Book Review: Star Wars: Trials of the Jedi

 

Trials of the Jedi, published in 2025 and written by Charles Soule, is the conclusion to the High Republic era storyline involving the Jedi and the Republic's fight against the Nihil. Obviously, we know that Marchion Ro would have to be defeated for the Skywalker era to occur, but this details how he was taken down and finally reveals the full history of the Nameless creatures and how they are tied to the mysterious blight that has been devouring planets. It also (at least potentially) sets up how the Sith line that went through Palpatine may have started. Since the events in the book are set approximately 130 years before The Phantom Menace, there would have been time for a potential Sith reveal toward the end of the book to make sense. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 420 pages long. It was a fairly quick read, but not as fast as some of the other High Republic novels, mainly because the storyline shifts between several different settings. Most of the story is set on the Namless' homeworld, Planet X, but parts of it are set on the planet Eridau, on Coruscant (both in the Jedi Temple and the Senate building), and on a world being consumed by the blight. Ultimately, it is a good conclusion to the bulk of the High Republic story (the Acolyte era is considered the end of the High Republic, and there have already been a couple of novels set during that time). The storyline in the novel starts out a bit slow, but picks up well in the last third of the book. If you have enjoyed the prior novels set during the High Republic era, this one is absolutely worth reading.

Book Review: The World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones

 

The World of Ice and Fire was written by George R.R. Martin and published in 2014. It essentially summarizes the backstory for Game of Thrones (some of which has now been adapted into live-action through series such as House of the Dragon and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms) and is further fleshed out in the novel, Fire and Blood. A little under half of the book is devoted to the various Targaryen rulers. Then the events of Robert Baratheon's rebellion are discussed, and the remainder of the book explores the various Kingdoms that make up the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.  So, it basically stops sometime before the original TV series (and the Song of Ice and Fire books pick up). 

The hardcover version of the book is about 320 pages long. It is a very large and very heavy book. While it has many wonderful illustrations, it also has a lot of text. It is not a coffee-table book in which pictures make up a large percentage; it is basically an illustrated novel. It is not the easiest read, as there are a lot of characters, and it is hard to keep them all straight, especially when he is discussing the Targaryens, because they all have similar-sounding or identical first names. Martin does not foreshadow the ending of the Ice and Fire series when/if he ever finishes it (which is looking more and more unlikely as time goes by). For example, there is no hint at Jon Snow's lineage. Which, regardless of what he changes from the ending the TV series writers came up with, will probably not change. One thing that would have been better is a more detailed backstory on the White Walkers. The book mentions them multiple times, almost in passing, but we do not get their actual history.  Ultimately, if you are a fan of the Song of Ice and Fire books and/or the live-action adaptations, this is definitely worth reading.

Book Review: Star Wars: A Valiant Vow

 

A Valiant Vow, published in 2025, is a junior novel set during Phase III of the High Republic novels. It was written by Justina Ireland. It is set around the final battle between the Jedi/Republic and the Nihil. It is actually the second-to-last Phase III novel, leading up to the final adult book, Trials of the Jedi. In it, a group of Padawans and Younglings join Imri Cantaros, who is working to help people on the planet Archio, when the Nihil's Stormwall comes down. The Jedi have to deal with the Blight and Nihil scav droids, which begin attacking everything once the Stormwall is deactivated. Churro the Hutt, who was introduced in an earlier junior novel, is also heavily featured in this book. 

The hardcover version of the book is just over 260 pages, but it has some illustrations that reduce the substantive page count a bit. It read pretty quickly, and can easily be finished in a day or two. Ultimately, it is an okay side story, but not one I would classify as a must-read. 

Book Review: Edge of Honor (Scot Harvath Series #24)

 

Edge of Honor, published in 2025, is the 24th book in the long-running series of action thrillers centered around the character of Scot Harvath by author Brad Thor. Unlike most of the other novels in the series, the events in this book are set in the United States. In it, Harvath and his wife, Solvi, are thrust into the middle of what appears to be a terrorist attack near the Norwegian embassy, but it is quickly determined to be more than meets the eye. A series of interconnected attacks reveals a political conspiracy involving government officials that threatens to bring down the new President.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 320 pages. The style and tone are the same as the other novels in the series, so it will read as quickly or as slowly as those do (assuming you have read some or all of the prior books). The storyline in this book is mostly self-contained, so you can follow what is going on even if you haven't read the prior novels. However, it does help to have read the earlier books because by this point, the author does not rehash the backstories of the main characters; he just assumes readers know who everyone is. Ultimately, if you have enjoyed the prior books in the series or just enjoy the action-thriller/spy novel genre, this is worth reading.  

Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping

 

Sunrise on the Reaping, published in 2025, is the fifth novel in the Hunger Games series (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and the first prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) by author Suzanne Collins. It is the second if you read them in chronological order. This one is set around the 50th Hunger Games, or the Second Quarter Quell, which is the games that Haymitch (who would later become Katniss' mentor) won. It is set 24 years before the events of the original novel and details how Haymitch was selected during The Reaping, the plans to undermine the games, and the lengths President Snow would go to keep order and punish those who got out of line. It also explains Haymitch's personality and actions in the later books.

The hardcover version of the book is just over 380 pages. The style, tone, and pacing of the book are similar to the others in the series, so it will be as fast or slow a read as those if you have read the others. While the story in this book is mostly a stand-alone story you can follow without reading the other books, it does help, as the author assumes readers know the history of the games and the reason they are held, and does not rehash that part of the story. Collins does a very good job of making the story interesting and suspenseful, even though, if you have read the original trilogy, you know part of the outcome going in. Chances are, most people who will read this are already fans of the series. If you are, this is absolutely worth reading. If you are into dystopian future stories, this is also worth your time, but I would highly recommend reading at least the first novel in the series (The Hunger Games) before you read this one.

Book Review: Shadow of Doubt (Scot Harvath Series #23)

 

Shadow of Doubt, published in 2024, is the 23rd book in the series of action-thriller/spy novels by Brad Thor centered around the character Scot Harvath. The storyline in this one ties into the storyline of Harvath's revenge against the Russians and its fallout, which has carried over into several novels. In this one, a high-ranking Russian defector goes to Norway, where Harvath's fiancée, Solvi, becomes his handler. The CIA learns of the defection and puts pressure on Harvath to pass them information. Harvath learns that there was another Russian operative responsible for the death of his wife, and the defector is willing to provide the identity of the person, but wants something in return. There are a few side stories as well that tie into the main storyline, including a Russian conspiracy in France and the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 350 pages. Thor manages the storylines fairly well. My only fundamental critique is that he inconsistently jumps between them; sometimes a new chapter is a different storyline, and sometimes one storyline gets multiple chapters before switching to another. That can make things a bit hard to follow, but thankfully, the chapters are relatively short (most are five pages or less), so the storylines are not impossible to follow. The book has a good blend of action and suspense. While many of the books in the series are stand-alone and do not require reading the prior books to know what is going on, it does help to have read the novels from Spymaster onward. Ultimately, if you are a fan of action thrillers, spy novels, and/or the prior books in the series, this one is worth reading.

Book Review: Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers

 

Secrets of the Clone Troopers, published in 2024, is a Star Wars canon book written by Marc Sumerak and illustrated by Alberto Buscicchio. It is more of a "coffee table" book than a novel. It is primarily a picture book (similar to Secrets of the Jedi, Secrets of the Sith, and the Han Solo Icons book). The text details the history of the clone troopers from Captain Rex's point of view, sometime after the Battle of Endor and the Rebels' victory over the Empire. It highlights events from the troopers' creation (mainly focusing on events occurring during the Clone Wars animated series) to their eventual decommissioning after the Empire was formed. The illustrations depict the various characters as live-action versions of themselves (Temura Morrison as the clones, Hayden Christiansen as Anakin, Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine, and Ariana Greenbatt as young Ahsoka), rather than the animated versions from the Clone Wars series.

The hardcover version of the book is short, just about 30 pages long. It has many pictures, so it is a very quick read. It has some fold-out pages and inserts that can be a bit of a pain, which is my only real criticism. If you have watched the Clone Wars and Bad Batch animated series, you know most everything in the book. Ultimately, it is the kind of book that most people, especially casual Star Wars fans, will flip through rather than read it cover to cover. It is not one of the must-read books, but if you enjoyed the Clone Wars and, to some extent, the Bad Batch animated series, it is worth checking out.

