REVELATION by Karen Traviss

"Fett's not like the rest of your people. I can see that even after a few days."
"No. He's a Fett. He's his own species."
~ Jaina Solo and Goran Beviin

Darth Caedus's reputation as a Sith is spreading. He is gaining power, yet losing support from even his fellow Chief-of-State. Though most think that his mother's killer is dead, Ben Skywalker suspects otherwise and is looking for more evidence on who this culprit is. Jaina Solo knows that Jacen has gotten out of control, and heads out to find the man who has killed more jedi than anyone around - Boba Fett. But her timing could be better, as he and Mirta Gev had just found Fett's wife Sintas Vel in carbonite, and, due to her loss of memory, are dealing with breaking a lifetime of tragedy that she missed out on to her. But Fett agrees to train Jaina in his ways and when Jacen's Star Destroyer gets cornered, it's time for action for everyone.

Without a doubt, this is one of the better books in this series! We are reunited with several old friends, including Admiral Pellaeon, a few ships of special note, and Admiral Daala (I don't think she ever dies!). Tahiri Veila continues as Caedus's apprentice, but only becomes official when she does a hard and cruel job. There are some rough hints about the Fett family's jagged past, and we find that Boba was once exiled for murder in his rage about somebody messing with his wife in a "THE LAST SIN EATER" kind of way. Pellaeon is shot for his determination - rough for some readers, but I cannot think of a better end for such a man. As Fett said, "He didn't want to fade out quietly". Mirta begs Jaina not to fight her brother, as it would be heartbreaking to her if she killed him. Fett remains coldbloodedly ruthless for the most part, but we're seeing more and more of his heart with Sintas coming back into the picture and during his ongoing relationship with his granddaughter. Traviss always does a wonderful job writing him!

No reason to stop here veteran LEGACY readers!!! This one's a must-read!

Ah, and also, the last book of the series, INVINCIBLE, was released May 13 of this year. It has done very well, and there's quite a hold list in my library for it, so it will be awhile before I read it. You'll hear when I do though, Troy Denning has much to tie up!

Author: Karen Traviss ~ Cover artist: Jason Felix ~ Publisher: Del Rey ~ Release date: February 26, 2008 ~ Media type: Paperback ~ Pages: 436 ~ ISBN: 034547757X ~ Canon: C ~ Era: Legacy era ~ Timeline: 40 ABY ~ Series: Legacy of the Force ~ Preceded by: Fury ~ Followed by: Invincible

FURY by Aaron Allston

"Have you ever studied Darth Vader? Clearly, you got your intelligence and political acumen from your grandfather."
"There we are in agreement."

~ Leia Solo & Darth Caedus

In his grief over the betrayal of Tenel Ka, Darth Caedus moves quickly to snatch his daughter, Allana. Jaina Solo, Jagged Fel, and Zekk are continuing their search for the mysterious Alema Rar. With Ben teetering close to the edge of the dark side, the Jedi send a strike team to confront Caedus. With the enemies getting mysteriously more and more powerful, can the jedi find a way to restore peace to the galaxy?

Bravo! One of the better books in this series! Though it's hard to write a review on it, because not much is new - it's just a continuing story. Zekk slips dangerously close to the dark side briefly, and Ben made a comment in the last book that still has Luke worried. But no swears, or anything I write off as an iffy read. If you've read the others, you have my OK to read on with this one!

Oh, and a note. The final book of this series, called INVINCIBLE, came out May 13th and is the New York Times #5 Bestseller. When I get to that one, I'll be sure to write a report! With Jaina taking this "Sword of the Jedi" thing seriously, it should be pretty tense!

Author(s): Aaron Allston ~ Cover artist: Jason Felix ~ Publisher: Del Rey ~ Release date: November 27, 2007 ~ Media type: Paperback ~ Pages: 368 ~ ISBN: 0345477561 ~ Era: Legacy era ~ Timeline: 40 ABY ~ Series: Legacy of the Force ~ Preceded by: Inferno ~ Followed by: Revelation

INFERNO - by Troy Denning

"Yeah? Well, there is no Jacen Solo now. Jacen Solo is dead. My son wouldn't do this." ~ Han Solo in INFERNO

Civil War is raging! While the Jedi have virtually lost Luke Skywalker to grief, Jacen Solo is moving fast, gathering his supporters, and growing in the Dark Side. Now being called by his Sith name, Darth Caedus, Jacen gets a new apprentice and continues to do dastardly things and make enemies. Ben Skywalker has his suspicions about who was responsible for his mother's death, and makes a risky plan. Han and Leia Solo make for Kashyyyk to try to draw the Wookies' support from their son, but Caedus has been sending squads to arrest his parents more and more frequently, and doesn't plan to let them get away now. Will he continue to get the support he needs to make the galaxy his? Will Ben succeed in his schemes?

As I always say, for the avid STAR WARS novel reader - Estupendo! If it's your first time to pick one up - don't go for this series and read the THRAWN TRILOGY instead. Troy Denning's great about keeping his books pretty clean, and he is a fantastic writer. This book in particular has more lightsaber fights than others, and you will get all the physical punching and kicking while reading it too. The LEGACY OF THE FORCE SERIES is getting scarier now, with Jacen a full-blown Sith and his relatives fighting against his cruelty. But now is when you pull away from Jacen as a person and see him as a bad guy - a bigger, badder, and smarter Vader without the need for the mask.

Author(s): Troy Denning ~ Cover artist: Jason Felix ~ Publisher: Del Rey ~ Release date: August 28, 2007 ~ Media type: Paperback ~ Pages: 312 ~ ISBN: 0345477552

TEMPEST by Troy Denning

"Do I know you?"

