Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland was a delight to read. This book takes place a little bit after the events of the Valo catastrophe from Race to Crashpoint Tower and The Rising Storm. I would recommend reading previous The High Republic books to familiarize yourself with the characters, because this book jumps right into the plot.

The beginning of this book really centres on how the characters are dealing after the tragedy on Valo. The galaxy has changes. Fuel prices are up, people are on edge and having a hard time dealing with their feelings about it. This book puts Vernestra Roh front and centre. I loved Vern and Imri's relationship. It was always something that I was curious about after Vern took the mantel as his Jedi Master. I would have liked to see a little bit more Reath and Nan. I have been waiting for her to have this kind of character development and depth that the middle grade books didn't give her. I finally feel like I have a sense for who she is and what her strengths and flaws are.

I'm a huge fan of the Dread Nation duology, so I've been patiently waiting for Disney Press to grant Justina with YA. It did not disappoint. Justina Ireland shines when it comes to character depth and conflict and I really hope she gets to write more YA in the future. I'll be doing a full review on my podcast to come.

My thoughts here are for an advanced copy of the book that was sent to me in exchange for a review.
<i>Out of the Shadows</i> is complicated to review because the beginning is slow, but the end is riveting. In fact, the introduction is so slow that I frequently put the book down for days at a time while reading other books, and I never really felt a desire to pick it back up. This isn’t necessarily a problem of writing (Ireland is engaging, as always), but there seems to be a lot of the background information that is required reading. In truth, <i>Out of the Shadows</i> relies on the reading having read <i>Light of the Jedi</i>, <i>Into the Dark</i>, and <i>A Test of Courage</i> To have any idea of what is happening. Notably events that seem to be from <i>The Rising Storm</i> and <i>Race to Crashpoint Tower</i> are also heavily referenced (though to be fair, I haven’t read these latter two—but it feels clear that I should have at least read <i>The Rising Storm</i> first). Considering that this is only the second book in the YA High Republic Series, requiring background information from two adult novels, one YA novel, and two middle-grade novels to fully understand characters and events is somewhat disappointing and an odd choice. I would not be surprised if readers felt lost at times, particularly if someone used this novel as an entry point into the whole High Republic age of Star Wars.
That being said, Justina Ireland is a tremendous writer and I will certainly continue to read the SW:HR books as they are released, particularly if she is at the helm. I like this well enough once I was about 25% of the way in, and the ending was very good. If you’ve read any of the SW:HR novels and you’re wondering if you should grab this one, I’d say absolutely. Though you should probably read everything (and I mean <i>everything</i>) that was released prior to this one.

This is a spoiler free review but I do talk about some of the themes of the story.

Star Wars The High Republic: Out of the Shadows is another excellent Star Wars The High Republic novel. This book is an awesome addition to the Star Wars: The High Republic series of books and comics. Each novel and comic book keeps adding more and more details to the main story of the High Republic era. The High Republic era is truly becoming a beautiful story full of adventure, romance, betrayal, chaos, and twists and turns at every corner. I highly recommend you read the other Star Wars The High Republic books, especially the YA novels and comics before you read this one.

Vernestra Rwoh and her Padawan Imri are off on another adventure after the chaos that took place at the Republic Fair. Their mission revolves around Hyperspace and we get to learn a lot about the famed Star Wars method of travel along with our heroes. The details that we learn about Hyperspace and it’s possible connection with the Force are really awesome and will make you not want to put this book down.

Star Wars The High Republic Out of the Shadows has a few instances where Vernestra learns more details about Hyperspace. When you read those scenes you can almost hear the Yoda and The Force theme by John Williams playing in the background. The text and the music would complement each other perfectly. Those scenes with Vernestra are some of the best in the entire novel.

One of the other things I really enjoy about Star Wars The High Republic: Out of the Shadows is the connections with other Star Wars media. Keep a close eye out for characters who show up for quick cameos. Perhaps a character who didn’t have much screen time during the Prequels appears in this book. Also you might notice a family name from the Sequel Trilogy movies. Lastly, one of the themes from the Prequel Trilogy that is in the background of each film is lurking in the background of this wonderful tale. See if you notice what theme I’m talking about it. I really enjoy all these references to other Star Wars stories and appreciate when the author adds details the fans will love and get excited over.

Star Wars The High Republic Out of the Shadows has a few new characters that we get to know. Two of the best characters are Sylvestri Yarrow and Jordanna Sparkburn. These two lovely ladies are feisty, ready to fight for those they love, and are really endearing characters. As you read this book you might find yourself rooting for them and that’s a good thing because they need all the help they can get. Thank goodness their friends are ready and at their sides.

Some other new characters are the Graf family. Xylan Graf and his grandmother, the Matriarch, are very interesting characters. Keep a close eye on them and see what you think of them. At some points you might think they are good guys and at other points you might wonder what they are up to…

Another fun fact about this book is there are a couple of strong LGBTQ characters in this book. The bond between these two characters is at the forefront of this entire story. You will see these two ladies fight and fall back in love a number of times. You will find yourself rooting for them more and more as you read the book.

I highly recommend Star Wars The High Republic: Out of the Shadows. It’s an awesome story full of twists and turns. Plus you get to see how dangerous the Nihil have become. They truly are a match for the Jedi…

Trust in the Force.

Stay Awesome and keep reading!

Out of the Shadows is a well-thought out book essentially centered around hyperspace and its enigmatic nature. The characters we follow - Sylvestri Yarrow, Vernestra Rwoh, Imri Cantaros, Reath Silas, and Cohmac Vitus - are great protagonists for the adventure found in this book, and Ireland skillfully continues characterization for these known characters as well as provide depth for Syl despite having just met her. I love Ireland’s writing style and I am definitely looking forward to her future novels.

