Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin

While the characters continue to lecture each other (and subsequently, the reader), “Ruin’s” storyline is solid. The New Republic gains an ally, while the Yuuzhan Vong leadership is enmeshed in a power struggle. More continue to die as the enemies study each others’ weaknesses and become more evenly matched.

Corran Horn takes center stage amongst the Jedi. While he was never much my favorite character in the “X-Wing Series,” he has matured into a respectable hero.

Mara has a lesser role here, but she also seems to be much less sick. Amazingly, she is now able to fight without being short of breath.

Leia makes and appearance early on, but her role is limited. The Solo children are supporting characters. Han is not in the picture at all.

Luke is still a cool Jedi, but he is more the Master than an active warrior.

The one thing that did pull me out of the book is the grief suffered by the characters upon the loss of friends. The friendships were never explored very deeply, so the intensity of mourning did not feel genuine.

Still, this was a good story, definitely worth reading.

In between Dark Tide I and II I reread I, Jedi, another Stackpole Star Wars novel, and wondered what happened to the author who wrote that book. Dark Tide I, in my opinion, was an incomplete waste of my time. Stackpole’s writing style felt uncomfortable. I, Jedi was a very good book and even though I didn’t expect the same from Dark Tide II, it is part of a series I decided to read. I was pleasantly surprised. This is an excellent book with a few small plot holes and, unfortunately, the death of one of Stackpole’s own characters. It was good to see a two sided book again, the first Dark Tide didn’t show anything from the Vong side and I believe this was one of it’s major flaws. The Vong characters were well fleshed out and even when one of them died I felt a bit of remorse for what he could’ve done with him, but it was necessary and I look forward to how the other main Vong character will grow. Overall this feels like what I would expect from Stackpole and am glad to see the author behind I, Jedi return. Let’s hope the rest of the series can keep me interested. Honestly it worries me a bit that not many of these were published in hard cover but we’ll see what happens.

Im enjoying the Vong war. It isnt my favorite of the Expanded Universe, but still a great read. Ironically Im getting into the EU while Disney has changed courses.

I loved this book. The story line is great. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I recommend this book to all Star Wars fans.

I haven’t read a StarWars novel I haven’t liked yet and this is no exception. However, this book did seem to have been hurried. They spent all this time looking for something to use against the Vong, when they found it, they didn’t use it. The older characters are getting lost. Can you see Han Solo drowning in self-pitty. I don’t think so. Leia setting back while her children are knee deep into life and death. Could we please find the cure for Mara? All in all this was a great book, I couldn’t put it down. As with any book I read, I would always like to do things a little different. To all StarWars fans this is a must read, but read the other 2 books of the TNJO first, it will make it a lot easier to follow.