Book Haul, End of June 2013…

A final Books Received post for June, and it’s an absolute doozy. Four of these are among my Most Anticipated for 2013. Read on for some more info about these books…

“Conviction” by Aaron Allston (Century)

The Fate of the Jedi series continues, takes things up a notch

As this is book seven in the series, I’ve structured the review a little differently. There are some spoilers, below, so if you haven’t read the first six books in the series and don’t want any surprises, you may want to proceed cautiously.

Allston has written a solid addition to the series and franchise (the second half was particularly great, after a bit of a slow start), and Conviction starts the final three-book mini-story-arc within the series quite well. The nine-book approach is still not my favourite format, but Fate of the Jedi continues to offer up enough action, amusement and great Star Wars fun to keep fans coming back for more.

CR’s May Picks

With the month of May (very) fast approaching, I thought I’d just share a quick post and some thoughts on next month’s most-anticipated releases.

So, without further ado, read on for a breakdown of my most-anticipated novels coming in May (in no particular order).

[Warning: A couple of the synopses have spoilers of varying detail.]

Paperback: “Backlash” by Aaron Allston (Arrow)

Backlash, the fourth in the Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi series, will be published on March 10th in the UK. In case you missed my original review of the book, I’ve posted a truncated and slightly tweaked version, below. Looking back on it, I still remember it as being one of the best ones in this new series so far.

If you’ve read my other Fate of the Jedi reviews, then you know I’m a little on the fence about the wisdom of continuously releasing nine-book stories, as the momentum can often be seriously effected in the middle – even when the publishers and authors promised surprises and major events in the middle volumes of previous large story-arcs, often it’s not enough to satisfy all fans (true, something that is never possible). I do wish they would hone their vision a bit, though – make the story-arks shorter, which would allow for tighter plotting and greater excitement and broader appeal. But maybe that’s just me.

[If you’ve not read any of this series, I should warn you that there might be some minor spoilers contained in the review.]

“Backlash”, by Aaron Allston (Century)

The Fate of the Jedi continues

Repercussions from the dark side’s fatal seduction of Jacen Solo and the mysterious plague of madness afflicting young Jedi continue to wreak havoc in the galaxy.

After narrowly escaping the deranged Force worshippers known as the Mind Walkers and a deadly Sith hit squad, Luke and Ben Skywalker are in pursuit of the now-Masterless Sith apprentice. It is a chase that leads to the forbidding planet Dathomir, where an enclave of powerful dark side Force-wielders will give Vestara the edge she needs to escape — and where the Skywalkers will be forced into combat for their quarry and their lives.

Meanwhile, Han and Leia Solo have completed their own desperate mission, shuttling madness-stricken Jedi from Coruscant to a safe haven in the Transitory Mists, beyond the grasp of Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala. But the bold manoeuvre has intensified Daala’s fury, and she is determined to shatter Jedi Order resistance once and for all.

Yet no greater threat exists than that which still waits in the depths of the distant Maw Cluster: A being of pure, ravenous dark-side energy named Abeloth, who calls out across the stars to Jedi and Sith alike. For some it may be the ultimate source of answers crucial to their survival. For others it could be the ultimate weapon of conquest. But for all, it is a game-changing — and life-altering — encounter of untold magnitude and a tactical gambit with unimaginable consequences.

Backlash is the fourth book in a projected nine-book series, and one that has – for the main – entertained thus far. Just to get my main concern about the series out of the way quickly, let me just write this: Like all middle-books, it suffers from the expected (and delivered) lack of any conclusions. This is something that plagued the middle books in the previous nine-book sequence, Legacy of the Force, and does make me question the wisdom of sticking to the nine-book formula. In my own humble opinion, trilogies and duologies might prove the better routes to take in the future. That being said, I shall now return to my review of Backlash which is, thus far, the best book in the Fate of the Jedi sequence.

Like every book in the Star Wars series of novels, this one took a few chapters to get in to; not because Allston’s writing is in anyway deficient – far from it, he’s easily one of the best authors that have ever been attached to this universe (I bet he could have done a great job re-writing the scripts for episodes I, II and III, for example…). The problem is the size of the main cast of characters: there are now perhaps too many ‘main’ perspectives, which if you’re starting a novel you need to indicate and (re-)introduce to the readers. We have Luke and Ben Skywalker; Han and Leia Solo; Allana/Amelia Solo; Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala; Jedi Jaina Solo and Empire Chief of State Jagged Fel; some Imperial conspirators; and the Jedi under siege in their Temple on Coruscant. For the first 50 or so pages, the perspective of the novel shifted almost every page, which made it very stop-start and difficult to sink in to.

