| Title | : | Path of Deceit (Star Wars: The High Republic) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1368076122 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781368076128 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 345 |
| Publication | : | First published October 4, 2022 |
A provocative and thrilling young adult adventure set in the world of the High Republic, 150 years before the storytelling of Phase I. Meet mysterious cult members, daring explorers, Jedi peacekeepers and more!
Don't miss these other YA adventures of Star Wars: The High Republic!
Into the Dark by Claudia Gray
Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland
Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older
Path of Deceit (Star Wars: The High Republic) Reviews
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Like with Phase I, I went into Phase II of The High Republic with pretty much a blank slate of expectations. I had no idea what to expect, other than some tethers to the events that occur 150 years later. Naturally, I expected some easter eggs, some planet names, or elder Jedi name to pop up somewhere. Other than that, however, nothing really. No predictions, or theories, or expectations.
That being said, all of that has very little to do with me being gobsmacked by Path of Deceit, which kicks off Phase II of The High Republic. The choice to go back 150 years made most apprehensive, I think, to say the least. After getting to know characters like Bell Zettifar and Avar Kriss for a year, we were saying a temporary au revoir to go back in time.
Luckily, it hasn’t removed any of the richness from the story. If anything, the more isolated tale is a welcome reprieve. I admire that each YA novel we have gotten is distinctly different. Into the Dark was semi-isolated, jumping back and forth from Amaxine Station and Coruscant with flashbacks thrown in. Out of The Shadows was a more planet-spanning epic, while also getting gritty on Coruscant. Midnight Horizon spanned characters on different tracks while all basically on the same planet, while exploring the core of feelings and how they affect Jedi.
Path of Deceit is something that fully embraces what Phase II brings, isolation. This is the time of the hyperspace prospectors, where hyperspace routes are still being mapped out, pathfinder teams abundant. It is something that I truly appreciated. It was nice to intimately know this little community on Dalna. The story doesn’t treck around the planet, but mostly takes place in two towns. It is two places we get to know very well, thanks to Gratton’s and Ireland’s rich descriptions of the locals.
This in turn brings us to the characters. This book introduces a dozen “main” characters and is able to flesh out each one well enough. The ones who didn’t get fleshing out, still pique our interest thanks to their inherent mystique. If I had to pick a standout character amongst them all, it would be Yana Ro, Marda Ro’s cousin whom we knew not of before. Her journey of love, self-reflection, was fascinating to watch unfold. Both of the Ro’s were utterly fascinating in this story. You can see the seeds planted at the end of this story. How they will grow and get to the point in 150 years, we do not know, but I am eager to find out.
The Jedi meanwhile were quite fascinating. We have two main Jedi characters, a padawan and a master, who are kind of total opposites of the other. Without giving too much away, one is very much like Elzar Mann, and the other is much like Orla. That is to put it in a Phase I context. I enjoyed their relationship. The push and pull of it. While I don’t think their partnership is particular standout within The High Republic (come on, nothing is ever going to stand up to Loden and Bell, Sskeer and Keeve, Vernestra and Imri), it was nice to read about. Actually, typing all of that, I do wish there was something more special to it. It felt…I guess quite boring compared to other partnerships we have gotten. It didn’t and doesn’t bother me too much. Dare I say, the Jedi are just along for the ride. This is not really their story, but more so the Path’s, and the Ro’s.
Something that I feel the need to mention and give multiple rounds of applause for is the representation within this book. Multiple queer couples, non-binary characters, and maybe even one aro/ace character (not entirely sure). It seems that with each new book, it sets a new standard for characters that bring more and more representation. The High Republic is for everyone, and I’m grateful that with each story, it puts the meaning behind those words.
Overall, I’m giving this a 4.5/5 star rating, rounding up to 5 for Goodreads. Now, my watch begins for the six-month wait for the next book…actually seven months cause Path of Deception doesn’t come out till May. That wait is going to be…painful. For Light and Life everyone! -
Phase 2 of STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC is finally here! Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland kick off this era with PATH OF DECEIT and it is truly phenomenal. In this first YA installment of Phase 2, we go back further than ever before (in the canon timeline) and explore a cult based on setting the force free. When I finished Phase 1 of THE HIGH REPUBLIC, I thought I’d go insane having to wait and see what happened next, but upon reading the start of Phase 2, I think it was incredibly smart to go back in time for this installment of the series.
Overall, STAR WARS is an incredibly expansive series, covering tons of locations across the galaxy. One thing that set PATH OF DECEIT apart was the closeness of the setting. Everything in this book feels very contained in terms of location which really lets the reader get a feel for the Path of the Open Hand’s influence. They have a strong presence on Dalna and their compound mirrors that of a real-life cult.
In terms of characters, Marda and Yana Ro’s dynamic was fantastic in this story. Each of the Ros has a different view on The Path and a crucial role to play in its future. Even though they might have disagreements, Marda and Yana love each other a lot. Their bond is one that I predict will carry throughout the rest of this phase.
All of the twists and turns in this book have made me all the more excited to dig into this new era. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. The High Republic is back in business! -
“We can’t trust anybody. If you retain nothing else, let it be that. We can’t trust anybody.”
Path of Deceit is the first book in The High Republic Phase II, which introduces us to a jump back in time from Light of the Jedi.
