Rating: Summary: Exciting conclusion to the Agents of Chaos duo. Review: This book picks up two months after Hero's Trial left off. Leia is overseeing the evacuation of worlds targeted by the Yuuzhan Vong invaders. Han and Droma are still searching for Droma's relatives. The Jedi Knights are split in two about how to best fight the Vong. Jedi Wurth Skidder has undertaken a dangerous undercover mission on a Vong ship. And while their sister Jaina is flying with Rogue Squadron, Jacen and Anakin Solo have gone to the Correlian system to attempt to rearm Centerpoint Station. The New Republic hopes to lure the Vong fleet to the Correlian System by making it appear virtually defenseless, then decimating the fleet using Centerpoint and the planetery repulsors in the system. This was an exciting conclusion to Hero's Trial, and an excellant addition to the New Jedi Order storyline. The only real problem I had with the book was the exclusion of Mara and Jaina, two of my favorite characters. It's ridiculous that Mara would just sit their on Coruscant hoping her disease was gone, and Jaina could have easily been added into the story by having Rogue Squadron participate in some of the space battles. But the book was an overall great read, nonetheless. I'm counting the days until I get Balance Point.
Rating: Summary: Fun to read Review: This book was not as good as Hero's Trial, but still ranks up there as one of the best. Han and Droma are great together and I enjoyed their interaction immensely. Of course, the enstrangement of Han and Leia is the hardest situation to deal with in this series of books. There are some scenes that are hard to swallow but I'm looking forward to seeing a reconcilation and how their relationship grows in the upcoming books. There are plenty of action and subplots in this book to hold everyone interest. The only missing character that I would like to see more of is Lando. Where has he been?
Rating: Summary: Make sure you have a dictionary handy!! Review: This book was not as good as the first in the "Agents of Chaos" duology, but it did tie up a lot of qeustions and concluded nicely. My only problem with this book was the fact that Luceno wrote this book with help of a quantum physisist, it seems. It felt like I had to reach for a dictionary every other page. Maybe I'm just slower than most. All in all, though, not a bad read. I can't wait for "Balance Point" to come in!
Rating: Summary: Definitley a Must-Read! Review: This conclusion to James Lucerno's series effectively ties in most of the characters and sub-plots of the New Jedi Order series - with a few notable exceptions. Lucerno's ability to weave all the characters and sub-plots together into an explosive finale is almost on par to that of Timothy Zahn, author of what is arguably the best Star Wars writing ever. While keeping the fast-moving pace of that characterizes his writing, Lucerno manages to work in many little background details that any semi-literate Star Wars fan will recognize. Fans of the Young Jedi Knights series, like myself, will be happy to know that that series is not ignored by Lucerno, the only author of the new series to make an effort to incorporate it into his book. There's even a small cameo for Tenel Ka. While Lucerno doesn't tie up many of the loose ends that R.A. Salvatore created in Vector Prime, he does manage to darken the overall mood of the series. (Allthough Vector Prime was pretty dark to begin with.) As our heroes (and there are a lot of them) go from one desperate situation, their struggles are tied in with the struggles of the New Republic as a whole. I won't spoil it for you, but this book ends on a grimmer note than his previous one, presumably setting the scene for Kathy Tiers novel Balance Point. Allthough I enjoyed this book, a few things annoyed me. Most notably, the absence of Mara Jade, Jaina Solo, or any other strong female character other than Leia. While most of the plot centers around Han Solo and the Vong's alliance with the Hutts, all of the subplots focus around male characters - Wurth Skidder, Jacen and Anakin Solo - with the exception of Leia, who is engaged in - what else?- diplomacy. Even if Jaina Solo is off flying in Rogue Squadron, Lucerno had ample oppurtunity to put her in one of the many space battles he wrote. And knowing what I do of Mara Jade's character, I find it hard to believe she would just stand around waiting on Coruscant, recuperating or not. Lucerno is not the first Star Wars author to ignore the female characters, but I hope he is the last. I, for one, was looking foward to seeing Jaina Solo's character grow and change, not just Jacen and Anakin's.
Rating: Summary: Deep characterization and great plot line Review: This might not be the best SW book ever, but it certainly is fun to read and gives you a vivid description of the events that have developed the Yuuzhan Vong element into one of the best introductions to the SW Universe.The characterization is pretty good, at last we start to see the same bold and daring Han Solo of old, as well as appearances of characters presented in past novels (Thrackan Sal Solo and Prince Isolder just to mention a few). The amazing part is that Luceno describes and forms those characters way much better than the authors that originally introduced them did, so they add some nice twists and spice to the whole book. I have to congratulate the author for providing with yet another dramatic blow to the "idealized" SW Classic Carachters (remember, Luceno killed Chewbacca in the first New Jedi Order Book), by introducing an expanding rift and conflict inside de Solo marriage. This provides the novel with some very interesting perspectives and a sense of the world falling apart, perfectly complemental with the violent invasion described in the book. I did not gave this book five stars because, in my opinion, it lacks the huge space battles that belong in any SW novel. But the truth is that this book revolves around Han Solo, and this makes the novel center in more "Han-esque" features like stealth, cunning and some sort of "humorous creative solutions" inherent to the corellian smuggler we all like. You should get this book, not just because of the action and edge of the seat situations, but for the interesting and humane characterization Mr. Luceno makes of Han, Leia, and the Solo children, as well as the deep description of the Yuuzhan Vong culture and what moves the to conquest the galaxy in such an agressive way.
