Allies Review, Part 1
Below the cut you will find my review of the first 18 chapters of Christie Golden's Allies.
mustafear was complaining about my last review/recap/rant because I didn’t use my old key of marking things I liked, disliked, and questions I had. I told her that would be useless now, because it would nearly be all things I didn’t like.
For instance: two things to gripe about before I even start reading the first chapter. Issue number one: the cover. I think it was Club Jade that I recently read an article about SW covers and what on them would make you want to read or even buy the book. This cover is kind of hideous. On the front we have Luke (who looks kind of like a 30-year-old woman) and a Sith. The Sith in this series are constantly described as the most beautiful people you’ll ever meet and can give Hapans a run for their money on the fastidiousness they have in maintaining their appearance. Whoever is on the cover with Luke looks butt ugly. I’m lying here in bed still in PJs, with bed head, no makeup, circles under my eyes, and a red nose from allergies and I look more attractive than whoever this is. And on the back, there’s Lando. Okay, one? Lando’s only been in one other book in this series (the first one). So why does he merit a cover? Also, in the aforementioned Club Jade article, they discussed reusing pictures and stills from the movies and aging them to make them time appropriate for whatever era the book is in. That is what we have here. It’s the promo shot of Lando holding a blaster from ESB, only since this is 40 some years later, they’ve receded his hairline slightly and added in a deeper line running from his nostril to the corner of his mouth. Seriously? That’s all the aging that’s happened? You’ve got to be kidding me. And why does he get a cover? I know I rant about it a lot, but it’s deserved. Jaina nor Jag have yet to be featured on a cover, but Luke’s gotten two, the Sith have gotten two, even Mara was on one. Really?
Issue number two: the timeline in the first few pages that shows you all the books you can buy the chronological order of the books. We’re on book five for this series, yet in the timeline only the first two are listed. If that isn’t proof that TPTB don’t give a crap about the product they’re selling, I don’t really know what is.
And now on to the book itself. Yipee.
Chapter One
Ben wondered if he’d be his father’s age before things started going right for him on any basis other than what appeared to be happy accidents.
Then he wondered if he’d be older than his dad.
True, he’d had a couple of uneventful years after the war. But then his father got arrested and exiled for a decade. Jedi who had spent formative years on Shelter in the Maw-and yes, Ben was among that number, how reassuring was that little fact-started going crazy. Ben and Luke had learned about some creepy powerful being with dark slithery mental tendrils of need who was probably responsible for the crazy Jedi, and had been going to pay her a visit inside the Maw when they abducted a Sith. One that was definitely easy on the eyes, but who was nonetheless a Sith, from a whole planetload of them, no less. A Sith who was still with them right now, standing and smirking at them while nearly a dozen frigates crammed with her pals surrounded them.
Yeah, he would definitely be older than his dad. (1-2)
I’m sorry, did a fourteen-year-old write this? I realize we’re supposed to be in the mind of a teenager, but that doesn’t mean you have to write like crap. Not a good start.
-The Sith want to team up with the Skywalkers because apparently whatever is causing the Jedi to go crazy is also causing Sith apprentices to go crazy. The Sith think its this Abeloth creature from a few books back and they want to go destroy it with Luke.
-“Provided you keep your bargain, [Vestara]’s perfectly safe. Jedi aren’t in the habit of torturing children.” (7) Well, that depends on whether or not Denning is doing the writing, but whatever.
-They could not be more obvious right now about Ben starting to crush on Vestara. I don’t even know where to start complaining on that one.
-Luke lets Vestara’s dad on board to have a little reunion. During the conversation, the dad gives Vestara a shikkar (glass blade), and tells Vestara that nothing is wrong with the Sith apprentices. They used it as bait to get Luke to side with them. Her dad also calls Vestara out on the fact that she is crushing on Ben and encourages her to use it against him.
Chapter Two
-Luke is talking to Lando about borrowing one of his ships to navigate more easily through the Maw. He’s reminiscing about how one night Han told Luke stories about the ship when “the kids were dead to the world and both their wives had gone to bed”. We then have to have a quick break in the story so Luke can send out the thought “Mara, I still miss you, and I swear I feel you here with me now.” Really? That’s necessary? Because I’m pretty sure it isn’t. I kind of want to go off on the line about all the kids and wives sleeping, because Han’s kids would’ve been at least 16 when that happened and they were in the middle of the Vong War. Which makes me wonder how much you know about the SW past, and having to add in that line makes me wonder all the more. Want to mention Mara? Fine, but do it in a way more suitable to the actual relationship that happened. Make it Mara telling the story about the ship and how Lando told it to her when they were pretending to be dating and how Luke razzed her about how she downgraded by marrying him because he never wears capes or something. This right here is what makes me want to write fanfic most of the time. Not inspiration to play in a magical world, but to fix what the so-called professions are constantly screwing up. Is that really how you want to motivate your fans?