One thing that I appreciated from Ireland's first The High Republic book, A Test of Courage, was the way that the narrative took some time to slow down and deal with harder topics like grief and trauma. Honesty Weft and Imri Cantaros both lost father figures in the beginning of the book, and it showed us how they affected the characters directly. Out of the Shadows took this time, as well, showing how Vernestra changed since the events of Valo. Sure, she had been through a lot, but you don't survive the events of the Republic Fair without a lot of trauma, both physically and emotionally. Thankfully, OotS treats all of the characters' traumas with respect, showing how they process through them and showing the effect of these terrible events on them. Imri is affected as well, but we're told more of what happened to him than shown, like we are with Vernestra.

This really leads into one of the core strengths of Out of the Shadows: certain characters are extremely well-rounded, and we learn a lot about them as characters. Vernestra is given a lot of depth, as we see what she is like post-Valo, and her struggles as she leans into being Imri's Jedi Master. It's not an easy process and Vernestra starts to worry that she's not cut out for the job. (Even better that some characters gently challenge her, as well, in a way that most of the time doesn't feel condescending.) I felt before we were told Vernestra is a great Jedi, but OotS really does a good job of showing how she's a great Jedi. She's also a complex character and she decides to hold back from revealing two fairly major secrets in the book, which sets up some exciting tensions and stories in the future.

Other characters are given some interesting dimensions, but I can't say that I feel like everyone was given a lot of time to develop fully. (This does not mean they're abandoned - I'd be surprised if most of these characters didn't return, honestly.) Imri's changed status - as someone who drew too deeply on the Dark Side and as a newly re-Mastered Padawan - opens up a lot of exploration of his character and his Jedi powers. As we saw before, but is now expanded upon a great deal, Imri's Force sensitivity makes him a great Force-empowered empath. This is a fairly unique, or uncommon, type of Force power, so I loved seeing it developed in OotS and seeing what unique challenges it provides. The combination of Vernestra and Imri will be one I am very interested in following later.

Speaking of pairs, I wanted to talk a while about Sylvestri Yarrow and Jordanna Sparkburn. Syl, as she's called throughout Out of the Shadows, is one of the main characters, and presents a really interesting perspective as a non-Jedi character. She's a freighter pilot, doing her best to survive in the galaxy after the dissolution of the Byne Guild after the destruction of the Legacy Run and Affie's major expose on their secrets. She's been aged and toughened by a harsh galaxy and presents a fairly cynical view of it at the age of 19. We're also introduced to Jordanna Sparkburn, a protector on an Outer Rim planet who has come into contact frequently with both Nihil and Drengir forces. Both share a dislike for the Jedi, for fairly similar reasons, and both seem to have been shaped by a galaxy out to get them.

They are also exes, who separated after...not the best of circumstances. It's a classic story: one wants to see the wider galaxy, but the other has a strong sense of duty to her home. This ends in them splitting, leaving both heartbroken and both, essentially, alone. I write this summary in this order for a reason: unlike a lot of books where romance is a key factor in the story, OotS presents Jordanna and Syl as characters first, then as love interests. This allows them to stand alone, as they don't spend the entire story together. This allows both characters to be defined by their own character traits, their own experiences, and their own desires. The story does push them together, but it feels like there are two people, not just two tropes, coming together to fall (back) in love with one another. My biggest disconnect with books happens when characters are introduced only as romantic roles - I commend Ireland for writing strong characters first and romantic partners second.

That being said, I did feel a bit too separated from the romantic storyline, as a lot of it was built on their history, a history that we don't really see a lot of. One of my biggest pet peeves in fiction is when tensions and conflicts are built on events we didn't see and end up not experiencing. (One example I pull is Pretty Little Liars, where a five-year story gap re-introduces us to characters in contexts brand new and relationships we never saw and expected us to fill in the gaps with our imaginations.) A lot of the tension between Jordanna and Syl is built on their experiences before they broke up, and the break up itself, something I didn't experience. This sort of leaves me feeling like an outsider, especially since we're mostly only told about their experiences. Now, this context may work for some people - certainly, people with messy break-ups can obviously import their own experiences and feelings into this situation. I just wish I experienced a bit of their past together, considering the tension in OotS comes from a shared history that I wasn't in. I left the novel feeling more like an outsider-looking-in than I felt like a full part of their coming together.

That being said, I was very interested in their present relationship. It is built less on long conversations and their history together, but based more on meaningful glances, terse words shared at the wrong time, and fleeting moments. We don't have, or share, their emotional history, so I don't always feel much when I hear their shared history, but I do cheer when they move closer together in the present. The story pulls on a lot of the young adult threads you'd expect from a young adult story, obviously, but little of it feels clichéd. By the time the characters come together, I am genuinely happy to see them come together and let Syl have a replacement for a family-member lost throughout the rest of the story.

I would've loved to see Reath Silas and Cohmac Vitus given a bit more characterization in Out of the Shadows. I absolutely fell in love with Reath when he was introduced in Gray's Into the Dark, so I was excited to see him come back. We learn he's a lot different than the Reath that we met a year ago, but again, we're mostly told that and we don't see it a lot. I would've loved to see Reath's changes shown, but maybe that would require a book/comic that covers the year gap between the release of the Drengir and the events of Valo. I know that The Rising Storm also featured characters after a large time gap, but I think this is a little different. Stellan Gios does change between the Battle of Kur and the Attack on Valo, but I still feel like most of his major developments came "on-page", and we didn't miss a lot that was pressing to the novel in that gap year. I do think Reath's character change was important and substantial, and affected how he acted in this book, so it was an important gap to fill in, I think. More than that: I really love Reath Silas 

Moving away from the characters, one thing I really appreciated seeing again was a bit of politics. We learn the San Tekka family and the Graf family, both legacy Star Wars canon families, are involved in a lot of political drama and space exploration. We're at a point in galactic history where the hyperspace routes are still being mapped - despite their hampering by the explosion of the Legacy Run - and the Grafs and San Tekkas lead the charge in mapping them out. Xylan Graf, one of the main characters in the book, is working to secure some part of space to continue to hone the Graf explorations. One major obstacle here is Senator Starros, who has her own corporate interests and secrets to protect. After the intense backlash to the politics in the Prequels, it seemed as if the franchise backed off a bit from using political storylines. I am thankful to see that this era is not ashamed to take advantage of the timing and explore these areas.

