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Star Wars: The High Republic
A Test of Courage
Long before the Clone Wars, the Empire, or the First Order, the Jedi lit the way for the galaxy in a golden age known as the High Republic!
Vernestra Rwoh is a brand-new Jedi Knight at age sixteen, but her first real assignment feels an awful lot like babysitting. She’s been charged with supervising twelve-year old aspiring inventor Avon Starros on a luxury liner headed to the dedication of a wondrous new space station called Starlight Beacon.
But early in their journey, bombs go off aboard the ship. After narrowly avoiding being sucked into the vacuum of space, Vernestra; Avon; Avon’s droid J-6; a Jedi Padawan; and an ambassador’s son make it to an shuttle, but communications are out and supplies are low. They decide to land on a nearby moon, which offers shelter but not much more. And unbeknownst to them, danger lurks in the jungle….
Vernestra Rwoh is a brand-new Jedi Knight at age sixteen, but her first real assignment feels an awful lot like babysitting. She’s been charged with supervising twelve-year old aspiring inventor Avon Starros on a luxury liner headed to the dedication of a wondrous new space station called Starlight Beacon.
But early in their journey, bombs go off aboard the ship. After narrowly avoiding being sucked into the vacuum of space, Vernestra; Avon; Avon’s droid J-6; a Jedi Padawan; and an ambassador’s son make it to an shuttle, but communications are out and supplies are low. They decide to land on a nearby moon, which offers shelter but not much more. And unbeknownst to them, danger lurks in the jungle….
230 pages, Hardcover
First published January 5, 2021
345 people are currently reading
3277 people want to read
About the author
Justina Ireland
124 books3,117 followersJustina Ireland is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books including Dread Nation and its sequel Deathless Divide, the middle-grade novel Ophie's Ghosts, which won the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction, and a number of Star Wars books including Flight of the Falcon: Lando’s Luck, Spark of the Resistance, A Test of Courage, Out of the Shadows, and Mission to Disaster. She is a former editor in chief of FIYAH Literary Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, for which she won a World Fantasy Award. She holds a BA in History from Georgia Southern and an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 867 reviews
December 30, 2024
A Test of Courage is a super-solid Junior Star Wars novel set in the era of the High Republic; the golden age of the Jedi.
The recently released High Republic books all take place concurrently in the year 232-BBY.
As determined by these novels, this is the year of the Great Disaster, a catastrophic event that caused numerous ships galaxy-wide to be suddenly, and violently, launched out of hyperspace.
It also destroyed moons, created a great amounts of debris, and caused many problems for ships and navigators.
To put it in a timeline perspective, these High Republic novels predate all previously released Star Wars Canon materials.
In early 2021, Disney released three of these novels; one Adult, Light of the Jedi, one YA, Into the Dark, and this one, a Junior novel.
This story follows a group of kids, who after their transport ship is destroyed, find themselves stranded on a dangerous jungle moon.
Venestra, Avon, Imri and Honesty are completely on their own. Without adult supervision, for the first time, they need to not just survive, but also take on enemies older and more experienced than themselves.
This novel took me completely by surprised. Ireland went much deeper than I expected of a Junior novel.
This group of characters were so interesting, engaging and fun to learn about. Venestra is a Jedi prodigy, the youngest Padawan to pass Jedi trials in generations. She stole the show for me and definitely fell easily into a leadership role.
Additionally, I loved Avon! A Senator's daughter, with a scientific mind, who wants to experiment on kyber crystals. That's my kind of girl.
A Test of Courage is fast-paced, action-packed, full of deep space adventure, dangerous enemies and wonderfully nuanced characters.
The Star Wars audiobooks are known to be incredible, with fun sound effects and great narrators. I am happy to report, this one is no exception.
I highly recommend the audio for this. It is super compelling and a great way to take this in. I was quite impressed with the entire production.
I've been loving the new High Republic content and recommend them not just for long-time Star Wars fans, but also to those who may be interested in the books, but are unsure of where to start.
This is a great jumping off point. I think this story is a wonderful example of the type of deeply engrossing material that can be found within the Canon novels.
The recently released High Republic books all take place concurrently in the year 232-BBY.
As determined by these novels, this is the year of the Great Disaster, a catastrophic event that caused numerous ships galaxy-wide to be suddenly, and violently, launched out of hyperspace.
It also destroyed moons, created a great amounts of debris, and caused many problems for ships and navigators.
To put it in a timeline perspective, these High Republic novels predate all previously released Star Wars Canon materials.
In early 2021, Disney released three of these novels; one Adult, Light of the Jedi, one YA, Into the Dark, and this one, a Junior novel.
This story follows a group of kids, who after their transport ship is destroyed, find themselves stranded on a dangerous jungle moon.
Venestra, Avon, Imri and Honesty are completely on their own. Without adult supervision, for the first time, they need to not just survive, but also take on enemies older and more experienced than themselves.
This novel took me completely by surprised. Ireland went much deeper than I expected of a Junior novel.
This group of characters were so interesting, engaging and fun to learn about. Venestra is a Jedi prodigy, the youngest Padawan to pass Jedi trials in generations. She stole the show for me and definitely fell easily into a leadership role.
Additionally, I loved Avon! A Senator's daughter, with a scientific mind, who wants to experiment on kyber crystals. That's my kind of girl.
A Test of Courage is fast-paced, action-packed, full of deep space adventure, dangerous enemies and wonderfully nuanced characters.
The Star Wars audiobooks are known to be incredible, with fun sound effects and great narrators. I am happy to report, this one is no exception.
I highly recommend the audio for this. It is super compelling and a great way to take this in. I was quite impressed with the entire production.
I've been loving the new High Republic content and recommend them not just for long-time Star Wars fans, but also to those who may be interested in the books, but are unsure of where to start.
This is a great jumping off point. I think this story is a wonderful example of the type of deeply engrossing material that can be found within the Canon novels.
January 16, 2025
This book is much more than I was expecting. I thought this would be a quick read, but the story is much deeper than that.
I have one complaint about this book. It's pace. The book is a bit too slow for me. I wish it would have been a bit fast, then thus would have been an easy 5 stars. I do understand there was a lot of unresolved grief to process in this book. So I could understand a slower book, but it was a bit too slow for me.
Vernesta is a prodigy even among the Jedi. She is the youngest Padawan to pass Jedi trials at her age for generations. Imri is an awkward Padawan who can does not see his potential. Avon is a senator's daughter and a scientific genius. Honesty is a confused teenager from a warrior race.
Together, these youngsters will have to band together for their survival and possibly justice as well.
I really like the Jedi lore and the science vs. the force theme of the book. This is not just a young readers' book. I even like the art thread double page spread of artwork. I am looking forward to what is next for their characters.
I have one complaint about this book. It's pace. The book is a bit too slow for me. I wish it would have been a bit fast, then thus would have been an easy 5 stars. I do understand there was a lot of unresolved grief to process in this book. So I could understand a slower book, but it was a bit too slow for me.
Vernesta is a prodigy even among the Jedi. She is the youngest Padawan to pass Jedi trials at her age for generations. Imri is an awkward Padawan who can does not see his potential. Avon is a senator's daughter and a scientific genius. Honesty is a confused teenager from a warrior race.
Together, these youngsters will have to band together for their survival and possibly justice as well.
I really like the Jedi lore and the science vs. the force theme of the book. This is not just a young readers' book. I even like the art thread double page spread of artwork. I am looking forward to what is next for their characters.
January 12, 2021
I am left quite surprised by this book! At first, I didn’t think this would come remotely close to Light of the Jedi in terms of piquing my interest, but I was totally wrong! I read this book in a couple of days, mostly because of how invested I was in the story but also slightly because of the easy-to-read plot, which is expected since it is a middle grade novel. However, the designation of middle grade should not deter anyone from picking up this story, especially if you prefer more focused stories rather than large-in-scope books like Light of the Jedi is. The character development of the main characters is compelling, with the main Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh leading the way and showing her personal growth as a Jedi and as a leader despite her young age. Jedi Padawan Imri Cantaros undergoes a lovely character arc that was a bit unexpected for me in some ways, and I’m quite intrigued by the potential future of this character. Avon Starros is a lovely addition to the High Republic, especially for comic fans, and her personality really shined through the pages and via her eccentric, L3-37-esque droid, J-6. And the last character in this main crew is Honesty Weft, who was my least favorite character of the bunch, but even still he goes through great character growth that is satisfying. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with an interesting and contained plot that still has some consequences for the rest of the High Republic era. I’m excited to read about what happens next with all of these characters, but with Vernestra in particular as she’s really one of the more stand-out Jedi in my eyes so far in the High Republic.