Chapter Three
-In four pages we just had more conversation between Jag and Jaina (and a kiss) than was in the whole of the previous book. Which was written by Allston of all people. Aaron, please don’t let the newbie be the champion of all things Jaina and Jag. Please reclaim your title.
-Jaina talks Jag into finding a new lawyer for Tahiri, one who can actually handle a case of this magnitude and care about his client.
-For gabri, at least this author’s version of Tahiri can agree with you about what she did:
She could have escaped all of this. All she’d have to do was do what she had done once before-turn her back on people who cared about her and do something reprehensible. Then it had been to fall under the sway of Jacen Solo, of her own achingly lonely yearning for a boy long dead, of her own wants. She’d killed a decent old man. Not in combat. Not in self-defense, or defending innocents. She’d killed him in cold blood, deliberately. Broken into a room by using the Force to overcome the lock, ordering him to control the Moffs and to violate a surrender. To attack civilians. And when he’d done the right thing, which was to say no, she’d fired at him point-blank. (35)
-Tahiri meets her new lawyer who is an elderly Bothan described as “jaunty” and “dapper”. Umm, have you met Bothans? That’s not how I would describe them. I appreciate Christie Golden’s desire to use less recognizable places for locations and to use more aliens but please don’t force a personality into a species that would never act in such a manner.
Chapter 4
-At least Daala and Dorvan in this next chapter are acknowledging that fact that Tahiri’s lawyer acts strange for a Bothan. But then, still, why make him a Bothan? Is it because he also happens to be the uncle of Daala’s booty call? I don’t get it.
-Dorvan tries to talk Daala into letting Tahiri’s trial be in a normal court instead of the special Jedi court, she said she’ll think about it.
-Raynar apparently goes out and sits on the steps of the Jedi Temple every afternoon and Dorvan has started having lunch with him each afternoon. Daala wants Dorvan to try and start manipulating Raynar to be willing to work for her.
-The Skywalkers arrive at Klatooine, Luke leaves the kids up to gathering supplies while he gets things ready for meeting up with the Sith and Lando. Ben is a little more than excited at the possibility to have some alone time with Vestara even if it’s just running errands. And I’m feeling nauseated at all of that.
Chapter 5
-Luke hasn’t taken Mara’s things out of their cabin on the Shadow and he hasn’t told Ben that he’s kept her stuff. Umm, she’s been dead for two years, and the ship isn’t that big, I think Ben (especially since he’s a master detective and all) would have figured stuff out.
-Mara’s ship+Luke seeing her “ghost” in the stupid fountain+having a female onboard again=Luke having a dream where Mara is lying beside him in bed, but when he rolls over she’s gone. I don’t know how I feel about this whole on again off again I Miss Mara So Much I’m Going to Be in the Fetal Position for the Next Hour version of Luke.
-The Sith are just learning about the Hutts (mostly through their control over Klatooine) and admire them for the ethics and accomplishments (but obviously not because of their looks)
Chapter 6
[Ben] wanted to tell [Vestara], I don’t want to fight with you. There’s enough strife and anger and bad feelings running around as it is. I know there are things we can’t agree on, and things that make my gut hurt to think that you really believe. I know that I want to show you my world, my thoughts, what I believe is right. And I think that maybe you might listen one day. But for now, I just want to talk around with you and just… be us. Can’t we just be us?
More of making Ben and Vestara out to be Luke and Mara v2.0. (And some more about how Hutts are evil and the Jedi need to rescue slaves, and debate on whether or not slavery is bad)
Chapter 7
-And now we’re dealing with Hutt slavery on Tatooine. Ugh, people these books are the most scattered collection of plots ever.
-Kind of surprised Tatooine isn’t part of the GA since its Luke’s home planet and all, but okay.
-And that was a whole chapter introducing some new little girl enslaved to a Hutt and some Underground Railroad setup. Really? This is how you’re spending your pages?