Book Review: Never Flinch

 

Never Flinch, published in 2025, is a novel by Stephen King, set in Ohio, featuring the character of Holly Gibney. This is one of King's crime dramas/thrillers, rather than one of the supernatural horror stories he is known for. There are two storylines in this novel that mostly remain parallel until the end, when they intersect. In the first, Holly Gibney, the private investigator first introduced in the book Mr. Mercedes, is assisting a detective who is investigating a killer who threatens to kill 14 people, 13 innocents and one guilty, after an innocent man who was tried and convicted for a murder he did not commit is killed in prison. In the second, Gibney is hired to act as a bodyguard for a celebrity women's rights activist who is being stalked during a speaking tour.

The hardcover version of the book is a little over 430 pages. It reads pretty quickly, much like King's more recent novels, Holly, Fairy Tale, and Billy Summers. While the two storylines are mostly separate, King does a great job alternating between the two of them, so it is easy to keep track of what is going on in each one. While King does insert his political and social opinions into the book, I did not find it all that preachy (although people who disagree with his viewpoints probably will). As with many of King's books, there are a couple of twists in each storyline that are revealed over the course of the book. Ultimately, it is an entertaining book that is absolutely worth reading, especially if you are a fan of King's more "reality-based" novels or crime thrillers in general.

Book Review: Star Wars: Master of Evil

 

Master of Evil, by Adam Christopher and published in 2025, is, as of this writing, the newest Star Wars canon novel. The events in the book are set shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith, when Vader is the little-known mysterious enforcer and right-hand of Emperor Palpatine. Despite what you may think from the title and the cover, Darth Vader is not the main character of the book. The main character is actually a member of the Royal Guard (the red-robed masked characters who guard the Emperor) named Halland Goth. When Vader seeks to track down a force-wielding shaman, who reportedly has the power to raise the dead, Goth is tasked by the Emperor to watch Vader and report back on his actions. Of course, Vader is trying to figure out how to bring Padme back to life, but Goth also has a personal interest in Vader's mission, as he is dying from a terminal illness and believes that Vader holds the key to his survival. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 370 pages. It reads quickly, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish it in a few days (or less, depending on how much time you have to devote to reading). While Vader has a significant presence in the book, very little of it is written from his viewpoint. He is still treated like the mysterious Imperial background character, known more by reputation and rumor than by direct interaction. It would have been nice if the book had been written so we could learn more about what Vader was thinking and feeling. That said, the story does have some tie-ins to the Clone Wars, provides some more information about the Sith master-apprentice dynamic (which to me is a bit contradictory with what has come before, or at least would have made Darth Plagueis nearly impossible to kill), and does give some indication of what Vader was feeling after being encased in the suit (just not enough). Ultimately, it is a good book with a good story; it just wasn't as good as it could have been with some tweaks. I would not call it one of the must-read canon novels, but if you pick and choose which books to read, it is worth reading, but probably not worth reading multiple times.     

Book Review: The Road to Dune

 

The Road to Dune, published in 2005, is a book that details the process of making the Dune Saga. It contains a collection of deleted and alternate chapters for the original Dune novel and Dune Messiah. The book also features a collection of letters written by and to Frank Herbert detailing the process of getting the original book published. It concludes with a collection of short stories written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, which are also included in the book Tales of Dune.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages. It reads fairly quickly, especially if you have read the other novels in the series. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the original outline of a portion of the Dune novel, titled Spice Planet, which shows part of the overall story planned out but with less character development. And, many of the characters had totally different names and backgrounds. For example, House Atreides was called House Linkam, and the Harkonnens were called Hoskanner. It also has some elements that were removed from the final version of the book.

Ultimately, I would describe this as an interesting read, but not necessarily a must-read. If you have read the entire saga, then it gets close to must-read territory, as it provides a look into what was changed in the published novels from the original concept and a bit about the process of finding and collecting all the source material that would result in prequel novels and two concluding novels being written.