May 27, 2021
3.5 stars
After having finished and completely adores Light of the Jedi I was more than eager to get much more from the High Republic era and see what else we could learn of this time. I was not disappointed in how much we could learn of this distressing and very important time in the galaxy.
A Test of Courage takes place paralleled to the events we saw and witnessed with Avar Kriss and Loden Greatstorm and all of them but it allows us to experience and see how the great disaster affected the outer rim.
In an adventure-packed, coming-of-age, tale of bravery and grief we follow our young protagonists while they try to survive and discover that the galaxy is more complicated than they knew.
One of the things that most endear this book to me is the badass female characters that we can enjoy and that just stole my heart since the moment I met them.
Between Vernestra's calm and together attitude that really showcases her maturity and Avon's wildness, curiosity, and love for life, we have some of the most dynamic and funny interactions. After all, they are almost complete opposites. Their friendship was really cute.
They just stole the whole book for me. I enjoyed it a lot every time either of them appeared and I just couldn't help but love them.
Avon being so utterly smart and mixed wonderfully with Vernestra's capableness and made a pretty unstoppable duo.
Of course, how could I forget the necessary droid to make this a proper Star Wars book J-6 a reprogrammed protocol/nanny droid in charge of Avon, cracked me up every time and was a delightful addition. Seeing her try to deal with Avon was hilarious and, well, she is just really sweet and badass in its own right.
Then we have the other half of our group of survivalists, the boys. That though I may not have loved their character's as much as I did the girls I did appreciate what they brought to the story quite a lot.
Both Imri and Honesty are dealing with grief and the heavy job of start to to find who theya re which presents its own set of hurdles for our young friends.
Jedi Padawan Imri Cantaros is presented with heavy and deeply philosophical questions that all Jedi had to encounter at some point and will need to find answers while separated from his master. A journey that is one of my favorite points to think about the Star Wars universe.
Then you have my, sadly, least favorite character. Slightly apathetic Honesty Weft. He brings and presents a lot of emotional turmoil to the story as he is learning how to navigate human interaction, and while I understand and appreciate this I just could never really like or connect with the character.
He seemed a bit... judgmental and prideful as well as foolish to me and I could not get on board with it.
Even though the plot felt a bit repetitive to the middle grade genre I was pleased and surprised by a few of the things that Ireland decided to venture and do.
The very beginning, which was very frightening and action-packed, did more than I was expecting and set the plot moving on a very big note.
Next on that list is, quite ironically, the ending of the book. Though it did not completely surprise me I did appreciate that Ireland went there and the way she dealt with a rather sensitive subject.
That being said, the rest of the time I was encountered with a nice-flowing story with some action, enough action, that was geared to test the kids and make them grow.
I much appreciated the emotional and psychological side of things, really. But I did have a lot of fun and regret nothing of embarking on this tale.
_______________
Huh, this was a lot better than I was expecting.
It also had some pretty badass characters that made the reading all the more enjoyable.
I quite liked it.
RTC.
_______________
Am I reading more Star Wars? Yes, I most definitely am.
I mean, I was not kidding when I said I plan to drown in the High Republic. And now I feel even more justified after confirming that it's amazing.
However, this will be very different since it is Middle Grade and, therefore, it'll be a lot less intense, I think, but hopefully just as epic.
“To be a Jedi is to always trust that the Force works in mysterious ways, Imri. We accept and we try our best, but we do not forget that in the end all is as the Force wills it.”
After having finished and completely adores Light of the Jedi I was more than eager to get much more from the High Republic era and see what else we could learn of this time. I was not disappointed in how much we could learn of this distressing and very important time in the galaxy.
A Test of Courage takes place paralleled to the events we saw and witnessed with Avar Kriss and Loden Greatstorm and all of them but it allows us to experience and see how the great disaster affected the outer rim.
In an adventure-packed, coming-of-age, tale of bravery and grief we follow our young protagonists while they try to survive and discover that the galaxy is more complicated than they knew.
“If you judge someone by your expectations instead of their actions, you will always be disappointed.”
One of the things that most endear this book to me is the badass female characters that we can enjoy and that just stole my heart since the moment I met them.
Between Vernestra's calm and together attitude that really showcases her maturity and Avon's wildness, curiosity, and love for life, we have some of the most dynamic and funny interactions. After all, they are almost complete opposites. Their friendship was really cute.
They just stole the whole book for me. I enjoyed it a lot every time either of them appeared and I just couldn't help but love them.
Avon being so utterly smart and mixed wonderfully with Vernestra's capableness and made a pretty unstoppable duo.
Of course, how could I forget the necessary droid to make this a proper Star Wars book J-6 a reprogrammed protocol/nanny droid in charge of Avon, cracked me up every time and was a delightful addition. Seeing her try to deal with Avon was hilarious and, well, she is just really sweet and badass in its own right.
“He would use every bit of knowledge he could to survive this mission, this adventure. And maybe by sharing that knowledge he could make his father proud.”
Then we have the other half of our group of survivalists, the boys. That though I may not have loved their character's as much as I did the girls I did appreciate what they brought to the story quite a lot.
Both Imri and Honesty are dealing with grief and the heavy job of start to to find who theya re which presents its own set of hurdles for our young friends.
Jedi Padawan Imri Cantaros is presented with heavy and deeply philosophical questions that all Jedi had to encounter at some point and will need to find answers while separated from his master. A journey that is one of my favorite points to think about the Star Wars universe.
Then you have my, sadly, least favorite character. Slightly apathetic Honesty Weft. He brings and presents a lot of emotional turmoil to the story as he is learning how to navigate human interaction, and while I understand and appreciate this I just could never really like or connect with the character.
He seemed a bit... judgmental and prideful as well as foolish to me and I could not get on board with it.
“He could do better. He had to if he ever wanted to be a Jedi Knight. He just had to figure out what ‘better’ entailed.”
Even though the plot felt a bit repetitive to the middle grade genre I was pleased and surprised by a few of the things that Ireland decided to venture and do.
The very beginning, which was very frightening and action-packed, did more than I was expecting and set the plot moving on a very big note.
Next on that list is, quite ironically, the ending of the book. Though it did not completely surprise me I did appreciate that Ireland went there and the way she dealt with a rather sensitive subject.
That being said, the rest of the time I was encountered with a nice-flowing story with some action, enough action, that was geared to test the kids and make them grow.
I much appreciated the emotional and psychological side of things, really. But I did have a lot of fun and regret nothing of embarking on this tale.
“Recognizing our mistakes and doing better is the path of a Jedi.”
_______________
Huh, this was a lot better than I was expecting.
It also had some pretty badass characters that made the reading all the more enjoyable.
I quite liked it.
RTC.
_______________
Am I reading more Star Wars? Yes, I most definitely am.
I mean, I was not kidding when I said I plan to drown in the High Republic. And now I feel even more justified after confirming that it's amazing.
However, this will be very different since it is Middle Grade and, therefore, it'll be a lot less intense, I think, but hopefully just as epic.
March 26, 2021
This is part of The High Republic series but can be read as a stand alone. It is aimed at the middle school children crowd. In this one, several Jedi are on a ship with delegates from several planets as they are opening a new hyperspace lane. This ship is destroyed and a group of young children are the only survivors. In this group is a new Jedi Knight with a padawan and two children of delegates.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novella. I wasn't expecting much and it easily exceeded my expectations. The biggest surprise for me was the depth this book contained. It dealt with death of loved ones, survival, and grief and how to handle loss. It didn't go deep into these issues but the exploration was more than enough for these issues. I enjoyed the characters too. The new Jedi Knight or the padawan that has doubts was a nice addition to the lore. And a Star Wars novel would not be complete with a sarcastic droid which I enjoyed. This is a self contained adventure that does hint that it could be connected to a larger story line.
This was a fun read that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Children will connect with the characters as they realize they can be heroes too while adults connect with the story and the overall themes that are present in this book. I enjoyed these characters and I hope that we get to see them once again in this universe.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novella. I wasn't expecting much and it easily exceeded my expectations. The biggest surprise for me was the depth this book contained. It dealt with death of loved ones, survival, and grief and how to handle loss. It didn't go deep into these issues but the exploration was more than enough for these issues. I enjoyed the characters too. The new Jedi Knight or the padawan that has doubts was a nice addition to the lore. And a Star Wars novel would not be complete with a sarcastic droid which I enjoyed. This is a self contained adventure that does hint that it could be connected to a larger story line.
This was a fun read that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Children will connect with the characters as they realize they can be heroes too while adults connect with the story and the overall themes that are present in this book. I enjoyed these characters and I hope that we get to see them once again in this universe.
February 2, 2021
Maybe more of a 3.5 but Hey! Star Wars, so the rounding will always go UP.
This was a fun adventure story featuring mostly young people, and an opinionated Nanny droid, trying to survive a deadly encounter with some members of the Nihil.
