Avar Kriss

As the face of Wave I of The High Republic publishing initiative, Avar Kriss was quickly adopted as the hero of the new age in Star Wars. The Jedi Master stormed onto the scene as a focused, determined, and compassionate warrior who deeply understood those around her. 

Her empathy is, in large part, thanks to how Avar experiences the Force. Seeing it as a symphony, she hears every living being’s song and contribution to the Living Force. 

As marshall of Starlight Beacon, Avar’s appearances span across mediums, starting with the first adult novel of the initiative and moving into multiple High Republic comics, young adult novels, junior novels, and even audio dramas and short stories. 

Avar goes from being the Hero of Hetzal to leading the fight against the Drengir. She takes her role as Jedi Master to mean being a true peacekeeper for the Republic. By the end of Wave I, no one is more determined than her to hunt down the leader of the Nihil, who continues to wreak havoc across the galaxy. 

Her friendship with Elzar Mann and Stellan Gios is a common thread throughout Phase I of the initiative. The relationships between the trio create much of the emotional drama found throughout the Phase, and truly give great insight into the humanity of Avar Kriss. 

As readers get to know Avar better, it becomes more clear that her altruism is not her only character trait. She grows to be more complex, showing anger and frustration, and sometimes even outright disdain. Her measured actions give way to occasional impulsiveness as she tries to keep up with the amount of increased threats the Jedi Order faces.

To follow Avar’s journey, we recommend the following reads that have her as a central and pivotal character, who quickly became beloved by fans of The High Republic.