I think what bothers me most about the over-frequent switches in perspective is a comparison with the older novels, such as Kevin J Anderson's and Timothy Zahn's, which had smaller casts. Not by much (the ‘classic’ characters were all still there, of course), but enough that you got a story from maybe 5 perspectives, rather than 10+.

Anyway, that’s really only an issue for the first few chapters as, when Allston finally let’s the story flow, sticking with single perspectives for entire chapters or more, Backlash is utterly gripping and Allston’s prose drag the reader on through events. Whether it’s the tense events on Dathomir, back with the embattled Jedi order on Coruscant, or Daala’s and Fel’s continued troubles with conspirators, if given a decent amount of space, Allston's writing and plotting are exceptional and the reader will find themselves hooked. There’s plenty of action (for once there’s no dogfighting in space, which was overly-featured in previous sequences) and the pace never really lets up; after all, as Jaina Solo says herself in the novel:

“One good thing about the Solos and Skywalkers. We never run out of things to do.”

The Jedi and Galactic Alliance are only slowly coming to terms with the new, greater threat of the new Tribe of the Sith that at last made first contact with the Skywalkers at the end of Abyss, surprised at their different tactics and apparently guiding principles:

“Sith are at large in the Maw... But these do not follow the Sith Rule of Two. They apparently follow a Sith rule of However Many They Need.”

There are lighter moments in the novel, something that Allston does well and in all of his Star Wars novels, and they will make you smile from time to time: for example, when Han gets his hands on a flamethrower, or the single scene written from R2-D2's point of view.

Having referred to previous novels in the series, I should say that reading Backlash put me pleasantly in mind of reading other, older novels set in the Star Wars universe, with the same sense of adventure and excellent approach to action and intrigue. Specifically, and largely due to the setting of Dathomir, Backlash reminded me of Dave Wolverton’s The Courtship of Princess Leia (1995), as well as Roger MacBride Allen’s Corellian Trilogy (Ambush at Corellia, Assault at Selonia, and Showdown at Centerpoint) – this latter more to do with pacing and atmosphere, rather than the same setting.

Overall, Backlash is a satisfying and entertaining read that bodes well for the next in the series, Christie Golden’s Allies (published May 27th), especially given the cliff-hanger ending.

Recommended for all fans of the genre and overall series.

Another Look: “Outcast”, by Aaron Allston (Arrow)

As it’s about to be released in paperback (29th April in the UK), I thought I would just re-post my review of Outcast, the first instalment in the Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi series.

I’ll soon be reading and reviewing the latest in the Lost Tribe of the Sith novellas by John Jackson Miller (Paragon), which provide background for some of the characters in the Fate of the Jedi. I will also review the next novel in the series, Backlash by Aaron Allston, immediately after that – both hopefully next month, as it is apparently Science Fiction Appreciation Month.

In the meantime, however, here’s Outcast again (originally published here)…

*     *     *

A new chapter in the saga begins…

The Galactic Alliance is in crisis. Worse still, the very survival of the Jedi Order is under threat. In a shocking move, Chief of State Natasi Daala orders the arrest of Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent Jacen Solo's turn to the dark side. But it's only the first blow in an anti-Jedi backlash fuelled by a hostile government and a media-driven witch hunt.

Facing conviction, Luke must strike a bargain with the calculating Daala - his freedom in exchange for his exile from Coruscant and from the Jedi Order. Though forbidden to intervene in Jedi affairs, Luke is determined to keep history from being repeated. With his son, Ben, at his side, Luke sets out to unravel the shocking truth behind Jacen Solo's corruption and downfall. But the secrets he uncovers among the enigmatic Force mystics of the distant world Dorin may bring his quest – and life as he knows it – to a sudden end.

All the while, another Jedi Knight, consumed by a mysterious madness, is headed for Coruscant on a fearsome mission that could doom the Jedi Order... and devastate the entire galaxy.