It was short and sweet, featuring some interesting new locales and an intriguing new Jedi hero in Force-wielding prodigy Vernestra Rwoh as well as the incurably curious young girl scientist/tinkerer Avon Starros.
I felt some of the other characters, namely the villains and the conflicted padawan Imri Cantaros, were not as well utilized or fleshed out but the book is an entertaining ride nonetheless.
This was a fun adventure story featuring mostly young people, and an opinionated Nanny droid, trying to survive a deadly encounter with some members of the Nihil.
It was short and sweet, featuring some interesting new locales and an intriguing new Jedi hero in Force-wielding prodigy Vernestra Rwoh as well as the incurably curious young girl scientist/tinkerer Avon Starros.
I felt some of the other characters, namely the villains and the conflicted padawan Imri Cantaros, were not as well utilized or fleshed out but the book is an entertaining ride nonetheless.
June 3, 2022
This middle school novel takes place in the High Republic era of Star Wars, immediately after the first adult novel, Light of the Jedi. It's about 4 kids who are on a ship that is sabatoged and the 4 end up shipwrecked on a remote jungle moon. The book deals quite a bit with grief and how the characters handle it, sometimes poorly, sometimes not.
Vernestra is the main character. At fifteen, she's the youngest Jedi Knight in generations. Imra is a Padawan with empathic powers. Avon and Honesty are younger with their own personalities. Avon's scientific curiousity is a delight as she acts without thinking things through constantly. Vernestra and Imra do show up again in future Star Wars books, both Middle Grade and YA.
Vernestra is the main character. At fifteen, she's the youngest Jedi Knight in generations. Imra is a Padawan with empathic powers. Avon and Honesty are younger with their own personalities. Avon's scientific curiousity is a delight as she acts without thinking things through constantly. Vernestra and Imra do show up again in future Star Wars books, both Middle Grade and YA.
January 7, 2021
A wonderfully enjoyable middle-grade entry in the High Republic publishing program, A Test of Courage chronicles the misadventure of prodigy 16-year-old Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh alongside the mischievous Senator’s daughter Avon Starros as their lives are turned upside down by a Nihl attack. We see how grief tempts Jedi Padawan Imri to give into his desire for revenge in a totally believable way, lending the book emotional depth. Plus it develops some cool lightsaber lore with Vernestra’s lightwhip and Avon’s desire to experiment on kyber crystals. As an overachiever, I really identified with Vernestra’s character and can’t wait to see how the series develops her and Avon!
January 15, 2021
What Was The Point?!
So I came into this series with an open mind. I wanted this to be good. On the heels of the success of the Mandalorian, and the call from fans for a more old school take on Star Wars, and adjustments prior to release reported by the media it seemed as if we would get a better effort in this new undertaking. However this work is a lockstep example of the Kathleen Kennedy agenda and, in hearing the author's dismissive response to fan criticism, exactly what we feared. Like this or you suck.
I didn't and here's why... (Spoilers ahead)
So we meet our protagonist who is a female Jedi prodigy who made Jedi Knight at the ripe old age of fifteen. (Anakin Skywalker was in his twenties when he became a knight so that's how strong SHE is). The author goes on and on about how powerful she is and how proud she is to be a Jedi but then states that she is not arrogant or prideful so she's proud but humble. My issues with this character, beyond the obvious disregard for the lore, is how she is portrayed. The author seemed to want to avoid comparisons to Rey Palpatine but fell into the same trap of giving her character half-hearted doubts and hesitations only to immediately thrust conflict on her that she resolves with a Master's skill so there's no merit to any misgivings that she has.
Then we meet the plucky sidekick who is also a prodigy but with science and engineering. She is a young girl who is bright, inquisitive to a fault with an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a cool mischievous streak. I liked her immediately but then the author screwed her all up. She. Is. A. Child. And she should react to the events around her as a child should. She doesn't. She acts like a grizzled veteran. The throw away lines about her hands shaking or her trying to project confidence in her voice are erased by her actions. The author tried to explain her cool competence away by blaming it on her love of logic (who is she, Spock?!). But there is no level of logic-love that can quell instinct when horrible things are happening.
That's it for the girls, let's talk about the boys. They suck.
We meet a male Padawan who is the opposite of our lead and only two years younger than her. He is the slow kid in class and full of doubt and fear and is absolutely nothing without the love and attention of his Master. His lightsaber doesn't even work right. He does have skills that our lead does not but he can only use them with her help or if the plot demands it. He is portrayed as being envious of the lead and her presence makes him feel inferior. The moment you meet him you know why he is there and where he will end up.
The other is a diplomat's son who is a preteen who has been training formally to be a warrior for some time but is somehow not physically or mentally fit. He was meant to be a leader but ends up a follower of everyone including the young girl. He is also crushed with doubt and a lack of confidence.
So the girls are prodigious and excellent and the boys are barely passable. Even the young girl's bodyguard droid is a sassy confident female.
But that's not what makes this book so bad...
There are no character arcs In this story. The lead is still super-awesome at the end. During the story she witnesses the Padawan suffer a brief fall to the Dark Side. It would make sense that she takes a step back for self-measurement and realizes that her age could leave her vulnerable to something similar so she should take time to build on her skills with experience. NOPE! She takes on the Padawan as her apprentice. They're only two years apart and he just tried to kill her! Really?!
The Padawan learns nothing but he wasn't there to learn only to make the lead look good and to become her apprentice. In the end he still doubts and fears and is nothing without his new Master.
The young girl is equally bereft of change and her lack of growth makes the least sense. On reading we learn that she suffered a severe trauma prior to the story as a result of her reckless behavior and she still doesn't change. In fact she makes a horrendously bad decision stealing a broken lightsaber sure that "science will thank her".
The diplomat's son just chooses to honor his father, something that was never in question at any point in the story.
I understand that this was just a YA style work for children but even they deserve a quality story and it was clearly sacrificed for the agenda. The plot was so weak boiling down to "HERE SHE IS, BASK IN HER GREATNESS!" The females are strong because we say so and the males around them are either dead or incompetent. And the predictability. 16 pages in I knew who was going to die and where everyone would end up. I was right about everything save for one point because there were no character arcs.
In the end, this is a story driven by a progressive agenda where none of the characters progress. Throw in a weak predictable plot and you have nothing of value. Do better Lucasfilm. Male or female we want good stories!
So I came into this series with an open mind. I wanted this to be good. On the heels of the success of the Mandalorian, and the call from fans for a more old school take on Star Wars, and adjustments prior to release reported by the media it seemed as if we would get a better effort in this new undertaking. However this work is a lockstep example of the Kathleen Kennedy agenda and, in hearing the author's dismissive response to fan criticism, exactly what we feared. Like this or you suck.
I didn't and here's why... (Spoilers ahead)
So we meet our protagonist who is a female Jedi prodigy who made Jedi Knight at the ripe old age of fifteen. (Anakin Skywalker was in his twenties when he became a knight so that's how strong SHE is). The author goes on and on about how powerful she is and how proud she is to be a Jedi but then states that she is not arrogant or prideful so she's proud but humble. My issues with this character, beyond the obvious disregard for the lore, is how she is portrayed. The author seemed to want to avoid comparisons to Rey Palpatine but fell into the same trap of giving her character half-hearted doubts and hesitations only to immediately thrust conflict on her that she resolves with a Master's skill so there's no merit to any misgivings that she has.
Then we meet the plucky sidekick who is also a prodigy but with science and engineering. She is a young girl who is bright, inquisitive to a fault with an insatiable appetite for knowledge and a cool mischievous streak. I liked her immediately but then the author screwed her all up. She. Is. A. Child. And she should react to the events around her as a child should. She doesn't. She acts like a grizzled veteran. The throw away lines about her hands shaking or her trying to project confidence in her voice are erased by her actions. The author tried to explain her cool competence away by blaming it on her love of logic (who is she, Spock?!). But there is no level of logic-love that can quell instinct when horrible things are happening.
That's it for the girls, let's talk about the boys. They suck.
We meet a male Padawan who is the opposite of our lead and only two years younger than her. He is the slow kid in class and full of doubt and fear and is absolutely nothing without the love and attention of his Master. His lightsaber doesn't even work right. He does have skills that our lead does not but he can only use them with her help or if the plot demands it. He is portrayed as being envious of the lead and her presence makes him feel inferior. The moment you meet him you know why he is there and where he will end up.
The other is a diplomat's son who is a preteen who has been training formally to be a warrior for some time but is somehow not physically or mentally fit. He was meant to be a leader but ends up a follower of everyone including the young girl. He is also crushed with doubt and a lack of confidence.
