Book Review // Star Wars: The High Republic – The Eye of Darkness

Back to the High Republic we go! After hearing plenty of good things about The Eye of Darkness, I was eager to jump into the next stage of the conflict against Marchion Ro and the Nihil. Unfortunately, I made one rather important mistake before picking it up; I didn't realise the version I'd bought was actually the written script of the audiobook rather than a traditional novel. That discovery was a little disappointing and definitely affected my enjoyment.

Title

Star Wars: The High Republic – The Eye of Darkness

Author: George Mann

Review

Set one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon, The Eye of Darkness kicks off Phase III of the High Republic and drops us into a galaxy that feels genuinely beaten down. The Nihil have carved out their own territory behind the Stormwall, the Jedi are struggling to respond, and the Republic suddenly looks far less capable than it once did. It is a strong premise and one that immediately raises the stakes for the era.

The biggest strength of the story is its cast. George Mann does a fantastic job with characters like Elzar Mann, Avar Kriss, Bell Zettifar, and Marchion Ro. Everyone feels scarred by the events of previous books, and there is a sense that the galaxy is still reeling from its losses. The novel spends a lot of time exploring those consequences rather than rushing headlong into the next big battle.

Now for the elephant in the room. As mentioned above, I somehow failed to realise I had picked up the script version rather than a conventional novel. That's entirely on me, but it did take some of the wind out of my sails. Reading stage directions, narration cues, and dialogue formatting isn't quite the same experience as getting lost in a full prose novel. While the story itself remained engaging, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was reading a companion piece rather than the main event.

That said, the script format does have some advantages. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is brisk, and you can easily imagine Marc Thompson and the cast bringing the scenes to life in audio form. In fact, I suspect this story is probably at its best when experienced as intended through the audiobook. The audiobook version runs for over fifteen hours and was narrated by Marc Thompson, one of the most reliable voices in Star Wars audio.

Overall, I enjoyed The Eye of Darkness despite my initial disappointment. The setting is compelling, the characters remain excellent, and it does a solid job of setting the stage for the next phase of the High Republic saga. If you're a fan of the era, it's well worth your time. Just make sure you're buying the format you actually want first; a lesson I learned the hard way.