After the last entry from this series left me frustrated, I was a little worried I would find the rest of the series totally derailing, and maybe I’d surrender to pure Denning hate!

I am happy to say, however, that this is quite possibly one of my most beloved Star Wars novels, and easily one of my favourite Star Wars books that I have ever read.

From page to page, the book manages to be extremely entertaining and well-paced, only ever slowing for a moment in the middle, setting up the events to ramp the pace back up, it’s really great to have a shorter entry in the series, not even managing 300 pages, but it doesn’t really need to be any longer.

Whilst a miniscule plotline, and a large element of it, annoy me and cause me to put the score down just a tad, almost everything else about the novel is immaculate, and I’m honestly shocked to have found this such a fantastic book.

I miss Mara Jade, but like with the fallout of Chewbacca’s death changing my mind, I have started to enjoy the fallout of Mara’s death and the impact it has had on the characters, and what it has inspired in Luke, and one particular moment which made me feel a whole lot better about it all…

The prologue to the book explains more of a background element of the plot now, as Darth Caedus flow-walks with Tahiri, which is both a disturbing and emotional moment. Every now and then, I remember Anakin Solo’s death, and I still seriously shiver at the memory, Leia’s reaction, the brutality of it all, it still hurts me and always will.

It was a raw reminder to read portions of it again from another perspective, and set off the tears almost immediately. But what really got me, is the change they made. So Tahiri could make sure she kissed Anakin instead of denying him that kiss.

It’s a wonderfully sad moment, and a clever way to pull Tahiri back into darkness, through an addiction to seeing the person she lost. I think that whilst she may have previously gotten over Anakin’s death, Caedus’ actions here pull her right back into that trauma, now knowing she has the ability to revisit moments with Caedus’ help, I can see someone becoming desperate and latching onto that again, and Caedus has purposefully reopened that wound.

Mara Jade Skywalker’s funeral is one of the most well-written segments I have read in a Star Wars novel. It is tragic, yet buzzes with the fire of Mara herself, alit with the tensions between Caedus and the Jedi, and seemingly, Mara’s final message.

When Caedus steps in, something begins to happen which really shocked me. One of the most traumatic elements of Mara’s death for me was not just the brutality of it, but how she just… died. Not even becoming one with the Force. But then, as Caedus enters the funeral, she starts glowing, and she DOES become one with the Force!

They take this as a message, and I love Mara’s clever nature still coming through, as she allows her body to stay as a warning, and then to disappear at that moment as another. Even more reason for me to love her, but also a little healing moment for me too.

Saba Sebatyne’s eulogy is a beautiful one, but also with how she uses the moment to threaten Caedus. Whilst this annoys Luke, I think it is exactly what Mara would have wanted. I don’t see her caring for a sappy funeral where everyone is miserable for her, she would’ve wanted a funeral as explosive as she got, and I love that Saba uses this opportunity to explain why Caedus will fail. It made me gain even more respect for her.

Luke Skywalker struggles, and I love it.

When people say that Luke in the sequels has flaws and struggles, boy, they have no idea what they’re missing.

Absolutely heartbroken, Luke finally begins to falter, but upon seeing how needed he is, how the Jedi need his guidance, whilst still making flawed decisions, he steps up when he is most needed, and veers the Jedi back to victory.

He has already made mistakes, and will not allow anyone to follow in his footsteps. And he will not take anyone leaving him to grieve, even if that is what he wishes he could do.

The loss destroys him, has broken him, yet he still picks himself back together for the good of the galaxy and his son, Ben.

Jacen Solo, Darth Caedus, really begins to show his true colours in this one, and it’s a very rewarding read to see him finally begin to show his true self, but also to see him falter.

He is not purely winning now, he is making mistakes, he gets things wrong, and he fails. Yet embracing the person Lumiya has shaped him into, this also shows how weak he has become, and how weak anyone like him is.

As always, I get why Caedus annoys fans of the character, Jacen Solo, but I can also see why many like Caedus. For me, nothing will match Jacen Solo in the New Jedi Order books, but I am also loving the character we are getting here.

I am putting aside the issues to try and appreciate what we’ve got, and I’m loving what we’ve got. The difference with the sequels, for example, is I put aside many things to try and enjoy them, but still didn’t like the movies as standalone movies.

My point is, these are good books, even if flawed in consideration of what came before them. Alone, to me, they are good books, and this is one of the bangers.

Ben Skywalker’s story in this book is phenomenal, from his amazing manipulation of Jacen, to his determination as he realises how awful his Master is, he isn’t anybody’s fool, and whilst still uncertain of himself, and still flawed, he is brilliant.

The sacrifice of Cal Omas will probably stay with me forever. Like Fey’lya, he was the ultimate politician, if more of a righteous one. The job obviously stressed him furiously, and he faltered at many points, but was still - according to the Jedi - a decent man, if flawed.

What he does in this book proves that to me; sacrificing himself to give Ben the ammunition he needs to manipulate Caedus.

In that moment, he became a hero, and it is heartbreaking in all the right ways.

So shocking too, it reminds me how good an author Troy Denning can be.

He wrote this sequence so, so well.

Luke Skywalker turns his fury to good, as he begins to play with Darth Caedus. One of the best moments of the series so far, is Luke tricking Caedus to think he was in the room with him, making him extremely paranoid and uncertain.

Later, showing up personally to talk to him, without showing a single sign of exertion, a movement, or even a facial expression, he pins Caedus to his chair and humiliates him, making him look like a spoiled brat, breaking his chair and pinning him to the ground.

An extremely rewarding moment, and it shows how Luke is slowly being broken. Not only is it badass, it’s a reminder of Luke’s faltering beliefs, and also a moment to show how far he is now willing to go, to add to his development and redemption throughout the novel.

One of the coolest and shocking moments occurred soon after, as Luke agreed to help Caedus with what should be the final battle of the war, rallying the Jedi to fight in their StealthXs, they flew off… only to abandon them at the last moment!

I read this in college, and damn. My jaw dropped.

What a fucking awesome moment. The Jedi abandoning the Alliance to press the war on longer and build up to their fight against Caedus is immaculate, and again, so rewarding and epic.

Darth Caedus is further humiliated and made to look a fool, and I love them all for it.

Jaina Solo’s defence of Ossus was also a highlight of the novel, as it is also shockingly brutal, losing the lives of children as the Alliance stoop lower and lower, whilst Jaina, Jag, and Zekk work together to save the students and other Jedi.

It’s a difficult battle, and one a lot more grizzly and raw, but one that’s so brilliant to read. Slowly but surely, Jaina is being built up more and more as a major player, and maturing even more as a person and a Jedi.

I can see her building up to a favourite soon for me.

With the Jedi meeting on Kashyyyk, Han and Leia joining, they formulate a plan that almost wins them the battle, but are sold out by Tahiri who is under Caedus’ influence more and more.

However, it still hits hard, and even works.

If I hadn’t known that Luke survived the outcome of this novel, I think I would’ve bought it here. Troy Denning really plays it out as if Luke Skywalker has died, and it is heartbreaking. After the losses of the previous novels, I see why it would be believable too! And what a sacrifice.

But it is all a brilliant ploy!

Sneaking around the Anakin Solo, Luke has already mastered hiding his presence, and even manages to reveal himself to only Ben, fooling Caedus as he puts Ben in the Embrace of Pain!

This then bursts out into one of my favourite duels in all of Star Wars, Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Caedus.

Brutal, primal, bloody and magnificent, the two duel and match each other repeatedly, but Caedus is more and more surprised to discover he is still no match for his old Master, the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker, proves himself again once more.

Bones are broken, venom injected into bloodstreams, Caedus’ skull showing, the battle is intense, and if it weren’t for Ben interrupting, Luke would’ve killed him there and then.

Although there isn’t a death, there’s a clear victor, and whilst the ship is sabotaged, Luke and Ben escape together, leaving Caedus to heal himself and gather strength, determined not to lose again. But lose, he did. Gravely.

Gathering support from Tenel Ka, Han and Leia turn the Hapans against Darth Caedus, whilst still loyal to the true Galactic Alliance, they are not loyal to the man in charge now, and fooling them into thinking they arrive to assist, Tenel Ka withdraws support and attacks the father of her own daughter.

This moment is a shocking revelation to Caedus, and another gutwrencher, an absolutely shocking moment that is exhilarating to read, and Caedus realises how he has been forced to truly sacrifice everything for what he thinks will gain him peace for the Galaxy and his family, even if it includes their hatred of him.

But I do have one issue with this book…

Alema Rar.

Her plotline is not bad enough for me to skim through or truly hate, but does take away from the rest of the story, and starts to get a little ridiculous.

She discovers a whole group of Sith still living on Korriban, around thirty, following older Sith culture and lore, unknown to the Jedi. This is already quite preposterous, but also, Alema finds them by pure chance, landing on Korriban and immediately meeting people who not only know where they are and who they are, but one who immediately directs her.

Whilst I think the idea of old style Sith returning is cool, this explanation is extremely cheap, and how it is executed is also very, very poor, and a shame as the rest of the novel is done so expertly well.

Alema continues to have insane plot armour, breaking the illusion created by the series that characters are unsafe as whilst other major characters die, Alema continues to live by spectacular events that often venture into the imagination of a child with action figures in a playroom of other children.

Total stupidity in a sea of genius.

Whilst that element leaves a slightly bad taste in my mouth, the rest of this novel is truly spectacular.

It is paced expertly, the story is the most engaging and shocking yet, shock after shock, exceptional and tasteful action where appropriate, emotion is great and the characters are written brilliantly, Troy Denning really out-does himself here.

A lot of elements of the series are flawed, but this novel is a shining example of how good these books can be, and particular characters shine like Luke Skywalker.

I adore who Luke has become, and his struggle with what is clearly him teetering on the edge of the dark side again, as he saves his son, Ben.

And in return, Ben saves him too.

These books are back on track, and while I wish that one particular element was better, this novel was truly a masterpiece to me, and made me feel excitement and sorrow and shock like I haven’t for a while.

9.5/10