Customer Reviews

Star Wars the New Jedi Order: Traitor

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After decades of books, movies, cartoons and all the other incarnations of Star Wars we finally get a grown up intelligent book that explores the Force. Don't get me wrong I love epic battles and lightsaber snap-hissing but I have been waiting ages for someone to sit down and delve head first into the mystical power that surrounds everything. Adding in a compelling storyline with Jacen and his teacher/tormentor, Vergere, Stover produces and incredible tale.

After living through the Embrace of Pain, Jacen must find a way to regain himself and also mature into the person he has to be in order to survive. As his story progresses Jacen becomes ever stronger in the Force and uses his new understanding to free himself from his burden. Coming through on the other end the reader is left wondering which path Jacen will follow. Will he become the savior of the Republic or will he bring it to its knees. As the last words touch the page, Stover leaves us wondering if it could be both.

Matt Stover is one of the most unique Star Wars authors out there, and he's delivered his style to the New Jedi Order series. Traitor is appropriately dark as the book focuses on Jacen's time in captivity with the Yuuzhan Vong. The torture Jacen undergoes is both cruel and subtle. Stover shows us the outcome of this torture in the choices Jacen makes throughout the book. Needless to say, some of the scenes are very "un-Star Wars-like." .. However, the real star of the book is Vergere, whose twisted views on the Force make her the most compelling character of the series. Her dialogue is clever, but never seems too clever, as if Stover was patting himself on the back. Overall, this is probably the best book of the series, and really takes advantage of NJO's darker aspects to explore our favorite characters in greater depth.