Outcast follows directly in the footsteps of the Legacy of the Force series. The Galactic Alliance is in crisis following the death of Darth Caedus and the end of the Second Galactic Civil War. New Chief of State Natasi Daala (who first appeared in Jedi Search) orders the arrest of Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent Jacen Solo’s fall to the Dark Side. Behind this order is a growing backlash against the Jedi, as a result of media-fuelled resentment, and an increasingly hostile government, who decide that every Jedi should be accompanied by a government observer, to make sure they don’t take the law into their own hands, as usual. (In fact, when Daala is explaining this to Luke, she makes some interesting points about the episode in A New Hope, when Obi-Wan’s immediate reaction in the Mos Eisley Cantina is to chop off some limbs…)

After making a deal with Daala, Luke is exiled for ten years from Coruscant and contact with the Jedi Order he created – unless he can discover the cause of Jacen’s fall, and also put in place policies to help prevent history from repeating itself. Accompanied by his son Ben (from whose perspective much of the novel is written), Luke attempts to recreate the journey Jacen took in between the events of the New Jedi Order and Legacy of the Force series. His search brings him first to the planet Dorin, where his quest could have dire consequences for his life and his order, ending before it really has the opportunity to begin.

Meanwhile, two Jedi Knights have been affected with a strange condition, making them believe all other Jedi have been replaced with imposters. The causes of this are not revealed in Outcast, but they first appeared in Millennium Falcon, which suggests they will play a major part in the rest of this series.

There’s quite a lot that is set in motion in just one novel, but Allston has done a brilliant job of setting the scene for the eight books to come in the series, revealing just enough to get our interest piqued for future volumes. While Luke and Ben don’t feature as much in the novel as would be suggested by the main premise, their relationship has grown closer over the years, ever since Jacen tortured Ben in an attempt to turn him into a Sith. As previously mentioned, Ben gets a good deal of attention in this novel, perhaps slowly replacing Luke as a key character? Without knowing exactly how the series will progress, it’s difficult to be sure. The thread of the story involving Han and Leia doesn’t appear particularly relevant to the main storyline, but the fact that it’s included again suggests that all will be revealed later in the series.

Allston’s writing remains top-notch, and his prose is still tight and well-paced. Even though it is the first of nine, Outcast is a very engaging read, populated by some of our favourite characters, all of whom have grown and matured since we last read about them. There are obviously story-threads being laid out for future volumes, but they don’t feel forced, and instead will pique the readers’ interest for the series.

As an opening salvo in the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, Outcast will do exactly what it was intended to: grab your attention and make you eager for more. Exceptional sci-fi writing, Allston has proved that the Star Wars franchise has plenty of life left in it, and Fate of the Jedi is a promising addition to the ever-growing Star Wars canon, improving on the quality of the excellent Legacy of the Force.

Series Chronology: Outcast, Omen, Abyss, Backlash, #5-9 as yet untitled

For those wanting to get up-to-date quickly without having to wade through the ever-growing range of Star Wars novels, Del Ray have handily created this PDF primer to help set the scene.

*     *     *

As I mentioned in my review of Abyss, the third novel in the series, I’m still not 100% on board with the wisdom of a nine-part series, but Fate of the Jedi has lived up to my expectations of enjoyable sci-fi reading. I hope the authors are able to keep up the good work and, even better, ratchet up the quality of story-telling. [A review of Omen, the second in the series, can be found here.]

“Outcast”, by Aaron Allston (Century)

A new chapter in the saga begins…

Outcast follows directly in the footsteps of the Legacy of the Force series. The Galactic Alliance is in crisis following the death of Darth Caedus and the end of the Second Galactic Civil War. New Chief of State Natasi Daala (who first appeared in Jedi Search) orders the arrest of Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent Jacen Solo’s fall to the Dark Side. Behind this order is a growing backlash against the Jedi, as a result of media-fuelled resentment, and an increasingly hostile government, who decide that every Jedi should be accompanied by a government observer, to make sure they don’t take the law into their own hands, as usual. (In fact, when Daala is explaining this to Luke, she makes some interesting points about the episode in A New Hope, when Obi-Wan’s immediate reaction in the Mos Eisley Cantina is to chop off some limbs…)

After making a deal with Daala, Luke is exiled for ten years from Coruscant and contact with the Jedi Order he created – unless he can discover the cause of Jacen’s fall, and also put in place policies to help prevent history from repeating itself. Accompanied by his son Ben (from whose perspective much of the novel is written), Luke attempts to recreate the journey Jacen took in between the events of the New Jedi Order and Legacy of the Force series. His search brings him first to the planet Dorin, where his quest could have dire consequences for his life and his order, ending before it really has the opportunity to begin.

Meanwhile, two Jedi Knights have been affected with a strange condition, making them believe all other Jedi have been replaced with imposters. The causes of this are not revealed in Outcast, but they first appeared in Millennium Falcon, which suggests they will play a major part in the rest of this series.

