Temptation of the Force

Star Wars: The High Republic

by Tessa Gratton

The reunited Jedi prepare to strike back against the ruthless Nihil in this thrilling sequel to Star Wars: The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness.

For over a year, Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann were kept apart by the Nihil’s Stormwall. After Avar makes a daring escape from inside the Occlusion Zone, the star-crossed Jedi are reunited. But while the physical distance between them has evaporated, their shared grief over their failure to protect the galaxy from the Nihil threat still remains. To rally the Jedi Order, and the Republic, Avar and Elzar cling to their belief in serving Light and Life. Working together they lead a daring mission into Nihil space to liberate the planet of Naboo, and show those trapped behind the Stormwall that the Jedi will never abandon them. Now back within close orbit of one another, the two Jedi Masters can no longer deny the bond that has always drawn them back together and made them stronger. After finally embracing their true desires and imbued with renewed purpose, Avar and Elzar devise a plan to turn the tide of the conflict with the Nihil once and for all. Accompanied by Jedi Knights Bell Zettifar, Burryaga, and Vernestra Rwoh, the Jedi begin their hunt for Marchion Ro. But to seek out the Nihil’s dangerous leader the Jedi will have to survive the Nameless terrors that they have thus far been powerless to stop.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Fantasy, Adult, Space Opera

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2024

About the author

Tessa Gratton is the author of adult and YA SFF novels and short stories that have been translated into twenty-two languages, nominated twice for the Otherwise Award, and several have been Junior Library Guild Selections. Her most recent novels are the dark queer fairy tales Strange Grace and Night Shine, and queer the Shakespeare retelling Lady Hotspur. Her upcoming work includes the YA fantasy Chaos and Flame (2023), and novels of Star Wars: The High Republic. Though she has lived all over the world, she currently resides at the edge of the Kansas prairie with her wife. Queer, nonbinary, she/any.

Reviews

[katezsz]

MY FAVORITE GIRLBOSS AND MALEWIFE TOGETHER. ON THE COVER. AND ON VALENTINE’S DAY TOO. THEY DID THIS FOR A REASON. JESUS CHRIST

[Scott Rhee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. Intellectually, I'm done with this High Republic series, but, physiologically, I have this compulsion to keep reading them, even though I can recognize the fact that they are dumb.

Tessa Gratton's "Temptation of the Force" is the follow-up to George Mann's "Eye of Darkness". Neither of these books are in any way good. Gratton may be a decent writer, but you wouldn't necessarily know it from reading this book.

The one bright side is that my least favorite character, Marchion Ro, does not have much to say or do in this novel, unlike in Mann's book, where every page seemed to have a stupid speech by Ro. Seriously, it was like listening to Donald Trump speak. Painful.

Some fans---not me, unfortunately---will probably like the long-anticipated hook-up between Jedis Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, who have been pining for each other and eye-fucking one another since their introduction four books ago. Just get a room! Thankfully, in this book, they finally do.

Unfortunately, in keeping with the long-standing Lucas-enforced fear of sex scenes (unless, of course, it is between Lea Thompson and an animatronic duck), their coupling conveniently is done off-screen. Yawn...

I will probably read the next book. I will probably think it's trash, but I will, inevitably, read it, because I am a goddamned lemming...

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Penultimate adult novel in the High Republic series. As such, it sets up quite a lot for the finale in “Trials of the Jedi” and also has quite a lot of character development.

The two characters who get the most development are Avar Kris’s and Elzar Mann. From the marketing and the blurbs released, the book appears in some ways to be a romance. While a potential romance is a featured theme between them in the book, it isn’t the entire focus of the book. It raises some questions about the future with the two characters, but I am fairly certain i know how it will pan out and it should have satisfactory answers. I will say that personally it is refreshing to finally see a more traditional relationship in the books though.

Gratton has obviously learned from Charles Soule’s writing on how to write the force itself and she did an excellent job in this book, particularly with Avar and Elzar’s use of and connection to the force in this book.

