Star Wars: Dark Nest, Volume 1: The Joiner King

The Joiner King has a completely different tone and writing style from every Star Wars book I had read before it. For that reason, it took me awhile to really get into it. It is sometimes confusing, but I understood more of what was going on as I got deeper into the trilogy. Here’s what I liked: It picks up some loose ends from the NJO – Lomi, Welk, and Raynar – and dives into a dark plot about mind-controlling bugs! What I didn’t like: the characterization of Jaina and Zekk. They are both characters I grew to love through the Young Jedi Knights series, and Jaina is well-developed in the NJO, but this throws all of that out the window. All in all, this book is a good departure from the NJO, paving the way for some great storytelling in a galaxy far, far away in the future.

the job of an author is to make you care about the subject they are written about and to see what what they do to example harms way. well the chiss is just a horrible idea. the only reason why this series makes any sense at all is because its got some info about stuff that happens in the series. like how jacen gets twisted and follows his greatgrandfathers fate. other than that i see no reason this book should have been written . i was horrible bored while reading this book. if the auther wanted to do a story like this should have been a stand alone. not a tie in to another series.

Well, I thought when I finished the 19th and final book in the New Jedi Order I would be able to move on to Troy Dennings Dark Nest Trilogy and get a fresh start. I relished the idea of not having so many unknowns, so many things that the average reader would never understand (Yuuzhan Vong), and endless discussions of Jedi philosophy. I was wrong. Some things just never seem to change. When we first met the Jedi they were saving the galaxy and improving the lives of the inhabitants. If they needed to kick some butt while they were busy helping people, then that was fine. Somehow as the years have gone by, the Jedi are increasingly worried about finding the true nature of the Force and doing the right thing. The result is having readers wade through endless discussions of Jedi philosophy. I am so tired of it. Just get on with the story.

The Joiner King is the first book in the Dark Nest Trilogy. A faint call for help has gone out through the Force, and select Jedi are responding even though they have no idea what is needed. In particular, Jaina and Jacen Solo have disappeared in search of the call for assistance. Han, Leia, Luke, and Mara go after them. Jacen has just finished a five-year quest for the true meaning of the force while Jaina has become a highly-skilled, well-respected military pilot.

For some reason, Troy Denning has them all end up in a world populated entirely by large insects (the Killicks) living in nests and functioning through brain melds. In his usual style, Han just refers to them as bugs. The insect world is also on the verge of war with the Chiss, and you know that cant end well for them. Jaina has become a follower of the Killicks. Jacen seems to be brilliant and mostly stays above the fray. Luke seems to be completely hung up in determining what the Force would have him do. Leia does what she does best, i.e., finds political solutions to knotty problems.

The book has a fair number of good action scenes, but far more discussion groups trying to decide what the right thing to do is. The story gets bogged down a lot. I will read the next two books in the Dark Nest Trilogy, but I am not particularly enthusiastic.

This book is for fans of the EU. If haven’t read the NJO then don’t pick this up yet!
If you have caught up in the time don’t skip this one. This has been Troy’s best work imo. This one kept interested through out. And it has renewed my fear in bugs lol. Can’t wait to start the 2nd installment

Great SW Legends book.