Rating: 
Summary: Finally! A really REALLY good prequel novel!
Review: I was walking past one of the many bookstores in the very nice town of Deventer one day, when suddenly the store's owner came out, and practically dragged me into his shop, saying: "I just got some of those Star Wars pockets you read so much, wanna see them?"
Although I was rather baffled, I did concur, I DO read SW novels a lot, and I DID wanted to see the new ones he had.
Under a minute later I had bought "Star Wars: Cloak of Deception". So far, I have no cause for regretting the purchase, quite on the contrary in fact.Cloak of Deception is one of the best Star Wars novels I've ever read. The characters were very well developed, all events and actions seemed logical, the plot was virtually airtight and the author managed to give the readers a very nicely balanced mix of both action and plot.
One of the things I liked most about this book though, was the fact that it picks up a lot of the threads left by Episode I. As some other reviewers already mentioned, The Phantom Menace failed to make sence at all times, giving the impression that there were a lot of things going on behind the scenes, but which remained completely hidden to the viewers.
Read this novel, and you will find out what all those things were. It awnsers all kinds of questions left by episode I, such as: Why are the outlying starsystems being taxed? How and why did the Trade Federation and the Sith team up to blockade Naboo? Where did the Federation get its droid army? What were the "false accusations of corruption" which cost Valorum his career?
Read this book and find out. The only downside I could find to this book was the fact that at some times, things tended to get somewhat dull, mostly because the author sometimes tended to work out people's motivations or the significance to some situations a bit TO far. Hardcore action lovers are therefore the only people who just might not like this novel.
For the rest, this book is pure SW greatness, up there with Shadows of the Empire and the Thrawn trilogy, easy. Many thanks to the owner of a certain bookstore in Deventer, Holland, for getting me to buy this!
Rating: 
Summary: A great story but very dull prose.
Review: This tale describes the political machinations which lead up to the story we all know from the Episode I movie, and though it is very well thought out and organized, which is an accomplishment, it is severely handicapped by James Luceno's boring, uninspired prose. If, like I am, you are a Star Wars fan, then read it for the details, because it explains much that is otherwise left unexplained. If, however, you wish to spend your valuable reading time on something with the barest minimum of artistic value, feel free to skip this one. I do however recommend the next book in chronological order, "Star Wars Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter" by Michael Reaves, as a great example of classic pulp science fiction. I wish he'd written this one too.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Star Wars books ever.
Review: This book is one of my favorite Star Wars books. It's a must read for any Star Wars fan. All of the characters (favorites like Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Palpatine, Nute Gunray, Jedi Council members and many more) stayed in their character. No one did anything that would look weird. The book perfectly fits into the Star Wars world. It goes right along with everything and leads up to The Phantom Menace. The book even includes characters like Tarkin, from A New Hope. I think that everyone should read this book. It is so good!
The story takes place before The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are on a mission that takes them to many interesting planets. There is lots of action, including blaster fights, lightsaber battles, and space battles. I liked how the Jedi Council sent several Jedi Masters to accompany Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to one planet. Tarkin (the soon-to-be Grand Moff) is in this book. He was, as usual, in a very high command place. It was interesting to compare him from this book to the Original Star Wars Trilogy. It's hard right now to explain the plot, but just read it. You'll like it! Also, during the story Obi-Wan was still a young Jedi Apprentice (well, duh!) but I was reminded of young Anakin Skywalker. If you have read Rogue Planet (I highly recommend it!) then you'll see what I mean. The bond between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is strong and true. James Luceno really had me turning the pages fast. This book is exciting and strong and it made me want to watch The Phantom Menace after it. Again, I highly recommend it to any Star Wars fan out there!
Rating: 
Summary: Deadly dull
Review: Eighty percent of this book is political machinations setting up for the events of TPM. There is no action (like in the Darth Maul book); no character development (like in the Jedi Apprentice series); no interesting characters (like in the AOTC Alan Dean Foster prequel book). By all means read this if you like Star Wars, but expect to be bored.
