The kid in me never dies and neither does my love of Star Wars.

During the eight months when I was unemployed, I was in desperate need of some light reading to kill time. So, I delved back into my book shelves and reread the Timothy Zahn series Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Thrawn Trilogy). To my surprise, I found that I really enjoyed it.

After devouring all the Zahn Star Wars books, and I must say I read them rather quickly, I then moved on to other titles in the Star Wars series of books.

Star Wars: The Legacy of the Force – Tempest by Troy Denning is set 40 years after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. It is the third title in the series. Here, history seems to be on the verge of repeating itself as Han Solo and Princess Leia’s son Jacen follows the path to the dark side, just like his grandfather Darth Vader.

While I find these books to be quick and engaging reads, what I don't quite like is that each one demands a working knowledge of what was written in the previous Star Wars titles. Denning’s narrative keeps each story full of twists and turns, which can be exciting. However, it can also leave a person a bit frustrated if they don't know all the details from the previous books.

Overall, my love for Star Wars continues to grow with each book I read, despite the small drawbacks.

I've been an avid reader of these Star Wars novels for nearly 20 years. It makes me wonder just how much longer they can continue to write about Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia.

This particular novel is set 40 years after the events of the movie Return of the Jedi. Han Solo, who is now around 70 years old, is still involved in intense laser gun battles and thrilling starship chases. It's quite remarkable. In fact, there's a line in the book that points out how Han is now older than Obi-Wan Kenobi was when he faced off against Darth Vader and unfortunately lost.

Luke and Leia, in their early 60s, also seem incredibly spry, despite their Jedi training and conditioning.

The writing in this third novel of the 9-book Legacy of the Jedi series is of a good standard. However, the story seems more convoluted than necessary. If you haven't read a significant number of other Star Wars Expanded Universe fiction, you'll likely struggle to keep the large cast of characters and their various political affiliations and alliances straight.

The main storyline focuses on the accelerating descent to the Dark side of Han and Leia's son, Jacen. There are some truly thrilling scenes and battles throughout the book. But we've seen this plot before when Jacen's grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, set the precedent for succumbing to negative emotions. It makes one question how much more can be done with this particular storyline.

Overall, while the novel has its strengths, it also has its flaws, and it remains to be seen how the rest of the series will unfold.

This is a rather tough one to grade. For the most part, it was okay, and well, that's okay.

The story involves Jacen continuing his descent into the dark side. His young cousin Beth aspires to be like him. Meanwhile, Jaina is getting angrier, and Luke appears as a wimp and an idiot as all this unfolds. Yeah. Then there's a bad plot involving Leia and Han being framed for an assassination attempt.

Some of the storyline is a bit weak. The whole mind games among Jaina, Jacen, Mara, Luke, Ben, Leia, and Han were rather frustrating. It was like, okay, people, just talk it over instead of saying little and then planning to come back and analyze everything they said in the conversation. That was the weak and frustrating part of the book, and I feel like that's what has been happening as the series progresses. It's as if Jacen doesn't trust his parents and thinks they're out to get him or something. Luke and Mara look completely dumb. Another not-so-great aspect is the whole "is the person dead or not" thing. Just kill them already.

The best part, however, was the action scenes. They truly made the book.

It may seem like a harsh review, but it really isn't that bad. There were some good elements that set up the series. Only six more books to go.

Although it was a little slow at times, this was still an enjoyable read.

It delved deeper into the complex web of relationships among the characters, exploring their growing pains with great detail.

The story unfolded gradually, allowing the readers to immerse themselves in the lives of these individuals and understand their emotions and struggles.

Despite the occasional sluggish pace, the overall narrative was engaging and kept the readers hooked.

The author did a good job of developing the characters and making them relatable.

Each character had their own unique personality and flaws, which added to the authenticity of the story.

The relationships between the characters were also well-written, with all the joys, sorrows, and conflicts that come with human interaction.

Overall, this was a solid read that I would rate 7/10.

It may not be a page-turner, but it is definitely worth the time and effort to read.

This is an outstanding book within the series, quite possibly the finest one up to this point.

It has truly piqued my interest and made me eager to devour the remainder of the series. The pacing is remarkable, maintaining a steady and engaging rhythm throughout. The characters are portrayed with great authenticity, staying true to their established forms. Moreover, the action sequences are masterfully written, filled with excitement and intensity.

However, my sole concern regarding this book lies in its ending. The story progresses splendidly until suddenly, it just comes to a halt. The epilogue offers some slight assistance in tying up loose ends, but it feels rather truncated. I am well aware that the story resumes in the subsequent book, yet it does create a bit of an awkward transition. Nevertheless, this flaw is not significant enough to warrant deducting a star from the overall rating.