Chapter 8
-And now Dyon (the guide from Dathomir and current chaperon for Ben and Vestara) has succumbed to crazy!Jedi disease. Wonderful.
-Again, I appreciate her desire to write in a bunch of different species, but do not appreciate the fact that they all have the same personality and congeniality.
-For someone who washed out of being trained as a Jedi, Dyon sure seems to have a good control and strong abilities in the Force.
-“There were gates at various intervals and these were closed, but… seriously, it was only a ring of dirt and wooden gates.” (86) Is this what you call professional writing?
-Vestara knocks Dyon out and he’s taken into custody by the Klatooinians. Ben’s all happy because his Sith crush didn’t kill Dyon, which means she can’t be totally evil, right? *eye roll* And as soon as Dyon is driven off in a speeder, the two of them get arrested.
Chapter 9
-“Nearly everything here, save for the breathtaking Fountain of the Hutt Ancients, was practical, weathered, and stolid.” (93) I’m assuming that last word is supposed to be solid? Or are we just making up words now?
-Ben and Vestara apparently weren’t arrested, just held for questioning. Their respective fathers came to pick them up and the guard told them that they’d have incredible grandchildren. Cue the instant “Our children aren’t involved in that way”/glaring comedic routine. Just how much more cliché are we going to get with this whole Ben and Vestara mess?
Chapter 10
-For Gabri: “But most of the emotions [Vestara] had experienced from [her father] were approval, love, and pride. This wounded her to her core, but even though it was completely new and unexpected behavior, she had been well schooled. She did not let her hurt show. She used the Force to even out her skin tone so that the rush of heat to her face would not betrayer her…” (101-102) Since I know you hated the fact that Tenel Ka did the same thing in a previous book. Looks like the trick is making its way around the ladies in the GFFA.
-More crap about slavery.
Chapter 11
-Han and Leia are making their first appearances in the book at Tahiri’s trial.
-The same judge that sentenced Luke on his ten-year absence from all things Jedi is also the judge for Tahiri’s trial.
-Han and Leia tell Tahiri about Luke and Ben’s run-in with Anakin at the Lake o’ Dead People. Tahiri crumbles and decides that she’s going to get a not guilty verdict so that she can follow Anakin’s words about each Jedi being their own light. She’s going to go and do right for Anakin and for herself. It mentions that this conversation is the closure for Anakin’s death that she was looking for in all the flow-walking with Jacen and such. It’s about time we’ve had closure on this topic because seriously it’s been like twenty years.
Chapter 12
-“Luke, the Grand Master, the creator of the new Order, hadn’t had to have an ‘assistant’.” (120-121) Again with the level of crappy writing.
-Now apparently spelling Kyp’s last name “Durran” (125)
-Daala contacted Hamner wanting the latest crazy Jedi, he refused, and now he’s holding an emergency Masters meeting (plus Jaina) to warn them that another attack from Daala’s Mandos is probable
-Jaina wants to launch the Stealth-Xs, half the room is with her and half is against. The meeting falls into a shouting match and Jaina slips out to go get some outside help.
Chapter 13
-This is the chapter I blogged about last week, just FYI.
”So what’s so important that you had to practically hit Ashik in the nose?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and regarding her.
“I need your help.”
“With what this time?”
Jaina winced a little at his tone of voice. “I know… it seems like recently the only time I come to see you is when I need something. I’m sorry, but this time-Jag, this is huge.” (129)
-Yes, it does seem that way. Jaina bats her eye lashes, perches on the edge of his desk or his lap, makes out with him and asks him a favor. Jag gives in because his girlfriend is hot. These are not the characters I know. This is not my OTP.
-Jaina asks Jag to either lend them Imperial ships to go help Luke or distract Daala so they can sneak out the Stealth-Xs. Just as he refuses, Ashik rushes in and turns on the news to show the Mandos have surrounded the Temple.
”I will talk to Daala, and try to get her to end the siege,” he said, his voice cool and calm and quiet. “More than that-I cannot do.”
Jaina froze, like a statue, for a long moment. Finally, she spoke, and her voice was subdued and strangely gentle. “I shouldn’t have asked this of you. I shouldn’t have asked you to bend so far you’d break, and that’s exactly what I did.”
“Jaina, I’m sure there’s some other-“
“We’re not going to be able to make this work, Jag. No matter how much we want to. Our duties are always going to come between us. This is something I have to do… just like your refusing to help is something you have to do. I’m sorry.”
