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Summary: The best of Luceno's Star Wars books nice lead into E1
Review: James Luceno's prequal to Episode I, Cloak of Deception is the best of the pre classic Star Wars tales to be written. It's exciting with interesting characters, well-written movie tie-ins and overall simply a fun read. The interaction between Obi-wan and Qui-Gon is very well done as is the continuing introduction of Vergere. The story revolves around a comment made in Episode I when Senator Palpatine refers to the Chancellor as being engulfed by "baseless accusations of corruption", this story tells how these accusations came to pass, as well as the simultaneous story of how Nute Gunray came to power. Its filled with Jedi in the role of protectors, not as private investigators as seen in Rogue Planet or as diplomats as seen in The Approaching Storm. Here they are the guardians of peace and justice for the Republic. Luceno writes in a very different style from his New Jedi Order books, and it gives me hope for his next Star Wars work.
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Summary: Don't listen to any negative comments.
Review: This was a great novel and deserves more stars than I can give it. It also explains many questions you had before (EX: Why were the Trade Lanes taxed?). The plot is simple: Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn is obsessed with finding the elusive pirate: Captain Cohl after the destruction of a Trade Federation Starship and the escape of Cohl. Supreme Chancellor Valorum then hopes to solve all problems by taxing the trade lanes and calls an emergency summit. After an assassination attempt on Valorum by the Nebula Front (a terrorist group opposed to the Trade Federation) is stopped by Qui-Gon and another Jedi, the summit is under heavy guard and the Jedi are employed. While all this is happening, the fearful Nute Gunray joins forces with the shadowy Darth Sidious. With action packed battle sequences and mind treats of politcal base, this story will keep your attention to the thrilling climax, with some twists and turns along the way. How will it all turn out? Read and see! This one is for the people who avidly read EU and for those who don't alike. Buy this one, its DEFINITELY worth the money!
Rating: 
Summary: Utterly Horrible...
Review: ...almost like my spelling. The WORST Star Wars book I have ever read! Boring, it draggs alot. It would of put me to sleep if I wasn't hiped up on caffeine. It belongs in the dollar bin!
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Summary: Political thriller?!?!
Review: THis book was sad for a star wars book it was what they call a politocal thriller and i didnt like it it was a boring book that didit deserve the large gold letters star wars
Rating:
Summary: Politics Rule
Review: This is a good book that deals a lot with political intrigue. While I liked it, I found it a bit plodding and slow at times. A true fan will suffer through the slow spots. However, it does give a great insight to the Trade Federation and explains why the political scene is the way it is in Episode 1. Definately worth checking out!
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Summary: One of the favorite Star Wars novels - excellent background
Review: This book is a "most read" for every Star Wars fan. You learn how seemingly innocent Palpatine "marketed" himself while cunningly playing both sides of the fence. He was basically brewing the conflict that would push the Republic to become a dictatorship/empire while guaranteeing that he would be at the head of it. You get introduced to Palpatine/Darth Sidious, Gunray, Amidala, Tarkin, more of Qui Gon, Obi Wan, Vergere (yes NJO's Vergere), Yoda and Mace Windu, etc. Amidala's role is disappointing and short. She is inexperienced and easily manipulated at the end; Palpatine played her good, but he was also able to play Valorum all the way, who has a lot of political experience. Palpatine is already positioning himself to take over. He played the Trade Federation, the Nebula Front, the other senators, etc. James Luceno managed to create a brilliant senator in Palpatine - nothing less could had destroyed the Old Republic. That is what makes this book excellent. This book is more about Palpatine than about Qui Gon or any other Jedi. That is where the title "Cloak of Deception" fits perfectly. I rarely read books twice, but this one is worth it to pick up on the details and to learn from a master of the political game, Palpatine, who is machiavellic. I have enjoyed almost everything that James Luceno has contributed to the Star Wars universe and he is up there with TZ - Timothy Zhan. I cannot wait for the New Jedi Order (NJO) finale, The Unifying Force, written by Mr. Luceno and coming up in Nov. 2003. I already expect that Luceno will do a great job on than one, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Getting the lay of the land
Review: Cloak of Deception reminds me, again, that there is more to a good adventure than the special effects. Spin me a good tale and give me interesting characters to follow and I'm there. James Luceno does it. He gives the reader the lay of the land in a Galactic Republic poised, not unlike the old Roman Republic, on the verge of collapse, the victim of its own success. There are many parallels. When I first saw Star Wars I wondered about the Empire and the old Republic that preceded it. I only got some of the answers from Episode I and II. Now I have a feeling for and a picture of what it was like before the dark times and why things moved the way they did. It's easy to get caught up in the intrigues and the complex manipulations of our once and future villain, Darth Sidious [we all know how that will play out]. We also get a much larger picture of who Qui-Gon Jinn was and why he was often at odds with the Jedi Counsel. If you like a good story and want to get a clearer picture of the Star Wars universe, I recommend this book. And for those who like action there's lots of that in here too-Capitan Cohl is a lot like Han Solo and there's lots of Jedi's employing what Anakin called aggressive negotiations. It's true you know where everything will end up but that does not take away from the adventure on the road to it.
