As the Nihil terrorize the galaxy with the Nameless, their Force-eating monsters, a nature-loving Huttlet, an ambitious Jedi youngling, and a senator's daughter unite as they try to survive on a ransacked planetChuro the Hutt never wanted to leave the security of his greenhouse, but he has no choice when his sister sends him to steal a mysterious weapon from the Nihil. After he crash-lands on Palagosal, a once-peaceful planet, he meets Jamil Sollis, a human Jedi youngling who dreams of advancing to the rank of Padawan, and Zenny Greylark, the daughter of a Republic senator who's searching for her sister. Despite Churo's concerns about his family's approval and his fear of encountering danger, he joins Jamil, Zenny, and their team as they set out to investigate the remains of an outpost that was evacuated after the Nihil's invasion. Dangers lurk in the shadows of the wreckage, and the unlikely allies must rely on each other to confront it. Alternating between the perspectives of a cast of diverse and endearing characters, this High Republic adventure centers on three young heroes who are seeking to better understand themselves, their values, and their places in the galaxy. Through Churo, Córdova adds refreshing complexity to the Hutts, who are traditionally depicted as the embodiment of corruption. The characters' emotional growth occurs amid high action and conflict with a daunting enemy. Final art not seen.A worthwhile series expansion written from a new perspective.(Fantasy. 8-12)

Gr 5–8— Ram Jomaram and the three younglings he rescued in book one are now training on Coruscant after their victory over the Nihil, who are still are intent on taking over the galaxy, and are far from defeated. Their ultimate weapon, The Nameless, is a shadowy creature that bleeds living things of all Force energy, leaving only dust. This second volume of "The High Republic" series checks in on Ram and his charges and then expands to include several new characters: Jamil, a Jedi unexpectedly thrown into his first mission; Zenny, a senator's daughter who hopes to rescue her older sister; and Churo the Hutt, who unlike his Hutt relatives is gentle, compassionate, and curious. When their paths are thrown together on an ill-fated mission, this diverse group of young folks must work together to survive and get back home. A panoramic view of the narrative is woven by third person narration that hovers over the main crew and many others, including a surprisingly complex villain. Thrilling escape and battle scenes are paired with significant character growth, particularly for Churo, the very endearing Hutt. VERDICT The stakes are high, and the consequences are dire in this very engaging sequel.