The Joiner King: Star Wars Legends (Dark Nest, Book I)

Just finished The Joiner King and they've finally got a good series started it looks like! This one kept me interested the whole way through. There were some things that I wasn't sure if i was going to like (i.e. Jaina) but by the end I really was interested in the series.

Star Wars Dark Nest I: The Joiner King does what i thought was impossible, it moves on past the Yuuzhan Vong invasions conclusion and provides an interesting threat that does not try to out do the Yuuzhan Vong but gives a situation that allows us to get a feel for how the galaxy is recovering and see how the Jedi Order are moving back towards being peackeepers not soldiers as they have been called to be in the New Jedi Order series. -Possible Spoliers- The Killiks are an alien species that are very different from the Yuuzhan Vong in many ways but are there quite obviously to show the Jedi Order something useful in regards to the nature of the force. The Killiks and their Hive Mind are described as naturally being a species that has had no interest in causing trouble however it is when the hive mind absorbed three force users from the ill fated Myrkr mission that it seems to taken on two sides and then the trouble began. The Jedi Raynar Thul does the least damage to the Killik hive mind but adds compassion creating in effect a Light side or a conscious side and the dark siders Lomi Plo and Welk create an unconscious side born from their fear and pain in effect a Dark Side to the Killik hive mind. It is this change to the Killiks, born from coming into contact with force users that makes the Killiks a situation for the Jedi and Galactic Alliance to handle. The book also shows the ongoing developement of the relationship between Jedi Order and Galactic Alliance very well and this is left in a way that it will be developed in later books. There are also good scenes that take place in the Jedi Orders new facilities, one is in the new Jedi Temple on Coruscant near the start of the book and then later at the new Jedi Academy on Ossus. These scenes not only show the Order as being more structured but also address what has been going on with the Chiss as they are a large part of the Killik situation. Plus some intersting links to Episode III which i really enjoyed are included which will be extremely important to some of the main characters. Troy Denning has created a fine addition to the Star Wars timeline that not only has great characterisations and an exciting plot but also has given me plenty to think about in regards to the nature of the force in the parallel which has been drawn with the Killik Hive mind. The Dark Nest Trilogy has an excellent first installement i cant wait to read the second.

Star Wars Dark Nest I: The Joiner King is the start of a new set of Star Wars novels. There is the Dark Nest Trilogy and then the nine part Legacy of The Force series. The Joiner King gives this new set of novels a very good start. The Jedi have now established themselves again and are a valuable force for good in the Post-NJO Galaxy, however there are many problems that they will have to deal with in the next series of books. Such as clearly defining their role with the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances and refining their expanded view of the force, combined with getting back to a mindset of peacekeeping after the Yuuzhan Vong war had made them a little too ruthless in their methods. This is all good as it shows that the books that follow are going to be plot rich and valuable to the Star Wars universe. Troy Denning has the classic characters down extremely well but with enough development to show that the Yuuzhan Vong War shown in the NJO 19 book series had effected them. This shows respect towards these well loved characters but indicating that Del Rey and Lucasfilm Licensing are trying to show that events in past books are not forgotten and the consequnces are shown in later books. The Joiner King has an exciting plot with potential for development over the next two books, where i expect a number of surprises will occur. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker has some good Lightsaber duels and him and leia get to learn more about their parents pasts. Really good Star Wars novel for people willing to accept that not everything is gooing to wrapped up at the end of this first book of a longer series.

I'm not one for long reviews but suffice to say that i could write loads about why i liked The Joiner King. However it really boils down to three reasons. 1. Good depiction of the main characters who show growth since the end of the NJO. 2. Exciting plot that is not bogged down with Imperial warlords or superweapons 3. Plenty of juicy plot points left to be resolved down the road that link not only to the main thrust of the Killik/Chiss border mission but to do with Luke and Leia's mom and dad. Well written and exciting, a real page turner. Troy Denning keep up the good work.

It has been five years since the Yuuzhan Vong invasion was ended. The new government, the Galactic Alliance is working, along with the Jedi community, to restore war-ravaged worlds and bring back peace and order to the galaxy. In the midst of these efforts comes an unusual cry for help through the Force, heard by only a select few Jedi Knights. Hearing this strange call, eight Jedi have departed for the Unknown Regions. Tahiri and Tekli leave their work on Zenoma Sekot; Jaina, Zekk, Lowbacca, Alema, and Tezar discontinue their assignments from the Jedi Council; and even Jacen has ended his journey in search for the meaning of the Force to answer the call. Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Jedi Council are uncertain why the Jedi have left their current duties to go on an unsanctioned mission of their own. When the Chiss come to the Galactic Alliance to demand an explanation for a group of Jedi becoming involved in a Chiss border dispute, the government asks to Council to investigate. Concerned, Luke, Mara, and Saba, with 8-year-old Ben Skywalker in tow, go to the Chiss border. Worrying about their children, Han and Leia also join the Jedi Masters to look into these claims. There they find more than they bargained for, including an amazing revelation connected to the Myrkr mission (from NJO: Star by Star) to destroy the voxyn queen. The Star Wars universe continues with another exciting series, featuring the characters from the New Jedi Order. The story quickly plunges into the adventure and continues the whole way through with a fast pace plot. Luke, Han, and Leia are given a large part of the story- good to see these characters back in action again. I haven't bought into the new `enlightened' view of the Force (no absolutes- dark and lights are relative) but this isn't talked about in-depth. The Joiner King was very interesting and enjoyable to read. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does in the next book, which promises to be just as exciting.