The High Republic: Into the Light

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Publisher's summary

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

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

Opening crawl

The final confrontation between the Jedi
and the Nihil looms. The valiant Jedi are
spread thin as they are put to the
ultimate test on three separate fronts.

Some rally against NIHIL MARAUDERS
who plan to punish the planet ERIADU for
its resistance to their rule. Others patrol
the dangerous border of the
OCCLUSION ZONE, protecting planets
from vicious Nihil raids. A brave few
struggle to stop the mysterious BLIGHT,
an infection moving from planet to
planet, draining worlds of life. Still others
battle the sinister MARCHION RO and his
monstrous NAMELESS CREATURES.

To save the Republic, the Jedi will face
their fears in their most daunting
challenges yet. If they fail on just one of
these battlefronts, the wave of darkness
will extinguish the light of the Jedi
forever….

Plot summary

A team of Jedi, including Jedi Knight Reath Silas, are attempting disaster relief on Inad Komesh, which has fallen victim to the blight. The evacuations are complicated by the collapse of several buildings, one of which kills Jedi Master Adampo, and the final transports leave as the surface of the moon begins to collapse. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, Zadina Mkampa observes the moon's collapse from afar, and deduces that Marchion Ro does not, as promised, have a cure for the blight.

Aboard the Gaze Electric, Ro summons Nan Hague, and sends her as a spy to Coruscant. Elsewhere, the Cathar Crown is collecting gases from the planet Viasyl when it is attacked by a group of Nihil, but it is rescued by a Byne Guild fleet led by the Vessel. The fleet escort the Cathar Crown to Alderaan, where its captain, Gabs Marise, meets with Affie Hollow, Leox Gyasi, and Geode to discuss joining the Byne Guild.

The Inad Komesh team travel back to Coruscant, and Silas catches up with Dez Rydan, recently returned from his time under the Barash Vow. The two reminisce about their shared former Jedi Master, Jora Malli, and discuss the current state of the Jedi Order. Avon Starros leaves her class at the Galactic Academy of Sciences after disagreeing with Professor Hastmon Chross on the blight, and answers a call from her mother, who attempts to convince her she should not have chosen to side with the Jedi, though Avon does not think her mother believes her own words. Elsewhere, aboard the Firebringer, Mkampa contemplates her Sith holocron and sets her plan into motion.

On Kenari, Romila Kaveh attempts to negotiate with the locals on behalf of the Czerka Corporation but is stymied by the translator Tolor Patewick; however, all present are unexpectedly devoured by several Drengir, who then travel, directed by the Great Progenitor, to Kashyyyk. Meanwhile, Silas and the other Jedi return to Coruscant as Chancellor Lina Soh addresses the Republic. Silas returns to the Jedi Temple and encounters his former teacher Cohmac Vitus on his way to the Shrine in the Depths, and the two discuss Reath's intent to visit Azlin Rell. That night, while Jedi attending Adampo's funeral mourn both his loss and the other Jedi who have fallen to the Nihil, Nan arrives on Coruscant. Reath meets with Avon to discuss her research on the blight.

Wookiees preparing for Planting Day discover the blight on Kashyyyk. The Jedi Council begin to assemble two teams, one to follow up on rumors that Marchion Ro was seen in the Thraisai system, the other to travel to Kashyyyk. Silas requests permission to join to Kashyyyk team, which Master Yoda grants. Mkampa, having also heard news of the blight, arrives on Kashyyyk. Elsewhere in the Jedi Temple, Burryaga Agaburry speaks with Bell Zettifar, who informs Burryaga of his intent to join the Thraisai team.

Nan makes her way through Coruscant, masquerading as a wealthy local, while the Vessel arrives from Alderaan. Nan joins a walking tour in order to reach the Jedi Temple grounds, and threatens to detonate a rupture flare if she cannot speak to Reath Silas. Silas, meeting with Rell at the time, is alerted to the situation by JJ-5145, and agrees to hear Nan out. She tells him she believes Ro will self-destruct, reveals she knows of the blight's presence within the Temple and its new presence on Kashyyyk, and informs him both that Mkampa intends to travel to Kashyyyk, and that Nan can help locate her if she goes with the Jedi to Kashyyyk as well. Silas takes this information to the Jedi Council, who agree with his suggestion to bring her despite the risk, and inform him that he will be the mission's leader. Silas assembles his team, which consists of Nan, Agaburry, Kelnacca, Rydan, Vitus, Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo, Avon Starros, the Vessel's crew, and, despite several protests, Azlin Rell. Elsewhere, Marlem Glay leads her Cloud to Baori Minor, only to find it devastated by the blight.

