Into the Light

Star Wars: The High Republic

by Claudia Gray

The New York Times best-selling series is coming to an epic conclusion—witness the beginning of the end!

Written by one of the original High Republic story architects and the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark, Star Wars: Lost Stars, and the upcoming original X-Files novel, Perihelion. This sci-fi mystery is, at its heart, about the importance of found families and overcoming great odds.

As several crises all hurtle toward their thrilling and shocking conclusions, fan-favorite Jedi Knights and Padawans must band together to save the galaxy from the Nihil, the Nameless, and perhaps worst of all, a mysterious blight that turns everything in its path to dust and is seemingly impossible to stop.

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

360 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing.

Reviews

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to have another book with some of my favorite High Republic characters- Reath Silas, Affie Hollow, and Geode (not you, Nan😡). I cried at a certain point but then I got a glimmer of hope at the end so please please be true.

I do wish we had more Bell and Ember in this book 💔

I can't believe we are coming to the end of the High Republic series 😭. I can honestly say I have enjoyed every single novel- Adult, YA, and Junior. I'm going to be so lost and sad when the final book is released in June.

[rou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so saddened by have given this book only 3 stars but there were so many issues. I was excited to have Claudia writing another YA novel and the fact that it was a Reath Silas book! She gave life to this character and Into the Dark is one of the strongest THR novels, but this book didn't live up to it. Unfortunately, I think this book summarizes well the problems that phase 3 has. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of things I enjoyed from this book, I had a good time reading it, but objectively, again, it has many issues that cannot be ignored. Spoilers below .

Starting with the characters; first of all, in TOTN we had Reath grow up a lot as a character and his interpersonal relationships were developed beautifully so, what even happened here? Why were his most important relationships (Cohmac and Amadeo) almost nonexistent. Talking about Amadeo, why is he still without a Master? The Guardian Protocols are up, so why in the middle of a crisis/war is Amadeo, a Padawan, without a Master? Either give him a Master or knight him. I have my opinions (pros and cons) about this, but Reath is right there and they work well together. Use that. Moving onto Nan. We have known Nan since ITD, why do we learn about her true, actual motivations at the end of this book, which is certainly the last time we will hear of her? Her arc was completely rushed. Now Bell: I'm so mad about how Bell has been treated this whole phase. Bell did not go through his entire arc in phase 1 and in TOLAL for him to chose going after Marchion Ro because there's a RUMOR that Marchion might be in a planet I can't even remember the name of rather than going to Kashyyyk and helping an entire planet. For me, this was very out of character for him (also can we stop pretending that Indeera doesn't exists?). To finish this part, I need every author to forget that Vernestra exists so they stop putting her in every single book and comic just for the sake of putting her there! I couldn't even tell you what happened with her in this book. This has been such an annoying problem through the entire phase. Also her character doesn't even make sense in any of the books after DTS because that ending set her up for something entirely different and then it was completely ignored and forgotten.
Now moving onto plot, i guess: What's the whole point of having most of the book being set on Kashyyyk if (1) we weren't gonna be given properly insight into Wookiee's culture; (2) not a single Wookiee pov; and (3) Burryaga and Kelnacca were basically painted there, just a conduct for other characters to do the important parts, instead of having some actual protagonism in their own planet. The Drengir's plot was good but rushed. I felt like the authors needed to get rid of the Drengir problem even tho they are the ones that decided to bring it up again.
I do gotta hightlight that Azlin was done great in this book, I enjoyed a lot the insight we got of him and what troubles him, his internal, constant, fight. And the connections between the Force and nature were beautiful.

I'm sad because Reath, Amadeo and Bell are some of my favorite characters but they aren't being handled well.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last YA novel in the High Republic, and the beginning of the end of the whole series. I must say, I didn't know what I expected exactly from this book, but I was really happy with what I got.

First I must say, Claudia Gray very compentely is tying up loose threads, plotlines, and character arcs in this book. Reading this book really pays off a lot of what we've read in the various adult, YA, Middle Grade, and Manga up to this point. I feared this series had opened way too many characters and plotlines to properly tie them up, but if this book is an indication, I think the HR team might just do it.

What I enjoyed most about the book was that it really didn't feel YA to me. In fact, it could have easily have read like the Adult novels and published as one, except for the fact that the whole cast here is pretty much YA/middle Grade storyline characters, which makes sense. I wish this writing style had been the standard for the series, as it would have made the YA books much better.

