Dark Disciple: Star Wars Book Reviews

We transfer money over €4 billion every month. We enable individual and business accounts to save 4 million Euros on bank transfer fees. Want to send free money abroad or transfer money abroad for free? Free international money transfer!

Amazing. So well written the ending was great and left me wanting more

Feels just like the show. I am giving this one 4 out of 5, but honestly, if it was anything other than what it is (a Clone Wars episode), I probably would have rated it a 3. My main problems with the story are that there are some moments where things will just sort of happen or jump around and also some extremely cliche moments. That being said, the tv show had a lot of these moments too, so it legitimately feels like an episode of the show for most of the book. I had a hard time getting into the story at first, but it picked up after a few chapters. I didn't much care for the treatment of Mace Windu's character. It felt a bit off for me, but I thought she did a good job with the rest of the characters. I particularly liked the interactions with Obi-Wan and Anakin. Overall, I think that if you enjoyed the Clone Wars tv show, you should enjoy reading this book. Also, this is not the old expanded universe so don't go into it expecting the Quinlan Vos of old. I think several people were complaining about that, but it really isn't fair to the author because she didn't have any control over that. Recommended for fans of the tv series.

The Clone Wars Lives On. I am so glad this un-aired Clone Wars material was translated into novel form. I enjoyed the book, its themes, and its portrayal of the Jedi and how low their order has fallen. My only complaint with existing character portrayals was how Mace Windu was handled. Yes he represents everything wrong with the Jedi of the prequel era, but in this story he seems to quick to judge and too quick to take extreme action. This does seem to be the route filoni, and possibly Lucas, were taking the character towards the end of the Clone Wars, but it just feels too blatant. There were a couple things that took me out of the novel. First, the fact the material come from an eight episode arc was very noticeable to me. It had a repetitive nature at times, SPOILERS: [ Confront Dooku, escape Dooku, confront Dooku, escape Dooku, etc. ] I was constantly wondering what was new material and what would have been on the show. Some of the content was very dark and I got caught up wondering how that would play out in animation form. Another aspect that took me out was my familiarity with the Legends material of Ventress an Vos. Some of the legends material is so similar, especially with Vos. Vos had a similar mission and brush with the darkside, just not with Ventress. Neither of these issues were a fault of the author, so its hard to judge to harshly. Some of the specifics I enjoyed most were knowing of certain characters appearances in later material, but still feeling they were in peril. Vos for instance is mentioned in Episode III, but I didn't see him making it out of this alive, continuity issue or not. Dooku took quite a beating, and it was interesting seeing him vulnerable, even though he manages to escape (multiple times). Overall I am happy this material is out there. We are lucky to get it. I never expected a team up between these two characters, and even though it conflicts with what we know from Legends, I feel it does those previous stories justice.

