For 2023, I made a decision to reread the post-NJO books set after the Dark Nest trilogy. This was especially significant as I had abandoned the Legacy of the Force series way back in 2007, after reading Sacrifice.

The books that fall into this reread category include the nine books of the Legacy of the Force series, the nine books of the Fate of the Jedi series, three standalone novels, and five short stories.

This week's focus is on book three in the Legacy of the Force series, Tempest by Troy Denning.

SOME HISTORY: In October of 2006, the Star Wars website launched the Darth Who contest. It was a chance for fans to pick Jacen's Sith name, which would be revealed in book #5. Over 8500 entries were received in October and November. However, this list was reviewed and edited down to 500 names. Then, staff from Del Rey and Lucasfilm, along with the three authors, whittled the contenders down to five finalists: Darth Acheron, Darth Caedus, Darth Judicar, Darth Paxis, and Darth Taral.

MY RECOLLECTION OF THE BOOK: I remembered that Tenel Ka was in this book (after all, she's on the cover), but otherwise my memories were rather hazy.

A BRIEF SUMMARY: Han Solo and Leia Organa have angered their families by joining the Corellian insurgents. But they draw the line when they discover a Corellian plot to ally with Hapan nobles who aim to murder their pro-Alliance queen and her daughter. As Luke Skywalker's concern for Jacen Solo forces him into a life-and-death struggle against his fiercest foe, Han and Leia find themselves at the mercy of an unexpected enemy: their own son.

THE PLOT: Tempest continues the trend of having multiple major plot lines. It follows at least five subplots. Han and Leia are sent to talk with Tenel Ka, uncover a plot against her and her daughter, and are branded enemies of the Galactic Alliance by Jacen. Luke and Mara prepare to face off against Lumiya and still differ over what to do about Ben. Jaina and Zekk are dispatched by the Galactic Alliance to Hapes to figure out what's going on and end up stranded on Terephon. Alema Rar reappears after being near death in The Swarm War and allies with Lumiya. Finally, Jacen and GA forces stop persecuting Corellians (and now Bothans) to head over to Hapes and help Tenel Ka with the coup attempt. Everyone seems to be going to Hapes this time around!

CHARACTERS: I felt that Han and Leia were the most prominent in the subplots. Maybe it's because they're two of Denning's favorite characters. In the previous two books, I wondered what would be the breaking point for them. And that's exactly what happens in this book. The Corellian government sends Leia and Han to speak with Tenel Ka about withdrawing her fleet from the Galactic Alliance. But even Wedge recognizes the bad vibes from this order. Han and Leia come across as perhaps unrealistically naive as it's not until they're on Hapes that they realize they were meant as a distraction. There's a coup attempt underway, and assassins try to kill Tenel Ka and her daughter Allana. Han and Leia would never support this plan, but the optics look very bad, especially when they flee Hapes with one of the assassins to gather more info.

Of course, Jacen draws the wrong conclusion and issues an arrest order for them, and things only get worse. Han and Leia send Tenel Ka information about the Hapans in charge of this attack, but during the Battle of Hapes, the GA Star Destroyer the Anakin Solo (a terrible name) fires on the Millennium Falcon on Jacen's orders. Han and Leia's plot ends on a cliffhanger as they escape into hyperspace, and we don't know where they're headed or what will happen to them with the arrest order still hanging over their heads.

I still question Han's instant siding with the Corellians. While I'm sure he's loyal to his homeworld, he hasn't spent much time on Corellia since his childhood. Leia and Han have a home on Coruscant, and his intense Corellian fervor took me by surprise. Similarly, I'm not sure why Leia is okay with all of this. I would have thought that Leia would have to travel or talk to people in her role as a Jedi, but instead, she seems completely free to roam around with Han wherever she likes. (Although I suspect this freedom will be curtailed after this Hapan disaster.)

I wasn't expecting Aurra Sing to appear in this book. She was originally just a cameo in The Phantom Menace during the podrace scene but played a larger role in the comics and later the Clone Wars show. I was initially surprised that she was still alive (Tempest is 72 years after TPM), but apparently, she's a long-lived near-human. She also drinks blood, because Denning always manages to slip in some weird stuff.

