As I catch up on the High Republic Phase III, I finally got around to The Eye of Darkness. And I loved it! It gives us a really great look at the state of the galaxy 1 year following the fall of Starlight Beacon, on both sides of the Stormwall. We get perspectives of Jedi, politicians and Nihil a lot. There are some really strong character arcs to find in this book, and while the fight is only beginning, there is plenty of hope to be found. This book, in some ways, is about as Star Wars as Star Wars gets, and a worthy continuation in the High Republic's adult line.
Spoilers ahead for The Eye of Darkness by George Mann!
We get a variety of perspectives throughout the book, including Nihil like General Viess or Ghirra Starros, and the various ways the Nihil is operating with their newfound power... but also, how they're cracking under the pressure. It was really interesting to see what is the beginning of the end for this phase of the galaxy. Naturally, of course, I do gravitate to the Jedi of the story.
Avar Kriss' journey was easily my favorite in this book. In the beginning, she's still Avar. She's still doing what little she can to help people, she never loses that. But she feels lost. The song she hears of the Force feels discordant and far away, and she's consumed with grief and despair at times. But through her own conviction and the help of a new friend, a pilot named Belin, she finds the hope within her once again. One of my favorite parts of the book is at the very end, when she finally is able to break through the Stormwall and comes home to the Jedi Temple. George Mann wrote the pure joy and relief of her coming home to the Temple, and seeing all of the Jedi again (including Elzar Mann of course) beautifully. It was wonderful to read, though Avar and the other Jedi all know that the work is far from over.
Speaking of Elzar Mann, he had a really interesting arc in this book too. Elzar is trying to fill in Stellan's shoes, and feels like he's failing. He's stuck in a bad place, like a lot of the galaxy. Everyone is trying to figure out what the best way forward is- is it attacking the Stormwall? Simply holding ground and biding time? Negotiating with them? No one knows the answer, and every attempt at any of them seems to fall short. Elzar is struggling, but he is able to get some support from friends in the Jedi and even Chancellor Lina Soh, who is equally struggling and understands the tough position that he's in.
Two of my favorite High Republic characters, Bell and Burryaga, feature a lot in this book as well. Reunited and knighted, the pair are on the edge of the Stormwall, defending settlements from Nihil that venture out of their own territory to attack. They also have another mission- capture a Path Drive to give them access in and out of the Stormwall. While they're unsuccessful, Burryaga's empathy makes Bell realize that just helping the people they have here matters, even if it seems small in the face of everything else.
And of course, the icon and legend himself, Porter Engle is in this book. Like Avar, he's stuck on the wrong side of the Stormwall (depending on how you slice it), but he won't give up. Porter Engle isn't peacefully making soup in an outpost like when we first met him, but slaying Nihil and crafting a message to send out on a re-assembled pathfinding droid. Porter makes a brave sacrifice so that Avar can escape the Stormwall at the end of the book, and his fate is unknown... while I would really, really love for him to have made it, it was also a worthy ending for the Blade of Bardotta. We'll just have to see in future books!
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