I do also want to comment on the use of legacy last names, since there are a few in the book: Graf, San Tekka, Starros. 200 years before the Invasion of Naboo, seeing familiar character names run the risk of being pretty annoying, I think. The Old Republic novels used some last names wayyy before the movies, which strained believability just too much for me. Thankfully, these legacy characters are used well, in a setting that really expands the background we know of them in the Skywalker Saga. The story of the Grafs, who were created by Cavan Scott, another Luminous author, and the San Tekkas, developed in The Force Awakens, really speak to where we find them in the Clone Wars era. We know that the Grafs are space explorers, as we saw in the Adventures in Wild Space series, and we meet Lor San Tekka as the one who travels with Luke to map out Ahch-To. The one that hasn't quite connected - but we're anxious to see how - is how Senator Starros's story becomes the story of Sana Starros. These are the types of connections we should see: how do legacies become established in the past to get to the characters we know now?

There's also a handful of other things I don't want to spend a lot of time talking about, but at least want to mention. Ireland's cast of side characters is great, with a few really interesting aliens, including a non-binary, non-humanoid Jedi that I really liked. Ireland does a good job of leaning into some of the franchise's weirder elements, and takes advantage of that in developing some of these Jedi. I also appreciated how Ireland doesn't shy away from painting pictures of her characters, giving us a lot of visual details to fill out the characters we don't know very well. She's also very descriptive in describing clothes and outfits, which made me laugh in ways that other books have not done.

Moving from the highlights, there were a few things that I wish were given a bit more time to develop. One critique I might hold to OotS and A Test of Courage, as you might've guessed so far, is that there is a lot of telling, rather than showing. I've mentioned a few places on top, but we're also told a lot about some funnier aspects, like Stellan and Vernestra being bad pilots, that I'd love to have seen the stories. Reath and Cohmac's changes are told, but not shown as much.

One of these is that the pacing felt a bit off for me. Maybe it was the expectations I brought into it, but I felt like the climax of the story came really late into the book. One of the stories that I haven't even mentioned is the story of a superweapon being developed by the Nihil. This story is addressed as a side story - maybe should've been my first hint to read it differently. This story is much more focused on characters than it is on events, so reading it in that light might help the pacing feel a bit better.

I also felt like there were a few major reveals - story wise, not necessarily lore wise - that needed a bit more time to develop. Characters long thought dead appear to a lot less fanfare than I might've expected. After layers of dense betrayals and plots, it all comes unraveled fairly quickly, too. A few more pages, or maybe some earlier reveals, might've given some story aspects time to breathe. One reveal went absolutely untouched, which was severely disappointing to me. One of the major reveals in the book is when Reath's story and the Nihil story, told through the POV of Nan, from Into the Dark, meets up. Despite the history shared between Nan and Reath, the book doesn't really do anything with their meeting, instead pushing them together to pull them apart just as quickly. We don't see the way that it affects Reath, nor do we see the way that it affects Nan. Really, you wouldn't know they had much history had Reath not conveniently thought about her a few times. Had we never entered Reath's head, we'd not have known. This was a really disappointing dropped thread for me, so I hope someone else can pick it up on the way.

In total, I mostly liked Out of the Shadows both times that I read it before my review. The characterization on a few of the leads is really strong, and I really appreciated that the strong romantic storyline was not ONLY a romance, but a realistic and enjoyable way to see two characters interact. In terms of setting up future stories, I think this book is a really good stepping stone to see where the next couple stories go. I only wish to see a little more of characters' developments as they happen rather than being simply told.

Links will be added after it is released tomorrow.

Star Wars The High Republic: Out of the Shadows van auteur Justina Ireland speelt zich enkele maanden na de Nihil aanval op Valo af, een gebeurtenis die te volgen is in Race to Crashpoint Tower en The Rising Storm. Het verhaal speelt zich uit via de vier gezichtspunten van Jedi Knight Vernestra ”niet Vern” Rwoh, Padawan Reath Silas, Sylvestri ”Syl” Yarrow en de Nihil Nan. Maar het richt zich vooral op Vernestra en haar Padawan Imri. Zij worden door Vernestra’s voormalig meester, en huidig Jedi Council lid, Cohmac Vitus van Starlight Beacon terug geroepen naar de Jedi Temple op Coruscant. Daar krijgen ze de missie om met Xylan Graf naar een afgelegen stuk in het sterrenstelsel af te reizen waar de Graf en San Tekka families beiden een claim op willen leggen.

Ondertussen is Sylvestri ook naar Coruscant gekomen omdat haar vrachtschip in datzelfde stuk van het sterrenstelsel op mysterieuze wijze uit Hyperspace getrokken is door de Nihil. Syl wist op het nippertje, zonder haar schip, te ontsnappen maar wil nu de hulp van wie dan ook inroepen om duidelijk te maken dat de Nihil een gevaarlijk nieuw wapen bezitten. Ze wordt opgespoord door Xylan Graf en gaat samen met hem en de Jedi op pad om een kijkje te nemen in het gebied. Ook Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus en zijn padawan Reath Silas worden aan de missie toegevoegd en gezamenlijk komen ze in een gevaarlijkere situatie terecht dan ze ooit hadden durven voorspellen.

Out of the Shadows legt de nadruk vooral op de personages en wat minder op de gebeurtenissen. We krijgen een hele diepe duik in Vernestra’s psyche. Het bedrieger syndroom waar ze door haar jonge leeftijd zwaar mee te kampen heeft en het trauma dat ze overgehouden heeft aan de gebeurtenissen op Valo. En de angst en onwetendheid over de visioenen die ze ervaart in hyperspace, waar in A Test of Courage al naar gehint werd, die sinds korte tijd weer voorkomen en heftiger zijn dan ooit tevoren.

