Just finished this book and my heart is in pieces!! It's a great book, very romantic and emotional. I feel its a romantic drama that crafts great character relationships and builds in mystifying tension. Loved it.
I really appreciate y'all covering the books, I realise they probably don't make the numbers that other Star Wars content make, but man, am I into this whole story, some of the best Star Wars story telling in a long time... and so brutal... "hey, you know these characters you've fallen in love with... well... now watch them suffer..."
The way you described the Jedi's role during the High Republic is very similar to original mission of the Knights Templar: to provide travelers protection and guidance into potentially hostile territory. Which does make sense as, if I remember correctly, the Knights Templar served as one of the inspirations for the Jedi.
I'm late to the party. Just finished this book. I loved it. The relationship between Marda and Kevmo was awesome. I did NOT see the ending coming at ALL. It was wild.
I think I would still recommend The Light of the Jedi as the starting point for a new reader in this series but that could change depended on how phase 2 evolves. Will be interesting to see after the phase wraps up if people will think it is better to read the series in publishing order or timeline order
Something that struck me was one of the analogies one of the cult leaders made about the use of the Force and its supposed 'evil.' Something like 'does the tree want its fruit to be taken and eaten' with the implication that the answer was no and that like that, the Force didn't want to be used. Except...insofar as a tree can be said to have a will, it *does* want its fruit to be taken and eaten. The whole point of evolving tasty cases for their seeds is so that animals will eat them and spread the seeds!
Thought the same thing. By the taking of the fruits life is nourished and ultimately perpetuated through the dispersal of its seed. The same could be said about how the Jedi may use the force to save a life.
So happy to see the High Republic kick off again! We need more stories that take place far outside the Skywalker era, and these books scratch that itch for sure. So far your review sounds like I'm really going to enjoy diving in, and I'm happy to see that we're getting more Alien main characters taking the stage!
definitely a natural reaction, as i felt the same way. but part of star wars has always been about connecting eras and characters to map out the history of the galaxy. this seems to fit right in to that concept!
i picked up path of deceit while waiting for my flight with no knowledge that there were even more books, and i happen by luck to start with number 1 in the timeline
I had forgotten to go back to this review after I finished it. I thought PoD was fantastic. So much world- and characterbuilding. Such vivid descriptions and superb writing. It's instantly one of my favorite THR and SW books in general. I agree that PoD is a fine start for getting into the High Republic, though I think that certain reveals might be lessened in Phase 1 if you read Phase 2 first.:)
I get kind of a Star Trek vibe from your description of the Jedi in this era. Boldly going to discover strange new worlds and new civilizations that may someday link back to the Republic.
6:50 that's not true. The introduction to the Drengir in Into the Dark was much better than the introduction in the comics. Although to be fair, the Drengir were not a major plot point in the Phase 1 adult novels.
Marda Ro and the Path of the Open Hand's ideology were succeeded by the Nihil. The Path's goals were to destroy Force-Users. However, the Nihil's goals are to destroy the Jedi and the Republic as well as the Force-Users entire. Marchion Ro inherited Marda Ro's anger and hatred.
Thanks for the review! It was your reviews of phase one that caused me to read The High Republic. I'm curious: When I read phase 1 I instinctively pronounced Marchion as "MARSH-ee-ahn." And that pronunciation was used in the audio story Tempest Runner. But almost everyone I see online pronounces it with a hard k sound. I feel like I must be missing someplace where the author said that's how it's pronounced. Thanks!
I'm very far behind on the High Republic I've only read Light of the Jedi, Into the Dark, A Test of Courage, volume 1 of the IDW series, volume 1 of the manga, and like the first 7 issues of the main marvel comic. That's why I'm glad Phase 2 is a prequel, cuz I can enjoy it as it comes out while also catching up on Phase 1.
I've been grinding all the main books out over the past few weeks. adult ones take an average of 10-12 hours of reading, young adult seem to be 6-8, and the middle grade ones only take me 3-5 hours to read.