The subplot of Bell Zettifar and Burryaga exploring the Drengir was just ok. It never hooked me, mostly because it felt like a retread of the themes and storylines we had seen previously.

The attack on Naboo is heavily featured in marketing materials, but that doesn’t happen until almost halfway through the book, and even then ends quite soon. This presented some questionable pacing choices as it just felt off as I read it. The moments during the battle in the middle of the book felt larger than the moments during the climax.

The book is definitely setting the stage for a big finale with Trials of the Jedi. I’m curious if Charles Soule will make that book extra long to fit in everything (like Zahn did with Lesser Evil and Visions of the Future) or whether Soule will be deft and brief enough to keep it in the standard page count.

Overall, this book was entertaining, but is probably my least favorite of the adult High Republic books. But it’s still a very good rating and was enjoyable, which shows how good the adult books have been. 7 out of 10.

[Tyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

marchion thinks he fell out of a coconut tree, but the jedi understand that the Force exists in the context of all in which they live and what came before them.

[Chelsea Zukowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

*screams*

--From my review for my Space Wizards Book Club newsletter--
https://spacewizardbooks.substack.com/

Temptation of the Force was among my most anticipated Star Wars releases of the year. It met and exceeded my expectations, delivering satisfying and emotionally dynamic character studies with a steady pace moving Phase 3 of The High Republic forward.

I’ll cut to the chase — this book is incredible. It’s moving, intense, and chock full of edge-of-your-seat moments. It’s romantic and sweet, and one of the few Star Wars books that fully embraces and explores the power of romantic love among its characters.

As the second adult book in Phase 3, Temptation of the Force had to keep the momentum of The Eye of Darkness and expand storylines just enough to tease how this all will end next spring. The novel not only built upon previously plotted stories, Temptation of the Force also delved into the minds and emotions of its characters so well that it stands on its own.

The core of the novel is the continued fight over the Stormwall — the Jedi and Republic forces trying to take it down and circumventing it to help people trapped behind it in the meantime, and the Nihil fighting to keep the swath of the galaxy they forcefully annexed over a year ago. There’s also a mysterious new Blight destroying every bit of life it touches, no matter which side it’s on.

With Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann on the cover and “temptation” in the title, it was all but confirmed we’d finally get to see the two childhood best friends become lovers. The synopsis also teased the two “embracing their true desires.” I’m hyped for every new High Republic book, but even the slightest possibility of romance made me 100 times more excited for Temptation of the Force.

This is a spoiler-free review, but I will scream from the rooftops how satisfying this book is in the romance department. Temptation of the Force is a beautifully written reminder that the Star Wars galaxy of stories wouldn’t exist without love. If you love love — romantic, platonic, love for life and light, etc. — you will love this book.

Avar and Elzar explore what love means for the Jedi and how they can use that compassion and care not to possess but be better heroes of light and life — together. Bell and Burryaga struggle to reflect on and move forward through their traumas, but realize that love for life, each other, and other living beings are what keeps them going.

Overall, Temptation of the Force is a superb exploration of love, attachment, passion, and balancing those heady emotions. There’s no big battle that brings together all the characters for a needle-moving last stand. There are, however, several intense, gutwrenching, and tear-jerking moments throughout the book. All of these characters, in their own ways, are trying to wrest back power, keep power, or make things right for the innocents caught between the Nihil and Republic sides of the galaxy.

As the title implies, each character is tempted. By love, revenge, desperation, and power. While temptation can be a dangerous thing to give in to, some characters discover how freeing and powerful succumbing feels.

Temptation of the Force both stands apart and ties together previous storylines and books yet to come. The novel ends on an epic cliffhanger that I simply won’t recover from until I can get my hands on Trials of the Jedi.

[emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reading Tessa Gratton’s TEMPTATION OF THE FORCE, I couldn’t help but think back to the prequel trilogy of STAR WARS. In ATTACK OF THE CLONES, Anakin Skywalker tells Padmé Amidala, “Attachment is forbidden.” Many people have conflated that line as a Jedi’s denial of love (which might seem fair, seeing how that relationship turned out), however, the next thing he says is, “Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi’s life.” Love is not forbidden, a Jedi just needs to know when the time is right to let go. TEMPTATION OF THE FORCE is a testament to the ways that love and compassion make us stronger. Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann, Marchion Ro, and the rest of the cast have been written by several authors and Tessa Gratton took the reigns flawlessly. In a series so wrought with turmoil, this is a perfect installment in THE HIGH REPUBLIC. It remains my favorite STAR WARS project to date thanks to the incredible writing team behind every book, and while I don’t want to say goodbye, I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me a copy!

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's some good amidst the... less good in this one, it took me two attempts to get through it which tells you what you need to know.

At 450 or so pages I feel the book might have worked better at 350 with a tighter focus on Avar and Elzar and less of the General Viess sub-plot, but that's just my Humble One.

[Kels · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT WAS SO????????

[Miguel Aguila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adult books for The High Republic never miss, and Temptation of the Force is the best of them all so far! I loved everything about this book and the ending has me begging for the next one to be released immediately. Tessa Gratton does a phenomenal job at balancing characters and plotlines, making the whole book feel cohesive and very well planned. The character development was excellent, and all the characters I've come to love got their moments to really shine. I have no notes. Solid 5 stars.

[Arezou · Rating 5 out of 5]

It occurred to me, about halfway through Tessa Gratton’s Temptation of the Force that this is the second to last adult novel of The High Republic. Of course, we’ve got the audio drama coming this December, and several more books, and even more comics coming between now and the end, but that sense of building to a grand finale became harder to shake once it settled in. Fortunately, Temptation of the Force doesn’t ask you to shake that feeling. It embraces it wholeheartedly, setting the stage and building everything to a boiling point in a way that makes it impossible to put down.

The story follows both the Jedi and their Republic allies, as well as the Nihil as the two engage in a fight over the Stormwall — with the Jedi fighting to take it down, or at the very least breach it — and the Nihil fighting to maintain the power they’ve won. At the same time, both sides are now dealing with a new Blight, first seen in Defy the Storm, that destroys all life it comes in contact with.

Where this book truly stands out, particularly with the real world climate in which it is released, is how spread thin the characters are. There isn’t one Big Battle they’re all gearing up to fight — though I’m certain that’s where the series will culminate. At this stage, we just find our heroes each pursuing their own avenue all in the name of doing what they consider to be the right thing. Communication isn’t always possible, nor is mobilization. Instead they’re just left to survive and fight in the best way they can, sometimes contradicting the efforts of others, including those they love, but with everyone united in a vaguely common cause.

That really is what’s at the heart of this story. As Gratton mentions in their author’s note at the end of the book, Temptation of the Force is truly a story about love, and that shines through on every page. Whatever kind of love it might be, it has a home in this book. That line in Attack of the Clones where Anakin tells Padmé that the Jedi are, in their way, encouraged to love, is really examined here in the way the characters all interact — or in some cases, don’t — with one another.

RIP Anakin Skywalker, you would have loved Temptation of the Force.

Temptation of the Force hits shelves on June 11. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.

[Ben Murphy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m convinced that whoever assigns books to authors in the Star Wars publishing world has a meeting that goes: “ok here are 4 really cool and interesting things that will happen in your book. But also make it 400 pages.” So the reader gets 20 pages of interesting and 380 pages of crap.
And through the whole High Republic I’ve been saying it’s a great story, but there is no emotional connection. It’s written by committee and a value is being placed on checking boxes and WHAT is happening instead of emotional connection. Enter this book. The blurb sounded amazing. The first chapter was GREAT. Elzar and Avar have a moment and you’re like

“oh this is good. What’s gonna happen?? I mean this is getting dangerously close to breaking some Jedi code, but I love it…….ope nevermind they just parted ways for 150 pages!!! Ahhh page 150, that was slow and painful but they are back together and tension is building. *8 pages later* They are parting ways again?!?!?!?!”