Luke and Mara play a larger role than in the previous two books. Luke is trying to reach out to Ben by sparring with him and, in typical Luke fashion, is taking it very slow. He wants Ben to realize that his apprenticeship with Jacen isn't working well but makes no active moves to remove Ben from Jacen's tutelage until the end. Mara is still fine with Jacen teaching Ben, even as she senses that "something bad will happen." (Mara...)

Still, Luke assigns Jedi Master Tresina Lobi to follow Ben and spy on Lumiya if she can. And though Lumiya and Alema Rar murder Lobi, she still gets a message to Luke. Luke and Mara find evidence that Lumiya is staying in a Galactic Alliance Guard safehouse, and they both build shoto lightsabers in preparation for future fights. Luke first used a shorter shoto blade when facing off against Lumiya in the Marvel comics, and while I admit it looks cool, I'm not sure how it would work logistically.

Anyway, Luke and Mara head to Roqoo Depot in the Hapan Cluster to meet up with Ben, but it's a trap. Lumiya is waiting, and it was all a setup by Jacen. Luke fights Lumiya, and Mara fights Alema Rar. Luke is badly wounded, Mara disables Alema and discovers the baddies are wearing deadman's switches, and Lumiya's device detonates, but Lumiya probably escapes in the confusion. The epilogue concludes with Luke removing Ben from Jacen's vicinity, but who knows how long that will last.

I'm still sympathetic to Ben's plight, but he comes across as a mouthy kid here, especially in his interactions with Jaina and Zekk.

Having been unceremoniously booted out of the GA military by her brother in Bloodlines, Jaina and Zekk are now independent Jedi working with the Galactic Alliance. They're dispatched to Hapes after the Millennium Falcon is spotted heading there, and Tenel Ka sends them to call up the Ducha AlGray's forces. They arrive to discover that the Ducha is one of the conspirators and are stuck on Terephon until Ben Skywalker and the GAG pick them up. From there, they drop right into the Battle of Hapes, go EV, get picked up by the Falcon, and leave in an escape pod after Ben has a meltdown and wounds Zekk. Jaina has a bit more to do here compared to books one and two. My only complaint is that it's mostly Jaina/Zekk interpersonal stuff, but I'll rant about that in the Issues section.

Jagged Fel is back. He was stuck on that Killik world for two years after Leia shot him down and is now completely estranged from his family. The Fel family personally vouched for Lowbacca after he was set free, and his subsequent attack (with Jaina) on the Chiss has ruined the Fel family honor. Jag thinks that finding Alema Rar will allow his family to regain their honor, but he can still never see them again. This is so sad to me! While I don't think the Fels are an emotional family, they seemed very close. So to exile Jag from his mom and dad and sister just so that he has a reason to stay in the Galactic Alliance feels like a cruel development.

Did I mention that Tenel Ka and Allana are here? Allana is now four years old and speaks in this cutesy kid voice ("twied" and "Yedi"). I could definitely have done without the speech impediment. Tenel Ka isn't very active here and exists more as a plot device than an actual character. See the Issues section for my thoughts on that.

Compared to the first two books, Jacen is much less of a major character here. He knows about the sacrifice prophecy and is worried that it means he'll need to kill Tenel Ka or Allana. But when it seems that his parents are traitors, he's ready to kill them and write them off as trash. What??? I was a little surprised that Jacen was so quick to jump to conclusions. He has been self-delusional in these books, but I felt like this went beyond self-delusion to wanting to think the worst of someone without even considering the evidence against them. Tenel Ka expresses some reservations about this snap judgment, but Jacen's convinced they've turned against him and his cause. Then most of Jacen's plot revolves around Allana and her safety. If anything, I think this story shows how much Jacen is willing to do to save his daughter and how much that will affect his decisions moving forward.

Lumiya now has Alema Rar and Jacen to influence and is so committed to her Sith cause that she's willing to die in that fight on Roqoo Depot? Huh. We do get dialogue with Alema that sets up how long she has been lurking and analyzing all the Jedi for Sith aptitude. (For instance, Jaina is too impulsive, and Leia is too fearful of her father's legacy.)

