Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane #3) by Drew Karpyshyn

Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane #3) by Drew Karpyshyn-306 pages

I finally finished the third and final novel in the Darth Bane trilogy. I enjoyed reading this because it is from a different perspective than most Star Wars stories. It is from the perspective of the Sith and explains the origins of the Rule of Two. I am more of a light side fan, but it was nice to read something from a different perspective. Overall, the trilogy is entertaining and sustains one's interest, especially if one is a Star Wars fan. 

Rule of Two (Star Wars Darth Bane #2) by Drew Karpyshyn

Rule of Two (Star Wars Darth Bane #2) by Drew Karpyshyn-320 pages

This is the second novel in the Darth Bane trilogy and a direct continuation of the first novel. Darth Bane has taken on an Apprentice, Darth Zannah, and is training her in the ways of the Sith. He is trying to sew deceit and destruction slowly among the Jedi and the Republic from the shadows. However, one Jedi Knight, Johun, is convinced that the Sith still exist and is determined to hunt them down and destroy the Sith once and for all. This is a good read, as was the first. I am ready to read the third and final novel in the trilogy and learn the ending.

Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane #1) by Drew Karpyshyn

Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane #1) by Drew Karpyshyn-389 pages

The Darth Bane trilogy is written by the same author as Revan. It is set 3000 years after the events of Revan and the video game Knights of the Old Republic. This is the first novel in the trilogy and serves as Darth Bane's origin story. It chronicles how he journeyed from lowly miner on Apatros to Sith foot soldier to Dark Lord of the Sith and to destroying the Brotherhood of Darkness so that he could take the Sith in a new direction. He believes he has found the key to Sith dominance, which is that there should be a master and an apprentice. Two Sith. One to have power and one to crave it. Bane starts the tradition of the Sith that lasts all the way down to Sidious and Vader. 

Inferno Squad (Star Wars: Battlefront #2) by Christie Golden

Inferno Squad (Star Wars: Battlefront #2) by Christie Golden-307 pages

I played Star Wars Battlefront II the video game and this is a prequel to the campaign mode of this video game. I enjoyed playing the campaign and I enjoyed reading this spin-off prequel novel. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Star Wars, especially those who enjoyed playing the Battlefront II campaign. 

Revan (Star Wars: The Old Republic (Chronological Order) #1) by Drew Karpyshyn

Revan (Star Wars: The Old Republic (Chronological Order) #1) by Drew Karpyshyn-289 pages

I played Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) on XBOX and I played KOTOR 2, also. I really enjoyed playing the games (KOTOR is one of my favorite video games ever), so I was curious to read about the rest of Revan's story in this novel. Revan is a complicated character as he is both hero and villain at different times. I feel that Karpyshyn did Revan justice with this novel and gave him a worthy ending to his story. I also liked his explanation for why Revan and Malak attacked and tried to dominate the Republic in the original KOTOR game. Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and I wish more Star Wars video games like KOTOR would be made.

Thrawn (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel) by Timothy Zahn

Thrawn (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel) by Timothy Zahn-427 pages

I read the Thrawn Trilogy by Zahn in 2015 in anticipation of The Force Awakens, so when I heard this was being written and released as an "official" Disney canon novel (the original Thrawn Trilogy is a "Legends" or not official Disney canon now) I immediately pre-ordered it. I really enjoyed reading this and Zahn does Thrawn well in his imagining of his rise to Grand Admiral. I especially liked that he included Thrawn's studying the adversary's cultural art as a means to glean patterns of expected behavior, just as Thrawn did in the original trilogy. Thrawn is depicted as a master tactician (although not great at politics) in this novel just as he was in the original trilogy. The fact that Zahn wrote both the original trilogy and this standalone novel helps with continuity and effectiveness. I enjoyed the secondary stories of Eli Vanto and Arihnda Pryce woven throughout this novel as companions to Thrawn's rise. Overall, this was as good, maybe better, than I expected and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Star Wars (especially anyone who read the original Thrawn trilogy). 

