What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars: The High Republic - Trail of Shadows
Star Wars: The High Republic - Trail of Shadows #3
COLD COMFORT! A mysterious attack brings EMERICK and SIAN together at the Starlight to investigate connections to their case. Meanwhile, ARATHAB tries to ambush a Nihil ship with deadly results. Can Jedi Master Emerick and private eye Sian Holt uncover the clues to solve this case, or are they about to face their deadly demise at the hands of Nihil?
23 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 22, 2021
9 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Daniel José Older
179 books1,965 followersDaniel José Older is the New York Times bestselling author of the Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher (Scholastic), the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series (Penguin), and the upcoming Middle Grade sci-fi adventure Flood City (Scholastic). He won the International Latino Book Award and has been nominated for the Kirkus Prize, the Mythopoeic Award, the Locus Award, the Andre Norton Award, and yes, the World Fantasy Award. Shadowshaper was named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. You can find his thoughts on writing, read dispatches from his decade-long career as an NYC paramedic and hear his music at http://danieljoseolder.net/, on youtube and @djolder on twitter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 6, 2022
“I’ll be honest with you, Sian. Whatever this is, whatever the Nihil have – we’ve never known anything like it. It could destroy everything. Yes, the Republic. Yes, the Order. But those are just ideas, institutions. They matter, of course, but really, for me, it’s that everyone I’ve ever cared deeply about has been Jedi. Until now that is. And yes, we don’t let our emotions rule us. But that doesn’t mean we don’t feel them. Yes. I am afraid. For myself, for my loved ones. Yes, I am Jedi. But yes, I am also […] human.”
This almost feels like the end of something... which is weird, considering this is the middle of the story.
Trail of Shadows has been pretty fluctuating as to what it wants to do. It started incredibly ominous and creepy only to slow down quite suddenly and now it seems to pick up some of the mystery back but not quite the creepiness.
Well, I guess the whole situation is the creepiness factor in the story.
The new ideas that have been thrown out there, for the reason of these things happening, are quite interesting and, if it turns out to be true, it would be fascinating to explore in more detail; which will hopefully happen soon enough.
For right now, there is an emotional threat that seems to be strengthening itself with the pass of every issue and that is another flavor of fascinating all together.
One thing that was pretty cool to see was all the other characters from the other comic series converging on this issue if only for a second and seeing some scenes we saw before again with the context we were missing.
That was really cool.
Some information we were given does freeze my blood but, well, what else is new. The Nihil are just creepy.
“… there was something there. A living thing. It wasn’t just a hallucination. I believe that I felt it, and it was like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”
_________________
Oh, I liked this one way more than I was expecting!
RTC.
_________________
That cover is giving me plenty of ideas as to what this issue may be about but I'm sure they are all wrong.
I am, however, very intrigued. I can hardly take a read on how this series is going to go so my only hope is to wait and see what they do every time.
December 28, 2021
The third issue of Trail of Shadows is, simply put, perfect. The way it spans a beautiful arc within the issue itself but also easily connects to the previous installments while tying into the bigger story is just so incredibly well crafted. The story is breaking me into a million pieces that all have different emotions written on them - it has both high stakes and emotional vulnerability, tension and wonderful character progression. The art is consistent throughout all issues so far and captures the emotions of the protagonists and the noir atmosphere extremely well.
If you're not having a bit of a breakdown over Stellan Gios losing his temper, Avar making a sassy appearance, the Starlight padawans running around and that gorgeous last moment in the gardens of Starlight ... then I truly don't know what to tell you, because this is peak The High Republic storytelling and it doesn't get much better than this.
If you're not having a bit of a breakdown over Stellan Gios losing his temper, Avar making a sassy appearance, the Starlight padawans running around and that gorgeous last moment in the gardens of Starlight ... then I truly don't know what to tell you, because this is peak The High Republic storytelling and it doesn't get much better than this.
January 7, 2022
Slow Going, but good.
This one felt closer to filler than anything else. It crosses over and connects to the other ongoing High Republic stories, but as for plot progression, not much happens.
But Jedi Master Emerick and Sian's growing fondness to one another is pretty cool, even if it feels like it's coming out of nowhere. I do enjoy seeing the Jedi more vulnerable and compassionate to one another as opposed to the stoic mentality they portray in the prequel era. Other than that, this is still one of my favorite graphic novel series out of the High Republic era thus far.
