's well done I will love it. So I did had a blast with these beautiful dynamics.
It also helped to soften the blows that some of the other circumstances were creating and make them all the harder when things got complicated. As they are prone to do. Especially because Soule did not pull any punches.
So, it was nice to have these expected bits of comfort to retreat to when the going got tough.
“Peace without justice is flawed, hollow at its core. It is the peace provided by tyranny.”
One of the reasons I think I loved this book as much as I did is because is new and fresh but at the same time worn and comfortable like a well-loved sweater.
I always enjoy Star Wars books, sure, but I haven't quite found one that fascinated me before. All of those books are set in time periods that are constricting, with characters that I know well, there is little to surprise me or that won't generate a very, very clear expectation as to what I want to happen. It could hardly be any other way.
With Light of the Jedi there was none of that. I didn't have any idea of what could happen, what I wanted, where I wanted to go, or how anyone should act - or if they were acting according to my specific, predetermined, set of ideals - but just the sweet reality of discovery and a journey that I was anxious to embark on.
I got a lot more than I bargained for.
Couple that with a world that didn't need to be explained to me in more than broad brush-strokes, where I was merely discovering new facets of things I already know deeply, well, it made me feel very comfortable from the start but kept me on my toes every second.
“The light of the Jedi. The beacon activated, a signal, a sound, a chime, a tone that anyone with even the most rudimentary of equipment could hear, for hundreds of parsecs around the station. Anyone who was lost, afraid, confused, hopeless, they could tune in. They could listen, and the sound would help them find their way. The Starlight Beacon. The first of many. All was well.”
_____________________
That. Was. So. Amazing.
I was expecting a great book but this one surpassed all my expectations a thousand times.
And that ending has me looking forward with great anticipation for the next books. Such great trepidation.
This review is gonna be a good-old rant, so prepare yourselves.
RTC.
____________________
I can not believe that this day has finally arrived and I can read this beauty, this era that has always been so interesting and that has so much to offer.
Excited is the understatement of the century as to how I feel about this.
Am I expecting the sun, the moon, and the stars from this book? Yes, I absolutely am. And I don't regret one single second of it... hopefully, I won't at the end either.
However the case, it looks like it's gonna be a fun adventure centered in a world that I've loved for my whole life. If nothing else, I'm gonna fangirl to my heart content with it.
March 14, 2021
Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi, was written by Charles Soule. He's written stories for the Star Wars Comics, and he's written his first Star Wars Novel.
This novel kicks off a brand new era in Star Wars canon, going back 200 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga.
SUMMARY: The galaxy is peaceful, war is a thing of the past. The Republic is strong. The Chancellor, Lina Soh coined the phrase, "We are all the Republic."
Peace is tested when an unforeseen event that stems from a hyperspace lane branching out to the outer rim brings destruction and death on a massive scale. Tensions rise throughout as hyperspace lanes are closed off throughout the galaxy. The chancellor calls upon the Republic Defense Coalition (RDC) and the Jedi to investigate what exactly happened in hyperspace, what has the ability to cause planet wide devastation. The Republic was to open up a new outpost station called Starlight Beacon. It will be a Republic embassy, to serve as a fortress, security, medical facility, and even host the largest Jedi outpost outside the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The Chancellor wants the RDC and the Jedi to resolve the mystery that caused such chaos before the grand opening of the Starlight Beacon.
A large group of killers, kidnapers, and raiders called the Nihil, have unintentionally put the spotlight on their regional shenanigans in the outer rim. The organization has a unique hierarchy, with three individuals that rule, and one that has the ability to provide secret pathways of hyperspace lanes, uncharted space-ways to sneak around throughout the outer rim. The Nihil wear masks to appear intimidating and remain anonymous. Their tactics are harsh and cruel, but the group must figure out a way to evolve into something more vile, more disturbing, to survive.
Wild events will test the Jedi, the Republic, and even the Nihil in the High Republic Era. Will the Jedi retain their peace and tranquility? Will the Republic stand strong? Will the Nihil overpower all that is good and conquer the galaxy? You should read the novel to find out.
CHARACTERS: There are so many wonderful characters I could pick from to talk about; Avar Kriss, Te-Ami, Bell, Lourna Dee, & even Chancellor Soh. But, I will only pick three characters I found most fascinating.
Elzar Mann is a Jedi Knight, who sees the force as a deep sea. Its depths are endless. Elzar doesn't approach the force the same way twice. He experiments with the force, diving into the sea of its expansive presence differently each time. Many Jedi are content with the way the force works and the way they can manipulate it. Elzar constantly wants to test its limits, He believes so much can be tapped into that no one else had ever thought possible. He's doesn't intend to be difficult, but always open to new ideas with how to call on the force. He believes his views have held him back from achieving the title, Jedi Master.
Marchion Ro is the Eye of the Nihil. The Keeper of the paths in which the Nihil use to creep through the galaxy. He's not quite the leader of the organization, but without him, the Nihil wouldn't be anything special. They'd have to use the same hyperspace lanes as everyone else. Marchion has his secrets. Some that would most certainly bring about an untimely death had the high ranked Nihil called the Tempest Runners, had they found out his big secret. Marchion's past is also shrouded in mystery. So much more could be said about this character, but after-all, this is a spoiler free review.
Porter Engle, (once known as the Blade of Bardotta) - He's an Ikkrukki, who's served in the Jedi Order over 300 years. He's held many positions in the Order. Now, with old age, he likes to cook in the small outpost of the planet Ephrona. He's wise, skilled, & cocky. He is ready and willing to give his spirit over to the force when his time is up.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this book! I thought it was a good story to tell to kick of a new era in Star Wars. Charles Soule does an excellent job writing new characters, planets, and planting a few little easter eggs throughout the novel.
Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi expands the Force and the Universe in the most impressive way.
The villains are complex and very interesting to read about. There are many layers to some of the characters, both hero and villain. I love that there are established characters in the book that aren't invincible. Many aspects of the story including character outcomes and plot points are unpredictable. But yes, there are a few things that are easily predicable. Still, the character development was extraordinary. I can't wait to read more about some of the Jedi we were introduced to in this book as well as what comes of some of the villains.
Light of the Jedi reveals new layers of the Force and adds Character's you're not going to get enough of!
Some story elements came across a little cheesy, but overall, it was really good. While Charles Soule does a great job with descriptions, dialogue, and character development, there are a few minor things that took me out of the Star Wars universe. This is me just being petty, but the use of words like gun & drugs, shouldn't be used. Let's just stick to blaster & spice. However, Soule had many poetic ways of saying things that I found most impressive.
Do I recommend you pick up Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi? Yes. A great way to introduce a new era in Star Wars
RATING: I give this novel an A
This novel kicks off a brand new era in Star Wars canon, going back 200 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga.
SUMMARY: The galaxy is peaceful, war is a thing of the past. The Republic is strong. The Chancellor, Lina Soh coined the phrase, "We are all the Republic."
Peace is tested when an unforeseen event that stems from a hyperspace lane branching out to the outer rim brings destruction and death on a massive scale. Tensions rise throughout as hyperspace lanes are closed off throughout the galaxy. The chancellor calls upon the Republic Defense Coalition (RDC) and the Jedi to investigate what exactly happened in hyperspace, what has the ability to cause planet wide devastation. The Republic was to open up a new outpost station called Starlight Beacon. It will be a Republic embassy, to serve as a fortress, security, medical facility, and even host the largest Jedi outpost outside the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The Chancellor wants the RDC and the Jedi to resolve the mystery that caused such chaos before the grand opening of the Starlight Beacon.
A large group of killers, kidnapers, and raiders called the Nihil, have unintentionally put the spotlight on their regional shenanigans in the outer rim. The organization has a unique hierarchy, with three individuals that rule, and one that has the ability to provide secret pathways of hyperspace lanes, uncharted space-ways to sneak around throughout the outer rim. The Nihil wear masks to appear intimidating and remain anonymous. Their tactics are harsh and cruel, but the group must figure out a way to evolve into something more vile, more disturbing, to survive.
Wild events will test the Jedi, the Republic, and even the Nihil in the High Republic Era. Will the Jedi retain their peace and tranquility? Will the Republic stand strong? Will the Nihil overpower all that is good and conquer the galaxy? You should read the novel to find out.
CHARACTERS: There are so many wonderful characters I could pick from to talk about; Avar Kriss, Te-Ami, Bell, Lourna Dee, & even Chancellor Soh. But, I will only pick three characters I found most fascinating.
Elzar Mann is a Jedi Knight, who sees the force as a deep sea. Its depths are endless. Elzar doesn't approach the force the same way twice. He experiments with the force, diving into the sea of its expansive presence differently each time. Many Jedi are content with the way the force works and the way they can manipulate it. Elzar constantly wants to test its limits, He believes so much can be tapped into that no one else had ever thought possible. He's doesn't intend to be difficult, but always open to new ideas with how to call on the force. He believes his views have held him back from achieving the title, Jedi Master.
Marchion Ro is the Eye of the Nihil. The Keeper of the paths in which the Nihil use to creep through the galaxy. He's not quite the leader of the organization, but without him, the Nihil wouldn't be anything special. They'd have to use the same hyperspace lanes as everyone else. Marchion has his secrets. Some that would most certainly bring about an untimely death had the high ranked Nihil called the Tempest Runners, had they found out his big secret. Marchion's past is also shrouded in mystery. So much more could be said about this character, but after-all, this is a spoiler free review.
Porter Engle, (once known as the Blade of Bardotta) - He's an Ikkrukki, who's served in the Jedi Order over 300 years. He's held many positions in the Order. Now, with old age, he likes to cook in the small outpost of the planet Ephrona. He's wise, skilled, & cocky. He is ready and willing to give his spirit over to the force when his time is up.
OVERALL THOUGHTS: I enjoyed this book! I thought it was a good story to tell to kick of a new era in Star Wars. Charles Soule does an excellent job writing new characters, planets, and planting a few little easter eggs throughout the novel.
Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi expands the Force and the Universe in the most impressive way.
The villains are complex and very interesting to read about. There are many layers to some of the characters, both hero and villain. I love that there are established characters in the book that aren't invincible. Many aspects of the story including character outcomes and plot points are unpredictable. But yes, there are a few things that are easily predicable. Still, the character development was extraordinary. I can't wait to read more about some of the Jedi we were introduced to in this book as well as what comes of some of the villains.
Light of the Jedi reveals new layers of the Force and adds Character's you're not going to get enough of!
Some story elements came across a little cheesy, but overall, it was really good. While Charles Soule does a great job with descriptions, dialogue, and character development, there are a few minor things that took me out of the Star Wars universe. This is me just being petty, but the use of words like gun & drugs, shouldn't be used. Let's just stick to blaster & spice. However, Soule had many poetic ways of saying things that I found most impressive.
Do I recommend you pick up Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi? Yes. A great way to introduce a new era in Star Wars
RATING: I give this novel an A
January 20, 2021
EDIT: guess what?! I've read it and I still rate it 5 stars so ya'll can stay mad about it.