Overall, despite the minor drawback of the ending, this book is a must-read for fans of the series and those who enjoy well-written, engaging fiction.

The more I peruse the Legacy of the Force books once again, the greater my sense of gladness for making that decision.

When I initially delved into them, I was fatigued by the "dark and gritty" Star Wars novels. This seemed to have been the prevailing theme ever since Salvatore's "Vector Prime" and the elimination of a significant character. (Yes, it has been 13 years since that book was published, yet I still don't deem it necessary to mark this review as a "spoiler alert".)

Ever since I lost my passion for the Star Wars novels, I have immersed myself in a considerable amount of fantasy and sci-fi. Therefore, a return to the Star Wars universe was a refreshing alteration. I have come to appreciate the diverse writing styles of the various authors. (Of course, I learned to like Karen Traviss only after she departed from the series.) And Troy Denning's first book in the series served to remind me of what it was that I adored about reading Star Wars novels, even though I remain somewhat ambivalent regarding the rift between the Solos and the Skywalkers over the Corellia issue.

I have never before experienced such intense anger towards a book. This might seem like a negative aspect, but in reality, it serves as a testament to the fact that this is an outstanding piece of literature.

I have truly developed a deep connection with the main characters in the EU/Legends series. Reading about Jacen and Ben embarking on their dark paths in this book fills me with a profound sense of sadness. Nevertheless, Troy Denning and the rest of the "Legacy" team did an excellent job of maintaining my interest and keeping me hooked. I was so enraged by Jacen and Ben that I simply had to know what would happen next.

One significant element that has been noticeably lacking in recent EU books is Tenel Ka. Since the midway point of the New Jedi Order, she has almost vanished from the story. Fortunately, we get to see more of her in this book, and I am hopeful that we will see even more of her in the future.

Luke and Mara's plot was perhaps the weakest among the group, but by the time their major action scene towards the end arrived, I was completely engaged.

I continue to be astounded by the remarkable ability of these EU authors to separate all the characters and then bring them all together in the end. Their writing is truly impressive.

Overall, this is a good book. I believe that it is on par with Betrayal and Bloodlines, and therefore, I would rate it an 8.7 out of 10. Well done, Denning.

This book is an absolute page turner.

From the very first page, it grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

The action is non-stop, hitting hyperdrive and never slowing down.

You find yourself completely immersed in the story, unable to put the book down.

Every turn of the page brings a new and exciting twist, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, making you care about their fates.

The writing is crisp and vivid, painting a clear picture in your mind.

Whether you're a fan of action, adventure, or just a good story, this book has something for everyone.

It's a must-read that will leave you breathless and eager for more.

So many twists and turns in this story. Han and Leia are working for Corellia, and it seems they are almost sacrificed when they are involved in an attempted assassination of Tenel Ka, even though they were supposedly there to ask for aide. Jaina and Zekk are nearly killed by the main house that initiated the assassination. All the while, Jason is in a state of turmoil, fearing that Allana's paternity may be discovered. Lumiya gets her opportunity for another battle with Luke and Mara as Jason sets up the encounter while they were sent to meet with Ben to remove him from Jason's influence.

Jason is truly a tragic character in my eyes. He has endured so much torture that he no longer feels or fears pain. He is still grappling with the knowledge that he could potentially stop the war by using the dark side. However, he has numerous fears that he tries to hide. I can't help but feel sympathy for him. He fired on the Falcon, knowing full well that it was the Falcon and Han and Leia were on board. He named the new GAG ship the Anakin Solo as a tribute, but in reality, it doesn't seem like a true tribute to such a peaceful person. Han and Jaina can see this, but he is oblivious. He thought he was right about shooting at them until he learned more. They had given Tenel Ka the information to help her defeat the coup. I sense that he is incredibly alone, isolated by his choices and the turmoil within him.

Just finished the audio version of the book.

It was truly an enjoyable experience. However, I couldn't help but notice one particular aspect of this series, especially considering it was written by three different authors.

Since it is the work of three distinct authors, each book in the series has a completely different feel and emphasis, which is based on the authors' personal likes and interests.

For example, the first book in the series was penned by Aaron Allston, who had written several X-Wing novels and frequently used Wedge Antilles. Consequently, his book made extensive use of Wedge and prominently featured starfighter battles.

The second book was written by Karen Traviss, the resident Mandalorian expert. In her installment, Wedge mostly vanished, and Boba Fett took center stage as the current mando'a.