Then, slowly, she reached with her right hand, pulled off the engagement ring, and placed it with surprising tenderness down on the desk. Tears stood in her eyes, but she rose without trembling and walked out.
He could’ve called her back. He could have apologized, offered to covertly send her anything she wanted. She’d have leapt into his arms, holding him tight, and all would be well between them again.
Except it wouldn’t. She was right. Jag was who he was, and Jaina was who she was, and once again, for a final time, that had come between them.
Jagged Fel reached out slowly, grasped the engagement ring tightly in his hand, and, expressionless as heart cracked within him although there was no one to see, watched the news unfold.
-I just read a bit of fanfic by an author I kind of hate and it was so much better than this. I don’t know what this is. We all know what happens in Legacy, why are they holding off? But then again, I don’t know who these characters are. I feel like I have the Jedi crazy-sickness. I see all these people with the same names who look like who they’re supposed to be but aren’t really at all.
-Daala is pissed that no one in the media is taking her side on the siege. She starts making threats to Dorvan about planting a reporter loyal to them or gagging the press. He tells her not to and lets her know that he’ll take care of Jarvis Tyrr (head “sleemo” journalist) himself.
Chapter Fourteen
-Another chapter on slavery issues. Sorry this storyline is: a) completely boring b) never going to be brought up again until its Christie Golden’s turn to write again c) entirely debatable if I’ll still be able to stomach these book by then. Thus, I’m skipping the chapter.
Chapter Fifteen
-Allana overhears Luke talking to 3PO, gets discovered and then starts freaking out because she’s worried Luke is turning to the Dark Side because he’s hanging out with the Sith. Han and Leia come in and everyone explains to her what’s going on. They try and distract her by turning on the holo, but the only thing on is the Jedi Temple siege. 3PO then tells them that Jag left a message. In the message Jag tells them that the Jedi are under attack, Jaina broke up with him, and that she’s now gone off on her own presumably to Klatooine to join up with Luke and fight against the Sith. Han thinks they need to go after Jaina, but Leia says that they (as Jag is doing) need to go talk to Daala.
Chapter Sixteen
-Luke had the conversation Vestara and her dad shared earlier in the book sent to 3PO to translate, and the Skywalker boys just got back the translation confirming that the Sith lied about their apprentices going crazy and that Vestara’s dad is encouraging her to seduce Ben to bring him to the Dark Side.
-Constant, small issue I have is jumping around in POVs also means jumping around time-wise. When ending a scene that involves meeting up with another character, the next section is following is what the new character was doing before the previous scene. It throws you around a little bit.
Chapter Seventeen
-Another Mara dream where she’s urging him to go to the Maw, so another point for it not actually being Mara but rather Abeloth, the creature that is causing all the nonsense in the Maw.
-Is “breakfasted” really a verb? I know I have a habit of turning random things into verbs, but that one sounds weird and when I do it I’m not being paid to be a professional writer.
-“Lando sighed. ‘I can step up repairs, but it’s still going to be another couple of days at the very least. Think you can distract your Sith buddies with shinies long enough so they don’t decide that a Skywalker skin might make a nice belt?’” (166) Shinies? When did this book stop being Star Wars and start being Firefly?
-The Sith talk Luke into leaving two frigates behind for communication purposes, but they true mission is to steal from the crystal formation fountain on the planet. 5 Sith go down and two start to hack off pieces of the formation before the natives go into defense mode. One is killed before they can finish their mission.
Chapter 18
-The droid on the bridge with Lando is called Cybot Galactica Model RN8. You’ve already tried to drag in Firefly to this crap, don’t add BSG to the mix. It deserves better than this.
-Even though I’m pretty sure Luke told Lando that they were going to start heading towards the Maw, Lando shows up at Klatooine and is all confused as to why Luke isn’t there. Naturally this is around the same time the Hutts (whom the Klatoinians called because the fountain was under attack and they have a treaty and all) show up.
-Jaina also shows up at this point. How she managed to sneak a Stealth-X off Coruscant I don’t really understand, but whatever. She docks with Lando and the two of them head down to the planet.
-The Klatoonians won’t try and break the treaty that causes them to be enslaved to Hutts unless there is reason to believe the Hutts aren’t holding up their end of the bargain (protecting them). Since this attack has occurred, the rules say that at least two off-worlders can hear both sides of the case and decide if someone is in the wrong and the treaty can be broken. And, of course, Jaina and Lando are those two off-worlders
mustafear was complaining about my last review/recap/rant because I didn’t use my old key of marking things I liked, disliked, and questions I had. I told her that would be useless now, because it would nearly be all things I didn’t like.