Book Review: Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss

 

The Glass Abyss is a 2024 Star Wars canon novel written by Steven Barnes, set shortly after the events of The Phantom Menace, centered around the character of Mace Windu. In it, Windu receives a posthumous message from Qui-Gon Jinn, asking him to help the inhabitants of an Outer Rim planet called Metagos. Windu travels to the planet where its inhabitants live underground because the surface has been turned to glass as a result of a solar flare, to aid the members of a farming clan called the Sa'ad in dealing with the crime lords, led by a being named Chulok. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages long. It is a fine ancillary story, but I believe it would have been better suited as a young adult novel, as it is not closely tied to the main Skywalker saga storyline (although Anakin is mentioned a couple of times and Yoda makes an appearance toward the end of the book). For the most part, the adult canon novels have advanced (or fleshed out) the main storyline of the era in which they are set, and the young adult and junior novels tell the side stories (which the story in this book is). That said, Barnes does a good job fleshing out the character of Mace and providing a backstory for the character that was not seen in the films. What knocks it down a couple of stars for me is that this version of Mace does not feel like the same one that was in the movies. It would be one thing if the version of Mace in the book were a much younger version of the character, but I could not envision Samuel L. Jackson's character from the films in this story. It just seemed like Mace Windu was shoehorned into a story that he did not belong in. Ultimately, it is an okay story, but it is not one of the must-read canon novels.

Book Review: Sandworms of Dune (Dune #23 Chronological Order)

 

Sandworms of Dune, published in 2007, is, as of this writing, the 23rd and final novel in the Dune franchise of novels. It is written by the duo of Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert, the son of the series' original author, Frank Herbert. It both finishes the story told in Frank Herbert's two trilogies and ties into the multitude of prequel novels (numbering 16 as of this writing), especially those set in the Butlerian Jihad era. This is actually the second part of the ending story that Frank Herbert had outlined before his death, the first part of which was told in the novel Hunters of Dune. The two novels tell the story of what happened to the group on the no-ship that Duncan Idaho and Sheeana stole at the end of Chapterhouse Dune during the intervening 25 years as they try to find a new Bene Gesserit homeworld while trying to avoid the mysterious enemy (who are revealed to be the thinking machines Erasmus and Omnius in Hunters of Dune), the face dancers, and the Bene Gesserit/Honored Matres hybrid group who are also hiding from the thinking machines. Omnius, who has a ghola of Paul (named Paulo) being trained by the ghola of Barron Harkonnen, wants to capture the ghola of Paul aboard the Ithaca to determine which is the true Kwisatz Haderach and use him as a weapon and take over the former Empire. 

The hardcover version of the book is approximately 500 pages long. It reads much like the other novels penned by Anderson and Brian Herbert. I am one who actually prefers their books to those written by Frank after the original novel. To me, Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune help make the second trilogy novels make a lot more sense. The story in this one flows well, and ties up both the prequel era storylines and Frank Herbert's original storylines quite well. Many characters are brought back via the ghola/cloning technology. Some are redeemed, others get the happy endings they never received in the original novels, and others get their comeuppance.

Because of the massive time jumps that occurred between novels throughout the series, there is room for other novels to be written to flesh out the earlier portions of the story. Still, Brian Herbert made clear that this will always be the concluding novel in the series, as they will not add onto the end of the story. To follow the story, you do need to have read Frank's original six novels, and at least some of the prequel novels, especially the novels The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, and The Battle of Corrin. While I know there is debate about whether the entire saga is worth reading, and some will only read the original six novels, I personally think that if you are a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, all of the books are worth reading, making this one a must-read to find out how the story ends.

Book Review: Hunters of Dune (#22 Chronological Order)

 

Hunters of Dune, published in 2006, is the first book of a two-part continuation to the Dune series of novels, first created by Frank Herbert and continued by Frank's son Brian, and his co-author Kevin J. Anderson. Brian Herbert and Anderson had written a series of prequel novels that detailed different eras that were mentioned in Frank Herbert's original novels, which essentially set up the story in the original six books. They then discovered notes and an outline detailing Frank's plan to complete the story, which would tie all the eras together. The events of this book begin three years after the cliffhanger in Frank Herbert's final novel in the series, Chapterhouse: Dune, in which the no-ship Ithaca, carrying Duncan Idaho, Miles Teg, Sheeana, Scytale, and the seven sandworms, escaped from Chapterhouse, the Bene Gesserit world that had been taken over by Murbella, who has united the Honored Matres and Bene Gesserit. The no-ship had been in an alternate universe, hiding from the "Great Enemy" from whom the Honored Matres were running when they returned from "The Scattering." When the ship returns from the alternate universe, they are pursued by the Face Dancers, the Honored Matres/Bene Gesserit, and the Great Enemy.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 530 pages. The story flows well and is much easier to follow than any of the novels in the "second trilogy." In fact, it helped me to understand the story in Chapterhouse Dune much better than I did after reading it. The events in the book span 19 years and lay the groundwork for a battle that will tie together all the eras of Dune. It would be too much of a spoiler to explain precisely how, but it involves the identity of the "Great Enemy" and the cloning technology of the Tleilaxu. While some people hate the novels by Brian Herbert and Anderson, I believe that their novels are as good, or better than some of the books that Frank wrote. Regardless of where you fall in that debate, this is worth reading to see how the story will end.