I was not certain what to expect from it thanks to its timeline placement, or how it was all going to connect and make sense with the way things were going in phase I so it was quite refreshing and delightful to find all its newness and connections to the previous books.
Set in the remote planet of Dalna, a place we had last seen in Mission to Disaster towards the end of phase I, we follow Jedi master Zhalla and her padawan Kevmo while they investigate a lead on stolen force objects, and the presumed thieves, a Force-worshipping cult called The Path of the Open Hand, which will lead to them making contact with one of the cult's members, Marda Ro.“With Dalna’s spirit we live with the Force, in clarity, harmony, and freedom.”
From beginning to end this book surprised me in all the right ways.
It might be short, but it certainly packed a few good mysteries, elevated all the more by the fact that the pay-out of said mysteries will extend from only this series.
Of course, it wasn't a book written only as an easter egg but a fun, fast, emotional ride that chilled me to the bone and intrigued me for what is to come, and that is quite a mix to have all together. Really, it made me go through a wide range of emotions in a very short amount of time.
Even when I thought I could parse what was going to happen next, especially thanks to a familiarity with the time period - or what felt like a familiarity with the time period - Gratton would do something completely unexpected but that fit so wonderfully on the grand scheme of things that I would relish and thoroughly enjoy.“It’s the sun inside you, and it is the Force that lights you up. The Force that lights her up, too. If your association allows both of you to grow brighter, that is all for the good. But do not confuse your shared brightness in the Force for something more powerful than the Force.”
The characters have been consistently delightful and easy to connect with through this series and these new ones do not disappoint. Each and every single one of them is complex and has different allures making for a rich cast; while at the same time, we have the more hidden side of some of them that are all the more eye-catching for how little we can decipher them.
For once, I think that the characters I liked the most were not Jedi but the elusive Elicia, who I can hardly read but her presence alone was chilling and unnerving. And Marda, who has a connection with a prominent character from phase I though we don't know what and, with all her innocence and earnestness spells nothing but doom for me.
Not to say that I didn't like all the other characters, because I did. Kevmo was so sweet and energetic that it was contagious, while at the same time his story arc left me intrigued to see where it went. Yana and her very complicated relationship with, well, everyone was a great insight onto other sides of the story and the Evereni view of things. Zhalla, didn't expend a lot of time on-page so I really didn't get a great sense of her but, from what little I could see, she was very reliable and calm, though her slight coldness, as a Jedi, was equally interesting.
Really, more than a book centered too heavily on a plot, I believe this one focuses more on the characters, and they certainly gave life to an engaging story. The different dynamics and groups, and all the intricacies within all of them, made for great food for thought and some of the sweetest, and sorest, moments.
Yana and Marda as cousins that are so completely different from each other was one of my favorite dynamics and I hope we can get a lot more of them as they develop as people.“I suppose the ideas of the Sith also seem good in the abstract.”
As is wont to do with Star Wars, we get to explore more of the Force, which is always fun.
However, the way that we are exposed to this completely new group of people that worship and believe in the Force but see it so differently from how the Jedi do was nothing short of fascinating.
It's not surprising to see that there would be different takes over such a primordial and great, well, force in the galaxy aside from that of the Jedi as it is common to see in our own world. So, getting to explore it some through this book was a real treat. There is so much to explore there and expand upon that I'm sure it will become incredibly rich.“Evereni never gave up until they had what was theirs.”
In the end, I had a great time with this book and enjoyed it thoroughly. Being back in this world is comforting and the new setting prevents it from getting stale, which is great.
The little connections made to other books in this series is always really fun to see and one of my favorite thing about the composition of the whole High Republic era. It made for a great cliffhanger for this particular installment, as well.
Gratton's easy and seamless writing only heightened the experience as a whole.“Whatever it was, the idea of it filled him with a nameless dread. Thick and awful. It pressed in from every edge of the stone chamber, but even with his eyes wide open, Azlin saw nothing – and he knew, he felt that this razor-sharp sensation came from inside himself. Suddenly, he had a name for it. Fear.”
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Well, this was very fun!
A very fitting return to the High Republic era, if a completely new look at it.
Even when I thought I knew what was gonna happen I go kept being surprised, something I quite enjoyed.
RTC.
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Oh, I'm so excited!
It's been months since I last read anything in The High Republic era and though this is before the previous installments I am sure it'll be just as fun.
So, yeah, I am ready to embark on a new Star Wars story. -
Path Of Deceit by authors Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland is out today, and it was a pure joy to pick it up after the seemingly interminable wait since the end of Phase I of THR. The High Republic is an epic, trans-media adventure that has been a wild ride so far, and as good as it is, I understand it can seem a little bit daunting if you’ve not been there since the beginning. If you haven’t been following every THR content that’s been published so far, fear not! You might not get every tiny detail and hint but it doesn’t prevent you from enjoying the plot and understanding its stakes.
Path Of Deceit has the hard job of picking up after the incredible emotional rollercoaster that was Phase I —a challenge that has been met brilliantly! Set 150 years before the events of Phase I, this novel is a jump back in time to the very roots of everything we’ve dealt with so far and does a masterful job at planting the seeds that made the context of Phase I so interestingly thought out. The reader is able to pick up a lot of details and background information about the era, and it is weaved into the story in such a way that it really immerses the reader without doing any info-dumping that could have felt forced.
