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Star Wars: Jedi Prince #4
Mission from Mount Yoda
A dying planet. A desperate mission.
And a prophecy of doom for the Rebel Alliance.
The battle against the evil Empire rages on as heroic men, women, and aliens of the Rebel Alliance continue their struggle to end the era of darkness. But now a mysterious visitor comes to the Rebel fortress located atop Mount Yoda, bringing ominous news.
Kadann, Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side, plots to capture and destroy the carbonized body of Trioculus and take control of the Empire. Meanwhile, the Rebel Alliance races to save the archaeologists of the dying planet Duro, only to discover an incredible mystery in the underground tunnels, a secret that depends on a perilous...
And a prophecy of doom for the Rebel Alliance.
The battle against the evil Empire rages on as heroic men, women, and aliens of the Rebel Alliance continue their struggle to end the era of darkness. But now a mysterious visitor comes to the Rebel fortress located atop Mount Yoda, bringing ominous news.
Kadann, Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side, plots to capture and destroy the carbonized body of Trioculus and take control of the Empire. Meanwhile, the Rebel Alliance races to save the archaeologists of the dying planet Duro, only to discover an incredible mystery in the underground tunnels, a secret that depends on a perilous...
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
6 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Paul Davids
16 books8 followersPaul Jeffrey Davids is an American independent filmmaker and writer, especially in the area of science fiction. Often collaborating with his wife Hollace, Davids has written and directed several films. He has also written episodes for the television show Transformers, as well as a Star Wars spin-off book series for young readers, known informally as the Jedi Prince series.
The Davids have two children together, Jordan and Scott.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Paul^^Davids
The Davids have two children together, Jordan and Scott.
Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Paul^^Davids
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 21, 2020
7/20/20
OK I'M BACK
I…don’t think I’ve ever read this one before, actually? I distinctly remember reading books 1-3 and books 5 and 6, but zero memory of this one. Our school library was missing one, and this must have been it.
I probably could have been quite content to never read this one, but I’m glad I did, I guess.
This one took me a while, both because I was doing other things, and because I just do not give a shit about Ken. I know he’s supposed to be the reader surrogate/reader insert character*, but ugh. He just feels so pander-y, you know? Like that one time they let a child be a Power Ranger. He’s the Littlest Rebel, and ugh.
Anyway. Bullet points.
• It’s 1993 now! There is probably another Thrawn book at this point, but I’m thinking that had zero impact on this runaway train of a book series.
• The Bad Takes are still here, if you were wondering.
• Needs more Leia
• Chewie is described as a “hairy alien Wookiee.” (??????)
• We still love our acronyms
• Han insists a vegetarian aquatic creature tried to eat him one time and Leia calls bullshit, and so does the glossary
• “[Han] had a bad habit of turning every conversation with Leia into an argument.” UH MAYBE THAT’S TOXIC, BRO. I should add that he is thinking of proposing at this point. I have long been a Han/Leia shipper, but the red flags are waving themselves.
• Ken knows everything about everything except to not take candy from strangers. He even knows the latest gossip about the Empire? How???? How did his droid family get ahold of this info????
• Ken thought he was escaping from doing schoolwork when he started hanging out with Luke, but Luke is making him stay in school (BINCH YOU THOUGHT). WHY DID HE LEAVE YAVIN 4 THEN
• SO the Rebel Alliance has established a SCHOOL on Dagobah (Dagobah Tech lmaooo) as well as a research facility. Listen, I’m not an expert on any of this, but, like…isn’t it just a BIG FUCKIN SWAMP??? Wasn’t it just Yoda and a bunch of snakes and bugs and shit?? Is the ground even able to physically support all these buildings?? WHY IS THERE A MOUNTAIN
• That mountain, incidentally, used to be called “MOUNT DAGGER” but the Rebels decided to rename it after Yoda, because why not
• I would wear a Dagobah Tech sweatshirt tho, ngl
• Zorba decides that he should make a business out of, like, feeding criminals to the sarlacc pit
• No Trioculus in this one, unfortunately. Unless you count his cameo appearances as a giant decorative ice cube.
• How do u bite your nails without taking off a finger when you have sharpass shark teeth tho
• “’Moisture farms are hot and lonely,’ Luke insisted.” hsgasgkd
• Duro just has a bad time in every timeline, huh?
• We get a Lesson of the Week twofer in this one: the ecological message in this one concerns toxic waste dumping, plus we get a bonus “Colonizers Bad” message, which is great! The Empire gets up to some imperialist (of course) bullshit and steals culturally significant artifacts from Duro to add to their own private collections and also to subjugate the native population by robbing them of their culture. That’s…pretty good for 1993, actually.
• “Ken tried…one more time, then gave up, collapsing on the floor in despair.” OH MOOD??