This book really is Reath Silas' book, and he really gets to shine. It ties up a lot of his arc from the whole series, but also really fittingly ties up his story from "Into the Dark". It helps that Nan is back from that book and also has a good bookend to her story.

The character who I actually enjoyed reading the most in this book was Azlin Rell, who has shown up in Phase 2 and 3 a lot. He's had such an interesting journey and has a complexity that is well explored here.

The whole "Vessel" crew is back, with Affie Hollow, Leox Gyassi, and of course, Geode. For all of you who made fun of Geode before, I think you'll have an interesting time with his story here. And Affie's story, particularly in dealing with Nan, is really well done.

I've never particularly cared for the character of Cohmac Vitus, but he was fine here.

I really liked the villians in the book, particularly Dr. Mkampa. She's a complex enough villain, who also still feels very villainous.

And of course, this book really has some interesting set ups for the finale of the series: Trials of the Jedi. I cannot wait for that book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I'll give it a 9 out of 10.

[Jan Santanius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Wars: The High Republic Into the Light by Claudia Gray was a book I was cautiously optimistic about. Claudia Gray has written some very good Star Wars novels (Lost Stars, Leia: Princess of Alderaan, Bloodline and more), and I would also call Into the Dark one of the best High Republic books, which set a high bar for the YA line. Sadly, Into the Light doesn’t quite live up to that level though it’s definitely better than The Fallen Star. It’s a book with some standout moments, but also one that struggles with cohesion, payoff, and staying connected to the broader initiative.

One of the things I appreciated most was the return of actual worldbuilding — something that has been mostly missing since Phase I. I often use The Rising Storm as a benchmark for how well the High Republic can immerse you in the galaxy, and in that regard, Into the Light felt like a small return to form. The highlight here was without question the inclusion of Kenari, the planet first introduced in Andor. Gray notes in the acknowledgements how much she loves the series, and it really shows. By tying Kenari to Czerka exploitation, she not only gives weight to the planet’s suffering but also connects the High Republic era to later and previously published stories in a satisfying way. It’s exactly the kind of worldbuilding I love reminiscent of how James Luceno used to seamlessly tie various parts of the galaxy together. It makes the galaxy feel textured and layered, rather than episodic.

Another element that stood out was the introduction of the Thornseed an ancient Sith weapon that, despite being new to Star Wars, fits almost too well into the puzzle. It adds yet another piece suggesting that the Sith may have played a role in the creation of the Blight, and perhaps even the Nameless. It’s an intriguing connection that strengthens the sense of an underlying threat while deepening the mystery. It also makes Azlin Rell’s strange behavior more compelling. His use of Force lightning is unexpected, but not without context throughout Phase III, he's been hinting at knowledge of the Sith, even referencing them explicitly in Shadows of Starlight as one of the groups being threatened by the Nameless, despite the Sith supposedly being extinct. His presence raises serious questions, and while the book doesn’t resolve them, it plants fascinating seeds. I also really liked the inclusion of Kelnacca from The Acolyte a small but effective way to weave in other corners of the canon without forcing it.

That said, the book suffers from the same disjointed character work that has plagued much of the YA line. Reath is a character I’ve always liked, but his development feels stuck in a loop. Each book pairs him with someone new, Dez in Into the Dark, Ram in Midnight Horizon, and now Amaddeo and Nan (who was also present in Into the Dark, though more as an antagonist than a friend) but these relationships rarely have lasting impact. His chemistry with Ram in Midnight Horizon was fantastic, yet here it's basically erased. Amaddeo, who had a major role in Tears of the Nameless, is barely even present. Reath’s journey feels static, and even the resolution (or lack thereof) in this book leaves him in a strange emotional limbo.

Worse still, many story threads from Tears of the Nameless are dropped or reduced to throwaway lines. The ancient Tolemite civilization, the metal that seemed to offer some form of protection or counter to the Nameless, Silandra Sho’s shield all of it either ignored or vaguely referenced. Even Marchion Ro, once a central and constantly evolving antagonist, now feels directionless. He’s present, yes, but doesn’t do much of anything. In Phase I, he was full of surprises; in Phase III, he feels like a leftover piece the writers don’t quite know what to do with or perhaps are saving for the grand finale of the initiative.

The book also suffers from an increasingly frustrating reliance on outside media. The reappearance of the Drengir aboard the Innovator is one example without the Seeds of the Past and Haunted Starlight audio dramas, the scene makes little sense. This was already a problem in The Fallen Star, and it reappears here. Requiring readers to engage with every piece of High Republic media across multiple formats to understand basic plot elements should not be the way to go.