Book Review: Star Wars: Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear

 

The Mask of Fear, published in 2025, is the first in a new trilogy of canon novels by Alexander Freed, detailing the early years of the Empire and the Rebellion. This novel is set in the year after the creation of the Empire (its events begin weeks after the Battle of Coruscant/ The Revenge of the Sith), and follows Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera's early efforts to resist Palpatine. Their storylines are mostly separate, but do intersect at different points in the book. We learn that Mon and Bail did not see eye-to-eye on their approaches, and did not particularly like one another or agree with the other's approach to resistance or overall agenda. And, as was detailed in Andor and Rogue One, Saw was always an outsider on the fringes of the Rebellion.

The hardcover version of the book is moderately long, at just over 460 pages. Since most of the primary characters are likely well-known to the book's target audience, it reads fairly quickly. There are a handful of new characters, but not so many that it is hard to keep track of them. Palpatine is mentioned, but does not actually appear, and Darth Vader neither appears nor is mentioned. Hopefully, they will in the later novels. Ultimately, the book tells a compelling story that expands on the storylines from the live-action and animated movies and series, filling in details that have not been explored to this point. I wouldn't say it is a must-read, but if you enjoy the expanded stories in the novels, this one is worth your time.

Book Review: The Second Great Dune Trilogy

 

This is a 2022 hardcover printing of the books of the second trilogy of Dune novels written by Frank Herbert: 1981's God Emperor of Dune, 1984's Heretics of Dune, and 1985's Chapterhouse Dune. The first novel tells the story of Leto II's reign over the empire, and the last two involve the Bene Gesserit versus another clan of powerful women called the Honored Matres. The stories in these novels are very far removed from those told in the original Dune novel and its first two sequel novels. Although characters like Paul and Jessica are mentioned, the massive time jumps used by Herbert mean they are long dead and not actively involved in the events of any of the books in this trilogy.

The hardcover version of the trilogy is just under 1000 pages. I found none of them easy to read, mainly because many new characters were introduced without much setup, and the storylines became increasingly convoluted with each book. So, none of the storylines were all that easy to follow. And, not much action happened in any of the books until the last handful of chapters. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the Dune series and have invested the time to read all the other novels, this set is worth reading, if nothing else, to see where the story goes. However, if you are only a casual fan or a fan primarily because of one or more of the live-action adaptations of the original novel, you may not like this trilogy, as none of the novels in this trilogy are as good as the original Dune novel or the prequel novels that were written by Frank's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson.

Book Review: Tales of Dune

 

Tales of Dune, published in 2011, is a collection of short stories set during the various Eras of Dune. The stores were written by Brian Herbert (the son of Frank Herbert, the author of the original Dune novel and the five follow-up novels) and Kevin J. Anderson. There are eight stories in all. Four of them are set during the Butlerian Period, which is the time frame in which most of the novels written by Brian Herbert and Anderson are set, thousands of years before the events of the original novel. A couple of stores are set in the Dune Period. One is set just before Paul, Leto, and Jessica go to Dune, and one is set during the events of the original novel. The final two stories are set during the second trilogy, after what is called The Scattering. 

The hardcover version of the book is relatively short, coming in at just under 170 pages. The first story is the longest (a little under 40 pages), and the others are about 10-20 pages, give or take. They are all relatively quick and easy to read. The stories in the book are ancillary to the main novels, and usually involve secondary characters (or characters who do not appear in the regular novels). However, one of the stories does focus on Paul and Duncan Idaho. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the various Dune novels, especially the prequel novels, this is worth reading. If you are only a fan of the original Dune novel, or that part of the story, this one may not appeal to you. 

Book Review: Chapterhouse Dune (Dune #21 Chronological Order, #6 Publication Order)

 

Chapterhouse Dune is the final book in the second "Great Dune Trilogy" and a direct sequel to Heretics of Dune. It was published in 1985 and was the sixth and final book in the Dune series, penned by the original author, Frank Herbert. To say the storyline is convoluted is an understatement. It boils down to the war between the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres. The Matres are trying to take control of the Universe, and have almost completely taken over the Old Empire. They are now trying to take control of the Bene Gesserit so they can combine the technological and superhuman abilities of the Bene Gesserit with their own. 

