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

By Charles Soule

Star Wars: Light of the Jedi (The High Republic) - Charles Soule
  • Release Date: 2021-01-05
  • Genre: Science Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 1,049 Ratings

Description

#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.

Reviews

  • A bit of a slog

    2
    By sterling_anderson
    I really wanted to like it, but this book never pulled me in. All the Jedi characters in particular were interchangeable and not memorable. I found it very difficult to remember who was who. There were a few sections that were good, but in general it was a chore to make it through the whole thing.
  • me like lightsaber

    5
    By me.like.
    me like lightsaber
  • Not well written

    1
    By HardCharger
    A long drawn out story of one event, repetitious and boring. There are better written stories that don’t harp on one thing; constant drivel. Skip over this boring story.
  • Fantastic introduction to a new era of Star Wars lore

    4
    By Cyberrezz
    Lots to unpack here. Several likable and believable characters. Respect for existing Star Wars lore. An interesting villain group that still needs some more exploration of their motives. The story itself is nice, even though part I is the best part of the book. If you like Star Wars, though, there’s a lot for you here. I’m still a bit confused by the timeline in Part II, there are several events that feel impossible to have happened in parallel. Overall though, a great read. Highly recommended if you plan on getting into the High Republic era material.
  • Loved it!

    5
    By Tanzlied.
    I thought it was a great read.
  • Disappointing

    2
    By Imperator_of_Terra
    Honestly I’m not sure what I expected… I’ve heard good and bad about this book, but it ended up being a disappointment on both fronts. The story itself just feels bland, and the prose is a little on the juvenile side. The dialogue was passable at best, but it was also stilted and lacked personality. Every Jedi character feels completely interchangeable and most characters felt underdeveloped. And lastly the plot of the story was unremarkable with bland world building. Ultimately I’d say this book was pretty bland, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve read. I doubt I’ll even remember most of it a month from now. It’s disappointing to see this lack of quality from something like Star Wars…
  • Phenomenal

    5
    By Georgeous Gorge
    Absolutely fantastic! As a fan of the previous legends content I was nervous about the new canon, but this book recaptures the mystic nature of the Jedi and their wonder. I found myself unable to put it down. Chapter after chapter only leads to a drive to understand the intricacies of all that’s happening in the wider scheme. The events felt real and the descriptions make you feel like you can touch what’s happening. I absolutely recommend it!
  • Interesting, and exciting!

    5
    By Skullej
    I found the story to be very reminiscent of 9/11 and it tackled something new in Star Wars. It’s a personal preference for some but I enjoyed how the book switched narratives, felt like a Star Wars movie. Would love to see this adapted into a film or show! Already have the second book ready :)
  • Excellent start to a new storyline

    5
    By EOOW
    I really enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it. I especially liked the multi media portion of this project because I can go online and see what these characters look like. I don’t have the best imagination so this definitely helps.
  • So good I’ve read it twice

    5
    By ninjasteve1
    Charles Soule kicks off the High Republic with a top notch story. I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I’ve read it twice already. The audiobook is great at well. Marc Thompson is a ridiculously talented voice artist. If you’re looking for where to start when it comes to The High Republic, look no further. Yes, there are a lot of names and characters, but once you get the swing of it, this book gets grooving. It feels incredibly cinematic. I wish they would turn this into a movie.
  • Great story but too choppy

    4
    By SciTeach3
    I really loved this story and the start of new Cannon but the close of the story was too chopped up. I understand building suspense but there were too many chapter breaks picking up another story line. It felt like the frustration you get watching a good TV movie with too many commercials breaking up the pace. That all being said, I'm excited for where the series will go next!
  • Kinda dumb…

    3
    By Mcmuzzle
    I read a lot of Star Wars. I wanted this to be Star Wars… it’s kinda not. Mostly boring. New Thrawn trilogy is better.
  • Very good

    5
    By TigersJC86
    This is my 2nd time reading this book and I enjoyed it a lot more. I did use a guide with some characters to help me keep them all in line and am very excited for the next book.
  • Great Star Wars read

    4
    By Retlaw03
    This was a well-paced introduction to a new time in the Star Wars universe. The reveals feel earned and with an appropriate amount of Deus ex machina for Star Wars through luck and The Force. It’s interesting to meet the new characters and especially to see the Jedi Order at a height of capability we haven’t previously seen. It’s fascinating to think about what we might get to read or see that will bridge this time to the time of the The Phantom Menace and the movies.
  • The Light Ahead

    5
    By PonThaDon
    Exciting start to a new era of Star Wars.
  • First Star Wars book I've ever read that really felt like a movie!

    5
    By BlindGeek
    I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this book. What I got was something that truly felt like a Star Wars movie in literary form. I know, there are novelizations of all of the Star Wars films—but those _better give me that movie feeling; they're adapted from screenplays, after all. This, though ... I could see the movie in my mind's eye—not just a splinter of it, but the whole thing!—and this book barely pauses to let you catch your breath. There are characters I can't wait to read more about—mostly Jedi—and I must say, the ending left me pounding my chair-arm in frustration at having to wait Yoda-knows-how-long for the sequel! ... There's another book in the series, but it's by a different author, so I'm not expecting many of the same characters to be involved. In any event, Lucasfilm has definitely won me over with this new Star Wars era. We are all the Republic!
  • OK Story

    3
    By groperfish
    OK story. Very juvenile. Great if your 12 and love anything STAR WARS related.
  • Amazing

    5
    By Johnnies the best
    I love Star Wars and reading Star Wars books too. I normally enjoy ones with more action than suspense but this book was just amazing. So suspenseful and so many different story arcs that it kept things interesting and when things changed perspectives it was always so much fun. Almost all the characters had good stories and the book just keeps going and going and going. I loved it 100/10
  • Brilliant!!

    5
    By ghost of ragnar
    Although there is a very divided fan base towards today’s Star Wars, it take a real fan to embrace all the stories that are brought to life for our entertainment. It surely takes courage to branch out into an area which will surely take a lot of critique. With that said, I found this novel to be brilliant, refreshing and intuitive. I felt especially connected to all characters based off of their introductions along with the escalation of the story. I cannot wait to read the additions to this story.