There are also timeline inconsistencies that hurt the overall cohesion. For instance, the events of Light of the Jedi and Into the Dark are established to span at least a month, but this book compresses that gap into “a few days.” Reath reflects on his time training with Cohmac as lasting only a few months, when in reality, it's been about two years. While it’s true that Phase III takes place roughly a year after Phase I, the way it's framed makes it feel like almost no time has passed since the start of the initiative. These are relatively small details, but they add up and create a sense that the editorial team isn’t fully aligned.

Despite all that, there are moments that genuinely shine. Nan’s storyline is well done and gets a fitting resolution. Gray’s writing is still emotionally effective, and there are scenes that genuinely land. But the book overall feels fragmented as if it’s trying to close the door on the YA series while not quite knowing how to do it. There are too many threads, too many ideas only partially explored. And with Trials of the Jedi on the horizon, I’m honestly unsure how all of this will be wrapped up or if it even will be.

If you're deeply invested in The High Republic and enjoy piecing together lore, Into the Light still has value. But if you're looking for answers, narrative payoff, or the sense that the initiative is building toward a satisfying end, this one might leave you frustrated.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia Gray is the GOAT. I love these characters so much that I cheer every time a new one enters the plot. She covers my favorites so beautifully, and I feel so intensely connected to any character she writes. Reath, Burry, Vernestra, Affie, and the Vessel Crew are truly among my top favorites from THR and I just can’t get over the growth they’ve all had since Into the Dark (and how poetic that this was titled Into the Light). This story takes place on Kashyyyk which is my favorite Star Wars planet, so the added bonus of learning more about my favorite planet while also witnessing my favorite characters be their bravest yet, was such a treat. I could read about the adventures of this specific group forever. I am so sad that this is the final YA novel as they have been some of my favorites…

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, CLAUDIA.

((Warning to longtime High Republic fans - it did make me actually sob at one point.))

[alec james · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m way too sentimental about being in the last wave of the high republic to write anything coherent but claudia gray always writes stories that are so at home in the star wars world and into the light is the pinnacle of that connectedness. i’ll be thinking about this book forever.

[Marlene · Rating 1 out of 5]

a deeply uninteresting and unsatisfying finale for the YA run of The High Republic. disappointed doesn't even cover what I'm feeling right now.

[Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s fitting that author Claudia Gray kicked off the first YA novel with Into the Dark for the High Republic initiative and now she is closing things out with the final YA book Into the Light. The YA novels have had their highs and mediums, but Into the Dark is definitely one of the better ones, so I was excited to see Gray getting to wrap things up for her characters she had a hand in creating. And even though we have one junior novel and one adult novel to finish things out, this does feel like the final act for a lot of characters who’ve been occupying the YA space for a while. A lot of characters get some much needed closure and many dangling plot threads are finally resolved.

At the heart of this story remains my favorite High Republic character: Reath Silas. My boy finally gets to headline a novel again and Gray gives him the tools he needs to succeed. It’s so nice between this and Tears of the Nameless seeing him have his moment after multiple books on the sidelines. People often like to see themselves in the stories they read and Reath reminds me a lot of myself, and maybe that’s why he resonating with me so much from the get go. This story perfectly sets up Reath to play a pivotal role in Trials of the Jedi and I can’t wait to see how things unfold (admittedly I’m also a little scared). He’s my favorite High Republic character and he’s my favorite in this book. It’s been fun to watch him grow as a character over the years.

Besides just loving Reath and all the cool things he gets to do, I also loved having a book where Kashyyyk is the primary setting. We spend the bulk of the book on this planet and I love the additional world building Gray adds to the Wookie homeworld. Speaking of Wookiees, Burryaga was probably my second favorite character as he got a lot of needed time to shine as well. Oh and by the way, there’s a character from the Acolyte in this that was a nice surprise. If you know you know. I’ve been on the fence about Azlin Rell as a character but Gray managed to make him at his most interesting thus far.

I overall enjoyed the story and thought it put a nice bow on things. If I had a gripe, I thought a lot of time was spent recapping past events for readers. At this point no one is using this book as their starting point, so it felt unnecessary.

All in all I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re already invested in the High Republic. If not, you better get started!

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.
This is the last of the Young Adult novels in the High Republic series. Hopefully not the last time we see the cast of characters that have been our companions through this area of the High Republic, but given a proper send off if it is.
Most of the book deals with an outbreak of Blight on Kashyykk and the ending of the species known as the Drengir. Overall, a good read, though one that took me much longer than I thought it would. Might have been just a bit too long.

