Review: Tears of the Nameless is one of The High Republic's most rewarding books

Star Wars: The High Republic: Tears of the Nameless by George Mann delivers satisfying payoff in an emotional and thrilling story. The story takes place after Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton, as Jedi Knight Reath Silas continues his research regarding the Nameless and the blight.

Reath has been one of my favorite characters in The High Republic since his introduction in Into the Dark by Claudia Gray. I enjoyed having him as a main point of view character again for the first time since Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older was released in February 2022. Reath is a remarkably insightful, innovative, and dedicated Jedi, but he is also a young man struggling with the enormous pressure that has been thrust upon him, along with his ongoing struggle of trying to understand why his Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus left him and the Jedi Order behind.

Tears of the Nameless fully explores the fallout of Cohmac's decision by making the former Jedi another main point of view character and reunites him with Reath for the first time since leaving the Order. It is a fascinating look into the life of someone who willingly leaves the Jedi but is still committed to the light and cares deeply about his former Jedi Padawan.

Reath and Cohmac's relationship is at the heart of Tears of the Nameless, as is the friendship Reath forms with Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo. Amaedo and Jedi Master Mirro Lox, who is also integral to Tears of the Nameless, first appeared in the Tales of Light and Life short story anthology, but this is the first novel in which they are at the forefront of the story. Amadeo helps Reath make important breakthroughs in his research, along with helping Reath feel less alone and burdened by the pressure on him.

With much of the focus on Reath, Cohmac, and Amadeo, Tears of the Nameless feels like a character-driven story while also answering many long-running mysteries about the Nameless, the Blight, and the Children of the Storm. Threads from all three phases of The High Republic are tied together, giving the Jedi and the Republic their best shot yet at finally defeating the Nihil and ending their reign of terror.

Mann perfectly balances the emotional arcs that Reath, Cohmac, and Amadeo have alongside these major plot developments. Their stories feel intimate and personal, even as they face high stakes that feel genuinely terrifying and that threaten the entire galaxy, and explore history from thousands of years ago. Star Wars fans who also like Indiana Jones will enjoy the archaeological and historical exploration of the Tolemites and their ancient civilization, which hold many of the answers behind the Nameless and the Blight.

While he is not a point-of-view character, Azlin Rell is pivotal to the story as well and continues to be an unpredictable double-edged sword. He possesses extensive knowledge about the Nameless, which makes him necessary for Reath's research, but the dark side also consumes him. Reath has to walk a fine line every time he goes to see the captive Azlin, which is made more complicated by Reath's own inner turmoil.

Another standout character is Vernestra Rwoh, who plays more of a supporting role in this story, but she does get several point of view chapters. She and Reath are very different from each other, yet they still share a beautiful friendship, and are able to fully trust and believe in each other. It was bittersweet to read Vernestra's chapters given the cancelation of The Acolyte, as I still want to see what is next for her in a Season 2 of the Disney+ series, although I am grateful that we are still getting more of her story in these books.

The only thing that did not fully work for me in Tears of the Nameless was the primary antagonist, Sicarus, who is a Child of the Storm. Given how intertwined the Children of the Storm are with the Nameless, he was a fitting villain for this story. However, Sicarus was brainwashed by Baron Boolan to the point that all he felt like an underdeveloped character, with all of his chapters being him about him fixated on hunting the Jedi and wanting to please Boolan.

Nearly every time a Sicarus chapter ended, I was happy to get back to a Reath, Cohmac, Amadeo, Vernestra, or Affie Hollow chapter. Having Affie, Leox Gyasi, and Geode be present throughout the story worked well in providing a point of view outside the Jedi and the Nihil. They are a delightful trio, and seeing them with Reath and Cohmac again felt like a full-circle return to Into the Dark.

Tears of the Nameless pays off many of the character arcs and storylines that have been building for nearly four years now. It is a rewarding culmination that paves the way for the final wave of books in The High Republic publishing initiative.