Rating: 
Summary: A unispired installment in a otherwise interesting series
Review: A terribly disappointing installment in an otherwise interesting series. Do not, I repeat DO NOT buy this in hardback. The author is not very adept at handling more than 2 alternating narrative threads during the novel. His writing is fairly lackluster and difficult to read during some potentially intense scenes, and over detailed an unbearably slow in what should be fairly easy transitions. This edition in the NJO series is rather uninspired and the story line is not advanced very far for how much writing was done. Denning should learn how to use the death of a major character to advance the plot. A little George R. R. Martin (who is very adept at killing major characters with a purpose, several in fact) should straighten him out. The genre is irrelevant, the death of a major character should cover what "he" is doing, why and when. The "how" of the death is not as important. In this case a "sacrifice" (what he is doing) is hollow because the why and when are not appropriate. The oft repeated "so and so has not died without a purpose" (or in vain) is utterly false. Because of the lack luster development of tension (maybe because of the unbelievable environment) or the loooong drawn out sequence of the Worldship, the death has little impact. The main challenge of this particular plot is rather insignificant on a "Galaxy" wide level, and the complications that accompany it are rather contrived. The implacable foes from previous NJO novels are now fairly inept in their own element, not too believable. Even after this "sacrifice" another major character is captured. Bad writing. The new republic is yet again beaten to a pulp, even their victories are hollow because most of them were anticipated or "allowed". A climax might have helped a little too. I must file this ENTIRE novel on the shelf with Ewoks and Jar-Jar, under I will ignore their existence. I halfheartedly hope that he is not really dead. Even some hoaky comic book resurrection would be preferable to this novel, because it would make ignoring it much easier.
Rating:
Summary: Too Dark and Depressing
Review: STAR BY STAR was disappointing and depressing. The writing was uneven, with parts written as an adult novel and other parts written on the level of a Young Jedi Knights novel. This book was very dark, with a lot of graphic violence and many deaths, including the slow, painful death of a major character. While the violence was described in great detail, the descriptions of the Worldship, the Vong starship, and the characters themselves, were very sparse. The mission of the young Jedi Knights, which was the major plot of SBS, was illogical and interminable. The rift between the Luke and Kyp factions in the Jedi, which has been ongoing throughout this series, was ended without a real discussion or a resolution. It was good to see most of the adult characters actively involved. Lando made some major contributions in SBS. Han and Leia were nicely written in this book, and they were given some meaty, heroic roles. On the other hand, Luke Skywalker has still not been written well. Since ONSLAUGHT, he has accomplished almost nothing, and he has been portrayed as flawed, weak, and indecisive. He rarely seems to use the Force. Although he flew his X-wing in SBS, that was about his only contribution. One would think that a Jedi Master and the head of the Jedi Order would do something more. The Skywalker character has not yet been one of the focal characters in this series after nine books, and he is rarely a point of view character. It's time we saw a more active, powerful, and confident Luke Skywalker, one who uses some of his many Force talents, and one who isn't constantly 'nagged' by his wife. As the head of the New Jedi Order, it would be nice to see things from his perspective more often too. I have never liked the Yuuzhan Vong and their biotechnology. After nine books, they've gotten really, really old, and to think we're not even at the halfway point with the Vong or this series yet. :( SBS is a long book in a very long, depressing series.
Rating: 
Summary: Pivotal Book
Review: This book will take you in and not let you go. I read the last page and was searching for more.
Finally we have a Star Wars novel that is novel length. At 600 pgs, the NJO has an adult length book.
The story is great with two major plotlines. One involves Luke's entrance into the fight, while the other follows a dangerous mission for the younger Jedi Knights. Both are supported with minor plots and good development. This is a story with a large amount of action and does not run into philosophical soliloquies as some others have.
The only real problem that I had with this novel (besides not wanting it to end!) was I found the initial location descriptions of the worldship somewhat difficult to follow and was a little confused about the rooms and where the team was at times. This could be my own fault in that I was so excited by the work, I was reading very quickly in order to learn what would happen next. Second I was awe struck by, what I felt was, the unexpected death of a major (though non-movie) character. It's not a bad point of the story, just sad,unexpected, and more than a little jarring.
This is a fine addition to the NJO series. I call it pivotal because clearly things will not be the same for the Jedi or the Solos or their satellite friends. I look forward to see how future novels proceed from Troy Denning's story.
Definitely read this book, but clear a good amount of time because you won't want to put this one down!
