When Star Wars: The Acolyte ended on a cliffhanger at the end of the season 1 finale, fans were disappointed to hear the show had no plans to return. Even more disappointing was the revelation that Jecki and Yord wouldn't be coming back -- a fact we knew before the show ended. Star Wars has a way of using other media and playing with its timeline, however, to make the seemingly impossible ... well, possible.
In just a few weeks, a new Star Wars young adult novel, The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown, will bring The Acolyte's Jecki and Yord back into the spotlight. And it couldn't have come at a better time.
The novel, which serves as a prequel to The Acolyte, features at-odds Padawan learners Jecki and Yord. The two Jedi both end up on the same planet, and while their respective masters are busy with their own tasks, the pair find themselves caught up in a special event that's sure to go terribly wrong.
In a classic coming-of-age Star Wars tale, Jecki and Yord will have to set aside their differences and work together to save the planet ... and themselves. There's no better time than summer vacation to get lost in a story about two teenagers who think they'll never get along, and might be proven wrong.
While Lucasfilm hasn't officially confirmed that The Acolyte is over for good, many signs point to this being the case. Streaming platforms are on the verge of major changes in the years to come, and Star Wars seems to be cutting back significantly on its Disney+ TV programming -- especially its live-action offerings.
Even without more Acolyte, franchise storytellers haven't quite given up yet. Justina Ireland's The Acolyte: Wayseeker novel, released earlier this year, focused on Vernestra Rwoh and Indara -- two key characters from the show. The Crystal Crown will seek to accomplish a similar task. Many aren't ready to say goodbye to the show just yet, even a year after its first season ended. We'll take any additional stories we can get.
Jecki and Yord may not have been the best of friends, but The Acolyte did hint they had a forced-proximity past that mostly quenched their disdain for one another. The upcoming book will have the opportunity to do something different with these two characters: focus on the rough beginnings of a potential friendship.
Now more than ever, Star Wars could use more stories about friendship. Found families, familial tensions, and romance have all been thoroughly explored in various tales throughout a galaxy far, far away. Fans could use a captivating adventure about friendship.
Tessa Gratton is not only a seasoned writer but also a master at crafting young adult stories. The author has written a handful of stories and books set in the Star Wars universe, specifically in the High Republic era. There's no better writer to take two beloved characters from a short-lived TV show and give them new life -- literally -- in the form of a book.
Gratton's character work is particularly stunning, especially when it comes to the way the author writes about relationships of many kinds. This book is a welcome return for Gratton, and a highly-anticipated read for Jecki and Yord enthusiasts. If you're a proud member of the so-called "Yord Horde," buckle up -- it's going to be a wonderful ride.
Star Wars The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown by Tessa Gratton releases on July 29, 2025, wherever you get your Star Wars books.
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