Rating: 
Summary: Stay away at all costs!
Review: To put it bluntly, this trilogy really, really stinks. Kube-McDowell might as well have been writing three different plots, and not very good ones. Give me a break. Lando and the droids invade this living spaceship and try to figure out it's mysteries. Luke's off on some trip trying to find his mom or something. And in the middle of all this the Republic finds a nemesis in the Yevetha. And none of them really has a conclusion. Everyone is out of character (except maybe Chewie). Luke is a twit, Han's pretty respectable, and Leia is so indescisive it's not funny. I love Star Wars a lot, and I rarely think of any books as bad, especially Star Wars books. But this, on the other hand, is the worst book I have ever read in my life. Do yourself a favor and don't touch it.
Rating:
Summary: Disapointed.
Review: Tyrant's Test and Shield of Lies are terrible. They killed this series that started out so greatly built up in Before the Storm. And I thought Children of the Jedi was the worst.
Rating:
Summary: No Force with this one
Review: Usually I review Star Wars novels differently from other books I read, my love for the series is that great. But this book, no matter how you cut it, is absolute crappolla. Awful plot, useless supporting characters, bad dialogue, and the worst excuse for a Jedi-type religion ever. Mr Kube-McDowell, go back to school and get writing lessons - now!!!
Rating:
Summary: And I thought Callista was bad...
Review: Well, perhaps I am a little biast, since I hated the first two books and was fully prepared to hate this one as well. While this one was perhaps more intracite and well put together than the other two, it was confusing and even more frustrating than the others. Don't get me wrong though, unlike some other Star Wars books I could mention, the author's writing style was not a part of the problem, since his clear, straightforward, yet exciting way of writing was quite engaging. However, among other things, his complete lack of Star Wars knowledge completely ruined the story for me. What basically happens is, at last the first two storylines (Luke and Leia) begin to maybe have something to do with each other, while Lando's storyline remains completely irrelevent, and only seems to be there to give him something to do. Leia is still trying to hold the government together and raise her family, which comes increasingly difficult when the Yevetha (an upstart race, the Token 'badguy' of the series) kidnaps Han and tortures him in an attempt to get Leia to give in to there evil demands. Luke and his companion Akanah (YUCK) continue on their quest for her people, (she has somehow convinced Luke that his mother is not dead and is living among her people) and begin to stumble dangerously close to the Yevethan fleet. Now, first of all, I cannot simply cannot believe Luke's thought processes in this book. Really! He notices that the galaxy is on the verge of destruction, he THINKS about helping Leia out, but decides not to because of his promise to help this idiot witch girl find her people, and because his feelings are still hurt from his argument with Leia in the first book. Come on! Sure I can see sensitive Luke still smarting months after a scorching argument with his beloved sister, but to risk others' lives because of it? Also, speaking of Akanah, she has to be the stupidest most weak female ever to "grace" the annals of Star Wars. I can't believe Luke would ever listen to her complete pacifistic nonesense. Also, through this intire trilogy there Luke and Akanah had a completely and totally platonic relationship. And then in this book, and for no apparant reason other than to drive me up the wall, they jump into bed together. Why? He doesn't love this girl, he just feels sorry for her, and maybe sees something of himself in her, and that's it! And then afterwards they go back to their platonic relationship as if nothing happened! I thought Callista was a bad girlfriend for Luke, but this Akanah has to even worse, simply because she wasn't even really a girlfriend! I mean really, I know we all hated Callista, (I still do) but at least Luke had real feelings for her. He had no "relationship" with Akanah. There was no underlying tension or gradual development of these feelings. And I mean anyone who knows Star Wars characters would know that Luke, being the heartfelt and sensitive guy that he is, would not simply jump into something like this. Just look at his other relationships! In not one of them is he out to have a good time or take advantage of a female, (unlike most guys) and he never even thinks about getting involved with someone unless he is certain they are someone he could spend his life with. This intire section of the trilogy could have simply been left out, since everything she told him turns out to be a lie in the end, and Luke just gets hurt again. Anyway, nothing in this trilogy is even touched upon in later novels, so it might as well have never happened. So, I'd say the inconsistansies aren't worth it, so unless you're a true die hard fan (I am, can't you tell? :-)) I would definitely not recommend this trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Dreadful end to an at-best average trilogy
Review: While interesting things were done in the first two books of this series, the author commits several basic errors in this (thankfully) final book. He tells three stories, one of which does not even tie into the other two. Secondly, he uses a deus ex machina to deal with a major plotline. Thirdly, he creates another super power akin to the force - as if the Star Wars universe doesnt already have enough! Poor storytellers tend to depend on the whizz bangs such as this and forced endings. I would like to believe that he was forced to cut the series short, but otherwise a forgettable and poor read....
Rating: 
Summary: TYRANT'S TEST
Review: WHILE THE ENTIRE BLACK FLEET CRISIS WAS NOT BAD IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CALLED STARWARS. TO MANY ELEMENTS WERE NOT THERE.FIRST CHEWIE WOULD NEVER LEAVE HAN'S SIDE FOR ANYTHING IN THE GALAXY. SECONDLY LEAS WOULD NEVER GO OFF THE DEEP END LIKE SHE DID. THIS BOOK SHOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER TITLE TO IT AND NOT A STAR WARS LABEL.
Rating:
Summary: ok
Review: While there is much about this book that could be "better", it is not ALL bad, and is actually an entertaining read as long as those "die hard" Star Wars geeks let go of what they "think" they know about a character's behavior and just enjoy the story for what it is. The mystery of the ship that Lando is stuck on is quite interesting, and the development of THAT plot makes the book worth it. The way Lando and his compatriots find their way past pussling situations is fascinating. However, the part of the story involoving Luke and Akhana is silly and boring. In fact, it is quite implausable. I should believe that Luke would know better than to race off with a stranger in an attempt to get to know one his parents...oh wait a minute, I take that back...isn't that how he wound up leaving Tatooine? Well, DESPITE that fact, the storyline with Luke and Akhana seems pointless, leads nowhere, and is a waste of time. The rest of the book is MMMM...well...ok.
Rating:
Summary: ok
Review: While there is much about this book that could be "better", it is not ALL bad, and is actually an entertaining read as long as those "die hard" Star Wars geeks let go of what they "think" they know about a character's behavior and just enjoy the story for what it is. The mystery of the ship that Lando is stuck on is quite interesting, and the development of THAT plot makes the book worth it. The way Lando and his compatriots find their way past pussling situations is fascinating. However, the part of the story involoving Luke and Akhana is silly and boring. In fact, it is quite implausable. I should believe that Luke would know better than to race off with a stranger in an attempt to get to know one his parents...oh wait a minute, I take that back...isn't that how he wound up leaving Tatooine? Well, DESPITE that fact, the storyline with Luke and Akhana seems pointless, leads nowhere, and is a waste of time. The rest of the book is MMMM...well...ok.
|