This one felt closer to filler than anything else. It crosses over and connects to the other ongoing High Republic stories, but as for plot progression, not much happens.
But Jedi Master Emerick and Sian's growing fondness to one another is pretty cool, even if it feels like it's coming out of nowhere. I do enjoy seeing the Jedi more vulnerable and compassionate to one another as opposed to the stoic mentality they portray in the prequel era. Other than that, this is still one of my favorite graphic novel series out of the High Republic era thus far.
December 23, 2021
The third issue of Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail of Shadows serves as a convergence point for Marvel’s mainline High Republic comics and Daniel José Older’s High Republic Adventures. In it, we see Emerick console Keeve in the aftermath of Xais, and we see a different point of view of the Rumble Race, confirming that these stories are all happening concurrently.
Jedi Master Emerick Caphtor and Sian Holt are joined by Stellan Gios as they continue to investigate what happened on Valo. They haven’t gotten very far with their investigation, but they have pieced together that someone within the Nihil is betraying the Eye and that Lina Soh’s inner circle may also be compromised. Until it’s proven otherwise, I am still convinced that Samera—who Elzra Mann has a brief romantic interlude with in The Rising Storm—is the Nihil spy.
At the Nihil Basecamp in No Space, a shirtless Marchion Ro answers a call from Uttersound and reveals that he knows that someone is going around the Black Market, offering to sell a weapon that could take down the Jedi Order. Uttersound feigns ignorance, but Marchion Ro clearly knows that the “mange-crusted gutter rat” is up to no good. Throughout the issue, the Nihil watch Uttersound and eventually discover that someone has been betraying Marchion Ro, undoubtedly setting the scene for the next wave of High Republic era novels.
In addition to being a skilled private investigator, Sian Holt is also a singer, and the trio makes a short stop at the Vaba Blanks Midnight Den to watch her perform. While she goes on stage, this allows Emerick and Stellan to have a little conversation, catching readers up on the state of their relationship with the characters around them. Most interestingly, it’s blatantly implied that Stellan and Avar Kriss have some sort of history (perhaps in the same vein as the relationship Avar has/had with Elzar Mann). But Stellan also points out that Emerick and Sian are growing close to each other—which they have and they continue to grow closer throughout this issue.
Their evening out is cut short when Avar Kriss calls Stellan and informs him that another attack has taken place, sending the trio back to the Starlight Beacon, where we see Ceret and Terec in their grim conditions. There’s one really brilliant panel in this section, where Sian watches intently as Emerick comforts Keeve. There’s so much emotion in one single panel that you almost forget you’re reading a comic and not watching this unfold in live-action. Kudos to Dave Watcher who knows how to capture emotion so well.
The tension and high emotions that we saw in The High Republic (#12) seem to be an even more contentious point of conflict in The Trail of Shadows. Stellan seems to be barely holding it together, as he snaps at Emerick and Sian about what happened on Grizal—angry that anyone would suggest it was a hallucination—and the high emotions are only compounded by Avar Kriss’ less-than-pleasant personality. Emerick brushes it off as a byproduct of Avar, Stellan, and Elzar being close as Padawans and now being faced with a galaxy hanging in the balance, but Avar Kriss is terse, overly righteous, and a little egotistical at the best of times.
Trail of Shadows ends on an unexpectedly sweet note, as Emerick shows Sian around the beacon and they wind up in a garden. There, Sian brings up Emerick’s moment with Keeve and they pair discuss the fact that Jedi aren’t supposed to form attachments—that they’re supposed to be stoic and unflinching—but ultimately, Emerick points out that he’s still human. But before he gets a chance to fully finish his thought, Sian hugs him and offers him a little long-overdue comfort. I don’t know where Older plans to take this duo, but I love them so much.
With the end of the year and the next wave of The High Republic mere weeks away, Trail of Shadows very much feels like the calm before the storm.
Jedi Master Emerick Caphtor and Sian Holt are joined by Stellan Gios as they continue to investigate what happened on Valo. They haven’t gotten very far with their investigation, but they have pieced together that someone within the Nihil is betraying the Eye and that Lina Soh’s inner circle may also be compromised. Until it’s proven otherwise, I am still convinced that Samera—who Elzra Mann has a brief romantic interlude with in The Rising Storm—is the Nihil spy.
