Star Wars: Light of the Jedi (The High Republic)

Charles Soule

Jan 2021 · Star Wars: The High Republic Book 1 · Sold by Random House Worlds

About this ebook

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 Republic 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.

Ratings and reviews

You'll have to look past some pretty glaringly odd writing choices to appreciate the story buried in Light of the Jedi. Understand going in that the first 100 pages or so are essentially a prologue novella before the real plot begins. Several of the more interesting characters are killed off, while the least engaging, like Avar Kriss, will lull you to sleep. This book isn't in a hurry to get anywhere fast, and it wants you to know that. Despite this, there's a lot that should be enjoyable, but then there's a tangled up mess of prose. Soule stretches his sentence structure in peculiar ways, not to mention inorganic exposition. You'll learn about how a famous singer was born on a planet and moved to Alderaan during the opening - does this relate to anything going on? No, it doesn't, nor do several countless other odd factoids and asides that are as peculiar as phrases like "it sounded like...consequences". A fairly standard case of a poor execution of good ideas. If you just gotta read it? Do yourself a favor, wait for it to be on sale - all this new Star War stuff usually goes for cheap a few months down the line.

Generally speaking I enjoyed this book, loved that characters once it decided to focus on a few. The baddies were an interesting choice curious to see where it goes with those guys. I see some negative reviews about it being to woke/sjw while I agree about certain things being pushed now days this didn't feel that way at all to me. My biggest and pretty much only complaint about the whole "High Republic" is it being set 200ish years prior to the Prequels which is waaaay to close to make sense. I get maybe they wanted a relevant character to still exist like any of the long lived species (Yoda or Wookie's for example) but really why a jedi is enough to connect the feeling of Star Wars. Obi-wan told Luke the Jedi had protected the Old Republic for over a 1000 generations before the Empire. Over a thousand generations and 200 years is the "High" point right.....and they didn't even have lightspeed down yet??? So put a 0 behind that 200 and I'd be a happy camper for what I'd expect out of a super corporatized book.

Not the worst star wars book I have had the pleasure of reading but no where near the best either. I did enjoy the slow build up and how there were many different Jedi with distinct personalities. If there is one thing the book does right it is build up suspense. but unfortunately that suspense always killed when Avar Kriss is around. She is used as a deus ex machina since she is first introduced. Since then she is constantly is praised by all, always does the impossible, and never fails. This is odd and seems to fly in the face of the rest of the cast as they all seems to go through some level of struggle, and growth as the story progresses. It's clear she is being set up to be the main character of this new high republic, it's just such a shame she is so dull. I would not recommend this book unless you were a massive star wars fan that has already read the better books that this franchise has to offer

About the author

Charles Soule is a Brooklyn, New York-based novelist, comic book writer, musician, and attorney. His novels include The Oracle Year and Anyone: A Novel. While he has worked for DC and other publishers, he is best known for writing Daredevil, She-Hulk, Death of Wolverine, and various Star Wars comics from Marvel Comics (Darth Vader, Poe Dameron, Lando and more), and his creator-owned series Curse Words (with Ryan Browne) and Letter 44 (with Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque).