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Dark Journey (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 10)

Dark Journey (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 10)

List Price: $7.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Well I though it was pretty good
Review: Well I thought it was pretty good, but it might just be that Jaina Solo has always been a favorite character of mine (at least in YJK) But it carried suspence and exitement. I'd recommend it to any Star Wars Fan.

(Just a note though if you have read the book in the seen where Tenel Ka's mother dies the book say's Tenel Ka is holding her Mother's hand with BOTH of her's, Just thought I'd point that out)

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Where's the Force Lightening???
Review: I had been looking forward to this book since the day I finished the cracking "Star By Star" many months ago, unfortunately it didn't live up to my anticipation. The plot was quite involved, but I don't think that it was as hard to figure out, as Elaine Cunningham believed it was. Without giving anything away, the fact that the whole book was focused on Jaina made it quite predictable as to which way the story would move.
Fast paced as the story was, Jaina's dark side battle was far too cerebral to be exciting, my feeling was she was flirting with the dark side more than actually being tempted by it. Where were the displays of Dark Side force powers that happened at the end of the previous book? I wanted people being fried with force lightening, not a "Will I, Won't I" discussion in Jaina's head! Her attitude change wasn't very believable and came across as forced, the climax was disappointing, a sterile portrayal of the battle scene, which was unfortunate as these are the very scenes that have made this series so enjoyable, but there were enough developments in the Yuuzan Vong war effort, to make this still worth buying.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Elaine Cunningham the Master of Fantasy Suspense
Review: Elaine has done it again with this novel. She takes a two characters that have been through great tragedies and writes about recovery. Jaina has watched what she thought was both her brothers cut down by the enemy and now much like her father is going to make the Vong pay. What better person to show her that revenge is not the answer than Kyp Durron. Who even though being controlled by Exar Kun used revenge against the Empire. He ended up completely destroying the Carida solar system with the Sun Crusher. This book brings back some old faces and integrates them well into this book. I think it has been the best star wars book focused on a few people since I Jedi.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: One of the worst books in the Star Wars series
Review: The Star Wars series in the past has been primarily plot-driven and action-oriented. In recent years, some of the newer books have focused on character development and introspection more than on the plot. I'm fine with that. However, this book fails to do either satisfyingly.

Let me start with the storyline. Most of the "philosophical" Star Wars novels, while focusing on the feelings of a character or characters (in this case Jaina Solo), do attempt to maintain a coherent plot. Not so with this one. Ms. Cunningham starts out well enough, describing the Jedi Knights' frantic flight from a mission into Yuuzhan Vong territory. Jacen is missing, and though Jaina is hurting from his loss, her adrenaline keeps the emotions at bay and the plot moving. But as soon as Jaina is allowed to settle down in the Hapes cluster, the plot fades. There were several parts of the book where, frankly, I had no clue what was going on. Particularly notable in this was the final battle. I won't spoil the story entirely, but Jaina encounters some sort of epiphany during the battle and, for other reasons, is forced to leave the battlefield. We never find out what happened after she left; we only find out about the final outcome afterwards, when the Yuuzhan Vong are discussing it, and then only in very vague terms. I understand the story centering on Jaina, but to do so to the exclusion of almost everything else is ridiculous.

Then we get to the supposed crux of the book, the exposition of Jaina's feelings after she loses both Anakin and Jacen. I don't think this is handled well at all. We as readers do get the strong and clear sensation that Jaina is slipping to the Dark Side -- she uses Sith lightning at one point, and also continually justifies the means by the ends -- but beyond this, we can never get a clear read on what Jaina is feeling. Ms. Cunningham does make it abundantly clear that Jaina's motivating emotion is revenge, but why this makes her distance herself from her parents (and everyone else), why she acts fatalistic throughout the book, and why she feels minimal guilt about her actions are never adequately revealed. The apotheosis Jaina undergoes at the end of the novel is not fully explained either; it just happens, we are notified that it has happened, and we suddenly see Jaina acting normal again. If a book has to center on character development, it should at least be done properly, and my overriding feeling is that this book fails miserably.

But if I hated it so, why did I give it two stars? Well, there are a few mitigating points of the book. The occasional well-placed humor offset the otherwise dull book. I personally like Jagged Fel a lot, and he plays a small but important role. In addition, Lowbacca is a fun character, though his plot potential is not fully exploited -- he somewhat reminds me of Velma in Scooby Doo, who had one purpose and one purpose only, to piece together clues. His sole purpose is to be a kind of magical "tech guy" who, given time, can figure out how anything works, Yuuzhan Vong or conventional. Nevertheless, he is a likable character, and Ms. Cunningham exploits this occasionally. Also, the plot element of Jaina emulating Yun-Harla, the Yuuzhan Vong Trickster goddess, was well-imagined and well-constructed. As well, unlike in a few other books, the characters generally behave the way we expect them to. I understand why Jaina is consumed by vengeance, but Ms. Cunningham fails to explain how. Finally, the writing is pretty good overall. It's just a pity Ms. Cunningham doesn't have that much to say.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What a piece of junk! . . .
Review: She may not look like much kid, but . . . well . . . she REALLY doesn't have it where it counts either. Let me start off by saying that "Dark Journey" is easily the worst Star Wars book ever writen. I thought Troy Denning's recent offering was bad, but this book makes "Star by Star" look like "War and Peace." From the very beginning the reader is thrust into the frustrating, stale actions of Jaina Solo and her band of Jedi rejects trying desperately to escape from a Yuuzhan Vong Worldship that they had absolutely no business being on. This little escape lasts no less than half of the book, until the team finally finds their way to the Hapes Cluster. From there on out, Jaina and her friends perform strange unexplained acts that are only mildly impressive, while Hapan politics take the front seat of this unimaginative plot line. Hey! Shouldn't someone be worrying about the Vong taking over the galaxy! Oh well, maybe they'll just go away or something.