Life Debt (Star Wars: Aftermath #2) by Chuck Wendig

Life Debt (Star Wars: Aftermath #2) by Chuck Wendi-430 pages

I like this better than the first in the trilogy as the prose and plot are better, but still not great. The writing is not as choppy, but is still not top notch, by any means. I do enjoy that Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca are included in this story with the liberation of Kashyyk, but these characters are not quite what they are in the movies or in other books written about Star Wars. Overall, I enjoyed reading this second book in the series well enough to want to finish the series. The third book's anticipated release is sometime next year, so I look forward to that.

Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy Graphic Novels #1-3) by Mike Baron

Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy Graphic Novels #1-3) by Mike Baron-440 pages

I read the trilogy of novels by Timothy Zahn last year before Star Wars: The Force Awakens released in theaters, even though it is no longer official Star Wars canon. When I saw this on our shelf, I immediately wanted to read it and decided to save it for Sci-fi month. I enjoy graphic novels and it was cool to see the Thrawn trilogy portrayed in graphics. I really like the trilogy, although the ending is a bit abrupt and anti-climactic. The Thrawn trilogy is set roughly 5 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. Overall, it brought back memories of reading the novels last year and was pretty good.
SaveSave

December 2015 Post #4-Jason Phinney

Heir to the Empire (Star Wars) by Timothy Zahn-361 pages

This is the first book of a trilogy set 5 years after the events of "Return of the Jedi." It is about Grand Admiral Thrawn taking control of what is left of the Imperial Fleet/Empire and his first steps toward defeating the New Republic and re-instituting the Empire and Imperial Control. Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO are a part of the main story as well, of course.

Dark Force Rising (Star Wars) by Timothy Zahn-376 pages

This is the second book of the trilogy. It immediately follows the events of Heir to the Empire. The New Republic continues to struggle to gain control of the galaxy and to fight a war against Grand Admiral Thrawn and the remnant of the Empire. Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando, and others continue to be the main protagonists, along with some new side characters (some of which were introduced in Heir to the Empire). The main plot of this installment is finding and gaining control of the Katana fleet, a.k.a. the Dark Force.

The Last Command (Star Wars) by Timothy Zahn (Kindle edition ebook)-468 pages

In this thrilling conclusion to the Thrawn trilogy, Zahn artfully weaves many stories together into a fitting conclusion for the series. The anticipation to the climax is built up with great skill, but the climax/conclusion is a bit hasty and short. The build-up to the end is much more detailed than the conclusion itself and the end, while fitting, seems a bit forced because of it. Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and the entire trilogy and am glad to have done so.

Star Wars: Knight Errant by John Jackson Miller

400 pp. Set a thousand years before the Star Wars films, this expanded universe novel follows the exploits of young Jedi Knight Kerra Holt as she makes her way through war-ravaged Sith space. Her misadventures take her from one power-mad Sith Lord to another as she attempts to find her way back to Republic-controlled space.

I'm not sure why I keep reading Star Wars novels, because they all have such terrible endings. They just end, with no real sense of closure for any of the characters. It's very frustrating. But Kerra is a likeable character, and the various Sith Lords are entertaining.

Rogue Planet by Greg Bear, 336 pp.

Set three years after the events of The Phantom Menace, this novel follows Obi-Wan Kenobi and his young Padawan Anakin Skywalker on a journey to an unknown planet whose beings build the fastest ships in the galaxy. They are sent to obtain a ship, as well as discover what has become of a missing Jedi Knight, who was sent on a similar mission several years earlier. As Obi-Wan and Anakin discover the planet's secrets, another interested party led by a young General Tarkin circles overhead, spying on the planet with nefarious plans.

Star Wars: The Old Republic- Revan by Drew Karpyshyn

Star Wars: The Old Republic- Revan by Drew Karpyshyn, 368 pp.

Set after the events of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game. Revan, now a hero of the Republic and happily married to fellow Jedi Bastila, senses an evil presence at the far reaches of the galaxy, waiting for a chance to strike a the Republic. Meanwhile, the Sith Lord Scourge is placed on special assignment by the Sith Emperor.

The story starts out well enough, but by the second half things fall apart and the fate of the hero feels unfulfilled and confusing.