Darkest Knight (Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights, Book 5)

Rating:
Summary: The best in the entire Shadow Academy series
Review: I think that this was rather boring, but it realy leads up to Jedi under siege, which is among my three favroites. I love this series, and think that this is a great book despite that. If you have already read jedi under siege (as I had when I read this book) you will find boring, but if you just finished Lightsabers it is very suspenceful as you wait to see what will happen to the Shadow Acadmey and Luke's Praxeum, or jedi acadmey as it was called in the Jedi Acadmey trilogey.

Rating:
Summary: The best in the entire Shadow Academy series
Review: If I could give it a million stars I would. When Lowbacca (or Lowie) learns that his sister, Sirra, is about to do the dangerous Wookie rite of passage he decides to go to Kashyyyk to be with her. His friends Jaina, Jacen and Tenel Ka agree to go with him. Little known to Lowie and his friends, the evil SHADOW ACADEMY also plans to go to Kashyyyk. But their plans are somewhat different. They plan to raid the Wookie's tech factory. This raid is under the leadership of Zekk (Jacen & Jaina's old friend who turned to the dark side), and the Nightsister Tamith Kai, plenty of stormtroopers, and another Nightsister. Well of course both parties collide and it is very exiting with a great ending. I highly recommend it to all Star wars fans and especially Lowbacca fans.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, though confusing if you havn't read the others
Review: In general, this was an excellent book, just not my personal favorite in the series, though I'll admit, though all of them are great, almost none quite add up to Lightsabers except maybe Jedi Under Siege, which is the next book after this one. Just as Lightsabers focused on Tenal Ka and The Lost Ones focused on Jacen and Jaina, now it is Lowbacca's turn to shine. Lowie has never been one of my favorite characters in the series, though that is just because I never bothered to pay much attention to him before, and this book did a wonderfull job of bringing him to the forefront, and I came to see that I really did like him a lot. Anyway, Lowie's sister Sirrakuk is about to go on her wookie rite of passage, and Lowie is afraid she will go alone and get killed so he decides to go to Kashyyyk and go with her and he askes his friends to come with him to give him and his sister moral support durring this diffucult time. They do, but once they get there the shadow accademy chooses that precise moment to attack Kashyyyk and capture some supplies from the wookie factory! And the raiding party just happens to be led by Jaina and Jacen's former friend Zekk, who is now a dark jedi. Will Lowie and Sirra survive the rite of of passage? Is Zekk so hardened that he would kill his former friends for personal gain? You'll just have to read the book to find out, though I would reccamend reading the previous four first other wise you will be totally lost. The one downside of this book was that Luke was not in it very much at all, just one scene at the beggining to be exact. Yeah, I know these books are about the next generation of warriors, but that doesn't mean we have to exclude everyone cool from the previous generation. But those of you who, like me, missed Luke in this book can rejoice because he is in the next book quite a bit, and even gets his own lightsaber battle.

Rating:
Summary: This book was only just above average.
Review: Now, only a few months after the explosive book Lightsabers took place the second imperium is planning an attack on the Wookiee world of Kashyyyk. Lobacca and his friends will be arriving on the planet to help Lowie's sister through her rite of passage.

This book was written by two of the best and brightest Star Wars writers yet. Although a good story line was involved, I have seen better from Anderson and Moesta. If you haven't read the YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS series before, then I suggest that you read them before reading this book. The first time I read it I was totally lost because I had never read any of the other series.

Rating:
Summary: READ THE ONES BEFORE BETTER UNDERSTANDING
Review: Over all, this was decent book, my favorite in the series or at all though. Most of the ones in this series are good and this one follows suit. My personal favorites are Lightsabers and Jedi Under Siege, which comes after this one. Each book focuses on certain characters, Lightsabers on Tenal Ka and The Lost Ones on Jacen and Jaina. This one is about Lowbacca. Lowie's sister Sirrakuk is to go through the Wookie rite of passage and Lowie is afraid she will go alone and get killed so he decides to go to Kashyyyk. When Lowie went through his rite of passage he went alone into the dangerous lower level of the forest. One of Sirrakuk did the same and died. Lowie is afraid she will try the same. He asks his friends to come with. They do, but once almost as soon as they arrive the Shadow Academy attacks in order to take the technology that the Wookies have built. The attack is led by one of Jaina and Jacen's former friend Zekk, who is now a dark Jedi. Lowie and Sirrakuk and the friends are forced into the lower levels to survive the attack. Zekk follows them but is having trouble letting them be killed. If you chose to read this book then I suggest that you read the other books in the series first.

Rating:
Summary: "Darkest Knight" of the Young Jedi Knights Series
Review: Written by the terrific husband and wife team, Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, the Star Wars Young Jedi Knights series are not to be missed! These series of books center on the young twins of Han Solo and Lei Organa, Jacen and Jacen, and their friends, Lowbacca and Tenel Ka, as they journey on the road to becoming Jedi Knights.

"Darkest Knight", the fifth book of the YJK series, is the second to the last book of one story arc. The story begins where Lowie decides to return to his homeplanet of Kashyyyk, where his younger sister, Sirrakuk, is about to go through with a Wookiee rite of passage. That is each Wookiee must prove himself (or herself) in some way. And Sirra has decided to travel to the lowest levels of the planet to get some gossamer fibers from the terrifying and dangerous syren plant. Lowie desperately wants to help her so when Chewbacca goes with him, his friends naturally decide to accompany him. Meanwhile, Zekk who has now been named the Darkest Knight, must prove himself by accomplishing his own mission: to lead a raid on the computer center on Kashyyyk. Jedi Brakiss has total trust in him, though the Nighsister Tamith Ka still doesn't believe Zekk has truly gone over to the Dark Side of the Force. So Zekk must complete another mission... that is, to eliminate the young Jedis Jacen, Jaina, Tenel Ka, and Lowie, whom they know is on the planet.

I must say that I just love the Young Jedi Knights, which is best read in order! I really like all Star Wars books but this series one of my favorites for the reasons that, 1) the characters are very interesting and close to my age, 2) superbly and well written, and 3) all books are exciting and full of adventure. This book especially has much excitement and suspense. The ending is also sort of a cliff hanger so I suggest you have the next book, "Jedi Under Siege", on hand. The four main characters of the books are well likable because each of them have their own personalities, characteristics, and quirks. Jacen with his love for all living plants, animals, insects, etc. Jaina with her mechanical ability and strong willed nature. Tenel Ka, the warrior and true friend. And of course Lowie, very courageous and strong.

So I highly recommend you read all of the fourteen books in order. The series are divided mostly into three parts. The first six books are about the rising force of the Empire and its Dark Jedi Knights. The next five books are about how the Jedis must stop the Diversity Alliance. And the last three books are how the Jedis deal with Czethros and Black Sun. Another Star Wars series I very much recommend are the "Jedi Apprentice" series. Don't miss them!