At the Nihil Basecamp in No Space, a shirtless Marchion Ro answers a call from Uttersound and reveals that he knows that someone is going around the Black Market, offering to sell a weapon that could take down the Jedi Order. Uttersound feigns ignorance, but Marchion Ro clearly knows that the “mange-crusted gutter rat” is up to no good. Throughout the issue, the Nihil watch Uttersound and eventually discover that someone has been betraying Marchion Ro, undoubtedly setting the scene for the next wave of High Republic era novels.
In addition to being a skilled private investigator, Sian Holt is also a singer, and the trio makes a short stop at the Vaba Blanks Midnight Den to watch her perform. While she goes on stage, this allows Emerick and Stellan to have a little conversation, catching readers up on the state of their relationship with the characters around them. Most interestingly, it’s blatantly implied that Stellan and Avar Kriss have some sort of history (perhaps in the same vein as the relationship Avar has/had with Elzar Mann). But Stellan also points out that Emerick and Sian are growing close to each other—which they have and they continue to grow closer throughout this issue.
Their evening out is cut short when Avar Kriss calls Stellan and informs him that another attack has taken place, sending the trio back to the Starlight Beacon, where we see Ceret and Terec in their grim conditions. There’s one really brilliant panel in this section, where Sian watches intently as Emerick comforts Keeve. There’s so much emotion in one single panel that you almost forget you’re reading a comic and not watching this unfold in live-action. Kudos to Dave Watcher who knows how to capture emotion so well.
The tension and high emotions that we saw in The High Republic (#12) seem to be an even more contentious point of conflict in The Trail of Shadows. Stellan seems to be barely holding it together, as he snaps at Emerick and Sian about what happened on Grizal—angry that anyone would suggest it was a hallucination—and the high emotions are only compounded by Avar Kriss’ less-than-pleasant personality. Emerick brushes it off as a byproduct of Avar, Stellan, and Elzar being close as Padawans and now being faced with a galaxy hanging in the balance, but Avar Kriss is terse, overly righteous, and a little egotistical at the best of times.
Trail of Shadows ends on an unexpectedly sweet note, as Emerick shows Sian around the beacon and they wind up in a garden. There, Sian brings up Emerick’s moment with Keeve and they pair discuss the fact that Jedi aren’t supposed to form attachments—that they’re supposed to be stoic and unflinching—but ultimately, Emerick points out that he’s still human. But before he gets a chance to fully finish his thought, Sian hugs him and offers him a little long-overdue comfort. I don’t know where Older plans to take this duo, but I love them so much.
With the end of the year and the next wave of The High Republic mere weeks away, Trail of Shadows very much feels like the calm before the storm.
January 5, 2022
"But there was something there. A living thing. It wasn’t just a hallucination. I believe that I felt it. And it was like nothing I’ve ever felt before."
3,5/5!
Trail of Shadows continues to be great, intriguing fun! This issue is mostly just Emerick and Sian trying to figure out what is going on, how all these clues fit together and what the Nihil could possibly have in their weaponry that would have the power to turn Jedi to stone. In the meantime, Marchion Ro is trying to figure out who has betrayed the Nihil and if Doctor Uttersond has anything to do with it
Though I am liking this story, this was probably my least favorite issue so far. It just lacked the intensity of the first two, even though I did appreciate having more of these quiet character moments for our two leads, Emerick and Sian. I am also just not a huge fan of the Nihil so every time we get to see their inner workings and scheming, I always get a bit less excited. Sometimes it works, like when Keeve went undercover, but most of the time, Nihil stuff is just a bit blah for me.
One thing I really appreciated about this issue was how it tied into the other ongoing High Republic comics. We see events from the Adventures comics play out from the point of views of Emerick and Sian, and we also get to see Keeve from the Marvel High Republic run. I love it when stories tie together in this way and especially when we see the events of other stories happen simultaneously. It reminds me how all of this is one big story where every story matters, and I love it.
3,5/5!
Trail of Shadows continues to be great, intriguing fun! This issue is mostly just Emerick and Sian trying to figure out what is going on, how all these clues fit together and what the Nihil could possibly have in their weaponry that would have the power to turn Jedi to stone. In the meantime, Marchion Ro is trying to figure out who has betrayed the Nihil and if Doctor Uttersond has anything to do with it
Though I am liking this story, this was probably my least favorite issue so far. It just lacked the intensity of the first two, even though I did appreciate having more of these quiet character moments for our two leads, Emerick and Sian. I am also just not a huge fan of the Nihil so every time we get to see their inner workings and scheming, I always get a bit less excited. Sometimes it works, like when Keeve went undercover, but most of the time, Nihil stuff is just a bit blah for me.