Rating: 
Summary: Isaak Asimov writes Star Wars
Review: I have to admit, I only bought this book to complete my SW collection. In fact, I almost didn't, because of the cheesy annoying cover, but boy, am I now glad that I did.. Prequels are not an easy thing. After all, your audience pretty much knows the ending; so how do you keep them interested?
Well, in this case, J Luceno did it with superb characterisations and the most wonderfully layered plot since.. well, ever. (at least in the SW novels). If you 've seen The Phantom Menace, you probably walked out with as many questions as I did. Everything in that movie was happening more or less in a vacuum. Well, Cloak of Deception will answer your every question. In that alone, this book is worth four stars. It doesn't only lay the groundwork for everything that happens in the SW Universe afterwards, it does so rationally and creatively. Episode I makes sense to me now! What makes it so gratifying though, is that Luceno does not pull a W. Williams and Destiny's Way fiasco. He does not sacrifice the people for the storyline. The Cloak's characters (Palpatine, Vallorum, the Jedi, the Neimoidians) made so much sense. Their motives, their methods, their reactions felt totally right, every step of the way. Even the cameos, like for example Tarkin, were bang on. But in the end, Star Wars Universe notwithstanding, this novel stands out all by itself, by virtue of an inventive, complex plot, that keeps you guessing right to the end. Not since Asimov's Foundation Series, have I read SciFi with such sweeping political intrigue, down to the last bit of dialogue and interplanetary politicking. Definatelly worth the read, even if you are not a SW fan.
Rating:
Summary: Easy, Breezy, Beutiful, Cloak of Deception.
Review: This OFFICIAL Handbook is great. Guide the "monsters". It not only covers all but also comes with a full color poster!! The author does a fine job of describing essentials to raising a happy television show. Appreciate the depth look at Trainers. A complete listing of all eight. Not Gears. Join shorts if you need to find out. Facts about each and every today or curious what a man is look further. This is the manual to buy if you "gotta!".
Rating:
Summary: This book is really, really cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: As a long time star wars fan, I haved seized every opportunity I have had to buy and read more star wars books. I wish that there were movies based upon these books. This particular one is one of my favorites. I was extremely pleased on how nicely it ties in with the movie "The Phantom Menace". As you will read, the Trade Federation Neimoidian characters from the movie, such as Viceroy Nute Gunray and Rune Haako and Sith Lord Lord Sidious have already began to plot their plan for domination of the galaxy. More characters from the movie, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, Senator Palpatine, and my personal favorite Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn are in the book too.
The Trade Federation have begun their plan by making themselves look helpless in ordern to obtain a droid army. They continue their plot, while the Jedi, keepers of peace and justice, try to keep peace and justice in the galaxy. This is a book you will not want to miss. If you are sure not sure about this book yet, then allow yourself to read more reviews on this book. If anybody says anything negative about this book or doesn't like it, I strongly disagree with their view.
May the Force Be With You.
Rating:
Summary: Every Prequel has a Prequel
Review: Star Wars: Cloak of Deception is one of the most intricate Star Wars novels I have ever read. The book goes into great detail about the events leading up to Episode One, including the Taxation of Trade Routes, the baseless accusations that Chancellor Valorum faced, how Nute Gunray and his lieutenants met Darth Sidious, and more. This book gives the reader a deeper understanding of just how seriously ill the Republic was, and the enormity of the problems in the senate. While the book's plot is fast-paced and enjoyable, it's a more lesiurely read than most. Whereas I can usually polish off a Star Wars book in three to four days, "Cloak" took me a week to finish. The book does not hide the fact that it is more a political thriller than a regular Star Wars adventure, and the page-turning incentive isn't quite as high until towards the end, when the action kicks into high gear. Still, James Luceno must be commended. In the hands of a lesser author, all the talk about politics and taxation would have come off dry and tedious. Here, even if the reader isn't quite sure what's going on, the dialogue between the characters feel so real, so natural, that one can't help but read on. Luceno captures all the characters from the movie PERFECTLY. From Qui-Gon to Yoda to Palpatine to Nute Gunray, you can hear their voices exactly like you were watching another movie. Many of the Jedi council members also speak, assuring fans that they weren't all mutes in the movies. Star Wars fans will also love the little character cameos thrown in. While some only pop up for half a page of dialogue and feel blatent and jarring (think of movies that hire celebs for a bit part, and when you see them you go "Ohhhh! I know them!", completely taking you out of the movie), they tie in the overall saga rather nicely. This is a great, well-written Star Wars book. It's different from most of the others, but reading it will make you respect Episode One just a little more.
Rating:
Summary: A quick, fun read
Review: I bought the paperback edition of this book the first week it was available, bought it on Thursday, and finished it by Sunday, it is a very quick read, its 344 pages were a breeze, it took me a total of about 4 hours to finish it. The first 50 or so pages were the hardest for me to read, because they focused characters that are unfamiliar to Star Wars fans except Nute Gunray and Dofine everyone else is new. However, all of the information given in those pages were vital to understanding the story, so even though they were plodding, they were also essential and couldn't have been omitted without making the later story incomprehensible. Once the action gets to Corusant, the pace picks up and it is a much quicker read. The background information on Palpatine and his manipulations of Chancellor Valorum, and Darth Sidious' plotting with the trade federation were very fun to read about. The biggest problem with the book is the limitations under which it was produced, as a prequel to an already well know story, it is by necessity rather predictable, as you know where everything is going to end up, and he doesn't have the freedom to offer any major bombshells, like revealing that Palpatine and Darth Sidious are the same person. But, none of this is the author's fault, it is the nature of the enterprise.
The flaws as, I see them, are: first, Darth Sidious/Palpatine seems a little too powerful. At times, the story strains credibility too much because it makes it appear that Sidious is in control of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING in the galaxy. He couldn't have possibly planned for EVERY possible contingency. Yes, I know that he is an evil genius and that he spent years developing his master plan, but even a Sith Lord isn't omnipotent, which he seems to be in this book. In the movies, it is very clearly established that Sidious is indeed fallible, he is very prone to make mistakes and miscalculations. He didn't anticipate that Valorum would send Jedi to negotiate the blockade of Naboo, he didn't forsee that Amidala would attack rather than sign the treaty with the Trade Federation, he thought that Darth Maul would be able to defeat Obi Wan and Qui Gon, and most important, he failed to forsee that when he was forced to make the choice, Vader would be loyal to Luke rather than to himself. Sidious isn't infallible! Second, I don't agree with the books characterization of the relationship between Obi Wan and Qui Gon, is this book, Qui Gon seems way too critical of Obi Wan, constantly criticizing him and rebuking (almost like Obi Wan is with Anakin in AOTC) in my opinion, this goes against what we see in TPM, where Qui Gon doesn't feel the need to chastise Obi Wan except on a couple of occasions. But then again, I suppose that one could argue that Obi Wan matured and developed between this book and TPM, so that Qui Gon didn't need to criticize him as much. These minor flaws aside, I liked this book very much. IMO, it is one of the better Star Wars novels. Bottom line: if you liked TPM (and despite the whining you occasionaly hear from the malcontents, I think that TPM is a great Star Wars movie, a worthy successor to the original trilogy) then you will like Cloak of Deception also, as it adds to your understanding of the events in that film.
Rating:
Summary: A good introduction for Episode I
Review: The book in itself is more than good. It brings light to many events that are by-sided mentioned on Episode I such as the taxation of trade routes, Palpatine's popularity or Valorum's corruption suspicions.
The cons are that the pace of reading gets so slow that you sometimes feel like quitting.
Worth a try only of you want to expand a bit more TPM and have an itch about some aspects of Episode I which are unclear...
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