By Tessa Gratton

The Stormwall is active and the Occlusion Zone still exists, Naboo being on the wrong side of the Zone. But more holes are occurring. Xylan Graf and Cair San Tekka are a married couple separated by the Wall, and by the Nihil figuring out their connection. Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann are reunited and trying to come to terms with their feelings for each other. Jedi Knights Burryaga Agaburry, Vernestra Rwoh, and Bell Zettifar begin to seach for the Eye of the Nihil, while Jedi Master Porter Engle is searching for General Abediah Viess. All the while, a blight is now spreading in the universe…

Yes, this is a sprawling entry in the High Republic series. It covers a lot of ground, has a couple more storylines than those mentioned above. But the heart of the story, the Temptation, is between Avar and Elzar – can they have love and be true to the Force? This will include a cameo by Yoda to obliquely discuss love and the Jedi code. This is well written, but leaves me wanting a book to explore this idea, and why this kind of nuance went out the window later.

428 Pages

4.25/5