I’ve made it to almost the end of Phase 2 in the High Republic series waiting, begging for it to get better. And I’m convinced instead of making great books, the publishers want an interesting overall story (even if it’s written poorly) and to check boxes(even if it’s written poorly). You win Star Wars publishers/authors you broke me. I surrender. I’m done. I would love to say it was nice while it lasted, in 3.5 years the best you had was a 3 star book😭😭

Side note: I read the author used a word counter to “get to 90,000 words”. And reading it felt very much like a decent 45,000 word book was murdered to write a terrible 90,000 word book.

[Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

i need a cigarette sometimes

[alec james · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is like catnip for bisexuals

[Jesús De la Jara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"La claridad reverberaba Elzar, un eco de las palabras de Avar. Que el amor no tenía límites, que expandía la galaxia. Así era el liderazgo de la canciller. Siempre hacia la luz y la vida, aun habiendo aprendido que eso no siempre era sinónimo de éxito. Que el fracaso era incluso probable."

Le doy 4 estrellas por lo mucho que explora este libro la relación de Avar y Elzar. La historia empieza con Avar (recién de vuelta de la Zona de Oclusión en el final del libro anterior "El ojo de la oscuridad") tratando de que Elzar le siga a la Zona de Oclusión porque ya no quiere separarse otra vez de él. Elzar le cuenta sus últimos momentos con Stellan en la catástrofe y confiesa su culpabilidad completamente y sus acercamientos al lado oscuro. Cerca a Naboo ayuda a escapar a los San Tekka. Por su lado, por fin, Elzar, por exigencia de Vernestra, confiesa al Consejo haber matado a Yarrow. Avar y Vernestra tienen un momento. Interesante como Avar piensa que ambos tuvieron errores, Elzar y ella. Así como Vernestra tendrá los suyos.

"Te quiero mucho y eso no es ningún obstáculo. El apego, el afán de posesión… son obstáculos porque limitan el potencial de un Jedi. Empequeñecen la galaxia. Pero el amor es infinito. Como la Fuerza. ¡No tiene fin!"

Se cuenta que el planeta Naboo cayó al régimen Nihil luego de que la general Viess los bombardee. Mientras tanto, Vernestra trae a Dylan Graf quien revela que ella y Chancey fueron secuestrados para crear el muro y amenaza a los San Tekka con revelarle a Avar su participación en todo esto. En este libro Graf muestra su lado más manipulador y egoísta pero es necesario para ayudar a la República en el enfrentamiento contra los Nihil. También en el libro hay grandes momentos de la disputa entre Porter Engle. Este último ya está decidido a cazarla e incluso Avar ve que eso le preocupa más que otra cosa pero lo deja lidiar con la general.
La gran estrategia en esta historia es realizar dos ataques separados uno hacia el planeta Naboo para tratar de liberarlo de la general Viess y el otro contra uno de las mayores naves de los Nihil, la cual se presupone al ser destruida ocasionará un fallo en el Muro Tormenta. Para este ataque los que comandan serán Avar y Elzar. Este último como vimos en el anterior libro es el nexo del Consejo con la canciller Soh. Tiene propuestas para ser parte del consejo y esa duda estará a lo largo del libro. Alvar dirige el gran asalto a Naboo con Bell, Burryaga y Vernestea. Usa la canción de la fuerza en todo momento.

"¡Marchion duerme en una cama hecha de planes de emergencia! Tiene tantos entre manos a la vez que es prácticamente irrelevante cuál funciona porque alguno lo hará. Y vuelve a ganar… ¡O despedaza a quien tiene más cerca en ese momento, que también le vale! ¡La gente más inteligente que he conocido han sido simples herramientas para su maquinaciones! ¡Por los siete infiernos! ¡Su sangre debe de estar hecha de estrategia recién exprimida!"