The third book was authored by Troy Denning, who had a penchant for the younger Jedi knights and had written the Dark Nest trilogy. During his book, Boba Fett disappeared from the storyline, and there were numerous references to the Dark Nest trilogy, including the reappearance of Alema Rar.

As a result, there is a significant inconsistency in the storytelling style, with major characters disappearing and reappearing. Having read the series before, I am aware of how Boba Fett will ultimately tie back into the story, but he really only appears in Karen Traviss's contributions and not in the others.

Nevertheless, the books are still enjoyable, but this inconsistency is quite noticeable.

Tempest, the third installment in the Legacy of the Force series, in my view, wasn't quite on par with the previous book, Bloodlines. Nevertheless, it was still an outstanding read and a valuable contribution to the series. Spoilers ahead.

The main plot centers around an assassination attempt on Tenel Ka, the Queen Mother of the Hapan Consortium. The story commences with Han and Leia being dispatched to Hapes to secure the Consortium's support in the civil war. However, upon arrival, the Solos realize they are mere bait to draw Tenel Ka out into the open for assassination, with the intention of establishing a new, more pro-Corellian government. The pair goes along with this plot, even going so far as to transport Aurra Sing, the assassin, to her rendezvous point in an effort to learn more about the attempt and hopefully save the queen's life. Han and Leia ultimately uncover the plot and attempt to set things right as their loyalty is once again called into question.

Han and Leia play a significantly larger role in this book than in any of the previous ones. As a personal fan of the couple, I was extremely pleased by this and felt that Denning wrote them exceptionally well, maintaining them as the beloved characters we know. It's always nice to see that a non-Force user like Han can still have an important role in the galaxy. The pair bravely faces being labeled as traitors by their own son and endures the various betrayals and hardships that befall them as they become embroiled in the assassination attempt and the civil war.

We also get to see a great deal more of Tenel Ka and Allana in this book. Like several other characters, they have been largely absent from recent novels despite their importance in the galaxy. While Allana's stereotypical five-year-old lisp was rather obnoxious, it was interesting to observe their interactions with Jacen (and vice versa). So far, they seem to be the only two people Jacen is reluctant to part with, as his destiny dictates. I, for one, am eager to see how these ties with Tenel Ka and Allana will impact Jacen's supposed destiny as the Chosen One.

Luke and Mara also have a more prominent role than in the last two books. Although I'm not a fan of Mara, it was refreshing to see her and Luke actually take action rather than just constantly arguing about Jacen's influence on Ben. They have some great action scenes and make important discoveries. Since their role thus far has been largely passive, it was nice to see Denning give them something to do.

Two characters from the Dark Nest trilogy make appearances: one throughout the entire book and one with only a brief part. I believe it's time for some of the older characters to return as the novels have, up until now, focused only on the same characters (Jacen, Ben, Leia, Han, Luke, and Mara) without introducing new ones or bringing back past ones. Perhaps the New Jedi Order series spoiled us with new characters, but the lack of character diversity has become quite distracting.

The overall story flows smoothly, with one event leading to the next. Denning's writing style is smooth and easy to read, making the book an enjoyable and effortless experience. However, he does tend to backtrack a great deal, explaining events that occurred in previous books and spending a significant amount of time on the backstories of various characters. While some backtracking is necessary, Denning seems to take it a bit too far. I'm sure most readers of the LotF series have read the previous books and are thus aware of what has happened.

Another drawback is that we still don't know precisely why the Galactic Alliance has become so evil. Perhaps this is just a minor issue, but it's becoming a bit distracting. That's one area where a bit of backstory would be beneficial.

This review is also posted on Amazon.com.

Overall, the book was solid and well-written, with characters that remained true to themselves and a climactic ending. It's a great addition to the series that doesn't disappoint.

As far as mid-series books about long winding sci-fi fantasy epics are concerned, this particular one wasn't half bad.

It managed to hold its own ground quite well, not having to overly depend on its "Star Wars" name for recognition.

However, I would have to say that its greatest weakness lay in the fact that some of the major plot points that led up to the climax felt rather contrived.

The tension at times seemed a bit manufactured, mainly because of some of the characters' misunderstandings of each other.

Nevertheless, I would still recommend this book to most everyone who has read the previous few books in the series.

I believe they are worth continuing with, especially considering that this entire saga appears to be building up slowly towards the last couple of books.

There is a certain allure and anticipation that keeps readers engaged and eager to see how the story will unfold in the end.

Despite its flaws, this mid-series book still has enough to offer to keep fans of the genre interested and invested in the journey.