James Luceno

Thank you, author James Luceno, for understanding the world and the characters. To explain how it felt wearing the suit of Lord Vader.

I find this novel better than Lords of the Sith. The relationship of Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader feels so much real. And some of my favourite Vader quotes are in here.

This starts after the clone wars with a few Jedi that escaped order 66 but had to puzzle the pieces together of what had happened. Why did the troops turn on them in battle. And being chased by Lord Vader.

Four weeks into the new empire, Lord Vader has to come to terms with his new body. His thoughts were of anger and pain. And to kill the thoughts of Anakin Skywalker.

His master sent him on a quest, so to say to relinquish all thought of who he had been. By doing this, he will become a true apprentice of the sith.

I loved how all the key characters were in place and still how Emperor Palpatine is playing his little political game. We even got to visit Alderaan and how Lord Vader almost met his daughter. I felt Bail Organa's panick.

The devastation at Kasyyyk was brilliantly written, and lots of hints dropping about this big weapon and in need of slaves to build this. (Of course, we all know what it is.)

This was a very good tale about Vader's final descent into the dark side. This also delves into the start of the rebellion.

I am sorry, Disney, but the Dark Lord Legend trilogy will be my canon.… (more)

I appreciate James Luceno's novels. The few I have read: I enjoyed.

This is a prequel to the Revenge of the Sith in the legend timeline. It was full of action and plot with well planned senate politics.

I appreciate Palpatine's character. He is one smart, bloody cookie. Everything he planned came to fruition and oh boy . . . What a ride it is.

The jedi was occupied in the war, and with the obsession on finding the Sith Lord, they failed to see the bigger picture.

His character was captured beautifully. The way he manipulates without giving anything away.

Can I just mention the relic, Mace saw? Damn that makes so much sense.

I loved Obi and Anakin in this one. The banter feels real and not forced. I could hear them as if I were watching the movies.

The battles were well written. The fact that the author encorporated other novels that I haven't read yet was a nice touch.

One of the things I loved was how this ends, and you can pick up the movie novelization of The Revenge of the Sith as it continues from where this left off is amazing.

I am sorry, Disney, but this novel is my canon now.… (more)

This is a full-blown political novel in the Star Wars Legend Universe and a prequel to the Phantom Menace movie novelization.

This novel follows 5 storylines. Qui-gon chasing a pirate that disturbs peace in the galaxy. Supreme Chancellor Valorum in the Senate. Senator Palpatine, who manages his politics. Darth Sidious, who manipulates the trade federation and Havoc fighting for the unfairness of his people.

This was a chessboard, and watching how the pieces were moved to create the avalanche towards everything that had been set in motion with devastation that had fallen the Republic.

Yes, it has battle scenes, but that was not the main theme of this. If you find the politics in Star Wars boring . . . skip this novel.

I enjoyed watching everything fall into place. Senator Palpatine was one smart individual. He thought everything through. Every little detail is planned.… (more)

“Palpatine raised his clawed hands. “I executed them with these! And with the power of my mind. I became a storm, Magister - a weapon strong enough to warp bulkheads and hurl bodies across cabinspaces. I was death itself!” (p. 144)

Lots of force, violence and scheaming. The book focus as much on Palpatine as it does Plagueis, and, odd as it is to say about someone who is the titular character, I wanted more Plagueis. However he and Palpatine were both excelent. There was also a touching look into Darth Maul’s background. I never imagined I would feel sympathy for him, but now I do.

I joined the recently started r/fantasy bookbingo and read this for the prompt “Rrologues and epilogues” as the book has both, but also, in its capacity of being vowen into so many other Star Wars stories also serve as prologue to other stories.… (more)