There was not a single page of this book that felt boring. If it is not densely packed with action at the beginning, the quick pace and intertwined plot lines make for an efficient and thrilling story that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat until the very last word. If you’re in halfway through the book and you think you’ve seen everything? Well think again, my friend! Plot twists and surprises await around every chapter. You’re in for a treat!
The characters you will meet in this novel are, for a whole lot of them, pretty essential to understand the whole scale of the story you have previously been told in Phase I. Keep an eye for their names or their roots, you might have heard about some of them before! As for the main characters —Marda and Kevmo—, their dynamic is particularly interesting given the underlying ideas of this story.
This novel deals with themes that are not only enthralling but also intricately tied to real-world issues and events. The highlight of the relationship between Marda and Kevmo, and by extension between the Path of the Open Hand and the Jedi, is that it puts both opposing branches of a faith against each other, and while we might be tempted to side with the Jedi because they’ve always been the heroes, I find it interesting to weight out both (or more) options when it comes to one’s relationship with the Force. Do we really know how it works? What gives one branch more right to deal with Force artefacts than the other? It is also a time of exploration for the Jedi, both in terms of getting to know the galaxy and getting to know your place in this galaxy, and that’s what makes YA novels so great!
On another note, I love the use of the blue spine and logo that mirrors a lot of the iterations of the colour in the story. It is always really appreciated when the work is put into the physical design of the book to be reminiscent of what is told inside of it. Blue is a recurring symbol throughout the story, and on a grander scale through the whole saga.
All in all, this is a very good way to kick off Phase II and I’m super thrilled for what’s next! You might be tempted to say “bah, it’s just a YA novel, I’ll skip it”.. If so, I’ll urge you to reconsider because it’s a relatively quick read that puts the foundations for a lot of what makes THR so good! And if it’s your first time diving into this saga, then you have a lot to look forward to!
What to read if you want more:
The High Republic Adventures (2021) (comic series) by DJ Older
Trail of Shadows (comic miniseries) by DJ Older
UPCOMING:
Convergence (adult novel) by Zoraida Córdova
The High Republic (2022) (comic series) by Cavan Scott
The High Republic Adventures (2022) (comic series) by DJ Older -
Where the previous Phase and Waves were all started with an Adult Novel, Lucasfilm decided to begin Phase 2 with a YA novel. This is a controversial move, as the Adult novels are typcially bigger in scope and scale, while the YA novels are smaller and more character based. That is certainly true here, but I think that it is a bold choice that I think pays off.
And this is without a doubt the best YA novel that we've had in the High Republic thus far!...but it's not up to the snuff of the Adult books.
This story has three main protagonists, Kevmo Zink, Marda Ro, and Yana Ro. Obviously, Kevmo was my favorite character, being the male Jedi. That being said, I really really enjoyed reading about Marda and Yana. I think the authors Gratton and Ireland did a good job of balancing their storylines and giving them enough to do. It's hard to have 3 point of view characters and keep them all interesting.
This book centers around a cult, something pretty unique in Star Wars. The Path of the Open Hand is definitely setting up stuff for not only Phase 1 (which occurs 200 years later), but also is setting up stuff for phase 3. I loved the way that little hints were able to clue the reader in on why they chose this setting for Phase 2. At first, I was aprehensive about jumping back this far, fearing that it would be lackluster and unecessary. This book proved all of that wrong.
This book has several other tie-ins not only to Star Wars, but to Phase 1 of the High Republic. It's handled in just such a way that you are rewarded if you've been keeping up with it, but you're also able to jump in as a new reader and enjoy it.
This book also takes the idea of following a Master and Apprentice on a simple mission, a concept that I wish many more Star Wars books could use. I wish this was entirely focused on them, but its still nice that they were really the only Jedi present. It made it much more character based.
Making the villain a calculated leader like "The Mother" was great, and I love Machiavellian characters who are playing the chess board for their own political gain, and "The Mother" has a lot of interest not only in this book, but in the phase as a whole.
I think that this book is very dense thematically, and it is bold for covering a topic so serious as a cult in a YA book. It handles it well without being too heavy for young adults. I loved seeing the inner workings of the Path of the Open Hand, finding out how they recruited members, what they all did, and how they made money/stole artifacts.
There are obviously worldview elements that Ireland and Gratton use and promote that I am not a fan of, but its become standard practice in Star Wars now. It almost feels required by most authors.
This is the shortest YA book thus far, and yet it really didn't need to be longer. The authors were very compact with their writing and were able to tell an entertaining story.
The ending of the book will certainly be controversial, and yet I think that's ok, because it shows the authors and editors are not afraid to take big risks in their stories (this ending feels a little like "Vector Prime") in the way that it also took a big risk.
Overall, I actually had a really fun time with this book. I read it in 1 day (4-(1) hour sessions). Whereas the other YA books felt like a chore (Into the Dark, Out of the Shadows, Midnight Horizon), this book feels fresh and fun and delightful. 8.0 out of 10! Well done Gratton and Ireland. -
i can’t believe the nihil started out as a small religious cult living in caves
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The High Republic is back! I thoroughly enjoyed Phase One, and I’m happy to say Phase Two is off to a solid start. While I wouldn’t say Path of Deceit reaches the highest heights of its predecessors, it’s still a very solid novel.