The length of the book will vary depending on which version you get, but the hardcover version comes in at around 450 pages. The overall storyline is not bad, but the execution of the story could be much better. There are a ton of characters in the book, making it hard to keep track of all their various roles. Like all the novels in the second trilogy, while characters from the original trilogy of novels are referred to, Duncan Idaho (or a version of him) is the only character from the original books that appears in this one. The vast majority of the book is set up, jumping back and forth between the points of view of members of the Bene Gesserit and the Honour Matres. Most of the action occurs in the last 75 pages or so (which is another thing that made it hard to get through), and it ends in a cliffhanger. Herbert would pass away the year after the book was published, leaving the result of the storyline in doubt; however, his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson would write two follow-up novels based on Frank's notes for a seventh book to finish the story. 

Ultimately, the storyline in this book diverges significantly from the original Dune novel. It has very little to do with the storyline involving Paul, Jessica, the Harkkonens, etc. It also gets a bit weird. It is not as good as the original novel or any of the multiple prequel novels that were written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to set up the events of the original novel. I think it is worth reading, if nothing else, to see where Frank Herbert took the story, but I wouldn't call it a must-read, especially if you were primarily invested in characters like Paul, Jessica, Chani, and Irulan. 

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.

Book Review: Star Wars: Tears of the Nameless

 

Tears of the Nameless, published in 2024, is a young-adult novel by George Mann. It is set in the third phase of The High Republic after the destruction of the Starlight Beacon and the Nihil setting up the Stormwall. There are a few different intertwined plotlines that intersect at different times throughout the novel, each of them involving the Jedi trying to figure out a way to fight The Nameless creatures/Levelers and The Blight. Reath Silas is working with a Padawan named Amadeo Azzazzo to determine if there is a connection between The Nameless and The Blight, which have similarities in how they affect what they touch. Each seems to be controlled by the Nihil. Another storyline involves one of the Nihil Jedi hunters who is using three of The Nameless to hunt down Jedi. 

The hardcover version of the book is 500 pages long and could have easily been included as one of the adult canon novels. It does a lot to advance the High Republic storyline, including revealing the origin of the Nameless and a civilization of force users who eventually figured out how to control them. It does not close what to me seems like a giant plot hole in that the Nameless were used against the Jedi by the Path of the Open Hand in the early High Republic era when at least Yoda and Yaddle were around, and the Jedi still knew relatively little about them (and were totally blindsided by their use) in the later High Republic era 150 years later. Hopefully, later novels will shed some light on why that is the case, but this one does not. Even so, this tells a decent story and advances the overall plot. So, if you like the High Republic storyline, this is worth the time to read.

Book Review: Children of Dune (Dune #18)

 

Children of Dune, published in 1976, is the 18th overall book in the Dune series of novels (when read chronologically) and the third in the original trilogy of novels written by Frank Herbert. So, it is the third book if you read them in publication order. The events in the book are set nine years after Dune Messiah. Paul has gone off into the desert and is presumed dead. Alia is ruling Dune but is becoming more erratic, having established an autocratic government, and Paul's children, Leto and Ghanima, who both have the preborn traits of Alia and some of Paul's abilities, discover that terraforming Dune will kill all the sandworms and destroy the source of the spice. Jessica and Gurney Halleck return to Arrakis, and a power struggle ensues between Alia and Jessica. To further complicate things on Arrakis, a mysterious blind preacher who holds sway over some of the Fremen begins railing against Alia's government. 

The hardcover deluxe edition of the book is moderately long at 475 pages. Even though it is shorter than the first novel, it is more challenging to read. There are several plotlines that all go in different directions and have twists. The crux of the story is about the fall of Alia and the ascension of Leto II to the throne, but the story is not exactly streamlined in getting to the conclusion. It very much feels like the middle part of a story, and since Frank Herbert wrote three additional novels, that is very much what it is. Ultimately, if you have read the prequel novels by Frank's son, Brian and Kevin J. Anderson, and the two original novels by Frank Herbert, this has the weakest story and is the most challenging to finish. That said, it is worth reading to see how the saga plays out.