• “If fortune is with us, then Solo will have some important passengers aboard.” Is…is Han NOT important?
• “Chzootch Gneek!” Artoo buzzed.” (????)
• “’Master Luke are you alright?’ ‘Quiet, Threepio,’ Luke explained. ‘Can’t you see I’m concentrating on the Force?’” YEAH THREEPIO, how dare you wonder why the FUCK Luke’s sitting on the floor doing nothing during a crisis
• Luke is just…really quick to start waving his laser sword around in this series. Just whippin it out at the slightest sign of trouble
• IF YOU WERE CONCENTRATING ON THE FORCE SO HARD THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU KNOW THAT THAT WAS KEN
• “’Success!’ Threepio shouted, unaware of Artoo and his troubles.” Lmaoooo
• “But Han had spoken too soon.” LMAOOOO
• This Duro shipyard offers a warranty that covers Imperial attacks for six months lol
• UH Leia stays behind with the ship so KEN can go on the mission, this is BULLSHIT. She helps fly it later, but WHATEVER.
• “’I did it, Luke! I saved you!’” SHUT UP KEN
• TEENAGE MUTANT FEFZE BEETLES
• “’I once knew a woman who lived by the ways of the Force. Her name was Kendalina.’” SMELLS LIKE FORESHADOWING. Also, she’s dead. George said no moms allowed in the Star War
• “’I see everything and everyone, whether in front or behind. It’s why the call me Triclops – for I have three eyes.’” ughhhhhh
• Triclops is pretty chill tho
• So there was no werewolf, just a wolf-ish humanoid interrogator man. I wanted a fuckin SPACE WEREWOLF
• HE STABBED SOME DUDE RIGHT IN THE BRAIN WITH SOME SYRINGES FULL OF TRUTH SERUM, FUCKIN YIKES, Y’ALL
• So there’s a big ol earthquake that registers as a “77.88 on the Imperial quake scale.” I grew up in earthquake country aND I HAVE QUESTIONS. How does this translate to our Richter scale? 77.88 out of WHAT?? How can you use the same scale on different planets that might vary wildly in terms of structure???
• “’Now prepare to join your master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the world beyond!’” damn, dude
• “It was all too troublesome for a boy of twelve to dwell on.” It’s too troublesome for ME
• Leia’s outfit is good tho??
• Yoda is described in the glossary as a “small creature.” Just……….. a litle creacher. Thatse It . He Canot change this.
• Can I offer you a meme in this trying time?
I am 500% going on to book 5, because it’s absolutely buckwild, from what I remember. Maybe only the odd-numbered books are good??
*There were just….too many dudes for me to be able to relate to strongly to anyone as a child. Leia gets to do stuff sometimes and Mon Mothma shows up every so often to be a Stately Leader, but that is IT. Two whole ladies, unless you count KATE, and I don’t. She’s just Alice from The Brady Bunch, but made of pink metal. Also she shows up for like ten minutes.
7/13/20
Be back with a review later. I have to go over my highlights.
OK I'M BACK
I…don’t think I’ve ever read this one before, actually? I distinctly remember reading books 1-3 and books 5 and 6, but zero memory of this one. Our school library was missing one, and this must have been it.
I probably could have been quite content to never read this one, but I’m glad I did, I guess.
This one took me a while, both because I was doing other things, and because I just do not give a shit about Ken. I know he’s supposed to be the reader surrogate/reader insert character*, but ugh. He just feels so pander-y, you know? Like that one time they let a child be a Power Ranger. He’s the Littlest Rebel, and ugh.
Anyway. Bullet points.
• It’s 1993 now! There is probably another Thrawn book at this point, but I’m thinking that had zero impact on this runaway train of a book series.
• The Bad Takes are still here, if you were wondering.
• Needs more Leia
• Chewie is described as a “hairy alien Wookiee.” (??????)
• We still love our acronyms
• Han insists a vegetarian aquatic creature tried to eat him one time and Leia calls bullshit, and so does the glossary
• “[Han] had a bad habit of turning every conversation with Leia into an argument.” UH MAYBE THAT’S TOXIC, BRO. I should add that he is thinking of proposing at this point. I have long been a Han/Leia shipper, but the red flags are waving themselves.
• Ken knows everything about everything except to not take candy from strangers. He even knows the latest gossip about the Empire? How???? How did his droid family get ahold of this info????
