Dive Into the Epic Conclusion to Phase I of the High Republic Adult Novels

Over the past year we’ve been introduced to a myriad of new characters that have led readers on a fast-paced ride through the galaxy facing various threats from formidable foes, and now the first phase of this adventure is coming to a close with the third wave. The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray picks up months after the disastrous fallout at the Republic Fair, and the Jedi are scattered across the galaxy following leads on the Eye of the Nihil, or so they think. We find the Jedi still under the impression Lourna Dee is the Eye they seek; however, come to find out Ro is using this as an advantage while he plans his next strike. After The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott I was hoping the overall narrative of this series was going to move farther along since the disaster on Valo was a great escalation for the plot; however, The Fallen Star stalls the momentum built in the last wave of new releases to draw out the emphasis of how much the Nihil are impacting the order as well as the galaxy’s sense of peace and stability. While the main narrative around hyperspace science isn’t one I’m entirely fond of, the attention to story Justina Ireland spent in Out of the Shadows wasn’t mentioned or expanded upon which is a contributing factor in the overall narrative dragging. If anything, I suspect this will be continued in the young adult line of releases; however, I feel this should be brought into the adult novels as well just like the authors have done with other threads that make this era. Besides the overall narrative of the era falling behind, the attention to the Nihil still suffers and this makes it difficult to immerse myself in the story at large. Tempest Runner by Cavan Scott is the first installment that truly distinguishes the Nihil from other villainous parties in the galaxy, specifically Lourna Dee, and while an entirely Nihil-centric book may not fit in the main releases, more development similar to what was seen in Tempest Runner should make its way to the main books of the High Republic.

Despite my gripes, The Fallen Star succeeds in continuing to develop key characters in meaningful ways, notably Bell Zettifar. From being one of the side characters in Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule, Bell has become a key figure in the High Republic and is the primary lens in which we see the events of The Fallen Star through. The Rising Storm brought new challenges for Bell no one was anticipating he’d face this early in the series, and Claudia Gray excels in presenting how Bell is changing through the process of grieving his Master, adapting to life with a new mentor, and emphasizing glimpses of Bell’s introspection. Bell Zettifar is a prime example of a side character shifting to the spotlight, and while he’s one of the characters of this era I want to continue to learn more about, I wish this would happen with other characters as well. The characters I’m drawn to weren’t in the spotlight from the start, and while some have grown into a larger role in the series over the last few installments, others have been seemingly forgotten like so many other characters in the High Republic. One of the alluring facets of the High Republic was the variety of characters that were introduced from the initial promotions and novels; although, it seems like more characters were created than what time would allow for in substantial character development. Based on the treatment of certain characters so far I didn’t find the deaths shocking, but I am saddened I won’t get to learn more about characters I was really intrigued by.

I also had the opportunity to listen to Marc Thompson narrate, and he wonderfully brought the characters to life through his entertaining performance. If you’re able to listen to the audio rendition of The Fallen Star, I highly recommend checking it out.

Final thoughts: The Fallen Star concludes Phase I of the adult run with intrigue for what the other two novels in this wave have in store and prepares readers for whatever quest lies ahead for the Jedi. Gray’s prose is a delight as always, and Marc Thompson effectively narrates all facets of this story, so either way you are guaranteed a smooth reading experience.

Click the image to see my visual review on Instagram