¿Qué es de Marchion Ro mientras sucede las acciones de este libro? Pues que él tratando de estar un paso antes que todos ha investigado también otro mal que está acechando la galaxia: la Plaga. Esta plaga parece que destruye tanto a drengir como a otras especies y hasta los Sin Nombre les tienen mucho miedo. Marchion pasará desconectado y esto como siempre pondrá nerviosísima a Ghirra Starros quien trata como siempre de tratar de aparentar que los Nihil tienen algún propósito que no sea asesinar. Ella nuevamente tratará de hablar con la República.
Cuando Avar se entera que los drengir siguen vivos y causando problemas se pone muy mal porque le hizo recordar que fueron los enemigos más temibles que había enfrentado. Luego del combate final la República tiene una extraña propuesta.
Me gustó el libro aunque por momentos algunas acciones me parecieron menos interesantes, ya luego de leer varios libros ya conoces a los personajes y sabes en qué son buenos y cuáles son sus temores. Se siente bastante natural leer las historias y lo que pasan los Jedi. Por supuesto, lo que más me tuvo interesado es la relación de Avar y Elzar. La declaración de Avar es el argumento más sólido a por qué el amor no es malo en los Jedi. Ya me puedo imaginar una película de esas escenas con una música genial de fondo y un romance épico jaja. La conversación que tiene Yoda con Elzar sobre el amor también es muy interesante. Igual, es difícil y hasta diría "peligroso" ir por este lado en las historias de Jedi. Hasta ahora comparto y entiendo lo que se dice, algunas cosas sobre el lado oscuro no. Ya sabemos que esta historia realmente concluirá con el libro "Trials of the Jedi" que el mismo Charles Soule escribirá.

"No hay ningún Jedi perfecto, Elzar Mann. Lo que nos convierte en Jedi es nuestra elección de servir a la luz y la vida a través de la Fuerza."

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this more than a couple other Star Wars books by this author, but there are several major flaws. First, the good—it shows some victories for the Jedi and the Republic, in good old-fashioned ingenuity and cooperation and resistance that ends up with them actually figuring out how to take down the Stormwall, even if only temporarily. The book does a good job recapping important bits from previous books, which I appreciate since it’s hard to keep track of everything in the High Republuc series. It also does a good job tying together the various threats the Jedi are facing in this era—the Nihil, the Drengir, the Nameless, and now the Blight—so that it feels more cohesive and not so random. (Though it doesn’t fully deliver on explaining those connections yet.) The story is, overall, well-written, and Marc Thompson does a masterful delivery of the audiobook, as always.

However—I have two major problems with this book. The first is the mega cliffhanger that it ended on. I could see it coming, and hated it, just like I hated when a Phase 1 book ended right after the Leveler was revealed. This book does not end so much as just…stops. It does not complete its plot, and I hate that gimmicky feeling when an author just stops their story expecting you to be on the edge of your seat, rather than truly concluding it and trusting the power of a good story to bring you back. Anyways, I despise cliffhangers.

Other major problem: I was so freakin’ uncomfortable with needing to sit through some of the Jedi romance scenes in this book, especially because it did an absolutely crappy job of explaining what it was okay for two Jedi to do this. It seemed like Avar’s logic boiled down to “it feels right so it can’t be wrong.” Wimpy, wimpy justification. And Elzar was more uncomfortable with it but did it anyways, which I also didn’t like. That, combined with the fact that Porter Engle is on a book-long tour of rage and revenge against General Vis and never considers whether his desire for revenge is wrong, and we have a situation where the ethics of this book feel completely at odds with the ethics of the Jedi in general. It feels almost like Anakin Skywalker Dark Side logic, and it never, except for *maybe* in the title, thinks this could be wrong. This author seems to think feelings trump everything, and that doesn’t feel right for a Jedi story. If I keep talking on this point, I might bump the book down to two stars, and it might deserve it.

