It’s been nearly five years since we heard about one of the boldest Star Wars initiatives of the Disney era: the birth of The High Republic, a transmedia initiative to show us the Jedi Order at the height of its prowess centuries before the movies. This golden age of Jedi and Republic heroes has been harangued by pirates, deadly force-sapping monsters, anti-Jedi cults, and more over three phases of books, comics, and TV—and it’s all been leading to one final story.
The High Republic reaches its conclusion this summer in Charles Soule’s Trials of the Jedi, and to celebrate, we’ve got your first look at Grant Griffin’s cover for the novel below—a fun parallel to Soule’s Light of the Jedi, the novel that kicked things off back in January 2021—as our Jedi heroes draw their lightsabers ready for the final battle to come.
Trials of the Jedi sees the Jedi draw a line in the sand against Marchion Ro and the Nihil, preparing to show down with the would-be tyrant after the Nihil’s war on the galaxy has left the Republic divided. But while the threat of Ro is one thing, the threat of the Force-devouring creatures known only as the Nameless that Ro has unleashed on the galaxy are a crisis even more existential to the Order and Republic alike. As the Jedi prepare to face their greatest test in centuries of galactic history, just nine of them, chosen by Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, are tasked on a do-or-die mission: head to the Nameless’ homeworld, discover the secrets of the creatures’ connection to the Force, and find a way to stop their ravaging blight from spreading across the whole Republic. Oh, and then save the galaxy from Ro and his legions. That should be no problem for a Jedi Order at the height of its power, right?
… Right?
“Trials of the Jedi is an epic. The stakes are as high as they could possibly get—the Jedi we’ve come to know and love are facing an impossible challenge that could end with not just the destruction of their Order, but the galaxy as a whole,” Soule said in a statement provided to io9. “The Jedi and their allies step up to defend the light even when all around them is darkness. I wrote it to grab readers from page one and never let go. It’s intense stuff; a tale of great heroism and sacrifice.”
“This book is the big finale of a story that’s been told across novels, comics, young adult, middle grade and children’s books for four years, with the payoffs and character beats and reveals fans have been waiting for—just a non-stop thrill ride that uses every bit of the emotional investment fans have in these Jedi and all their friends. That said, it was important to me to write it so it would also work if you pick it up on its own,” Soule continued. “Every Star Wars story could be someone’s first, and I wanted to make sure Trials of the Jedi could serve as an introduction to the galaxy far, far away at its best. So, whether you’ve been closely following the story that began with Light of the Jedi back in 2021, or you’ve been dipping in and out, or perhaps haven’t read anything beyond Light, even if you’re entirely new to the High Republic era—this story is written for you.”
“It was an honor and a privilege (and even a bit terrifying) to be asked to launch The High Republic with Light of the Jedi, and all of those things have been amplified now that I’ve gotten the chance to bring this grand adventure to a close,” Soule concluded. “I gave Trials of the Jedi everything I’ve got, and I can’t wait for people to read it.”
You’ll be able to find out yourself if the Jedi will give it all they’ve got when Trials of the Jedi hits shelves June 17, 2025.
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