So the girls are prodigious and excellent and the boys are barely passable. Even the young girl's bodyguard droid is a sassy confident female.
But that's not what makes this book so bad...
There are no character arcs In this story. The lead is still super-awesome at the end. During the story she witnesses the Padawan suffer a brief fall to the Dark Side. It would make sense that she takes a step back for self-measurement and realizes that her age could leave her vulnerable to something similar so she should take time to build on her skills with experience. NOPE! She takes on the Padawan as her apprentice. They're only two years apart and he just tried to kill her! Really?!
The Padawan learns nothing but he wasn't there to learn only to make the lead look good and to become her apprentice. In the end he still doubts and fears and is nothing without his new Master.
The young girl is equally bereft of change and her lack of growth makes the least sense. On reading we learn that she suffered a severe trauma prior to the story as a result of her reckless behavior and she still doesn't change. In fact she makes a horrendously bad decision stealing a broken lightsaber sure that "science will thank her".
The diplomat's son just chooses to honor his father, something that was never in question at any point in the story.
I understand that this was just a YA style work for children but even they deserve a quality story and it was clearly sacrificed for the agenda. The plot was so weak boiling down to "HERE SHE IS, BASK IN HER GREATNESS!" The females are strong because we say so and the males around them are either dead or incompetent. And the predictability. 16 pages in I knew who was going to die and where everyone would end up. I was right about everything save for one point because there were no character arcs.
In the end, this is a story driven by a progressive agenda where none of the characters progress. Throw in a weak predictable plot and you have nothing of value. Do better Lucasfilm. Male or female we want good stories!
April 3, 2023
this was so good and so fun. loved this group and the theme of friendship but also it’s theme of grief.
January 16, 2021
Don’t let the kiddie cover art fool you. This is some quality Star Wars content right here.
The Goodreads description does not do this story justice. Disney LucasFilm Press will need to update it and give it the life it deserves.
Right off the bat, this book is way better than Light of the Jedi for multiple reasons.
1) The characters are actual people and not emotionless figureheads.
2) The pacing is way way more fluid.
3) The worldbuilding doesn’t feel like padding (e.g. describing the properties of peremacrete in painstaking detail, transparasteel in painstaking detail, starship specifics in painstaking detail).
4) The prose is far more engaging.
5) The story itself is memorable.
While I liked Light of the Jedi to an extent, that book felt more like I was reading a graphic novel in word form. The characters in that book felt inconsistent, there was a lot told about them than shown and I had a sense that Soule wasn’t given too much creative freedom when it came to developing characters like Avar Kriss, Bell Zettifar and the Loden Greatstorm. (A noticeable trend amongst Disney canon novels).
But in A Test of Courage does everything a great book should do.
From the start, I like the energy and style that Justina brings to the table. She captures that sense of adolescent adventure in this book and for a story geared towards a younger reading audience, it isn’t written in that spoon-fed way that most Middle School chapter books tend to be. This book is a Young Adult novel written at Middle-Grade length.
This book does introduce an interesting aspect, introducing one of the youngest Jedi Knights in Star Wars canon. I liked the other characters as well. We jump across various POVs throughout the telling, but it isn’t jarring. These POVs are necessary to the story because, without them, we wouldn’t get such a well-rounded story. Each of the characters has a shared goal, but varying degrees and methods of achieving that goal. In essence, it’s a character-driven plot and I am grateful for that approach.
All in all, a solid read, above average for Middle Grade I might add. This book is technically the sequel to Light of the Jedi. You don’t need to read that book before diving into this one. I recommend reading this one first before diving into Soule’s novel.
The Goodreads description does not do this story justice. Disney LucasFilm Press will need to update it and give it the life it deserves.
Right off the bat, this book is way better than Light of the Jedi for multiple reasons.
1) The characters are actual people and not emotionless figureheads.
2) The pacing is way way more fluid.
3) The worldbuilding doesn’t feel like padding (e.g. describing the properties of peremacrete in painstaking detail, transparasteel in painstaking detail, starship specifics in painstaking detail).
4) The prose is far more engaging.
5) The story itself is memorable.
While I liked Light of the Jedi to an extent, that book felt more like I was reading a graphic novel in word form. The characters in that book felt inconsistent, there was a lot told about them than shown and I had a sense that Soule wasn’t given too much creative freedom when it came to developing characters like Avar Kriss, Bell Zettifar and the Loden Greatstorm. (A noticeable trend amongst Disney canon novels).
But in A Test of Courage does everything a great book should do.
From the start, I like the energy and style that Justina brings to the table. She captures that sense of adolescent adventure in this book and for a story geared towards a younger reading audience, it isn’t written in that spoon-fed way that most Middle School chapter books tend to be. This book is a Young Adult novel written at Middle-Grade length.
This book does introduce an interesting aspect, introducing one of the youngest Jedi Knights in Star Wars canon. I liked the other characters as well. We jump across various POVs throughout the telling, but it isn’t jarring. These POVs are necessary to the story because, without them, we wouldn’t get such a well-rounded story. Each of the characters has a shared goal, but varying degrees and methods of achieving that goal. In essence, it’s a character-driven plot and I am grateful for that approach.
All in all, a solid read, above average for Middle Grade I might add. This book is technically the sequel to Light of the Jedi. You don’t need to read that book before diving into this one. I recommend reading this one first before diving into Soule’s novel.
September 3, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up⭐️ Not my fav. I didn’t love the characters or the writing. Also the way this book talked about the force made my religious trauma act up😀 I also was confused that the chancellor was a man in this story when we know from the last book that she’s a woman. Maybe I missed something!
The pacing was very slow, but the ending was definitely the best part! I probably would have dnf-ed if it wasn’t so short.
The pacing was very slow, but the ending was definitely the best part! I probably would have dnf-ed if it wasn’t so short.
November 24, 2020
As a partisan for the prequel Jedi, I'm interested to see what the High Republic era has to say for itself. This was a pretty good introduction.
The idea of a sixteen-year-old full Jedi knight is a little bit odd, but it's Star Wars. We believe in giving teenage girls a scary amount of power. Other than that, this was a good, solid kids' adventure. It had enough philosophy, enough action, and enough emotions to make it all-around enjoyable.
The idea of a sixteen-year-old full Jedi knight is a little bit odd, but it's Star Wars. We believe in giving teenage girls a scary amount of power. Other than that, this was a good, solid kids' adventure. It had enough philosophy, enough action, and enough emotions to make it all-around enjoyable.
January 9, 2021
I realise that I'm not exactly the target audience, but I still found this book to be enjoyable. Had I been younger I'm sure that this would've been a new favourite of mine. It's Star Wars, after all.
January 21, 2021
dnf at 24%
It felt like a chore instead of genuine enjoyment when it came to listening to the audiobook, so I decided to pull the plug on this one and move on.
It felt like a chore instead of genuine enjoyment when it came to listening to the audiobook, so I decided to pull the plug on this one and move on.
September 10, 2021
I’ve read most of the High Republic books, and I haven’t been very impressed. I have found them to be cluttered, convoluted, and bland. A Test of Courage, by Justina Ireland, was the last book on my list, and my hopes were low. What a surprise, then, to find that Ireland’s story, aimed at kids, contains more wisdom and maturity than any of the books for grown-ups!
Here are three examples of unexpectedly insightful moments in the book. First, Ireland begins to address one of my criticisms of a lot of Star Wars books: the galaxy has many different species, but cultural differences rarely matter. In a quick aside, Avon’s droid advises her, “It is not necessary for you to analyze why the Mon Calamari find it offensive to sneeze loudly, you just have to know that is the way they feel” (90). I like this acknowledgement of the cultural complexities that must exist in the galaxy but are rarely addressed, and the caution that it’s okay if some of the galaxy’s species have norms that don’t match exactly the way Americans would do things.
Second, Ireland gives Avon space to consider whether revenge-focused justice is ultimately satisfying.
Finally, I like Ireland’s assertion that our lives are not ruled by clear, black-and-white, good-or-evil paths. There is always a way back to the right path for anyone who makes some mistakes. Near the end of the book (spoilers ahead), Vernestra laments to a fellow Jedi, “If I had been better prepared he never would have given in so completely to anger. He could have gone to the dark side.” The Jedi Master calmly replies,
A Test of Courage shows us a Jedi whose abilities and training make her compassionate, joyful, and friendly rather than power-hungry and arrogant. Vernestra is exceptionally gifted even among the Jedi, but she doesn’t regard herself as all-knowing or better than anyone else. She genuinely cares for everyone around her, leading a team by learning to support each person’s strengths. She knows she doesn’t know everything, but she doesn’t let that cripple her. She accepts that the Force seems to have chosen her for something special, but she humbly waits to see what that might be, instead of pushing and demanding. All of this is so refreshing and rare in Star Wars.
