'Trials of the Jedi' review: Long live The High Republic
A spoiler-free review of the last book in The High Republic.
There was never a doubt in my mind that I would love Trials of the Jedi, the last novel in The High Republic publishing initiative. I didn’t have theories about what would happen, but I did anticipate feeling bittersweet sadness that these stories were finally coming to an end.
Trials of the Jedi exceeded all of my expectations. It’s an epic finale with harrowing action sequences that don’t let up through the book’s 448 pages. The novel by Charles Soule (who began The High Republic with Light of the Jedi) is also full of incredibly satisfying climaxes and endings to the stories of the most beloved characters in the era. It’s a beautiful ending and one that made me want to immediately turn back to page 1 and start it all over again.
I can’t wait for the rest of the world to read this book on June 17. I’m sharing this non-spoiler review now because 1. the embargo is up, and 2. I finished Trials of the Jedi over a week ago and need to express my feelings before I explode.
Calling Trials of the Jedi special is a vast understatement. I don’t think I’ve ever read a Star Wars book as quickly as this one, and I doubt I’ve cried more with any other novel than with Trials of the Jedi. Don’t worry, they weren’t all tears of sadness or heartbreak. Most of them came in the last third of the book, as I read some of the most achingly beautiful moments in all of Star Wars.
We’ve been getting answers to all the biggest questions presented in The High Republic throughout Phase 3 — about the Nameless, the blight, the true motives of the Nihil and their mercurial Eye, Marchion Ro, and the purpose of the Jedi in an ever-changing galaxy. Going into Trials of the Jedi — and assuming you’ve read all the previous books in the series — the question was how the Jedi and Republic would finally win the war and save the galaxy from the nihilistic Marchion Ro.
After years of conflict with the Nihil, the Jedi and the entire galaxy have endured countless losses and devastating blows. The Nihil, through the machinations of Marchion Ro, have disrupted decades of peace and prosperity with marauding, murder, mayhem, and monstrous creatures. The fall of Starlight Beacon and then the Nameless brought the Jedi to their knees. Then the blight turned entire planets to dust. It’s all connected, and in Trials of the Jedi, it’s up to nine courageous Jedi to bring the Nameless creatures home in hopes of stopping the blight and saving the galaxy. At the same time, millions of people are fleeing the blight — some become refugees, but many more are killed by the Force-eating plague. And on Eriadu, the Republic clashes with the Nihil one last time.
This is the point where I tell you that reading the young adult books and Phase 2 are very much essential to understanding how it all ends in Trials of the Jedi. And now, having read the entirety of The High Republic (well, I am still catching up on the comics), I’m an even firmer believer in not skipping a single book, comic, or story in this era. To reiterate: Trials of the Jedi is not a standalone book, and you’d be remiss to skip any books, especially ones in Phase 3.
I’ll have more plot-specific thoughts on release day, though that review will still be relatively spoiler-free. Trials of the Jedi is best enjoyed going in blind, beyond the knowledge of the previous 27 books. It’s the culmination of a decade of work by Lucasfilm Publishing director Mike Siglain, whose idea sparked The High Republic we know and love today, and the 10 authors who brought this era to luminous life.
After more than two dozen books and dozens more comics and short stories, High Republic fans have been clamoring for hints about how it will all end. And, perhaps more importantly, will Trials of the Jedi deliver a moving, action-packed, and satisfying conclusion? As someone who’s been reading and reviewing these books since the beginning, Soule unequivocally stuck the landing.
Each character — all Nine Jedi and many more — gets their moments to shine. Juggling so many characters and making sure each has resonating story beats is a feat of storytelling that Soule excels at in Trials of the Jedi. The fate of the galaxy feels just as important as individual characters’ spiritual journeys and relationships. The way all of their stories end, I believe, will make High Republic fans very happy.
Trials of the Jedi is a masterpiece of Star Wars storytelling. I truly can’t think of a better way to end the series that means so much to me and others around the world.
My only criticisms are related to the release order of the books and comics in Phase 3, not the stories themselves. While Trials of the Jedi is the last book in The High Republic, there are still a few comics that will be published after it. Specifically, The High Republic Adventures and The High Republic — The Finale: The Beacon, a one-shot comic that is the ultimate final story in the era. Many of the arcs in those comics are wrapped up in Trials of the Jedi, so I’m interested to see their impact after Trials. It was also interesting to see The Acolyte: Wayseeker come out before Trials of the Jedi, since one long-lived character’s fate was revealed in the former novel. I read Wayseeker before Trials of the Jedi, and I don’t consider the plot point to be a spoiler, but to each their own.
Five stars doesn’t feel like enough for Trials of the Jedi. The characters, the stories, these books — they mean more to me than I could ever properly put into words. And I’ve had to privilege of talking to Mike Siglain, Charles Soule, and all the other High Republic authors and thanking them for these stories. You’ll get to read the culmination of my High Republic work later this month in Star Wars Insider 232.
This book, the High Republic, is something rare. Something special. The High Republic and Star Wars books came to me at a time in my life when I so desperately needed them — I didn’t know it at the time, but these books would change my life. They still are changing my life, providing raw and real and relatable stories that get me through my darkest days. Trials of the Jedi, and The High Republic in general, are about fierce hope and light amid unwavering darkness. These books are about the golden age of the Jedi and how they changed the galaxy — and how the galaxy changed them. They are about the belief in a better world, a brighter galaxy, no matter how unshakeable the darkness feels.
Thank you, Project Luminous.
Star Wars: The High Republic: Trials of the Jedi by Charles Soule will be released on June 17. Thanks, as always, to Random House Worlds for providing a review copy of Trials of the Jedi and for all the ARCs and books over the last four years.
Updated: The High Republic reading guide
My original review of Light of the Jedi on NetGalley — December 31, 2020. How far I’ve come in reviewing books!
"Light of the Jedi" comes with high expectations as the first book to explore the High Republic time period and to kick off a fresh new era of Star Wars. It delivers and then some, and ends on a juicy cliffhanger that has all the trappings to set up a new epic of stories and characters 200 years before the events of the prequel films.
During the High Republic, the Jedi Order was at the height of its power, influence, and size. The Jedi serve the Republic and its citizens, but they aren't a Force-wielding police force or "space monks," as some Outer Rim characters call them. The book shows some Jedi as almost ethereal beings that can tap into and wield a force of pure light and goodness. Others it shows as more human and flawed, but those flaws eventually grow into strengths as the Jedi are forced to confront a massive group of space pirates called the Nihil.
For both sides, there isn't just one main character in this book, there are about a dozen or more to follow, which is a bit overwhelming in the first several chapters. "Light of the Jedi" is both quintessential Star Wars adventure and a collection of philosophical statements about good vs. evil and the gray areas in between.
Set so far in the past, it doesn't directly connect to the Skywalker saga beyond casual mentions of a certain ancient Master Jedi. As such, it's a solid, fresh start for a new Star Wars saga that will hopefully, eventually set up and connect to shows like "The Acolyte." And, there are a bunch of scenes that made me want to take up studying the physics of light speed.
I really think that High Republic is going to be my next big Star Wars project. It certainly looks like a commitment. I finally finished reading and reviewing the New Jedi Order books and it took a lot longer than I planned. Stupid real world getting in the way.
I read your recommended reading order for the books, is there a certain spot where you mix the comics in? Or are the comics mixed in through all the phases?
Appreciate the spoiler free review! Can’t wait for it to come out! My question to you is, with the release date not far away, if there was one or two Phase 2 books that must absolutely be read prior to Trials of the Jedi, which ones would they be?