The High Republic: Temptation of the Force Review

The High Republic is almost over.

Well, of course, it isn’t, but we are getting closer to the finale of this particular saga. After over three years of storytelling, the massive story that began in Light of the Jedi is heading toward its final chapters. Before long, we’ll know the fate of characters that now feel like fixtures in our lives.

We’ll know the fate of Avar Kriss. Of Marchion Ro. Of Bell Zettifar. We’ll know about the mysteries of the Nameless and the rise of Drengir. We’ll be able to look back on all of the books, comics, and audio dramas and see how those puzzle pieces came together to form an epic finale.

But we’re not there quite yet.

Tessa Gratton’s Temptation of the Force is the second to last adult novel in The High Republic initiative as we know it. Within this story, Gratton leads a host of fan-favorite characters toward the climactic finish of Charles Soule’s upcoming Trials of the Jedi. Still, there’s quite a bit of ground to cover along the way.

Some of the larger plot points in Temptation of the Force may fall to the wayside due to some overcomplexity and baggage from previous projects. However, this penultimate novel does a fantastic job setting the stage for Marchion Ro’s final showdown while simultaneously bringing us the best romance the initiative has seen thus far, as well as some sensational action that shows how much Gratton has grown throughout her time working in the era.

Plot

There are quite a few storylines at play within Temptation of the Force. Just as in the previous entry in the series, George Mann’s The Eye of Darkness, the galaxy is besieged by a Stormwall created by the Nihil to split the galaxy in half. Although the Jedi have discovered temporary measures to circumvent this obstacle, its presence still hangs an oppressive cloud over the galaxy at large as it forces planet after planet into subservience.

However, within the Stormwall’s clutches lies another, deeper threat — the blight. Expanding on Gratton’s previous collaboration with Justina Ireland, Defy the Storm, the blight is both a terror and a mystery, a destructive force similar in function yet distinctly separate from the Force consuming powers of The Nameless. This horrid plague continues its slow conquest across different planets. It is the subject not of fear but of fascination for Marchion Ro.

Amid these looming horrors, Gratton weaves a number of other storylines, such as Porter Engle’s prospect of revenge decades in the making, the reemergence of a foe thought to have been decimated, Ghirra Starros’s search for political legitimacy for the Nihil, and the culmination of years of will-they-won’t-they regarding Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann.

Needless to say, there’s a lot to balance.

And while Gratton does an admirable job swapping continuously through perspectives and storylines, there is quite a bit of recapping that occurs throughout the first section of the novel for the benefit of readers who may not be intimately familiar with other formats of storytelling in The High Republic like Defy the Storm, The Blade, and more. This desire to both make Temptation of the Force accessible while simultaneously incorporating as many other stories as possible causes the book to lag a bit in terms of pace and clarity until the largest puzzle pieces are firmly affixed to the board.

However, there are still plenty of story threads that Gratton tugs on with precision, and the results of those machinations are fantastic. There are sequences of bombastic action and political intrigue that rival any that The High Republic has seen thus far, and similar to the end of Defy the Storm, the final story beats that play out in this novel will have fans screaming for the next entry immediately.

Characters

Part of the allure Temptation of the Force's allure is undoubtedly the reunion of fan-favorite characters Avar Kriss, Elzar Mann, Bell Zettifar, and Burryaga. The cover image alone practically guarantees an advancement of the most tension-filled relationship in The High Republic era. While Gratton excels in those scenes — some of the best-written romance Star Wars has ever seen — the addition of a plethora of B-plot characters often seems more like a hindrance than an addition.

After so many stories have entered The High Republic lore, it’s natural that Temptation of the Force would be brimming to capacity with fully formed characters, all with their own wants, desires, and storylines. Xylan Graf and Cair San Tekka continue their trials from Defy the Storm, Porter Engle carries out his own mission from deep in his past, Ghirra Starros and Lina Soh engage in a game of political chess, and Marchion Ro is off on his own mission to set up our thrilling finale.

Because of the vast number of stories at play, every High Republic fan will likely be able to spend time with their favorite character - one of the benefits of such a massive initiative. However, if there are certain characters that readers don’t gel with as tightly or even find frankly insufferable at times, several chapters may almost feel like obstacles in the way of the tale's more exciting sections.