Where the other High Republic books have suffered from ridiculous complexity, A Test of Courage is streamlined, simple, and easy to follow. What I’ve wanted from the High Republic is single, interesting stories with a limited range of characters, and Justina Ireland provides that.
Here are three examples of unexpectedly insightful moments in the book. First, Ireland begins to address one of my criticisms of a lot of Star Wars books: the galaxy has many different species, but cultural differences rarely matter. In a quick aside, Avon’s droid advises her, “It is not necessary for you to analyze why the Mon Calamari find it offensive to sneeze loudly, you just have to know that is the way they feel” (90). I like this acknowledgement of the cultural complexities that must exist in the galaxy but are rarely addressed, and the caution that it’s okay if some of the galaxy’s species have norms that don’t match exactly the way Americans would do things.
Second, Ireland gives Avon space to consider whether revenge-focused justice is ultimately satisfying.
For some reason the idea of killing someone, even someone bad like the people who had sabotaged the Steady Wing, seemed wrong. When her uncles had told her mother that her kidnappers had been taken care of, meaning that they’d been murdered, Avon hadn’t felt any better. She’d just felt really sad. Her kidnappers being dead hadn’t changed the bad memory; it had just made it worse. (176–77)For a book aimed at kids, in a franchise that often glorifies battle even when it’s not intending to celebrate revenge, this is a really nice perspective. We don’t always need to find an enemy to punish, even if the punishment seems “deserved.” (I wish the powerful nations of the world would take hold of this truth.)
Finally, I like Ireland’s assertion that our lives are not ruled by clear, black-and-white, good-or-evil paths. There is always a way back to the right path for anyone who makes some mistakes. Near the end of the book (spoilers ahead), Vernestra laments to a fellow Jedi, “If I had been better prepared he never would have given in so completely to anger. He could have gone to the dark side.” The Jedi Master calmly replies,
The Force is not so simple, and neither are the emotions of living creatures. Most Jedi have felt the temptation of the dark side. It is only natural. But we resist it. It is a deliberate path to the dark, not a series of bad days. Being a Jedi is about choosing the light over and over again. (222)This is a wonderful refutation of Yoda’s unwise, all-or-nothing counsel to Luke in The Empire Strikes Back: “If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will.” Ireland gives a better perspective—the perspective that Luke refuses to let go of and finds to be true, against the guidance of Yoda and Obi-Wan—that we can’t regard anyone as lost, “forever dominated by the dark side.” We’re all a jumble of good choices and bad choices. And everyone can be redeemed.
A Test of Courage shows us a Jedi whose abilities and training make her compassionate, joyful, and friendly rather than power-hungry and arrogant. Vernestra is exceptionally gifted even among the Jedi, but she doesn’t regard herself as all-knowing or better than anyone else. She genuinely cares for everyone around her, leading a team by learning to support each person’s strengths. She knows she doesn’t know everything, but she doesn’t let that cripple her. She accepts that the Force seems to have chosen her for something special, but she humbly waits to see what that might be, instead of pushing and demanding. All of this is so refreshing and rare in Star Wars.
Where the other High Republic books have suffered from ridiculous complexity, A Test of Courage is streamlined, simple, and easy to follow. What I’ve wanted from the High Republic is single, interesting stories with a limited range of characters, and Justina Ireland provides that.
January 27, 2023
C/W:
I was curious to see how A Test of Courage would fit into The High Republic's wave 1 release as the Great Disaster is pretty bleak. The story follows the newly-knighted Jedi Vernestra, a Padawan named Imri, budding scientist Avon, and hopeful field medic Honesty. A Test of Courage follows the group on their journey to the dedication of Starlight Beacon, which definitely doesn't go according to plan.
A Test of Courage grapples with big themes like grief and finding your purpose. While the book may be for younger readers, the challenges faced by the main characters are not minimized or easily solved. I loved seeing Vernestra grapple with her pride of becoming a Jedi Knight so early. Imri's
This was an entertaining read and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Vernestra in Out of the Shadows.
I was curious to see how A Test of Courage would fit into The High Republic's wave 1 release as the Great Disaster is pretty bleak. The story follows the newly-knighted Jedi Vernestra, a Padawan named Imri, budding scientist Avon, and hopeful field medic Honesty. A Test of Courage follows the group on their journey to the dedication of Starlight Beacon, which definitely doesn't go according to plan.
A Test of Courage grapples with big themes like grief and finding your purpose. While the book may be for younger readers, the challenges faced by the main characters are not minimized or easily solved. I loved seeing Vernestra grapple with her pride of becoming a Jedi Knight so early. Imri's
This was an entertaining read and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Vernestra in Out of the Shadows.
January 11, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. I loved the author’s Civil War era zombie books and was really looking forward to reading her take on Star Wars. Unfortunately, I was mostly bored with this one. I know it’s a middle grade novel but I’ve read really good middle grade novels and this one just doesn’t hold up.
There were some fun parts in the book, like the escape in the beginning chapters, but the rest of the book was just kids sulking, a bit of talk about the force, a predictable brush with the dark side, and an even more predictable ending.
The characters were bland or annoying. You’ve got your Jedi prodigy who is great at everything with few character flaws and creates a “light whip,” a weapon that as far as I know has never been seen in Star Wars before. You’d think that would be in use during the prequel trilogy if it were invented 300 years before.
Then there is your tech genius kid who was a mix of early Clone Wars Ahsoka and Doctor Aphra (though Ahsoka and Aphra are amazing, early Clone Wars Ahsoka was not and that combined with Aphra’s personality traits was pretty insufferable. Hopefully the kid gets some character development in later books). And of course none of her bad behavior ever gets addressed or punished.
There was a protocol droid that was being allowed to rewrite her own code to give herself a personality that she chose which could have been interesting but that wasn’t the focus of the story. It was more played for laughs and extra firepower in the “climactic final fight.”
Then there were the boys. The Jedi padawan who loses his master and has a brush with the dark side and the son of a diplomat who also loses his father and spends the whole book brooding. Though, aside from the brooding he doesn’t seem all that affected by his loss. And of course it is the boys who make the bad decisions and get captured and taken hostage by the bad guys. I didn’t want to mention the internet controversy, but it did seem like anytime one of the guys did something good, the girls praised them like they were five year olds. Maybe it’s how the audiobook narrator sounded, but that’s how it came across to me. In the end, I just wish there was more character development so that I could care about any of these people.
So, to sum it up, I was bored and ultimately disappointed with this one. Hopefully the other books in the High Republic era are more enjoyable for me.
There were some fun parts in the book, like the escape in the beginning chapters, but the rest of the book was just kids sulking, a bit of talk about the force, a predictable brush with the dark side, and an even more predictable ending.
The characters were bland or annoying. You’ve got your Jedi prodigy who is great at everything with few character flaws and creates a “light whip,” a weapon that as far as I know has never been seen in Star Wars before. You’d think that would be in use during the prequel trilogy if it were invented 300 years before.
Then there is your tech genius kid who was a mix of early Clone Wars Ahsoka and Doctor Aphra (though Ahsoka and Aphra are amazing, early Clone Wars Ahsoka was not and that combined with Aphra’s personality traits was pretty insufferable. Hopefully the kid gets some character development in later books). And of course none of her bad behavior ever gets addressed or punished.
There was a protocol droid that was being allowed to rewrite her own code to give herself a personality that she chose which could have been interesting but that wasn’t the focus of the story. It was more played for laughs and extra firepower in the “climactic final fight.”
Then there were the boys. The Jedi padawan who loses his master and has a brush with the dark side and the son of a diplomat who also loses his father and spends the whole book brooding. Though, aside from the brooding he doesn’t seem all that affected by his loss. And of course it is the boys who make the bad decisions and get captured and taken hostage by the bad guys. I didn’t want to mention the internet controversy, but it did seem like anytime one of the guys did something good, the girls praised them like they were five year olds. Maybe it’s how the audiobook narrator sounded, but that’s how it came across to me. In the end, I just wish there was more character development so that I could care about any of these people.
So, to sum it up, I was bored and ultimately disappointed with this one. Hopefully the other books in the High Republic era are more enjoyable for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 18, 2021I’m dnf-ing this one. The lightwhip was cool, but I really only skimmed to get to that part. The writing was just not engaging to me, and I get it’s a middle grade book, but I’ve read MG books before that could hold my interest, this just wasn’t one of them. I will checkout Claudia Gray’s novel to see if I like it (also that one is supposed to feature the carnivorous planet things which seem really cool to me), but I don’t think I’ll pick up everything from the High Republic after all.
