Star Wars: The High Republic – Tears of the Nameless | Review

The latest High Republic adventure, in the form of a YA novel, arrives this week to shed new light on the Jedi’s greatest threat, while delivering stellar character moments.

Crazy to think, but George Mann’s Tears of the Nameless marks the final High Republic book coming in 2024. While that feels like a bummer (we still have some comics to keep us going), it also means we’re nearing the endgame for Phase III and this era overall. It’s been a wild ride, and Tears of the Nameless manages to deliver another stellar entry while helping to set the stage for the final wave.

By and large, the Young Adult books in The High Republic initiative have been some of my favorite stories in each phase. I’ve come to refer to them as the “load-bearing” books of the whole thing. Not only do they tell their own stories, they fill in a lot of the gaps between all of the books/comics while tying things together. Moreso, they include oodles of interesting lore and background, all of which help sets the stage for whatever comes next. Hell, with Phase II I’d happily argue the YA books were more important (story-wise) and engaging than the “main” novels.

Regardless, Tears of the Nameless continues this tradition in grand style, all while bringing together some of my favorite THR characters. Namely, we get a whole bunch of Reath Silas. While the book gives fans a handful of familiar favorites (including Vernestra), Reath is very much the lead in Tears.

He’s been among my favorite characters since his debut in Into the Shadows. He’s been part of some of the biggest moments in The High Republic, including the incredible Phase I finale, Midnight Horizon. For the past year with Phase III, however, he’s largely been in the background; mentioned a few times but that’s about it. Tears finally gives him the spotlight and fills audiences in on some of the important work he’s been doing.

Tears follows up on the events of Temptation of the Force, and Marchion Ro’s visit to Coruscant with a promise to halt “the blight” affecting worlds across the galaxy. Following his sudden “Knighting” after the fall of Starlight Beacon and the subsequent departure of his Master Cohmac Vitus, Reath throws himself to the task of discovering the truth behind both the Nameless and the Blight.

With his prowess for research and academic mind, Reath has become the Jedi’s best hope for a solution to the Nihil’s greatest weapon and the Blight that continues to infect more planets. With the “help” of fallen Jedi, Azlin Rell, and some old friends, Reath uncovers a link to the past that might unlock the mysteries of the Nameless. When Cohmac suddenly returns with new information, Reath and the hardy crew of the Vessel embark on a mission that may provide the answers they need while trying to avoid one of the Nihil’s relentless Jedi Hunters.

Coming in just under 500 pages, there’s obviously quite a bit more to the story, including a whole bunch of characters (new and old) I haven’t mentioned. In the interest of keeping things spoiler free, however, I wont’ go much further into the story elements. Suffice it to say, we get some intriguing bits of lore behind the Nameless, some heartbreaking character moments, and a clearer path to what the final wave will entail.

While there is plenty of action sprinkled throughout the book, where Tears of the Nameless really shines are the character interactions. Perhaps I’m a bit biased as the novel features more of my favorites, but their personal stories, and how they connect to the larger tale kept me flipping the pages. George Mann’s writing style makes it tough to put down, as he litters the prose with teasing bits of lore that keep you invested, while still painting a clear picture in your mind of all that transpires.

In terms of the overall High Republic stories, I was thrilled to get a bit more with Azlin Rell. The dark Jedi has largely been a factor in the comics/manga so far, but Tears gives him a bit more of a meatier role, even as he remains coy and mysterious. Moreso, I loved seeing Reath fully in his element as a researcher/scientist. You can feel the excitement (and pressure) as he works to unravel these mysteries; seeing how far he’s come from the unsure Padawan we were initially introduced to.

More importantly, on top of getting some intriguing answers to things (which also open up new questions) the endgame is beginning to come into focus a bit. Obviously, there’s much work to be done on the part of the Jedi and Republic, but we’re beginning to see how this finale might shape up…and it feels epic.

While Tears of the Nameless doesn’t quite reach the highs of Temptation of the Force (which is currently my new favorite THR novel overall), it’s certainly a standout of this Phase in all the best ways. From compelling character arcs and emotional moments, to thrilling action and deep dives into Star Wars lore, Tears of the Nameless marks another unmissable novel.