One thing I really appreciated about this issue was how it tied into the other ongoing High Republic comics. We see events from the Adventures comics play out from the point of views of Emerick and Sian, and we also get to see Keeve from the Marvel High Republic run. I love it when stories tie together in this way and especially when we see the events of other stories happen simultaneously. It reminds me how all of this is one big story where every story matters, and I love it.
January 2, 2022
In this installment of a stand-out series, the stakes are higher but the interactions are even more intimate and revealing. Our unlikely pair of investigators grows closer to each other as they struggle to solve the mystery they've been tasked with. This issue also grants us moments that intersect with elements from the other arms of the High Republic publishing initiative: Jedi Stellan Gios, Avar Kriss, and Keeve Trennis from the main Marvel High Republic comic and novels make appearances. Padawans from the IDW High Republic Adventures comic and middle grade book Race to Crashpoint Tower have their cameos. We even get a gorgeous rendering of a setting we've only seen depicted in words in the project's debut novel Light of the Jedi. This series gives the feeling of everything coming together as we prepare for the final wave of this phase of publishing. It continues the stunning artwork and clever dialogue that have characterized this series from the start, alongside Daniel José Older's unique interaction details that make all the characters so endearing.
January 6, 2022
WOW!
This is the best issue so far, all of a sudden it gets super emotional, there're some scenes here that it really leaves you thinking, some good character growth and a little bit of bacostory for Emerick that at least for me, puts him in the "same level" as the supposed trident that is compoussed by Avar, Stellan and Elzar ( in don't mean it in terms of power)
To be honest, not much happens in issue #3, but there's this lingering threat in the background the whole time, and if i not mistaken (from the little i heard) this conects directly to The Fallen Star book that it's coming out in a few weeks. Everybody is on edge, nervous, emotional, and that got me on edge, and nervous, and emotional hahahaha.
Overall: This was a great read, good story and character development. Basically, the calm before the storm.
This is the best issue so far, all of a sudden it gets super emotional, there're some scenes here that it really leaves you thinking, some good character growth and a little bit of bacostory for Emerick that at least for me, puts him in the "same level" as the supposed trident that is compoussed by Avar, Stellan and Elzar ( in don't mean it in terms of power)
To be honest, not much happens in issue #3, but there's this lingering threat in the background the whole time, and if i not mistaken (from the little i heard) this conects directly to The Fallen Star book that it's coming out in a few weeks. Everybody is on edge, nervous, emotional, and that got me on edge, and nervous, and emotional hahahaha.
Overall: This was a great read, good story and character development. Basically, the calm before the storm.
December 1, 2022
I love Emerick and Sian. The end of this was truly beautiful. It was a Jedi reflecting on his emotions, they are still there as he is human but he is not ruled by them. It seems somewhere along the way this goal of mastery of emotion, while still accepting its existence, might have been lost and misinterpreted as the complete absence of emotion. Centuries later Anakin Skywalker wouldn’t be allowed to feel and love, which caused so much tragedy.
December 31, 2021
Once again, we have an ok installment in an ok miniseries. I'm still finding the core mystery intriguing, but I'm really not buying the direction that Daniel Jose Older is taking with the characters- which is odd, because he's doing excellent character work with his high republic adventures series.
May 31, 2023
"It was okay." - 2 out of 5 star rating.
Not really enjoying these very much. Doesn't feel like Star Wars, but instead much more like Mediocre Sci-fi.
Two (2) more issues to go and then I can try something else. I've got another High Republic (HR) comic book series in my sights after this that is equally short. Hopefully that one is much better.
Not really enjoying these very much. Doesn't feel like Star Wars, but instead much more like Mediocre Sci-fi.
Two (2) more issues to go and then I can try something else. I've got another High Republic (HR) comic book series in my sights after this that is equally short. Hopefully that one is much better.
December 25, 2021
That's what Star Wars should be
February 16, 2022
A bit of a slower issue.
April 30, 2022
Ram Jomaram cameo! This series is great.
November 8, 2023
#3 – Cold Comfort – “We have to get to Starlight immediately. There’s been another attack.” – Stellan
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews