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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It is hard to say anything bad about a Star Wars book. This was, however, not one of my favorites. The story focuses on Mace Windu shortly after the time line of Episode 2. Some scenes are great others just fizzle which caused me issues in finishing this book. In the end the total package was worth it. It is also great to just visit old friends every once and awhile even if what they have to say may not be the most interesting. I still gave this book a good rating since it was interesting overall if for no other reason than to see Mace kicking butt and taking names.
I wanted to love this so much. And to be fair, I love the writing and Mace's characterization, and I do in fact think that the moral themes surrounding war are both deeply important and integral to Star Wars. But this book is just so dark. Unbelievably dark. Oppressively dark. There is no joy or happiness here. It's depressing to read, and as I was already in a reading slump coming into this, I just can't do it right now. I do think I would like to finish this at some point, so it's only a soft dnf. I can just feel it putting me into even more of a slump than I was already in. Each time I picked it up to read I just kept thinking "I don't want to read this." So I need to listen to my inner voice on this one.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was at times both deeply principled and completely incoherent. The ending left a lot to be desired about the mysteries Mace went to solve. At first a knock-off of Heart of Darkness, it rapidly became more original, but lost some of the coherency. Its better that way. Mace had some very very cinematic Cool Moments, and some good crunchy low ones. If the thesis was illustrating the muddles of morality when at war, it did achieve that.
For like-minded individuals - it was not clone unfriendly, but also not particularly friendly.Mace cared more about having killed Jango than the lives of any of his troopers.
Ultimately, I picked up the book for more Mace character (achieved) and more insight into his philosophy (failed, I think. Stover tried, but it wasn't quite all there.) Loved the development of many of the characters, even though it was not all positive. Left me with a lot to think about.
Depa deserved better, at least narratively. Not absolution, just conclusion. And it did set up well for ROTS, from a soul-of-the-Jedi perspective. Gave a strong flavor of the ethical darkness descending upon the GAR.
For like-minded individuals - it was not clone unfriendly, but also not particularly friendly.
Ultimately, I picked up the book for more Mace character (achieved) and more insight into his philosophy (failed, I think. Stover tried, but it wasn't quite all there.) Loved the development of many of the characters, even though it was not all positive. Left me with a lot to think about.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ll start by saying that the novel is very violent, and the deaths that are depicted are brutal and frequent. So, before deciding to pick up this novel, take that into consideration.
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The novel handles colonisation and the cycles of violence and destruction it perpetuates well. Windu, throughout the novel, is grappling with being a Jedi and being a General, and what it means to be both. Which I personally found fascinating to read about, as you could see him slowly figuring out as he tried to navigate the dangers and horrors of the war on Haruun Kal.
-
The novel handles colonisation and the cycles of violence and destruction it perpetuates well. Windu, throughout the novel, is grappling with being a Jedi and being a General, and what it means to be both. Which I personally found fascinating to read about, as you could see him slowly figuring out as he tried to navigate the dangers and horrors of the war on Haruun Kal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Colonisation
The Apocalypse Now // Star Wars mashup was brutal and thought provoking. In the words of Major Nick Rostu, “Sheet.”
Love it!! and I'm not a Star Wars geek but this was definitely one of those you just can't put down!!
dark
this grimdark schtick really does not work for star wars. that said, there's a couple of beautifully written sections, especially regarding mace's trauma wrt the battle of geonosis. kinda cool & well handled