Rating: 
Summary: This book is sad but good
Review: I must say that when i first read this book i was shocked to hear that one of the main characters died. At first I didn't want to read any more and i wished that i had never bought the book but then i realized that none of the characters are invulnerable and that it does get boring when the bad guy always dies and the good guy doesn't. And also in a way this book was great for that fact that Troy Dennings might have killed one of the characters but he also wrote a book with all the other characters. These books were getting a little too boring because we kept on seeing new characters and none of the old ones. We never heard the names like Antilles or Celchu since vision of the future. Horn's been there in some of the books but what about the rest...they are also part of the Star Wars Saga. In this book, Troy Dennings brought back characters like Wedge Antilles and Garm Bel Iblis (out of retirement), Tycho Celchu (Rogue Squadron veteran), Ganner Rhysode, Gavin Darklighter and General Rieekan. He even had Cooran Horn in it. I have read all the Star Wars books and from all of them only Micheal A. Stackpole writes books about Horn, other writers only mention him once or twice but Troy Dennings gave him an active role in this book...This book might be a sad one but it has its good points too and also i think that this book is the best from all of them... I have yet to read another book better than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, Sad, Numbing
Review: This was the best written book of the NJO by far. It was fast, action packed with hope and sadness. I was shocked when xxx died, but as I have noted throughout the Star Wars saga (and I was 8 years old when the orginal came out)every ending is in some way a new beginning. I look forward to the series as it continues.
Rating:
Summary: Just Awful
Review: This book and the whole NJO series is just awful. A bunch of kids and unknown Jedi that come out of nowhere, running around doing everything. Why is everyone else portrayed as a bunch of clueless idiots? Why should we care when the kids are all wiped out? The whole thing is insulting to our intelligence. Why can't we have good books like we did before? When is this dreadful alien-invasion series going to end? When are they going to stop writing these silly teenage stories? Please let me know when Star Wars gets back to being Star Wars and not this weird Star Trek mess written for kids with short attention spans.
Rating:
Summary: For what it is worth...
Review: Just wanted to add my two cents. To whom it may concern, Congratulations. You have ruined any incentive I would have to rush out and purchase any further editions to your NJO collection.
Rating:
Summary: The best book yet
Review: This is by far the best book in the series. Chock full of suprises, and i just mean a ton of suprises. Not only is it written in great detail, but also follows the charecters personalities. Troy Denning has written a masterpiece. And better yet, they bring in charecters from the past: Corran Horn, Wedge Antillies(brought out of retirement), Garm Bel Iblis (also brought out of retirement), and Lando. You think with this line of New Republic personal the Yuuzhan Vong would be stopped cold in their traks, then Denning throws another curve ball at you. Throughout the entire series i thought the Yuuzhan Vong would lose at Coruscaunt, and start getting beat back, but not with Denning as the author. I felt moved when somebody on the New Republic died. I felt overwhelming joy when a Vornskr(read the book to find out) was killed. I have never expierienced this in a book before. I read all 600 pages in 4 days. If school was'nt going on, i would have had it in 2 days. The best book yet.
[...]
Rating: 
Summary: Getting a bit old, but too tempting to read....
Review: Having been a Star Wars fan literally all my life, I find myself drawn into the Star Wars world of books, including this series. The book isn't bad, though with the Vong capturing planets at the pace they are, I doubt there will be enough of the New Republic to even write about in a few books. My other complaint, about the series in general, is that they keep killing important people - by the end of the series, the Star Wars characters we all know and love may not be around to write about!! Overall, the book is not a bad read, and I agree that the portrayal of Lando is the best ever. The portrayals of Luke & Mara seem a bit unusual, while Han and Leia deal with yet even more heart-ache....which is getting really old. I would recommend reading this book (this series, actually) only if you are into the series and can't get out, like I am, and you just can't resist reading the books to find out what happens to your favorite characters. If you are half-hearted fan, I wouldn't even recommend this book, because they aren't that earth-shattering and there are a lot of inconsistancies that are bothering if you get too picky.
Rating:
Summary: the New Jedi Order keeps getting better!
Review: I've been enjoying all of the other books in this series, and Star by Star did not dissappoint. The series is really heating up, and this book has what is probably the most important event yet (replacing Chewbacca's untimely demise in the first book). I'm not going to reveal what it is, but it should have a big impact on our favorite cast of characters. This is a well written, action-packed novel, and I enjoyed it very much. I hope the series continues for a long time, though I don't know if the Jedi can hadle much more!
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