Het verhaal komt ietwat langzaam op gang terwijl de afsluiting juist wat snel verloopt, maar Ireland heeft een intrigerend verhaal neergezet met wat verrassende wendingen dat de aandacht erg goed vast weet te houden. De schrijfstijl is erg prettig en de onderwerpen waar op gefocust of waar naar gehint wordt zullen voor ieder wat wils bevatten. Of het nu de visioenen van Vernestra zijn, de geschiedenis van Syl, de toekomst van Syl, de Nihil en hun plannen, het nieuwe wapen van de Nihil, de vete tussen de Graf en San Tekka families en hun onderzoek naar Hyperspace. Wat mij betreft stuk voor stuk interessante punten waar in volgende boeken nog meer aandacht aan besteed mag worden.

Ireland diept de wereld verder geloofwaardig uit door bijvoorbeeld ook logische verwijzingen te maken naar dingen als het dag- en nachtritme van ruimtestations zoals Starlight Beacon en de manier waarop verschillende wezens daar wel en geen gebruik van maken. Of wat uitleg over training lightsabers en kleding. Dat training lightsabers niet heel sterk zijn en geen of amper verwondingen veroorzaken weten we al een tijd, maar het feit dat Jedi tijdens trainingssessies hitgevoelige kleding kunnen dragen die na contact met een training lightsaber een zichtbare verkleuring toont is een leuk extra weetje dat de wereld net weer een tikje realistischer en interessanter maakt.

Ondanks dat dit Young Adult boek gericht is op lezers van 12 tot 18 jaar oud, is dit net als de overige Young Adult boeken in Star Wars zeker niet een label waar je je als oudere lezer veel van moet aantrekken. Het verhaal en de ontwikkelingen van de personages zijn ijzersterk. Het enige wat een YA van een ”volwassen” boek onderscheid is het feit dat er minder gefocust wordt op ruimtegevechten en meer op de diepgang van personages en hun persoonlijke ontwikkeling. Dat en het feit dat de pagina’s opgemaakt worden met minder text wat het lezen iets simpeler maakt, waar ook oudere lezers wellicht van kunnen profiteren.

Wat mij betreft is Out of the Shadows het sterkste boek van de tweede High Republic wave en ik ben blij dat Justina Ireland de stap in Star Wars van Young Reader naar Young Adult heeft gemaakt, Vernestra is met gemak één van mijn favoriete personages uit dit tijdperk in de Star Wars wereld en ik kijk vol verwachting uit naar haar volgende avontuur.
En wie loopt er nou niet warm voor een Yaddle cameo? Yaddle, die met een gewoon spraakpatroon spreekt trouwens.

This is a fantastic sequel and continuation of the High Republic.
We rejoin Vernestra Rwoh & Reath after the events in Into the Dark, and after the disaster at The Republic Fair.
There are a couple of “guest” appearances by known characters, which is great too.
The San Tekkas are turning into a family bigger than we could have imagined. From Lor San Tekka in TFA, this is a family with a legacy akin to the early settlers in the US- prospectors of the Galaxy.

There’s also a satisfying amount of representation in this book, from Sylv and Jordanna, to Master Cohmac’s physical appreciation of Xylan in his purple leather bodysuit!

I also noted early indications of why Yoda, Yaddle & the rest of the Jedi High Council were so concerned with Anakin becoming a Jedi Knight too early, with Master Cohmac voicing his concerns about making Vern a Jedi too soon, and giving her her own Padawan too early.

Overall, this is a great novel, with plenty of twists and turns. The Nihil are developing into a seriously evil force not to be underestimated. Like rabid dogs they betray each other at any opportunity.
Syl goes through her own journey of love, heartbreak and disappointment, and the return of Nan was a great read!

It will be interesting to see what happens next on this adventure!

Also- I need a vollka in my life. I will be very sad if there isn’t a vollka plushie at Celebration!

Justina is a great Star Wars writer- she sucks you in to the Universe from the first page, and doesn’t leave your emotions alone, rather choosing to have you laughing, sitting on the edge of your seat, and shedding a tear or two.

Young Jedi Knight Vernestra is doing her best to teach and guide her Padawan, Imri, as they try to stop the Nihil in their path of death and destruction. Here they meet Syl, a hauler, who is determined to make the Republic see that the Nihil are taking over the shipping lanes, especially after her ship is knocked out of hyperspace. Action, adventure, and intrigue!

The characters and series storylines are starting to come together, while still introducing new characters and plot twists. Jedis Vernestra, Reath, Imri, and Cohmac work together with Syl and Jordana. Nan is back and higher up in the Nihil. Looking forward to the next one!

This YA title had a lot of political maneuvering, and not just by the Republic officials but by the Jedi as well. The Grafs and Senator Starros are each playing one another, and the Grafs are also playing the Nihil. The Jedi are placating Senator Starros and going along with the Republic's slow response to the Nihil threat. Everyone is manipulating someone or multiple someones.

Vernestra unfortunately finds herself being used by Senator Starros to manipulate and embarrass Xylan, much to her chagrin. Syl is also being used by Xylan, but has enough life experience to know she's being used. The outcome of all this manipulating and backstabbing will have some interesting implications going forward with the High Republic as a whole.

The Characters

Out Point of View characters in this novel are Vernestra, Reath, Syl, and Nan, the Nihil girl from Into the Dark. Nan has the least chapters, followed by Reath, with Syl and Vernestra having the most. I was kind of disappointed that Imri didn't get any point of view chapters and that instead we had to hear of his struggles with his burgeoning empathic abilities through Vernestra and Reath. It would have been nice to have his view on his powers. Plus, Vernestra and Imri are both Ireland's characters from A Test of Courage so I expected his point of view. Although, it's impossible to know who on the team created which characters for sure and which were collaborations.

Vernestra struggles still with being a young Knight. Her young age makes her a bit naïve as to how she is seen by others and not realizing at first that she's being used. At the same time, she struggles to know if she's doing right by Imri and not knowing how to help him with his empathic abilities, which she fears could be Dark Side tinged. She's also dealing with her own mysterious power, but I don't want to spoil that. As a final note on Vern, if I'm interpreting a few lines about love, sex, and dating correctly, Vern is another Asexual character added to the cannon.