It was a pretty decent read, but I don’t think it really stands on its own. I wish Phase 2 started with a galaxy spanning novel like Light of the Jedi - now that was an awesome way to introduce a new setting.
I can't even really keep up with Phase 1 of THR and to be honest, after I was a little disappointed by The Rising Storm it will last a bit longer. I will read anything of the second Phase, when I have time for that, which means somewhere between 2023 or 2024.
Oh great, as a deconstructing evangelical, sounds like this book is going to dig up some religious trauma. Gotta love when a story personally attacks you. Can't wait to read it, though! So ready for THR to return!
They did a GREAT job making me sympathize heavily with what I knew to be a cult. Awesome job. I spent a lot of time asking, “How is The Path BAD?! Their beliefs have merit.” Until I didn’t lol
my main gripe with the high republic is how...backwards it seems. Telling me by the time of the Clone Wars most of those hyperlanes are as old as the automobile and some places have only been in the republic for as long as flight irl? Its just Whack with the old Sith and old Republic still technically around. Besides everything seeming like the "Frontier" only a few hundred years before the Clone Wars I love the High Republic.
@@bullrun2772 He's saying by the logic of the high republic, if we go a thousand years into the past during the old republic then hyperspace propabaly shouldn't even be invented. The writers of the high republic are acting like they are writing in the distant past of the star wars universe in terms of technology. While it's not a bad idea right now, it's going to be a hurdle lots of writers are going to have to deal with in the future. How can we have sith wars vs the old republic 1000 years in the past when hyperspace lanes barley even exist and function 200 years before the Phantom Menace. They are inadvertently making the universe feel small
@@bullrun2772 this is going to be long so I apologize. But it doesn't matter what Cavan Scott said. The outline of their "expansion" story for the high republic is faulty. Look at it like this. From what information we have in canon of the history of the republic and the outer rim, it goes as follows: over 25,000 years ago - the jedi form their first Jedi temples in the lower half of the galaxy. they have scattered places across the outer rim, but it is not explored 25,000 years ago - the republic is formed around coruscant and the jedi move to the core around the typhon area. They probably dont get their crystals at illum at this point but rather Jhedda 6,000 years ago - The sith break away from the jedi, being exiled to the outer rim, specifically korriban (which will be renamed morriban at a later date). The republic is still not active in the outer rim. 3,000ish years ago - there are some Large scale, galactic wide wars with the sith and jedi, throughout the unknown regions and outer rim. the outer rim is probably in a state of lawlessness under the sith, hutts, and zygerrians slave empire, so this still fits with high republic. arround 1,000 years ago - the sith are believed to be defeated sometime around this time the republic outlaws slavery and makes a huge push into the outer rim to destroy the zygerrian slave empire. 300 years ago - the republic make a big push to chart hyper-lanes in the outer rim 200 years ago - the republic states its objective is to bring civilization to the outer rim. So I think the issue people are having is that the republic defeated the sith and made a big push into the area, then waited 700 years to do anything else. I think the easiest way to explain it would be to say the republics war on slave trade and such happened before their last battle with the sith in 1000BBY, which was devastating enough they didn't continue that push into making the outer rim lawful until 300bby. But overall i think the high republic should have been 800-700 years ago, as i think it fits better then. Overall though, I have been enjoying the high republic novels. I think it makes a few weird decisions (ie the timeline stuff and the jedi dressing fancy) and I dont like the hyperspace disaster for lore implications, but overall they are very enjoyable
I agree. I really hate how the idea that the High Republic era is when the republic finally decides to expand and how hyperspace is a relatively new invention. How were the old sith wars fought lol
The only thing about the high republic that I'm sceptical is that it seems to be to close to TPM while it seems as they are very far from the technology of the prequels. Don't know if they go much before what will they do. But I still love the era. Can't wait for quest of the jedi.
I don’t see that as a problem. Tech advances quickly. Just look at how much our world changed in the last 100 years. And it’s not like they’re that far off.
@@thedapperdolphin1590 however, in star wars tech has weirdly stagnated. lots of droids and star ships are hundreds of years old, the hammerhead corvette ship design is thousands of years old. those are some really obvious examples, but there are alot of instances where tech just doesn't advance at the same rate as ours does in real life. usually, its explained as RND is expensive, star wars tech is already pretty advanced and works well enough, therefore companies don't put much effort into RND.
The potential in Enter The Dark can't be understated. The potential ties to the old republic / the emaxine warriors is such a tellable tale . it's my only complaint about P1
Isn't it rather weird/backward to have such deep and 'spoiler' coverage of live action SW but not even do a plot walkthrough of books/comics? Far more people will watch the live action than will ever read the books; frankly after a few months -keeping the plot walled off; will only serve to keep that lore obscure.
As you said, FAR MORE people are watching live action…the point is to make content that appeals to the widest base possible. Sorry, very few people are reading the books and comics, definitely not enough to place a priority on the comics/books
@@issiahsilva SW lore is SW lore -presumably that's why we are here, I'd imagine people who don't read the books (aka almost everyone) would still appreciate knowing canon plot. All we'll get is vague reviews and; bits and pieces of scattered events. I'm guessing he wants to force people to read the books but there is now again an entire era that few even know exists and even fewer know what happened.
I’m a fan of the main line High Republic novels but whoever thought this book was great must be high. This is like the Mickey Mouse club house version of Star Wars. What a boring book and the language is like that of a teenage girl. I listened to the audiobook and it was like the girl from frozen was narrating a story too cute for Star Wars. This isn’t Star Wars. One of the worst Star Wars novels no doubt.
Just finished this book and my heart is in pieces!! It's a great book, very romantic and emotional. I feel its a romantic drama that crafts great character relationships and builds in mystifying tension. Loved it.
It was fantastic
Absolutely LOVED Path of Deceit! This book absolutely crushed me in the best way and I can’t wait to dive more into this phase
I'm halfway through and Kevmo Zink is already up there with Reath and Bell... great character! Crazy that they'll never meet!
How do you feel now?
@@shamsham1229 Not great :(
@@kerolokerokerolo Yeah it's a shame they got him teleported back to the Old Republic and he won't show up in future HR stories.
@@shamsham1229 That was such a crazy twist!
@@shamsham1229 I’m sorry, WHAT
I really appreciate y'all covering the books, I realise they probably don't make the numbers that other Star Wars content make, but man, am I into this whole story, some of the best Star Wars story telling in a long time... and so brutal... "hey, you know these characters you've fallen in love with... well... now watch them suffer..."
I am utterly heartbroken. I cannot believe this book managed to wreck me more than anything they pulled in phase I
Excited to get back into this era. Hoping the adult novels are good, I'm looking forward to Battle of Jedha and Blade of Bardotta
I told myself I would only read the A and YA novels of the High Republic. But the more the read the more I need man. Gonna have to get those comics.
The way you described the Jedi's role during the High Republic is very similar to original mission of the Knights Templar: to provide travelers protection and guidance into potentially hostile territory. Which does make sense as, if I remember correctly, the Knights Templar served as one of the inspirations for the Jedi.
I also get a Star Trek/Starfleet vibe out of that description - exploring and contacting new civilizations.
I'm late to the party. Just finished this book. I loved it. The relationship between Marda and Kevmo was awesome. I did NOT see the ending coming at ALL. It was wild.
Still reading "Shadow of the Sith" and loving it, can't wait the guy back into the High Republic.
same
super excited for phase II!!
I think I would still recommend The Light of the Jedi as the starting point for a new reader in this series but that could change depended on how phase 2 evolves. Will be interesting to see after the phase wraps up if people will think it is better to read the series in publishing order or timeline order
Something that struck me was one of the analogies one of the cult leaders made about the use of the Force and its supposed 'evil.' Something like 'does the tree want its fruit to be taken and eaten' with the implication that the answer was no and that like that, the Force didn't want to be used. Except...insofar as a tree can be said to have a will, it *does* want its fruit to be taken and eaten. The whole point of evolving tasty cases for their seeds is so that animals will eat them and spread the seeds!