August 25, 2021
My excitement for the high republic continues as I blasted through the next novel in the High Republic publishing project, Justina Ireland's A Test of Courage! *I also decided to edit this review a little bit after listening to the audiobook a second time*
While Charles Soule's Light of the Jedi won't go down among my favorite star wars novels even when just accounting for Canon, I immediately fell in love with the High Republic era, it quickly got me invested in this interconnected multimedia story, and I am interested in seeing more of the plethora of characters that it introduced.
So with that in mind, I am incredibly ecstatic to say that I actually liked Justina Ireland's "A Test of Courage" even more. Especially when I just sit back and consider that I'm an adult male who is 25 years old and a hardcore star wars fan. There's plenty that I can criticize or nitpick but at the end of the day, this is a childrens' novel- and I honestly don't want to complain, because between this and Light of the Jedi, A Test of Courage is the one that I connected with more closely.
THE STORY: Taking place concurrently with the events of Light of the Jedi, the magnificent Starlight Beacon is about to be launched. Newly minted Jedi knight Vernestra Rwoh has been given her first mission as a knight- to escort Avon Starros, the rambunctious daughter of a senator, to the station in time for the dedication ceremony. The ship also includes a delegation from Dalna lead by Ambassador Weft.
But when the ship they are traveling on runs into trouble, Vernestra and Avon find themselves stranded on an unforgiving jungle moon with a padawan named Imri Cantaros, and the ambassador's son Honesty Weft. The four children must work together to survive the hostile environment while dealing with heavy emotional trauma.
THE BAD: I could find plenty to nitpick as a hardcore star wars fan and a critical adult, but honestly, there's only one problem that I would say is really worth complaining about- in that the opening is really slow. The prologue to the book already indicates that something is going to go wrong (as does any basic summary you could probably get on a cover or a review), but the inciting incident that jumpstarts the plot doesn't happen until about a fifth of the way in. So even though the first 5 chapters don't feel like filler because they are setting up the characters, it does feel a little slow.
I could also nitpick the characterization a little in that they don't all have well defined character arcs, but honestly, I don't really want to. I am not in the target audience for this book- its a junior novel. And for that audience, this book does exactly what it needs to do.
You could also nitpick that the two villains are stereotypical, but I can forgive it because they only show up a couple of times and they are more of an obstacle rather than an adversary.
THE GOOD: After a second read, I still really enjoyed this book. While some of the problems were a bit more pronounced, the stuff that is good works even better.
Although Light of the Jedi is set up as the quintessential introduction to the High Republic era and the overarching narrative for the project, A Test of Courage works surprisingly well as a smaller scaled, character driven alternative. I've seen some people not being able to get into Light of the Jedi, and I don't blame them because Light of the Jedi requires you to keep track of so many characters and ideas that it can easily become overwhelming (Even though I really liked LotJ, I had that issue while reading it). A Test of Courage doesn't have this problem, keeping the focus squarely on the core group of characters that you see on the cover and the simple, yet grounded predicament they have found themselves in.
The best thing about A Test of Courage is the plot. It's pretty mature and intense for a children's book, and adults will find all the classic star wars themes about what it means to be a jedi and the dangers of the dark side. And honestly, after how exhausting it was to follow everything that was going on in Light of the Jedi, I loved experiencing a smaller scale, character driven story with a much tighter focus. Once Justina Ireland finishes setting up all the characters in those slower opening chapters, this book kicks into high gear, and never lets up. I found the story to be more and more engaging as the plot advanced and these rowdy children had to figure out how to work as a team.
After the first five chapters, the focus is squarely on our core group of characters: Vernestra "Vern" Rwoh, Imri Cantaros, Honesty Weft, Avon Starros, and Starros' droid J-6. All of these characters were memorable and I loved how they played off each other. Imri is my favorite- he was quite relateable and had the most well-defined character arc of the group. The other characters work well too- young girls are going to have a blast with badass jedi Vernestra and the resourceful and spunky Avon, while Imri and Honesty work wonderfully as role models for young boys, flipping entrenched gender stereotypes on their heads.
I could care less about anybody who accuses this book of having an SJW agenda (in fact, that "criticism" that often is hurled at modern media is absolute bull crap)- this is a JUNIOR NOVEL- and I think it's immensely valuable for boys to learn early on that its ok to be sad or scared in front of other people and they don't have to bottle up their emotions. Additionally, it is always great to have more characters for young girls to look up to and show them that they can be badass and that they can be smart and resourceful.
Ok, rant over. let's get back to the characters themselves. I love how Ireland writes Imri, Avon, and Honesty like they are actually kids. Vernestra is a prodigy at only 16 and already acts like an adult, but 1) it grounds this premise within the rules of the Star Wars universe, so ok, and 2) I've encountered the 3 solo spawn operating at about the same level in the New Jedi Order, so having a conveniently uber talented 16 year old jedi kid in Star Wars is nothing new. It doesn't bother me, but after a second read, I actually noticed that Vernestra isn't a mary sue- yes she is obviously extraordinary for becoming a knight at such a young age, but once she finds herself in the field, Vernestra struggles and isn't as invincible as you would think. This also plays into her overall character arc at the end. Otherwise, Vernestra pretty much pulled the same trick that Avar Kriss did in Light of the Jedi: for most of the book I found her to be the least interesting character in the group, but she had enough of a character arc in the end and she won me over. Her final scene in particular was effective and especially upon my second read builds some awesome future story potential. I hope to see more of her in later High Republic entries- and given that the ending teased some future potential story threads, it doesn't seem like Vernestra's story is done.
When it comes to the worldbuilding, A Test of Courage will be familiar for those who read Light of the Jedi, except for one component- a reminder that the jedi of this timeframe are still fallible sentient beings. On my second read, however, I was able to appreciate what this book is able to tease on its own. The focus for the jedi in the previous high republic novel was to show how the order was focused on humility and heroically serving the people of the galaxy. You didn't really see any of them come into conflict with the dark side. A Test of Courage is a reminder that the jedi of the High Republic are still fallible people, and they still grapple with the same conflicts that jedi of other eras do- the pull of the dark side, the power of strong negative emotions, and how it is important to know oneself and not be consumed.
SPECIAL SECTION: THE AUDIO: The narration for the audiobook version was done by Keylor Leigh. I thought she was fine, but not particularly great. The voices she did for the four kids and J-6 were all really good, but she isn't really that expressive with her reading. Perhaps I should have given more time following the phenomenal performance by Marc Thompson for Light of the Jedi-because especially on my second listen, I noticed how many scenes of the children emotionally breaking down there were, and Leigh's narration was played the same as it was for other scenes, so it came off a bit flat. I can't help but think how much better Marc Thompson would have handled these scenes, because he's not afraid to voice a character while they're sobbing uncontrollably. I'm not sure whether Leigh was just uncomfortable doing lines where characters cry because she might sound silly or the voice director didn't think she could pull it off, or something, but again, I couldn't help but compare when these heartbreaking scenes were delivered in such a flat manner here. Marc Thompson is next to impossible to beat for audiobook narration (the only individual performance I found better was Daniel Davis' narration for Darth Plagueis). So even though Leigh's work on A Test of Courage wasn't aweful, it's not up to par with some of the other narrators I've experienced in Star Wars and it's especially hard not to compare with Marc Thompson.
THE CONCLUSION: Final rating is 4.5 stars, rounded down. I still love this book, it still connected with me quite strongly. But upon a second listen it didn't pack quite as much of a punch as it did the first time, although I wonder if reading a physical copy would help (my girlfriend couldn't really get into Keylor Leigh's narration, and even I began to notice a few shortcomings when I listened to it again). And I've seen the feedback of others on this book, and I can understand their criticisms or why they would like Light of the Jedi alot more.
Overall, is another win for lucasfilm and Disney's High Republic project. I already adore this era and will never get enough when it comes to stories being told in it. This is the first experience I had with Justina Ireland and her Star Wars work, and I will look forward to what else she does in the High Republic and elsewhere. But for now, A Test of Courage was MY kind of Star Wars story- a tightly focused plot revolving around a group of tangible characters going through relatable problems; and it was well done, especially considering the target audience.
As part of the high republic project, how does it fit in? It stands on its own perfectly well, and an excellent introduction to this era for younger star wars fans (and even for some older fans) who may get overwhelmed by how much Light of the Jedi requires readers to keep track of. It offers far less depth than Light of the Jedi when it comes to what the era is like and who the main villains are, but it offers enough information that it could be read first without feeling lost. That said, while I don't think Light of the Jedi is required reading before A Test of Courage, I would definitely recommend reading it first if possible, so those trying to keep up with with every detail going into this will be caught up on the lore and wider narrative without any spoilers- that background knowledge will be rewarding.