Syl is struggling with the realization that she didn't fully know her mother. Through the course of the novel she learns her mother was not only college educated, but nearly obtained a doctorate in Hyperspace Theory. She then learns she might not really be dead, but collaborating with the enemy and begins to question all the hard lessons her mother taught her and all the times she left her for months with friends to learn a lesson. Syl is also a lesbian meaning this books adds two LGBTQIA characters to the cannon.

Verdict

This book brought back characters from previous YA and MG novels and introduced us to new ones. I really hope Syl and her girlfriend Jordonna return for a final battle with the Nihil. I also want to see Imri's and Vernestra's abilities explored more.

However, this wasn't as exciting overall as I was hoping. It had it's moments of action and adventure, mostly towards the end, but this was mainly a political novel. Thankfully, it wasn't as complicated as adult political ones are. It also had some points that seemed to be distractions from the main plot, but later became relevant. The plot really picked up though when all the characters met up.

However, that's not to say this was a bad book, because it was an enjoyable read and an interesting story. As a I said, the ending will definitely have some implications for the plot going forward. What exactly the Grafs are planning and where the final Path the Oracle gave Vernestra leads will make things interesting.  This was kind of a bridge between this phase and the next and I'm excited to see it play out. I give this one four stars. It will easily be enjoyed by teen and adult fans but is perhaps best relatable for older teens due to the point of view characters being seventeen and eighteen.

This was by far my most anticipated book for wave two and it did not disappoint!! Justina Ireland is at her best when writing YA, and she brought her A game when it came to this one. Out of the Shadows is a bit of a sequel to Into the Dark and A test of Courage, but also holds its own with the introduction of Sylvestri Yarrow, a young hauler who gets swept up into the conflict. The characterization in this book is on a whole nother level, and I honestly can't wait to see what they will do going forward.

Also, fans of Ireland’s Dread Nation will be happy to know that Out of the Shadows is full of great queer representation, including Star Wars’ third asexual charecter! On top of that, Ireland made these characters come completely alive, and gave them the space to question and grow. I absolutely loved Out of the Shadows, I honestly cannot recommend it enough.

Out of the Shadows is a fun, though at times frustrating, entry into the era of The High Republic of Star Wars. First a warning, this books follows the events of the previous High Republic books, so there are definite spoilers for Light of the Jedi and The Rising Storm. You don't necessarily have to have read both of those to understand this book, but some of the events in them are better explained here than others, so there would probably be some mild confusion.

Ireland has written a intriguing plot, with lots of deception and mysteries to be explored. There are minor characters from previous High Republic books that get a chance to step into the limelight in this story, as well as new characters, both allies and enemies. I was particularly intrigued by the Grafs, a family business empire we have heard mentioned before, but seem set to become major players going forward. It's something that hasn't been explored much in Star Wars before and I look forward to seeing where it goes.

There is a lot going on in this book, maybe a little too much, as parts of it felt rushed. There's a lot of solid set up here, but the main plot seemed to end rather abruptly. I get that it is setting up further books, but the climax of the story still seemed to be handled a to quickly and easily.

I do love the characters as Ireland as written them. The young Jedi Vernestra in particular, as well as her empathic Padawan. Syl and Jordanna a both a good edition to the galaxy.. I am happy to have a queer relationship in the forefront of this book, but I do think we got told that they are in love, rather than shown it and would have liked to see more about why and how these two fell in love.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It's not perfect, but it's fun and moves at a quick clip, while introducing new characters and new plot developments that should have a larger part of play in The High Republic series as a whole.

The final novel release of The High Republic’s Phase I, Wave II, Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland is a riveting character-focused journey which might feel small scale but the ramifications of its events bursts open the era, begging for readers to see where it goes next. I’d go so far as to say Out of the Shadows nearly tied with Wave II’s adult novel, The Rising Storm, as my favorite of the era/Phase so far.

Set a few months after the events of The Rising Storm (released June 29), aka the attack on the Republic Fair, Out of the Shadows explores a smaller scale tale with big ramifications for the era, dealing with the fallout of TRS and the attack on Valo, while pushing the story forward and wrapping up some lingering threads from the opening wave. With the Jedi helping strike down Nihil bases alongside the Republic, Marchion Ro and his Nihil are on the run and backed in a corner, with Out of the Shadows looking at one of their projects to keep the Republic and the Jedi on their toes. Meanwhile, ships begin disappearing in an empty sector of space, and its deep history and its importance to two powerful families, the Graf’s and the San Tekka’s, hold the keys to what might be truly going on out amongst the stars and the Nihil’s mastery of hyperspace. A scientific inquiry and an effort to settle a property dispute of the mysterious sector of space brings a unique group of characters together: Xylan Graf, a scion of the powerful family who keeps his true intentions close to his colorful capes; Sylvestri Yarrow, a down-on-her-luck frontier hauler who’s the first person to survive the disappearances; and a cadre of Jedi we’ve met before sent to ensure the accuracy of the inquiry’s findings and hold back any Nihil in case they’re involved: the young Knight Vernestra Rwoh and her new Padawan Imri Cantaros, who we first met and saw their teaching relationship begin in Ireland’s Wave I novel, A Test of Courage; and Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus and his Padawan, Reath Silas, both from Claudia Gray’s YA novel from Wave I, Into the Dark. What secrets they uncover, be it within themselves, about the Nihil, and more rewards invested readers of the era but OotS can still be enjoyed by newcomers, as the fallout from something as simple as this property dispute has far ranging ripple effects on the era we’ll see explored in material ahead; between the final pages of The Rising Storm and all of OotS, there’s tons I’m eager for the era to react to and deal with in the coming years.

