After artist Grant Griffin’s moody Phase III opening cover for The Eye of Darkness, he returns with a moody in whole different way cover for the second and penultimate adult novel of the Phase: June 11’s Temptation of the Force! Dropping this cover, which sees Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss sharing a rather intimate look now they’ve been reunited, as well as the blurb, which only doubles down on their growing feelings, on Valentine’s Day was a wonderfully calculated move; we see what you’re doing! Head below for the full angsty cover and to hear some teases of what’s to come in June with Tessa Gratton’s Temptation of the Force!
While the blurb has some more specifics, it’s Tessa Gratton who shares quite the laundry list of things they’ll be including in Temptation of the Force:
“Discussions about the nature of the Force and the role of the Jedi in the galaxy, forbidden Jedi romance, banter and daring lightsaber duels, the generations-old Graf-San Tekka feud, messy Elzar, Evereni lore and hints about the history of the Ro family and the mysteries of the Nameless. Things that were seeded in Phase II get to blossom!”
Between the cover and the blurb, especially after the final scene of The Eye of Darkness, Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss look to be taking their feelings for one another to a whole different level, and Tessa isn’t shying away from this fact by mentioning the forbidden Jedi romance including in TotF. The Jedi of this era are still against attachments like that, but they are far more open to allowing Jedi to explore such feelings, just as long as they are able to let go of them when the time comes. Will we see the beginnings of the Order cracking down more on the attachments after what will happen with Avar and Elzar?
I’m looking forward to getting more Graf-San Tekka feuding, something that’s been bubbling in both Phase I and II, so I’m curious to see how far TotF will take their squabbles and what it’ll mean for the larger galaxy. But I’m most enthralled for what TotF has in store with Evereni lore/Ro family history/and the Nameless, as Gratton absolutely WOW-ed with Tales of Light and Life’s “A Closed Fist Has No Claws,” which showed Marda Ro’s transformation and delved into some Evereni lore. If Gratton brings just a small tidbit of some of that short story to Temptation, we will be fed so very very well and I imagine a lot of questions will be answered on some of the era’s bigger mysteries or open spaces by the final page.
As for the blurb below, we learn Bell Zettifar and Burryaga will star as well, which is rather expected at this point, but still nice to know. Vernestra Rwoh’s inclusion is a pleasant surprise however, as her main appearances have been in the young adult or middle grade novels up until this point, but she’s been my favorite Jedi alongside Keeve Trennis and more of her the better. Vernestra’s story for Phase III will first be explored in Gratton and Justina Ireland’s upcoming Defy the Storm on March 5, while our first glimpse at her time between the Phases in Tales of Light and Life’s “The Force Provides” only tripled my love for her and left the thread of her mysterious hyperspace Path from Mari San Tekka open so far. Could we see that finally resolved here, given that it’ll likely take her to Planet X aka the Nameless home, given we’re getting answers about them in Temptation? Regardless, Vernestra’s story doesn’t end with Phase III, as we’ve learned she’s in this year’s The Acolyte TV show, set 100 years before the prequels. There’s so much to be hyped about and nervous for in Temptation of the Force, yet for me, Vernestra’s story is the one I’m excited for the most.
As for Naboo, I love the idea of a classic location being visited here and I’ll be interested to see if we get any call outs to stuff we know will be there in the prequels! However, Naboo isn’t behind the Nihil’s Stormwall currently, even after it was expanded, so could a future title (book or comic), or the opening moments of Temptation, see the planet swallowed up?
Here’s the blurb and make sure to check back in June for our review!
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.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.