I read this book when it first came out in 2006. I remember vividly enjoying it back then. This summer, while traveling through several states, I chanced upon a hardcover copy. Without hesitation, I picked it up and decided to embark on a rereading journey. And I thoroughly loved every moment of it.

This is the third book in the Legacy of the Force arc. I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series since their initial release. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could easily pick up on the earlier plot points.

There are multiple engaging plotlines at play. Someone has brutally murdered a Jedi, and Luke and Mara soon discover that a familiar Sith is the mastermind behind it. Complicating matters further, they suspect that Jacen Solo is being trained by this antagonist. I adored how Luke was treading with utmost care around Jacen, fearing that any misstep might push him towards the Dark Side and accidentally create another person like his father. Adding to the turmoil, the Jedi's son Ben is incredibly loyal to Jacen, leading his parents to wonder if perhaps he is the Sith's actual target instead of his cousin.

Leia and Han are asked to undertake a diplomatic mission by a familiar face, only to find themselves in deep trouble, running from several factions across the galaxy. Once again, Denning has crafted the dialogue in a way that is absolutely true to the characters, and the action is top-notch.

Jaina Skywalker is partnered with her not-quite-boyfriend Zekk, and they too find themselves equally深陷困境. Once more, Denning makes their moments truly fantastic.

Everything about this book simply worked. It brought me great joy to read and filled me with an intense sense of nostalgia as I reread it, reminiscing about all of the original Star Wars novels before Disney acquired the franchise and erased them. This was everything I could have wanted in a Star Wars book and so much more. It was truly brilliant.

Once again, a book from the SWU fails to achieve my 5-star rating. The reason lies in the plot-holes and nonsensical turns that could have been easily fixed or even omitted without affecting the overall solid storyline that is emerging.

In the second book, a significant gaping hole appeared at the end. The Sith claimed to be righteous and an alternate method rather than a dark one. But then, they insisted on sacrificing a loved one to remain true to their cause. Really? That's a pointless sacrifice and clearly not a dark path. Got it.

In the Legacy of the Force, the confusing out-of-character decision not to surrender was the major flaw. Han and Leia could simply have said, "Hi son, yeah we're coming in and we'll explain everything." Problem solved. But why wasn't this done? Well, that was never explained. Was it frustration, anger, or resentment? It's not good enough. The author is trying to convince the reader but not doing a very good job of it.

However, some intense battle scenes and otherwise solid story building actually made this a good read. Luke versus Lumiya, Mara versus Alema, Jacen versus Aurora Sing - these were all awesome. Even Jaina and Zekk evading assassination on a Hapes planet was intense. Han and Leia holding the Falcon together using string and chewing gum (again) was also nail-biting. It's just so frustrating when an otherwise great story is derailed by one or two nonsensical character decisions.

And as I open Book 4 and read the cast of characters listed at the beginning, and see that Lumiya is in it, I fear the nonsense won't stop. Star Wars has so much trouble killing off a character once and for all, and it's becoming predictable again.

When I get a book full of Tenel Ka, YIPPPPEE! It's like a magical moment for me. Tenel Ka is such an interesting and captivating character. I can't wait to dive into the pages and explore her adventures. The thought of reading about her makes my heart race with excitement. I imagine myself getting lost in the world of the book, following Tenel Ka's every move. As I open the cover, I am greeted with the smell of fresh paper and the promise of a great story. I know that this book is going to be a wonderful escape from reality. I will spend hours reading, completely immersed in the world of Tenel Ka. And when I'm done, I'll probably want to read it all over again!

The writing in this piece is truly a mess.

Every single action scene is jumbled and chaotic, making it extremely difficult to follow.

There is an excessive amount of hyper-sexualizing of every female character, which is, unfortunately, all too common.

And to make matters worse, there is some blatant racism thrown in as well. A character is described as being unbelievably ugly simply because she has big lips and a wide nose.

Leia might as well be a third-tier character, and the other main characters are mostly annoying.

Please, for the love of all that is good, give Jaina a life outside of her failed romances!

Still, though, I like the plot of Jacen's dark turn too much to be completely disappointed in this.

Sure, the story could be better developed, but it's good enough for what it is.

I'm keeping my hopes low and just moving on.