Padawan and youngling heroes, including Imri Cantaros, Tep Tep, Zenny Greylark, and Churo the Hutt, unite on the planet Aricho to confront a devastating blight, corrupt politics, and rampaging scav droids, all while navigating personal growth and the meaning of home. The story delivers a hopeful, character-driven conclusion to the High Republic’s middle grade arc, emphasizing empathy, friendship, and the importance of forging one’s own path.

Reader Review Summary

Set during the final wave of Star Wars: The High Republic, this middle grade novel brings together Padawans and younglings such as Imri Cantaros, Tep Tep, Churo the Hutt, and Zenny Greylark as they confront the blight threatening the planet Aricho, face off against destructive scav droids, and navigate local political corruption. The story is closely tied to previous High Republic middle grade books, especially A Test of Courage and Mission to Disaster, and serves as a conclusion to the junior reader plotlines. The narrative features a mix of action, character-driven moments, and themes of hope and empathy, with six full-color art pages included. The book is positioned as a companion to Justina Ireland’s adult novel Wayseeker, and its events are set in the aftermath of the Stormwall’s collapse, with references to ongoing events in the broader High Republic storyline.

Readers appreciated the focus on character development, particularly the growth of Imri Cantaros from Padawan to Jedi Knight and his new role as Tep Tep’s master. The inclusion of Churo the Hutt, who pursues a career in biology and grapples with his family’s criminal legacy, was frequently highlighted as a positive aspect. Many found the book’s tone uplifting and hopeful, especially in contrast to the darker themes of the YA and adult High Republic novels. The epilogue and full-circle connections to earlier books, such as A Test of Courage, were noted as emotionally resonant, and several readers enjoyed the depiction of teamwork among the young Jedi and the exploration of themes like empathy, grief, and finding one’s place in the galaxy.

Criticisms centered on the book’s plot, which some found to be weak, rushed, or inconsequential compared to the larger High Republic narrative. Several reviewers felt the story was overpopulated with characters, making it difficult to follow, especially for the intended middle grade audience. The presence of multiple antagonistic forces—such as the blight, scav droids, and corrupt politicians—was seen as diluting the impact of the main conflict, and some subplots, like Zenny’s, were considered underdeveloped or repetitive. A number of readers remarked that the book felt self-contained and disconnected from the main events of Phase 3, with some expressing disappointment that major plotlines like the Nameless and the Blight were left unresolved for future books.

The book is generally regarded as a conclusion to the High Republic’s middle grade line, providing closure for recurring characters and story arcs, though it is not considered essential reading for understanding the main High Republic storyline. It is described as accessible to younger readers but also enjoyable for adults who have followed the series, with some noting that it is best read alongside the other middle grade novels for full context. The story’s focus on smaller-scale, character-driven narratives distinguishes it from the higher-stakes adult and YA entries, and it is often recommended for completionists or fans of the featured characters. The average reader rating is 3.72 out of 5, based on over 300 ratings and nearly 40 full reviews, reflecting a range of responses from enthusiastic to critical.