Cover reveal: The final book in The High Republic: 'Trials of the Jedi'
Plus: February's Star Wars releases.
It’s almost time for the Trials of the Jedi
Last week, author Charles Soule revealed the cover for Trials of the Jedi — the final book in The High Republic. It’s gorgeous, of course, and I love that the color scheme hints at a bittersweet but hopeful ending.
I’m still in denial that The High Republic will be over in four months. This era of Star Wars storytelling has been a huge part of my life and career over the last four years. I wouldn’t be where I am today, getting paid to do the things I love, if I hadn’t requested to read and review Light of the Jedi way back in December 2020. Though it’s not yet over, I’m already getting the itch to reread The High Republic all over again.
Along with the cover — hello, Elzar Mann’s arms — we also got the synopsis for the book. It’s official: We’re going back to Planet X. I’m not ready, but I cannot wait.
Publisher’s Summary
In this epic conclusion to Star Wars: The High Republic, the Jedi face a final confrontation against the Nihil and Marchion Ro.
The Force is everything. A single life connected to all life. All things connected to all other things. This is what the Jedi believe, and this is why they fight. For life . . . and the light.
For too long, the light has been threatened by Marchion Ro, a sinister despot who will stop at nothing in his quest for power. The conflict with Ro and his marauding Nihil forces has left scars across the galaxy and held the Republic hostage. Countless lives have been lost, beacons of hope have fallen, and the collective courage and resolve of the Republic have been tested like never before. Through it all the Jedi Order has endured, an unwavering candle against the encroaching darkness.
But the Jedi have yet to solve the mystery of the Nameless creatures who feed on the Force. Ro has loosed them upon the galaxy, striking fear into the heart of even the most stalwart Jedi. And yet with every life saved and world freed from Nihil control, the all-consuming blight, which devours everything wherever it appears, threatens to wipe it all away.
Everything now depends on nine brave Jedi, led by Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, who embark on a treacherous journey to the Nameless homeworld. Their quest: to finally solve the mystery of the Nameless and their connection to the Force, and to stop the blight before its damage becomes irreversible.
But a final confrontation with Marchion Ro awaits. Ro, who is willing to sacrifice everything he’s achieved to secure a final victory against the Jedi and carve his name into the very stars for all time.
Nothing less than the fate of everything, perhaps even the Force itself, is at stake.
The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi by Charles Soule arrives on June 17, 2025.
February’s Star Wars releases
Okay, February, I see you and all your new Star Wars books and comics. This month has a ton of exciting Star Wars stories to add to your TBR, including the first book in the Reign of the Empire trilogy, another wave of Essential Legends books, and the first comic in the newest and last High Republic comic series.
*Links are from my Storefront, where I earn commission on purchases.
Feb. 4
Essential Legends Collection
Feb. 5
Legacy of Vader #1
Feb. 12
The High Republic Adventures (2023) #15
Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch: Ghost Agents #1
Feb. 19
Ahsoka #8
The High Republic: Fear of the Jedi #1
Feb. 25
Feb. 26
The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation #1
Reading updates and a book haul
It’s been so long since I’ve had a book haul this good. After a day spent at our niece’s first birthday party, we stopped at my favorite used bookstore in the area — Goodwill Books. There are two of these stores about an hour from where I live, so anytime I’m south of the Skyway Bridge I have to visit at least one of them. And I’m so glad I did this weekend because their shelves were full of pristine Star Wars Legends books. I picked up a few that I didn’t already own, plus three hardcover Murderbot books. Now I just need to get System Collapse and Fugitive Telemetry to complete the set.
When we got home, I had an ARC copy of The Mask of Fear waiting for me in my mailbox. This came from one of my mutuals on Instagram and TikTok — Corey a.k.a. grimdark_dad. He asked me if I had a physical ARC and if I wanted his copy from New York Comic-Con for my collection, so obviously I said “hell yes.”
January recap
A Monsoon Rising: Absolutely obsessed with this Reylo-inspired political fantasy by Thea Guanzon. This is the second book and it’s even better (and spicier) than the first.
Chaotic Orbits #1 and #2: Reread Full Speed to a Crash Landing to refresh my memory and then read How to Steal a Galaxy. These punchy, snarky, sexy sci-fi novellas are incredibly bingeable and full of angsty tension and dystopian political commentary. Oh, and they’re written by Beth Revis of Rebel Rising and The Princess and the Scoundrel fame.
Rogue One: The film novelization was the perfect first pick for my Space Wizards Book Club on Fable — now 100 members strong! We’re going to pick our next read this week, so come join us to read Star Wars books.
To Avenge a Fallen Star: Author Qilanna Quinn reached out to me on TikTok to see if I was interested in reading her new dystopian sci-fi romance novel. Absolutely I was, and I had so much fun reading this first book in a new series. It’s giving a little Hunger Games and Divergent in a brutal futuristic sci-fi setting with a heartwarming romance at the center. It’s also super twisty with elements that’ll make Star Wars readers happy. Release date: March 25
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader: We welcome this post-Revenge of the Sith novel to the Essential Legends Collection on Feb. 4. It’s got a pretty new paperback and a new unabridged audiobook narrated by Marc Thompson. This book was exactly what I’ve been looking for — a deeper dive into Vader’s conflicting, pain-filled thoughts in the earliest days after Order 66 and the creation of the Empire.
Iron Flame: Reread the second Empyrean book to prepare for Onyx Storm. Surprisingly, I liked it more the second time around, this time via audiobook.
Currently reading
Legendborn
Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear
Onyx Storm
Zodiac Academy 7: Heartless Sky
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