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A review by crystalstarrlight
Jedi Healer by Steve Perry, Michael Reaves
4.0
Our team of crack surgeons, nurses, and Jedi healers return in the second part of this set. Jos Vondar has to choose: his family or the love of his life, Tolk. I-Five continues to seek out his lost memory. And there is a spy in their midst!
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.
I Liked:
There are a lot of little things I love about part two in this duology. One of the things is just how different it is from the rest of Star Wars EU. There are no major movie characters, no huge, epic battles with people running all over the place. The novel is very focused on one location and on one highly ignored aspect (at least in Star Wars) of fighting. It's refreshing and unique.
The characters continue to intrigue, from Den Dhur befriending I-Five and his quest to get the droid drunk to the reasons why the spy turned against the Republic in the first place to Barris Offee and her addiction to bota. My favorite characters continue to be Den Dhur (the Sullustan reporter out for a story) Barris Offee (the young Jedi Padawan Healer).
I really liked how Jos had to decide whether to choose Tolk or his family. Even today, this is a real concern. Often times, our own families put restrictions on who we should love or spend time with. Plus, this hasn't been addressed in Star Wars, so it's nice to see that Star Wars EU has the same problems we do.
I Didn't Like:
What works for a first novel, often doesn't work for a second. This sequel is a perfect example. Sure, the events in Battle Surgeons was great, but we want something a little different, more expanded this time around. Unfortunately, the authors didn't do that.
Many things in this book were just underutilized, from yet another Tatooine native, Ulie (who reappears in Death Star) to Barris' bota addiction to the spy outcome. Ulie just pops in on the scene and is "I'm here!" At least in the audiobook, he serves no role other than to point out to Jos how everyone knows that Jos and Tolk are going together. And honestly, isn't Tatooine supposed to be the butt crack of the galaxy? Then why is everyone from that planet? Barris' bota addiction was very interesting, but I think the issue should have been brought up in Battle Surgeons, so she could have grown more. The spy issue was interesting, but it was painfully obvious who the spy would be very early on. And Barris basically realizes there is a spy because of the Force. Oh, geez, that was insightful. Not.
Lastly, we spend an awful lot of time on the Black Sun/Kaird subplot, which goes nowhere. In the end, we see Kaird in space vowing revenge. For those who've read Coruscant Nights I, you know he returns, but even there, it isn't very clear what happened to him between the Medstar books and Coruscant Nights.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
"Mopac-faced" replaces "sh**-faced" when referring to someone getting drunk. This sort of substitution occurs frequently.
Tolk and Jos sleep with each other (off-screen, if you will).
Much "action" happens in a surgical unit, and this is Star Wars, so expect explosions and people being held at blaster point.
Overall:
While this isn't a bad book (as in horrible), after the great setup of Battle Surgeons, I almost expected a bit more than what we got here. It ties up the spy plot nicely (almost too nicely), and it's great to see the characters again. However, the last book had a really good ending, so reading this one isn't 100% necessary (unless, of course, you want the full story of Den Dhur and I-Five, recurring characters in Reaves' writing). It deserves a 3.5, but I'll be generous and rate 4.
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.
I Liked:
There are a lot of little things I love about part two in this duology. One of the things is just how different it is from the rest of Star Wars EU. There are no major movie characters, no huge, epic battles with people running all over the place. The novel is very focused on one location and on one highly ignored aspect (at least in Star Wars) of fighting. It's refreshing and unique.
The characters continue to intrigue, from Den Dhur befriending I-Five and his quest to get the droid drunk to the reasons why the spy turned against the Republic in the first place to Barris Offee and her addiction to bota. My favorite characters continue to be Den Dhur (the Sullustan reporter out for a story) Barris Offee (the young Jedi Padawan Healer).
I really liked how Jos had to decide whether to choose Tolk or his family. Even today, this is a real concern. Often times, our own families put restrictions on who we should love or spend time with. Plus, this hasn't been addressed in Star Wars, so it's nice to see that Star Wars EU has the same problems we do.
I Didn't Like:
What works for a first novel, often doesn't work for a second. This sequel is a perfect example. Sure, the events in Battle Surgeons was great, but we want something a little different, more expanded this time around. Unfortunately, the authors didn't do that.
Many things in this book were just underutilized, from yet another Tatooine native, Ulie (who reappears in Death Star) to Barris' bota addiction to the spy outcome. Ulie just pops in on the scene and is "I'm here!" At least in the audiobook, he serves no role other than to point out to Jos how everyone knows that Jos and Tolk are going together. And honestly, isn't Tatooine supposed to be the butt crack of the galaxy? Then why is everyone from that planet? Barris' bota addiction was very interesting, but I think the issue should have been brought up in Battle Surgeons, so she could have grown more. The spy issue was interesting, but it was painfully obvious who the spy would be very early on. And Barris basically realizes there is a spy because of the Force. Oh, geez, that was insightful. Not.
Lastly, we spend an awful lot of time on the Black Sun/Kaird subplot, which goes nowhere. In the end, we see Kaird in space vowing revenge. For those who've read Coruscant Nights I, you know he returns, but even there, it isn't very clear what happened to him between the Medstar books and Coruscant Nights.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
"Mopac-faced" replaces "sh**-faced" when referring to someone getting drunk. This sort of substitution occurs frequently.
Tolk and Jos sleep with each other (off-screen, if you will).
Much "action" happens in a surgical unit, and this is Star Wars, so expect explosions and people being held at blaster point.
Overall:
While this isn't a bad book (as in horrible), after the great setup of Battle Surgeons, I almost expected a bit more than what we got here. It ties up the spy plot nicely (almost too nicely), and it's great to see the characters again. However, the last book had a really good ending, so reading this one isn't 100% necessary (unless, of course, you want the full story of Den Dhur and I-Five, recurring characters in Reaves' writing). It deserves a 3.5, but I'll be generous and rate 4.