[...]

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cheese? Yes!
Review: The books are my new reading friend, and I can't say good things about them. This latest is the saga is best! The second in the series and almost as wonderful first. It's somehow not quite; dark and the second book, although parts of it are too scary for bedtime reading to a year old. It's perfect! For 9-12 year olds, or for 41 year olds. Han is back, beset by his old Professor, and the returning of his friends Leia and Jaina. There are some delightful out loud moments: in the book--the appointment new professor and the climactic matches. Continues wonderful comic touches with minors, her charming offbeat world and the emotionally powerful theme of Han learning more. About his parents and their final struggle to save his life by giving? There are new dangerous, the menacing, and the delightful. The mysterious Grim--are they the characters they seem, or have another twist and secret in mind, like book? You'll have to read!!! This new one=to find out. IT's a delightful.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Dangers of the Dark Side
Review: Jaina Solo and the rest of the young Jedi that escaped from their mission behind enemy lines in 'Star by Star' return to Corruscant, only to find it falling to the Vong. Quickly, they set course for the Hapan cluster, home of Prince Isolder, former suitor to Princess Leia. Isolder's wife, the current queen and ruler of Hapes, Tenniel Djo is sick and feared dying. Behind the scenes, Isolder's mother, the former queen Ta'a Chume, works towards finding a new heir, and Jaina looks like an attractive possibility in Elaine Cunningham's 'Dark Journey'.

The events of 'Dark Journey' have started Jaina on a path to the dark side. Kup Durron arrives in the Hapes cluster at about the same time as Jaina and realizes that she is falling, as do many of Jaina's friends, including Tenal Ka, the reluctant heir to the throne of Hapes. In addition, Jag Fel a human serving in the Chiss forces, arrives at Hapes while scouting the Yuuzhan Vong forces. The appearance of Jag rekindles a plot line started earlier in the series.

One of my favorite parts of this book was watching Jaina interact with one of the more minor characters: Lowbacca. Like Han Solo and Chewbacca before them, these two made an interesting and enjoyable duo as they worked on a captured Vong vessel that Jaina christened the 'Trickster' after a Vong deity. I hope these two get more time together in future novels as they make a fun duo.

I felt that Elaine Cunningham also did a good job plotting Jaina's descent into the Dark Side. Her fall was always at the fringe of Jaina's conscience, but she seemed to brush it aside as a means to an end, and never fully accepted the gravity of her situation. That made Kyp Durron's inclusion so valuable, as the Jedi Master that had been there and done that. The recovery is not going to be easy for the young Jedi Knight.

Most of my complaints about the novel have to do with the 'technical', or in the case of the Vong, 'biological' aspects of the novel. As Jaina and Lowbacca work on the Trickster, it is often times difficult to discern what they are doing. In an attempt to insult the Vong and move her vengence forward, Jaina attempts to emmulate Yan Hurla, the Vong deity of deception, and employs many tactics that are not entirely clear in the novel. This brings me to my second complaint, often times, the battle scenes in the novel are not entirely clear as to what is happening. They are also not up to the par that others, such as Michael Stackpole, have written.

Overall, I would recommend this novel to anyone that has been reading the New Jedi Order Series. Anyone who picks up this book should have read some of the earlier novels in the series first, and at least 'Star by Star' to understand many of the events. 'The Courtship of Princess Leia' by Dave Wolverton would also offer a lot of valuable background information on Prince Isolder and Hapes; however, the events in 'Courtship' take place about twenty years prior to 'Dark Journey'.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I loved this book and couldn't put it down.
The Kyp/Jaina interaction was great and there is something between them that will end happily, I hope... :)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Darkly Hysterical
Review: To put it simply I love this book. It is the only book I have ever finished reading and immediately wanted to start it all over again. It is hilarious and yet still serious. The majority of this book is centered around two characters : Jaina Solo and Kyp Durron. The fact that these two are my vary favorite Star Wars characters may make me a little biased regarding this book, but this book is a big part of the reason that they are.
Jaina goes over to the Dark side of the force to avenge Anakin's death. She understands that she is on the dark side and she simply doesn't care. She had made herself numb to her emotions and Anakin's death sort of 'made the war hurt again'. Her friends are afraid for and of her. She is less grief stricken than angry and she will do about anything to fend off the Yuuzahn Vong.
Kyp has his squadron of 'heroes or rouges or villains depending on whom you asked' with which he goes all out against the Vong. He has so far been the only Jedi willing to take the offensive to the Vong and his methods are quite effective. Kyp and his droid have strange conversations in which insults and orders are traded ("how about 'report to maintenance bay for personality graft'"-Kyp "was that an order or an insult?"-Q9 "whatever works"-Kyp). All in all a very funny book.
We do not, in this book, find out what happens to Jacen. I can understand why some were disappointed by this, but I don't see why they hold it against the book itself. (suspense needs to be built somewhere!). I actually kind of liked not knowing what happened to Jacen. It gave me time to theorize while reading a good book.
Just as a warning, though, some of the humor is a little on the dark side. (pun intended!)

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: something to read between the good ones
Review: well...i agree with the first editorial on this page. i dont belive this book was as good as it could have been. no peace brigade, imperials, hutts, nothing of the sort. some of things that had happed seemed to b big events but were hardly emphized. jacen solo being captured was a huge event now fearing that he has or will suffer the same fate as ankin in this book was like "o well, on to the next chapter" like i said in the title this book in my opinion will keep u busy untill the next good one comes around


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