The High Republic began in 2021, introducing Star Wars fans to a whole new era which takes place two hundred years before The Phantom Menace. With completion of Phase One the series now moves on to Phase Two which is set another one hundred and fifty years in the past. Billed as a way to bring new readers on board, Path of Deceit is the first book in the new phase. It is written by newcomer Tessa Gratton and previous High Republic author Justina Ireland.
As Path of Deceit opens the galaxy is even wilder place than in phase one. Communication is more tenuous as Pathfinders are still discovering the best hyperspace routes into the Outer Rim. In this sea of change, Jedi Knight Zallah Macri and her padawan Kevmo Zink are sent to the world of Dalna on the trail of force artifacts that have been disappearing in the region. Their search leads them to investigating a Force group call Path of the Hand who seem peaceful but could just be a front for the illegal activity. The mission seems an easy one but could lead to an even bigger threat than stolen goods.
The first thing that has to be dealt with is the decision to jump back another one hundred and fifty years. The High Republic has been an expansive series from the beginning. It started off very quickly, with a seemingly endless characters between the different books and comics that have been released. Now, all that has been established has been set aside for a new time period, with new characters and new threats. This makes it difficult to feel connected since the series had only recently begun to find its footing amid the myriad story threads.
This new phase does start off smaller and has some interesting ideas. The best idea is The Path of the Hand, a cult group who believes that any use of the Force is an abomination. They believe the Force is to be free and only listened to, so one can be in harmony with it. Yet this moral superiority is a cover for their illegal activities and an even worse, a cover for murder when deem necessary for their “greater calling”. This is a theme that feels all too familiar in this day and age.
The big problem with the book is that it is somewhat uninteresting. Being back one hundred and fifty years just makes it difficult to care about what is happening. It also does not help that the story does not leave the reader with any concrete answers about the new threat that arises. (Spoiler Alert) The story also focuses on two Jedi that die, so any investment a reader may have is just cut off, leaving the story feeling even more frustrating. Phase Two of The High Republic is off to bewildering start and Path of Deceit is rated 2 out of 5 stars.
This review was completed using a copy of Path of Deceit provided by Disney Lucasfilm Press.
Author: Matt Rushing
Matthew Rushing is the host of Trek.fm‘s The 602 Club and co-host of TheNerdParty.com‘s AggressiveNegotiations: A Star Wars Podcast. He can be found on Twitter @mattrushing02.