The third book in this Republic Commando series is easily my favorite thus far. It has the most centrally developed ideas and emotional weight behind the characters. The build up over the course of the previous two installments has culminated in amazing payoff for a number of characters. The emotion that Karen Traviss infuses into the narrative is simply amazing. You really care about these people by this juncture, with the outcome for at least one character being nearly soul crushing in its sadness.

The motivations behind Kal Skirata's heated manhunt for Kaminoan scientist Ko Sai are very real, and very human. His fatherly instinct and harsh nature feel as developed as any character in any film or non-genre specific piece of literature. The emotional weight on the shoulders of our clone protagonists is equally realistic and developed, making the situations they're dropped into even more intriguing and intense.

The only problem that I have at this point is being weary of reading the next book because the progression of the story coupled with what I know of the Star Wars universe makes me feel like things aren't going to end well for a lot of the characters I've come to really connect with. Hopefully I'll make it through the last installment without wanting to punch a wall.