The High Republic: The Fallen Star

The Jedi's luminescence encounters its deepest obscurity in this captivating follow-up to Star Wars: The Rising Storm.

The Nihil, a merciless group of marauders, have repeatedly attempted to bring the High Republic's golden era to a catastrophic conclusion. Despite sustaining injuries and experiencing weariness, the High Republic has consistently emerged triumphant, owing to its Jedi protectors. The Starlight Beacon stands as the most impressive testament to their dedication.

Suspended like a precious gem in the Outer Rim, the Beacon perfectly represents the High Republic at its most ambitious: it serves as a center for culture and learning, a radiant beacon illuminating the unknown darkness, and an outstretched welcoming hand to the galaxy's most distant regions. The Beacon and its personnel are prepared to provide sanctuary and healing to survivors and refugees fleeing the Nihil's onslaught.

The Jedi Order's grateful Knights and Padawans stationed there finally have an opportunity to recuperate—addressing both their physical wounds and emotional suffering. However, the perceived lull is deceptive; they remain within the storm's epicenter. Marchion Ro, the Nihil's true instigator, is devising his most audacious scheme yet—aimed at extinguishing the Jedi's guiding light.

Across the vastness of the galaxy, Jedi are actively engaging Nihil ships in a carefully planned operation to capture them and halt the danger they represent to the Republic. Padawans Bell Zettifar and Burryaga Agaburry accompany Jedi Nib Assek and Indeera Stokes on a successful mission. In a separate event, Jedi Regald Coll mistakenly apprehends Chancey Yarrow and Nan, under the false assumption that they are still Nihil collaborators. Despite the Jedi's endeavors, it is revealed aboard the Nihil starship Gaze Electric that all the captured or destroyed ships were in fact loyal to Lourna Dee. Marchion Ro, recognized as the Eye of the Nihil, remains unperturbed by the Jedi's actions, and finds amusement in the futile effort by the Jedi and the High Republic to capture Lourna Dee, whom they mistakenly believe to be the Eye of the Nihil.

Jedi Master Stellan Gios now holds the position of Marshal of the Starlight Beacon space station following Avar Kriss's departure in pursuit of Lourna Dee. His role as Marshal commences with Starlight Beacon's response to the cyclone disaster that struck the planet Eiram, with the intention of aiding in the reconstruction of vital infrastructure for the planet's water supply and providing assistance to the injured. Following his descent towards the Dark Side of the Force during the attack at the Republic Fair on Valo, Jedi Master Elzar Mann is now under the guidance of Jedi Wayseeker Orla Jareni to gain control over his emotions and his attraction to the darkness. After meditating in the ocean on Ledalau, Mann decides to limit his access to the Force to shield himself and others from the Dark Side. Considering Mann prepared to depart the planet, Jareni escorts Mann to encounter the crew of the starship Vessel, which includes Geode, Affie Hollow, and Leox Gyasi. Together, they embark on a journey toward Starlight.

As Starlight Beacon maintains its orbit around Eiram, Marchion Ro initiates his meticulously planned strategy to obliterate the station—commencing with a synchronized assault on various worlds across galactic space, and subsequently dispatching three devoted followers, Cale, Werrera, and Leyel, disguised as workers. This leads to a surge of refugees arriving at Starlight Beacon from across the outer rim, all fleeing from Nihil attacks. The resulting chaos and confusion enables Cale, Herrera, and Level to infiltrate Starlight undetected and unchallenged, carrying a hazardous cargo: seven Nameless.

Amidst this turmoil, the crew of the Vessel intervenes to disrupt Nihil attacks on civilians before proceeding to Starlight. Zettifar and Burryaga establish a presence in the med-tower on Starlight to assist refugees, while Stellan Gios endeavors to coordinate the Republic's response.

This novel, the third in the series of adult novels from Del Rey, which began with Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule and continued with The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott, was revealed during Lucasfilm's Publishing Panel at Comic-Con@Home in July 2021. The announcement also included Mission to Disaster by Justina Ireland, Midnight Horizon by Daniel Jose Older's, and the comic miniseries Eye of the Storm by Soule. Its initial working title was Starlight Down, but this was changed to avoid revealing key plot points.

Claudia Gray, the author, mentioned that her fondness for disaster films influenced the writing of the novel, specifically The Poseidon Adventure from 1972. She also worked closely with Cavan Scott, another High Republic author, whose comic series took place in the same timeline as the novel. Given the overlap between the events in the novel and the comic, they collaborated to expand the story, ensuring that Gray could tell her desired narrative and Scott could tell his, while allowing each to reference the other's events.

• ISBN 9780593355398 ; January 4 , 2022 ; Del Rey ; US hardcover [1]
• ISBN 9780593497791 ; January 4, 2022; Del Rey; US hardcover, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition [7]
• ISBN 9780593355404 ; January 4, 2022; Del Rey; eBook [1]
• ISBN 9780593499122 ; January 4, 2022; Del Rey; US paperback, export edition [8]
• ISBN 9780593355411 ; September 27 , 2022; Del Rey; US paperback [9]