Though I have enjoyed the ride, I am looking forward to the end of the Nihil and the High Republic series.

Recommend.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I just read the last High Republic young adult novel. That wasn't my number one favourite of the series or anything, but it was really lovely and a nice change of pace with how warm and positive it was. All the characters are truly great, and I've never felt like we've explored Kashyyyk in this much depth before. I really am gonna miss Reath Silas and Cohmac and the Vessel crew, all the young adult guys!

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about a geo-deus ex machina

[Iwi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am really tired of people monologuing on what they think the jedi are (incorrect idk why you're writing the order this way) rather than just showing me and letting me decide. Let's talk about how stupid the M count is and how the jedi are too caught up in war--like what? Why are the jedi themselves being woe alas the order is corrupt! The worst thing they're shown doing is going to planets to convince them to join the republic and that hasn't been done since Phase 1.

ANYWAY

The start of the book was filled with that. And then we get Burryaga and Bell seperating? In the final book? Why! And the wookies are sidelined in leading the mission on Kashyyyk? Also let's throw in Kelnacca and give him no lines, which I think was to mimic him in The Acolyte but he didn't have no lines/couldn't speak, just nothing he said was translated for us. That would be like saying Chewie doesn't speak.

On the topic of Kelnacca so crazy to put him into this story knowing what will happen to him later. He gets to aid a whole community coming back from the darkside and the evils they've done. But um, those witches am I right?

So unsatisfying that the doctor--the mad scientist as they like to call her--just gets away. Again. I wish she had something going on but she's just so tehe evil villain that just says her evil thoughts out loud to no one.

We have a character basically doing a suicide bomb moment and the friend of that character says that the drengir should just "knock this darkside stuff off!" like pls be a little serious. So many instances of this type of writing 💀 several times we're told 'I know the force but wow this feels like real magic' 'now that's real magic' 💀

I did like the stuff with Azlin and I thought being on Kyshyyyk was fun. But really? So many loose ends and forgotten plot points.

As this series closes it really opens the flaws in the base plot. There is no real end goal and the people who believe on Ro, when they start to talk about why, you can feel the authors scrambling to come up with a reason.

The drengir were interesting! But then they start talking so they can stumble around and go "meeeeaaaat" 💀 and then oh they all decide to be good, no more meat for them. Five years. And this is the payoff?

[Declan O'Keeffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a sequel to Into the Dark, Into the Light works quite well. It returns to and ties up the villains that book introduces and continues the stories of those characters well.

Bearing in mind Into the dark wasn't my favourite THR YA book and is my least favourite Claudia Gray Star Wars book, and there have been several books in between the two.

As the prelude to the big finale that this book is, it doesn't do a whole lot for me, unfortunately.
It definitely feels like it's just tying up loose ends that won't impact the big ending, fighting villains that overstayed their welcome. It also underutilised some excellent characters that I love, while having no real stakes for the main characters or even the main planet in Jeopardy, because we know they survive this point.

I didn't hate this book, like I don't hate most of the THR YA books, but this felt like just another side quest that doesn't evolve the bigger story much, in comparison to Tears of the Nameless which uses the same characters to great effect to really push the plot on.

It just didn't do what a finale book should do for me. It didn't excite me enough. It just trod water for me before we get to the BIG end. And that's a shame because I really wanted to love this book more.

[Christa Chirico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the final books in the HR saga, and while I loved more time spent with some of my favorite characters, I did have moments during this book of worrying how we are possibly going to wrap up this whole series in just one more middle grade and one more adult novel! Although this book did some awesome character work—particularly with Nan, Azlin Rell, the wookiees, and the crew of the Vessel—I fear that in some ways it didn’t advance the larger plot of the series enough to be this close to the end. However, I am hopeful that there were some seeds planted here that will turn into something unexpected and guide us to the end successfully.

Spending time on Kashyyyk was so fun, and I wish I could commune with trees like the wookiees do.

[Luke Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It truly feels like the end of the series is approaching. Reath and Cohmac are in such a better place. I love the Vessel Crew.

This book felt like a celebration of all of Claudia’s Star Wars books to date with references to Lost Stars and Bloodline in here too.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Alex in the Abstract · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the Light proves to me that 40% of phase III of THR is unnecessary. I feel like we're spinning our heels here, as we've been doing since Temptation of the Force came out last year. The Echoes of Fear Comic and Tears of the Nameless are both referenced here, and yet they feel completely unnecessary to enjoy this story fully, something that you couldn't say about earlier parts of Phase III, which required reading everything in order to know what was going on (Lucasfilm will tell you that that is not true. Lucasfilm is wrong).

That out of the way: This book still gets 5 starts from me.

Why? Character work. Claudia Gray does the best character work of any other Star Wars author. Her ability to make you care about every single character on the page (including the ones literally made of rock) is a testament to her deep knowledge of what makes these characters tick.

Into the Light is a book about self-doubt. It's a book about people from all over the galaxy coming together to solve impossible problems, and struggling with their confidence along the way. This book doesn't move the High Republic plot along too far, but it shows that when our favorite characters believe in themselves and in those around them anything is possible. With hope, we can rise above and make a better world for everyone, one step at a time.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Call this a strong 3.5 stars. It's very clear by this point that much of The High Republic storyline is treading water, but there is much interest to be found in this deep exploration of the geography of the Wookie home world. Even better is the continuing journey of Reath Silas (my favourite character in the High Republic) and his odd relationship with the dark jedi Azlin Rell, which held my interest more than anything else. This is the key storyline I want resolved before the end of the series.

[Mile · Rating 3 out of 5]

the baby grootification of geode 😭😭

[Jazmin Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I never thought about whether or not I’d need to use that information someday—I just wanted to know it, for the joy of knowing.”

Oh my heart I have been waiting for this books for two weeks but might as well have been waiting for it for YEARS because I finished it in one day.

This review has spoilers so BEWARE

The best part of this book, to me, was the amount of Reath we get. From his POV but also other characters’ POVs, the fact that we truly see his growth from this young, just thrown into the galaxy Padawan to the amazing Jedi Knight he has become is one of the highest highlights of the story, and that’s what makes The High Republic books so amazing. His relationship with Amadeo and Cohmac is something that owns my heart and I will never have enough of.

The second best thing of this book to me where Affie, Leox and Geode. What an amazing crew they are! I have loved them since Into the Dark and they have always been in my top 5 characters (together, as they shall remain) and I definitely will not be changing that in the near future!

I would have loved this book to explore more on the already ongoing issues than introducing a new one and bringing back the Drengir. I get that they needed better closure, especially after Starlight’s fall, but after Tears of the Nameless and Echoes of Fear I truly expected to go deeper into solving at least one of the biggest problems, which didn’t really happen and makes me even more scared for Trials.

That being said, I love Claudia Gray, and everything she writes and the characters she creates will always hold a special place in my heart. Also, the little glimpses to Lost Stars and Bloodline? I was SCREAMING!

[Zettifar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia grey does it again!! The best Star wars author raises the bar again with her character devolvement.

I felt the first couple chapters did a great job of setting everything up for the meaty part of the book and story, I find Claudia has much larger chapters then other authors and so you have time to really sit and experience moments.

To finally start seeing some storylines start to wrap up is great to see but also characters reappearing from phase 1 that we may not have though were critical character for the overall story but appear in phase 3 having their moments for their own trauma that is intertwined with crucial story moments again proves to fantastic story telling from so many authors.

To finally spend some good quality time on Kashyyyk was lots of fun even though incredible stressful at times lol, to get so much background info on the Wookie's relationship with the Wroshyr tree of their planet was special for me as I really enjoying learning more about the alien cultures of star wars.

To have Claudia write the first & last HR YA books is real poetry for star wars publishing , To think the journey we've been on with the likes of Reath Silas of not wanting to leave the jedi temple and to continue studying/learning from jedi texts but to now have his character be a leader of others while still having the core of his character still enjoy/want to study in the jedi temple. We all have parts of our selves that change as we grow older but there is still a core part of who we are that still remains from our younger selves.

In the end this might be my new favourite YA high republic book

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

As this is probably the last of the YA High Republic novels, and one of the last novels before THE last novel in the series, things end both with a bang and by coming full circle. The many of the characters who first appeared in the first YA High Republic novel return and have a very fitting conclusion to their character arcs, assuming this is the last time we see them. We also see things being set up for the final confrontation between the Republic & Jedi versus Marchion Ro & the Nihil. The Drengir, whose presence has been felt much outside of the first YA High Republic novel and the comics, make a very appropriate final showing in this book. The only small downside is that there were too many characters in here. Sadly, the Wookiee Jedis Burryaga and Kelnacca aren’t much more than plot devices, Master Cohmac felt a little superfluous (though he did have a nice full circle by the end), and though Azlin Rell got a lot more POV moments than expected, his story arc still seems wide open and probably being kept in reserve for the true endgame. Overall, this was one of the best YA High Republic novels, and possibly one of the best High Republic novels.

[Kaitlyn McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is unfortunately m least favorite Claudia Gray Star Wars contribution. I typically thoroughly enjoy her YA stuff, but this one felt far more juvenile than the other YA installations of this series. Still, I enjoyed it because I love Reath and Affie so dearly. I felt like the solution to the drengir and blight problem was a little too convenient, I guess? Like, oh, this plant magic that was only just introduced in this book has suddenly fixed everything on Kashyyyk. Okay? I wish we had to work for it a little more.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a feeling Into the Light might be a banger when the title/cover art was first revealed but I really had no idea.

Claudia Gray continues to be my favorite modern Star Wars writer, masterfully weaving together and concluding all the plot lines that have been persisting through the High Republic YA novels ever since Into the Dark years ago.

I cannot overexpress how much I've enjoyed seeing Reath Silas transition from a shy book worm to a brave, courageous, intelligent leader, easily making him one of my favorite Star Wars characters of the Canon era.

I think my favorite part though was just how thematic the title Into the light really is. Just about every character - Reath, Burryaga and Kelnacca (A+ Acolyte representation), Cohmac, the crew of the Vessel and so on face a form of redemption or rejuvenation. Even the lost Azlin Rell, who isn't quite so easily redeemed, is complicated for the better by a net influence of the Light Side. Kashyyyk itself is saved from the Blight by a sacrifice that manifests as a pure explosion of light that draws upon established lore and unrealized elements of a lost clone wars arc from way back in the day. Only Claudia Gray can make me cry over a rock. A. ROCK. I'm still unwell. All the stuff with Vintian heaven and Geode's heartstone was nothing short of magnificent.

My favorite form of Light Side redemption though is the Drengir. I don't want to say too much but when they interact with the white trees - it's easily a top 10 high republic moments. If that's the last major appearance of the Drengir for THR (which it feels like) that would be completely fine with me.

The YA books of THR have consistently been my favorite outings and I'm sad there are no more but happy it ended on such a high note. With fantastic characters and plenty of classic Star Wars thematic elements, this is certainly an adventure any fan can enjoy.

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish I loved this more because I do really like the cast of characters. I just found this entry a little underwhelming at times, for the last entry in the YA THR storyline I just expected more. The climax and occurrences at the end of the novel were exciting and worth getting to but unfortunately not enough for the penultimate episode of a total series.

[Oliver Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highlight of my THR reading; works to bring closure to multiple characters and arcs first visited in Into The Dark all those years ago (and what a satisfying pairing of titles), and is a cinematically told finale, especially once it kicks into gear and all the pieces are in place for the second half.

[Louis Marano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect way to wrap up the YA cast of characters. It gave a satisfying conclusion to the Dregnir and showed how the blight could possibly be defeated. Most importantly it wrapped up the characters from into the dark which was my first introduction to the high republic. I love Reath, Affie, Nan, etc and I’m glad they got their ending even though they might appear in trials of the Jedi but still.

[Nunya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thus the ending of The High Republic has truly begun.

The whole YA sect of this saga has had many ups and downs throughout the story, but Into the Light truly does bring it all together with a pretty satisfying conclusion, even though there is still more story to be told. It's lovely to have characters from every single book in this series rather than letting this feel like a sequel to Into the Dark alone, and each and every one of them feels like they receive a suitable conclusion to their arcs. I especially enjoyed Nan's arc here, she's appeared off and on throughout this entire series, and it feels great to have her getting an actual arc again since The Fallen Star, with her joining the ensemble of characters stepping out of the dark in this novel. Azlin Rell also features with a very tragic, but understandable story, it seems he's still got more to do in Trials of the Jedi, so we'll see how his ending in this book is continued.
And of course we have Reath Silas. He has gotten to be the axis that the YA books have hung on and it's incredible to see him fully in his confident era. He's wise, caring, and one of this era's best Jedi.

Charles Soule, if you hurt him I will come for after you so hard that your ass will never be able to step into the light ever again.

[Jon Winegar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into the Light was an amazing novel and I can feel THR is coming to a close. Small spoiler major story points happen on Kashyyyk!!!!! Amazing having this all come together. The Acolyte is getting its lead up in these novels. The entire canon universe is tying in!