Rating: 
Summary: I wish...
Review: No, I can't say I'm pleased with this perversion of a Star Wars novel. If you're a longtime fan of the Expanded Universe, you'll be sorely dissapointed. Not only is the thing altogether too short and too fragmented (especially if you read it immediately after finishing Balance Point, which I think was more or less an easy-to follow book about Jacen's uncertainty) but also a rather stale and unimaginative read.
I'll give it this; it's not as bad as Edge of Victory: Conquest. But that's about all I'm giving it.
Basically, the plot is like a strand of yarn; lots of little strings of rough material that come together to make one big string of rough material. Some stuff about Jacen being doofy, Luke doing nothing to help the war effort, Han accomplishing a fraction of what he could if he was paying attention, and Anakin and his naive little girlfriend trying to let Corran die so they can make out in secluded air lockers. No kidding, I mean it. Oh, and now all of you who only started reading the damn series for that little teen relationship thing will go out and buy the book to read about that. Well, okay, anyway, the only reason anyone will want to buy this book is because Mara has her baby in it. And besides that, there's a lot of plot points that shouldn't be missed - after all, missing an NJO novel will screw up your understanding of the next ones. Good luck.
Rating: 
Summary: A Continueing Saga that leaves us hanging
Review: I won't spit out spoilers, but be prepared for plot twists like you've never known. Anakin, Mara, Jaina, Kyp, the Vong, Luke, the New Republic. All do something or experience something unexpected. We continue to learn more about the invaders, yet we also keep learning about characters whom we thought we knew. Read it, but only after reading the rest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Good Author, Poor Try
Review: Greg Keyes is a good author, even when doing tie-in stuff like this. But there were points in this book, points that were almost unreadable, where I had to ponder, "Was he even trying?" To be fair, I will say the main problem with this novel is the same that plagues all the New Jedi Order series, the Yuzzahn Vong are a boring, one-dimensional foe in an ongoing plot that really bites. This is usually redeemed by good characterization and interesting side stories. None of that is here. Following up from his boring Conquest, Keyes hits us with multiple plots: Luke and Mara prepare for their firstborn; Han, Leia and Jacen raid Vong-friendly ships, Anakin and his annoying girlfriend try to get Corran Horn killed by doing many stupid things; and Jania is duped by the trecherous dark jedi Kyp Durron (who does this with clumsy sexual advances!)Out of all these, the Han and Jacen plot works best, especially with dealling with Jacen's plight over the nature of their raids (the scene in the bar later is hilarious, and closest to classic Keyes.) The least compelling is the plot I failed to mention, because it should be in this novel, and only serves as setup for more idiotic ploting. In the end, save yourself some time and skip this novel and go for Troy Dennings Star By Star - hopefully it will be much better. Still, at least it was better than the appalling Darth Maul - Shadow Hunter.
Rating: 
Summary: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order,
Review: It's very good book. I recommed this book.
Rating: 
Summary: What a way to finish EoV!!!
Review: What a great book. This one builds on what went on during the last book, plus it kind of gives us a tiny idea about what people other than Anakin and Tahiri have been up to. This is definitely a lot more interesting and un-put-down-able than any of the other NJO books, but it was a bit short. We seriously need another 500-or-so pg novel here. Oh yeah, the thing between Jaina and Kyp is definitely interesting, and I REALLY hope it progresses.
Rating:
Summary: A book that serves its purpose.
Review: No one could call this book a classic, but it's a fun read all the same. There's plenty of action, a bit of romance, and even some humor to lighten the dark mood of the NJO.
My biggest problem with this book is it's inconsistency. It has many different plot lines, all completely independent of one another, but this in itself is not so bad. The problem is that some of these plot lines, such as the one following the work of Nen Yim, and the one in which the long awaited skycrawler is born, are boring or anticlimatic, while others, such as the plot lines following Jaina and Anakin, are action packed, edge-of-your-seat star wars style with plenty of intersting twists. In other words, you'll be reading about a fast paced space battle with Jaina, Kyp, and the rogues (all great characters)when suddenly the chapter ends and you find yourself being bored to death by Nen Yim's dying warship or the now old plight poor sick Mara. It took all of my self control not to skip ahead back to the intersting stuff.
For the book as a whole, I look at it as something to tie us over until Star by Star comes out in octobre, and in that light it serves it's purpose well. I can't help but wish Keyes had done a better job with the birth of Luke and Mara's son, as that is actually important for the series as a whole, but the parts that were well done in this book were extremely well done.
For those of you who are die hard star wars fans, I probably don't even need to tell you to buy this book because you'll already have it. For those of you who like the series a lot but aren't obsessive, I'd say buy it but don't expect another Vector Prime. That way, you won't be disapointed. For those of you who are already lossing interest in the NJO, save your money for Star by Star.
Rating:
Summary: A decent rebirth
Review: Well, where "Conquest" had nothing of the sort, "Rebirth" had much of the action I expect from the NJO. Finally, after a book and a half of doing virtually nothing, we finally strike back at the Vong and make a dent. I'm sure it escapes most of the younger readers of this series, but there really is a huge study of human nature and war embedded in the NJO series. Where Star Wars was very clean-cut US vs. THEM, NJO presents so many sides to the war, that you have to just try and pick one and stick to it. Personally, I find Anakin to be the most honest with his approach, but then again he has been almost crippled with guilt at times. Anyway, to get back to the story, like most NJO books, this one was a worthwhile read and certainly makes me look forward to the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait for next title release, but confused.
Review: As a common thread across seven books now, the Vong have made an imaginative and credible threat in the StarWars Universe, much as the Dominion did for Star Trek DS9, that proves to provide not only an excellent extension to the property, but gives new reason to readers to stay fans. I recommend not just the Edge of Victory II, but the entire New Jedi Order series starting with Vector Price, where the new Vong threat is introduced. (Note, if you didn't read the New Hope series, you may be daunted as I was, by the many references to Mara's sickness and the romance with Skywalker. However, if your patient there are plenty of flashbacks as you go through this series to catch up). I do take issue with several aspects with this specific book, and it's predecessor. First, the Hutt empire is woven into the series rather poorly. Many details are left out on what they did to anger the Vong, or the politics in the change from ally to adversary. Second, it was poorly explained why the Vong are spread thin in EoV II, that lead to their set back. After all, they had stopped their advance and where massing ships, yes? Finally, they elude to problems with their world ships, but it is really fuzzy why there is a crisis. In any event, I am up on Amazon today looking for the release of the next episode, Star by Star, as my appetite for Star Wars has not been met since the X-Wings series, but now has been multiplied many times over due to the excellent mix of evil and fabulous alternate (anti) technology in their credible new foe, the Vong. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: By far.....
Review: This book was the best of the series to this date. I am desperately looking forward to the next three installments (i say three because i KNOW for a fact that three books are already scheduled for release) Anyways, this book brought out the best of the star wars universe. Once again, Thank You Greg Keyes, for this brilliant novel.
Rating:
Summary: The New Jedi Order taken to unsuspected heights.
Review: I really liked this book, it follows a many parallel storylines but like Conquest the main plot is played by Anakin, this new story answers many previous questions and at the same time opens a whole lot more.
And at last supreme Overlord Shimrra makes his appereance, and if you thought Warmaster Tsavong Lah was threatening, let me tell you that Shimrra must be the papa of the whole Vong... oops, sorry: Yuuzhan Vong, and he is GODLIKE.
Both Conquest and Rebirth were light readings in my taste, but in no way bad ones, you just can't put them down; the only thing that dissapointed me a little was that I expected that the plotline concerning Nem Yin would tie with the main plot at the end of the book but it appears that this will happen somewhere ahead (probably on Star by Star). Surely Rebirth doesn't makes any drastic change to the New Jedi Order storyline (other then the birth of the "very special child"), but it is a book full of surprises, and you can't miss the setting up for events ahead.
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