A review by douglasferb
Traitor by Matthew Stover

5.0

By far the best book of the series to this point, and so obviously thus that it barely even occurs to me to make that point at all. This is a very different book as well, a bizarre move for, erm, the 15th-ish book in the series? Focused on a much smaller cast of characters (5 versus 20+), with much less plot work to do (though that which it does is very important), this feels like a standalone, sequence-breaking book. It both is and isn’t that, which thematically fits well. I found this book challenging in parts, frustrating in others, but generally satisfying - like a real novel with its own vision, as well as being a part of an established property.

I’ve rated this series generously to this point, lots of 4s and nothing lower than a 3. I regret doing that now, as this book is in a league of its own from the others. Think of it like a handicap; those were Star Wars 3s and 4s, but this is an actual 4.5 or so. It verged on braggadocios sometimes in my view, and some of the allusions made me role my eyes, especially when we got into the Eden stuff. It’s not enough to just make an allusion; there should be a point behind it, otherwise it just comes off as lazy and showy. That was only distracting a couple of times, however.

But overall, this was a really good read, and not just because of the “ooh lightsabers”-ness of it. Interesting ideas, a real creative vision, and fascinating use of and additions to the world. It’s a little bit of a bummer going right into the next one, which seems much more standard for how this series has been to this point, after Traitor. It’s like going back to my old preschool class after graduating college - sure, the familiarity is nice, I guess, but I’m a bit over all the hand-holding at this point.

I give this a 4.5/5, but, like, in real book numbers not just in Star Wars book numbers.

(Also this is my coming out as a star wars nerd on goodreads to all my fancy literary friends [even though they would have seen my ratings for the other ones but a review is different I feel] so please acknowledge my bravery in the replies thanks goodnight)

(And yes this is what I’m reading instead of Dostoevsky or Endo please mind your business)