That being said, aside from the sheer number of personalities (and the less-than-stellar characteristics some of them may possess), Gratton deftly handles every character throughout the book. Whether the characters at hand are embroiled in physical conflict, mental doubletalk, or years of unfulfilled yearning, Gratton adjusts her tone appropriately to serve her characters in the best way possible.

Particular standouts do occur in every story, however. Those who have been waiting for more climactic stories with Elzar Mann, Avar Kriss, Xylan Graff, and Cair San Tekka will find plenty to love about the pages they receive within Temptation.

And Marchion…well, he’s always been in a class all his own — no reason for that to change here.

Writing

Tessa Gratton’s journey through The High Republic initiative has been fascinating. She has written Young Adult novels with Justina Ireland, Middle-Grade novels, and possibly the best short story of Tales of Light & Life before penning her first adult entry with Temptation. Her previous work has garnered a wonderful following of supportive readers, and those same talents are definitely on display throughout this outing — especially when romance and political intrigue are on the table.

Each character's voice is also remarkably consistent, which is assuredly a testament to her skill in balancing such a massive ensemble. The grit and determination of Porter Engle, the unguarded optimism of Bell Zettifar, and the ingenuity of Avon Sunvale? They’re all here, and it’s lovely to see them again.

However, there are a few times when the larger aspects of the plot appear to get away from Gratton, as the jumping between points of view, recaps of previous media, and repeated galactic planning sessions begin to merge in a way that can be difficult to parse. This is not an easy task by any means. Still, these plot-centric moments cannot help but pale compared to the quieter moments of connection and contemplation, where Gratton’s talent shines through brilliantly.

But that’s not to say that Gratton’s skill cannot extend into scenes of action and excitement. Far from it! When large chunks of classic Star Wars action are on the table, Gratton tackles them with vigor and produces some truly cinematic moments for which The High Republic has become famous. Her experience with the initiative over the last two phases has allowed her to have a firm grip on the pace and energy of the era — although admittedly, there is a slight overreliance on the metaphorical waves, songs, and forests of the Force first introduced in Light of the Jedi.

Nevertheless, we cannot overstate that the most shining highlight of Gratton’s skill is her handling of scenes of tenderness and emotional intimacy between Avar and Elzar. Historically, few Star Wars books have tackled this type of long-term romance, and Temptation of the Force makes a phenomenal case for that to change immediately. There are no points where the feelings between the pair are overindulgent or hyperbolic; they simply…are.

There is Elzar. There is Avar. And Gratton’s handling of a lifetime of missed opportunities climaxing in this glorious reunion and acceptance of love is truly fantastic.

Entertainment

It seems nearly cliche at this point to say it, but The High Republic is almost effortlessly entertaining. By this point in the initiative, the political structures, the character relationships, and the battlegrounds for explosive action are all so beautifully set up that readers expect a pretty high level of readability and excitement when they crack open a High Republic novel.

Luckily, Temptation of the Force continues that trend.

After the aforementioned exposition and recaps from other media, Temptation of the Force’s pace speeds up and never takes its foot off the gas. The stakes of each storyline stay exceedingly high, so even if there’s a particular group of characters that don’t quite gel or a plotline that isn’t as exciting for you, each part of the story offers a level of Star Wars adrenaline that keeps the pages flying. No matter what your favorite aspect of The High Republic is, you're never more than a short chapter away from something you'll enjoy.

The fact that the latter half of the book is so much fun is another testament to Gratton’s writing because the variety of tones and subject matter remains constant despite the accelerated pace. There are stakes in the romance, just as on the battlefield. There is exhilaration in the confines of a Coruscanti meeting room or on the wings of a Jedi vector.

And it all leads to possibly the most jaw-dropping final chapters since the fall of Starlight Beacon.

Verdict

Temptation of the Force is the story of a few different novels rolled into one. There’s a novel of tantalizing romance, one of galaxy-spanning intrigue, one of heart-pounding action, and plenty more. And while these different styles don’t all necessarily gel together to create the clearest story in The High Republic, they all lead toward a finale that almost seems unbelievable after three years of storytelling.

Plenty of questions are asked throughout the book, and some even get answers, but going forward, there is no doubt that the final pieces have been laid for the explosive end to one of the most important sagas in Star Wars history.

‍Temptation of the Force is available now wherever books are sold and on Audible, where Marc Thompson narrates the audiobook.