Alema Rar is a total mess. Every time she encountered Luke or Leia in the Dark Nest trilogy, she came out worse off, and her mental state has really deteriorated. She still speaks in first person plural even though the Gorog nest is gone and is obsessed with achieving Balance by killing the Skywalker/Solos. But she's bad at it. She kills the World Brain instead of Jacen, and Mara knocks her out during that fight on Roqoo Depot. The only reason she's still alive is because our heroes hesitate to kill her in cold blood.

ISSUES: Tempest was surprisingly tame for a Troy Denning novel until the blood and limbs started flying during the Roqoo Depot fight. My preferred level of Troy Denning violence is Tatooine Ghost, and this book started out like that one but definitely got more graphic towards the end.

My second issue was that Tempest presented a much more passive Tenel Ka than I wanted. Part of Tenel Ka's appeal is her Dathomiri warrior side. Even after her accident in the Young Jedi Knights, she is still a fierce, competent fighter, and her disability doesn't affect her fighting skills. I expected that we would see Tenel Ka taking out most of the assassins on her own, but instead, we see events from Han and Leia's POV, and Tenel Ka is mostly absent. For the rest of the story, Tenel Ka takes Allana to Jacen's Star Destroyer and speaks with him, then she leaves to direct the Battle of Hapes off the page. And we don't get her viewpoint until the Epilogue, where she's being diplomatic to achieve peace between Jacen and his family. I wish we could have seen Tenel Ka in a more active role or even in a command position, but that's just not here.

Why is Jaina's plot line so much relationship drama? Even in the New Jedi Order series, when she's dealing with grief and withdrawing from the world around her, the books focused on her relationship status. Here, she finally tells Zekk to back off because she's only interested in him as a friend. Zekk is like "cool, I got this," and it leads to her respecting Zekk more and considering him anew. Meanwhile, Jag Fel has returned, even though they don't encounter each other here. I wish Jaina had SOMETHING to do that wasn't related to guys. She's in her thirties! Why isn't she taking the lead in situations? I was excited for her to command Rogue Squadron in Bloodlines, only for that idea to be snatched away in the same book.

My final issue was that aside from Jacen turning on his parents, it felt like his Sith journey was just treading water here. That made me think about the pacing of Jacen's descent to evil and whether he needed to partner with Lumiya so early on. I suppose if you add in the Dark Nest trilogy, it makes Jacen's fall a twelve-book arc, but I felt like the authors are holding off on having anyone truly confront Jacen over his actions because we're only three books into the Legacy of the Force series. That inaction makes Luke and the Jedi Council seem ineffective, and I started to wonder whether this civil war and Jacen's fall needed to be concurrent. Maybe a different order could have worked, like Jacen doing bad things without Lumiya during this conflict and Lumiya seeking him out as a result. Because Tempest ultimately seemed to be more about the Hapan coup than Jacen's progression as a Sith.

IN CONCLUSION: Tempest moves the action away from Coruscant and Corellia to Hapes, where a coup attempt is underway, and the lives of Tenel Ka and her daughter are at risk. I thought Han and Leia's plot was interesting. They encounter a surprising Prequel era character, and there were finally consequences for their "will-they-won't-they" attitude towards treason. But while I enjoyed the shift to Hapes and the opportunity to see Tenel Ka again, I feel like the book really did her a disservice by having her play such a minor, passive role. Likewise, Jacen's descent to the dark side felt like it was on the back burner here, and Tempest was more interested in demonstrating his concern about his daughter and what he will do to secure her safety.

Next up: book four in the Legacy of the Force series, Exile by Aaron Allston.

My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/k9uL2O9Rm_A

“Your Chance to Name the Next Sith” (October 3, 2006): https://web.archive.org/web/200702192...

This was an extremely unique read.

And I use the following words rather liberally, but this book was perhaps the weakest one in the series up to this point.

It's not that it was terrible, but the aspects that I typically seek and have been receiving in this series, I didn't obtain as much of in this particular book.

Nevertheless, it is still of great importance to read.

Maybe there are hidden gems or subtleties that I didn't initially pick up on.

Or perhaps it serves as a necessary build-up for what's to come in the subsequent installments of the series.

Even though it may not have met all of my expectations, it still has its own value and contribution to the overall narrative.

