The novel is a major story in the overall High Republic saga while also focusing on the relationship between Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann, who must confront their true desires amid the ongoing Nihil conflict.
The reunited Jedi prepare to strike back against the ruthless Nihil in this thrilling sequel to Star Wars: The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness.
For over a year, Jedi Masters Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann were kept apart by the Nihil's Stormwall. After Avar makes a daring escape from inside the Occlusion Zone, the star-crossed Jedi are reunited. But while the physical distance between them has evaporated, their shared grief over their failure to protect the galaxy from the Nihil threat still remains.
To rally the Jedi Order, and the Republic, Avar and Elzar cling to their belief in serving Light and Life. Working together they lead a daring mission into Nihil space to liberate the planet of Naboo, and show those trapped behind the Stormwall that the Jedi will never abandon them. Now back within close orbit of one another, the two Jedi Masters can no longer deny the bond that has always drawn them back together and made them stronger.
After finally embracing their true desires and imbued with renewed purpose, Avar and Elzar devise a plan to turn the tide of the conflict with the Nihil once and for all. Accompanied by Jedi Knights Bell Zettifar, Burryaga, and Vernestra Rwoh, the Jedi begin their hunt for Marchion Ro. But to seek out the Nihil's dangerous leader the Jedi will have to survive the Nameless terrors that they have thus far been powerless to stop.
Tessa Gratton turned in the first draft for the novel on August 10, 2023. She used a word count tracker while writing in order to push herself to reach 90,000 words. The last portion of the book Gratton wrote was actually its first chapter, which features an exchange between Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss that was released by StarWars.com on May 20, 2024, as the fandom's first tease into the novel's contents. In one early part of the novel, Kriss gives a speech to those trapped within the Nihil marauders' Occlusion Zone. Del Rey was so pleased with the speech that it decided to make the dialogue the book's black blurb.
In the days before release, Michael Siglain began a countdown on his Twitter account wherein everyday he would post concept art of someone from the book's cast by artists Diogo Saito and Ario Anindito. Starting on June 5, he began with Kriss and followed up on June 6 with art of Jedi Knight Bell Zettifar and his Charhound, Ember. He revealed that, within the novel, Zettifar would need to investigate a danger to the Jedi Order and Galactic Republic and be confronted with fear. The next post on June 7 featured concept art of the Wookiee Jedi Knight Burryaga Agaburry, who Siglain promised would go "through a lot" in Temptation of the Force. He further revealed that personal arc set up the rest of The High Republic initiative. On June 8, Siglain posted concept art and a description of smuggler Cair San Tekka while rushing out of his house to get to his daughter's dance recital that day. In that rush, however, Siglain posted the incorrect file—selecting art of Tekka that did not match his final, canonical description—and faced criticism.
Later that day, Siglain posted the up-to-date depiction of Cair and thanked fans for noticing the error. He remarked that the ultimate takeaway of the situation was not to rush. He further apologized for the error and thanked fans for understanding. On June 9, Siglain continued the countdown with art of Grand Master Yoda, who did not have a major role in Temptation of the Force but, as promised by Siglain, did have a major discussion with Mann or Kriss. On June 10, the day before release, Siglain posted art of Mann and promised that—if a fan loved Mann, Kriss, or love in general—they would enjoy the book. In particular, he also had deduced that Ronja, a Star Wars fan who goes by the Twitter handle @fivesgirlfriend, would enjoy the tweet about Mann, which proved to be the case. Previously, he had implied to Ronja that the art would feature Mann in his mission robes, something that had never been pictured publicly before; indeed, the June 10th tweet featured Mann in his Jedi mission robes. On the day of release, June 11, Siglain posted art of Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro, whom he implied would be most trustworthy than he seemed.
Gratton's fellow The High Republic author Charles Soule celebrated the book's release with a tweet of his own, in which he praised Temptation of the Force as "a crackling read" that was effectively the The Empire Strikes Back of The High Republic. The UK Bookstore Goldsboro Books continued their tradition of special edition High Republic novels; and sold an edition of Temptation of the Force where each copy was numbered and signed, the pages were also sprayed yellow.
- ISBN 9780593723098; June 11, 2024; Random House Worlds; US hardcover
- ISBN 9780593723111; March 11, 2025; Random House Worlds; US paperback