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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
A core tenet of the “Star Wars” expanded universe is its ability to take underexplored ideas and characters from the films and expand them into something more satisfying. And it feels pretty safe to suggest that the sequel trilogy could greatly benefit from such expansion. Which is exactly what Adam Christopher's “Shadow of the Sith” tries to do. “Shadow of the Sith” dives headfirst into some of the sequel trilogy’s biggest questions. How did Palpatine orchestrate his resurrection? What happened to Rey’s parents before they died? Who killed them? And what were some of the characters from the Original Trilogy up to during all of this? On the surface, “Shadow of the Sith” bursts with captivating ideas and concepts. The problem is that it tries to tackle too many things at once, often completely losing its focus and failing to turn any of its ideas into a truly engaging narrative.
Nearly two decades after the fall of the Empire, Luke Skywalker senses a growing darkness in the Force - visions of a dark, dead planet. Elsewhere, a family desperately searches for somewhere safe to hide from those who would do them harm. But little do they know, an ancient Sith cult has put a bounty on their heads. Or, more specifically, on their daughter, Rey's. A bounty that Ochi of Bestoon is eager to collect. And elsewhere, still, Lando Calrissian distracts himself from his fruitless search to find his missing daughter. But while playing a game of Sabbac, he overhears the mysterious Ochi explaining recruiting a crew of bounty hunters. Lando’s quest to help this family and, if he's lucky, find a hint of his missing daughter draws Luke away from his newly-founded Jedi temple, and into the fray. And soon, it's a race against time as Luke and Lando try to help this family escape the shadow of the Sith.
Overall, “Shadow of the Sith” is a mixed bag of a read. For everything about it that works well, there's something else that keeps it from being as good as it could've been. But first, the positives. “Shadow of the Sith” does a lot of work to help bridge the gap between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy. Those who've been longing for more of Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Master, will find a lot to like. This is a Luke who’s confident in his abilities in the Force and eager to share that knowledge with others while remaining dedicated to learning as much as he can. Lando fans will similarly enjoy this glimpse at his actions between trilogies, especially those who felt underwhelmed by his appearance in “The Rise of Skywalker.” But most impressive is the book’s exploration of Rey’s parents - Dathan and Miramir. For how crucial they are to Rey’s arc in the sequel trilogy, we know surprisingly little about them. And it's nice to finally get a glimpse behind that curtain here.
So, what's the problem with the book? Put simply, it tries to do too many different things all at the same time. It's a Luke and Lando team up, following them on a quest to both stop the Sith and help a family in need. But it's also a story about that family, Rey’s family, and it tries to delve deeper into who they are, and what makes them tick. But it's also a story about Ochi of Bestoon, a character briefly mentioned in “The Rise of Skywalker,” and how and why he’s hunting down Rey’s family. And it's a story about an ancient Sith force trying to regain a foothold in the galaxy through an old mask and a young woman named Kiza. Any one of those stories could've easily made for a compelling novel. Even the combination of a couple of them might've been enjoyable. But cramming all of them together in the same book? It's too much.
Despite the ways Christopher tries to connect these storylines, it rarely feels like they needed to be connected. And instead of expanding the “Star Wars” universe, it does the thing the Prequel Trilogy often did and contracts it. Was there any real reason for Luke and Lando to be involved at all with Rey’s past? Christopher tries to use Lando's attempts to save Rey and her family as a way for him to make up for being unable to find his daughter after her kidnapping. But surely a more compelling story for Lando would've been to explore the immediate aftermath of said kidnapping, an event that's hinted at throughout this story (and in “The Rise of Skywalker”) but continues to go without exploration. And the bulk of Luke’s storyline feels so disconnected from Lando and Dathan/Miramir’s that it makes you question why it's part of this book at all.
Additionally, there's constantly so much going on all at the same time that you're never able to stay with one storyline long enough to properly get invested in it. There's little time for any meaningful character development after the first third of the book - give or take. Instead, it often feels like you're just reading a bunch of information, a collection of checkboxes getting ticked off, instead of a compelling story. There's so much going on but very little happens. Because at its heart, “Shadow of the Sith” isn't really telling its own story, but rather acting as a prelude for another story. A necessary prelude, to be sure, but a prelude nonetheless. But because of that, the book primarily has to spin its wheels setting up other stories instead of truly telling its own.