March 17, 2021
Light of the Jedi is the first book set in the High Republic era, 200 years before The Phantom Menace. The Republic is in a state of peace, so much so that it doesn't even have its own military fleet. They are establishing Starlight Beacon in the Outer Rim as a way to connecting with the systems out there. When a tragedy happens to a ship in hyperspace it sets off a series of events that could threaten the whole galaxy. I loved all the focus on all of the Jedi at their peak and the sense of hope among the Republic.
The Nihil are terrific villains. Another reviewer compared them to Viking raiders and I found that quite apt. Marchion Ro, there's so much to like (and hate) about this guy. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say I can't wait to see where things are headed.
This was the best Star Wars novel I've read from the Disney era. Retreating to an era where the authors aren't constrained by the movies is smart. Most of the Star Wars books I've read in the last few years have felt neutered so it's great to read a novel where the author has more flexibility.
The Nihil are terrific villains. Another reviewer compared them to Viking raiders and I found that quite apt. Marchion Ro, there's so much to like (and hate) about this guy. I don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say I can't wait to see where things are headed.
This was the best Star Wars novel I've read from the Disney era. Retreating to an era where the authors aren't constrained by the movies is smart. Most of the Star Wars books I've read in the last few years have felt neutered so it's great to read a novel where the author has more flexibility.
April 26, 2021
... the Coruscant skyline always felt like the Republic in miniature. Always moving, always changing and evolving, endlessly deep and strange and infinite. At that moment, the sun was setting, and the lights were coming up on the buildings. Stars in the heavens. Worlds in the Republic.
I really, really wanted to like this book. But ultimately it was a frustrating and disappointing read. Like the spore drive in Star Trek: Discovery, Charles Soule opts for a ‘magic reset button’ in the form of the Nihil having access to what is termed the Paths, an alternative means to navigate hyperspace beyond the technological capabilities of the Republic.
Said Republic is at the height of its ascendancy, with the official inauguration of the Starlight Beacon station being relegated to a background event. Yes, I suppose there is a deliberate echo of everything from Babylon 5 to Deep Space Nine and especially Iain Banks’s Culture here. Nevertheless, this was the most fascinating part of the book for me. I would have loved to have been simply able to explore the station, not to mention some of the many other Great Works of the Republic.
Instead, we have a deus ex machina of a hyperlane accident at the beginning that sets the path towards an inevitable confrontation between the Nihil and the Republic. Despite not being geared for war at all, there is still something called the Republic Defence Coalition (RDC), not to mention that the Jedi themselves are a kind of quasi-militarised force (which we are led to believe is due to their experience in the Great Sith War).
The RDC is a puzzle, but Soule could have made it work if he had treated it like Special Circumstances in the Culture. What is abundantly clear from this book is that there is really no well-considered sociopolitical structure to the Star Wars universe, apart from the black-and-white binary of the Republic and the lawless Outer Rim. Everything to do with governmental or political issues is painted in the broadest of strokes.
The Jedi are far more powerful here than we have ever seen them, but it is a bit of a conundrum as to their exact function and place, especially considering they opt for a background role in the day-to-day running of the Republic. And what about long-term strategy? You would think that the Force, especially as described here as an almost living entity, would give them a similar kind of ability as the Future Historians in Asimov’s Foundation series. Well, we do learn that the Great Temple on Coruscant has outreach programmes…
There is a plethora of new characters, and I honestly struggled to keep ‘who’s who’ straight in my head. Unfortunately, the most memorable characters are the bad guys, which has always been an integral problem of both Star Wars and Star Trek (though the former is much more dependent on binaries than the latter, which has always been much more nuanced and astute, even with its villains).
Given the paucity of ideas that characterised the recent Aftermath trilogy by Chuck Wendig, it was patently clear that Disney needed to reach out in a new direction for its book franchise. While focusing on the High Republic is a great idea, ‘The Light of the Jedi’ suffers in that it recycles so many tropes familiar from so many other Star Wars books to date.
The next book is a direct sequel by Justina Ireland called ‘A Test of Courage’, which seems self-explanatory given the abrupt ending of ‘Light of the Jedi’. As for Project Luminous, it’ll be interesting to know if Disney has already mapped out the larger story arc, and where it intends to take this. Hopefully the characters introduced here get back stories and context, so that the High Republic can aspire to its true glory.
I really, really wanted to like this book. But ultimately it was a frustrating and disappointing read. Like the spore drive in Star Trek: Discovery, Charles Soule opts for a ‘magic reset button’ in the form of the Nihil having access to what is termed the Paths, an alternative means to navigate hyperspace beyond the technological capabilities of the Republic.
Said Republic is at the height of its ascendancy, with the official inauguration of the Starlight Beacon station being relegated to a background event. Yes, I suppose there is a deliberate echo of everything from Babylon 5 to Deep Space Nine and especially Iain Banks’s Culture here. Nevertheless, this was the most fascinating part of the book for me. I would have loved to have been simply able to explore the station, not to mention some of the many other Great Works of the Republic.
Instead, we have a deus ex machina of a hyperlane accident at the beginning that sets the path towards an inevitable confrontation between the Nihil and the Republic. Despite not being geared for war at all, there is still something called the Republic Defence Coalition (RDC), not to mention that the Jedi themselves are a kind of quasi-militarised force (which we are led to believe is due to their experience in the Great Sith War).
The RDC is a puzzle, but Soule could have made it work if he had treated it like Special Circumstances in the Culture. What is abundantly clear from this book is that there is really no well-considered sociopolitical structure to the Star Wars universe, apart from the black-and-white binary of the Republic and the lawless Outer Rim. Everything to do with governmental or political issues is painted in the broadest of strokes.
The Jedi are far more powerful here than we have ever seen them, but it is a bit of a conundrum as to their exact function and place, especially considering they opt for a background role in the day-to-day running of the Republic. And what about long-term strategy? You would think that the Force, especially as described here as an almost living entity, would give them a similar kind of ability as the Future Historians in Asimov’s Foundation series. Well, we do learn that the Great Temple on Coruscant has outreach programmes…
There is a plethora of new characters, and I honestly struggled to keep ‘who’s who’ straight in my head. Unfortunately, the most memorable characters are the bad guys, which has always been an integral problem of both Star Wars and Star Trek (though the former is much more dependent on binaries than the latter, which has always been much more nuanced and astute, even with its villains).
Given the paucity of ideas that characterised the recent Aftermath trilogy by Chuck Wendig, it was patently clear that Disney needed to reach out in a new direction for its book franchise. While focusing on the High Republic is a great idea, ‘The Light of the Jedi’ suffers in that it recycles so many tropes familiar from so many other Star Wars books to date.
The next book is a direct sequel by Justina Ireland called ‘A Test of Courage’, which seems self-explanatory given the abrupt ending of ‘Light of the Jedi’. As for Project Luminous, it’ll be interesting to know if Disney has already mapped out the larger story arc, and where it intends to take this. Hopefully the characters introduced here get back stories and context, so that the High Republic can aspire to its true glory.
September 30, 2023
4.5/5
I was about to give this book 4 stars, but then the epilogue came along and hit me like a truck.
Charles Soule just KNOWS how to use words, every comment is thoughtfully placed, no description is ever too much. And don't get me started on the metaphors. So beautiful.
Light of the Jedi introduces around 20 new characters which is honestly a little intimidating at first. Yet, somehow, Soule pulls it off and makes every one of those characters unique in their own way. The action pulls you right into the story and never let's you go until you've read the final page. And most importantly, the new era is introduced in a way that's not too overwhelming: it does feel like a step back from the prequels but not entirely too far away. The state of the republic is believeable.
I'd also like to point out how relevant some of the topics this book discusses are in our recent times. Without taking anything away, I can tell you that the "Great Distaster" and its consequences somehow perfectly mirror what is happening to us due to the pandemic. I don't think it was planned at all but it really makes you reflect upon our own behaviour which is amazing for a Star Wars book that didn't even have this as its main focus.
The only thing I didn't enjoy all that much is that I didn't really care for the antagonists. They were interesting and intimidating but their chapters weren't too exciting for me. It's cool that we get their perspective as well but I found them all quite annoying. It's probably supposed to be like that, I guess.
All in all, I think it's important to remember that Light of the Jedi is an introductory work into a whole new thing - it's allowed to have many new concepts, thoughts and people, even though it might feel like a lot at some points. I for one cannot wait to reread this book already and see how the other High Republic literature ties into it!
Oh, and one last thing: Bell and Loden were by far the greatest duo of this book. I will not accept criticism on this!
I was about to give this book 4 stars, but then the epilogue came along and hit me like a truck.
Charles Soule just KNOWS how to use words, every comment is thoughtfully placed, no description is ever too much. And don't get me started on the metaphors. So beautiful.
Light of the Jedi introduces around 20 new characters which is honestly a little intimidating at first. Yet, somehow, Soule pulls it off and makes every one of those characters unique in their own way. The action pulls you right into the story and never let's you go until you've read the final page. And most importantly, the new era is introduced in a way that's not too overwhelming: it does feel like a step back from the prequels but not entirely too far away. The state of the republic is believeable.
I'd also like to point out how relevant some of the topics this book discusses are in our recent times. Without taking anything away, I can tell you that the "Great Distaster" and its consequences somehow perfectly mirror what is happening to us due to the pandemic. I don't think it was planned at all but it really makes you reflect upon our own behaviour which is amazing for a Star Wars book that didn't even have this as its main focus.
The only thing I didn't enjoy all that much is that I didn't really care for the antagonists. They were interesting and intimidating but their chapters weren't too exciting for me. It's cool that we get their perspective as well but I found them all quite annoying. It's probably supposed to be like that, I guess.
All in all, I think it's important to remember that Light of the Jedi is an introductory work into a whole new thing - it's allowed to have many new concepts, thoughts and people, even though it might feel like a lot at some points. I for one cannot wait to reread this book already and see how the other High Republic literature ties into it!
Oh, and one last thing: Bell and Loden were by far the greatest duo of this book. I will not accept criticism on this!
May 23, 2021
This is the beginning of a series as the Disney Star Wars tackles the Old Republic era. In this one, there is an accident where a ship blows apart while in hyperspace. Parts of this ship enter different star systems and are a threat to planets. The Jedi respond.
I did not enjoy this book like many of my Goodreads friends and members of this site. First off I really like the concept of the story. What happens when something goes wrong in a hyperspace lane? And I liked how the Jedi as one respond to an emergency in this galaxy. That is also where this book started to lose me too. This book is meant to show the Jedi as an overall unit and does not focus on any particular Jedi. The problem with this is like other readers I had no connection to any of the characters. If tragedy struck I could care less and I don't really care what happens to them in the subsequent books. Even looking at the cover right now I could not name one of the characters on the cover. This wasn't my biggest problem either. The reason for the accident as once again Disney has to screw around with hyperspace. Now there is only one person in this vast galaxy that can use this new form of travel and when they move on the secret dies with them. In other words this new form doesn't comply with the older movies and we needed a deus ex machina for it to exist now. I hated this new form of travel and it affected my whole enjoyment of this book.
There is an interesting idea and story to be told here. I am not a writer (obviously) but if there were some minor tweaks this could be a really good book and a nice start to a series. Instead we get a book that never grabbed because I had no connection to any of the characters and a book that doesn't fit because it spits in the face of continuity.
I did not enjoy this book like many of my Goodreads friends and members of this site. First off I really like the concept of the story. What happens when something goes wrong in a hyperspace lane? And I liked how the Jedi as one respond to an emergency in this galaxy. That is also where this book started to lose me too. This book is meant to show the Jedi as an overall unit and does not focus on any particular Jedi. The problem with this is like other readers I had no connection to any of the characters. If tragedy struck I could care less and I don't really care what happens to them in the subsequent books. Even looking at the cover right now I could not name one of the characters on the cover. This wasn't my biggest problem either. The reason for the accident as once again Disney has to screw around with hyperspace. Now there is only one person in this vast galaxy that can use this new form of travel and when they move on the secret dies with them. In other words this new form doesn't comply with the older movies and we needed a deus ex machina for it to exist now. I hated this new form of travel and it affected my whole enjoyment of this book.
There is an interesting idea and story to be told here. I am not a writer (obviously) but if there were some minor tweaks this could be a really good book and a nice start to a series. Instead we get a book that never grabbed because I had no connection to any of the characters and a book that doesn't fit because it spits in the face of continuity.
November 26, 2025
Project Luminous was the name given to the top-secret project at Disney/Star Wars that, for several years after J.J. Abrams’s “Episode VII: The Force Awakens” hit theaters, was only talked about in hushed whispers. It was going to be big.
In 2021, it was announced that Project Luminous was the code name for the next phase of the Star Wars franchise, after “Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” officially concluded the nine-film arc started way back in 1977 by George Lucas.
Set hundreds of years before the original films, “The High Republic” imagined a pre-Empire galaxy when the Jedi Knights held the peace during a time of prosperity and exploration for the galaxy.
(For those, like me, who grew up in a pre-J.J. Abrams, pre-Disney-owned Star Wars world, there was a similar setting called the Old Republic, presumably set several hundred years prior to the High Republic. The Old Republic is considered “old canon” and is not talked about, despite the fact that to a lot of fans—-especially gamers—-the Old Republic was the best thing to ever happen to Star Wars. Sadly, though, like the misunderstood weird older brother in “Encanto”, we don’t talk about that Bruno.)
Charles Soule had the honor of writing the first published novel in the High Republic series, “Light of the Jedi”. Part of a huge publishing event that simultaneously saw the beginning of a series of young adult novels, middle reader chapter books, children’s books, and graphic novels, the High Republic series carried the hopes of many excited Disney executives.
Fans, not so much.
Not that it stopped them from going out to Target and buying them all up. I admit it: I did.
Granted, it took me this long to read them, but whatever.
“Light of the Jedi” starts out strong. A space freighter accident while in hyperspace results in the fragments of the ship popping out of hyperspace and becoming missile-like projectiles that lay waste to anything in its path. A large portion of these killer fragments pop up in the Hetzal system and on an extinction-level collision course toward Hetzal Prime, a large farming planet that produces a large percentage of crops for the entire galaxy. If it is destroyed, the consequences—both economically and in terms of food distribution—would be catastrophic.
Thankfully, Jedi Knights from the newly-created Starlight Beacon answer the distress calls. They rush to the Hetzal system to protect the planet and other inhabited moons and stations.
I admit: the first hundred pages of this book are pretty intense and action-packed. It reads like a classic Tom Clancy techno-thriller based in outer space. This is, hands down, Star Wars at its best.
The rest of the novel was, sadly, a bit of a let-down. The villains of the novel—a motley arrangement of multiple alien species devoted to piracy and bad life decisions called the Nihil—-don’t appear until the half-way mark. They are annoying and not that threatening. They remind me of the Pirates of Caribbean in space, minus any interesting characters like Captain Jack Sparrow to rally behind. They mostly want to wreak havoc and cause lots of death and destruction. That’s pretty much it for their motivation.
The other major problem with the novel is that there are way too many characters and none of them are given any time to develop into actual three-dimensional people. They are all just stock cardboard cut-out Jedi heroes. When several of them die throughout the course of the novel, I was left with a rather embarrassing feeling of utter indifference. Was I supposed to feel bad and shed a tear? All I knew was their name. Soule’s idea of character development is telling us what their favorite food is and that they like to listen to Star Wars-y rock music. Then they die.
What separates “Light of the Jedi” from the original Star Wars movies is characters that were, at the very least, interesting and, over time and several films later, lovable. But you can’t forcibly duplicate that. It has to happen organically.
Soule is info-bombing us with an entire cast of characters that we are suddenly supposed to give a shit about, but it doesn’t work that way.
I’m disappointed with “Light of the Jedi” but I can’t say I’m totally shocked. I have felt this kind of disappointment with a lot of the new canon stuff. The only new canon stuff that I have actually thought was great has been the comic books, including the High Republic comic book series.
Actually, “Light of the Jedi” has the feel of a story that was probably supposed to be in graphic novel form but then novelized. I’m sure if “Light of the Jedi” was adapted into graphic novel form (and I’m honestly surprised that it hasn’t yet, that I know of), it would probably work a lot better.
In 2021, it was announced that Project Luminous was the code name for the next phase of the Star Wars franchise, after “Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” officially concluded the nine-film arc started way back in 1977 by George Lucas.
Set hundreds of years before the original films, “The High Republic” imagined a pre-Empire galaxy when the Jedi Knights held the peace during a time of prosperity and exploration for the galaxy.
(For those, like me, who grew up in a pre-J.J. Abrams, pre-Disney-owned Star Wars world, there was a similar setting called the Old Republic, presumably set several hundred years prior to the High Republic. The Old Republic is considered “old canon” and is not talked about, despite the fact that to a lot of fans—-especially gamers—-the Old Republic was the best thing to ever happen to Star Wars. Sadly, though, like the misunderstood weird older brother in “Encanto”, we don’t talk about that Bruno.)
Charles Soule had the honor of writing the first published novel in the High Republic series, “Light of the Jedi”. Part of a huge publishing event that simultaneously saw the beginning of a series of young adult novels, middle reader chapter books, children’s books, and graphic novels, the High Republic series carried the hopes of many excited Disney executives.
Fans, not so much.
Not that it stopped them from going out to Target and buying them all up. I admit it: I did.
Granted, it took me this long to read them, but whatever.
“Light of the Jedi” starts out strong. A space freighter accident while in hyperspace results in the fragments of the ship popping out of hyperspace and becoming missile-like projectiles that lay waste to anything in its path. A large portion of these killer fragments pop up in the Hetzal system and on an extinction-level collision course toward Hetzal Prime, a large farming planet that produces a large percentage of crops for the entire galaxy. If it is destroyed, the consequences—both economically and in terms of food distribution—would be catastrophic.
Thankfully, Jedi Knights from the newly-created Starlight Beacon answer the distress calls. They rush to the Hetzal system to protect the planet and other inhabited moons and stations.
I admit: the first hundred pages of this book are pretty intense and action-packed. It reads like a classic Tom Clancy techno-thriller based in outer space. This is, hands down, Star Wars at its best.
The rest of the novel was, sadly, a bit of a let-down. The villains of the novel—a motley arrangement of multiple alien species devoted to piracy and bad life decisions called the Nihil—-don’t appear until the half-way mark. They are annoying and not that threatening. They remind me of the Pirates of Caribbean in space, minus any interesting characters like Captain Jack Sparrow to rally behind. They mostly want to wreak havoc and cause lots of death and destruction. That’s pretty much it for their motivation.
The other major problem with the novel is that there are way too many characters and none of them are given any time to develop into actual three-dimensional people. They are all just stock cardboard cut-out Jedi heroes. When several of them die throughout the course of the novel, I was left with a rather embarrassing feeling of utter indifference. Was I supposed to feel bad and shed a tear? All I knew was their name. Soule’s idea of character development is telling us what their favorite food is and that they like to listen to Star Wars-y rock music. Then they die.
What separates “Light of the Jedi” from the original Star Wars movies is characters that were, at the very least, interesting and, over time and several films later, lovable. But you can’t forcibly duplicate that. It has to happen organically.
Soule is info-bombing us with an entire cast of characters that we are suddenly supposed to give a shit about, but it doesn’t work that way.
I’m disappointed with “Light of the Jedi” but I can’t say I’m totally shocked. I have felt this kind of disappointment with a lot of the new canon stuff. The only new canon stuff that I have actually thought was great has been the comic books, including the High Republic comic book series.
Actually, “Light of the Jedi” has the feel of a story that was probably supposed to be in graphic novel form but then novelized. I’m sure if “Light of the Jedi” was adapted into graphic novel form (and I’m honestly surprised that it hasn’t yet, that I know of), it would probably work a lot better.
January 10, 2021
I want to preface this and say I was so excited for this book.
That being said, it was... a disappointment.
Things didn't get interesting till about halfway through the book. The first half felt like introduction after introduction to different characters, and I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them. It wasn't until the author focused on a few that I started to actually become somewhat interested. And even then... I still don't truly care about any of the characters. It felt like we only scratched the surface, and I wanted to get to know them better. I think the book would have been more engaging to me if the author focused on just 3 or 4 perspectives.
There were many instances where it felt like I was reading pages upon pages of exposition. I don't mind a good bit of world building, but I could not handle it here. There were also many points where I feel the author could have used more dialogue to make things interesting and give more depth to the characters, but instead they chose to describe everything that was happening in painful detail and just say what the characters were doing instead.
All in all, I had to force myself to finish this book. I had such high hopes and I wanted it to be so much more than it was.
That being said, it was... a disappointment.
Things didn't get interesting till about halfway through the book. The first half felt like introduction after introduction to different characters, and I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them. It wasn't until the author focused on a few that I started to actually become somewhat interested. And even then... I still don't truly care about any of the characters. It felt like we only scratched the surface, and I wanted to get to know them better. I think the book would have been more engaging to me if the author focused on just 3 or 4 perspectives.
There were many instances where it felt like I was reading pages upon pages of exposition. I don't mind a good bit of world building, but I could not handle it here. There were also many points where I feel the author could have used more dialogue to make things interesting and give more depth to the characters, but instead they chose to describe everything that was happening in painful detail and just say what the characters were doing instead.
All in all, I had to force myself to finish this book. I had such high hopes and I wanted it to be so much more than it was.
July 26, 2021
I’ve resisted diving into the High Republic books, mostly because Star Wars novels are so often terrible, and the idea of some so-so authors getting together and creating a new era of SW that exists only in books...I just couldn’t muster the energy to get started. But now that there are several books published, I figured I might as well take on a few books all at once, so I don’t have to try to remember the likely forgettable names of characters and events from previous books.
