Star by Star

   One of the longest Star Wars books I have read! over 600 pages in the hard cover. I think the one that comes close is I, Jedi. I read that one in a paper back. I seem to remember it was around 600 pages as well but being paper back I don't know if it would be more or less in hardback.
   One thing I do not like in The New Jedi Order series is the intense gore. After a while I really feel uncomfortable reading the sadistic rituals of the Yuuzhan Vong. Really I feel this is an attempt to make The Black Fleet Crisis into a whole series. When I first read The Black Fleet Crisis I felt it should have been longer then just three books. The Black Fleet Crisis remains one of my favorites. The Yuuzhan Vong feels like a knock off of the Yevetha... I mean the names are similar! The Yevetha were disturbingly blood thirsty as well but the Yuuzhan Vong has topped them. Ugh...
   But I knew something happened in this book cause I thought I had heard a spoiler before I stared reading it... I didn't get it quite right so, well I guess I was somewhat taken off guard and confused when things were not going as I thought...



Anakin and Tahiri

Spoiler ALERT right here...

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   The death of Anakin! Some how I thought he turned to the darkside before his death and his death would take place in Star by Star. Got it half way right! I knew he died at some point in the series but I didn't know which book. I tried not to find out but I accidentally did.
   I'm really going to miss Anakin! He was one of my favorites.

Fey'lya's last stand.
( Isn't his fur white in the book?)

   Another thing I didn't see coming was the fall of Coruscant and the death of Chief of State Fey'lya!!! As surprising as these deaths and events are I think it is a smart move because it does add an extra edge for the reader cause you know they will go as far as killing someone! Someone who's a pretty important person! Hate to say I'm glad they knocked him off! I don't know how many books Fey'lya has been in but he's been annoying the Solos & Skywalkers for YEARS! An irritating character! But he did sort of die as a hero so I can give him that. In the end he truly did care about the New Republic and not his own hide.
   One thing I greatly disliked about this book was how long it was!!! I love long books... but there was just too much of unneeded information that was boring! Less battles and more depth! I mean with a 600+ page novel you'd think they would have plenty of room for both...

Tyrant's Test

  Wow, first off I want to applauded the author of The Black Fleet Crisis! This story is so complicated and detailed with a great talent to create a different universe that really seems like one unlike our own but still a bit like our own!

This book unlike the other two was written in chapters with Interludes's about Lando through out as it take some time to connect his story with everyone else's. The Yevetha ARE unlike any enemy they have faced thus far. I have seen them likened to the Nazis but I would say not really. They are the worst parts put together of the worst of the world that we know. Unlike with The Crystal Star where it was obvious Hitler and the Hitler Youth was the inspiration the Yevetha are a new group to themselfes.These creatures are bad with no apparent redemption quality.

(I would like to note that this trilagy is not for younger Star Wars fans. It gets pretty violent and also has some adult subject matter.)

With that being said, I think now that I have read all three books I can fairly comment on ALL three. I think this story easily could have taken up another book or two and maybe it should have!

(warning, what is coming could be spoilers just so you know)

  In the first book Before the Storm I noted that Leia and Luke seem to lose their minds. I thought this may play into the story later on but it never did but I will say that their minds seem to go back to normal for the next two books so I don't know, you just have to go with it I guess.

 At one point it seems Luke has found a new love interest but... afterwards it's not touched again from Luke's point of view and only mentioned slyly by Akanah. You would think at this point he would be haveing very mixed emotions about this girl by the end but like I said, the author really doesn't approach it again.

 Also something really bugged me about the conclusion to Akanah's story. It seemed like it was a little bit of a let down. The author did a good job building up to the end but it seems like it could have been a little juicer compared to the build up! Your left hanging about Luke's mother... and part of the problem is today we DO know who the Skywalker's mother was, Padme', but when this was written they did not so perhaps back then the ending was a little bit juicer cause the women she speaks of at the time could have been their mother but with the info out now I can see no way it could have been... but even so I still feel the whole Fallanassi was a bit of a let down. Brought into the story just to take place in the battle that does nothing to really help. They go against their beliefs it seems because you are given the impression they do not fight and would rather die then fight and kill but then knowingly take place in a battle and continue as men are dieing... it didn't make since.

Lando, Lobot, R2D2, and C3PO inside the Vagabond

  It also didn't make since as to why the Vagabond is said to keep returning to it's home planet and leaving again when it is it's mission to save the world from the ice... did I just miss something? Why didn't it stay the first time it came back and why did it stay this time it came back... I was confused :-/

  But even if the ending was lacking somehow, the whole thing was quite a read and I'm guessing Nal Spaar or his people in some way will return. The Yevetha are an enemy that I don't believe are that easily rid of!