Ireland’s first entry, A Test of Courage, really delighted and offered some fantastic characters and complex issues to explore at a middle-grade level, and she makes the jump to young adult here with ease. In fact, I felt like she was truly able to spread her wings in this reader level, as she takes her deep character work already on display and adds more layers and nuance to it, immersing us into their lives and feelings in a way that resonates and attaches us to them quickly. I found myself an even bigger fan of Vernestra Rwoh by book’s end than I originally thought possible and it all stems from how Ireland handles the character dealing with the fallout from Valo and her journey here, be it personal revelations or her mentoring of Imri. The POV cast of characters aren’t simply reacting to plot points, but rather are actively involved and pushing through the events around them, as their personal goals, secrets, and whims control a lot of the events with OotS. The novel moves at a steady, sometimes brisk pace, where cryptic information early in the story becomes clear by the end and warrants a re-read so those sections click better, though there’s a bit of a slowdown around the mid-way point, as politics factor heavily into events and it’s a little hard to keep track of who is playing who, while there are several scenes of characters sitting around chatting about what they’re going to do next. The lapse is quickly forgotten when the story picks back up for a big, crescendo of a finale. Knowing Ireland is expanding her scope, writing the upcoming THR manga The Edge of Balance alongside Shima Shinya (out September 7) and also a comic one-shot in the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover event featuring a THR-era character, I look forward to her exploring more reader levels and mediums, and I can’t wait to see her take over an adult novel, while I know a return to a middle-grade one would be just as compelling.

My disappointment realizing Avon Starros wouldn’t be in Out of the Shadows was very brief after meeting and thoroughly enjoying Sylvestri Yarrow, a truly down-on-her luck frontier hauler who tries her best to take advantage of (see: get credits and a new ship) the galaxy-changing events swirling around her. Recently losing her mom and left by her girlfriend, having to lose her ship as well to the Nihil and their mysterious new weapon is too much, so she makes a trek to Coruscant to bring attention to the growing situation in the Berenge sector. She soon finds herself wrapped up in a decades old fight between the Graf’s and the San Tekka’s, looking for the best way to get the credits and run, but a potential revelation about her past keeps her hooked to the unfolding machinations. Oh, and so too does running into her ex again, Jordanna Sparkburn, herself a member of the San Tekka family, which means Syl working for Xylan Graf causes some friction, beyond even their messy breakup. That Jordanna has a deadly cat with electric powers and another cool ability only adds to her ex’s mystique, though a weapon she reveals later means Syl and her might have changed far more than either realized since their breakup. The young adult novels for THR so far have gone out of their way to include everyday people in the galaxy (the stellar Vessel crew from Into the Dark), caught up in these extraordinary events, and Syl is the perfect showcase of how well this works, because while it’s fun to follow the Jedi or Marchion Ro, the leader of the Nihil, without someone like Syl’s POV, the conflicts brewing would have no context and feel detached, whereas now we can put a name to who the choices of the Jedi and Nihil affect. But Syl’s choices have their own effect on the forces pulling strings across the galaxy, so this also shows how important it is for both sides not to lose sight of the denizens of the galaxy. Syl is just a fun, grumpy, determined character and watching her react to the growing realizations of her past and figuring out her feelings on her ex (who has changed in unique ways due to the hardships of her position as a marshal on a frontier planet) certainly drive OotS and held my interest throughout. Like Avon Starros, now I can’t wait for the next time we’ll get to spend more time with Syl and her best friend, Beti.

Shepherding Vernestra Rwoh and Imri Cantaros from A Test of Courage into Out of the Shadows allows Ireland to build on and expand her character work for the two characters, especially Vernestra, in exciting and spell-binding ways. Honestly, Vernestra was already a Top 5 Jedi character for the era, but by the end of the OotS, she’s rocketed up to Top Place thanks to the journey Ireland puts her through and the potential added to her story. Vern, not only dealing with survivor’s guilt for making it through the events on Valo, also is left debating the path of the Jedi going forward, as the conversation between much of the Jedi characters focuses on if joining the war effort is the right thing or listening to what the Force wants should continue to be first and foremost, even if it means lives might be lost. Vernestra’s eventual answer stems from the return of a unique ability, connected to her deeper bond with the Force: visions while in hyperspace, which her old Master Stellan Gios thinks could lead Vernestra to use the Force to navigate hyperspace (something we’re seeing in action already in some of the canon Thrawn books). But in Vern’s visions, she’s hearing the voice of a woman, and as she follows the messages, she uncovers one of the era’s big secrets and gains a surprising, interesting, and thrilling new purpose. While on that journey, despite being 17 and still a fresh Knight, she’s not only debating the future of the Jedi but she’s also training her Padawan, Imri. I felt like Ireland handled his emotional turmoil, and Vern’s ability to bring him back from the brink, very well in the middle-grade format, and how she builds on their connection and Imri’s growing empath abilities only gets better in OotS. It made sense that Reath Silas, the library-minded Jedi until his adventures on the Amaxine station, also helps out with Imri’s abilities, but I appreciated how it all came down to Vernestra with how they handle things going forward. What she all balances in OotS really highlights how capable and advanced a Jedi Vernestra is, regardless of her age, and it’s clear from the lightwhip design, the Force visions, to the quest she’ll eventually go on, she’s unique and important to the Force and the future of The High Republic story. She’s currently tied with Keeve Trennis from Marvel’s The High Republic comic as my favorite Jedi of the era.

While the eccentric crew of the Vessel stole a lot of Into the Dark, Reath Silas and his book-leaning ways was still a highlight of the novel for me and having him show up here and see how he’s adjusting to his new normal was a delight I didn’t know I needed so much. After becoming Master Cohmac Vitus’ apprentice, who also had an interesting crisis of faith during the events of the previous book, Reath finds himself on more adventures, understanding their benefit by seeing how they can help so many, something his time in the library couldn’t quite do anymore. Reath’s growth in the intervening year basically causes him an out of body experience, who is this Jedi who is ready for adventure and eager to stay out in the frontier, whereas a year earlier he pouted about being sent out? The discussion he has with himself, other Jedi—like Vernestra, where a hint of attraction lies—and more dive straight into the Reath content I wanted, with Ireland deftly handling him after Claudia Gray’s opening work. Reath and Vernestra have a past, having been in the same classes as younglings, and their friendship and Reath’s consideration of her progress compared to his are interesting angles Ireland explores for the character, while his potential feelings for her offer more opportunities to explore the unique place these Jedi are in during this era. Cohmac isn’t a POV character like Reath, and he’s not featured much, but he’s deep in the discussions unfolding regarding the Jedi’s role the fight against the Nihil and their working relationship with the Republic, something Reath has his own feelings on, and these debates are intriguing considering what he know of the Jedi and Republic by the prequel era.