That wraps it up for the books in the High Republic for now. The next novel will be Into the Dark by the one and only Claudia Grey- so it's probably going to be good. In the meantime, I will definitely acquire a physical copy of A Test of Courage and read it with my girlfriend- I really enjoyed this book. It really spoke to me, and while I love me some worldbuilding and big epic plots in Star Wars, I want more stories like this, be it high republic or otherwise.
While Charles Soule's Light of the Jedi won't go down among my favorite star wars novels even when just accounting for Canon, I immediately fell in love with the High Republic era, it quickly got me invested in this interconnected multimedia story, and I am interested in seeing more of the plethora of characters that it introduced.
So with that in mind, I am incredibly ecstatic to say that I actually liked Justina Ireland's "A Test of Courage" even more. Especially when I just sit back and consider that I'm an adult male who is 25 years old and a hardcore star wars fan. There's plenty that I can criticize or nitpick but at the end of the day, this is a childrens' novel- and I honestly don't want to complain, because between this and Light of the Jedi, A Test of Courage is the one that I connected with more closely.
THE STORY: Taking place concurrently with the events of Light of the Jedi, the magnificent Starlight Beacon is about to be launched. Newly minted Jedi knight Vernestra Rwoh has been given her first mission as a knight- to escort Avon Starros, the rambunctious daughter of a senator, to the station in time for the dedication ceremony. The ship also includes a delegation from Dalna lead by Ambassador Weft.
But when the ship they are traveling on runs into trouble, Vernestra and Avon find themselves stranded on an unforgiving jungle moon with a padawan named Imri Cantaros, and the ambassador's son Honesty Weft. The four children must work together to survive the hostile environment while dealing with heavy emotional trauma.
THE BAD: I could find plenty to nitpick as a hardcore star wars fan and a critical adult, but honestly, there's only one problem that I would say is really worth complaining about- in that the opening is really slow. The prologue to the book already indicates that something is going to go wrong (as does any basic summary you could probably get on a cover or a review), but the inciting incident that jumpstarts the plot doesn't happen until about a fifth of the way in. So even though the first 5 chapters don't feel like filler because they are setting up the characters, it does feel a little slow.
I could also nitpick the characterization a little in that they don't all have well defined character arcs, but honestly, I don't really want to. I am not in the target audience for this book- its a junior novel. And for that audience, this book does exactly what it needs to do.
You could also nitpick that the two villains are stereotypical, but I can forgive it because they only show up a couple of times and they are more of an obstacle rather than an adversary.
THE GOOD: After a second read, I still really enjoyed this book. While some of the problems were a bit more pronounced, the stuff that is good works even better.
Although Light of the Jedi is set up as the quintessential introduction to the High Republic era and the overarching narrative for the project, A Test of Courage works surprisingly well as a smaller scaled, character driven alternative. I've seen some people not being able to get into Light of the Jedi, and I don't blame them because Light of the Jedi requires you to keep track of so many characters and ideas that it can easily become overwhelming (Even though I really liked LotJ, I had that issue while reading it). A Test of Courage doesn't have this problem, keeping the focus squarely on the core group of characters that you see on the cover and the simple, yet grounded predicament they have found themselves in.
The best thing about A Test of Courage is the plot. It's pretty mature and intense for a children's book, and adults will find all the classic star wars themes about what it means to be a jedi and the dangers of the dark side. And honestly, after how exhausting it was to follow everything that was going on in Light of the Jedi, I loved experiencing a smaller scale, character driven story with a much tighter focus. Once Justina Ireland finishes setting up all the characters in those slower opening chapters, this book kicks into high gear, and never lets up. I found the story to be more and more engaging as the plot advanced and these rowdy children had to figure out how to work as a team.
After the first five chapters, the focus is squarely on our core group of characters: Vernestra "Vern" Rwoh, Imri Cantaros, Honesty Weft, Avon Starros, and Starros' droid J-6. All of these characters were memorable and I loved how they played off each other. Imri is my favorite- he was quite relateable and had the most well-defined character arc of the group. The other characters work well too- young girls are going to have a blast with badass jedi Vernestra and the resourceful and spunky Avon, while Imri and Honesty work wonderfully as role models for young boys, flipping entrenched gender stereotypes on their heads.
I could care less about anybody who accuses this book of having an SJW agenda (in fact, that "criticism" that often is hurled at modern media is absolute bull crap)- this is a JUNIOR NOVEL- and I think it's immensely valuable for boys to learn early on that its ok to be sad or scared in front of other people and they don't have to bottle up their emotions. Additionally, it is always great to have more characters for young girls to look up to and show them that they can be badass and that they can be smart and resourceful.
Ok, rant over. let's get back to the characters themselves. I love how Ireland writes Imri, Avon, and Honesty like they are actually kids. Vernestra is a prodigy at only 16 and already acts like an adult, but 1) it grounds this premise within the rules of the Star Wars universe, so ok, and 2) I've encountered the 3 solo spawn operating at about the same level in the New Jedi Order, so having a conveniently uber talented 16 year old jedi kid in Star Wars is nothing new. It doesn't bother me, but after a second read, I actually noticed that Vernestra isn't a mary sue- yes she is obviously extraordinary for becoming a knight at such a young age, but once she finds herself in the field, Vernestra struggles and isn't as invincible as you would think. This also plays into her overall character arc at the end. Otherwise, Vernestra pretty much pulled the same trick that Avar Kriss did in Light of the Jedi: for most of the book I found her to be the least interesting character in the group, but she had enough of a character arc in the end and she won me over. Her final scene in particular was effective and especially upon my second read builds some awesome future story potential. I hope to see more of her in later High Republic entries- and given that the ending teased some future potential story threads, it doesn't seem like Vernestra's story is done.
When it comes to the worldbuilding, A Test of Courage will be familiar for those who read Light of the Jedi, except for one component- a reminder that the jedi of this timeframe are still fallible sentient beings. On my second read, however, I was able to appreciate what this book is able to tease on its own. The focus for the jedi in the previous high republic novel was to show how the order was focused on humility and heroically serving the people of the galaxy. You didn't really see any of them come into conflict with the dark side. A Test of Courage is a reminder that the jedi of the High Republic are still fallible people, and they still grapple with the same conflicts that jedi of other eras do- the pull of the dark side, the power of strong negative emotions, and how it is important to know oneself and not be consumed.
SPECIAL SECTION: THE AUDIO: The narration for the audiobook version was done by Keylor Leigh. I thought she was fine, but not particularly great. The voices she did for the four kids and J-6 were all really good, but she isn't really that expressive with her reading. Perhaps I should have given more time following the phenomenal performance by Marc Thompson for Light of the Jedi-because especially on my second listen, I noticed how many scenes of the children emotionally breaking down there were, and Leigh's narration was played the same as it was for other scenes, so it came off a bit flat. I can't help but think how much better Marc Thompson would have handled these scenes, because he's not afraid to voice a character while they're sobbing uncontrollably. I'm not sure whether Leigh was just uncomfortable doing lines where characters cry because she might sound silly or the voice director didn't think she could pull it off, or something, but again, I couldn't help but compare when these heartbreaking scenes were delivered in such a flat manner here. Marc Thompson is next to impossible to beat for audiobook narration (the only individual performance I found better was Daniel Davis' narration for Darth Plagueis). So even though Leigh's work on A Test of Courage wasn't aweful, it's not up to par with some of the other narrators I've experienced in Star Wars and it's especially hard not to compare with Marc Thompson.
THE CONCLUSION: Final rating is 4.5 stars, rounded down. I still love this book, it still connected with me quite strongly. But upon a second listen it didn't pack quite as much of a punch as it did the first time, although I wonder if reading a physical copy would help (my girlfriend couldn't really get into Keylor Leigh's narration, and even I began to notice a few shortcomings when I listened to it again). And I've seen the feedback of others on this book, and I can understand their criticisms or why they would like Light of the Jedi alot more.
Overall, is another win for lucasfilm and Disney's High Republic project. I already adore this era and will never get enough when it comes to stories being told in it. This is the first experience I had with Justina Ireland and her Star Wars work, and I will look forward to what else she does in the High Republic and elsewhere. But for now, A Test of Courage was MY kind of Star Wars story- a tightly focused plot revolving around a group of tangible characters going through relatable problems; and it was well done, especially considering the target audience.
As part of the high republic project, how does it fit in? It stands on its own perfectly well, and an excellent introduction to this era for younger star wars fans (and even for some older fans) who may get overwhelmed by how much Light of the Jedi requires readers to keep track of. It offers far less depth than Light of the Jedi when it comes to what the era is like and who the main villains are, but it offers enough information that it could be read first without feeling lost. That said, while I don't think Light of the Jedi is required reading before A Test of Courage, I would definitely recommend reading it first if possible, so those trying to keep up with with every detail going into this will be caught up on the lore and wider narrative without any spoilers- that background knowledge will be rewarding.