So, despite its shortcomings, I would still recommend giving it a read.

Whereas most of the EU books to me feel like they could be a movie in and of themselves,

this one felt more like an episode of a TV show. That's not a knock against it;

and in fact, I ended up reading it over 3 days (at the sacrifice of sleep).

The reason for this perception might be that the story in this book seems to be more focused and concise,

lacking the grandeur and scope that I usually associate with a movie-length narrative.

However, this also means that it is easier to consume and get through,

which is why I was able to finish it in such a short time despite sacrificing my sleep.

Overall, while it may not have the same impact as some of the other EU books,

it is still an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of the series.

I re-read this as an unabridged audiobook.

After my revisit of the Dark Nest trilogy, I found myself beginning to wonder if Star by Star was just a fluke in Troy Denning's catalog of Star Wars books. However, Tempest has shown that he truly shines when it comes to the middle books in larger series.

Betrayal and Bloodlines paved the way, allowing Tempest to take off. This is the book where the series truly gains momentum and the stakes are raised significantly.

The motivations of Han and Leia in this installment were much more believable, adding depth to their characters. Additionally, Ben is being set up for some outstanding character growth later in the series, which is exciting to anticipate.

While I'm starting to get a bit tired of Alema Rar, I have to admit that she was used effectively in this book.

Overall, this is easily my favorite Legacy of the Force book so far on this re-read journey.

Score: 4.5

+ Concept 1

+ Execution 1

+ Character 1

+ Intent 1

+ Originality.5

The second one was not as good as the first one, but this one was better than the second. I really liked the new characters in this installment, such as Alema. She added an interesting dynamic to the story. Tenel Ka has always been one of my favorite characters, and I was excited to see her in this one. Her presence brought a sense of familiarity and comfort.

Even though I probably shouldn't be, I'm still on team Jacen and Ben. There's just something about their relationship and their journey that keeps me rooting for them. I can't wait to see what happens next in their story and how they'll continue to develop.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I still think the first one was the best. However, this one had its own亮点 and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

There was a time in my life, specifically during my early teens, when abridged audiobooks were the only option available for many books, especially in genres like sci-fi. I was perhaps a bit too young as a reader for the level of books I was consuming, so the abridgement actually suited me well. As I grew older, I transitioned to unabridged audiobooks, with diverse readers and no sound effects. However, I became annoyed that so many books were still being released in abridged versions. Now, with the popularity of audiobooks due to the rise of smart devices, there is a vast plethora of audiobooks to enjoy.

All of this could have been its own post and had nothing to do with this particular book, if it weren't for the fact that I finally listened to an unabridged version of it thanks to Hidden Gems (https://youtube.com/@hgaudiobooks). I really like this series, especially the beginning trilogy, but I barely recognized this book. So much had been cut, and the overarching story now makes so much more sense. Now that the series has progressed and all three authors have had their input, and the cycle goes through two more times to complete the series.

There are still some segments where it feels like Jacen's fall is too sudden, Ben is too naïve, and Jacen's extended family and baby mommy have big blinders like Padmé did towards Anakin. However, overall, the stories and characters develop nicely. The best storyline is how complex Han and Leia's plot is and how that sets up the title of, and their role in, the next book. I can't wait to discover what else I've missed.

Italic text: Legacy of The Force: Tempest: a Book Worth of Being Called a Star Wars Book


Tempest, penned by Troy Denning, stands as the third installment in the captivating Legacy of The Force series. It is truly a remarkable book that rightfully earns the esteemed Star Wars moniker. The story unfolds in the aftermath of Bloodlines, during a time when Jacen Solo is swiftly succumbing to the allure of the Dark Side.


In Tempest, Han and Leia Solo find themselves unjustly accused of participating in the attempted assassination of the Hapans Queen Mother Tenel Ka, a dear friend. Jacen Solo, in his misguided belief, issues a search and detain order for them. Han and Leia, ever resourceful, go undercover among the would-be assassins to uncover the means of preventing future attacks. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker and his wife Mara are deeply concerned about their son Ben and the potential return of Lumiya, the menacing Dark Lady of the Sith, who may be collaborating with Jacen. The Galaxy is embroiled in a civil war, and it appears that a similar conflict might soon tear apart the Skywalker-Solo family.


I firmly believe that Tempest is a must-read for any die-hard Star Wars fan. It is an enthralling book with a well-crafted plot that captures the essence of the Star Wars universe. The story predominantly focuses on the Hapans Consortium, a location that requires prior knowledge from reading the earlier books in the series to fully appreciate. However, even without that background, the book still manages to engage and entertain. If you have a passion for Star Wars, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You won't be disappointed.

Lots of combat and close calls but that's to be expected with Star Wars books. The action-packed scenes in these books truly bring the Star Wars universe to life. Readers are taken on a thrilling journey through intense battles and hair-raising moments. Whether it's lightsaber duels or space battles, the descriptions are vivid and engaging. The characters face numerous challenges and obstacles, constantly on the verge of danger. However, it is precisely these elements that make Star Wars books so captivating. They offer a unique blend of adventure, excitement, and the beloved Star Wars lore. Fans of the franchise can't get enough of these stories, eager to follow the exploits of their favorite characters and discover new secrets and mysteries in the galaxy far, far away.

Everyone in this book is so goddamn fucking stupid. It's truly astonishing how each character seems to lack even the basic semblance of intelligence. Their actions and decisions are often mind-bogglingly idiotic, leaving the reader shaking their head in disbelief.

It's as if they are operating under some kind of collective delusion, completely oblivious to the consequences of their behavior. The author seems to have gone out of their way to create a cast of characters that are the epitome of foolishness.

From the bumbling protagonist to the equally inept supporting characters, there is not a single redeeming quality when it comes to their intellect. It makes one wonder if this is a deliberate attempt to satirize the human condition or simply a case of poor character development.

Either way, it's a frustrating read, as one can't help but feel exasperated by the sheer stupidity on display. However, perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this book, namely that we should all strive to be a little less goddamn fucking stupid in our own lives.

I have to admit that I am truly disappointed in this book.

The Legacy of the Force series began with a great deal of strength and promise. However, this particular installment seems to have completely gone off the rails.

Jacen Solo, who has been such a central and interesting character up until now, is pushed to the background in favor of plot elements that, in the grand scheme of things as established in the two previous books, don't really hold much significance. This is a great detriment to the overall story.

Jacen's arc has been extremely compelling to me thus far, and I was really looking forward to delving even deeper into it. I am still hoping that this series will be able to course correct and get back on track.

Unfortunately, this book was not a strong entry in the series as of yet. It felt as if the creators were simply stalling for time rather than advancing the story in a meaningful way.

I truly hope that future installments will bring the series back to its former glory.

Star Wars is a beloved franchise that has captured the imaginations of millions around the world. However, one aspect that it often overlooks is the political side of war. This is perhaps understandable, as the thrilling lightsaber battles and epic space adventures are what draw most people to the series.

In this particular book, while there are still some of those exciting moments, the focus is more on the political negotiations and power plays. This is a welcome change, as it adds a new layer of depth and complexity to the story.

Author Denning also attempts to provide more explanation for Jacen's turn to the dark side and his embrace of the Sith. While I'm still not entirely satisfied with this development on a character, story, or thematic level, I do appreciate that Denning recognizes the need to make it as believable as possible.

Overall, this book offers a fresh perspective on the Star Wars universe and is sure to appeal to fans who are looking for something a little different.

For a Star Wars book, it was just okay.

I really wanted to give it 2.5 stars, but since I couldn't select half a star, we'll have to leave it at 3 stars.

Jacen keeps sliding towards the "dark side" of the Force, and memories of the old with the lords surface when the Force choke is used for the first time in this particular Star Wars book series.

Family loyalties are continuously being tested between Luke, Mara, and Ben, as well as Han, Leia, and Jacen.

One small thing that seemed rather useless and pointless was when Ben decided he needed to arrest Han and Leia. He makes this decision right in the middle of a battle when they are all trying to survive. I mean, why wait until the middle of the battle? If they were all aboard the Falcon, why wouldn't he have decided to do this before? The timing just made no sense, and it seemed like a rather pointless addition to the story at that moment.

Overall, it was okay. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.