Once in a blue moon a phenomenon comes around that challenges norms and blows audiences away.. It’s amazing what expectations can do to your enjoyment of a book. Take Dark Disciple for example. Based on the cover flap alone it would not be unreasonable to presume that this book would be about some convoluted assassination attempt on one of the most prominent political leaders of the era, Count Dooku, and its equally tortuous reasons for failure because, for everyone who’s seen or read Revenge of the Sith, we all know how this is going to end. Add to that some forced sexual tension between the two leads and you have standard Star Wars novel fare. This book, however, is so much more than that and blew my expectations away. It easily made the other “canon” novels look like the Star Wars Holiday Special in comparison. Despite what the cover flap describes, this book really isn’t about the assassination of Count Dooku. In fact, for the first third of it I can count on one hand the number of times the assassination is mentioned. In reality this novel is about the often tragic relationship of its two leads Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos, who I will refer to as Quinsajj when together. The assassination is merely the means to an end. The chemistry between these two is so astonishingly organic such that Han and Leia’s relationship looks like a middle school crush next to Quinsajj. It got so steamy that I had the urge to take off extra layers of clothing when I read this book (that and because at time of writing this, it’s the summer). Ventress is initially portrayed as a loner, one who tries to distance her from all others due to her dreadful past. Betrayed both by the Jedi Order and her former master Count Dooku both of whom left her for dead, she naturally has trust issues and is unwilling to open up to others. By contrast Vos has lived his entire life always in the presence of others. The Jedi Temple is the only home he ever had and, surrounded by his Jedi brethren, is open to trusting those he deems worthy. Nevertheless even by his fellow Jedi he is considered an eccentric maverick and thus often finds himself working on solo missions. The differing personalities of Quinsajj melded together brilliantly; while they are both inherently outsiders, circumstances demanded that they team up with the trusting, flamboyant Vos complementing the wary, conniving Ventress. For any English majors out there, they were an excellent example of foil characters. However the great characters don’t stop there: Christie Golden has a fantastic understanding of her other characters as well. Not since Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy have I ever seen so many individuals “in character.” No one conveys this better than Count Dooku. Every moment he was present I could just sense the aura of the late Sir Christopher Lee emanating from the book, flaunting his imperious persona. When Dooku gave his speech at the Separatist celebration in the book it was so masterfully delivered that I wanted to stand up and cheer despite the fact that doing so would be the in-universe equivalent of applauding for Hitler. His actions throughout the book, too, are in character: as the aristocratic yet sinister Count he is, Dooku is more than willing to use cruelty and deception to accomplish his goals. This extends to the characterization of the members of the Jedi council, who despite their dogmatic fear of the Dark Side, are seemingly already on their way towards venturing down it. The book makes it very clear how controversial the decision to partake in cold-blooded assassination is and the distrust that permeates the council towards the individuals involved comes about naturally. In the end, they too are willing to use deception just like Dooku to accomplish their goals. With all the betrayals and deceptions throughout the novel, Golden is able to masterfully weave in some heavy themes to top it off. Do the ends truly ever justify the means? How much should one compromise one’s beliefs for the greater good? How does war affect even the purest of individuals? This is mainly embodied by the aforementioned Jedi Council. It is their belief that killing Dooku will end the war and they become all too willing to, in my mind, violate the Jedi Code (which by the way is now canon, Woohoo!) “There is no death, there is the Force.” By taking matters into their own hands and causing “death” on their own terms rather than through the natural progression of events, they act against the will of the Force. This just goes to show how war can affect even the purest of individuals. Philosophical discussion aside, perhaps the most poignant theme is the nature of attachment invoked by Quinsajj. Is it worth opening up and trusting those you love at risk of being stabbed in the back later? Quinsajj’s relationship was built on deception to begin with so both must question whether being together is the right course of action. Ultimately, Dark Disciple has got to be the most beautiful, masterfully written work of art I’ve read in a long time. What starts off as typical McGuffin chasing story turns into something else entirely with complex themes and inspiring characters pushing forward an engaging plot. This all culminates into a heart wrenching ending that just tears at the feels. Some may not like how certain characters end up, but I think that just adds to the beauty of it. If this is any indication of the direction the Star Wars franchise is going, the future is bright indeed.

AMAZING!!!. As long as it took for me to finish reading it was such an enjoyable book. I love the mythos established about the Force and Force users in the movies but to have a book detail how one is seduced by the Dark Side was everything we needed and more. I wish they would’ve finished the cinematically and made a 3-part conclusion to the Clone Wars but I think Star Wars fans should be very pleased with this book.

Speechless. Simply amazing. Having watched Clone Wars, I was able to picture everything I read as if I was watching it on TV. Very emotional and full of action. Perhaps it is better as a book, as I don't think a cartoon could have fully done this story justice.

speechless.. i usually don’t do reviews..but..woah. just to read this and practically SEE the characters and their development..it’s moving. so many messages and heart wrenching moments..overall heartbreaking..but also a bittersweet ending to her story..😩.

Awesome. I usually don't write reviews but this book warrants one. Many thanks to the writer as this book has one of the best reads yet. Redemption is a difficult road to travel...

