Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing Tears of the Nameless by George Mann, the penultimate YA installment of the Star Wars: The High Republic series. I’ve been wanting to pick this one up for a while and finally got around to it. I’m trying to catch up on all the stuff I’ve missed before the series ends next month. That’s looking unlikely at this point, but I’m going to give it my best shot. Read on to see if I enjoyed this YA outing!

The New York Times best-selling series continues in this heart-wrenching sequel to Defy the Storm where fans will reunite with fan-favorite Jedi Knight Reath Silas.

Written by the author of The High Eye of Darkness, The High Quest for the Hidden City, Dark Legends, and Myths & Fables, this next High Republic installment is perfect for fans of investigative mysteries, mythology, monster-hunting, and apocalyptic sci-fi.

It’s been over a year since the fall of the Starlight Beacon space station, and both heroes and villains alike must face the consequences of their decisions. When Jedi Knight Reath and Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo are sent on a mission to test their theories about the Nameless, they’ll come face-to-face with the terrifying creatures once thought to be myth—and learn the true meaning of fear . . . fear that fallen Jedi Azlin Rell advised them to embrace if they have any hope of defeating the monsters.

Tears of the Nameless was such an excellent addition to the story of The High Republic. It brought back some of my favorite characters and added so much to the lore of this era. I was surprised by how much this book pushed the story forward and filled in so many gaps about the history of the Nameless.

Reath Silas! He returned as a main character in Tears of the Nameless. He is hands down my favorite character from The High Republic, mostly because he feels like a kindred spirit. Give me a library and something to research, and I’ll be in heaven. lol. I enjoyed seeing him in his natural habitat. A lot of time was spent with him in his lab and the Jedi archives working through the mysteries of the Nameless. He also had to learn how to deal with his fear and guilt. The return of Cohmac led to some great moments that helped Reath see that his mentor was human, with flaws like anyone else. It was wonderful to see them work toward some type of reconciliation, and Reath grew so much from their adventure together in this story.

The story wasn’t all research and library time, though. The plot of Tears of the Nameless was full of adventure, especially in the second half of the book. I loved the archaeological quest to unearth a long-dead civilization. The Nameless were also on a bit of a rampage in this story. They starred in some truly harrowing scenes filled with action. Many of those moments were absolute gut punches. I don’t want to say too much because of spoilers, but the story takes some really emotional turns. I may have shed a tear or two by the end.

At the heart of Tears of the Nameless, though, was a story about friendship. Reath had to rely on all of his friends to make the discoveries necessary to understand the Nameless. Vernestra, Amadeo, and the crew of the Vessel all have pivotal roles in untangling the web of mysteries around the creatures. It highlighted how breakthroughs are almost always a group endeavor, as well as the importance of relying on others when it feels like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. The new friendship between Reath and Amadeo was especially endearing, and I loved seeing them bounce ideas off each other.

Overall, Tears of the Nameless was a great and, in my opinion, essential addition to The High Republic. Most of my favorite characters from this era of Star Wars made an appearance, and I loved all of the connections and tiebacks to previous content in the publishing initiative. If you are a fan of The High Republic, this one can’t be missed! Therefore, I rate this book 4.75 out of 5 stars.

There you have it! My thoughts on Tears of the Nameless by George Mann. Have you already read this one? Are you a fan of The High Republic? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments!