It’s hard to believe the High Republic era has come to an end. I think back on its beginning, when I hadn’t read a Star Wars book, or frankly, any book, in years. I think about the people I had talked to a few times on Twitter who have now become some of my best friends, because we had this cool new thing that got us properly talking. I think about the room of people at Star Wars Celebration in London a few years ago, not quite as full as the panels for the TV shows, but filled with 10 times as much energy. Even if I’ve fallen off and fallen behind a few times, this era has meant so much to me. It has reignited a passion for Star Wars that I thought was lost. Not only did it get me reading again, but writing as well. Before I delve into the many thoughts on Trials of the Jedi, which is not quite the final chapter of this era, but certainly its climax and the last book for the foreseeable future, I want to thank everyone who has made these books possible, because it has truly changed my life. For light and life!
Charles Soule has a difficult task with Trials of the Jedi, threading together plot lines and characters from well over a dozen books to come to a satisfying conclusion. Nearly every book feels like it matters in some way to the finale, sometimes in a throwaway reference, sometimes in a major plot point. Of course this level of connectivity can be a double edged sword, as someone who has skipped a handful of the middle grade novels and comics, there are a handful of moments where it’s tough to tell if you’re being presented with new information in an underwhelming manner or if I’m missing a reference point. It’s easy to forgive Soule for expecting a certain level of commitment on the last book in this series, but making it a little more accessible, especially with plot points from the less mainline entries to the High Republic, would have been nice.
Focused largely on the “Luminous Nine”, a team of Jedi determined to return the Nameless to their home world, the mysterious Planet X, in hopes of stopping the devastating blight from ravaging the galaxy, Trials of the Jedi suffers when it diverges from that core mission and attempts to act as a finale not just to the Nameless but the Nihil war as a whole and their final stand over Eriadu. Despite some standout chapters, including one that was one of my personal favourites in any Star Wars book, the Eriadu plot almost feels like an afterthought against the main narrative, a distraction from the already limited page count in a very heavily populated book. This is emphasised by the Eriadu plot’s connections to the events of the High Republic Adventures comic that Soule never quite engages with and only ever dances around, ultimately leaving me feeling it would’ve functioned better as a two-part finale, with Trials of the Jedi exclusively focusing on the Jedi, Nameless and Marchion and the larger Nihil conflict covered elsewhere.
Like most High Republic books, Trials of the Jedi features a large cast of viewpoint characters, quite possibly the largest yet. While many characters have been established in other books, meaning Soule provides satisfying and emotional endings to the characters despite their relatively low page count per character, some favourites feel relegated to side characters. Ultimately undercutting their story and the story itself. Avar Kriss, especially, introduced by Soule as almost the face of the era, feels greatly undeserved by Trials of the Jedi, with very little time away from Elzar Mann, something I was concerned about after Temptations of the Force solidified their romance. I love their relationship a lot, but it feels like a waste to only see these great characters as a pair in this finale to their story. That being said, there are some real standout moments for nearly every cast member; it frequently doesn’t feel like enough for some of the main characters of this era. Despite the large cast, especially ones Soule created, but have been through so much since that first book, it’s impressive how strong a grasp Soule has on each character’s voice.
The clear effort to make this a finale to nearly every thread in the High Republic does, however, make the lack of Vernestra Rwoh, who barely appears, quite confusing. While I understand her appearence in The Acolyte might throw that off with her survival now being seen as guaranteed, the stakes of Trials of the Jedi never quite feel high enough that all the Luminous Nine aren’t making it home, especially with Vernestra’s Acolyte-era book, Wayseeker, that came out the month before revealing another member’s survival. She may have Wayseeker and an appearance in the final middle-grade novel, but she’s such a key character to this era that any finale without her in a big role feels like it’s missing something.
Many say a story is only as good as it’s villain, in that regard Trials of the Jedi, and the High Republic overall, shine with Marchion Ro, someone scary and new compared to the stream of Sith and Death Stars For so long, Marchion has been a threat from afar, it’s refreshing to finally get to see him interact with our protagonists and get to see a new, but equally as scary, side of him. One aspect of Marchion that made him a terrifying threat to the galaxy at large, but a somewhat disappointing one to me, was his vague, constantly changing plans. Trials of the Jedi is the first time we get to see Marchion’s honest POV without anything hidden from the reader, and Soule weaves this aspect of the character into him, turning his weakness as a character into a strength.
With the sizable time spent on the underdeveloped Battle of Eriadu, Trials of the Jedi finale often feels a little rushed. The book struggles to provide answers to the bigger mysteries teased throughout the era in a fully satisfying way. It culminates in a large exposition dump, undercutting the emotional core of the story with the confusion of what exactly is happening. Despite some issues with the ending, Trials of the Jedi caps it all off with a satisfying epilogue that provides a fulfilling epitaph for some characters and drops a few seeds that I hope we get to see pay off in a Nihil-free High Republic in the future.
Ultimately, Trials of the Jedi is a gripping though often frustrating read as the High Republic era comes to an end with a series of highs and lows. It feels like the end of a wonderful era, but not the definitive end, with plenty of potential stories to be told. While it won’t satisfy every fan, there’s a lot to enjoy as Soule brings many of the threads and stories he began in Light of the Jedi full circle and closes off nearly 5 years of storytelling.