Out of the several books and comics released so far, Nihil POV has been limited, and even when we do get it, it doesn’t always go as in-depth as it could. Out of the Shadows brings back Nan from Into the Dark, the younger Nihil woman who tricked Reath, and through her we see the growing perilous situation and double-dealings within the Nihil marauders. She’s a rather fascinating character, as written by Ireland, as she doesn’t need to pretend anymore and she can be her true self, a conniving and smart spy and big Marchion Ro fan. She’s a really fun POV, as it’s a stark contrast to all the Jedi characters and their viewpoints, be it her determined, deadly mindset to her quick-thinking, I found myself looking forward to her sections despite her alliances. Her sections also focus on and peel back a small layer on some of the regular Nihil and how they feel about Ro’s machinations and their fight against the Jedi/Republic, something I’ve been craving but we’ve yet to truly get (though an upcoming audiobook could change that). As she navigates a plan by Tempest Runner Lourna Dee (whose audiobook takes place after this novel), we get to see and learn more about one of the surprises from Light of the Jedi: Mari San Tekka, the ancient member of the family that Ro has hidden away on his ship, providing the Nihil with their deadly Paths. How Nan navigates the ever-evolving situation she’s stuck in and where she might go next, which brings us the first mention of a certain character seen in the films (!), is a compelling journey and thankfully it looks like this won’t be the last we’ll hear from her.

The High Republic – Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland throws some recognizable characters together, introduces fresh and enduring new ones, and weaves relatable emotions through their refreshing character-focused journeys, all the while expanding the scope of the era and offering plenty of hints for what will come next.
{Full review, including spoiler section, on Mynock Manor on book's release date, which is when link will work}

Is it just me, or do Star Wars books just ... keep getting better?

Justina Ireland didn't have anything to prove with OUT OF THE SHADOWS - she's already more than earned her stellar Star Wars writer status with previous work. But she went ahead and absolutely crushed her second High Republic book contribution anyway, because why wouldn't she?

OUT OF THE SHADOWS is a perfect mix of old and new characters and furthers the tangled, sinister conflict between the Jedi and the Nihil. I laughed. I might have almost cried. Is this the San Tekka saga and why am I not mad about it? Additionally: SECRETS ARE BAD and certain Jedi should know better. Uh-oh.

SHOULD YOU READ THE OTHER HIGH REPUBLIC BOOKS BEFORE THIS ONE? Yes. Absolutely yes. Especially the adult and young adult novels. Though the middle-grade books are absolutely wonderful and can add to your understanding and enjoyment of this and other books - highly recommend!

Even if you're not usually a fan of YA (it's not for everyone and that's totally valid), don't skip this one. There may or may not also be a cameo from a character you've been dying to know more about ... maybe.

This was a solid story for me to read. The characters are interesting and dynamic without losing their human imperfections that make them relatable on their adventures. It was a great read overall, and a wonderful addition to the Star Wars universe. The plots twists kept the pages turning!

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The story was actually pretty good and well developed. I felt all the characters were well developed and each character was unique. I loved that there was more representation in this Star Wars novel with LGBTQ+ characters. I think the Star Wars universe needs more diversity and inclusion in the characters created, and this novel does a good job of incorporating that into the story. Jordana is probably one of my favorite characters, and I hope there is more to her story or backstory that we can learn in future books. I think the best part about this book is you do not have to read any of the other Star Wars novels to understand what is happening. It doesn't give away any plot twists from past novels, but also describes the details needed to understand how it fits within the story.

I would recommend this story to anyone who is a fan of Star Wars.

After the incredibly epic beginning of wave two of The High Republic books with The Rising Storm and Race to Crashpoint Tower—the all-new era of Star Wars storytelling continues with its second Young Adult novel. Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland (who previously wrote A Test of Courage) is a sequel to the first two books of wave two—very much like Into the Dark for wave one. This Young Adult novel introduces the readers to a new, compelling character, Sylvestri Yarrow while including some of the already beloved ones from previous stories: from Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh and her Padawan Imri Cantaros to Master Cohmac Vitus and his apprentice Reath Silas.

The first half of the book has two main separate storylines—one for Syl and one for the Jedi—which eventually merge as the characters embark on a mission to investigate an empty sector of space apparently used by the Nihil for some mysterious weapon testing.

On one hand, the reader gets acquainted with Syl’s character. Since Out of the Shadows features a great number of already established characters within The High Republic, readers might not be immediately drawn into Syl. However, as the novel progresses, the hauler steals the scene on many occasions—her family and romantic entanglements giving Syl great character development. But what makes her special is that throughout the book she tries to be true to herself, and although she might occasionally fall short on it (especially when it comes to credits) she hardly deviates from her values—taught by her late mother.

On the side of the Jedi, author Justina Ireland really goes all in with exploring her two characters from A Test of Courage—Vernestra and Imri. The dynamics between master and apprentice is worthy of the best relationships in Star Wars, almost comparable to Obi-Wan and Anakin’s. Vernestra’s constant performance pressure as a premature Jedi Knight and a new understanding of her Force abilities paired with Imri’s often debilitating empathic abilities make it for some of the best character development in The High Republic so far. But Ireland doesn’t stop there, adding to the mix Into the Dark‘s protagonist Reath Silas and his master Cohmac Vitus. While these characters don’t get the same extensive treatment as Vernestra and her Padawan, their presence is strong nonetheless. And to add the cherry on top, the author sprinkles a few, unexpected cameos that will make any Prequels (and Sequels) fans squeal!

