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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I was in the middle of reading the High Republic adult novels when I found an original print of this book at a flea market! I bought it because I couldn’t pass up the classic hardcover look, but I also thought it would be a nice read before I bought the last High Republic novel of the series. I was correct! The style of writing and storytelling was different from my most recent reads, so it proved to be a good pallet cleanser. It’s an easy read with linear storytelling from beginning to end that builds upon characters in a well defined way. Darth Maul is a savage like always, and a discussion is presented through one of the characters regarding the credibility of the Jedi…which it’s always fun to question the teaching’s of the Jedi. I liked it! Glad I picked it up.
I listened to/read the audiobook version of this novel which is abridged.
This was the first book about Maul real-world chronology, but the second one about him in-Universe chronology. Both of them suffer for the same problem, Darth Maul is awesome, but is not shown to be amazing here.
Yes, movie spoiler if you haven't watched Episode I, Maul does get his ass handed to him [really separated from him] at the end of the first movie. And yes, in this book he is still learning and is not quite as fully skilled yet. However, the gap between this book and the movie is minimal and so there isn't really that much learning that he did here that would help him improve. Unlike the prior book, Maul is weak here not because of restrictions, but because the story focuses on Maul and a Jedi. Inevitably this leads the book to steer you to root for the Jedi and the information broker, Lorn Pavan and his droid.. The story does not go the way you would expect it to and so that it surprising, but overall the book was fairly disappointing.
This was the first book about Maul real-world chronology, but the second one about him in-Universe chronology. Both of them suffer for the same problem, Darth Maul is awesome, but is not shown to be amazing here.
Yes, movie spoiler if you haven't watched Episode I, Maul does get his ass handed to him [really separated from him] at the end of the first movie. And yes, in this book he is still learning and is not quite as fully skilled yet. However, the gap between this book and the movie is minimal and so there isn't really that much learning that he did here that would help him improve. Unlike the prior book, Maul is weak here not because of restrictions, but because the story focuses on Maul and a Jedi. Inevitably this leads the book to steer you to root for the Jedi and the information broker, Lorn Pavan and his droid.
Spoiler
And although both die in the end it is not really because Maul defeated them, she sacrifices herself to save others and he ends up getting tricked into giving up the information to Senator Palpatine [whom we know is Maul's master Darth Sidious] before being killed in his hospital bed by Maul. This leaves the droid unaware of his master's whereabouts and he shows up again in several more of [a:Michael Reaves|12537|Michael Reaves|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1272842062p2/12537.jpg]'s books, which seems out of place. Also, as long as I'm spoiling things, a complaint about carbon freezing [which is used in this novel]- it is not a common way of storing living people, that's why it was risky to trap Luke in such a way and was first tested on Han in the movies. And yet, carbon freezing has become a mainstay of Star Wars books and graphic novels, there was even a carbon freezing guns in video games. Universes should be expansive and although authors have to maintain the delicate balance of anchoring a story to the known with showing new [unknown] material, while at the same time not contradicting other established facts reusing something like carbonite on people so often just cheapens it and the suspense of Han being frozen.
This book includes a short story called “Restraint” by James Luceno. That story is exactly what I wanted. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. The novel itself, however, didn’t do much for me.
If the title includes the name “Darth Maul” I feel like the story should really focus on him. Maul should be the hero, and we should spend most of our time with him. That’s not the case here. I found most of the characters in the novel fairly bland. I didn’t really care about them. There was maybe 100 pages worth of actual story but it was padded out with 300 pages of boring and repetitive action scenes. I didn’t like how Maul was very reactive. I would have preferred a story that put him in control.
If the title includes the name “Darth Maul” I feel like the story should really focus on him. Maul should be the hero, and we should spend most of our time with him. That’s not the case here. I found most of the characters in the novel fairly bland. I didn’t really care about them. There was maybe 100 pages worth of actual story but it was padded out with 300 pages of boring and repetitive action scenes. I didn’t like how Maul was very reactive. I would have preferred a story that put him in control.
Solid story, I5 is my favorite by far.
Spoilers below
A small appearance of maul's future nemesis Kenobi, Obi Wan Kenobi. Who introduces himself in my personal favorite bond fashion. He manages to appear while not stealing the spotlight or taking away from the main story too much while explaining why maul wasn't found out before Phantom Menace.
"This is the way" not sure if that was a thing in legends before The Mandalorian but it made me chuckle.
Spoilers below
A small appearance of maul's future nemesis Kenobi, Obi Wan Kenobi. Who introduces himself in my personal favorite bond fashion. He manages to appear while not stealing the spotlight or taking away from the main story too much while explaining why maul wasn't found out before Phantom Menace.
"This is the way" not sure if that was a thing in legends before The Mandalorian but it made me chuckle.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
First read this book when I was a youngling of 12 years. Listened to the available audiobook (back when it was a legitimate Book On Tape!) until I’d worn it out. A sophisticated view into the Star Wars universe, into particular aspects such as the Force and its various users, into the minds of its humans & aliens & AI, this was the first book to present some level of narrative complexity.
All these years later, it is still as rich and as rapid and as radiant a reading experience as I remember. Sam Witwer’s STELLAR performance of this new recording (available through Audible on my fucking cellular device, HOLY SHIT) provides even greater vibrancy to an already vivid tale.
For me, this is peak Legends material. YMMV but this is the shit I love.
All these years later, it is still as rich and as rapid and as radiant a reading experience as I remember. Sam Witwer’s STELLAR performance of this new recording (available through Audible on my fucking cellular device, HOLY SHIT) provides even greater vibrancy to an already vivid tale.
For me, this is peak Legends material. YMMV but this is the shit I love.
adventurous
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:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
adventurous
tense
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
This was a nice book. There was an nice variety of characters that come together in an interesting way.
We see the character of Maul a bit more than in lockdown which helps to explain some of what goes down in episode one. We're also introduced to a couple of new characters, who I found likeable.
One of the more interesting things to me was seeing the underworld of coruscant in more detail. It's not an area we get to look in often.
We see the character of Maul a bit more than in lockdown which helps to explain some of what goes down in episode one. We're also introduced to a couple of new characters, who I found likeable.
One of the more interesting things to me was seeing the underworld of coruscant in more detail. It's not an area we get to look in often.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No