[Nate Hipple · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment this book turned out to be. While not quite as bad as Fallen Star—the action scenes are fun and Gratton excels at writing panic—it is another case of a young adult author struggling to make the transition to the adult series, turning in the longest novel with the least happening yet. The writing style, in particular, was a mess and an absolute slog to read. It felt more like fan fiction than a published author. Gratton also struggled to connect with the core cast, writing them either without personality or as caricatures of themselves. She came to life with her own characters, though, which she included so heavily as to make this book feel like a sequel to the young adult or comic series rather than the adult books. The crossover was so heavy that I found I just didn’t care about the characters and plot lines being continued from stuff I hadn’t read. I was originally excited by the High Republic as a fresh start unburdened by all the ouroboros self referential weight dragging down the rest of the line, but it has now become one of the worst offenders. Frustrating.

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Random House Worlds for the review copy of this book.

As a dedicated acolyte of The High Republic series, I have eagerly awaited and devoured each new installment with enthusiasm. From the exhilarating adventures of Phase 1 to the customary Star Wars prequel act of Phase 2, the journey through the High Republic universe has been nothing short of captivating. Combined with the lore to date, and the cover we were gifted for 'Temptation of the Force' by Tessa Gratton, the anticipation was palpable for the latest chapter in this intricate web of storytelling.

From the very first act, Gratton's prose ensnares the reader with its emotional depth and vivid descriptions. The first half of the book, along with the tumultuous final chapters, stand out as the pinnacle of the story's excellence. These sections are brimming with intensity, enthralling plots, and powerful character moments that epitomize the Star Wars ethos.

Fans of Avar Kriss, myself included, will find much to celebrate within the pages of 'Temptation of the Force' as Gratton’s portrayal of the Jedi Master truly shines. Gratton captures Avar's essence stunningly, illustrating her evolution from Phase 1 to the present day. From the heartbreak she and Elzar felt after losing their polestar, Stellan, to the resilience shown after escaping the Occlusion Zone in George Mann's 'Eye of Darkness,' every nuance of Avar's emotional journey is vividly portrayed, drawing readers into her struggle as she grapples with the aftermath of past events.
The world-building in this novel is exemplary. Gratton broadens the High Republic universe with a detailed and engrossing backdrop. The intricate settings and the vivid sense of place are so well-crafted that you can almost feel the environment around you. This level of world-building adds a layer of richness to the universe, making it easy to become absorbed in the story.

The thematic exploration of love, loss, and attachment is a central component of the story and is handled with great care. Gratton delves into the different ways these themes manifest, particularly in the context of the Jedi. This philosophical exploration adds depth to the characters and provides a rich, reflective layer to the lore. It's fascinating to see how the characters grapple with these universal themes, making their struggles and triumphs feel all the more authentic and poignant.
While not required, familiarity with the previous phases enriches the reading experience of 'Temptation of the Force,' offering a gratifying journey for readers who have traversed the entirety of the High Republic saga. Despite any reservations I may have had during the prequel phase of THR, Gratton seamlessly incorporates callbacks to previous entries in the series and weaves in connective tissue from Phase 2.

This continuity not only enriches the experience for long-time readers but also provides a sense of cohesion and progression within the larger story. It's truly rewarding to witness how the threads from earlier books are skillfully woven into 'Temptation of the Force,' creating a narrative that feels both expansive and interconnected. As I delved into the story, I couldn't help but appreciate the rich tapestry of interconnected plotlines, each one evolving and blossoming into captivating arcs within the pages of this book.

