Book Review: Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Light

 

Into the Light, published in 2025, is (as of this writing) one of the newest entries in the High Republic era of Star Wars novels. It was written by Claudia Gray, who has penned several of the books in the series. This is a young adult novel set in Phase III of the High Republic era. It follows the events of the novel, Tears of the Nameless, in which Nihil leader Marchion Ro indicated that he could cure the mysterious blight that has been destroying various worlds. The Jedi are still working towards finding their own cure for the blight and how to counteract the effects of the creatures that the Nihil use to kill the Jedi, the Nameless/Levelers. Much of the story in this novel is set on the Wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk. Characters such as Reath Silas, Bell Zettifar, and Burryaga play significant roles in the story. Yoda makes an appearance as well, but is not integral to the storyline. The novel also reintroduces several ancillary characters, including Nan, Azlin Rell, and Avon Starros. While dealing with the blight is the primary storyline element, the Drengir are significant antagonists in the story.

The hardcover version of the novel is moderately long, coming in at 360 pages. The story flows pretty well, but there are a lot of characters that you need to keep track of, and if you have not read the other novels in a while, you may need to reacquaint yourself with who is who. While this is a young adult novel, it can also be enjoyed by adults. It is partially a standalone story, but it does tie back to earlier novels and introduces some story elements that may connect to the subsequent books. So, while I do not think it is the best novel set in the High Republic era, it is worth reading, especially if you have enjoyed the overall storyline told in the various books.