And not only does “Shadow of the Sith” not stand on its own, but it frequently ends up being almost wholly inaccessible to a casual fan. Despite Christopher’s fairly solid exposition, several major characters in the book are completely unfamiliar to those who only watch the movies. And while Christopher gives you about as much as you need to know for the story to work, it always feels like something’s missing. And not in the fun way that prompts you into diving further into the expanded universe, but in the frustrating way that makes it harder to get invested in the story you're reading. Those who are familiar with those characters, like Ochi and Kiza, who've had tons of stories in other expanded universe media will be delighted by their appearances here. But for everyone else, it might be a bit less appealing.
I really wanted to enjoy “Shadow of the Sith.” I've enjoyed a lot of the other books in the current “Star Wars” EU. But “Shadow of the Sith” just didn't quite work for me. While there are some captivating ideas scattered throughout the novel, everything feels a bit too disjointed for any of those ideas to end up being satisfyingly explored. The book constantly jumps between nearly half a dozen POV characters, hindering both the novel's pacing and the reader's ability to truly connect with the novel's characters. And as for the plot, there's simultaneously too much going on and nowhere near enough to support the nearly 500-page length. So, while I enjoyed parts of the book, I can't say I enjoyed it as a whole. I'm sure some fans will absolutely adore this book, and more power to them. But it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
Nearly two decades after the fall of the Empire, Luke Skywalker senses a growing darkness in the Force - visions of a dark, dead planet. Elsewhere, a family desperately searches for somewhere safe to hide from those who would do them harm. But little do they know, an ancient Sith cult has put a bounty on their heads. Or, more specifically, on their daughter, Rey's. A bounty that Ochi of Bestoon is eager to collect. And elsewhere, still, Lando Calrissian distracts himself from his fruitless search to find his missing daughter. But while playing a game of Sabbac, he overhears the mysterious Ochi explaining recruiting a crew of bounty hunters. Lando’s quest to help this family and, if he's lucky, find a hint of his missing daughter draws Luke away from his newly-founded Jedi temple, and into the fray. And soon, it's a race against time as Luke and Lando try to help this family escape the shadow of the Sith.
Overall, “Shadow of the Sith” is a mixed bag of a read. For everything about it that works well, there's something else that keeps it from being as good as it could've been. But first, the positives. “Shadow of the Sith” does a lot of work to help bridge the gap between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy. Those who've been longing for more of Luke Skywalker, the Jedi Master, will find a lot to like. This is a Luke who’s confident in his abilities in the Force and eager to share that knowledge with others while remaining dedicated to learning as much as he can. Lando fans will similarly enjoy this glimpse at his actions between trilogies, especially those who felt underwhelmed by his appearance in “The Rise of Skywalker.” But most impressive is the book’s exploration of Rey’s parents - Dathan and Miramir. For how crucial they are to Rey’s arc in the sequel trilogy, we know surprisingly little about them. And it's nice to finally get a glimpse behind that curtain here.
So, what's the problem with the book? Put simply, it tries to do too many different things all at the same time. It's a Luke and Lando team up, following them on a quest to both stop the Sith and help a family in need. But it's also a story about that family, Rey’s family, and it tries to delve deeper into who they are, and what makes them tick. But it's also a story about Ochi of Bestoon, a character briefly mentioned in “The Rise of Skywalker,” and how and why he’s hunting down Rey’s family. And it's a story about an ancient Sith force trying to regain a foothold in the galaxy through an old mask and a young woman named Kiza. Any one of those stories could've easily made for a compelling novel. Even the combination of a couple of them might've been enjoyable. But cramming all of them together in the same book? It's too much.
Despite the ways Christopher tries to connect these storylines, it rarely feels like they needed to be connected. And instead of expanding the “Star Wars” universe, it does the thing the Prequel Trilogy often did and contracts it. Was there any real reason for Luke and Lando to be involved at all with Rey’s past? Christopher tries to use Lando's attempts to save Rey and her family as a way for him to make up for being unable to find his daughter after her kidnapping. But surely a more compelling story for Lando would've been to explore the immediate aftermath of said kidnapping, an event that's hinted at throughout this story (and in “The Rise of Skywalker”) but continues to go without exploration. And the bulk of Luke’s storyline feels so disconnected from Lando and Dathan/Miramir’s that it makes you question why it's part of this book at all.