There’s quite a lot that is set in motion in just one novel, but Allston has done a brilliant job of setting the scene for the eight books to come in the series, revealing just enough to get our interest piqued for future volumes. While Luke and Ben don’t feature as much in the novel as would be suggested by the main premise, their relationship has grown closer over the years, ever since Jacen tortured Ben in an attempt to turn him into a Sith. As previously mentioned, Ben gets a good deal of attention in this novel, perhaps slowly replacing Luke as a key character? Without knowing exactly how the series will progress, it’s difficult to be sure. The thread of the story involving Han and Leia doesn’t appear particularly relevant to the main storyline, but the fact that it’s included again suggests that all will be revealed later in the series.

Allston’s writing remains top-notch, and his prose is still tight and well-paced. Even though it is the first of nine, Outcast is a very engaging read, populated by some of our favourite characters, all of whom have grown and matured since we last read about them. There are obviously story-threads being laid out for future volumes, but they don’t feel forced, and instead will pique the readers’ interest for the series.

As an opening salvo in the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, Outcast will do exactly what it was intended to: grab your attention and make you eager for more. Exceptional sci-fi writing, Allston has proved that the Star Wars franchise has plenty of life left in it, and Fate of the Jedi is a promising addition to the ever-growing Star Wars canon, improving on the quality of the excellent Legacy of the Force.

Series Chronology: Outcast, Omen, Abyss, Backlash, #5-9 as yet untitled

For those wanting to get up-to-date quickly without having to wade through the ever-growing range of Star Wars novels, Del Ray have handily created this PDF primer to help set the scene.

Legacy Of The Force: "Inferno" by Troy Denning & "Fury" by Aaron Alston (Arrow Books)

The galactic civil war continues, as Jacen Solo continues to strengthen his grip on power and increasingly emulates of his grandfather.

The latest two instalments of the Legacy Of The Force series bring us yet more of the story of Jacen Solo’s fall further and further towards the dark side, cementing him very firmly in the enemy’s camp, pitted against everyone who at one time loved him: Luke, Leia, Han, his sister Jaina and also his lover and fellow Jedi, Tenel Ka.

Troy Denning’s “Inferno” is not the best volume in this series. That’s not to say it’s badly written or fails to provide sufficient Star Wars-universe action, but it left me with an unsatisfied feeling after I finally finished the last page. The start of the novel is very slow – from the funeral at the beginning (when Luke, to me, just comes across as gullible beyond belief), until the big set-piece battles at the planets Kuat and Balmorra, when the pace is picked up and the story becomes considerably more attention-grabbing.

The novel is very fast-paced, which perhaps gives it a little bit of a rushed feeling, as it clearly has the feel of a stop-gap before bigger events further down the line blow things wide open (what these events are, though, I have no idea yet).

This is the first novel with Jacen’s inner-monologue being taken over by his Sith personality, Darth Caedus. Oddly, and slightly annoyingly, given the “evil” reputation of the Sith, Caedus comes across like Jacen’s mischievous twin. He’s certainly no Vader at this point. With luck this was just him getting comfortable with his new identity. I do find it strange that he bothered to come up with a new name for himself now – no one knows who Darth Caedus is! Absolutely no one, so it seemed a little pointless.

The ending of the novel, again, felt a little rushed, which disappointed given the massive destruction caused by Jacen (read the book, not going to spoil it for you). The conflict between Ben, Luke and Jacen was pretty satisfying, but at the same time irritating in the lack of consistency. At one point in the novel, Luke pins and effectively paralyses Jacen, completely dominating his movements. Then in the final battle, Luke seems to be nowhere near powerful enough to do such a thing. Slight problem with continuity. That, actually, is something that’s been bugging me about the novels for some time – Luke Skywalker is meant to be the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy, but at times it seems like he’s less powerful than others; perhaps through his Buddhist-like abhorrence of violence, perhaps because the authors don’t want to make him God-like but go a little too far bringing him back to earth. This series better end with the mother of all displays of Jedi power-displays.

Despite these minor shortcomings, I powered my way through it, and couldn’t wait for the next instalment, “Fury”.

“Fury” (by Aaron Alston - released December 6th) starts off strongly, with Caedus’s character developing more into a deranged, twisted and paranoid schizophrenic. This works wonderfully with Alston’s sense of humour, which we are treated to early on in the book, as well as throughout, deftly handled to avoid farce. Alston’s writing style is more fluid and readable than Dennings (so, it’s insanely readable).