"Not yet. But we hope you will let us serve you. What you are doing with Jacen is so delicious - and so right for the Balance...."

~ Lumiya and Alema Rar

Jacen Solo continues his descent into the dark side, prodded by his master, Lumiya. Han and Leia Solo have joined Corellia's side in the planet's fight for independence, angering the jedi and the Galactic Alliance. But when they are caught up in a plan to assassinate the Queen Mother of Hapes, Tenel Ka and her daughter, all evidence points to the fact that they are terrorists. Jacen puts a capture and detain warrant on them, and they are set on the run. Is Ben following Jacen on his path to the dark side? Can Luke Skywalker maintain order?

Oh, wow! This is a great continuity of the LEGACY OF THE FORCE series! We are introduced to a bloodthirsty character from previous books called Alema Rar, who has a bone to pick with Leia, and hopes to "maintain Balance" (get her revenge) by helping Lumiya turn him to the dark side. An ancient jedi bane named Aurra Sing seen in THE PHANTOM MENACE is also brought in. The writing is skillful, not like some of the others I have seen, and ever Troy Denning book I have ever read omits unnecessary cussing, which I very much respect.

On the bad side, there is the usual Star Wars violence with all the fire-fights and lightsaber duels. It is dark, as Jacen is thinking about his ultimate sacrifice in order to become a sith and becoming stronger, but not harmfully dark... yet. I also wouldn't recommend this book for first time Star Wars reader, but for those who thrilled in the prequels, this book is no exception!!!

BLOODLINES by Karen Traviss

"To see a Jedi take up his lightsaber against civilians is shocking. But to see the son and nephew of the leader of the jedi council doing it is heartbreaking." ~ Master Cilghal, Jedi high council

Sounds horrifying indeed. But such are the acts of Jacen Solo in the next book of The Legacy of the Force series, BLOODLINES. What is even worse, his apprentice, Ben Skywalker does not know any better than to follow in his master's footsteps. Lumiya, the dark sith continues to subtly train Jacen in the ways of the sith, and by now he knows that the dark side is his destiny. The war in all but name continues between Corellia and the Galactic Alliance, but Han and Leia Solo have new things to worry about. They hear the of the assured return of the most sinister bounty hunter in the galaxy, and the only man ever to get away from the sarlaac's stomach - Boba Fett. But he is afflicted with a terminal illness that gives only a year or two to live. But does Fett sit back and relax? No. He is trying to find and mend a rift with the daughter he never met. Fett gets a little help from a girl by the name of Mirta Gev and begins the search. Meanwhile, the Solos receive the news that Han's cousin, Thracken Sal-Solo, has put a contract on him. The bounty attracts Fett's daughter, and Jacen Solo killed her by interrogation without revealing it to his parents. Boba Fett finds Han and they work out a deal. Fett can use Han as bait for his daughter as long as Han gets some assistance from Fett in the removing of his evil cousin. Can they all work together? Is Jacen now a full-fledged sith?

BLOODLINES is a great continuation of the Legacy of the Force series! The storyline is well thought-out and this book is cleaner than it's prequel, BETRAYAL. There is, of course, the usual violence of bombing, shooting, and lightsaber fights as is the norm with Star Wars, but if you are allowed to watch the Star Wars movies, you would be allowed to read this book! I rate it a G for older kids and adults, but a parent should read this first if you are an eight-year-old wanting to read this book.

Author
Karen Traviss
Language
English
Series
Legacy of the Force
Galactic Year
40 ABY
Subject
Star Wars
Genre
Science Fiction
Publisher
Del Rey
Released
29 August 2006
Pages
416
ISBN
ISBN 0-345-47751-0
Preceded by
Betrayal
Followed by
Tempest

BETRAYAL by Aaron Alliston

"The thrilling launch of an epic new STAR WARS series, featuring the heroes of the New Jedi Order!"

That's right friends! A brand new Star Wars series, The Legacy of the Force, is kicked off in this New York Times bestseller BETRAYAL. Set about 40 years after RETURN OF THE JEDI, Luke Skywalker and his wife, Mara Jade, have a thirteen-year-old son and have trained a brand new generation of Jedi Knights in the galaxy. Han andLeia Solo are still doing their service to the New Rebublic, along with their jedi children, Jacen and Jaina. When Corellia, Han's home planet, decides it wants nothing more to do with the Galactic Alliance, It's up to our heroes to restore peace. But to make matters worse, the rebellion of Corellia is led by Thracken Sal-Solo, Han's sinister cousin. the Skywalker and Solo families find themselves on opposite sides, divided by loyalty and blood ties, with a very fine line as to who's right and who's wrong.

While his family struggles with aggressive negotiations, Jacen Solo meets a woman with strange powers and ideas on a sith world. Is the the Jedi Order of his uncle right? Or will Luke's mysterious visions of a new dark Sith come true...

BETRAYAL met my high expectations! While I only covered a very little bit of ground here, more heroes of the original STAR WARS trilogy, like Wedge are involved, along with many characters from previous books, which makes it especially fun to read. I would recommend it to any Sci-Fi lover! There are two cases of very mild language and of course, a little lightsaber violence. But all in all, this book is a must for people who have a few other STAR WARS books under their belt, while I'd stick with a PG for first timers (who won't get it, you guys will need to read some prequels first!) and younger children.

Author
Aaron Allston
Cover Artist
Jason Felix
Country
USA
Language
English
Era
Legacy of the Force
Series
Legacy of the Force
Galactic Year
40 ABY
Subject(s)
Star Wars
Genre(s)
Science Fiction
Publisher
Del Rey
Released
30 May 2006
Media Type
Hardcover, Paperback
Followed by
Bloodlines