For instance: two things to gripe about before I even start reading the first chapter. Issue number one: the cover. I think it was Club Jade that I recently read an article about SW covers and what on them would make you want to read or even buy the book. This cover is kind of hideous. On the front we have Luke (who looks kind of like a 30-year-old woman) and a Sith. The Sith in this series are constantly described as the most beautiful people you’ll ever meet and can give Hapans a run for their money on the fastidiousness they have in maintaining their appearance. Whoever is on the cover with Luke looks butt ugly. I’m lying here in bed still in PJs, with bed head, no makeup, circles under my eyes, and a red nose from allergies and I look more attractive than whoever this is. And on the back, there’s Lando. Okay, one? Lando’s only been in one other book in this series (the first one). So why does he merit a cover? Also, in the aforementioned Club Jade article, they discussed reusing pictures and stills from the movies and aging them to make them time appropriate for whatever era the book is in. That is what we have here. It’s the promo shot of Lando holding a blaster from ESB, only since this is 40 some years later, they’ve receded his hairline slightly and added in a deeper line running from his nostril to the corner of his mouth. Seriously? That’s all the aging that’s happened? You’ve got to be kidding me. And why does he get a cover? I know I rant about it a lot, but it’s deserved. Jaina nor Jag have yet to be featured on a cover, but Luke’s gotten two, the Sith have gotten two, even Mara was on one. Really?
Issue number two: the timeline in the first few pages that shows you all the books you can buy the chronological order of the books. We’re on book five for this series, yet in the timeline only the first two are listed. If that isn’t proof that TPTB don’t give a crap about the product they’re selling, I don’t really know what is.
And now on to the book itself. Yipee.
Chapter One
Ben wondered if he’d be his father’s age before things started going right for him on any basis other than what appeared to be happy accidents.
Then he wondered if he’d be older than his dad.
True, he’d had a couple of uneventful years after the war. But then his father got arrested and exiled for a decade. Jedi who had spent formative years on Shelter in the Maw-and yes, Ben was among that number, how reassuring was that little fact-started going crazy. Ben and Luke had learned about some creepy powerful being with dark slithery mental tendrils of need who was probably responsible for the crazy Jedi, and had been going to pay her a visit inside the Maw when they abducted a Sith. One that was definitely easy on the eyes, but who was nonetheless a Sith, from a whole planetload of them, no less. A Sith who was still with them right now, standing and smirking at them while nearly a dozen frigates crammed with her pals surrounded them.
Yeah, he would definitely be older than his dad. (1-2)
I’m sorry, did a fourteen-year-old write this? I realize we’re supposed to be in the mind of a teenager, but that doesn’t mean you have to write like crap. Not a good start.
-The Sith want to team up with the Skywalkers because apparently whatever is causing the Jedi to go crazy is also causing Sith apprentices to go crazy. The Sith think its this Abeloth creature from a few books back and they want to go destroy it with Luke.
-“Provided you keep your bargain, [Vestara]’s perfectly safe. Jedi aren’t in the habit of torturing children.” (7) Well, that depends on whether or not Denning is doing the writing, but whatever.
-They could not be more obvious right now about Ben starting to crush on Vestara. I don’t even know where to start complaining on that one.
-Luke lets Vestara’s dad on board to have a little reunion. During the conversation, the dad gives Vestara a shikkar (glass blade), and tells Vestara that nothing is wrong with the Sith apprentices. They used it as bait to get Luke to side with them. Her dad also calls Vestara out on the fact that she is crushing on Ben and encourages her to use it against him.
Chapter Two
-Luke is talking to Lando about borrowing one of his ships to navigate more easily through the Maw. He’s reminiscing about how one night Han told Luke stories about the ship when “the kids were dead to the world and both their wives had gone to bed”. We then have to have a quick break in the story so Luke can send out the thought “Mara, I still miss you, and I swear I feel you here with me now.” Really? That’s necessary? Because I’m pretty sure it isn’t. I kind of want to go off on the line about all the kids and wives sleeping, because Han’s kids would’ve been at least 16 when that happened and they were in the middle of the Vong War. Which makes me wonder how much you know about the SW past, and having to add in that line makes me wonder all the more. Want to mention Mara? Fine, but do it in a way more suitable to the actual relationship that happened. Make it Mara telling the story about the ship and how Lando told it to her when they were pretending to be dating and how Luke razzed her about how she downgraded by marrying him because he never wears capes or something. This right here is what makes me want to write fanfic most of the time. Not inspiration to play in a magical world, but to fix what the so-called professions are constantly screwing up. Is that really how you want to motivate your fans?