Additionally, there's constantly so much going on all at the same time that you're never able to stay with one storyline long enough to properly get invested in it. There's little time for any meaningful character development after the first third of the book - give or take. Instead, it often feels like you're just reading a bunch of information, a collection of checkboxes getting ticked off, instead of a compelling story. There's so much going on but very little happens. Because at its heart, “Shadow of the Sith” isn't really telling its own story, but rather acting as a prelude for another story. A necessary prelude, to be sure, but a prelude nonetheless. But because of that, the book primarily has to spin its wheels setting up other stories instead of truly telling its own.
And not only does “Shadow of the Sith” not stand on its own, but it frequently ends up being almost wholly inaccessible to a casual fan. Despite Christopher’s fairly solid exposition, several major characters in the book are completely unfamiliar to those who only watch the movies. And while Christopher gives you about as much as you need to know for the story to work, it always feels like something’s missing. And not in the fun way that prompts you into diving further into the expanded universe, but in the frustrating way that makes it harder to get invested in the story you're reading. Those who are familiar with those characters, like Ochi and Kiza, who've had tons of stories in other expanded universe media will be delighted by their appearances here. But for everyone else, it might be a bit less appealing.
I really wanted to enjoy “Shadow of the Sith.” I've enjoyed a lot of the other books in the current “Star Wars” EU. But “Shadow of the Sith” just didn't quite work for me. While there are some captivating ideas scattered throughout the novel, everything feels a bit too disjointed for any of those ideas to end up being satisfyingly explored. The book constantly jumps between nearly half a dozen POV characters, hindering both the novel's pacing and the reader's ability to truly connect with the novel's characters. And as for the plot, there's simultaneously too much going on and nowhere near enough to support the nearly 500-page length. So, while I enjoyed parts of the book, I can't say I enjoyed it as a whole. I'm sure some fans will absolutely adore this book, and more power to them. But it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
4.5!!
can’t believe this book made me (someone indifferent to the sequel era as whole) interested in the sequel era… the details and worldbuilding about the sith eternal, palpatine, and exegol was extremely interesting, and made the Big Reveal in tros feel more well earned. i loved rey’s parents and their storyline, especially that of her father, with his childhood on exegol and all. also luke and lando are two of my favorite characters in anything EVER and this book did do them justice (except for the luke anti attachment thing, but i think that’s a more general problem and not a This Book problem). anyway this was fantastic. the end
can’t believe this book made me (someone indifferent to the sequel era as whole) interested in the sequel era… the details and worldbuilding about the sith eternal, palpatine, and exegol was extremely interesting, and made the Big Reveal in tros feel more well earned. i loved rey’s parents and their storyline, especially that of her father, with his childhood on exegol and all. also luke and lando are two of my favorite characters in anything EVER and this book did do them justice (except for the luke anti attachment thing, but i think that’s a more general problem and not a This Book problem). anyway this was fantastic. the end
Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I kept trying, but after I still wasn't enjoying it halfway through I called it quits
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Okay, so. I do not like the sequel trilogy. They have always felt like Star Wars fan fiction to me, for a variety of reasons. I would never begrudge or talk down to someone who loves the sequel trilogy, as I think every Star Wars fan has their favorite and no one should ever make fun of what someone else likes!
That being said.... for me, the sequel trilogy is 🗑. poopoo. a disgrace to George and Anakin's legacy. 😒 they bring me.... so, so much pain. I have not been able to bring myself to watch TLJ and ROS after I initially watched them, and I'm not sure if I ever will (also pls note that this has to do with Rey being a Palpetine/the return of Palps vs. issues with the actual characters themselves... though I have thoughts about how some of them were handled).
I've been reading the Marvel Vader comics and it's made me want to revisit this timeline a bit, to just see what justifications they've been putting in the novels to make the sequels work. Also, I knew we were going to get at least some of Anakin's force ghost, so I obviously was going to pick this up because of Anakin. I mean.... it's anakin. Come on. I'm really that easy.
I think this book was written fine. I don't think that this book is written in a way that would stand out as well written novel, but it got the plot across. We see a lot of Lando and Luke in this book, I think Lando's character was fine, I think Luke's character was written overall pretty well. He was incredibly compassionate and kind- and these are some of Luke's best known characteristics so it's nice to see that at least nailed in this book 🙄. Luke and Lando are much older and I think that we can still recognize these characters, despite so much time being passed since RotJ.