Now I’ve read the first book in the High Republic era, and my impression is...well, it’s hard to say, really. It’s somewhere between “meh” and “decent.” But the reason it’s hard to have a solid opinion about this book is that it’s not really “a book”; it’s an introduction to a bunch of other books that will continue expanding a storyline that probably has no defined endpoint or goal in mind. I’m weary of this kind of storytelling. Even within a large mythology like Star Wars, surely the ideal is still one really good story, right? Must we be fed carefully planned, market-driven plot twists and reveals, end-credits sequences that are supposed to make us eager for the next installment, a story that can never actually go anywhere, because the prime directive is that it continues forever?
Anyway. Here are some thoughts about Light of the Jedi.
After a few introductory chapters in which everyone who is introduced dies by the end of the chapter, the novel gets started in earnest with a countdown to a catastrophe. Though I had no particular reasons to care about any of the characters at this point, I found Charles Soule’s pacing quite good—tense, energetic, intriguing. Once that part ends, though, the novel languishes considerably. Characters I don’t know and can barely remember from one scene to the next go off on separate adventures, most of which feel very much like things that have already happened somewhere or other in Star Wars. The conclusion of the novel is, predictably, ye olde “Now I’ll pull off my mask and reveal my true devious plan (more or less), laugh evilly, and give you a glimpse of my scary ancient weapon, which I bet you weren’t expecting to see, were you? Mwa-ha-ha.” Not surprising, but mildly interesting, I guess.
A major problem with this book (and probably ultimately the High Republic era overall) is right in the title: Jedi. “To Elzar Mann, what the Jedi were was nowhere near as interesting as what they could be” (247). I’m with Elzar on this one. Only four Jedi have ever been interesting: 1) Obi-Wan (Alec Guiness) in Episode IV; Yoda in Episode V; Kanan and Ezra in Rebels. This book introduces a whole collection of interchangeable Jedi, and they’re as fascinating as any Jedi in the prequels. Jedi are best as rōnin, not as Knights of the Round Table.
One of the things I dislike about Star Wars books is their assumption that “Well, we may look totally different on the outside, but deep down, we’re all basically human, right?” So here we get a chapter focusing on a Wookiee Jedi, and it all just feels uncomfortably weird to think that deep down a Wookiee has exactly the same feelings a human does. Why even bother making various species for the characters if it really has nothing to do with the characters or the story? All it does is make it hard to remember what each character looks like. Star Wars is not known to be anthropologically rich storytelling, but still, couldn’t some effort be made to imagine bigger differences between species?
Another problem is also related to the Jedi: the idea of the “light side” of the Force. Originally, there was no “light side”; there was “the Force,” and there was “the dark side of the Force,” a corrupt approach to or wrongful use of abilities granted by the Force. But in the Disney era, there is increasingly a contrary idea, that there is a light side and a dark side of the Force, which presumably are equal and always in a dualistic conflict with each other. Those two concepts of the Force, pre- and post-Disney, are very different. The more SW adopts this dualistic aspect of the mythology, the less interested I’m going to be. It’s not what SW was built on from the start, and it renders much of the original trilogy less meaningful than it was supposed to be.
My final complaint is another recurring SW problem: that the idea of a galactic government is not only unquestioningly accepted as the greatest goal, but here in the High Republic, for some reason it’s working.
Despite all these criticisms, this wasn’t the worst SW book ever (Aftermath trilogy; Last Shot). But after all the hype about this new era of storytelling, I was disappointed that so much of the book feels not only like stuff that’s already happened before but stuff that doesn’t need a new era. Most of the events in this story would fit with no problems within the Empire era. I guess what I really want is not an era a little before the prequels, but something way, way farther back, something with more of a primitive, steampunk feel. Barring that, I’d prefer to read about any of the other Force-sensitive beings in the galaxy, who have been hinted at in other books but never yet foregrounded as main protagonists. Just please, no more Jedi Council, whatever era.
Footnote: Anyone who works a lot on Star Wars, or is a friend of George Lucas’s, is eventually likely to get their own SW character with a thinly disguised name. I like that in Light of the Jedi, Pablo Hidalgo has finally received his SW name: “renowned Jedi architect Palo Hidalla” (369). :)
Now I’ve read the first book in the High Republic era, and my impression is...well, it’s hard to say, really. It’s somewhere between “meh” and “decent.” But the reason it’s hard to have a solid opinion about this book is that it’s not really “a book”; it’s an introduction to a bunch of other books that will continue expanding a storyline that probably has no defined endpoint or goal in mind. I’m weary of this kind of storytelling. Even within a large mythology like Star Wars, surely the ideal is still one really good story, right? Must we be fed carefully planned, market-driven plot twists and reveals, end-credits sequences that are supposed to make us eager for the next installment, a story that can never actually go anywhere, because the prime directive is that it continues forever?
Anyway. Here are some thoughts about Light of the Jedi.
After a few introductory chapters in which everyone who is introduced dies by the end of the chapter, the novel gets started in earnest with a countdown to a catastrophe. Though I had no particular reasons to care about any of the characters at this point, I found Charles Soule’s pacing quite good—tense, energetic, intriguing. Once that part ends, though, the novel languishes considerably. Characters I don’t know and can barely remember from one scene to the next go off on separate adventures, most of which feel very much like things that have already happened somewhere or other in Star Wars. The conclusion of the novel is, predictably, ye olde “Now I’ll pull off my mask and reveal my true devious plan (more or less), laugh evilly, and give you a glimpse of my scary ancient weapon, which I bet you weren’t expecting to see, were you? Mwa-ha-ha.” Not surprising, but mildly interesting, I guess.
A major problem with this book (and probably ultimately the High Republic era overall) is right in the title: Jedi. “To Elzar Mann, what the Jedi were was nowhere near as interesting as what they could be” (247). I’m with Elzar on this one. Only four Jedi have ever been interesting: 1) Obi-Wan (Alec Guiness) in Episode IV; Yoda in Episode V; Kanan and Ezra in Rebels. This book introduces a whole collection of interchangeable Jedi, and they’re as fascinating as any Jedi in the prequels. Jedi are best as rōnin, not as Knights of the Round Table.
One of the things I dislike about Star Wars books is their assumption that “Well, we may look totally different on the outside, but deep down, we’re all basically human, right?” So here we get a chapter focusing on a Wookiee Jedi, and it all just feels uncomfortably weird to think that deep down a Wookiee has exactly the same feelings a human does. Why even bother making various species for the characters if it really has nothing to do with the characters or the story? All it does is make it hard to remember what each character looks like. Star Wars is not known to be anthropologically rich storytelling, but still, couldn’t some effort be made to imagine bigger differences between species?
Another problem is also related to the Jedi: the idea of the “light side” of the Force. Originally, there was no “light side”; there was “the Force,” and there was “the dark side of the Force,” a corrupt approach to or wrongful use of abilities granted by the Force. But in the Disney era, there is increasingly a contrary idea, that there is a light side and a dark side of the Force, which presumably are equal and always in a dualistic conflict with each other. Those two concepts of the Force, pre- and post-Disney, are very different. The more SW adopts this dualistic aspect of the mythology, the less interested I’m going to be. It’s not what SW was built on from the start, and it renders much of the original trilogy less meaningful than it was supposed to be.
My final complaint is another recurring SW problem: that the idea of a galactic government is not only unquestioningly accepted as the greatest goal, but here in the High Republic, for some reason it’s working.
It is the time of the High Republic: a peaceful union of like-minded worlds where all voices are heard, and governance is achieved through consensus, not coercion or fear. It is an era of ambition, of culture, of inclusion, of Great Works. Visionary Chancellor Lina Soh leads the Republic from the elegant city-world of Coruscant, located near the bright center of the Galactic Core. (3)Oh, come on. This is something you can only write with a straight face if you’re not really thinking about it at all. By the end of this novel, even, the cracks in this perfect society are starting to show, and even “visionary Chancellor Lina Soh” seems to be either clueless or intentionally insidious. Star Wars authors so rarely ask the questions that I would find the most interesting.
Despite all these criticisms, this wasn’t the worst SW book ever (Aftermath trilogy; Last Shot). But after all the hype about this new era of storytelling, I was disappointed that so much of the book feels not only like stuff that’s already happened before but stuff that doesn’t need a new era. Most of the events in this story would fit with no problems within the Empire era. I guess what I really want is not an era a little before the prequels, but something way, way farther back, something with more of a primitive, steampunk feel. Barring that, I’d prefer to read about any of the other Force-sensitive beings in the galaxy, who have been hinted at in other books but never yet foregrounded as main protagonists. Just please, no more Jedi Council, whatever era.
Footnote: Anyone who works a lot on Star Wars, or is a friend of George Lucas’s, is eventually likely to get their own SW character with a thinly disguised name. I like that in Light of the Jedi, Pablo Hidalgo has finally received his SW name: “renowned Jedi architect Palo Hidalla” (369). :)
February 27, 2020
I literary cannot believe that LucasFilm's strategy to save the franchise that they screwed up (even with the hundreds of million of dollars they had) is to hire a bunch of random unknown authors who I have never heard of before to write books so they can see which characters resonate and then adapt those characters to the big screen. So that if those films are bad they can-what?-turn around and say that the audience asked for it, and then blame them again for spending the money on the comics and the books and leading them on?
I mean, at this point they really need to replace the CEO of LucasFilm like pronto. I mean I'm not one of those out of control crazy haters of Kathleen Kennedy but this is really beyond a joke at this point. Taika Waititi or Jon Favreau or Dave Filoni need to be promoted stat to take control of this ship: I cannot stand watching something being almost purposely steered into an ice-berg. Like, what kind of business strategy is this? Let me tell you how to fix it. Get a good writer and director, outline the next films to a tee, maybe switch it from three films to five for more character development, find an original storyline that doesn't rely on nostalgia and bobs your Uncle you're good to go. I mean this was in the folder titled, SAVE THE FRANCHISE IDEAS???!!!
Give me strength, I can't even...
I'll let this movie critic on YouTube do the breakdown for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7atw...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2021
I enjoyed reading this one (have the audiobook also) and it kept me up late into the night to finish.
It's Star Wars so a well-known universe for me and with just enough new characters and locales to keep me interested. A terrifically easy read. I was surprised (but likely shouldn't have been) that I was so invested in the characters that whether they were of the Republic or Nihil, I cared when any of them met their end. My favourite characters were Captain Bright, Master Te'Ami, Kassav, Marchion Ro, Padawan Bell Zettigar, Master Loden Greatstorm and Chancellor Lina Soh (kinda like Chrisjen Avasarala of The Expanse without the profanity because this is Star Wars; the voice used on the audiobook even sounds like a riff on her.) Surprisingly, I found the two main Jedi, Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann to be almost... forgettable given everything and everyone else. They're gifted in the Force in different and complementary ways, beautiful and apparently had a thing when they were Padawans.
My worth mentioning criticism is that I thought that time played out in a weird way in this book. There were threads unfurling in various locations but one remained pretty static and just made it feel like it was either happening very slowly (which seemed impossible because each time a chapter came back to that place, the story picks up in the same scene we last left it) or everything, everywhere else was going at hyper speed (which also seemed unlikely because in those chapters many things happened and characters actually travelled from place to place and major events were taking place... like battles). I enjoyed all the threads but the weirdness of the timeframe just remained in the back of my mind. Also, the story basically stops, it's definitely not a real conclusion as there are many open doors to further stories. I happen to be interested in what happens next through all those doors, so that was fine for me but if you're looking for a tied-up story, be advised that's not what's happening here.
This is my first read by Soule and I'd definitely read another by him. I'll definitely read the next in this series by Claudia Gray. I have it already and the setting is the space station Starlight Beacon. I love a space station story and this one is described in such a way in this book that I can't resist.
Recommended.
It's Star Wars so a well-known universe for me and with just enough new characters and locales to keep me interested. A terrifically easy read. I was surprised (but likely shouldn't have been) that I was so invested in the characters that whether they were of the Republic or Nihil, I cared when any of them met their end. My favourite characters were Captain Bright, Master Te'Ami, Kassav, Marchion Ro, Padawan Bell Zettigar, Master Loden Greatstorm and Chancellor Lina Soh (kinda like Chrisjen Avasarala of The Expanse without the profanity because this is Star Wars; the voice used on the audiobook even sounds like a riff on her.) Surprisingly, I found the two main Jedi, Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann to be almost... forgettable given everything and everyone else. They're gifted in the Force in different and complementary ways, beautiful and apparently had a thing when they were Padawans.
My worth mentioning criticism is that I thought that time played out in a weird way in this book. There were threads unfurling in various locations but one remained pretty static and just made it feel like it was either happening very slowly (which seemed impossible because each time a chapter came back to that place, the story picks up in the same scene we last left it) or everything, everywhere else was going at hyper speed (which also seemed unlikely because in those chapters many things happened and characters actually travelled from place to place and major events were taking place... like battles). I enjoyed all the threads but the weirdness of the timeframe just remained in the back of my mind. Also, the story basically stops, it's definitely not a real conclusion as there are many open doors to further stories. I happen to be interested in what happens next through all those doors, so that was fine for me but if you're looking for a tied-up story, be advised that's not what's happening here.
This is my first read by Soule and I'd definitely read another by him. I'll definitely read the next in this series by Claudia Gray. I have it already and the setting is the space station Starlight Beacon. I love a space station story and this one is described in such a way in this book that I can't resist.
Recommended.
December 2, 2021
This is a surprisingly original and fascinating entry into the SW canon, avoiding much of the trap of old character pressure by simply giving us a rip-roaring space adventure during the height of the Republic, 200 years before Phantom Menace.
But wait, no fall of the republic? How could that be interesting?
Trust me, bro. It is. Mass tragedy suddenly brings out the best in people, and the ones who answer that biggest call are the Jedi, and they're smart heroes. You know, a bright and optimistic answer to a horribly dark time. Almost like this book was kinda made for us, here and now, to address something that we lack.
Better than all that, however, is the fact that the plot remains unique, its villains interesting, its MCs memorable. In short, it was better-than movie-worthy, with all the bigger-than-life events and heroism.
If you're looking for a bit of optimism in your reading diet, I totally recommend this.
But wait, no fall of the republic? How could that be interesting?
Trust me, bro. It is. Mass tragedy suddenly brings out the best in people, and the ones who answer that biggest call are the Jedi, and they're smart heroes. You know, a bright and optimistic answer to a horribly dark time. Almost like this book was kinda made for us, here and now, to address something that we lack.
Better than all that, however, is the fact that the plot remains unique, its villains interesting, its MCs memorable. In short, it was better-than movie-worthy, with all the bigger-than-life events and heroism.
If you're looking for a bit of optimism in your reading diet, I totally recommend this.
March 27, 2021
Ever since I suffered through The Last Jedi, I have been irritated with Disney because of what they did to Star Wars. If you know me, you may be surprised by that; after all, wasn't I known for fandoms such as Lizzie McGuire or Suite Life throughout high school? While I'm not going to completely boycott the House of Mouse, I'll stick to what Lucas' space opera was before they butchered it.
I didn't know before opening this book that it tied into the new movies; if I had, I wouldn't even have bothered with it. Still, I made a special request from a library in a different city, so, I figured: Why not?
This will probably be the last time I read a book from the new canon. I still think someone should give Star Wars a reboot, and bring the Thrawn trilogy to the big screen. Now, there's great space opera!
I didn't know before opening this book that it tied into the new movies; if I had, I wouldn't even have bothered with it. Still, I made a special request from a library in a different city, so, I figured: Why not?
This will probably be the last time I read a book from the new canon. I still think someone should give Star Wars a reboot, and bring the Thrawn trilogy to the big screen. Now, there's great space opera!
January 7, 2021
The ambitious and explosive new chapter in the galaxy far, far away comes out of the gate at a dead sprint with Light of the Jedi. As a longtime Legends EU fan, it reminds me in a lot of ways of the New Jedi Order in its sheer scope as it kickstarts a new multi-year, multi-author storytelling initiative. But there’s enough originality in Light of the Jedi to set it apart as a fresh take on familiar Star Wars elements. In fact, just about everything in Light of the Jedi is delightfully and boldly a step into the unknown: a massive cast of memorable and charming characters, a villain who is just as much fun to spend time with as the heroes, and plenty of Force lore that will have you reexamining everything you thought you knew about the fundamentals of Star Wars.
All in all, this is a page turner unlike just about any other. It’s truly remarkable that Charles Soule managed to achieve a work of such tremendous quality in his very first prose Star Wars novel! That being said, there were plenty of stylistic choices along the way that left me feeling like some of his risks were a little too bold (such as the inexplicably blood-soaked Gungan pirate), but those moments were few and far between. Soule truly has cemented himself as one of the great writers to ever lend their talents to Lucas’s sandbox as he takes his first steps into a larger world. . . and as we do too as the High Republic is officially underway!
All in all, this is a page turner unlike just about any other. It’s truly remarkable that Charles Soule managed to achieve a work of such tremendous quality in his very first prose Star Wars novel! That being said, there were plenty of stylistic choices along the way that left me feeling like some of his risks were a little too bold (such as the inexplicably blood-soaked Gungan pirate), but those moments were few and far between. Soule truly has cemented himself as one of the great writers to ever lend their talents to Lucas’s sandbox as he takes his first steps into a larger world. . . and as we do too as the High Republic is officially underway!
December 15, 2020
4.5/5
I was given access to the first three High Republic novels in exchange for an honest review. And let me just say that the future of Star Wars is bright. Set 200 years before the prequel era, Light of the Jedi is the first novel in the High Republic publishing initiative. Written by Charles Soule (Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith), this is a high intensity, high stakes novel. It's still Star Wars, but it also feels quite different. The Jedi are in their prime and they can do things we've never seen before. Likewise, there's new villains, The Nihil, who become more and more interesting as the book goes on. This is an exciting new frontier to explore and if you want something new and free from the constraints of the movies, this is the most cinematic experience I've had with the canon novels to date.
My full thoughts can be read in the link below. Cheers!
https://screenhub.blog/2020/12/15/sta...
I was given access to the first three High Republic novels in exchange for an honest review. And let me just say that the future of Star Wars is bright. Set 200 years before the prequel era, Light of the Jedi is the first novel in the High Republic publishing initiative. Written by Charles Soule (Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith), this is a high intensity, high stakes novel. It's still Star Wars, but it also feels quite different. The Jedi are in their prime and they can do things we've never seen before. Likewise, there's new villains, The Nihil, who become more and more interesting as the book goes on. This is an exciting new frontier to explore and if you want something new and free from the constraints of the movies, this is the most cinematic experience I've had with the canon novels to date.
My full thoughts can be read in the link below. Cheers!
https://screenhub.blog/2020/12/15/sta...
April 21, 2023
[ESP/ENG]
En todo el atrio, con las estrellas de fondo, se activaron las espadas láser. Centenares, en todos los colores de la Orden Jedi, saludando en alto .
Desde el espacio, en el exterior de la estación, cualquiera que mirase vería un brillo brotando de un precioso círculo abierto en su corazón, ahuyentando la oscuridad.
La luz de los Jedi.
Star Wars ha dado mucho durante mucho tiempo, cosas buenas, cosas malas, cosas que marcaron a varias generaciones. Últimamente se ha "cerrado" la saga Skywalker, aunque se siguen sacando productos intermedios. Pero había que buscar algo diferente, algo que nos alejara de aquello. Y esta nueva etapa, La alta República, viene a ocupar este puesto.
La alta República es una época pasada, situada unos 200 años antes de la saga Skywalker (yo hubiera preferido que optaran por irse al futuro, pero acepto la propuesta), en la que la República galáctica y la Orden Jedi están en su época más esplendorosa. La República está gobernada por Lina Soh, canciller con grandes planes para unificar de manera completa la galaxia, con el mantra "La República somos todos" por bandera. La Orden por su parte cuenta con miembros en diferentes puestos, y están en un momento de paz. Ambas partes van a culminar el proyecto Baliza starlight, un centro de gobierno y de orden para todo el borde exterior.
El problema viene cuando la nave Ruta legado sufre un accidente mientras viaja por el hiper espacio, explotando en esa situación y causando una verdadera tragedia en la zona (no preocuparse por spoilers, esto es el primer capítulo), y mientras todos intentan ayudar aparecen un grupo llamado Los Nihil, sin saber muy bien cuál es su papel en todo esto.
Esta novela tiene un papel complicado, ya que no solo debe presentar una ingente cantidad de personajes desconocidos (aunque habrá aquí y allá algún apellido que nos suene, y sobre todo lugares comunes en el universo Star Wars) sino que debe introducirnos en esta nueva saga que se promete extensa y larga, con novelas, cómics y hasta algo de tele. Y para mí cumple de sobra en este cometido. Cierto es que habiendo tantos personajes no se pueden desarrollar mucho, pero eso irá pasando en otras obras. Aquí cada uno es presentado y se le otorga ciertas características. En especial me ha gustado Avar Kris y su particular unión con la fuerza, y Porter Engle, El cuchillo de Bardotta (¿Se puede molar más con un nombre?), un Jedi con una peculiar filosofía.
En cuanto a otras cosas que me han gustado está la forma en que vemos esta etapa galáctica. Si ya vimos diferencia entre la saga original y las precuelas, aquí todo es más nuevo, más brillante, más bonito si cabe. Y las nuevas naves, aunque sean quizá para vender más juguetes, me han parecido interesantes, los Vigalarga y los Vectores venderán juguetes seguro. Y por supuesto, y no podía faltar, ver el empleo de La Fuerza a una escala tan grande, como en el momento depósito de Tibanna, o para crear una tormenta con la Fuerza.
