Star Wars High Republic Light of the Jedi book review

Star Wars is not just a few movies. Star Wars is an entire universe that just got a lot bigger. Placed a couple hundred years before the events of the movies, the High Republic is a blank slate, with endless possibilities. A new start for the franchise. This is it. Written by Charles Soule, Light of the Jedi ushers us into a new era, and seamlessly introduces us into a world full of many new trials and tribulations.

Plot

It all starts with a catastrophe never before seen in the Star Wars universe. An experienced pilot is just going on a run-of-the-mill transport task when disaster strikes. She is on a normal flight through a hyperspace lane when the unspeakable happens. Suddenly, a routine trip in a place safe for hundreds of years has turned into an attempt on the lives of everyone in the ship, and soon to be many more. The captain has to make a desperate play to save her crew and her passengers, with worldwide ramifications.

“Emergences” start falling out of hyperspace. UFOs of all types going at near lightspeed and not slowing down are on target to hit things across the outer rim of the galaxy. A puzzle never seen before that our new heroes have to solve in a make or break moment for the republic. People of all types uniting together to save worlds in the name of the republic, in a race against the clock. The Emergences are unpredictable monstrosities trying to rob billions of people of their lives, but not if the prospering republic have something to say about it. The world has been instantly plunged into chaos, and the outlook is bleak.

Villains

The Nihil have always reveled in the chaos. Causing destruction everywhere they go, the small gang has been impossible to predict. Always a step ahead of their pursuers, the Nihil are no ordinary marauders. These ruthless murderers and destroyers wear grotesque masks, ride storms, do drugs, and listen to deafeningly loud rock music. They are the source of many republic myths, and really bad people, if they even are people. They fight for a purpose. They fight for freedom. Led by the “Eye” who provides them with the “paths”, they exist to maim the galaxy, embezzle credits, and crush establishment, but some of them have ulterior motives. Using their edges over the rest, the Nihil are hidden killers outside the minds of the public, until now. There has been a catastrophe never before seen in the Star Wars universe, making now the perfect time to strike.

Heroes

The villains are dangerous, but Light of the Jedi is about heroes. Charles Soule makes being a hero fun. Not a typical thing for Star Wars, the High Republic is full of heroes, which is a very welcome change. Almost every chapter contains new challenges and creates many heroes of the republic. Nothing our heroes do is easy, which makes victory sweet, and heroic sacrifices that much sweeter. In Star Wars heroes are confined to the shadows, but in Light of the Jedi, our heroes take the spotlight. Taken from all places, they group up to do things we could never imagine, with each page being a new adventure. It’s truly inspiring.

Closing

Light of the Jedi is a story that inspires hope. Written in a positive tone, it is beautiful and motivating. Even though it takes place long long ago in a galaxy far far away, it restored my faith in humanity. They work together as people for what they believe in and accomplish incredible things. Across their entire republic, they are united in their beliefs in each other as people, and bind together to make a difference. Their collective working in tandem creates heroes from all walks of life, making the world a better place. While this book is fiction, nothing they do is impossible for us if we can unite. With everything going on the world, the Light of the Jedi is a necessary reminder of what we could be. We all need some motivation right now, and the Light of the Jedi gave us that in spades.