First of all, I think this continues the trend of the characters being the real strength of YA High Republic books. I really liked all the main characters here, my favorites being Kevmo, Marda, and the mysterious Mother. However, I did enjoy many of the other characters besides these three. I really enjoyed the different perspectives these characters have, especially in regards to the Force—something I’ll touch on later.
The plot of the book is pretty solid as well. Two Jedi, Kevmo and Zallah, go to a planet to check out the Path of the Open Hand. The Path is something like a Force cult, not Jedi or Sith but something else entirely. The Path has some very obvious ties to the Nihil of Phase One, and it was very interesting to see those connections and how certain elements of Phase One originated.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the aforementioned theme of the Force and different interpretations of it. The Jedi and the Path both see themselves as connected to and in some way serving the Force, but in two entirely different ways. This was a really interesting and nuanced theme, and one I hope will continue throughout Phase Two.
I also have to say the ending of this book was fantastic. While I enjoyed it throughout, the last handful of chapters were on a whole other level. It makes some super interesting connections to established parts of The High Republic and really amps up the drama and stakes. Good stuff.
Overall this was a really good read. I’d even say this is probably the best YA book in the series so far. It’s quite short which I was initially disappointed by, but the book makes the most of its short length and packs it with interesting discussions, great characters, and thrilling plot developments towards the end. Definitely a solid new entry into this wonderful series.
Rating: 8/10 -
“Star Wars: The High Republic: Path of Deceit” is the “kickoff” book to Phase 2 of the “High Republic” publishing initiative. Set 200 years before the events of Phase 1, “Path of Deceit” is tasked with doing a lot in its (relatively short) 291 pages: it has to adequately lay the groundwork for this new era of the “Star Wars” universe; it has to clearly convey who these new characters are and what the stakes are, for both this novel AND the broader Phase 2 initiative; and, on top of all of that, it ALSO has to tell a compelling story in its own right.
The fact that Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland are able to accomplish all three not just decently, but EXTREMELY compellingly, is a testament to their skills as storytellers – never once does “Path of Deceit” drag, falter, or seem confused about where it’s going or what it’s trying to do. As a standalone “Star Wars” tale, it’s a rich, well-structured tale; as a kickoff to what will soon be a line of books, comics, and even audio dramas, it’s nothing short of astounding. -
Last month, the first co-written novel of The High Republic released. Sure, this entire project lives off collaboration, but an entire Young Adult story written by two authors? That seems like both a daring and a refreshing choice.
In Path of Deceit, High Republic-creator Justina Ireland and newbie Tessa Gratton take us back to the past to tell the story of a young Padawan, Kevmo Zink, and a true believer of a questionable Force cult, Marda Ro, whose attraction to each other grows as their views clash when the Jedi go to investigate the theft of a Force artifact. And as you might have guessed, chaos unfolds …
Out with the new, in with the old?
Phase 2 of The High Republic turns things upside down. First, we got to know that we are jumping back in time, and not just a few years, but a whopping 150! Secondly, this time around, a YA novel is kicking off the story instead of releasing a month later than the adult book. That makes for a few different challenges: creating a world that feels familiar yet different, getting us to overcome our attachments to Phase 1 characters and fall in love with new ones, and telling a story that is big enough to get the ball rolling while staying true to the YA age group. None of this is easy to pull off, and still, Ireland and Gratton have managed to succeed in writing a novel that accomplishes all of it.
Your focus determines your reality
Path of Deceit is a novel that is extremely focused, which is a welcome change from the ensemble-style stories from the adult books. The cast isn’t small, but us readers get to experience the story through three main characters. All of these characters differ vastly, creating a unique tone for each of their POVs – and offering the reader a lot to think about, as none of the protagonists are inherently right or wrong. Each of them believes in something different: Marda follows the beliefs of the Path, Kevmo stays true to the teachings of the Jedi and Yana simply doesn’t care at all. This doesn’t just make for a lot of conflict between the protagonists, it also challenges the reader to question their own views. What effects can the use of the Force have? Can you leave family behind to escape a toxic environment? The incredible thing about this is that somehow, you root for all of these three characters at the same time. Speaking of characters, it should not go without mention that this novel once again features great queer representation through Yana and Kor (a sapphic couple), a non-binary side character as well as the gender-defying species of the Kessarines.
Tell me lies
One of my favorite aspects about Path of Deceit is how true to the story the title is. Not only are we being introduced to a Force cult befittingly called the “Path”, but Ireland and Gratton also mastered the art of deception within this story. The way the Path of the Open Hand operates is scarily true to real-life cults. It was, in fact, so accurate that I had to wonder if the authors have had their own experiences with groups like these. Regardless of whether that is the case or if they just really did their research, the depiction of being caught in a religious institution – whether you are aware of its extremism or not – was spot on.
Still, the deception and lies taking place in this book go beyond just confusing the characters. While seemingly every member of the Path is being deceived by the Mother, it is especially Marda who gets lulled further and further into the group’s clutches. It is frustrating to read, but isn’t that also exactly what makes a story great? To feel with and for the main character, to want to shake them, to root for them, to be overrun with emotions as you continue reading. Path of Deceit manages to do just that … and in the process, it also deceives the reader into feeling a false sense of security and into believing that it is heroes we are following. This book makes us forget we are reading about the ancestors of Marchion Ro, ruthless Evereni, murderous creatures … until it doesn’t. The ending of this novel left me shaking and wanting more, in the best way possible.