The Jedi arrive on Kashyyyk and are greeted by Pruzzalla, Lohgarra, and Nevakka, the last of whom Silas rescued from the burning starship the Journeyman several years prior. The Jedi and their guides descend to the surface and meet with Jedi Master Belka Poiryn, who informs them there is another source of darkness on the planet. While taking a sample of the blight, Avon finds an observer-scope left by Mkampa, and realizes she must be nearby. Nan overhears Avon bringing this information to Silas and Vitus and offers her help in locating Mkampa, which Silas accepts despite his reservations. Elsewhere on Kashyyyk, the Drengir arrive, drawn by a force similar to their native sun. Shortly after their arrival, the Drengir attack the Jedi but are swiftly beaten by Rell's use of Force lightning. In the aftermath of the battle, Nan reveals that Mkampa is influencing the Drengir, and convinces Silas to allow her to personally help search for Mkampa. They are interrupted by Avon, who brings Silas to her lab in order to discuss her findings, which indicate the blight does not behave like a disease or contamination. She and Silas come to the conclusion that the blight is incurable.

Silas assembles a team to track Mkampa, consisting of Nan, Avon, Affie Hollow, Lohgarra, and Rydan. They encounter enforcer droids, which Silas infers indicate their proximity to Mkampa's lab, and indeed the group encounters Mkampa herself aboard her Spider Squall shortly afterwards. Nan uses Hollow's blaster in an attempt to kill Mkampa, but fails, and Mkampa escapes. Upon their return, they discover that the blight has expanded, with the new growth pointing towards a location in the east the Wookies are unwilling to identify.

Avon studies Drengir sap and discusses with Silas whether or not her mother may be in danger due to her actions, and he tells her that while Ghirra may be in danger, he does not think it's because of her actions. That night, Rell has a dream of his crèche journey to Kashyyyk, which he interprets as a vision. Silas attempts to question Nan on her attempt to kill Mkampa, but she remains reticent. Elsewhere, Ro, tracking the progress of the blight, discovers Mkampa's presence on Kashyyyk. Another group of Nihil engage in battle over Pamarthe, and are fought back by local security, a Byne Guild fleet, and the Purrgil Wake, under command of Captain Marot Luriel.

The Wookiees finally reveal the cause of their concern over the blight's expansion: the new spike points towards the last surviving grove of white wroshyr trees. In addition to their sacred status, the white wroshyrs contain the source of darkness the Jedi noted upon their arrival, known as the Well of Night. The entire party, sans Nan and Rell, travel via mylayas to the grove. Inside the Well, they find a Thornseed, the source of the darkness and the artifact Mkampa is searching for. Avon takes a small sample of the crystal for study. Mkampa, meanwhile, contacts Ghirra Starros, and threatens Avon's safety if Ghirra does not provide her five million credits in the next twenty hours.

Through her studies, Avon discovers the Thornseed is derived from Drengir sap, and through that connection she and Silas deduce that the Thornseed is Mkampa's goal. Silas confronts Nan, who admits she knew Mkampa's goal but maintains she did not tell Ro about the Thornseed. Silas also speaks to Rell, who is unsettled by the fact that the trees, which are strong in the light side of the Force, have been calling him. Shortly after, Nan discovers that the Drengir are once again attacking, but they are quickly driven off by Rell and Burryaga while Reath comes to her rescue. The group realizes that the Drengir would not normally attack an armed Wookiee village and thus must have been directed by Mkampa in order to pull them away from the Thornseed.

The group boards the Vessel, including Nan and Rell, and they travel to the white wroshyr grove as Mkampa does the same. Upon their arrival, they locate Mkampa's light intensifiers and deduce how she has been manipulating the Drengir. Silas again confronts Nan about withholding information, and she confesses that she disobeyed Ro's orders to lead them into an ambush in the Dinwa system in order to take revenge on Mkampa. Before Silas can ask her motivation, Mkampa arrives, and she first activates the Thornseed and then calls the Drengir to attack.

The party attempt to defend themselves, but are severely outnumbered. Dez is wounded and drops his lightsaber, which Nan takes. Nan climbs atop the Vessel towards Mkampa's Spider Squall as she recalls her grievance with Mkampa: she used Nan to investigate the Drengir during the Great Hyperspace Disaster, which led to the deaths of Hague and their entire Cloud. Nan, though injured, manages to use Dez's lightsaber to destroy the Firebringer before collapsing. Silas notices her falling from the lab and uses the Force to bring her safely to the ground.

The group retreats to the grove, where the white wroshyr trees are able to temporarily hold back the Drengir. They agree that Mkampa has activated the Thornseed, and it must be destroyed; however, they have no easy way to do so, and their lightsabers are ineffective. They are forced to return to the battle with the Drengir. Hollow and Avon take shelter behind Geode briefly, but choose to take other cover rather than continue subjecting him to the Drengir's attacks. Geode, however, takes the opportunity to enter the Well of Night, and heats to superconductivity, which causes him to explode, and destroys the Thornseed.

Agaburry realizes that as the Thornseed is no more, the white wroshyrs can place their focus elsewhere, and he and Kelnacca work together to ask their assistance. The white wroshyrs convert the Drengir to creatures of the light, ending the battle. Gyasi and Hollow locate Geode's heartstone amidst his remains, and Avon and Vitus travel to the site of the Firebringer's crash and place Mkampa under arrest. Nan speaks to Silas, and explains her loss of faith in the Nihil and Ro and her desire to get revenge on Mkampa for Hague's death. The two part on good terms.

