The Nihil are on the loose, Marchion Ro is plotting something wicked, and a mysterious connection to the dark side is just around the corner. That’s right, Star Wars fans, we’re in the home stretch of The High Republic, and the third and final phase—“Trials of the Jedi”—is going out with a hyperspace — level bang. If you’re scrambling to make sense of which books, comics, and audio dramas tie this sprawling saga together before The Acolyte hits Disney+, you’re in luck. I’ve got your reading manifest, character cheat sheet, and more than a few juicy details to keep you fueled through the storm.
Feeling Lost in the Hyperspace Lanes? Here’s What’s Up
The High Republic has sprawled across three wild phases since 2021, mapping out a galaxy that buzzes with Jedi Knights, dazzling worlds, and way more space monsters than Yoda’s musty hut ever saw. Phase III, “Trials of the Jedi,” cranks the threats up to max. The Jedi are battered. The Republic reels from the fall of Starlight Beacon. The Nihil have declared part of the galaxy theirs, creating “Nihil space” and cutting off whole star systems with the deadly Stormwall.
Sound chaotic? Oh, it is. And everything here sets the stage for The Acolyte — the incoming live — action series that promises political intrigue and Jedi Order drama set at the tail end of the High Republic period. So, if you want to spot those twinkling (or trembling) connections for yourself, buckle up and study this final wave of stories close.
Phase III Starts Here: The First Shockwave
Let’s hit the hyperdrive with Wave 1, which dropped Star Wars fans straight into the chaos left by the collapse of Starlight Beacon. If you’re curious where to start, this trio of books lights the path:
- The Eye of Darkness by George Mann (Adult Novel, Nov 2023): This book delivers the somber pulse of a Jedi Order licking its wounds. Avar Kriss and Porter Engle are stuck behind the Stormwall, dodging Nihil patrols while Chancellor Soh and Jedi Master OrbaLin try to assemble a counter plan. Seriously, if you want to understand the desperation and the big plays, Mann’s novel is essential.
- Escape from Valo by Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong (Middle — Grade, Jan 2024): Don’t let the “middle — grade” fool you. This isn’t just for Padawans. This story’s got heart. A group of young Jedi is trapped inside Nihil territory and looking for any chance to survive. It follows big feelings, messy escapes, and the Force guiding some gutsy decisions.
- Defy the Storm by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland (Young Adult, March 2024): Vernestra Rwoh teams up with a newly reunited friend, Imri Cantaros, for a smuggling run out of the Occlusion Zone. The urgency here? It’s palpable. If you like your Jedi clever, stubborn, and ready to break a rule or two, this is for you.
The Republic Strikes Back: Phase III, Wave 2
You want progression? Here comes Wave 2, where the Jedi and the Republic finally mount a comeback — though nothing goes quite as planned in a galaxy full of dark side critters.
- Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton (June 2024): Okay, now we’re talking tactical drama. The Republic Defense Coalition hatches plans to run the Nihil’s gauntlet, but the real kicker? Marchion Ro isn’t slacking. He finds a new superweapon that could make the Nameless look like space puppies. Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann, and the dying embers of the Jedi Council step up, but stakes don’t get higher than this.
- Tears of the Nameless by George Mann (September 2024): Jedi Knight Reath Silas embarks on a lore — heavy hunt, tracking ancient knowledge that might, just maybe, counter the Nameless — the monsters who sap Jedi of their very essence. Reath, who started as a library geek, is ready for fieldwork like you wouldn’t believe.
- Beware the Nameless by Zoraida Córdova (Middle — Grade, August 2024): Don’t snooze on this youth adventure. It’s the best way to get up to speed on what exactly the Nameless are, where they come from, and why they haunt Jedi dreams. Even adults will want to peek inside, because those plot seeds? They blossom everywhere.
Final Wave, Final Showdown
Here comes the good stuff — climactic battles, ancient secrets, and maybe redemption for some seriously battered heroes.
- Into the Light by Claudia Gray (Young Adult, April 2025): Vernestra Rwoh’s last mission in the High Republic era. Every Force vision, every failure — it all boils over as she faces both the Nihil and her own doubts. Claudia Gray knows how to wound you, and this book proves it.
- A Valiant Vow by Justina Ireland (Middle — Grade, May 2025): This one’s got sacrifice on its mind. The younger generation of Jedi — Padawans and students who barely survived the Nihil’s onslaught — make their stand. No spoilers, but you’ll want tissues.
- Trials of the Jedi by Charles Soule (Adult Novel, June 2025): Here lies the finale. Call it the Endgame of Jedi literature. The fates of Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann, Bell Zettifar, and even Marchion Ro come to a dramatic close as the Jedi throw their last dice. Who survives, who falls to darkness, and who forges a legend? Time to find out.
Don’t Forget the Visuals and Audio — Comics and Dramas Are Key
Novels don’t tell the whole story. Comics and audio dramas fill in huge blanks, tie up subplots, and sometimes drop a twist you can’t miss.
Check these out (and yes, the art is stellar):
- Star Wars: The High Republic – Fear of the Jedi by Cavan Scott (Marvel Comics, starting February 2025): These panels pull no punches. Fear runs rampant. Some Jedi falter. Others show why legends are born when hope dies.
- Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott (Audio Drama, December 2024): If you want the tension up close, crank your headphones. This dramatized story brings Lourna Dee, Avar Kriss, and Keeve Trennis together for a clash with real teeth.
So, What’s the Best Reading Order?
You need a path through this literary asteroid field. Here’s my highly caffeinated, no — nonsense guide:
1. The Eye of Darkness (Novel)
2. Escape from Valo (Middle — Grade)
3. Defy the Storm (YA)
4. Temptation of the Force (Novel)
5. Tears of the Nameless (YA)
6. Beware the Nameless (Middle — Grade)
7. Into the Light (YA)
8. A Valiant Vow (Middle — Grade)
9. Trials of the Jedi (Novel)
Slot the comics and the Tempest Breaker audio drama in around Tears of the Nameless and before Trials of the Jedi for peak drama.
Key Faces: Who’s Finding the Light — and Who Isn’t
- Vernestra Rwoh: She’s gone from promising Padawan to front — and — center Jedi in these pages, wrestling with visions and impossible choices. Expect to see every ounce of her hard — earned wisdom ripple into The Acolyte, where she’ll reappear as a mentor.
- Avar Kriss & Elzar Mann: The Jedi Order’s heart and backbone. Their bond is battered, bruised, and (sometimes) beautiful. Whether they rise together or fall apart, their journey is the keystone of this era.
- Marchion Ro: The villain you love to loathe. Is he diabolical genius… or just doomed to be another Sith pawn? His final choices aren’t just spectacle; they set up the Republic’s next big shake — up.
- Bell Zettifar & Reath Silas: Two Jedi who’ve seen more shadow than most. If the High Republic saga is about hope, these two show us what it costs.
What’s This All Mean for The Acolyte and Beyond?
Here’s the twist: everything you just raced through links to the first live — action High Republic story. The Acolyte (expected to drop soon) will pick up some narrative threads and character arcs Supreme Chancellor Soh would envy. Vernestra Rwoh is set to guide a new cast. And let’s face it, the echoes of loss, love, and the Nameless definitely won’t fade away.
So if you want to smugly spot every deep cut in the next Disney+ show, start your reading here. Whether you’re cheering for the Jedi, rooting for the rogues, or just savoring outrageously beautiful covers (seriously, those covers), the High Republic finale is a lightspeed — worthy adventure.
Light your saber, settle in, and let the Force guide you through these final waves. This is one Star Wars epic you’ll want to finish before the next era dawns — promise.
