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

Into the Light takes a unique team to the last afflicted world by the Blight; neither the Jedi nor the Republic can afford to lose it. The final battle against Marchion Ro is right around the corner.

The article contains light spoilers from this book and references events from other stories from this era.

Star Wars: The High Republic Reading Order and Full Catalog

Phase I: Timeline Explained Phase II: Timeline Explained

A story that mixes familiarity with new elements

Each Phase of The High Republic has presented a huge number of locations, characters, and storylines. While it was overwhelming at the beginning, it’s also very rewarding.

Getting to know all these interesting and deep characters at the start of their story and seeing how they have grown, matured, and even died is one of my favorite things about the High Republic.

At this point, everyone has become the best version of themselves, though often at the expense of trauma, sacrifice, and grief. With just a couple stories left behind the grand finale I wasn’t expecting to be surprised by this story but I’m happy to say that I was completely wrong.

The plot brings together characters from all Phases of the High Republic, including Phase II, which happened 150 years before, and even someone who appears in The Acolyte. This unique team heads to one of the most intriguing and fascinating planets in Star Wars, Kashyyyk.

Kashyyyk Concept Art from Jedi: Fallen Order

There’s a mixture of what we’ve used to in the High Republic stories, with a touch of mysticism. Similar to what we got in Tears of the Nameless, but multiplied by 10x. I won’t say the details but what I can reveal is that we are taken to the literal heart of Kashyyyk. If you’re somewhat familiar with the planet’s history, then you know why this is such a big deal.

The Jedi’s greatest challenge until now

There have been so much challenges for the Jedi throughout the High Republic. The Path of the Open Hand, Marchion Ro, the strange technology that gave the Nihil the upper hand in countless situations, the Drengir, the Blight, and now something that no one would be able to fight if said thing is unleashed.

Drengir illustration — Drengir Concept Art

If the Blight wasn’t dangerous enough, the team also faces three additional threats. One of them had its first appearance in Phase I, the second is the Nihil who replaced Baron Boolan, and the last one is something that no Jedi has faced before.

Now imagine how difficult things get when a small group of allies have to worry about all of them simultaneously. It was a very exciting and nerve-wracking but also refreshing to see that even in the second-to-last story, they’re still giving us new stuff.

However, what is accomplished in this novel doesn’t come without the sacrifice of a fan-favorite character. I never saw it coming, and that made it more painful. While sad, it serve as a good reminder that no character is safe.

While I have a small idea of what to expect from Trials of the Jedi, there’s no thing as predicting what Marchion Ro is going to do. There’s a big chance that we’ll get surprised with one last surprise by the Eye of the Nihil.

An artisting portrail of Marchion Ro with a gun in his left hand and his helmet in the right hand — Marchion Ro | Source: Eye of the Storm #2 Cover (Marvel)

A Promising Jedi

Reath Silas is, in my personal highlight of this story. He has been through so much since his first appearance as a young Padawan.

His first Master was killed by the Nihil, the second left the Jedi Order; he’s one of the few Jedi to have survived a direct encounter with the Nameless, not to mention that he was also present in the Amaxine station during the Drengir breakout.

Reath Silas Concept Art: the young jedi knight is standing still with a drawn out green lightsaber in his right hand — Reath Silas Concept Art

On top of that, his research was the first step to unveiling the true origin of the Blight and maybe even figure out a way to counter it. All of this has come with a lot of experience and personal growth.

While every character has developed a lot since the first High Republic story, I firmly believe that Silas’ arc has been the most compelling, unexpected, and satisfying to see.

Listening to the audiobook

This is probably the worst experience I’ve had when listening to the audio version. This has nothing to do with Ambar Lee Connors, the narrator of the book. She does a good job of conveying the character’s emotions and her impressions are not the best but that’s not something that bothers me too much because voicing so many characters is incredibly hard.

The issue with the audio version is that it lacks music and sound effects. It’s not that it has less compared to others, no. It doesn’t have any at all. Having a narrator is nice but the only reason why I buy Star Wars audiobooks is because of the immersion that these sounds and intense music provide in the climax of the story.

Without those two elements, there’s pretty much no reason to get it in this format. I’ve purchased pretty much every Star Wars book that came out in the last couple of years in both digital and audio versions, and this is the first time this has happened.

I don’t know if there was a problem when mixing the audio, a deadline issue, or something else, but I certainly hope this is the first and last time.

Final Thoughts

Thankfully, Into the Light doesn’t feel slow at all. Many of the previous High Republic novels have this issue, and while it’s necessary to properly set up everything, it doesn’t make it any less tedious.

Phase III has been the most interesting to me. We have seen the Jedi and Republic rise after devastating defeats and slowly figure out how to deal with Marchion Ro, the Nihil, and all their unique ways of warmongering.

Star Wars High Republic Marchion Ro, The Eye of The Nihil — Marchion Ro rallies his Nihil followers

Tears of the Nameless and Tempest Breaker were my favorite stories of Phase III, but Into the Light now takes the number one spot. I just loved how it mixes so many of my favorite aspects of Star Wars into a single story.

Into the Light perfectly sets up things for Trials of the Jedi, the last adult novel and official culmination of the High Republic publishing initiative. I can’t express how excited I am for it!

The review as well as the review card at the end are based on our own opinions as fans of the franchise. We would love it if you shared your thoughts.

Full Title:

Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Light

Author

Claudia Gray

Genre

Young Adult

Era

The High Republic

Release

April 1st, 2025

April 15th, 2025

Length