However, not everything is perfect. The middle portion of the book - roughly the 25% that follows the gripping first half - felt slightly cumbersome and drawn out. This section seemed to lag, and at times this added to my issue of feeling like phase 3 takes two steps forward and one step back. This might not be an issue for all readers, but I found myself longing for the pace to pick up again as it did in the beginning and end. Despite this, the emotional storytelling kept me engaged enough to push through. To date, ‘Temptation of the Force’ is the best of Gratton’s work that I have experienced, and a must-read for any fan looking to continue their journey during this saga of Star Wars.

9.1/10, “A” tier

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apart from obvious problems of pacing, the book suffers from the problem of the multimedia concept, which introduces characters or references to situations that originated outside the main body of the series.

This irritated me for a while, but Tessa Gratton's writing and the intensity she brings to the characters won me over. The characterisation is beautifully done, enhanced by the arcs of Avar and Elza. Burry is made even more deeply endearing, if that's possible.
The description and use of the Force are very well rendered, and for once I perceived it as, well, a Force, and not some vague wavelength travelling through the galaxy.

There are flaws, certainly, but the qualities far outweigh them, and I can't wait to see how Soule concludes the series.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

The relationship between Avar and Elzar felt very well developed and compelling. It was nice to see their relationship take such a prominent role in an adult novel for the first time since Light of the Jedi. I think most fans of the Avar and Elzar pairing will appreciate that aspect of this book.

The friendship between Burry and Bell also stood out as a highlight to me. I've really come to care about this bond between them (I love the detail of Bell learning to speak Shyriwook to better communicate with Burry, and how much Burry genuinely appreciates that effort on Bell's part). Burry in particular gets some excellent development of his empathetic abilities and how they can be a powerful resource both in confronting the Nameless threat and potentially the blight as well. Especially if combined and amplified with Avar's abilities.

Ghirra Starros was probably a more interesting character to me in this than Marchion Ro, and I did enjoy her scene with Avon.

Avon continues to be a wonderful character for me. I just love her personality and the way she thinks. She has grown so much from Test of Courage as well. It's amazing.

The battle sequences were strong overall, and the blight to me emerged as the biggest threat more so than the previously mentioned Marchion Ro and even the Nameless.

The ending was a genuine cliffhanger.

[Pierce Gillard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, the better of the series so far, but still a bit hindered by how much it has to lift. These feel written by committee, to their detriment, but this one stands out as having the best romance of any Canon Star Wars and one of the only new Star Wars books to remind me of my favorite parts of The New Jedi Order series. It is still, at times, overly preachy and stuck in the complexities of the wider publishing project, but Gratton has a stand out volume in a sprawling series with this entry. It held my attention throughout, something the series has not done overall. I look forward to the conclusion it is setting up, although I think I can guess where it’s heading.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make this a strong but frustrating 3.5 stars...these books are starting to feel like 2-steps-forward, 2-steps-sideways. The strongest bits involve the relationship between Avar & Elzar...but that's a microcosm of the entire novel, as they get closer and closer...then only so far...then try again...there's delayed gratification, but there's also treading water. Then there's the introduction of the Blight...even as the threat of the Nameless is only starting to be dealt with at last...why egg the pudding so much? It was enjoyable for what it was, but it's leaving me scratching my head as to where it's all going.

[JG Carse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like all of the pieces from Phase I and II with the beginning foundation of Phase III coming together to start to set up the finale. It felt rewarding and it’s not even the conclusion yet. This is Tessa’s best work so far in Star Wars coming from someone who has mostly really enjoyed her other works. The book is full of rich characters with a conflict that’s a bit stretched too thin but feels like it comes together at the to end to set up the final few projects in this initiative. I am seated and I am so ready and not at the same time.