The value of rereading
I am usually not a re-reader of stories, so the question of whether I would read a book again always helps me tell a great one from a truly amazing one. Path of Deceit is the latter – it is a story that is fantastic the first time around, but also one that will reward you when you go back to it. Not only does it foreshadow events of Phase 1 (which takes place later in time but was released before, which ultimately makes this … aftershadowing?), it also uses a great deal of foreshadowing within the novel itself. It was only upon my second read that certain passages made much more sense to me and revealed hints I’d not noticed before.
Not perfect, but close enough
But no book is perfect, and even Path of Deceit has its flaws. Although I loved the focus of the story, both when it came to protagonists and places, certain side characters fell a bit flat for me. I had a hard time grasping Zallah Macri, Kevmo’s master, for example, and initially, I struggled connecting with the characters. However, I don’t think this is the writers’ fault, I think it is my own for being overly careful getting attached to new characters I know will likely not make it out of this Phase alive. And to be fair, some choices on who lives or dies made me downright angry, which in turn is a testament to the authors’ writing – somehow getting me to root for these characters within just a few chapters after all.
All in all, Path of Deceit is a wonderfully written story with multifaceted characters and important topics that challenge the reader to explore the grey scales of ethics and philosophy. Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton have succeeded in opening a new Phase of The High Republic, delivering a story that is just as relevant as any adult book may be. The focused storytelling, which is cohesive throughout the entire book, making it impossible to tell this story was written by two authors instead of just one, helps the reader build a true connection to the characters while deceiving you along with them. And even though I was left with the urge to scream into a pillow as I closed the book, I would read it all over again. -
I am shook. I’m still processing everything in this book 👀
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Not bad a bit slower than expected but builds up gradually
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Phase 2 of the High Republic started out with a bang. Path of Deceit was absolutely everything I could want from a Star Wars novel. It had new takes on the Force, the most lovable yet complex characters, and a fast-paced plot. I'm truly blown away by how much was fit into such a short book.
Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton did an incredible job of writing Path of Deceit in a way where you could enjoy it not having read any of the previous High Republic releases. As someone who read all of phase 1, I loved seeing easter eggs from earlier books in a way that let me speculate on how what we begin to see in Path of Deceit becomes the state of the world in phase 1. -
This book was fine, it shed light on the origins of the dreaded Leveler and also on (some of) the inner workings of the Force Cult the Ro family got involved with generations before the Phase 1 High Republic timeline but generally speaking it took too long to get to where it was going and may have benefited from having one fewer POV character- Kevmo plus either Marda or Yana could have worked with a little restructuring and imagination, but three's a crowd as the saying goes.
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the high republic is out here high republic'n and i for one am grateful, despite the pain
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This book made me so insane. Path of Deceit, written by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland, is the first book in Phase II of the High Republic, which is set 150 years before Phase I. It introduces a force cult called the Path of the Open Hand, that believes no-one should use the force. But what happens when one of its members falls in love with a Jedi?
Path of Deceit works really well as a prequel. Where some prequels lose tension since the fate of the characters are known, since this is 150 years before Phase I, we don’t know anything about these characters, meaning anything could happen to them. But it is connected to Phase I in major ways that only start to be revealed at the end, answering mysteries from Phase I and heightening the emotions felt at certain points. In Star Wars terms, it is like The Clone Wars when it focuses on characters like Ahsoka and Rex. However, it also stands alone well since basically nothing in it has been covered by anything else, and it does introduce everything well.
Path of Deceit continues the Star Wars tradition of creating minor characters I would die for. It does spend a decent amount of time on exposition about the characters and the world they live in, but it’s necessary and I was very engaged with these new characters and new environments. I loved exploring the religious aspect of the Path and found it fascinating how most of the Path’s members are not force-sensitive yet have such a deep connection to the force.
I also loved the queer, polyamorous, and disabled representation. It feels amazing having *multiple* non-binary characters, and a character being strongly ADHD-coded in such a relatable way. It’s really nice to see them treated as normal and completely natural, yet the Path’s insistence that using the force is ‘unnatural’ and force-sensitives should just deny that fundamental part of themselves resonates a lot when you have characters also being queer.
I really enjoyed Path of Deceit. It was a quick read, even factoring having to take breaks to scream into a pillow. I would recommend it to all High Republic fans, as even though it doesn’t have any character we got attached to previously, it still is great and answers a lot of questions raised in Phase I. You don’t have to have read any other books to read this one. I would recommend it to fans of The Clone Wars and the Prequel Trilogy, especially people who like Obi-Wan and Satine’s relationship. If you like seeing different perspectives on the Force and the Jedi, you’ll like this book. -
Happy to be into Phase II! For light and life!_
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*3.5 This was a sloooooooow burn, but the end was definitely action packed. I liked that the book only focused on 3-4 characters unlike some of the other high republic books. The book really dragged at times and the cult at the center of the it was uncomfortable and creepy (much of which was intentional) but was a bit much for me.
