Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing the first book of The High Republic Phase Three, The Eye of Darkness by George Mann. I’ve been looking forward to this book and the start of phase three for what seems like forever. Also, look at that cover!!!! It is absolutely stunning. Did The Eye of Darkness live up to the awesome dust jacket? Read on to find out…

One year after the tragic events of The Fallen Star, the Jedi fight to break the Nihil’s control over the galaxy.

The galaxy is divided. Following the shocking destruction of Starlight Beacon, the Nihil have established an impenetrable barrier called the Stormwall around part of the Outer Rim, where Marchion Ro rules and his followers wreak havoc at his every whim. Jedi trapped behind enemy lines, including Avar Kriss, must fight to help the worlds being pillaged by the Nihil while staying one step ahead of the marauders and their Nameless terrors.

Outside of the Nihil’s so-called Occlusion Zone, Elzar Mann, Bell Zettifar, and the other Jedi work alongside the Republic to reach the worlds that have been cut off from the rest of the galaxy. But every attempt to breach the Stormwall has failed, and even communication across the barrier is impossible. The failures and losses weigh heavily upon both Elzar and Bell as they search desperately for a solution.

But even if the Republic and Jedi forces manage to breach the Stormwall, how can the Jedi fight back against the Nameless creatures that prey on the Jedi’s connection to the Force? And what other horrors does Marchion Ro have in store? As desperation for both the Jedi and the Republic grows, any hope of reuniting the galaxy could be all but extinguished. . . .

If you know me at all, you know how much I adore The High Republic. I read all the books (middle grade, YA, and adult), as well as the comics and audio dramas. It has been a wild ride so far, and I just love the richness this time period has added to the history and lore of the Star Wars galaxy. There have been so many great characters, worlds, and concepts explored, and The Eye of Darkness did a superb job of introducing the next phase of the story.

Finally! After waiting so long, The Eye of Darkness delves into the aftermath of the tragedy at Starlight Beacon. Those events hang heavy over the characters and the state of the galaxy. There’s quite a bit of focus on the political maneuvering and the ramifications of Nihil control over such a large swath of the galaxy. The conversations did feel repetitive at times, though, and a large chunk of this book was just the characters talking about the situation and brainstorming what to do. There was some action, but it was a much more subdued story than those in phase one. The scope of the story felt wide, though, which is something that I was missing from phase two.

Even though there wasn’t a ton of action in The Eye of Darkness, it still had its pulse-pounding moments, and the author crafted some beautiful and exhilarating scenes. Most importantly, though, the focus on the emotional journey of the characters as they navigated their grief and self-doubt had the space to take the spotlight. Avar, Elzar, and the other Jedi had to grapple with holding on to hope amid such a huge public defeat. They had to come to terms with their mistakes and fight their fear of further failure. Elzar struggled as he tried to fill Stellan’s shoes in Coruscant, and Avar attempted to do good while being haunted by the lofty expectations of her heroism.

The one character I wanted more from in The Eye of Darkness was Marchion Ro. The book is named after him, and he is on the cover. However, very little time is spent with the character, and all of it is through the eyes of two characters I didn’t really care about. I don’t find the Nihil very compelling, in general, but I love Ro as the main villain. I wanted to be inside his head while reading this book, and I was disappointed that it didn’t happen.

The themes explored in The Eye of Darkness were interesting and relevant. The politics provided an opportunity to provide relevant commentary about terrorism and whether governments should legitimize terrorist organizations by engaging in diplomacy with them. The structure of the Nihil also blatantly illustrated the problems and horrors of “governments” based on the ‘might is right’ principle. As mentioned previously, the character work allowed for the exploration of how fear and self-doubt can cloud decision-making and showed the power of both hope and symbolism. So, there was plenty of thought-provoking material to sink my teeth into.

Overall, The Eye of Darkness was a good introduction to the third phase of the High Republic storytelling. It provided the space to sit with the difficult emotions of the characters as they faced their bleakest circumstances yet. The story set the stage for the ongoing conflict of phase three and provided some hints for where things could go next. Consider my appetite thoroughly whetted. Therefore, I rate The Eye of Darkness 4 out of 5 stars.

Have you read The Eye of Darkness? Are you excited for the new phase of The High Republic? Let me know down in the comments!
If you are interested, check out my reviews of the phase one High Republic books: The Fallen Star, The Rising Storm, Midnight Horizon, Into the Dark, Out of the Shadows