Besides the two main storylines, Out of the Shadows also explores the side of the Nihil, mostly through the eyes of Nan—which readers of Claudia Gray‘s YA novel might remember as the young Nihil who stole Reath’s heart. However, the book refrains from exposing too much plot on the enemy’s side, which effectively adds to the mystery that continues to shroud the Nihil.

Ireland’s beautiful storytelling almost has a Prequel-esque feel to it—with political intrigue between two powerful families, the Grafs and the San Tekkas—and while two thirds of Out of the Shadows might carry a bit slower compared to the other The High Republic installments, the climax of the final chapters will be worth the journey, with some of the most jaw dropping revelations that forever change the course of the major story and open new paths for its heroes and villains.

With strong and compelling character dynamics, family feuds, and eye-opening discoveries of the Force, Out of the Shadows is an absolute must read for fans of The High Republic. It is recommended to read the novel after Into the Dark and The Rising Storm as it contains some key characters and plot points that require some background knowledge. Don’t wait too long, grab your copy now and once you’ve read it, let us know about your favorite moments from the book on our social media outlets.

While much is made of the High Republic's function as a shared era of storytelling more than a single linear narrative, it's hard to escape the sense that the Del Rey novels represent the "main" story--The Rising Storm was very much a sequel to Light of the Jedi, even if a few of the focus characters changed, and represented a shift in the respective status quos of the Republic, Jedi, and Nihil to which Out of the Shadows, arriving a month later, now has to react. That being said, though, Shadows not only advances that main plot itself in one or two important ways, it also deepens the setting in ways The Rising Storm arguably wouldn't have had time for (most notably with regard to the Nihil's use of hyperspace), and further complicates the notion of the High Republic as a more idealized galaxy than the one from the prequel films.

By picking up certain character arcs from both sides of the Republic/Nihil conflict, it also functions much more as a sequel to the previous young-adult book, Into the Dark, than I would have expected, while also giving meaty roles to Vernestra Rwoh and Imri Cantaros from author Justina Ireland's middle-grade book A Test of Courage. The best material, though, concerns the new character Sylvestri Yarrow and her assorted relationships. For my money, the best way to explore how (or whether) the High Republic really works is through "average" characters, and as such Sylvestri's arc was uniquely interesting and enlightening. Without giving too much away, I'm every bit as eager to see more of her as I was to see the Vessel crew again after Into the Dark.

The book's middle section leans heavily into political and personal intrigue rather than the normal Star Wars swashbuckling and laser battles (though it never lets up on those entirely), and while the subtext of the political content (and its expert use of certain familiar families) was very interesting I have to admit it became hard to follow after a while--there were perhaps one too many characters who were clearly not telling the truth, or maybe they just told one too many different lies apiece, and by the story's third act I had stopped even trying to guess what was going on and was just holding my breath for the fireworks factory, so to speak. The conclusion definitely delivered on that score while retaining a tight focus on the perspectives of the core young cast, which I appreciated, but I can't help but think Ireland could have gotten there sooner at the expense of some of the earlier double-dealing.

More in-depth coverage to come on Eleven-ThirtyEight upon the book's release.

Out of the Shadows, is an upcoming Young Adult novel set to be released on July 27th, as part of the new Disney Star Wars: The High Republic content. This novel is set approximately a year after the galaxy-wide event known as the Great Disaster.

This is the fourth installment of the High Republic materials that I have read and I enjoyed watching all the various storylines converge a bit in this one.

The larger, outlying picture is beginning to come more into focus. This novel follows a host of different perspectives including one of my favorite new characters, Jedi Vernestra Rowh, along with various other characters that I have come across in the earlier HR works.

As generally happens with Star Wars novels, there was quite a bit of action, but this additionally had a healthy dose of back-handed political maneuverings and finer details surrounding the Nihil raiders.

While the Young Reader installments, such as A Test of Courage and Race to Crashpoint Tower focus on a singular encounter with the Nihil, this was broader in scope. It clearly shows that the Nihil are much more resourceful a foe than the Jedi initially surmised.

Following shortly after the Nihil attack on Valo, many of the characters are still reeling from that trauma and are ill-prepared for what may be coming next.

I appreciated how Ireland kept that a part of the narrative. Allowing even Jedi to question their role and feelings regarding the current threats in the galaxy. Particularly conversations between Vernestra and her Padawan, Imri, I found to be quite touching.

I am genuinely excited to see what happens from here. Also, I still have a couple earlier HR books I still need to get to, so definitely plan to do that soon.

Like any Star Wars book, the HR books can be read in any order, as long as you are cognizant of where it falls in the timeline. With this being said, you do have some time until this one releases, so I would definitely recommend checking out some of the previously published HR books while you wait. To make things easier for you, I will list them below:

Light of the Jedi
Into the Dark
A Test of Courage
The Rising Storm
Star Wars The High Republic: Race to Crashpoint Tower

That's a lot of great content to sink your teeth into. Don't delay, start today!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney LucasFilms Press, for providing me with an early copy of this to read and review. It has been my absolute pleasure to devour all these recent publications!!!

This is top-notch Canon content here and I'm living for it!

After heartily enjoying A Test of Courage I was excited for Justina Ireland’s next High Republic book, the young adult novel Out of the Shadows. I will unabashedly say Vernestra Rwoh is my favorite character of this era and I know Ireland’s writing is a huge part of that.

I loved that one of the main characters of this novel is a simple woman trying to make her way through the galaxy like her mother. Sylvestri Yarrow is a human pilot and trader. She is just trying to keep her family business going but the Nihl were attacking every ship they could. I liked seeing the state of the galaxy from an everyday person’s point of view.

This personally is now in my top ten favorite Star Wars books. The character focused narrative appealed to me.

I have been a Star Wars fan since childhood, and The High Republic books are an incredible addition to the Star Wars universe! I have enjoyed each of the High Republic books, but Out of the Shadows is one of the best. I loved the characters and I had so much fun joining them on their adventure!