New The Eye of Darkness excerpt sees the return of Avar Kriss

It’s a bit of a slower month for Star Wars books, but the main novel coming out in November should be more than enough to satisfy hungry readers. The High Republic is about to return in a big way, and you can get a small taste of it right now.

Star Wars The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness by George Mann is the next adult novel in the ongoing Lucasfilm Publishing initiative. It takes place one year after the fall of Starlight Beacon (the end of Phase I), and features main characters such as Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann who are already familiar to readers of the series.

George Mann previously contributed to the series in the audio drama The Battle of Jedha and the middle-grade Phase II novel Quest for the Hidden City. This will be his first adult novel as part of the ongoing series, which is set to conclude in 2025.

In the following excerpt, Avar Kriss is on a dangerous mission to attempt to save her fellow Jedi and the Republic from further ruin by the Nihil. Here she meets a character that will become an important ally on the remainder of her journey throughout the book.

Entertainment Weekly posted an exclusive excerpt from the novel this week, which you can read a portion of below. A link to the exclusive content follows this partial excerpt.

"Behind the Stormwall, Jedi Master Avar Kriss has spent the last year doing what she can to support the citizens of the galaxy trapped in the Nihil Occulsion Zone, collecting new allies along the way.“Who are you?”After jettisoning the escape pod containing the two still-unconscious Nihil, Avar had made her way to the transport ship’s cockpit, where a series of alarms was blaring and the Ugnaught pilot seemed to be in something of a panic. He turned to stare wide-eyed at Avar as she strode purposefully into the small space, leaned over the controls, and silenced the annoying alarms. KC-78 trundled in behind her.“It doesn’t matter who I am. I’m here to help.”The Ugnaught — a small, hairy, porcine male with a heavy brow ridge and downturned mouth — looked at her appraisingly. “A pirate? A smuggler?” He caught sight of the holster strapped to Avar’s hip. “Oh no. No. A Jedi!”Avar narrowed her eyes. “You sound worried.”“Well of course I’m worried!” spat the Ugnaught. “There’s been a dis­turbance in the cargo hold, and one of the escape pods has been jetti­soned. Now, instead of the two Nihil guards that were supposed to be overseeing this grain shipment, I’ve got you, standing there all uppity with your lightsaber.”Avar tried to keep her smile to herself but failed. “All uppity?”“Well, you do seem rather pleased with yourself.”"

You can read the full excerpt on Entertainment Weekly.

Phase III of The High Republic is less than a few weeks away, and you’re not going to want to miss what these authors have in store in the months and years to come.

Star Wars The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness by George Mann releases on November 14, and is available for pre-order now.

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