The group gathers to remember Geode and deposit his remains at the riverbank. When they return to the village, they learn that the power of the white wroshyr trees not only converted the Drengir but also cured the blight on Kashyyyk. The Wookiees and guests celebrate. Hollow negotiates with Nan about taking on a temporary navigator position on the Vessel, and Nan, inspired by their generosity, contacts Ghirra Starros to encourage her to give intel to the Republic and potentially lessen her future sentence. Elsewhere, Vitus speaks with Silas and informs him that he intends to rejoin the Jedi Order. Later, Silas, Avon, Gyasi, and Hollow gather for a private celebration, as Geode's heartstone shows signs of regeneration.

Continuity

• The book continually refers to the events of The High Republic: Into the Dark as taking place three years before, when Into the Light is actually set four years after.^[5]
• The novel states Cohmac Vitus left the Jedi Order "months" after becoming Reath Silas' Master, when it in fact happens two years later.^[6]
• In the novel, Reath Silas states he has not been a Jedi Knight for long, when he has been one for two years.^[7]
• The novel establishes the binding statues had been returned to the Amaxine station "years" before, whereas The High Republic: Tears of the Nameless—set before Into the Light and in the same year^[3]—establishes the idols are still in the Shrine in the Depths on Coruscant.^[8]
• When Kelnacca is introduced, he is stated to be a Jedi Knight. Flashbacks in The Acolyte - Kelnacca 1 had previously established he would be a Jedi Master by this point.^[9]
• The novel states Nevakka is male, whereas Into the Dark had previously established the character to be a female. It also states that Nevakka bit off Reath Silas' padawan braid, even though Into the Dark had Nevakka rip it off.^[10]
• The novel states Avon Starros—as Avon Sunvale—had lied to Reath Silas and the rest of the Jedi regarding her identity as a Starros, whereas in The High Republic: Defy the Storm, Avon first introduces herself to Silas as Avon Starros, having made a conscious effort to tell the truth.^[11]

Media

Editions

• ISBN 9781368095181; April 1, 2025; Disney–Lucasfilm Press; US hardcover^[1]

Cover gallery

Cover

Textless cover

Preliminary cover

Appearances

This Appearances list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

Sources

• SWCE 2023: 9 Things We Learned from the Star Wars: The High Republic Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 219
• Star Wars: The High Republic Show: The Fate of Burryaga Revealed, The High Republic Heads to San Diego Comic-Con, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• NYCC 2024: All the Star Wars News and Reveals from New York Comic-Con on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars NYCC Star Wars Reveals on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 230
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 231
• Star Wars: The High Republic Chronological Reader's Guide on StarWars.com (article) (backup link)
• "Star Wars: The High Republic: Phase III Companion" — Star Wars Insider 234

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Light on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)

Phase III: Trials of the Jedi
Novels Adult novels The Eye of Darkness (audiobook) · Temptation of the Force (audiobook) · Trials of the Jedi (audiobook) Young adult novels Defy the Storm (audiobook) · Tears of the Nameless (audiobook) · Into the Light (audiobook) Junior novels Escape from Valo (audiobook) · Beware the Nameless (audiobook) · A Valiant Vow (audiobook) Audiobook Originals Seeds of Starlight · Haunted Starlight Audio dramas Tempest Breaker (script) Comic books Marvel The High Republic (2023) · Fear of the Jedi (1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · TPB) · The Finale Shadows of Starlight (1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · TPB) Omnibus Dark Horse The High Republic Adventures (2023) · Crash Landing / Crash and Burn (TPB) The Wedding Spectacular · Phase III Annual · The Battle of Eriadu Saber for Hire (1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · TPB) · Echoes of Fear (1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · TPB) Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone (1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · TPB) Complete Phase III Part 1 · Complete Phase III Part 2 Viz Media The Edge of Balance (3 · 4 · Premonition) Short stories Tales from the Occlusion Zone "No Big Deal" · "Friend or Foe?" · "Survivors" · "Pathogen" · "Family Ties" "The Fate of Eriadu" · "Sparks Fly" · "Out with a Bang" · "The Will to Fight" · Tales from the Occlusion Zone Chronicles of Corellia "Heir Apparent" · "Cracking the Mask" Tales of Light and Life "Light in the Darkness" · "All Jedi Walk Their Own Path" · "Rogue Element" Reference books The Art of: Volume 2 Promotional material The High Republic Show Trials of the Jedi promotional postcards Articles "Charles Soule: Luminous Legacy" · "Long Live Luminous" "The High Republic: Phase III Companion" Related media Comics Yoda: The Cave · "All the Republic" The Acolyte - Kelnacca 1 Novels The Acolyte: Wayseeker (audiobook) · The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown (audiobook) General The High Republic media · Phase I media · Phase II media
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