En los aspectos negativos, destacaré dos en concreto, y por eso no le doy la máxima puntuación. Uno de ellos es el grupo de villanos. Que sí, que estéticamente son chulos, que cuando pierden se hace más placentero, pero venir de los Sith y sus formas para encontrarnos con una panda de desarrapados, drogatas y malos porque elundo les ha hecho así, pues me deja igual que estaba. Y el segundo punto es el tema del hiper espacio. Me resulta muy interesante lo que se cuenta de su funcionamiento , pero no me gusta nada el cómo lo usan los villanos, ni el hecho de que
En definitiva, una buena forma de empezar algo nuevo, seguiré con ello sin duda (de hecho empecé primero con los cómics, pero seguiré con lo demás)
-------------------
(Sorry in advance if some word don't match up, I've read it translated)
All over the atrium, with the stars in the background, lightsabers were activated. Hundreds, in all the colors of the Jedi Order, saluting high from space. Outside the station, anyone looking would see a glow springing from a beautiful open circle in its heart, driving away the darkness.
The light of the Jedi.
Star Wars has given a lot for a long time, good things, bad things, things that marked several generations. Lately the Skywalker saga has been "closed", although intermediate products continue to be released. But we had to look for something different, something that would take us away from that. And this new stage, The High Republic, comes to occupy this position.
The high Republic is a bygone era, located about 200 years before the Skywalker saga (I would have preferred that they choose to go to the future, but I accept the proposal), in which the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order are at their most splendid. . The Republic is ruled by Lina Soh, a chancellor with grand plans to completely unify the galaxy, with the mantra "We are all the Republic" as a banner. The Order on the other hand has members in different positions, and they are in a moment of peace. Both parties will complete the Starlight Beacon project, a center of government and order for the entire Outer Rim.
The problem comes when the Route Legacy ship suffers an accident while traveling through hyperspace, exploding in that situation and causing a real tragedy in the area (don't worry about spoilers, this is the first chapter), and while everyone tries to help, a group called The Nihil appears, without knowing very well what their role is in all this.
This novel has a complicated role, since not only must it present a huge number of unknown characters (although there will be here and there a surname that sounds familiar to us, and obviously common places in the Star Wars universe) but it must also introduce us to this new saga, that promises to be extensive and long, with novels, comics and even some TV. And for me it fulfills more than enough the assignment. It is true that having so many characters they cannot be developed much, but that will happen in other books. Here each one is presented and given certain characteristics. I especially liked Avar Kris and her particular union with the force, and Porter Engle, Bardotta's Blade (Can a name be more cool?), a Jedi with a peculiar philosophy.
As for other things that I liked is the way we see this galactic stage. If we have already seen the difference between the original saga and the prequels, here everything is newer, brighter, more beautiful if possible. And the new ships, although they are perhaps to sell more toys, have seemed interesting to me, the Long Beam and the Vectors will sell toys for sure. And of course, and it could not be left out, seeing the use of The Force on such a large scale, as in the Tibanna deposit, or to create a storm with the Force.
In the negative aspects, I will highlight two in particular, and that is why I do not give it full marks. One of them is the group of villains. Yes, aesthetically they are cool, when they lose it becomes more pleasant, but coming from the Sith and their ways, to meet a bunch of ragged, drug addicts and bad guys because the universe has made them that way, well, it leaves me the same as I was. And the second point is the issue of hyperspace. I find it very interesting what is said about its functioning , but I do not like how the villains use it, nor the fact that
In short, a good way to start something new, I will continue with it without a doubt (in fact I started first with the comics, but I will continue with the rest)
En todo el atrio, con las estrellas de fondo, se activaron las espadas láser. Centenares, en todos los colores de la Orden Jedi, saludando en alto .
Desde el espacio, en el exterior de la estación, cualquiera que mirase vería un brillo brotando de un precioso círculo abierto en su corazón, ahuyentando la oscuridad.
La luz de los Jedi.
Star Wars ha dado mucho durante mucho tiempo, cosas buenas, cosas malas, cosas que marcaron a varias generaciones. Últimamente se ha "cerrado" la saga Skywalker, aunque se siguen sacando productos intermedios. Pero había que buscar algo diferente, algo que nos alejara de aquello. Y esta nueva etapa, La alta República, viene a ocupar este puesto.
La alta República es una época pasada, situada unos 200 años antes de la saga Skywalker (yo hubiera preferido que optaran por irse al futuro, pero acepto la propuesta), en la que la República galáctica y la Orden Jedi están en su época más esplendorosa. La República está gobernada por Lina Soh, canciller con grandes planes para unificar de manera completa la galaxia, con el mantra "La República somos todos" por bandera. La Orden por su parte cuenta con miembros en diferentes puestos, y están en un momento de paz. Ambas partes van a culminar el proyecto Baliza starlight, un centro de gobierno y de orden para todo el borde exterior.
El problema viene cuando la nave Ruta legado sufre un accidente mientras viaja por el hiper espacio, explotando en esa situación y causando una verdadera tragedia en la zona (no preocuparse por spoilers, esto es el primer capítulo), y mientras todos intentan ayudar aparecen un grupo llamado Los Nihil, sin saber muy bien cuál es su papel en todo esto.
Esta novela tiene un papel complicado, ya que no solo debe presentar una ingente cantidad de personajes desconocidos (aunque habrá aquí y allá algún apellido que nos suene, y sobre todo lugares comunes en el universo Star Wars) sino que debe introducirnos en esta nueva saga que se promete extensa y larga, con novelas, cómics y hasta algo de tele. Y para mí cumple de sobra en este cometido. Cierto es que habiendo tantos personajes no se pueden desarrollar mucho, pero eso irá pasando en otras obras. Aquí cada uno es presentado y se le otorga ciertas características. En especial me ha gustado Avar Kris y su particular unión con la fuerza, y Porter Engle, El cuchillo de Bardotta (¿Se puede molar más con un nombre?), un Jedi con una peculiar filosofía.
En cuanto a otras cosas que me han gustado está la forma en que vemos esta etapa galáctica. Si ya vimos diferencia entre la saga original y las precuelas, aquí todo es más nuevo, más brillante, más bonito si cabe. Y las nuevas naves, aunque sean quizá para vender más juguetes, me han parecido interesantes, los Vigalarga y los Vectores venderán juguetes seguro. Y por supuesto, y no podía faltar, ver el empleo de La Fuerza a una escala tan grande, como en el momento depósito de Tibanna, o para crear una tormenta con la Fuerza.
En los aspectos negativos, destacaré dos en concreto, y por eso no le doy la máxima puntuación. Uno de ellos es el grupo de villanos. Que sí, que estéticamente son chulos, que cuando pierden se hace más placentero, pero venir de los Sith y sus formas para encontrarnos con una panda de desarrapados, drogatas y malos porque elundo les ha hecho así, pues me deja igual que estaba. Y el segundo punto es el tema del hiper espacio. Me resulta muy interesante lo que se cuenta de su funcionamiento , pero no me gusta nada el cómo lo usan los villanos, ni el hecho de que
En definitiva, una buena forma de empezar algo nuevo, seguiré con ello sin duda (de hecho empecé primero con los cómics, pero seguiré con lo demás)
-------------------
(Sorry in advance if some word don't match up, I've read it translated)
All over the atrium, with the stars in the background, lightsabers were activated. Hundreds, in all the colors of the Jedi Order, saluting high from space. Outside the station, anyone looking would see a glow springing from a beautiful open circle in its heart, driving away the darkness.
The light of the Jedi.
Star Wars has given a lot for a long time, good things, bad things, things that marked several generations. Lately the Skywalker saga has been "closed", although intermediate products continue to be released. But we had to look for something different, something that would take us away from that. And this new stage, The High Republic, comes to occupy this position.
The high Republic is a bygone era, located about 200 years before the Skywalker saga (I would have preferred that they choose to go to the future, but I accept the proposal), in which the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order are at their most splendid. . The Republic is ruled by Lina Soh, a chancellor with grand plans to completely unify the galaxy, with the mantra "We are all the Republic" as a banner. The Order on the other hand has members in different positions, and they are in a moment of peace. Both parties will complete the Starlight Beacon project, a center of government and order for the entire Outer Rim.
The problem comes when the Route Legacy ship suffers an accident while traveling through hyperspace, exploding in that situation and causing a real tragedy in the area (don't worry about spoilers, this is the first chapter), and while everyone tries to help, a group called The Nihil appears, without knowing very well what their role is in all this.
This novel has a complicated role, since not only must it present a huge number of unknown characters (although there will be here and there a surname that sounds familiar to us, and obviously common places in the Star Wars universe) but it must also introduce us to this new saga, that promises to be extensive and long, with novels, comics and even some TV. And for me it fulfills more than enough the assignment. It is true that having so many characters they cannot be developed much, but that will happen in other books. Here each one is presented and given certain characteristics. I especially liked Avar Kris and her particular union with the force, and Porter Engle, Bardotta's Blade (Can a name be more cool?), a Jedi with a peculiar philosophy.
As for other things that I liked is the way we see this galactic stage. If we have already seen the difference between the original saga and the prequels, here everything is newer, brighter, more beautiful if possible. And the new ships, although they are perhaps to sell more toys, have seemed interesting to me, the Long Beam and the Vectors will sell toys for sure. And of course, and it could not be left out, seeing the use of The Force on such a large scale, as in the Tibanna deposit, or to create a storm with the Force.
In the negative aspects, I will highlight two in particular, and that is why I do not give it full marks. One of them is the group of villains. Yes, aesthetically they are cool, when they lose it becomes more pleasant, but coming from the Sith and their ways, to meet a bunch of ragged, drug addicts and bad guys because the universe has made them that way, well, it leaves me the same as I was. And the second point is the issue of hyperspace. I find it very interesting what is said about its functioning , but I do not like how the villains use it, nor the fact that
In short, a good way to start something new, I will continue with it without a doubt (in fact I started first with the comics, but I will continue with the rest)
January 17, 2021
A great story, that while slow in some parts, great expands the Star Wars universe. Also, finally, a novel with Jedi featured prominently in it lol, I know a lot of folxs like non-Jedi stories from the Star Wars universe, but they just aren’t for me. I think Disney has been really stingy with the Jedi since they bought out SW, but it seems like maybe things are finally changing.
There were many deaths in this book, some of which I wish hadn’t happened (a certain Jedi Master who died near the end of the book especially...) but it did give the book a good edge that I think really helped to make it more enjoyable. Jora Malli and Avar Kriss were definitely my favorite Jedi, but the Nihil were cool too. Loden Greatstorm seemed a little.... dudebro lol but I’m excited to see where his arc goes.
My one complaint would be I wish this had art in it like the Stormlight books do. It would have helped immensely with picturing the non-human characters and the ships. Plus it would just be cool lol, but oh well. Can’t have it all I guess.
There were many deaths in this book, some of which I wish hadn’t happened (a certain Jedi Master who died near the end of the book especially...) but it did give the book a good edge that I think really helped to make it more enjoyable. Jora Malli and Avar Kriss were definitely my favorite Jedi, but the Nihil were cool too. Loden Greatstorm seemed a little.... dudebro lol but I’m excited to see where his arc goes.
My one complaint would be I wish this had art in it like the Stormlight books do. It would have helped immensely with picturing the non-human characters and the ships. Plus it would just be cool lol, but oh well. Can’t have it all I guess.
January 19, 2021
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/01/17/...
So, what is The High Republic? In publishing terms, it’s a new Star Wars franchise campaign spanning books, comics, and other print media exploring the stories set during the golden age of the Jedi. In the context of the Star Wars timeline, the period known as the High Republic occurred approximately 200 years before the “Skywalker saga” movies, a hopeful and optimistic time in which the galaxy experienced an idyllic epoch of relative peace and prosperity.
But not everyone is content with the way the Republic Senate governs, nor do they share the core worlds’ admiration of the Jedi, the renowned order of Force users who serve as their enforcers. As Star Wars: Light of the Jedi opens, the Republic’s influence is growing ever stronger, leading to the expansion of their hyperspace lanes into the Outer Rim, awakening a threat that has been slowly growing. When a deadly catastrophe tears a ship apart whilst in hyperspace, whole systems are put in danger as large pieces of debris are flung out almost at random across the galaxy, acting as explosive projectiles that can level whole worlds. Immediately, the Jedi are called upon to help. The establishment of a new Republic outpost in the Outer Rim hangs in the balance, and unless the situation is defused, billions would go without the benefits it could offer.
Enter the Nihil, a criminal organization of killers and raiders based in the Outer Rim territories who see themselves as the storm to withstand the intrusion of the Galactic Republic. Led by the mysterious Eye of the Nihil who has reason to see the Republic fail, this shadowy order has allied themselves with pirates and other gangsters to impinge rescue efforts and sabotage the mission of the Jedi while sowing more chaos and death across the galaxy.
For many reasons, Light of the Jedi is an important book. As the first novel of The High Republic, it needs to make the best impression possible. It’s also clear to see why the series creators have chosen this time period for the setting. Completely separate from any of the films or TV shows, the High Republic era provides a brand-new opportunity for innovative storytelling without the risk and hassle of tangling itself in any of the other timelines. And from a marketing perspective, it’s a chance to expand the Star War audience, or even introduce movies-only fans to the print medium.
But for those of us who have been reading Star Wars books for years—decades, even—the bar is admittedly set pretty high. For that reason, I wouldn’t say Light of the Jedi swept me off my feet, and if I’m to be completely honest, I would have expected a little more from a launch title. That said, I’ve read worse, and to the novel’s credit, it’s a decent opener. I think we can safely say the dark days of crappy tie-ins are behind us, as readers have come to be much less forgiving of bad writing and throwaway plotlines. Charles Soule, who made his name as a comic book writer before becoming a novelist, is one of the “top-tier, fan-favorite” authors tapped for this project, and kudos to him, he’s taken a “thriller” approach to writing this story, which I found refreshing.
However, this style also brings its own problems, mainly that it introduces a lot of viewpoints, some of them fleeting as multiple characters are used as plot fodder and then promptly thrown away. Scene transitions are also numerous as the storyline jumps around, following an ensemble cast. Personally, this was my biggest issue with the book. My favorite Star Wars novels tend to only revolve around one or two major principal characters, and if there are more, you’d better hope they’re all equally interesting and well-written. Unfortunately, Light of the Jedi stumbles in this area, throwing up a bunch of new characters, though none of them are really all that unique or completely developed. By the end of the book, the most memorable to me was the villain, because he was the only one to make a lasting impression.
Still, neither old fans nor prospective readers should write this one off just yet. I’ve enjoyed Soule’s writing in the past, and books like The Oracle Year and Anyone made me appreciate his imagination and wit. I think he brought some excellent ideas with him to the Star Wars universe, and while I might not have fared well with the storytelling style in Light of the Jedi, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. If you’ve ever wondered about the expanded world of Star Wars beyond the screen or been tempted to dip your toes into the franchise’s tie-in fiction, this is the most perfect chance you’ll ever get.
So, what is The High Republic? In publishing terms, it’s a new Star Wars franchise campaign spanning books, comics, and other print media exploring the stories set during the golden age of the Jedi. In the context of the Star Wars timeline, the period known as the High Republic occurred approximately 200 years before the “Skywalker saga” movies, a hopeful and optimistic time in which the galaxy experienced an idyllic epoch of relative peace and prosperity.
But not everyone is content with the way the Republic Senate governs, nor do they share the core worlds’ admiration of the Jedi, the renowned order of Force users who serve as their enforcers. As Star Wars: Light of the Jedi opens, the Republic’s influence is growing ever stronger, leading to the expansion of their hyperspace lanes into the Outer Rim, awakening a threat that has been slowly growing. When a deadly catastrophe tears a ship apart whilst in hyperspace, whole systems are put in danger as large pieces of debris are flung out almost at random across the galaxy, acting as explosive projectiles that can level whole worlds. Immediately, the Jedi are called upon to help. The establishment of a new Republic outpost in the Outer Rim hangs in the balance, and unless the situation is defused, billions would go without the benefits it could offer.
Enter the Nihil, a criminal organization of killers and raiders based in the Outer Rim territories who see themselves as the storm to withstand the intrusion of the Galactic Republic. Led by the mysterious Eye of the Nihil who has reason to see the Republic fail, this shadowy order has allied themselves with pirates and other gangsters to impinge rescue efforts and sabotage the mission of the Jedi while sowing more chaos and death across the galaxy.
For many reasons, Light of the Jedi is an important book. As the first novel of The High Republic, it needs to make the best impression possible. It’s also clear to see why the series creators have chosen this time period for the setting. Completely separate from any of the films or TV shows, the High Republic era provides a brand-new opportunity for innovative storytelling without the risk and hassle of tangling itself in any of the other timelines. And from a marketing perspective, it’s a chance to expand the Star War audience, or even introduce movies-only fans to the print medium.
But for those of us who have been reading Star Wars books for years—decades, even—the bar is admittedly set pretty high. For that reason, I wouldn’t say Light of the Jedi swept me off my feet, and if I’m to be completely honest, I would have expected a little more from a launch title. That said, I’ve read worse, and to the novel’s credit, it’s a decent opener. I think we can safely say the dark days of crappy tie-ins are behind us, as readers have come to be much less forgiving of bad writing and throwaway plotlines. Charles Soule, who made his name as a comic book writer before becoming a novelist, is one of the “top-tier, fan-favorite” authors tapped for this project, and kudos to him, he’s taken a “thriller” approach to writing this story, which I found refreshing.
However, this style also brings its own problems, mainly that it introduces a lot of viewpoints, some of them fleeting as multiple characters are used as plot fodder and then promptly thrown away. Scene transitions are also numerous as the storyline jumps around, following an ensemble cast. Personally, this was my biggest issue with the book. My favorite Star Wars novels tend to only revolve around one or two major principal characters, and if there are more, you’d better hope they’re all equally interesting and well-written. Unfortunately, Light of the Jedi stumbles in this area, throwing up a bunch of new characters, though none of them are really all that unique or completely developed. By the end of the book, the most memorable to me was the villain, because he was the only one to make a lasting impression.
Still, neither old fans nor prospective readers should write this one off just yet. I’ve enjoyed Soule’s writing in the past, and books like The Oracle Year and Anyone made me appreciate his imagination and wit. I think he brought some excellent ideas with him to the Star Wars universe, and while I might not have fared well with the storytelling style in Light of the Jedi, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. If you’ve ever wondered about the expanded world of Star Wars beyond the screen or been tempted to dip your toes into the franchise’s tie-in fiction, this is the most perfect chance you’ll ever get.
February 15, 2021
**I received an advance review copy from Del Rey. Thank you to Del Rey for sending me a copy of the book to read and review!
**Check out Friends of the Force for a nearly 3 hour spoiler discussion on this book! https://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com/...
We first learned about Project Luminous (which would eventually be announced as The High Republic) all the way back at Star Wars Celebration Chicago in April 2019. It's been a long road to get to the point of reading this book, but I'm so glad it's here!
LIGHT OF THE JEDI takes us to a time of the glorious High Republic, a time 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace where the peaceful Republic is flourishing and the Jedi are thriving. Chancellor Lina Soh implements Great Works, major projects that work to benefit citizens of the Republic and help those not yet a part of it. Stationed in the Outer Rim, the brand-new Starlight Beacon is one such project. But not all is well when a ship gets torn apart in hyperspace, hurtling ship fragments into nearby planetary systems and threatening entire planets. This spurs the Republic and the Jedi into action, working to stop what seems like an unknowable threat...
The book serves as an introduction to this time frame, showing us the disaster all the while establishing the galaxy and its inhabitants. LIGHT OF THE JEDI is action packed and bursting with details that help us to further understand how this time period in Star Wars is different from the movies we all know and love.
What I loved most about this book were all the awesome Jedi we were introduced to throughout the story. While I find that I can be cynical about the Order itself, each Jedi is loveable, and I see readers favorites all over the board. Standouts for me include Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, Loden Greatstorm and Bell Zettifar, and Buryaga. I find it hard to narrow it down to just a few! Charles Soule does a great job making each Jedi unique, sharing many of the ways that they interpret the Force differently. Avar Kriss sees the Force as a song, whereas Elzar Mann sees the Force as an endless sea. As someone who loves the “Fishing in the Deluge” story from Ken Liu’s THE LEGENDS OF LUKE SKYWALKER and how it introduced the Force as the Tide, these different interpretations of the Force are delightful. And because we are introduced to so many Jedi, we get to see the bones of many exciting relationships to come in future stories.
The Nihil as the villains are also exciting (and scary!) additions to the Star Wars universe. A group of marauders, they are led by Marchion Ro, who has access to an ability that makes the group unlike any other group of rogues in the galaxy. They are unlike the Star Wars villains of the past that are governmental, bureaucratic, or Sith. Rather, they are outsiders who will do whatever they can to achieve their goals of money and power in the galaxy. They are unexpected, and their tactics are often legitimately frightening. I can’t wait to see more from them!
My one major criticism of this book is that it can easily get a bit jumbled. Despite having read the book and taken notes and knowing Star Wars pretty well, I still left with a few questions relating to the timeline of the disaster. I hope that in the future, we’ll get a clear timeline (perhaps literally an image) of how time passes and the order of the stories, even if they overlap. Despite this, I didn’t have much trouble putting the pieces together as the story went on, and don’t think that it brings the book down in any major way.
Readers who enjoy character-driven stories might not gravitate toward this story, since it focuses on laying the groundwork for all the stories to come, but I still believe that the foundation will be really important going forward. The book takes us to an imaginative new time that feels both familiar and daringly new, all with a really thrilling story that just zips by. This book also serves as a great entry point to the Star Wars fan who hasn't picked up the books yet! Ultimately, I'd highly recommend LIGHT OF THE JEDI to any fan who's ready to try a story in a brand new time and go beyond what they know of Star Wars!
**Check out Friends of the Force for a nearly 3 hour spoiler discussion on this book! https://www.friendsoftheforcepod.com/...
We first learned about Project Luminous (which would eventually be announced as The High Republic) all the way back at Star Wars Celebration Chicago in April 2019. It's been a long road to get to the point of reading this book, but I'm so glad it's here!
LIGHT OF THE JEDI takes us to a time of the glorious High Republic, a time 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace where the peaceful Republic is flourishing and the Jedi are thriving. Chancellor Lina Soh implements Great Works, major projects that work to benefit citizens of the Republic and help those not yet a part of it. Stationed in the Outer Rim, the brand-new Starlight Beacon is one such project. But not all is well when a ship gets torn apart in hyperspace, hurtling ship fragments into nearby planetary systems and threatening entire planets. This spurs the Republic and the Jedi into action, working to stop what seems like an unknowable threat...
The book serves as an introduction to this time frame, showing us the disaster all the while establishing the galaxy and its inhabitants. LIGHT OF THE JEDI is action packed and bursting with details that help us to further understand how this time period in Star Wars is different from the movies we all know and love.
What I loved most about this book were all the awesome Jedi we were introduced to throughout the story. While I find that I can be cynical about the Order itself, each Jedi is loveable, and I see readers favorites all over the board. Standouts for me include Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, Loden Greatstorm and Bell Zettifar, and Buryaga. I find it hard to narrow it down to just a few! Charles Soule does a great job making each Jedi unique, sharing many of the ways that they interpret the Force differently. Avar Kriss sees the Force as a song, whereas Elzar Mann sees the Force as an endless sea. As someone who loves the “Fishing in the Deluge” story from Ken Liu’s THE LEGENDS OF LUKE SKYWALKER and how it introduced the Force as the Tide, these different interpretations of the Force are delightful. And because we are introduced to so many Jedi, we get to see the bones of many exciting relationships to come in future stories.
The Nihil as the villains are also exciting (and scary!) additions to the Star Wars universe. A group of marauders, they are led by Marchion Ro, who has access to an ability that makes the group unlike any other group of rogues in the galaxy. They are unlike the Star Wars villains of the past that are governmental, bureaucratic, or Sith. Rather, they are outsiders who will do whatever they can to achieve their goals of money and power in the galaxy. They are unexpected, and their tactics are often legitimately frightening. I can’t wait to see more from them!
My one major criticism of this book is that it can easily get a bit jumbled. Despite having read the book and taken notes and knowing Star Wars pretty well, I still left with a few questions relating to the timeline of the disaster. I hope that in the future, we’ll get a clear timeline (perhaps literally an image) of how time passes and the order of the stories, even if they overlap. Despite this, I didn’t have much trouble putting the pieces together as the story went on, and don’t think that it brings the book down in any major way.
Readers who enjoy character-driven stories might not gravitate toward this story, since it focuses on laying the groundwork for all the stories to come, but I still believe that the foundation will be really important going forward. The book takes us to an imaginative new time that feels both familiar and daringly new, all with a really thrilling story that just zips by. This book also serves as a great entry point to the Star Wars fan who hasn't picked up the books yet! Ultimately, I'd highly recommend LIGHT OF THE JEDI to any fan who's ready to try a story in a brand new time and go beyond what they know of Star Wars!
March 3, 2022
"Light of the Jedi" was fairly entertaining. 300 years BBY (Before Battle of Yavin) it was the time of the High Republic.
At some point during the High Republic, certain member planets came under a devastating attack. This attack was led by a group calling themselves the Nihil. The Nihil have a special ability to just appear out of hyperspace using no known hyperspace lanes. The Jedi are called in to help fight the Nihil.
No more spoilers. A good story and I appreciated the way the Force was described. I also appreciated the fact that while Jedi are very powerful they are not indestructible. Both the concepts of the Force and how various Jedi use it were well explained and the story, overall, was entertaining. While nothing major this is a good addition to the Star Wars lore.
At some point during the High Republic, certain member planets came under a devastating attack. This attack was led by a group calling themselves the Nihil. The Nihil have a special ability to just appear out of hyperspace using no known hyperspace lanes. The Jedi are called in to help fight the Nihil.
No more spoilers. A good story and I appreciated the way the Force was described. I also appreciated the fact that while Jedi are very powerful they are not indestructible. Both the concepts of the Force and how various Jedi use it were well explained and the story, overall, was entertaining. While nothing major this is a good addition to the Star Wars lore.
January 16, 2021
Vaya por delante que el narrador es BRUTAL. Vale, una vez dicho esto, el libro es MUY entretenido PEROOOOO los personajes son planos y hay demasiados. No hay ningún protagonista, ni desarrollo de personajes, ni nada. El único, uno de los malos que, al final de todo, evoluciona un poco. El resto muy gris y disperso. Demasiado disperso en genreal, de hecho. Es demasiado obvio que es un inicio para ver qué tal va el tema y se nota demasiado que es un encargo, no tiene alma.
Pese a todo, pasa muy rápido y el arranque es brutalísimo. Una pena que no apostaran por un (quizá un par) prota y un malo bien desarrollado.
Es como una peli de Roland Emmerich.
Pese a todo, pasa muy rápido y el arranque es brutalísimo. Una pena que no apostaran por un (quizá un par) prota y un malo bien desarrollado.
Es como una peli de Roland Emmerich.
September 1, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up⭐️
STAR WARS AUTUMN IS HERE!!!! I feel as though I could write a thesis on this book because I have a lot of thoughts and feelings. It was up to Charles Soule to develop and set the scene for a completely new era of Star Wars and I’m sure that was such an intimidating task. I thought he did an incredible job, but I did struggle at times. Here are some things that I wish I knew before reading:
1. This is not a character driven book.
The primary focus of this book seems to be establishing a brand new setting and because of that we get so. many. povs. Jedis, chancellors, villains, miners, pilots, civilians, etc! I couldn’t keep everyone straight in my mind until 70-75%. The main character of this story is the storyline itself.
2. The pacing is CHOPPY.
There were moments early on where I had chills and my heart was racing, but then the next chapter would be a political, world-building slog. As soon as I would adjust to one storyline, we’d be onto the next. It definitely rage baited me sometimes by leading the reader to the peak of the action and then abruptly switching povs.
3. Even though it’s a golden age for the jedi, this is not a lighthearted story.
The book starts with a crisis and we take off from there. I actually DNF-ed the book a few months ago because of this, but once I knew the Depressing Space Vibes™️, I picked it back up and loved it so much more.
And with the housekeeping aside, LET ME GUSH FOR A SEC. Here are some things I loved:
-This fandom is refreshingly diverse. It does so well to highlight humanity in all its forms.
-The literal crumb (more like half a crumb) of romance had me FERAL
-We explore the force in an all new way that is FASCINATING
-AVAR KRISS. ELVAR MANN. THEM THEM THEM.
-The villain of this era is FASCINATING
-I love Bell
Ultimately this was giving major “set up” energy, but I am leaving this book with a complete grasp on the state of the High Republic. I trusted the process and the process did not disappoint. It truly just took 70% of the book and one DNF to get here. I have heard that literally every other book in The High Republic is character driven. Pls give me Claudia Gray and pls give me avarelvarr content NOW!!!!!
I cannot wait to continue!!🌌💫💥🛸
STAR WARS AUTUMN IS HERE!!!! I feel as though I could write a thesis on this book because I have a lot of thoughts and feelings. It was up to Charles Soule to develop and set the scene for a completely new era of Star Wars and I’m sure that was such an intimidating task. I thought he did an incredible job, but I did struggle at times. Here are some things that I wish I knew before reading:
1. This is not a character driven book.
The primary focus of this book seems to be establishing a brand new setting and because of that we get so. many. povs. Jedis, chancellors, villains, miners, pilots, civilians, etc! I couldn’t keep everyone straight in my mind until 70-75%. The main character of this story is the storyline itself.
2. The pacing is CHOPPY.
There were moments early on where I had chills and my heart was racing, but then the next chapter would be a political, world-building slog. As soon as I would adjust to one storyline, we’d be onto the next. It definitely rage baited me sometimes by leading the reader to the peak of the action and then abruptly switching povs.
3. Even though it’s a golden age for the jedi, this is not a lighthearted story.
The book starts with a crisis and we take off from there. I actually DNF-ed the book a few months ago because of this, but once I knew the Depressing Space Vibes™️, I picked it back up and loved it so much more.
And with the housekeeping aside, LET ME GUSH FOR A SEC. Here are some things I loved:
-This fandom is refreshingly diverse. It does so well to highlight humanity in all its forms.
-The literal crumb (more like half a crumb) of romance had me FERAL
-We explore the force in an all new way that is FASCINATING
-AVAR KRISS. ELVAR MANN. THEM THEM THEM.
-The villain of this era is FASCINATING
-I love Bell
Ultimately this was giving major “set up” energy, but I am leaving this book with a complete grasp on the state of the High Republic. I trusted the process and the process did not disappoint. It truly just took 70% of the book and one DNF to get here. I have heard that literally every other book in The High Republic is character driven. Pls give me Claudia Gray and pls give me avarelvarr content NOW!!!!!
I cannot wait to continue!!🌌💫💥🛸
January 5, 2021
They knew what they were doing when they had Charles Soule lead off The High Republic era in storytelling. In “Light of the Jedi,” he weaves a compelling plot with convincing villains and high stakes. In a previously unexplored part of the timeline, he puts on a clinic in world-building and introduces an entirely new cast of characters (well, almost – some Jedi live a long time, after all) who draw the reader in and don’t let go. A great story on its own, it also does an incredible job setting the table for the rest of The High Republic stories to follow.
January 12, 2021
I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to this. I found the marketing a bit confusing. But I was immediately absorbed into the story, and I absolutely could not stop reading. I’ll admit I used a wiki a few times to keep characters straight in my mind, but I’m bad at that type of thing.
I loved the way this story came to a close and I’m beyond excited for more of this.
I loved the way this story came to a close and I’m beyond excited for more of this.
January 5, 2021
Full disclosure, I've not read any other Star Wars novels yet apart from the film novelisations. So perhaps I need to adjust my expectations. I didn't dislike this book at all - it was fine, but hasn't really left me wanting more. The plot is ok, the events described should have gripped me more than they did. I struggled to engage with any of the characters - Bell was probably the most interesting to me. I'm not sure I could name all of them at this point! The writing feels a bit more suited to a comic or graphic novel, it's quite stilted and would probably translate better to comic panels.
I would have given it three stars and honestly, I don't mean to give it a wholly negative review, it was fine for an afternoon read. The ending was a disappointment for me - it felt abrupt and a bit rushed. I think I'll revisit this review once I've read the next installment in the series as it will hopefully flow better at that point.
I would have given it three stars and honestly, I don't mean to give it a wholly negative review, it was fine for an afternoon read. The ending was a disappointment for me - it felt abrupt and a bit rushed. I think I'll revisit this review once I've read the next installment in the series as it will hopefully flow better at that point.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,981 reviews