There are some elements here that I actually did like. We learn the backstory of how Rey got on Jakku, who were her parents and what happened to them; and there is some exploration and some mystery/explanation of what good old Palps was doing behind the scenes when it comes to his plans with the Sith and Exegol.
At this moment, I am really torn about the Palps and the Exegol plot line. Darth Vader is briefly mentioned here as he had actually gone to Exegol- I need to know more about this before I come to any conclusion on how I truly feel about this plot. Honestly, I really hated that the ST brought back Palpetine so I already hated this direction in the films. My biggest issue is that it feels like it really shits on Anakin's legacy- and that is something I just cANNOT FORGIVE. There are some cool concepts in here though (such as the Sith Eternal) that I do like, so again.... torn feelings. I want to know more about Vader's role in Palps contingency plan (which I think is explored in the comics, so after I read that, maybe I'll get some answers).
Other than my personal feelings on the overall plot- I liked this book okay. The writers for Star Wars, especially in the Disney era- are really given direction on what they can/can't write so there is only so much leeway they have. In terms as a Star Wars book in the Disney era- I think it's a pretty solid 4 stars give or take. Plenty of action, characters we know, backstory to the films, and lots of force things. On a subjective standpoint on my feelings regarding how this books fits into the new canon- meh.
The audiobook was pretty dope though. I wasn't really able to sit down and actually read this book (like I have other Star Wars novels), but I did really enjoy the audiobook.
If you're a fan of the sequel trilogy, I highly recommend this book though. It adds a lot to Disney's canon and you see both baby Rey and Ben Solo and I think if you're a big fan of those characters, that will be a bit of a treat.
That being said.... for me, the sequel trilogy is 🗑. poopoo. a disgrace to George and Anakin's legacy. 😒 they bring me.... so, so much pain. I have not been able to bring myself to watch TLJ and ROS after I initially watched them, and I'm not sure if I ever will (also pls note that this has to do with Rey being a Palpetine/the return of Palps vs. issues with the actual characters themselves... though I have thoughts about how some of them were handled).
I've been reading the Marvel Vader comics and it's made me want to revisit this timeline a bit, to just see what justifications they've been putting in the novels to make the sequels work. Also, I knew we were going to get at least some of Anakin's force ghost, so I obviously was going to pick this up because of Anakin. I mean.... it's anakin. Come on. I'm really that easy.
I think this book was written fine. I don't think that this book is written in a way that would stand out as well written novel, but it got the plot across. We see a lot of Lando and Luke in this book, I think Lando's character was fine, I think Luke's character was written overall pretty well. He was incredibly compassionate and kind- and these are some of Luke's best known characteristics so it's nice to see that at least nailed in this book 🙄. Luke and Lando are much older and I think that we can still recognize these characters, despite so much time being passed since RotJ.
There are some elements here that I actually did like. We learn the backstory of how Rey got on Jakku, who were her parents and what happened to them; and there is some exploration and some mystery/explanation of what good old Palps was doing behind the scenes when it comes to his plans with the Sith and Exegol.
At this moment, I am really torn about the Palps and the Exegol plot line. Darth Vader is briefly mentioned here as he had actually gone to Exegol- I need to know more about this before I come to any conclusion on how I truly feel about this plot. Honestly, I really hated that the ST brought back Palpetine so I already hated this direction in the films. My biggest issue is that it feels like it really shits on Anakin's legacy- and that is something I just cANNOT FORGIVE. There are some cool concepts in here though (such as the Sith Eternal) that I do like, so again.... torn feelings. I want to know more about Vader's role in Palps contingency plan (which I think is explored in the comics, so after I read that, maybe I'll get some answers).
Other than my personal feelings on the overall plot- I liked this book okay. The writers for Star Wars, especially in the Disney era- are really given direction on what they can/can't write so there is only so much leeway they have. In terms as a Star Wars book in the Disney era- I think it's a pretty solid 4 stars give or take. Plenty of action, characters we know, backstory to the films, and lots of force things. On a subjective standpoint on my feelings regarding how this books fits into the new canon- meh.
The audiobook was pretty dope though. I wasn't really able to sit down and actually read this book (like I have other Star Wars novels), but I did really enjoy the audiobook.
If you're a fan of the sequel trilogy, I highly recommend this book though. It adds a lot to Disney's canon and you see both baby Rey and Ben Solo and I think if you're a big fan of those characters, that will be a bit of a treat.
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated