Author: Jude Watson
Rating: 9/10

Summary: Captive to Evil describes the events from A New Hope as seen from Princess Leia's point of view. She records the events as they happen into her electronic diary, and we get added commentary from Leia on certain events.

This book was geared towards younger readers, probably up to about age 10 or 11. The text is very simplified and easy to understand. I enjoyed the book, as it is a very good account of the events that took place during ANH (minus the parts not involving Leia). If you like a book where you get to see into a character's personality, the Journals are excellent.

-JadeSabre7777

 

 

Title: NJO: Dark Tide 1: Onslaught
Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Rating: 8/10

Summary: The second novel in the New Jedi Order series concerns the second wave of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. The New Republic is turning away from the Jedi, mocks Leia Organa Solo as she warns them, and remains happily oblivious to the very real, very deadly attack taking over the Outer Rim.

Luke Skywalker, accepted Jedi Master galactic hero, calls together his Jedi in an attempt to stop the Yuuzhan Vong. At the same time his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker, continues to struggle with the unknown illness that is slowly killing her, a disease believed to be somehow connected with the Yuuzhan Vong.

With short chapters that flowed easily and a storyline that was pretty easy to follow this was, overall, a good book. My only real problem with this book stemmed from Jacen Solo, the twin brother of Jaina Solo, eldest son of Leia and Han. He spent his entire presence in this novel whining, criticizing, and badly in need of a slap in the head and to be told to smarten up. I was also disappointed that Han's only appearance was to take blame for Chewie's fate and leave in search of a few good bars.

Unlike many of the Star Wars books which become very technical, philosophical, or political through much of the book this was simply a good read.

 

-empress palpatine

 

 

Title: NJO: Dark Tide 2: Ruin
Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Rating: 7/10

Summary:
Once again the Jedi are on their own to save the galaxy. Despite their recent efforts to save the galaxy the New Republic still does not trust them. Given very serious, very dangerous missions, they are sent out again to collect information on the Yuuzhan Vong.

But not all do as they are ordered. One Jedi goes rogue and begins searching for super weapons (death stars, sun crushers, etc.). Others are sent into the heart of the Vong, with only hopes that they will return alive.

After finishing Onslaught I was really looking forward to book 2 of the Dark Tide books. While Ruin wasn't bad it wasn't as good as Onslaught. It just wasn't as interesting and seemed a touch repetitive. While I like having the direct look into the Vong minds I wasn't especially thrilled with much of anything else in this book. It's worth reading of course, just don't expect it to be as great as Onslaught was.

 

-empress palpatine

 

 

Title: NJO: Agents of Chaos 1: Heros Trial
Author: James Luceno
Rating: 7/10

Summary:
Han Solo is finally sober and looking to move on with his anger. With Chewies memorial over Han is forced to take a look at what is happening in the galaxy and deciding what his place in it will be. When an old smuggler friend seeks him out with news of an acquaintance from the past that is working with/for the Yuuzhan Vong Han sees his chance at revenge.

In the Dark Tide books we saw a great deal of the Solo children along with glances of Luke, Mara, Leia, and select members of Vong command. In Heros Trial our attention is devoted mainly to Han with glimpses of Leia, Luke, and the Vong.

It took me some time to figure out just who Vergere was and why the name seemed so familiar. Once I did remember I became more interested in the storyline and anxious to find out what would happen next with her. I liked the fact that Han received so much more attention in this book than the previous 2 and that he was finally pulling himself out of his understandable slump, but I didnt like how he treated his family. I am curious also about Droma and look forward to understanding him better in Agents of Chaos 2. In truth I found Vergeres mystery, Dromas wise cracks, and Hans sudden interest in life the only interesting parts of this book, all the rest I passed through to get back to these three.

-empress palpatine

 

 

Title: NJO: Agents of Chaos 2: Jedi Eclipse
Author: James Luceno
Rating: 7/10

Summary:
Han Solos adopted friend and temporary partner, a Ryn named Droma, are out and about the galaxy once again, searching for Dromas family. At the same time Leia is visiting a man she almost married years earlier in search of help against the Yuuzhan Vong and Anakin and Jacen Solo are working to bring Centerpoint back online. Wurth Skidder has been taken prisoner by the Vong, as have half of those that Droma is looking for, while the other half find themselves in a similarly unpleasant situation.

I like Droma and Hans interaction as well as their growing friendship, its far more interesting reading than lamenting over Chewies fate. I also like the fact that some of this novel is spent with the Ryn refugees, some creatures who feel the real anti-alien hatred that those like Borsk Feylya speak so often of. I also like seeing the Vong through the eyes of their captives. Leias situation in Hapes was uncomfortable more than anything else, but considering the back-story there it cant be too surprising. Once again the Solo children are not large characters in this book, though Jacen and Anakin are involved in a much talked about project that I believe will be very important farther along in the New Jedi Order Series. Luke makes a brief appearance but its so minor its hardly worth anything at all; Jaina and Mara are completely left out.

Overall its not bad or great. I do think that Balance Point (the next in the series) will prove important in bringing some of the events of both Agents of Chaos novels to a head, if not ending them.
-empress palpatine

 

 

Title: NJO: Balance Point
Author: Kathy Tyers
Rating: 8/10

Summary: As Leia Organa Solo works in one camp/make-shift town of refugees on the very polluted planet of Duro she is unaware of her son and husband working on the same planet, for the same cause. Han Solo is trying his hand as administrator for thousands of refugees, including his new friends the Ryn. Jacen Solo stays at his fathers side as he continues to fight within himself over his place within the Force. Jaina Solo, Jacens twin sister and pilot with the famed Rogue Squadron, has been seriously wounded and taken out of action to be sent to the only members of her family that the New Republic could find, her father and brother.

Mara Jade Skywalker is astounded to find that her worst fear, the inability to have children, is proven false. As Luke becomes more protective she fights to remain independent while worrying over the possibility that her disease is not completely gone and dealing with the continuing Yuuzhan Vong invasion. When an apprentice goes missing Luke, Mara, and Anakin Solo head to Duro to find her.

As the entire Skywalker/Solo family comes so close to one another, for the first time in a very long time, the Duro situation becomes dire, it is the next target for Yuuzhan Vong attack. A ruthless Warmaster has set his site on the orbiting cities, refugee populated planet, and obtaining as many Jedi as possible. Convinced that sacrificing a Jedi is the way to appease his god, Tsavong Lah and Nom Anor specifically target Duro for Leia and her family as anything else.

This is not a bad novel. For the most part it flows smoothly and is well written. Im bothered by Jainas bitterness towards her mother but it is justified enough that I can understand some of it at least. Anakin had a very small part in this novel, which is a bit disappointing considering how much time Jacen had, whining and basically walking around clueless.

-empress palpatine