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A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Many people raised their eyebrows when it was announced that Phase 2 would kick off with a YA novel, and not an adult one. Especially when the Phase 1 YA novels were underwhelming to say the least.
But this was actually very good. Highly enjoyable. I’ve far from read all Star Wars YA novels but this has to be one of the better ones.
I enjoyed reading about the clash of ideologies between Jedi and the Path, characters I actually cared about, and a story that was fun, interesting and didn’t feel like a chore to read, like some of the Phase 1 novels. I also think the book did a very good job setting up the new timeline/era, even with its somewhat limited scope.
This was a great start to Phase 2 and I am very excited for it to continue. For Light and Life. -
Huge thanks to Disney-Lucasfilm press for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. This review is spoiler free.
Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton combine forces to produce one of the most original, and dare I say best, novels in The High Republic to date. Path of Deceit, published by Disney-Lucasfilm Press and releasing on October 4, 2022, is a YA novel that kicks off Phase 2 of The High Republic and honestly I’m still reeling from the emotional roller coaster this book was!
Path of Deceit takes place on the planet Dalna, which is home to a Force cult called The Path of the Open Hand. Their faith is rooted in the belief that the Force should only be freely given, and never taken from. The cult has an infrastructure in place that helps them spread their message far across the galaxy and thrive on their home. They are led by someone called The Mother, and even though she’s only been a part of their group for a few years, she’s established herself as the most in tune with the Force and her word is sacred. A select group of followers called Children, go on missions throughout the galaxy under the guise of adding to the Path’s numbers, but in reality, something more devious is taking place. It’s those devious missions that bring Jedi Master Zallah Macri and her Padawan Kevmo Zinck to Dalna. They have their suspicions that the Path is behind the theft of a powerful force artifact, so they devise a plan to get close to the cult to get the answers they’re looking for. The Pantoran Kevmo, who’s energetic personality is in stark contrast to his Master’s stoicism, struggles to calm himself so as to stay connected to the Force in his every day decisions and interactions. Things get interesting when Kevmo takes a particular liking to a cultist named Marda Ro. Marda’s staunch beliefs are in stark contrast with the Jedi ways, resulting in a complex relationship between her and Kevmo. The Jedi have their mission and The Path of the Open Hand has theirs, and this is where I will end my plot synopsis because anything else is definitely spoiler territory. All I will say is that the final third of Path of Deceit is a narrative tidal wave that will crash over you and leave you breathless.
I loved Path of Deceit for so many reasons. First, the characters. Kevmo and Marda’s personalities are very well fleshed out and are both attractive for vastly different reasons. Kevmo is an excited puppy whose lust for life just made me smile. He’s magnetic and he knows it, but it’s never off putting. Though I personally relate more to Master Zallah’s eye rolls at Kevmo’s boisterous ways (I’m creeping up on 40, don’t judge me), as a reader, Kevmo is just straight up delightful. And Marda Ro. MARDA RO. I’m not sure I can accurately sum up my feelings towards Marda, but here’s my best shot. She is a character that I both want to protect at all costs due to her naivete and innocence while equally wanting to fix her and help her realize the errors of her beliefs. She is a fascinatingly complex character that is 100% unique in the Star Wars universe. There are villains that we love to hate, or heroes that are agonizingly goody goody, but Marda strikes a balance that I absolutely love. I’m not usually one who crushes on book characters but I fell HARD for Marda. Maybe some of that is also due to the stunning depiction of her on Path of Deceit’s cover (more on that shortly) but regardless, she’s a gem and I’m obsessed. It shouldn’t come as a shock that her last name also makes her interesting to the overall High Republic narrative and Path of Deceit takes steps in unveiling Marda’s role in it all.
I also loved Path of Deceit for its tone. It’s definitely a slow burn but in the best way possible. There’s always potential for just how much of a book is taken up by introducing new characters and settings, but Ireland and Gratton do great in this regard. The scope of this book is appropriately small (relatively speaking for a Star Wars novel), we’re on one planet with a small group of characters, and this works in Path of Deceit’s favor. While technically a YA novel (which arguably isn’t a genre) Path of Deceit is a blending of romance, mystery, science fiction, and suspense. The cult element in particular breaks the boundaries of literature and I couldn’t help but get true crime vibes throughout (anyone else watch Netflix’s Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey? Strong similarities here).
I cannot review Path of Deceit without mentioning its jaw-dropping cover by artist Corey Brickley (follow them on Instagram @coreybrickleyillustration). From the day it was revealed, fans have been singing its praises and for good reason. Being a huge fan of illustration art myself, this one checks all my boxes. Brickley perfectly balances realism and fantastical in their depiction of Kevmo, The Mother and Marda with Dalna’s natural beauty surrounding them. It’s objectionably beautiful and I am going to need a print or poster on my wall ASAP.
Path of Deceit is an amazing way to start off phase 2 of The High Republic. Justina Ireland and Tessa Grafton have crafted something truly special. I predict it will stand as one of the greats amongst The High Republic initiative. I give it 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢- HIGHLY RECOMMEND! -
Star Wars The High Republic Path of Deceit I think was a strange way to start the second part of The High Republic, and in my opinion, is remarkably different from Phase 1. Spoilers for the entire book and some of phase 1: Around 25 to 30 pages into this book I fully accepted that this book was going to not be like Light of the Jedi or even Into the Dark. I heard a lot of complaints of people trying to get into Light of the Jedi and it not really meshing with them because of the constantly changing POVs and early on the POVs constantly getting killed. I liked that part, it was one of my favorite first third of a book because of that, but I understand how some people can feel different. This book is that different. With only five or so POV characters this book is a lot more focused and less galaxy-spanning issues and more local problems. Also upon reaching 25 or so pages into the book I came to the conclusion that this is the purest fantasy novel we have gotten in Star Wars since Alan Dean Foster’s The Approaching Storm. I mean the Path of the Open Hand does sound like the name of a cult that your local Dungeon Master might come up with for a session on a Saturday night. Speaking of the Path of the Open Hand, I found them to be quite lovely. Every time the Mother was on the page I loved it. I feel like this book was playing with the idea that she wasn’t crazy, but I clocked her from the first second. I love the fact that their nice outward appearance is a cover for a Force Artifact thieves guild, and their “three” Viewpoint characters with Sunshine, Yana, and Marda are nice to get a peek behind the curtain. This segues to my next point the characters. The Characters took some getting used to. It is easy to write characters that are always right, and make the right decision. Still, it is much harder to write characters that piss you off so much you want to throw your book across the room, but in a good way. Sunshine is the worst and is single-handled responsibly for everything bad that is going to happen in this phase, and arguably the first. Yana is incredibly relatable to me, and out of all the characters that are directly involved in the cult I liked her the best. And Marda? Don’t get me started on Marda! Marda is by far the most frustrating character in this book. The final chapters with her just not being able to break through the cult's programming is just so fucking hard to read. Like the Mother is the queen of the gaslight. I liked Kev and his Master Zallah Macri and their bitter end were when I made the conclusion that this story is oddly reminiscent of the movie the Wicker Man. Not the Nick Cage one, but the early one with Count Dooku. I also feel like a lot of people were kind of confused and not sure why this phase decided to jump back so far into the past. I think there are a total of three reasons why. One I think that they are trying to mirror the skywalker saga, which I guess is fair and makes sense. However, that doesn’t really explain why you would jump back so far. I mean they could have jumped back 20-25 years so you could focus on younger versions of the characters from the first phase. The second reason I think is they just wanted to see if they could have lightning strikes in the same place twice. Light of the Jedi and the High Republic initiative despite what some bent-out-of-shape fans would tell you is quite successful. It’s kind of the cream of the crop of the New Expanded Universe, and many ways a spiritual successor to the old days of Legends that allowed great sweeping stories to be told by novels and comics. Think NJO onwards, and Shadow of the Empire. I think the real reason is a bit more meta, and I think that the original architects of the High Republic Story need more time to flesh out and finish the story. You can see that with the amount of new blood that is in the second phase, a lot of the original five seem to have taken a back seat and a more advisory role, or doing lesser to no projects, while they work on other projects inside and outside of Star Wars. I may be misremembering, but I also recall the authors and publishers saying something along the lines that since this takes place so far into the past, it’s a good jumping-in point for people that missed the first phase, and I agree and disagree with the point. Yes you could read this without not reading a single word of phase 1 and you might even enjoy this story quite a bit, but I think that would be doing yourself a disservice. This book is designed to build upon the work of Phase One, we see the origin of the Gaze Electric, The Rod (Which is called the Rod of Ages, Daybreak, and or Seasons was a tad unclear, overall not huge on the name) The Hatching of the Leveler which is the one I imagine yeets off Loden Greatstorm, and I do think that the Path of the Open Hand will be defeated but their ideology will twist until it becomes the Nihil. However, I am not sure who will be the ancestor of Marchion Ro, I feel like you are supposed to believe that it will be Marda, but I could also see that being a bait and switch. I do think that the Ro Cousins are going to have a confrontation in the future and I think only one walks away from it. The plots and schemes between the Hearld, Mother, and the Ro Cousins are laying the foundation for a disaster, with one having the rod, and the other the backing of the cult and being a true believer with a lightsaber. There is also a line that I have been thinking about all night and day. During the hatching of the Leveler, The Mother's hair turns slightly grey, but she is unaffected by the creature. So is the Mother Force sensitive? I am conflicted because personally, I don't think so. I think that is the deceit in the title. The Path of the Open Hand is the giant floating head ala Wizzard of Oz. However, another line that stuck out to me was talking about how the Mother sees visions and "Blue Force Ghosts" which when taken at surface value doesn't seem outrageous. However, then you remember that the cult is also slightly anti-technology not really using droids when they can use manual labor. They also have rich benefactors that are never seen and are named but that could be pseudonyms as well. I am kinda feeling that the Mother isn't Force Sensitive, but one of her rich benefactors is and is one of the Sith in hiding. It feels directly out of the second Bane book, and or Darth Plagueis. The final chapter also has a very interesting bit explaining why the creatures are called the Nameless and the Leveler and I thought that was very cool. Overall, all throughout the book I was thinking it was good it didn’t hit the same highs as Light of the Jedi or Into the Dark, but the final chapters bump it into the incredible category for me.