Chapter Three
-In four pages we just had more conversation between Jag and Jaina (and a kiss) than was in the whole of the previous book. Which was written by Allston of all people. Aaron, please don’t let the newbie be the champion of all things Jaina and Jag. Please reclaim your title.
-Jaina talks Jag into finding a new lawyer for Tahiri, one who can actually handle a case of this magnitude and care about his client.
-For gabri, at least this author’s version of Tahiri can agree with you about what she did:
She could have escaped all of this. All she’d have to do was do what she had done once before-turn her back on people who cared about her and do something reprehensible. Then it had been to fall under the sway of Jacen Solo, of her own achingly lonely yearning for a boy long dead, of her own wants. She’d killed a decent old man. Not in combat. Not in self-defense, or defending innocents. She’d killed him in cold blood, deliberately. Broken into a room by using the Force to overcome the lock, ordering him to control the Moffs and to violate a surrender. To attack civilians. And when he’d done the right thing, which was to say no, she’d fired at him point-blank. (35)
-Tahiri meets her new lawyer who is an elderly Bothan described as “jaunty” and “dapper”. Umm, have you met Bothans? That’s not how I would describe them. I appreciate Christie Golden’s desire to use less recognizable places for locations and to use more aliens but please don’t force a personality into a species that would never act in such a manner.
Chapter 4
-At least Daala and Dorvan in this next chapter are acknowledging that fact that Tahiri’s lawyer acts strange for a Bothan. But then, still, why make him a Bothan? Is it because he also happens to be the uncle of Daala’s booty call? I don’t get it.
-Dorvan tries to talk Daala into letting Tahiri’s trial be in a normal court instead of the special Jedi court, she said she’ll think about it.
-Raynar apparently goes out and sits on the steps of the Jedi Temple every afternoon and Dorvan has started having lunch with him each afternoon. Daala wants Dorvan to try and start manipulating Raynar to be willing to work for her.
-The Skywalkers arrive at Klatooine, Luke leaves the kids up to gathering supplies while he gets things ready for meeting up with the Sith and Lando. Ben is a little more than excited at the possibility to have some alone time with Vestara even if it’s just running errands. And I’m feeling nauseated at all of that.
Chapter 5
-Luke hasn’t taken Mara’s things out of their cabin on the Shadow and he hasn’t told Ben that he’s kept her stuff. Umm, she’s been dead for two years, and the ship isn’t that big, I think Ben (especially since he’s a master detective and all) would have figured stuff out.
-Mara’s ship+Luke seeing her “ghost” in the stupid fountain+having a female onboard again=Luke having a dream where Mara is lying beside him in bed, but when he rolls over she’s gone. I don’t know how I feel about this whole on again off again I Miss Mara So Much I’m Going to Be in the Fetal Position for the Next Hour version of Luke.
-The Sith are just learning about the Hutts (mostly through their control over Klatooine) and admire them for the ethics and accomplishments (but obviously not because of their looks)
Chapter 6
[Ben] wanted to tell [Vestara], I don’t want to fight with you. There’s enough strife and anger and bad feelings running around as it is. I know there are things we can’t agree on, and things that make my gut hurt to think that you really believe. I know that I want to show you my world, my thoughts, what I believe is right. And I think that maybe you might listen one day. But for now, I just want to talk around with you and just… be us. Can’t we just be us?
More of making Ben and Vestara out to be Luke and Mara v2.0. (And some more about how Hutts are evil and the Jedi need to rescue slaves, and debate on whether or not slavery is bad)
Chapter 7
-And now we’re dealing with Hutt slavery on Tatooine. Ugh, people these books are the most scattered collection of plots ever.
-Kind of surprised Tatooine isn’t part of the GA since its Luke’s home planet and all, but okay.
-And that was a whole chapter introducing some new little girl enslaved to a Hutt and some Underground Railroad setup. Really? This is how you’re spending your pages?
Chapter 8
-And now Dyon (the guide from Dathomir and current chaperon for Ben and Vestara) has succumbed to crazy!Jedi disease. Wonderful.
