‘The High Republic: Temptation of the Force’ Official Cover and Synopsis Tease a Forbidden Love Story
Happy Valentine’s Day! A holiday where in Star Wars land, love often means tragedy and forbidden relationships that challenge the entire dogma of the Jedi Order. So what better time than today to fully reveal this summer’s Temptation of the Force, the next adult novel of the High Republic publishing initiative. StarWars.com has revealed the official cover and synopsis, plus featuring some further insight from author Tessa Gratton.
Temptation of the Force is a direct sequel to last year’s The Eye of Darkness, which concluded with Jedi Master Avar Kriss breaking free from the Nihil Occlusion Zone and returning to Coruscant. There to meet her was Elzar Mann, a Jedi whose soul was about to break in two before being reunited with his only remaining friend in the galaxy. However, there was a palpable sense of tension in the air as all of their feelings for each other came screaming back into focus. What path will it lead them down? Temptation of the Force has the answers as the fight against the Nihil enters its next phase.
Check out the cover and synopsis below:
The reunited Jedi prepare to strike back against the ruthless Nihil in this thrilling sequel to Star Wars: The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness.
For over a year, Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann were kept apart by the Nihil’s Stormwall. After Avar makes a daring escape from inside the Occlusion Zone, the star-crossed Jedi are reunited. But while the physical distance between them has evaporated, their shared grief over their failure to protect the galaxy from the Nihil threat still remains. To rally the Jedi Order, and the Republic, Avar and Elzar cling to their belief in serving Light and Life. Working together they lead a daring mission into Nihil space to liberate the planet of Naboo, and show those trapped behind the Stormwall that the Jedi will never abandon them. Now back within close orbit of one another, the two Jedi Masters can no longer deny the bond that has always drawn them back together and made them stronger. After finally embracing their true desires and imbued with renewed purpose, Avar and Elzar devise a plan to turn the tide of the conflict with the Nihil once and for all. Accompanied by Jedi Knights Bell Zettifar, Burryaga, and Vernestra Rwoh, the Jedi begin their hunt for Marchion Ro. But to seek out the Nihil’s dangerous leader the Jedi will have to survive the Nameless terrors that they have thus far been powerless to stop.
Author Tessa Gratton, author of Phase 2’s Path of Deceit and Quest for Planet X, teased some more concepts that the novel will explore. This being her final entry into the High Republic publishing initiative, Gratton plans to bring things full circle. She said:
“All my favorite parts of writing for The High Republic are in here… Discussions about the nature of the Force and the role of the Jedi in the galaxy, forbidden Jedi romance, banter and daring lightsaber duels, the generations-old Graf-San Tekka feud, messy Elzar, Evereni lore and hints about the history of the Ro family and the mysteries of the Nameless. Things that were seeded in Phase II get to blossom!
If you want to know what ‘For Light and Life’ means to me, you’ll find it threaded throughout the politics and action, in the motivations of our heroes (and villains!), and in every declaration of love.”
Phase 3 of The High Republic is already well underway. Before Temptation of the Force is next month’s Defy the Storm, co-written by Gratton and Justina Ireland. That young adult novel, featuring Vernestra Rwoh, will be released on March 5. After that is The High Republic: Temptation of the Force, which will be released on June 11 and is available for pre-order now.
For more on the High Republic, Young Jedi Adventures just released its final episodes of season 1 today, now streaming on Disney Plus. Also, we recently chatted with George Mann about The Eye of Darkness. You can find that here.
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies in general as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he's not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading a comic, listening to an audiobook, or playing a Mario video game for the 1,000th time.
