Review: The Living Force Is the Jedi-Centric Star Wars Story We Needed

The rejuvenation of Star Wars' prequel era is a freight train with no end in sight. Now, fan-favorite author John Jackson Miller is hopping on board, returning to long-form Star Wars storytelling with The Living Force, releasing everywhere on April 9. While many of the recent stories set in this timeframe, such as last year's Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade, have challenged the dogma of the Jedi Order, Miller decides it's high time to look at these Jedi through the basic lens that they are still capable of being the hero.



This novel is the ultimate example of comfort reading. It's not bereft of galactic consequences, but The Living Force is the type of novel where you brew a cup of hot chocolate, curl up with a blanket in your recliner, and escape from the worries of the real world. You may not flip the pages furiously to find out what happens next, but you'll have a smile on your face the entire time you're on this adventure.



Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller, available April 9



The framework still plays with the notion that the Jedi are becoming disillusioned with the Force and those they serve. Taking place in the year before The Phantom Menace, Jedi outposts are being shut down across the galaxy as the Republic and the Jedi shift their mindsets. Some members of the Jedi Council have even taken on side gigs such as office secretary. Then, news of one particular outpost along the Ootmian Route becomes a grave concern because of its deep ties to the Order.



The outpost is on Kwenn, a planet that the Jedi Order brought back from the brink during the High Republic era and helped rebuild. Now, all of that work might go to waste. The matter is brought to the Jedi Council by Qui-Gon Jinn, who has a simple challenge: help one person. While there is no guarantee the outpost can stay open, that doesn't matter to Qui-Gon. His challenge remains the same: help one person (there are several 'put that on a t-shirt' quotes in this book). The people of Kwenn can't be left in the dark; they can't be left behind. What matters now is Kwenn seeing the Jedi take the time to care and provide. The 'living' need to matter just as much as anything else on the Jedi's plates.







To my surprise, this challenge is met with enthusiasm from every single soul on the Council, and they are off to Kwenn. If there is an immediate comparison for the version of the Council this novel gives, you wouldn't have to look further than what we've seen in the High Republic. The Jedi in that era are often described as the 'height' of the Jedi. The Living Force is as close as you'll get to that with the prequel-era Jedi. In the High Republic, it's about more than just being powerful in the Force. Being a Jedi is about being the people's symbol of hope -- a symbol of light and life.



This isn't a story about the Jedi Order. It's a story about the Jedi. All 12 members of the Council have their own point-of-view sections, which doesn't even include Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and those on the antagonist's side. That fact alone makes this a juggling act of the highest order. It doesn't always work, but you still feel more connected than ever to the Jedi you thought you knew. Many of these Jedi, including Eeth Koth, Yarael Poof, Saesee Tiin, and others, have always been around, but spending time with them on this level was a joy that I didn't realize I needed. Each Jedi brings a new dynamic with their fellow councilmembers and a new understanding of the Force and view on why things have gotten as bad as they have.



Pictured LtR: Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Depa Billaba, Ki-Adi-Mundi



Miller makes things a bit easier on himself by occasionally pairing Jedi together. Expect to hear a lot of praise for Yarael Poof and Ki-Adi-Mundi. They are absolutely hilarious together, but I suggest you don't sleep on the bromance between Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin. As mentioned earlier, The Living Force is feel good reading. Miller takes the Jedi on a ride filled with the seemingly mundane, and he demands that you, as the reader, go along with it.



If you aren't prepared for Jedi to take on the role of a marriage counselor, taxi driver, juvenile delinquent enabler, or play into meme culture, The Living Force might not be the book for you. Miller imbues the novel with a powerful message that resonates beyond the page. Life is about the little things. Don't waste them. Everything you do counts for something, even if you don't see the end result.



One element I haven't touched on yet is Miller's worldbuilding. With Kwenn, he's crafted a planet I am dying to vacation to. The sights, sounds, and people there are top-notch. Every nook and cranny is filled in, as illustrated by the map inside every book copy. Star Wars is about feeling lived in, and Kwenn is that. The planet is part of a larger region of the Mid Rim and is a major hub of activity. But as in all Star Wars material, where there's activity in an unsupervised section of the galaxy, trouble seems to brew.



Map of Kwenn, available as a poster in the Barnes & Noble edition of The Living Force. A less detailed version of this map is available in every copy of the book.



The villains of the story are nothing new. Criminal gangs are active in the region and are all vying for power. The book's main baddies are led by Zilastra, a Nautolan who reminds me of a more ruthless Caij Vanda from Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. You can't trust her, can't question her, can't predict what she's going to do next, and most dangerous of all, she has a viable reason behind the chaos she strives to cause. She is a victim of circumstance, born of one of the understated flaws of the Jedi Order. The rage she holds against the Jedi is the key to her psyche as her goals become more apparent. For all the praise I just showered over how Miller portrayed the Council, we probably spend more time developing this storyline and the Jedi who's our eye into this side of things.



Transitioning into the one big problem with The Living Force, it does plod along slowly. As already touched on earlier, it's for a reason. Miller wants you to also live in the moment with the Jedi. I hesitate to call anything 'filler,' but there is a vibe of it from time to time. You wait for something to go somewhere substantial, but sometimes it just doesn't. Even Zilastra takes her sweet time in enacting her plans.



Ironically enough, I recall Miller playing the same trick on my brain in A New Dawn, where I felt similar. Then Kanan Jarrus reclaimed the Force, and I fist-pumped the air. That moment has since stuck with me for the last decade. A similar sensation happened to me again in The Living Force, so perhaps this mild criticism won't stand the test of time. For now, none of this changes the fact that the narrative is a slog at points while you wait for the next significant development.



Star Wars: The Living Force poster, available in the Barnes & Noble edition



Rounding out the novel are the characters the Jedi interact with. The people of Kwenn are lovely and wholesome, but it's not limited to that. Miller introduces Star Wars' latest version of the Three Stooges, and I need him to immediately return to short stories to give us their next chapter. But perhaps most poignant is one Jedi taking Qui-Gon's 'help one person' message to the next level as they work to save someone from a life of danger. Their relationship is the novel's emotional core, and be careful because it might make you break out the tissues. If possible, try going into this novel without spoiling yourself on which Jedi is at the center of it.



Wrapping things up, analyzing the reasons behind the Jedi's fall is beating a dead horse, which makes The Living Force such a breath of fresh air. Call it the last great act of the Jedi Council, if you will, but Miller's latest is the Jedi-centric story we need right now. Jedi are awesome, and it's okay to embrace that. There is an air of sadness when you read the book as you know it can't last, and Miller plays with that expertly.



The Living Force is full of extremely strong dialogue that elevates every good act the Jedi do. While there is, at times, a lack of forward momentum and some characters that don't shine as brightly, the novel never stops being endearing. The world Miller draws is dense with heart, hope, and some of the best Star Wars vibes in a while from this era. As Qui-Gon says at one point, don't miss it.


<p style='text-align: center;']RATING: 8/10</p>


Star Wars: The Living Force by John Jackson Miller will be released on April 9, wherever books are sold, and is available for pre-order now. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy used in this review.



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