Book Review: A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland

I got to admit I've been late to The High Republic Wave One of books. I just finished reading this book, and found it was a pleasant surprise.

Brief summary: I got into Star Wars five years ago, right before The Force Awakens premiere. So far I have enjoyed most of the material, either movies, live-action TV series, animated series, books, comics, etc - and in some cases, I pretend I did not see some of it *cough The Rise of Skywalker cough* but most of all I have enjoyed being part of this larger universe, and discovered each period of material we have gotten so far has its particular beauties and things to enjoy.

And this era, The High Republic one, is quite interesting and has been a plethora of new stories and worlds to explore. The galaxy is the same but not at all in so many ways. This would be perhaps the Golden Age of the Jedi, and by reading these stories and learning about these new characters, we might understand how things change a couple of centuries later.

This book - A Test of Courage - is placed after the events of Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule and the story takes focus  over a group of kids and their adventures.

I liked the new characters and the focus Justina Ireland gives for each of them. We have Vernestra, a 16 year-old Jedi Knight; Imri, a 14 year-old padawan; Honesty Weft, a 12 year-old ambassador's son and Avon Starros, an 11 year-old senator's daughter who find themselves in the middle of a wreckage and escape in a maintenance shuttle that led them to be stranded on a planet and wondering what happened to the ship, why it was attacked and who was behind that attack.

It is really interesting to keep learning more details about the time period this happens (around 200 years before the prequels) and at the same time getting acknowledged with all these new characters, learning more about them, their motivations, pursuits and how their circumstances influence their perspectives, aside from the fact they are still young individuals facing trauma and searching their way back to civilization. All of it while facing unknown external dangers and their own fears.

I also enjoyed how their story is not over and I am really looking forward to learn more about them and how they will fit in the great scheme of things in the galaxy. I totally recommend this book, it was such a enjoyable reading.

A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland is available both in physical and digital formats.