Thought the same thing. By the taking of the fruits life is nourished and ultimately perpetuated through the dispersal of its seed. The same could be said about how the Jedi may use the force to save a life.
So happy to see the High Republic kick off again! We need more stories that take place far outside the Skywalker era, and these
books scratch that itch for sure. So far your review sounds like I'm really going to enjoy diving in, and I'm happy to see that we're
getting more Alien main characters taking the stage!
Damn can't believe we're on phase 2 now, seems like yesterday phase 1 started. A little iffy on phase 2 being earlier, but whatever.
definitely a natural reaction, as i felt the same way. but part of star wars has always been about connecting eras and characters to map out the history of the galaxy. this seems to fit right in to that concept!
Just started listening to the audiobook. Loving it so far.
The relationship between Master & her Pantoran apprentice sounds like it deserves an anime of itself
Just finished listening to the audio book. Amazing. Would recommend to any Star Wars fan.
I loved this book. It is another great High Republic novel.
i picked up path of deceit while waiting for my flight with no knowledge that there were even more books, and i happen by luck to start with number 1 in the timeline
Being in the UK and having to wait till November 3rd when it releases here 😥
I had forgotten to go back to this review after I finished it.
I thought PoD was fantastic. So much world- and characterbuilding. Such vivid descriptions and superb writing. It's instantly one of my favorite THR and SW books in general.
I agree that PoD is a fine start for getting into the High Republic, though I think that certain reveals might be lessened in Phase 1 if you read Phase 2 first.:)
I get kind of a Star Trek vibe from your description of the Jedi in this era. Boldly going to discover strange new worlds and new civilizations that may someday link back to the Republic.
6:50 that's not true. The introduction to the Drengir in Into the Dark was much better than the introduction in the comics. Although to be fair, the Drengir were not a major plot point in the Phase 1 adult novels.
Enjoyed this. Thought the ending was too similar to light of the Jedi. Me being scared of nameless
This was wonderful. Creating a villain that's believable on the surface but clearly a hoax cult when you dig deeper is just perfection.
Great overview as usual, but I noticed that the past few videos haven't included the familiar 'jump to hyperspace' intro. Any reason?
Marda Ro and the Path of the Open Hand's ideology were succeeded by the Nihil. The Path's goals were to destroy Force-Users. However, the Nihil's goals are to destroy the Jedi and the Republic as well as the Force-Users entire. Marchion Ro inherited Marda Ro's anger and hatred.
If I would live in the Star Wars galaxy I could've fixed her.
Gonna start it soon and can’t wait for it loved the first phase
Thanks for the review! It was your reviews of phase one that caused me to read The High Republic. I'm curious: When I read phase 1 I instinctively pronounced Marchion as "MARSH-ee-ahn." And that pronunciation was used in the audio story Tempest Runner. But almost everyone I see online pronounces it with a hard k sound. I feel like I must be missing someplace where the author said that's how it's pronounced. Thanks!
The ending hit me hard.
My heart is destroyed after this book. My sweet kevmo.
I'm very far behind on the High Republic I've only read Light of the Jedi, Into the Dark, A Test of Courage, volume 1 of the IDW series, volume 1 of the manga, and like the first 7 issues of the main marvel comic. That's why I'm glad Phase 2 is a prequel, cuz I can enjoy it as it comes out while also catching up on Phase 1.
I only read 2 novels and the main comic-run, so I'm way more behind
This book wrecked me man😭
Fr real though the authors killed it- I think this wave is incredible so far!
I haven't finished the adult books of phase 1 yet. I guess I'd better get reading. Thanks for the review!🙂
I've been grinding all the main books out over the past few weeks. adult ones take an average of 10-12 hours of reading, young adult seem to be 6-8, and the middle grade ones only take me 3-5 hours to read.