The novel begins with clean-up following Jacen/Caedus’s brutal attack from the end of “Inferno”, and then moves to Jacen’s desperate attempts to hold on to the one thing that tethers him back to his life before, when he had love in his life: his Daughter, Alanna. By kidnapping her, though, he creates for himself a barrier to doing his job properly – she becomes a distraction, making him second-guess himself and make selfish decisions that often leave him in rather precarious positions.

Luke starts to come out of the depressive fug he’s been in for the past two novels since his wife, Mara, died at Jacen’s hands. Ben, Luke’s son, continues to believe Jacen’s to blame, but everyone else (rather densely) can’t bring themselves to believe that.

In all, this is a faster-paced and more fulfilling novel than “Inferno”, but still has a filler-feeling to it. It’s in no way a bad novel, but it feels very much like a chapter in the middle of a very long book, a small lull in the action before the last third of the story takes us on a wilder ride. This is not surprising given the fact that there are only two more volumes left in the series. Now that the stage has been set for whatever the series climax will be, things are starting to feel like they’re being spun out, rather than any more character development or plot thickening. This is because, since the fifth volume in the series (“Sacrifice”), it’s been pretty clear what’s going to happen from now.

We’ll have to see how things change with “Revelation” and “Invincible”, the last two volumes in the Legacy Of The Force series. With any luck, things will be amped up to the max, and we’ll start to get some proper Star Wars action to get our pulses racing once again.

Both novels are still worth reading, but you will be left wanting the next two novels right now, just so we can know what's going to become of the main protagonists. Personally, I think someone's either going to come to a very sticky end, or we're going to have a Return Of The Jedi moment, with someone being redeemed...

Legacy Of The Force: "Bloodlines", "Tempest", "Exile" (Arrow Books)

Following on from the explosive opening chapter “Betrayal”, the Legacy Of The Force series manages to keep up the pace through these next three superb instalments.

"Bloodlines" (Karen Traviss) sees the return of everyone’s favourite bounty hunter, Boba Fett, who’s personal quest to halt the aging process caused by his being a clone and his desire to find his former wife and daughter brings him into contact with Han Solo and Princess Leia – though this time it is under better circumstances than the events that led to his notoriety in the first place. While it’s clear that Han hasn’t forgotten about being frozen in carbonite, he has a bigger fish to fry in the form of his cousin, Thrackan Sal-Solo who has been fomenting the civil war between Corellia (Han’s home-world) and the Galactic Alliance. His family continues to be torn between duty and morals, and the Solo-Skywalker clan begins to blur the lines between the two sides. Han has perhaps his most violent turn during this book, which while completely out of character to anyone who is only familiar with the movies, for those who have read the New Jedi Order series, it does not seem so excessive.

Jacen continues down his path towards the Dark Side, surreptitiously influencing Ben Skywalker as he goes, delving further into the workings of his own Defence League (which aren’t too dissimilar to the Brown Shirts, if you think about it). Equally noticeable is his (topical) use of torture at one point, which sets in motion his ultimate fall as well as dangerous potential dealings with Fett.

"Tempest" (Troy Denning) follows immediately after Bloodlines, with a little more focus on Jacen and Tenel Ka’s relationship and their still-secret daughter. It is unfortunate that author Troy Denning thought it would be a good idea to give the girl a “cute” lisp, as there is absolutely no excuse for this. Ever. Otherwise, the book sees the increased influence of Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith on Jacen. Luke Skywalker and his wife continue to be irritatingly ignorant about what’s going on – there are a couple of instances when they really should have been able to guess what was actually going on, but were blinded by previous feelings for Jacen – even though said feelings have been continually strained throughout this series. A good deal of space battle refreshes this series, which the political intrigue and conspiracy surrounding the rebellious Correllians and their allies adds more depth and breadth to how far this series could go.

Finally (for the moment), "Exile" (Aaron Alston) finishes of the first half of the series with pretty much more of the same fast-paced space opera-style adventure. Ben Skywalker is sent on his first solo mission, to the Sith homeworld (where he acquires an evil amulet, a cool sentient ship and a young female companion, who will likely prove pivotal in some moral dilemma in a future instalment of the series). It's interesting to see his growth as a character as he must weigh in his mind what he believes he should do and what he believes Jacen wants him to do. It is becoming apparent that Ben is not as completely devoted to his teacher as in the previous instalments. Han and Leia’s relationship with their son worsens as he pushes not only them, but also his twin sister further away from him. His fall into the Dark Side is very almost complete. They also find themselves in an increasingly precarious position straddling both sides of the imminent galactic civil war.

Overall, the novels continue to draw the reader along, answering some questions at the same time as posing more, leaving hints and suggestions for possible future developments, but never revealing too much – as it should be in a serialised story arc. There is a greater synergy between the authors, too, as the books blend together seamlessly, not noticeably written by different authors. It has become the case that the best way to identify which author is by the secondary characters that play parts in the novels. The pace never wanes, and I found that I burned my way through these books much faster than almost any other book I've read (except, perhaps, Terry Pratchett's work).

A healthy sprinkling of humour throughout, more real characters than before, with genuine faults and no excessive hero-devices means the characters are all easier to relate to, making the reader more invested in their future. This bodes well for the second half of the series.The only annoying thing is the wait before the rest of the series comes out…

www.starwars.com /

www.randomhouse.com/arrowbooks

"Betrayal" - Aaron Alston (Arrow Books)

Betrayal is the beginning of the latest Star Wars series, which ushers in (yet another) dark time for Luke Skywalker and his expanding clan of family and friends. This time, the darkness doesn't come from beyond the galactic rim. This time, its source is far closer to home.

Mr Alston - already well known and loved for his previous excellent contributions to the Star Wars universe - starts this nine-part series off with a real bang, throwing the reader straight into the action with Jacen Solo (Han Solo and Princess Leia's son) and Ben Skywalker (Luke's son) discovering a weapons trafficking operation on Adumar - one of the many planets that have pledged allegiance to the fledgling Galactic Alliance. From death-defying free-falls and displays of lightsaber mastery to speeder chases and unreal acrobatic feats, the first chapter alone is enough to grip readers (new and old) with heightened excitement for this most promising series.

While this is obviously part one of a longer series, the novel contains enough to keep the casual reader interested and entertained throughout - be it the thought of now elderly Han Solo galavanting about the universe in an attempt to prevent a looming civil war, or the equally elderly General Wedge Antilles (which people will know from the original movies, but perhaps have missed - he was a member of Rogue Squadron, who rose to general rank) getting the better of some GA operatives tasked with keeping him in check - it's a devious, yet elegantly simple plan, that should raise a smile on even the most cynical reader's face. The dialogue between Antilles and another general, Tycho Celchu is equally entertaining, and shows that while the ideas and events of the story might be serious, this is still meant as entertainment and Mr Alston has a deft wit which he uses very well - never devolving into farce, and never overwhelming us with puns or jokes. A healthy balance.

Over-shadowing everything is the steadily darker path that the aforementioned Jacen Solo is taking. To be honest, his new character is a welcome change from the New Jedi Order series, which portrayed Jacen as whining, prissy and just simply annoying as a philosophically-wracked teenager. While there was some development towards the end of the series (Traitor saw him subjected to horrific amounts of torture), his new coldness and more detached attitude towards human (or, as it's Star Wars, alien) life makes him a much more interesting potential-bad guy. As mentor for Luke's son, though, there is greater possibility for future tragedy - what will become of the son of everyone's favourite Jedi if his teacher falls to darkness? Will he be sacrificed for the greater good, will he be drawn into darkness with his master? Only time will tell.

Expertly written by Aaron Alston, with a perfect mix of humour, plenty of action (on the ground, with lightsabers drawn, and in space) and political intrigue, Betrayal is an excellent start, never letting up the pace and always dragging the reader on. I couldn't put it down, and often found myself reading well into the dawn hours, unable to tear my eyes off the pages. A very encouraging sign of what is to come.

Alston also writes the fourth book in the series, Exile (paperback out now, and review pending) and the penultimate volume, Fury (released later this year). If anyone wanted to dive back into the Star Wars universe, although earlier novels would perhaps be recommended, in Alston's Betrayal they would receive a literary, space opera treat. With enough explaining of backstory, it wouldn't require previous knowledge of the New Jedi Order series, and would no doubt be just as enjoyable (if not more so, as the NJO series did start to get a little too long in the tooth...).

Nothing is set in stone during this first novel, except that the remaining eight volumes will be full of new twists in the Star Wars tale, as the Solos and Skywalkers find themselves split on either side of the escalating galactic conflict.

Watch this space. (A review of the next 3 books - Bloodlines, Tempest and Exile - will be posted early next week.)

www.starwars.com