That wraps it up for the books in the High Republic for now. The next novel will be Into the Dark by the one and only Claudia Grey- so it's probably going to be good. In the meantime, I will definitely acquire a physical copy of A Test of Courage and read it with my girlfriend- I really enjoyed this book. It really spoke to me, and while I love me some worldbuilding and big epic plots in Star Wars, I want more stories like this, be it high republic or otherwise.
February 11, 2021
Rating: 7.0/10
Thanks to the publisher and author for a listening copy of Star Wars: A Test of Courage (The High Republic) for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
I want to start off my review by stating that I am clearly not in the intended audience for this story. A Test of Courage is for grade levels 3-7 (age ranges 8-12), so a solid 18 years younger than me. That being said, while the content may not live up to my expectations, Ireland is a phenomenal writer who provides a fantastic story for a much younger audience.
This is now the 3rd book so far that I’ve read/listened in the High Republic series (Light of the Jedi by Soule and The Great Jedi Rescue by Scott) and while both of those focused on the major disaster plaguing the galaxy, this one is a bit smaller in scope. It was little refreshing not having the same plot from a different perspective.
I really enjoyed the characters Ireland portrayed here and definitely became fast friends with the lot of them. While I wasn’t too keen on the ‘stranded’ plot, it provided an opportunity to really peel back each character and learn more about their past. Vernestra is a character I want to see more of and one I hope becomes a mainstay in future novels. And of course, like all Star Wars novels, you get a quirky droid that provides the comic relief.
I think this is a perfect starting point for young readers who want to get into Star Wars (or have been forced into watching it by their nerdy parents – my daughter will be one of those). The characters are enjoyable, the plot isn’t too cumbersome or weighty, and it is just a fun adventure to get lost in.
Oh. and if you do enjoy audio, Keylor Leigh does a PHENOMENAL job with the added sound effects SW audiobooks are known for.
Thanks to the publisher and author for a listening copy of Star Wars: A Test of Courage (The High Republic) for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
I want to start off my review by stating that I am clearly not in the intended audience for this story. A Test of Courage is for grade levels 3-7 (age ranges 8-12), so a solid 18 years younger than me. That being said, while the content may not live up to my expectations, Ireland is a phenomenal writer who provides a fantastic story for a much younger audience.
This is now the 3rd book so far that I’ve read/listened in the High Republic series (Light of the Jedi by Soule and The Great Jedi Rescue by Scott) and while both of those focused on the major disaster plaguing the galaxy, this one is a bit smaller in scope. It was little refreshing not having the same plot from a different perspective.
I really enjoyed the characters Ireland portrayed here and definitely became fast friends with the lot of them. While I wasn’t too keen on the ‘stranded’ plot, it provided an opportunity to really peel back each character and learn more about their past. Vernestra is a character I want to see more of and one I hope becomes a mainstay in future novels. And of course, like all Star Wars novels, you get a quirky droid that provides the comic relief.
I think this is a perfect starting point for young readers who want to get into Star Wars (or have been forced into watching it by their nerdy parents – my daughter will be one of those). The characters are enjoyable, the plot isn’t too cumbersome or weighty, and it is just a fun adventure to get lost in.
Oh. and if you do enjoy audio, Keylor Leigh does a PHENOMENAL job with the added sound effects SW audiobooks are known for.
April 21, 2021
First of all, I didn't expect art in this book, and it was super cute!
Second...wow. I went into this expecting it to be a cute story but ultimately nothing special, and I was wrong. This was my first High Republic book (save for the picture book) and while some things threw me for a loop because of that (namely the references to Emergences; I could use the context to guess what they were but I don't remember if they were ever explicitly explained in text), this was accessible for both child and adult readers alike.
The characters were surprisingly well-rounded for a short middle grade book, and I'm very excited to see Vernestra and Imri in Justina Ireland's next book. Avon was a bit grating at first, mainly because "precocious genius child" isn't a trope that I enjoy, but she grew on me. I hope we see more of her, J-6, and Honesty at some point as well.
If you're a kid who likes Star Wars or knows a kid who likes Star Wars, read/recommend them this. If you're an adult who likes Star Wars but has been putting this one off since it's middle grade, I'd still give it a shot.
Second...wow. I went into this expecting it to be a cute story but ultimately nothing special, and I was wrong. This was my first High Republic book (save for the picture book) and while some things threw me for a loop because of that (namely the references to Emergences; I could use the context to guess what they were but I don't remember if they were ever explicitly explained in text), this was accessible for both child and adult readers alike.
The characters were surprisingly well-rounded for a short middle grade book, and I'm very excited to see Vernestra and Imri in Justina Ireland's next book. Avon was a bit grating at first, mainly because "precocious genius child" isn't a trope that I enjoy, but she grew on me. I hope we see more of her, J-6, and Honesty at some point as well.
If you're a kid who likes Star Wars or knows a kid who likes Star Wars, read/recommend them this. If you're an adult who likes Star Wars but has been putting this one off since it's middle grade, I'd still give it a shot.
June 10, 2024
I actually really enjoyed this Middle-Grade novel. It drops some family names fans will know from Legends and current Canon. It had a nice set-up for the next book and I'd really like to see some of these characters as they grow through their next adventures.
December 24, 2023
This book was much more than I was expecting. action packed and not at all surface level as I'd expected for a "kid's" book. It was filled with character development and some interesting takes on grief. Thoroughly enjoyed this entry into the high republic era.
March 14, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5. WOW. i was really surprised by this one. the characters were great and i really liked getting to know imri. i think his journey in this book highlights a lot about how much mental hardship the jedi padawans go through at a young age. in all the high republic books that i’ve read so far there has been a lot of emphasis on connecting with the force and how each person’s relationship with the force is unique. i think a middle grade book was actually a very effective medium for this message since many kids at that age are facing their own turmoils. it is a reminder to stay grounded and find comfort in your support system. i also know that avon is going to cause SO much trouble when we see her again, but you know what? good for her.
December 8, 2021
3.5 stars
This was fun, with some darker elements I wasn’t expecting! I’m excited for the next one.
This was fun, with some darker elements I wasn’t expecting! I’m excited for the next one.
July 20, 2022
i’m obviously not the target age demographic but it was fun i love vernestra and her lightsaber the audiobook was really good
April 16, 2021
Likable characters and a fun story that maybe wrapped up a bit too quickly for my liking.
May 3, 2023
this is everything i love about star wars ♡
December 16, 2020
It is possible to simply adore the characters in a book, but be totally turned off by the plot? That’s exactly how I felt about this book. Vernestra, a fifteen-year-old Jedi who is tasked with watching over Avon Starros, a trouble-making young aspiring inventor and J-8, her wacky droid. They are well-crafted and form the core of the story… and it is these young , strong characters that kept me reading.
The basic plot: A new space station called Starlight Beacon is about to be dedicated. It will become a key communication and supply relay between Coruscant and the Outer Rim. Thousands are on their way to the big party! The characters in A Test of Courage are on a luxury liner headed for the big event… but on their way a series of explosions rips the vessel apart and a spare maintenance ship enables them to escape the wreckage. They find themselves floating in deep space until a habitable moon is located. Is it deserted? Will the mystery be solved…
My biggest beef with this book is that I never felt a connection to this new High Republic. Some distinct things are mentioned, but none of the reveal I was expecting. I wanted to see and hear The Time of the Jedi… only to ultimately get a lost-on-a-deserted-planet plot. As I said above, the characters were great… each flashback and interaction gave me better insight into their lives and personalities, but I never saw they connect to the new whole.
I’ll try not to pan this one too much because I think Ireland’s writing is damn good… Read it for a decently fun adventure and some good characters… a book which I think will be a delight for new readers of the SW Universe.
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
The basic plot: A new space station called Starlight Beacon is about to be dedicated. It will become a key communication and supply relay between Coruscant and the Outer Rim. Thousands are on their way to the big party! The characters in A Test of Courage are on a luxury liner headed for the big event… but on their way a series of explosions rips the vessel apart and a spare maintenance ship enables them to escape the wreckage. They find themselves floating in deep space until a habitable moon is located. Is it deserted? Will the mystery be solved…
My biggest beef with this book is that I never felt a connection to this new High Republic. Some distinct things are mentioned, but none of the reveal I was expecting. I wanted to see and hear The Time of the Jedi… only to ultimately get a lost-on-a-deserted-planet plot. As I said above, the characters were great… each flashback and interaction gave me better insight into their lives and personalities, but I never saw they connect to the new whole.
I’ll try not to pan this one too much because I think Ireland’s writing is damn good… Read it for a decently fun adventure and some good characters… a book which I think will be a delight for new readers of the SW Universe.
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
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