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Summary: The Menace behind The Phantom
Review: Lately, I've become more convinced than ever by the argument that George Lucas erred when he decided to make the story of the Fall of the Republic as three movies; he should have made it a television series, or at least three separate mini-series'. The reason? There is far too much going on around the characters, far too much subtle nuance coloring motivations and actions, to adequately cover in a handful of two-hour snippets. Thankfully, at least, there are the novels to fill in the gaps, and I'm pleased to say that Cloak of Deception does so admirably. The novel is arranged something like a Ludlum thriller minus the phonebook-like page count: bad deeds are afoot, some not very nice people are either manipulating or being manipulated into positions for unknown reasons, an audacious plan is set in motion the purpose of which we do not know, and it's all up to Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan to gather up the clues and save the day. The action starts from practically the opening page and it never really lets up, and it all leads up to an ending that is as thrilling as it is clever. If you like action-filled stories, it's hard not to like this one. The writing is well done and even has a somewhat droll sense of humor to it, and the pace keeps you guessing long enough to want to turn that next page. But how does this all connect with my first point? Well, along the way we get a good dose of the machinations and tensions going on within the Republic, especially those centering around a certain Senator from Naboo. One of the really nifty aspects I like about Cloak of Deception is that it attempts to maintain the fiction that we really don't know that Palpatine and Sideous are one and the same (which we are not suppose to "officially" find out until the third movie). This gives the story a certain degree of mystery, a "what the hell is this guy up to?" quality that is curiously missing from the first two movies. Politics plays a major role here, and the action is a symptom of something going on that is much larger and far more ominous than most of the characters know. You can't fill all of this in over a mere two hours; you can only skim the surface and gather up the chunks at the top, and unfortunately the movies suffer somewhat because of this. Still, as I said, at least the novels are there, and Cloak of Deception fills in a lot of the sorely needed background behind The Phantom Menace. Overall, a very good entry in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Good for me but not for everyone
Review: If you want to know more about the background of E1, then this book will be really helpful. If you want your Sci-Fi blazing with star-battles and light-sabre clashes in every chapter, then this is probably not for you. When the other reviewers have said that this book is about politics, they aren't kidding. It explains a lot about the Federation, Valorum's troubles, Palpatine's popularity, the blockade of Naboo, etc., with just enough action thrown in to keep it interesting (at least enough for me).
I agree with others that Palpatine is the most interesting character of this book. It is truly chilling to see him in action, just seeing the double-meaning in his gentle demeanour and seemingly innocuous statements, knowing what he will do in the future. Not a lot of action (as compared with other SW books), but a lot of political intrigue and manipulation. If you like LaCarre spy novels more than James Bond movies, this might appeal to you. Slow reading at first, but I thought the ending more than compensated. As someone else described it, "a should read but not a must read."
Rating:
Summary: Not "just another prequel novel"
Review: Most of the prequel novels have been good, but few have been truly great. This book however, comes close. All the characters are portrayed excellently, particularly the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. As for Coll and Rella, I didn't want to get attached to them, but in the end the author's pure skill made me care what happened to them regardless. The plot is well done; complex enough to keep me interested, but not so hopelessly convoluted so that I couldn't follow what was going on. As other reviewers have pointed out this is largely a political thriller, but it also doesn't lack plenty of action for those of you who live for heart stopping fight scenes. Anyway, it takes place about a year before Episode 1, as the Republic enters its early stages of decline. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are dispatched with several other Jedi, including Vergere of the New Jedi Order, to monitor a few terrorist groups on a certain planet, but an assassination attempt on Chancellor Valorum complicates matters, as does an infamous though goodhearted outlaw known as Coll, who becomes tangled in matters... To reveal more of the plot would be a crime, so I'll just say that this is definitely one of the better prequel novels; one any Star Wars fan of any age should read.
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