Star Wars: The High Republic. A Test of Courage. by Justina Ireland

It is possible to simply adore the characters in a book, but be totally turned off by the plot? That’s exactly how I felt about this book. Vernestra, a fifteen-year-old Jedi who is tasked with watching over Avon Starros, a trouble-making young aspiring inventor and J-8, her wacky droid. They are well-crafted and form the core of the story… and it is these young , strong characters that kept me reading.

The basic plot: A new space station called Starlight Beacon is about to be dedicated. It will become a key communication and supply relay between Coruscant and the Outer Rim. Thousands are on their way to the big party! The characters in A Test of Courage are on a luxury liner headed for the big event… but on their way a series of explosions rips the vessel apart and a spare maintenance ship enables them to escape the wreckage. They find themselves floating in deep space until a habitable moon is located. Is it deserted? Will the mystery be solved…

My biggest beef with this book is that I never felt a connection to this new High Republic. Some distinct things are mentioned, but none of the reveal I was expecting. I wanted to see and hear The Time of the Jedi… only to ultimately get a lost-on-a-deserted-planet plot. As I said above, the characters were great… each flashback and interaction gave me better insight into their lives and personalities, but I never saw they connect to the new whole.

I’ll try not to pan this one too much because I think Ireland’s writing is damn good… Read it for a decently fun adventure and some good characters… a book which I think will be a delight for new readers of the SW Universe.

3 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Disney Books, and the author for an advanced copy for review.