Painful, Touching and Superb. Dark Disciple is a lot of things, but in the end, it’s a painful, rapturous story. Honestly, this book is emotionally charged like no other Star Wars novel that’s been released in the new canon. Part of that is due to the characters. Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos have a lot of history in the old expanded universe. Star Wars: The Clone Wars built onto that history even further, reshaping them, and perhaps even making them better. Yet with Dark Disciple, these two characters come to life like never before. In a way, it cements Quinlan’s history both past and present, an accomplishment that will likely bring joy to longtime Vos fans who aren’t averse to a little rebooting. However, for me, the payoff lied with Ventress. She was one of my favorite characters in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and with her getting the spotlight in Dark Disciple, it made it a true joy to read. Painful, but good. The premise is pretty straightforward. The Jedi Council decides that Count Dooku needs to be eliminated. They choose Jedi Master Quinlan Vos for the mission and further stipulate that he should utilize Asajj Ventress in order to get the job done. The story builds a relationship and trust between the two as they go off on missions together, delve into bounty hunting, and explore the breadth of the Force. Asajj tries to show Vos how she’s found a balance between dark and light that allows her to remain herself without being consumed by the dark side. As the story unfurls, they get mixed up with bounty hunters like Boba Fett, Bossk, Latts Razzi, Embo and Highslinger. They go up against Black Sun and the Pyke Syndicate. Along the way, the Jedi Council keeps an eye on the two, and readers can look forward to seeing some Obi-Wan and Anakin in action in this book. But ultimately, the conflict comes down to Quinlan, Ventress and Dooku. In a web of emotions, ambitions and the dark side, readers are in for a tumultuous ride. With Quinlan and Asajj at the core of this book, a lot rides on how attached readers are to their backstories. Keep in mind, this book is based off of eight scripts for episodes of The Clone Wars that were never completed due to the show’s cancellation. For fans still clinging on to the old Dark Horse Comics backstories for Ventress and Vos, you might not like this one. As always, The Clone Wars goes it’s own way and tells it’s own story for each of the characters. Quinlan Vos’ story is rewritten, but it also reflects much of the spirit of what it was. His master is still Tholme. He can still read memories and images from objects using the Force. Furthermore, his life is still haunted by the dark side. I found the Vos presented in Dark Disciple to be a very nice bridge between the Vos of old and that of this new creation. As for Ventress, her character arc follows what was laid out in the television show. She’s turned to bounty hunting, has found a peace within herself, and is no longer ruled by the dark side. If you like what they did with Ventress in the tv show, you’ll like the Ventress in this book. It’s hard to talk about the book too much further without delving into serious spoilers. However, there is some more that needs to be said. First off, Christie Golden does a wonderful job of capturing the characters. Be it Quinlan, Asajj or Yoda and Obi-Wan, all of the characters in this book fall perfectly in line with what The Clone Wars created. As a big fan of The Clone Wars, I really enjoyed this story and how well it worked in telling a chapter of the show in book format. I was rather disappointed with the previous Dark Horse Comics mini-series that tried to tell a Darth Maul arc from The Clone Wars as it just did not work for me at all. Dark Disciple, however, works. It captures the depth of the characters, the resonance of emotion, as well as the excitement and action as they’re thrown into combat. There are lightsaber fights, speeder chases, soul searching and yes, there is a romance angle to this story. Prepare yourselves, cause it’s a good one. A New Dawn kicked off the new canon as everything else was shoved off into legends, and managed to capture a spark of the joy that is Star Wars Rebels. Tarkin and Heir to the Jedi both dove into specific characters to try and show readers a new side to Tarkin and Luke Skywalker. Lords of the Sith went a different route by going for sheer, all out action with some extreme characters. There was joy to be had in all of them, but Dark Disciple raises the bar. It has character exploration, it has action, and it captures the magic of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It takes all of those great aspects, throws in a thick layering of character investment, and gives fans an emotional experience that will leave them trembling when it’s all said and done. At least that was my experience. With any luck, fans will get the same level of enjoyment as I did. I give Dark Disciple a five out of five.

Dark Disciple. MUST READ. BEST SW EU BOOK YET.

Awesome!!!. This is one of the best Star Wars books I have read.

Amazing. Just incredible. Every bit as good as the clone wars series, touching and fantastically written with characters that show amazing depth.

In a word, beautiful. This book is, in a word, beautiful. Christie Golden brings us a wonderful adaptation of eight scripts by Katie Lucas, Matt Michnovetz, and Dave Filoni. The book is centered on the characters of Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress, two popular characters from the Dark Horse comics. Golden brings these characters to life, excellently adapting their Dark Horse storylines into the new canon. With appearances from Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, and cameos from Boba Fett and Master Tholme, this book offers a full and rich experience, though at times heart-breaking, that any Star Wars fan will enjoy. If you like Quinlan Vos, read this book. If you like Asajj Ventress, read this book. If you like The Clone Wars, read this book.

