About the Author

Karen Traviss is the author of Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines and two Star Wars: Republic Commando novels, Hard Contact and Triple Zero, as well as City of Pearl, Crossing the Line, The World Before, Matriarch, and Ally. A former defense correspondent and TV and newspaper journalist, Traviss has also worked as a police press officer, an advertising copywriter, and a journalism lecturer. She has served in both the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service and the Territorial Army. Since her graduation from the Clarion East class of 2000, her short stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Realms of Fantasy, On Spec, and Star Wars Insider. She lives in Devizes, England.

Reviews

Adult/High School-On the edge of civil war, planets are threatening to break away from the Galactic Alliance Luke Skywalker and his comrades worked so hard to build. As head of the military, Jacen-Jedi Knight and son of Han and Leia Solo-will do anything to fight back any insurrection. He quickly moves from a capable military tactician to a shady politician, making deals to increase and consolidate his power over the alliance. More frightening, he is under the guidance of Lumiya, former pupil of the Dark Emperor Palpatine, who leads him to the evil powers of the Sith. To gain the ultimate power of a Sith Lord, he must cause the death of someone close to him, and he has trouble deciding whether to kill his parents; Ben, his protege and the teenaged son of Luke and Mara Skywalker; or Lumiya. An interesting subplot involves Boba Fett taking over leadership of the Mandalorian race and helping them rebuild their once-proud society. While it doesn't have a direct influence on the main events, there are hints that the rise of the Mandalores will have a great impact on the series as a whole. The first two thirds of the book are more character-driven and less action-packed than most "Star Wars" novels. Still, this fifth volume in the series ends with a powerful battle pitting Sith Lords against Jedi Masters, satisfying fans and pushing them on to the next volume.-Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.