Revelation

There really should have been more Boba Fett stuff in this series as this book is immesurable better due to the scenes on Mandalore.

I have preferred the Karen Travis books to the other writers in this series.

Overall it was another exciting addition to the series and sets up the finale pretty well. ( )

The Mandalorian and Jedi plotlines of the series finally meet up as Jaina Solo realizes that she needs to learn new tactics in order to defeat her brother, who has now come out as a Sith Lord, and she goes to Mandalore to learn from Boba Fett himself. The character development between the two is some of the best in this series; it’s tricky to pack that much into a story with such a large ensemble cast. As usual, lots of big space battles and continuing ratcheting up of the tension; I just hope the conclusion lives up to the buildup. ( )

This is the perfect book for my 1,000th addition to my library! I feel this series is set up to conclude more believably than, say, the New Jedi Order - which, while I loved, seemed to end abruptly. While Jacen feels that he is invincible, on the other side those who are lined up to take him down seem well prepared to do so. I really liked seeing Boba Fett and Jaina interact. There is the on-going exploration of light vs. dark force - what makes the difference? Where is the line drawn? I find that an interesting theme - it has application in almost every life as we make decisions that affect others and that make our character. ( )

I've read Revelation twice, and it still confuses me.

There's one major point where the actions of characters simply don't make sense. Jacen could—should—have died during this book. And yet he didn't; the only reason I can see for him being spared is because then Troy Denning would have nothing to write about.

Ignoring that moment of nonsensicalness, Revelation does a good job of picking up where Fury left off, and setting up Invincible. While Traviss relies on her own characters (like Lon Shevu) and not Allston/Denning's, she manages to resolve most of the hanging plot threads. (She also does an excellent job with the Imperials from the Bantam era, especially Pellaeon.)

Revelation turns everybody against Jacen (not just the Jedi and Confederation, but also the Galactic Alliance military, his fellow JCOS, and the Imperial Remnant), setting up what promises to be a rather painful fall in Invincible.

So Revelation was an enjoyable read, and does what it should do in terms of the series… but. But it has that one not-so-tiny moment of fiat, one that worked at the time, but when coming back to write this review has bugged me after both readings.

The book works, and is worth reading, as long as you're willing to overlook that loose thread. ( )

Almost a month later, and I still don't know what to think about this book. There are so many things wrong with it. The Jedi are still doing nothing about Darth Caedus, Jacen is still one of the stupider masterminds in galactic history, the Mandalorians are awesome at everything ever and no one else is, Tahiri's character has been utterly mangled and ruined (bring back Greg Keyes!), and Admiral Daala was never supposed to be competent. Yet, the thing about Traviss is that when you're reading the book, you still buy all of it. (Well, except for the stuff about Tahiri. Because that totally came out of nowhere, even within Legacy of the Force.) I don't know how she does it, but Traviss's characters are all utterly convincing in their every action within the novel, even if they make little sense in the wider Star Wars world, and you never stop enjoying the ride. And when she nails it, it's even better-- the Boba Fett material was great, and the high point was the Ben Skywalker stuff, even if he has finally decided Jacen is evil for the sixth time this series. In fact, Ben's characterization, as he grows up and forges a new relationship with his parent(s), has been the high point of the series overall.