Personal, Focused, Thrilling (Spoiler-Free Review). Absolutely perfect. Dark Disciple is one of the best Star Wars books ever written. I can find nothing about which to complain. It doesn't get any better than this. This is the Star Wars book we've been waiting for, the best written since 2011's Revan. Putting two unlikely heroes in the Star Wars universe together for a team-up tale isn't always a success. In fact, in the sixth season of Clone Wars, there is a two-episode story featuring Jar-Jar Binks and Mace Windu that is one of the weakest arcs in the existence of the show. But this time the creators hit the nail on the head. The blending of Filoni's original story and Golden's writing style is, in my opinion, seamless. In a massive, galaxy-spanning, history-altering war like the Clone Wars, it's personal narratives like this that illuminate the tragedy and wonder of the conflict. This story allows the reader to zoom in on a handful of characters, moments, and decisions that really find their home in a novel like this. Dark Disciple gets it right. It's in my top 10 Star Wars books. This was one I absolutely couldn't put down. Needless to say, I'll be reading it again.

Amazing. Well written, with as powerful an end as I have read in a while. I was looking forward to this book and was not in the least disappointed. A must read for any Star Wars fan.

Great book, not for EU fans. I am a die-hard Quinlan Vos fan when it comes to the original Star Wars comics. The way Disney ruined his backstory is beyond me. Vos is one of the most complex characters in the EU. I thought of Quinlan in this story as a different character and the book was pretty great and a perfect finale to Asajj Ventress' story arc.

Beautiful.. The story deserved an on screen portrayal, but I can’t deny the beauty in this novel. Phenomenal writing and beautiful story!

Amazing story. If you plan on buying this book, check out Clone Wars Season 4 episode 20 for back story on Asajj. One of my favorite Star Wars books to date 5/5 stars

Great Read. Great book to for fans of the clone war era

"Star Wars: Dark Disciple" - The End of an Era. I devoured this book – turning its pages with an enthusiasm that surprised me. This book, I felt, was a departure from many of the other Clone Wars novels I've read, which all focused on battle, politics, and intrigue. This book, from start to finish, was more of a personal journey of two people – battling their demons both separately and together. I saw a lot of corollaries in this novel to the stories of the films – themes of forbidden love, fallen knights, redemption, and the idea that no one is ever too far gone to be saved and forgiven. This book explored those themes in a way that fully engaged me and, at times, made me feel emotions that I seldom found while reading a Star Wars novel (and I’ve read more than my share). Two very complicated characters in Quinlan Vos and Asajj Ventress are explored at a level yet unseen in The Clone Wars. Their complexities, inner demons, and motivations are explored in ways that demand you keep turning pages. Even old friends like Windu, Yoda, and especially Kenobi are seen in surprising depth. Golden did a spectacular job with not only the characters, but the story outlines she was given and has woven them all into an integrated tale that was truly captivating and engrossing. I found it a little episodic at points, but didn’t feel that this in any way detracted from the narrative. It was a fitting capstone to the Clone Wars TV series, and I found myself more than a little disappointed (all over again) at its demise. This one was well-worth the hype!

Good start. Seems like some new stuff mixed with old "cannon." Overall easy read that will keep you riveted. Little predictable, but worth a read. Have read every book previously, even though it doesn't count. Not Timothy Zahn good, but a good start

My very first Star Wars book to Read. Love this book, love the story, and my first favorite Star Wars Adult Novel from Del Rey.

Fantastic. This is the best Star Wars canon book and better then anything in Legends. Reading about Vos and Ventress teaming up was a great experience!

Great!. This is the best book in the Star Wars series!

Must Read!!!. Most captivating and emotional story to come from the new canon. If you are a fan of Asajj, this story will make you a fan tenfold. Could not put down my phone!!

Amazing. Beautiful

Did you know that you can earn 25 USD from our site just by registering? Get $25 for free by joining Payoneer!

Imagine you at your best. All the time. Picture yourself at your sharpest and most productive. Your most alert and focused. Your most lucid, creative and confident. At work. At play. In every area of your life. Add Mind Lab Pro® v4.0 to your daily routine and uncap your true potential. Buy Now!

Adsterra is the most preferred ad network for those looking for an alternative to AdSense. Adsterra is the ideal choice for new sites with low daily traffic. In order to advertise on the site in Adsterra, like other ad networks, a certain traffic limit, domain age, etc. is required. There are no strict rules. Sign up!