Love you star wars explained, thank you for all you videos.🔥
I really liked it too, though rather than the optimistic view of faith you mention, I saw it as about manipulation and radicalization.
It was a pretty decent read, but I don’t think it really stands on its own. I wish Phase 2 started with a galaxy spanning novel like Light of the Jedi - now that was an awesome way to introduce a new setting.
my pre-order is supposed to arrive Friday! so excited 😄
what a heartbreaking book
Probably not going to get any of the books but I certainly look forward to your coverage!
The new setting seems quite fun
Jedi in the frontier
I can't even really keep up with Phase 1 of THR and to be honest, after I was a little disappointed by The Rising Storm it will last a bit longer. I will read anything of the second Phase, when I have time for that, which means somewhere between 2023 or 2024.
I cannot wait to read this. Cannot. Wait.
its amazing but it mad me sad torwad the end
Everywhere I've checked in the UK says the High Republic doesn't start for us until November. Wooo!
I'm a little confused by the release order. The "main" novel isn't first this time round?
Oh man, why do I get a feeling some of these characters are going to die later on? I hope I’m wrong 🤞🏼
This should’ve been the wave 1 adult novel, and Convergence the YA book.
Yeah baby YEAH
Will each Phase go further back in the timeline or is this a one-off?
There’s only three so three will not go back into the timeline
@@bullrun2772
Are they just dropping the high republic after phase 3?
@@stephen8805 maybe i don't know
No intro music?? :( lol
Oh great, as a deconstructing evangelical, sounds like this book is going to dig up some religious trauma. Gotta love when a story personally attacks you. Can't wait to read it, though! So ready for THR to return!
They did a GREAT job making me sympathize heavily with what I knew to be a cult. Awesome job. I spent a lot of time asking, “How is The Path BAD?! Their beliefs have merit.” Until I didn’t lol
my main gripe with the high republic is how...backwards it seems. Telling me by the time of the Clone Wars most of those hyperlanes are as old as the automobile and some places have only been in the republic for as long as flight irl?
Its just Whack with the old Sith and old Republic still technically around.
Besides everything seeming like the "Frontier" only a few hundred years before the Clone Wars I love the High Republic.
I really don’t get your point at all?
@@bullrun2772 He's saying by the logic of the high republic, if we go a thousand years into the past during the old republic then hyperspace propabaly shouldn't even be invented. The writers of the high republic are acting like they are writing in the distant past of the star wars universe in terms of technology. While it's not a bad idea right now, it's going to be a hurdle lots of writers are going to have to deal with in the future. How can we have sith wars vs the old republic 1000 years in the past when hyperspace lanes barley even exist and function 200 years before the Phantom Menace. They are inadvertently making the universe feel small
@@matthewponton5632 actually false I think Cavan Scott address this lol
@@bullrun2772 this is going to be long so I apologize. But it doesn't matter what Cavan Scott said. The outline of their "expansion" story for the high republic is faulty. Look at it like this. From what information we have in canon of the history of the republic and the outer rim, it goes as follows:
over 25,000 years ago - the jedi form their first Jedi temples in the lower half of the galaxy. they have scattered places across the outer rim, but it is not explored
25,000 years ago - the republic is formed around coruscant and the jedi move to the core around the typhon area. They probably dont get their crystals at illum at this point but rather Jhedda
6,000 years ago - The sith break away from the jedi, being exiled to the outer rim, specifically korriban (which will be renamed morriban at a later date). The republic is still not active in the outer rim.
3,000ish years ago - there are some Large scale, galactic wide wars with the sith and jedi, throughout the unknown regions and outer rim. the outer rim is probably in a state of lawlessness under the sith, hutts, and zygerrians slave empire, so this still fits with high republic.
arround 1,000 years ago - the sith are believed to be defeated sometime around this time the republic outlaws slavery and makes a huge push into the outer rim to destroy the zygerrian slave empire.