-Again, I appreciate her desire to write in a bunch of different species, but do not appreciate the fact that they all have the same personality and congeniality.
-For someone who washed out of being trained as a Jedi, Dyon sure seems to have a good control and strong abilities in the Force.
-“There were gates at various intervals and these were closed, but… seriously, it was only a ring of dirt and wooden gates.” (86) Is this what you call professional writing?
-Vestara knocks Dyon out and he’s taken into custody by the Klatooinians. Ben’s all happy because his Sith crush didn’t kill Dyon, which means she can’t be totally evil, right? *eye roll* And as soon as Dyon is driven off in a speeder, the two of them get arrested.
Chapter 9
-“Nearly everything here, save for the breathtaking Fountain of the Hutt Ancients, was practical, weathered, and stolid.” (93) I’m assuming that last word is supposed to be solid? Or are we just making up words now?
-Ben and Vestara apparently weren’t arrested, just held for questioning. Their respective fathers came to pick them up and the guard told them that they’d have incredible grandchildren. Cue the instant “Our children aren’t involved in that way”/glaring comedic routine. Just how much more cliché are we going to get with this whole Ben and Vestara mess?
Chapter 10
-For Gabri: “But most of the emotions [Vestara] had experienced from [her father] were approval, love, and pride. This wounded her to her core, but even though it was completely new and unexpected behavior, she had been well schooled. She did not let her hurt show. She used the Force to even out her skin tone so that the rush of heat to her face would not betrayer her…” (101-102) Since I know you hated the fact that Tenel Ka did the same thing in a previous book. Looks like the trick is making its way around the ladies in the GFFA.
-More crap about slavery.
Chapter 11
-Han and Leia are making their first appearances in the book at Tahiri’s trial.
-The same judge that sentenced Luke on his ten-year absence from all things Jedi is also the judge for Tahiri’s trial.
-Han and Leia tell Tahiri about Luke and Ben’s run-in with Anakin at the Lake o’ Dead People. Tahiri crumbles and decides that she’s going to get a not guilty verdict so that she can follow Anakin’s words about each Jedi being their own light. She’s going to go and do right for Anakin and for herself. It mentions that this conversation is the closure for Anakin’s death that she was looking for in all the flow-walking with Jacen and such. It’s about time we’ve had closure on this topic because seriously it’s been like twenty years.
Chapter 12
-“Luke, the Grand Master, the creator of the new Order, hadn’t had to have an ‘assistant’.” (120-121) Again with the level of crappy writing.
-Now apparently spelling Kyp’s last name “Durran” (125)
-Daala contacted Hamner wanting the latest crazy Jedi, he refused, and now he’s holding an emergency Masters meeting (plus Jaina) to warn them that another attack from Daala’s Mandos is probable
-Jaina wants to launch the Stealth-Xs, half the room is with her and half is against. The meeting falls into a shouting match and Jaina slips out to go get some outside help.
Chapter 13
-This is the chapter I blogged about last week, just FYI.
”So what’s so important that you had to practically hit Ashik in the nose?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and regarding her.
“I need your help.”
“With what this time?”
Jaina winced a little at his tone of voice. “I know… it seems like recently the only time I come to see you is when I need something. I’m sorry, but this time-Jag, this is huge.” (129)
-Yes, it does seem that way. Jaina bats her eye lashes, perches on the edge of his desk or his lap, makes out with him and asks him a favor. Jag gives in because his girlfriend is hot. These are not the characters I know. This is not my OTP.
-Jaina asks Jag to either lend them Imperial ships to go help Luke or distract Daala so they can sneak out the Stealth-Xs. Just as he refuses, Ashik rushes in and turns on the news to show the Mandos have surrounded the Temple.
”I will talk to Daala, and try to get her to end the siege,” he said, his voice cool and calm and quiet. “More than that-I cannot do.”
Jaina froze, like a statue, for a long moment. Finally, she spoke, and her voice was subdued and strangely gentle. “I shouldn’t have asked this of you. I shouldn’t have asked you to bend so far you’d break, and that’s exactly what I did.”
“Jaina, I’m sure there’s some other-“
“We’re not going to be able to make this work, Jag. No matter how much we want to. Our duties are always going to come between us. This is something I have to do… just like your refusing to help is something you have to do. I’m sorry.”