Rating: Summary: Jedi Eclipse: Star Wars with a new twist Review: This novel is heavy with betrayel. Viqi Shesh is on the New Repulics inner council, one of the most trusted individuals in the government. But she is in contact with the Yuzzhan Vong. Randa Besadii Diori plays a double agent. Naturally, as a Hutt he is a scum bag, but he brought Hutts to an all time low in this book. He first helps the Yuzzhan Vong then helps the New Republic. He gets many Non- Yuzzhan Vong killed in the process, including one Jedi and many expert pilots. This book is one of the best I' ve read. The New Jedi Order has turned the Star Wars Story line. It proves that all of the main characters in Star Wars aren't invincible. But why did Chewie have to die???
Rating: Summary: Better than AoC I Review: This was probably the best of the first 5 NJO books yet. It didn't concentrate on just one character and brought up some things from the past like Centerpoint and Hapes, which were both very well done! One thing I didn't like, though, were the Ryn. They were ok at the beginning but in this book they were just plain annoying! Han does not need Droma as a substitude for Chewie. Oh, and something else annoyes me in general, that Leia is no jedi, or so they say. It was nice having her in politics for some time but now she should start dealing with her heritage.
Rating: Summary: Good, expands the series, yet still not quite there... Review: Well, this book was good. Really good actually. I greatly enjoy this author's style, and consider him one of the best they've had yet, but even so, I didn't think this one was quite as good as Hero's Trial. This book, like it's predecesser, focuses mainly on Han Solo, who, after the devestating death of Chewbacca, flees his family and the pain of his friend's demise by immersing himself once again in the underworld of the smugglers. Meanwhile, the galaxy in general has turned against the Jedi Knights, seeking to blame them for all the problems they have. Leia travels to Hapes (Courtship of Princess Leia, Young Jedi Knights) on behalf of the New Republic, in order to ask her old friends if they will join forces with them in the hopes that together they can defeat the Vong. Meanwhile, Corellia, fearing that the Vong may be targeting them next, call Anakin Solo back to their superweapon, Centerpoint, in the hopes that he could reactivate it, (a job no one but he could do) as he did as a seven year old (Corellian trilogy). Anyway, suffice to say that this book is action packed and full of plenty of character stuff as well. What truly annoyed me is, what happened to Mara? It looked as if she really might be alright in the last book, and I for one, would have liked to see how she's doing firsthand, instead of just Luke talking about her to other people. Also, rest assured, the Yuuzhan Vong are a scary villian. Teenagers and adults will like this series but (contrary to most of the other Star Wars books) not good for young kids. Anyway, this was a good book that I recommend to most other fans.
Rating: Summary: Where are the Imperials Review: Where is pellaeon or Bel Ibls or Lieutet Page. Half the best charicters are missing. It was better then Hero's Tials though who wants to hear about a boring old fart like Han Solo. Create a planet or to to. toss side charters that have been barly mentined prviusly like Admiral Numb, of Tschel that guy who is always on bthe bridge when something happens on the Chimaria. Mare dietail couldent hurt. This guy's about as good as the corellian serris guy Roger Mcdoell Allen.
Rating: Summary: Terrible to follow Review: While I enjoyed Jedi Eclipse quite a bit. I found this book lacking in a few areas. The plot jumps quite a bit, while covering many adventures at once this is to be expected, but it just seemed choppy to me. Leaving off at a important point might be considered suspenseful, but too much of it leaves a bad aftertaste and slows down the read. The author really goes overboard on Jacen Solo's inability to do just about anything, the only thing I got from his portrayal of Jacen was that he whines, alot. It's annoying to not see any progress from that character except that he whines more in every novel. The lack of Luke and Mara were sore points also. Also there was no real interaction between the Ryn and his clan after he found them. I mean come on, you make a major storyline in the plot about this guy finding his clan, and when he does, nothing is shown, not his joy, relief, sadness etc...very sad close on that plotline. The space battles were not well written, it was kinda confusing about what was really going on all over. I enjoy reading and re-reading my star wars novels, and this is the worst example of a space battle I have laid eyes on. Book was lacking, I cant recommend it to anyone. I suppose if you read the first, you should read this one to close it out. I for one will not be purchasing another Luceno novel set in the star wars universe.
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