[Myles Gerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What even is there to say? Everything in this book is so masterfully written and so excellently builds up the finale we’ve been waiting years for. The dialogue between characters feels more believable and genuine than ever before, and this book truly is an emotional rollercoaster. Gratton has written a masterpiece of Star Wars fiction, and the level of dread she has left me with for the final novel cannot be understated. It was truly an incredible read and I loved every moment of it from start to finish.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

love can ignite the stars

[☆lindsay☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm head over heels for this slowest of slowburns omg

[Pablo Murcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilty pleasure Star Wars book N.463, this time featuring some VERY un-Jedi like romance 🤨

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the romance I've been looking for.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just know you're going to love a certain book by a certain author. In the same way I know a Cavan Scott audiodrama or a Charles Soule ensemble story is something for me, I know a Tessa Gratton novel will find a way to etch itself into my heart. Add to that a cast of my favorite characters and a blend of topics I deeply care about and you'll have a recipe to make me swoon.

Temptation of the Force is no book to be devoured. It is a book to be treasured. Following the return of Avar Kriss to Republic space and the spread of a mystery planet-consuming illness, the story focuses on love in its manyfold iterations. Though its title is grand and dramatic and the emotions it portrays often strong and overwhelming, the overall core of the novel is gentle and affectionate. This is a book that hits home for everyone who has questioned themselves for feeling deeply or out of the norm. Whose emotions have made grander waves than others expected. Who didn't know what others expected, but assumed the way they experienced things was wrong.
Tessa Gratton uses the many character constellations to explore various shades of caring for someone. The deep friendship and concern for another between Bell Zettifar and Burryaga, the grief Bell still carries, the young and dramatic fire between Xylan Graf and Cair San Tekka, the repressed but everlasting love between Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann. Even a loving connection to nature and home isn't overseen, nor is the effect of being devoid of love. Each of these dynamics carries its own potential, danger and payoff. Whether it's the pain of acting out without sharing what's on your heart, the assurance of someone returning to you, or speaking your feelings without bearing the weight of the consequences - Temptation of the Force offers the chance to reflect on connections for any type of reader.

It is, however, also a balancing act of a book. Sandwiched between George Mann's focused character journey and Charles Soule's epic conclusion of The High Republic, the middle chapter is always a tough one to pull off. Tessa Gratton masterfully expands the scenery and the stakes of the story, neatly connecting back to Wave 1 of Phase III. Not only are there enough recaps of the previous adult novel, there are also genuine callbacks to events from stories of the other age groups - mostly woven into the story through clever placing of dialogue and character appearances. On top of that, the novel also clearly sets the stage for the future, leaving the door wide open for stories such as Tears of the Nameless or Tempest Breaker.
One could certainly be frustrated at the open ending of Temptation of the Force, as not all ends are tied and more questions are raised than answered. Yet, the way threads are slowly starting to come together in this novel reassures us that the authors can be trusted to know where everything is going. Still, the one (and only) thing to critique about Temptation of the Force is its inequal share of character perspectives. While Avar and Elzar are thankfully finally getting their moment to shine together, the book can occasionally feel like a disservice to former main characters such as Bell, who lacks his own point of view, or pairings whose story gets dropped towards the end of the novel. While this helps to keep the tension up and avoids unneccessary jumps between sceneries, it is not entirely satifying to lack the perspectives of these characters in the end. However, as this is the Empire Strikes Back of Phase III, it's probably safe to assume these choices were made with deliberation and every important player will get a proper (hopefully not literal) ending to their story in the final installations of The High Republic.

Overall, Temptation of the Force is a fantastic book. Tessa Gratton portrays emotion and the struggles that come with allowing yourself (not) to feel through a plethora of perspectives and never loses sight of the literal heart of the story: "Love is limitless. There's no end to it."

[Levi Weeks · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I keep reading these is I feel like I have too. There are some decent spots but I feel like the authors have completely gone off script on what a Jedi is or what they believe. There is a literal sex scene between two Jedi in the book which is completely unnecessary.

The Nihil are also such a weak antagonist. They have no purpose no desires except to listen to metal music and destroy stuff, but yet they’re advanced and organized enough to cordon off a large chunk of the galaxy and still feed people?

I’ll probably keep reading/slash listening to these but I don’t have to like it.

[Admiral Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one and really felt like a phase 1 book