P.S. Sorcerers of Tund are officially canon that’s a cool good thing I read the Lando Trilogy this year lol. Can’t wait to see Jedha in a week -
“I like to think of the Force that way—free, clear, and harmonious like a song. And there are many, many ways to make a harmony”
Rewinding 150 years from where we left of Phase I, there weren't many expectations or predictions on my part regarding what we were getting with with the new Phase; but Path of Deceit held nothing back and is easily my favorite book so far!
The story is incredibly well paced and constructed, managing a solid plot progression while fleshing out all the three (!) individual storylines and their respective main characters. I have to also take note on the huge diversity in gender and sexuality, all very seamless part the story, as it should be. (And also 90% of the cast is made of aliens. Finally! It doesn't cost extra to *write* them so why are most the books about humans?)
Path of Deceit has a very careful take on religion and faith, exploring how different relationships with the Force could coexist, as well as the consequences of alienation and religious manipulation.
At the same time, it doesn't deal with these topics in a dark or dense way, allowing the complex message to sink in without making it a heavy read. That is, until a 180° tonal-shift on the last act that is phenomenally executed: I was blind-sighted, but never thrown out of the story.
There is a clear intention to set the scene to what we see in Phase I: two of the main characters are grey-skinned aliens with the surname Ro, who paint blue streaks on their faces in honor of being part of The Path — we know what this points to, but there's no apparent answer to how it gets there. It's very easy to make a clear-cut, obvious origin story, but that isn't what we get here.
Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland manage to bring a perfectly balanced prequel, hooking the reader with some hints and familiarity without losing the sense of mistery or anticipation that is the soul of Path of Deceit. -
Adventurous, challenging, DARK, emotional,
mysterious, sad, and tense.
Fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0 ⭐
I have SO many thoughts about this book/story. MOST of them are spoilery, so I will not share them here, but if you want to know my Spoilery thoughts...reach out to me. I really want to talk to others about this book.
The setup of this story is really interesting. The characters are fully realized. The secondary characters become well rounded...even to the point of becoming main characters in the plot.
The good guys are who we are rooting for, but Marda then starts to preach a doctrine of the Force that is TOTALLY against what we believe the Force to be...for all these generations...so she HAS to be wrong...but even a seasoned veteran of Star Wars starts to question his beliefs, even like Kevmo (the padawan).
Then the insighting incidents start to happen, and you see little changes then happening...and then you start to see this story/book in another light. Oh, they are really going THERE. Very interesting...very good (in a bad way...meaning this isn't your Daddy's Star Wars. with happy endings). It goes dark.
AND I'm loving it. It did NOT go where I thought it was going...even when I was about 80% into the story, but even at that point, they had seeded it in near the beginning, but we just overlooked it (or at least I did).
You GOT to read this book. Ugh. So good. -
The absolutely dark turn this book took I was not prepared for. I loved the romance in the first part, and I love the seeds sewn for revenge, but I was so unnerved by that ending. I cannot wait for the rest of phase 2.
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Too stunned to speak
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How could they do that to my goofy little guy 😔
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I had really high expectations for Path of Deceit, and somehow it exceeded them! It slowly lays out the characters, planets and themes for this next phase of The High Republic. The pacing is wonderful, and it really picks up in the second half. It doesn’t feel like a YA novel because it has real stakes. I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend!
The characters are charming and their relationships are written very well. You really become invested in them. But there’s also a dread, because this is Star Wars and the stakes are high. And as the prequel to the prequel of the prequels, The High Republic Phase 2 is starting off wonderfully with Path of Deceit -
4.5
Epic -
Thank you, Disney Books, for sending an ARC of Path of Deceit!
Snippets from my review for Dork Side of the Force:
https://dorksideoftheforce.com/2022/1...
Path of Deceit takes us 150 years before the events of Phase 1’s Hyperspace Disaster, the Nihil attack on the Republic Fair, and the destruction of Starlight Beacon. This era of Star Wars is, according to story creators, a time of exploration and discovery, where Jedi and teams of Pathfinders travel the galaxy to connect with new worlds and peoples.
Previous waves of High Republic books started off with adult novels first, but there’s a very good reason why the YA book Path of Deceit launches this phase. The novel sets the stage for new adventures and excitement, but it also for new dangers.
And Path of Deceit highlights the hope-filled dangers of this era in a captivating story of cultish Force fanatics and charming Jedi on a twin-sunned agricultural Outer Rim planet.
Like many previous Star Wars YA novels, Path of Deceit shines with its focus on just a few key characters, giving readers time to get to know them on a deeper level in a shorter amount of time. Some of the adult High Republic novels have a tendency to bounce between half a dozen characters’ points of view to introduce the many different people in this galaxy. That can make it hard to connect and empathize with those characters.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Star Wars book without pain and suffering. But you’ll be happy about the undercurrent of darkness running through the novel. That vein is ripped open in the third act through a series of escalating horror, which concludes in a haunting cliffhanger.
Path of Deceit is a sizzling, character-driven page-turner that plants the seeds of the Jedi-hating villains of The High Republic era. The YA novel is an excellent start for this next phase of Star Wars storytelling and is friendly to both High Republic newcomers and experts. -
Read my review here -
http://www.starwarsreport.com/2022/10... -
The ending is all that gave this book 2 stars. This whole series has been mixed but this book is boring until we’ll past 80%.