300 years ago - the republic make a big push to chart hyper-lanes in the outer rim
200 years ago - the republic states its objective is to bring civilization to the outer rim.
So I think the issue people are having is that the republic defeated the sith and made a big push into the area, then waited 700 years to do anything else. I think the easiest way to explain it would be to say the republics war on slave trade and such happened before their last battle with the sith in 1000BBY, which was devastating enough they didn't continue that push into making the outer rim lawful until 300bby. But overall i think the high republic should have been 800-700 years ago, as i think it fits better then.
Overall though, I have been enjoying the high republic novels. I think it makes a few weird decisions (ie the timeline stuff and the jedi dressing fancy) and I dont like the hyperspace disaster for lore implications, but overall they are very enjoyable
I agree. I really hate how the idea that the High Republic era is when the republic finally decides to expand and how hyperspace is a relatively new invention.
How were the old sith wars fought lol
X fun facts video when?
I’m very skeptical about this jump back in time.. but I’m sure I’ll get into it
MARDA IS MY GIRLFRIEND
The only thing about the high republic that I'm sceptical is that it seems to be to close to TPM while it seems as they are very far from the technology of the prequels. Don't know if they go much before what will they do. But I still love the era. Can't wait for quest of the jedi.
I don’t see that as a problem. Tech advances quickly. Just look at how much our world changed in the last 100 years. And it’s not like they’re that far off.
@@thedapperdolphin1590 however, in star wars tech has weirdly stagnated. lots of droids and star ships are hundreds of years old, the hammerhead corvette ship design is thousands of years old. those are some really obvious examples, but there are alot of instances where tech just doesn't advance at the same rate as ours does in real life.
usually, its explained as RND is expensive, star wars tech is already pretty advanced and works well enough, therefore companies don't put much effort into RND.
@@JediSentinal that’s more legends than canon
I think your forgoting this takes places 200 hundred years before tpm technically this book isn’t set then but even then this makes sense
@@JediSentinal maybe some parts of canon yes but for the most part no
The potential in Enter The Dark can't be understated. The potential ties to the old republic / the emaxine warriors is such a tellable tale . it's my only complaint about P1
Isn't it rather weird/backward to have such deep and 'spoiler' coverage of live action SW but not even do a plot walkthrough of books/comics?
Far more people will watch the live action than will ever read the books; frankly after a few months -keeping the plot walled off; will only serve to keep that lore obscure.
As you said, FAR MORE people are watching live action…the point is to make content that appeals to the widest base possible. Sorry, very few people are reading the books and comics, definitely not enough to place a priority on the comics/books
@@issiahsilva SW lore is SW lore -presumably that's why we are here, I'd imagine people who don't read the books (aka almost everyone) would still appreciate knowing canon plot.
All we'll get is vague reviews and; bits and pieces of scattered events.
I'm guessing he wants to force people to read the books but there is now again an entire era that few even know exists and even fewer know what happened.
Honestly I really don’t get this like letthis person do his video lol
@@issiahsilva agreed
@@LENZ5369 like why can’t he not make this video what’s the problem
Makes my skin crawl hearing someone simp for the new timeline where they won’t even acknowledge KOTOR.
So wait mother is stupid huh when she is totally legends like
I’m a fan of the main line High Republic novels but whoever thought this book was great must be high.
This is like the Mickey Mouse club house version of Star Wars. What a boring book and the language is like that of a teenage girl. I listened to the audiobook and it was like the girl from frozen was narrating a story too cute for Star Wars. This isn’t Star Wars. One of the worst Star Wars novels no doubt.
Lol says one not reading the book never mention any characters in the book lol
What if the mother is in reference to Abeloth
I don’t think so maybe but eh
@@bullrun2772 after you read how much of a monster she is her and Abeloth arent that differant
@@yournightmare6969 even then she doesn’t look like Abeloth
@@bullrun2772 well ya deffinatly they look differant but they are both horrible people/demon god squid
@@yournightmare6969 i get what you mean they are just horrible people