I'll start by saying this: if you're not a big Star wars fan, not necessarily "hardcore" but just a avid fan, you might want to skip this. If you've dabbled in reading Star Wars books (EU to those in the know) the this is a must have. Like The Clone Wars is currently doing to bridge Episode's II and III this trilogy perfectly satisfies any hunger Star Wars fans have after watching Episode III and deserves a spot on your shelf.
Labyrinth of Evil - 4/5
This is the prequel, if you will, to Episode III as it details the events prior to and leading up to the film. Anakin and Obi-Wan are fighting with their clones on the Outer Rim and must travel to Cato Nemodia to try and capture the slippery and elusive Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray. The Clone War has already been raging for sometime at the start of this novel and for those who haven't seen the TV series this is great insight on the war we didn't' see in the films. While nearly capturing Nute Gunray, Anakin and Obi-Wan almost find out and capture the even more elusive and mysterious Darth Sidious. It's a great read and beautifully leads into Revenge of the Sith, whether you read the novel or see the movie.
Revenge of the Sith - 5/5
Like all novelizations of Star Wars films, the books are even better than the movies. Not that Revenge of the Sith was by any means the worst of the prequels (here's looking at you Episode II) but where the movie simply couldn't elaborate the novelization does brilliantly. If anything it serves as a helpful supplement to the film, as Matthew Stover pumps a different kind of empathy into the novel. Each segment starts out with a solemn poem that accurately describes both the following segment and the overall tone and mood of the story. The elaboration is key however and to get a grasp of how in-depth Stover gets here's an example: the beginning of the film sees Anakin and Obi-Wan flying to Grievous' main cruiser, an sequence that takes at the most 15 minutes. That should equate to 15 pages (a minute for every page of action). However it takes Stover nearly 100 pages to guide us to the two Jedi landing in the docking bay of Grievous' cruiser. It's worth the price of the trilogy alone to get this book and it fits perfectly as both a transition to Episode IV and the middle piece of this trilogy.
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader - 4/5
Another brilliant book that works both as a stand alone and the final act of this trilogy. We've seen Anakin begin to turn, and then eventually turn but ROTS only spends mere moments (more in-depth moments in the novel) with Anakin as Darth Vader. Here we get Vader's first mission in the suit. After being horribly mutilated on Mustafar, Anakin -- now Darth Vader-- must learn to not only deal with what he's become but carry out the tasks of the Empire. This novel serves as an even more solid transition into the action of A New Hope as we not only have Vader first becoming the dark, twisted demon that he is but we have the first reminisce of what will become the Rebel Alliance. There is a large portion of the book that takes place on Alderaan and even suggests that Padme didn't die and is living in hiding to mentor Leia (who makes a significant appearance as a plot device). Basically this serves as a two parter as we have Vader coming into the Sith Lord we all know form the movies and the last of the Jedi trying to sort things out as they are in absolute chaos after the Purge. It's a truly entertaining story, one that I sill think about reading for the first time -- it just sticks with you.
OVERALL:
Again, if you are a Star Wars nerd get this book. It's a must own and is a significant and entertaining part of the chronology of the saga. If you're not a hardcore fanboy but simply want to know more about what happened before and after Revenge of the Sith this is an excellent buy that won't let you down at all. Both of these writers have turned out entertaining books in the past and thus have a track record of great Star Wars novels. Stover has dabbled in Clone Wars stories before there was a huge interest in it so he has helped establish a lot of the continuity. Luceno penned the Darth Maul prequel "Shadow Hunter" which lead into The Phantom Menace so he knows how to write a lead in novel and make it work as a stand alone and not a tie in. Trust me, you don't have to be hardcore to like this trilogy, after all it deals with the Saga's main character and it's most interesting and infamous. You won't be sorry you got this and you'll have trouble putting it down.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2012
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Top reviews from other countries
Lia
very good
Reviewed in Brazil on September 5, 2022
Lia
Reviewed in Brazil on September 5, 2022
As the cover material is simple, I suppose it needs some care to keep it well, as are all books by this publisher. But it arrived in good condition.
The pages are thin but not unpleasant.
I've read interesting snippets of Labyrinth of Evil and Revenge of the Sith is another level of literature with love and tragedy that's sure to stir your heart and ruin you for other books.
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