Then, slowly, she reached with her right hand, pulled off the engagement ring, and placed it with surprising tenderness down on the desk. Tears stood in her eyes, but she rose without trembling and walked out.
He could’ve called her back. He could have apologized, offered to covertly send her anything she wanted. She’d have leapt into his arms, holding him tight, and all would be well between them again.
Except it wouldn’t. She was right. Jag was who he was, and Jaina was who she was, and once again, for a final time, that had come between them.
Jagged Fel reached out slowly, grasped the engagement ring tightly in his hand, and, expressionless as heart cracked within him although there was no one to see, watched the news unfold.
-I just read a bit of fanfic by an author I kind of hate and it was so much better than this. I don’t know what this is. We all know what happens in Legacy, why are they holding off? But then again, I don’t know who these characters are. I feel like I have the Jedi crazy-sickness. I see all these people with the same names who look like who they’re supposed to be but aren’t really at all.
-Daala is pissed that no one in the media is taking her side on the siege. She starts making threats to Dorvan about planting a reporter loyal to them or gagging the press. He tells her not to and lets her know that he’ll take care of Jarvis Tyrr (head “sleemo” journalist) himself.
Chapter Fourteen
-Another chapter on slavery issues. Sorry this storyline is: a) completely boring b) never going to be brought up again until its Christie Golden’s turn to write again c) entirely debatable if I’ll still be able to stomach these book by then. Thus, I’m skipping the chapter.
Chapter Fifteen
-Allana overhears Luke talking to 3PO, gets discovered and then starts freaking out because she’s worried Luke is turning to the Dark Side because he’s hanging out with the Sith. Han and Leia come in and everyone explains to her what’s going on. They try and distract her by turning on the holo, but the only thing on is the Jedi Temple siege. 3PO then tells them that Jag left a message. In the message Jag tells them that the Jedi are under attack, Jaina broke up with him, and that she’s now gone off on her own presumably to Klatooine to join up with Luke and fight against the Sith. Han thinks they need to go after Jaina, but Leia says that they (as Jag is doing) need to go talk to Daala.
Chapter Sixteen
-Luke had the conversation Vestara and her dad shared earlier in the book sent to 3PO to translate, and the Skywalker boys just got back the translation confirming that the Sith lied about their apprentices going crazy and that Vestara’s dad is encouraging her to seduce Ben to bring him to the Dark Side.
-Constant, small issue I have is jumping around in POVs also means jumping around time-wise. When ending a scene that involves meeting up with another character, the next section is following is what the new character was doing before the previous scene. It throws you around a little bit.
Chapter Seventeen
-Another Mara dream where she’s urging him to go to the Maw, so another point for it not actually being Mara but rather Abeloth, the creature that is causing all the nonsense in the Maw.
-Is “breakfasted” really a verb? I know I have a habit of turning random things into verbs, but that one sounds weird and when I do it I’m not being paid to be a professional writer.
-“Lando sighed. ‘I can step up repairs, but it’s still going to be another couple of days at the very least. Think you can distract your Sith buddies with shinies long enough so they don’t decide that a Skywalker skin might make a nice belt?’” (166) Shinies? When did this book stop being Star Wars and start being Firefly?
-The Sith talk Luke into leaving two frigates behind for communication purposes, but they true mission is to steal from the crystal formation fountain on the planet. 5 Sith go down and two start to hack off pieces of the formation before the natives go into defense mode. One is killed before they can finish their mission.
Chapter 18
-The droid on the bridge with Lando is called Cybot Galactica Model RN8. You’ve already tried to drag in Firefly to this crap, don’t add BSG to the mix. It deserves better than this.
-Even though I’m pretty sure Luke told Lando that they were going to start heading towards the Maw, Lando shows up at Klatooine and is all confused as to why Luke isn’t there. Naturally this is around the same time the Hutts (whom the Klatoinians called because the fountain was under attack and they have a treaty and all) show up.
-Jaina also shows up at this point. How she managed to sneak a Stealth-X off Coruscant I don’t really understand, but whatever. She docks with Lando and the two of them head down to the planet.
-The Klatoonians won’t try and break the treaty that causes them to be enslaved to Hutts unless there is reason to believe the Hutts aren’t holding up their end of the bargain (protecting them). Since this attack has occurred, the rules say that at least two off-worlders can hear both sides of the case and decide if someone is in the wrong and the treaty can be broken. And, of course, Jaina and Lando are those two off-worlders