Rating: 
Summary: The Dark Side Rules
Review: Kevin J. Anderson's second novel in the Jedi Academy Trilogy far surpasses the first book, Jedi Search. It is in Dark Apprentice where the Jedi Academy students begin their training, and where one student falls toward the dark side. Bringing about images that are reminiscent of Darth Vader, Kyp Durron, under the influence of dark Jedi Master Exar Kun, acts out with good intentions using the powers of the darkside. His inner conflict and the outer conflict between him and Luke Skywalker almost parallel one another. It is a storyline that is almost as good as the Thrawn Trilogy.It is also in Dark Apprentice that the forces of Admiral Daala hurt the New Republic by using guerilla warfare tactics. Though her character had a minor role to play in the first book, she has a major role to play in the second, and it is a welcome change. The language and characterization in Dark Apprentice is better that expected. In the first book, Jedi Search, the language was simple, and the characters were very one dimensional, but Mr. Anderson seemed to have fixed those problems in Dark Apprentice. One of the characters is Kyp Durron, a strong transitional character that has many great qualities. His naive and rugged outlook on the world, along with his dark past, helps to provoke him toward the dark side. Everyone affected by his character help to show their dimension in the book. Han comes across as a father figure, and Luke comes across as a mild mentor who bears the brunt of his anger. Just the conflict with the character of Kyp Durron alone is enough to warrant reading this book. It is worth your time.
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Summary: Takes you back to the origins of the Sith
Review: Massasi, Sith, Exar Kun...wow!
The only dissapointment was how Luke was under Exar Kun & Kyp Durron's spell. Making him pretty much useless in the New Republic's struggles against the still remaining factions of the Empire. But you see how Exar Kun is who he is, and the mad rage dark Jedi face within themselves. Hence Kyp.
Great book!
Rating: 
Summary: I thought this was a good book.
Review: I like the way Kevin J. Anderson depicts Han as a strong man but a good husband to the beautiful Leia.
Luke on his search for potential Jedi and the interesting ones he came across. Kyp rocks!
Kevin J. Anderson has been accepted in my SW favorite authors.
2nd to Timothy Zahn of course!
Rating: 
Summary: Blah.
Review: Does it get any more boring than this? I hope not. I've read a multitude of the Star Wars novels, and along with Courtship of Princess Leia, I was totally disinterested in this whole trilogy. I have issues with Lucas creating a second Death Star in Return of the Jedi, but I got over that. When Anderson created a third Death Star Prototype, I got annoyed. I know the Empire is cruel and all, but I seriously think there's only so far an evil empire can go. This trilogy was hard to fathom, even for a science fiction book. It was hard to buy some of the situations that came about. I should have read I, Jedi by Michael Stackpole after this, just so I had the satifaction of reading something spectacular, instead of something I forced myself to finish.
Rating:
Summary: Anderson Regains His Footing!!!!
Review: After Anderson's Atrocious beginning to this trilogy I was half expecting this novel to continue in form, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy Dark Apprentice, but it is the best Star Wars Novel I have been pleasured to read (See my Listmania List). Although Anderson continues with the whole "Sun Crusher/Super-Weapon" ordeal he cleverly incorporates it into the plot. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Middle book of series takes literary action to new heights
Review: "Dark Apprentice", more than anything else, really sold me on the "Jedi Academy Trilogy" and Kevin J. Anderson as a writer. The second volume of this trilogy amplifies the action and the tension to such a high degree that I was cursing myself for not being able to read faster. "Dark Apprentice" delves deeply into Luke's education of his first group of Jedi adepts. It's fascinating to read how each of the respective Jedi students uncovers his or her latent force talents while also learning how to make the best out of force ability each one has been given. In addition, each one seems to have talents in specific areas of the force that are more powerful than the others. Kam Solusar seems to be a more gifted pure warrior, while Tionne uses her lesser force skills to spin beautiful music and be the caretaker of the Jedi tradition, and Cilgal proves to be a gifted healer. Adding to the mystery, difficulty, and danger of trying to re-establishing the Jedi order is 4000-year old presence of a Dark Jedi name Exar Kun, who's spirit has been trapped inside one of the temples on Yavin IV since a horrific Jedi battle long ago (read more about this in the Dark Horse comic "Sith War"). Kun's spirit seeks to corrupt the vulnerable Jedi trainees and turn them to the dark side. The presence of a student with seemingly greater force ability than Luke Skywalker makes Kun's influence all the more deadly.
While that drama plays out on Yavin IV, the ruthless Admiral Daala took her remaining Star Destroyers out of the Maw research installation and set about waging her own personal war against the New Republic. After testing her forces against some less-populated, lower technology worlds, she sets out to attack Admiral Ackbar's homeworld of Mon Calamari. The battle is on a grand scale and the resolution of this battle is quite clever. On top of Daala's guerilla attacks on the New Republic, there is also a traitor among the Republic forces who may end up endangering Princess Leia's life and the life of her third child, Anakin. And, the Sun Crusher returns with catastrophically devastating consequences.
Much in the same way "Empire Strikes Back" is generally considered to be the best of the three original movies while serving as a bridge between to the beginning and ending of the trilogy, "Dark Apprentice" has very much the same feel. It's obvious that all the situations that are introduced here or continued from the first book will not be resolved in this edition. Yet, at no time does this feel like a time filler. It's as riveting as "Empire Strikes Back" and the cliff-hanger ending of this book leaves the reader salivating at the chance to read the conclusion to this magnificent trilogy. KJA scores again.
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