• Ken thought he was escaping from doing schoolwork when he started hanging out with Luke, but Luke is making him stay in school (BINCH YOU THOUGHT). WHY DID HE LEAVE YAVIN 4 THEN
• SO the Rebel Alliance has established a SCHOOL on Dagobah (Dagobah Tech lmaooo) as well as a research facility. Listen, I’m not an expert on any of this, but, like…isn’t it just a BIG FUCKIN SWAMP??? Wasn’t it just Yoda and a bunch of snakes and bugs and shit?? Is the ground even able to physically support all these buildings?? WHY IS THERE A MOUNTAIN
• That mountain, incidentally, used to be called “MOUNT DAGGER” but the Rebels decided to rename it after Yoda, because why not
• I would wear a Dagobah Tech sweatshirt tho, ngl
• Zorba decides that he should make a business out of, like, feeding criminals to the sarlacc pit
• No Trioculus in this one, unfortunately. Unless you count his cameo appearances as a giant decorative ice cube.
• How do u bite your nails without taking off a finger when you have sharpass shark teeth tho
• “’Moisture farms are hot and lonely,’ Luke insisted.” hsgasgkd
• Duro just has a bad time in every timeline, huh?
• We get a Lesson of the Week twofer in this one: the ecological message in this one concerns toxic waste dumping, plus we get a bonus “Colonizers Bad” message, which is great! The Empire gets up to some imperialist (of course) bullshit and steals culturally significant artifacts from Duro to add to their own private collections and also to subjugate the native population by robbing them of their culture. That’s…pretty good for 1993, actually.
• “Ken tried…one more time, then gave up, collapsing on the floor in despair.” OH MOOD??
• “If fortune is with us, then Solo will have some important passengers aboard.” Is…is Han NOT important?
• “Chzootch Gneek!” Artoo buzzed.” (????)
• “’Master Luke are you alright?’ ‘Quiet, Threepio,’ Luke explained. ‘Can’t you see I’m concentrating on the Force?’” YEAH THREEPIO, how dare you wonder why the FUCK Luke’s sitting on the floor doing nothing during a crisis
• Luke is just…really quick to start waving his laser sword around in this series. Just whippin it out at the slightest sign of trouble
• IF YOU WERE CONCENTRATING ON THE FORCE SO HARD THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU KNOW THAT THAT WAS KEN
• “’Success!’ Threepio shouted, unaware of Artoo and his troubles.” Lmaoooo
• “But Han had spoken too soon.” LMAOOOO
• This Duro shipyard offers a warranty that covers Imperial attacks for six months lol
• UH Leia stays behind with the ship so KEN can go on the mission, this is BULLSHIT. She helps fly it later, but WHATEVER.
• “’I did it, Luke! I saved you!’” SHUT UP KEN
• TEENAGE MUTANT FEFZE BEETLES
• “’I once knew a woman who lived by the ways of the Force. Her name was Kendalina.’” SMELLS LIKE FORESHADOWING. Also, she’s dead. George said no moms allowed in the Star War
• “’I see everything and everyone, whether in front or behind. It’s why the call me Triclops – for I have three eyes.’” ughhhhhh
• Triclops is pretty chill tho
• So there was no werewolf, just a wolf-ish humanoid interrogator man. I wanted a fuckin SPACE WEREWOLF
• HE STABBED SOME DUDE RIGHT IN THE BRAIN WITH SOME SYRINGES FULL OF TRUTH SERUM, FUCKIN YIKES, Y’ALL
• So there’s a big ol earthquake that registers as a “77.88 on the Imperial quake scale.” I grew up in earthquake country aND I HAVE QUESTIONS. How does this translate to our Richter scale? 77.88 out of WHAT?? How can you use the same scale on different planets that might vary wildly in terms of structure???
• “’Now prepare to join your master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the world beyond!’” damn, dude
• “It was all too troublesome for a boy of twelve to dwell on.” It’s too troublesome for ME
• Leia’s outfit is good tho??
• Yoda is described in the glossary as a “small creature.” Just……….. a litle creacher. Thatse It . He Canot change this.
• Can I offer you a meme in this trying time?
I am 500% going on to book 5, because it’s absolutely buckwild, from what I remember. Maybe only the odd-numbered books are good??
*There were just….too many dudes for me to be able to relate to strongly to anyone as a child. Leia gets to do stuff sometimes and Mon Mothma shows up every so often to be a Stately Leader, but that is IT. Two whole ladies, unless you count KATE, and I don’t. She’s just Alice from The Brady Bunch, but made of pink metal. Also she shows up for like ten minutes.
7/13/20
Be back with a review later. I have to go over my highlights.
December 28, 2019
It took me until book four of this series to realize it, but "Jedi Prince" makes no sense. The Jedi aren't royalty.
Also, these authors LOVE them some acronyms. They're all over the place in these books.
Also, these authors LOVE them some acronyms. They're all over the place in these books.
April 10, 2020
I once owned a copy of this book. In fact, I remember the day my grandma took me to the local Walden Books at the mall and let me pick out any book I wanted. Being like 8, and having just seen the first 3 Star Wars movies and having no frame of reference for these books, other than the title had the words “Star Wars” and “Yoda” emblazoned on the front cover, it’s no wonder this was the book I picked out. I’m sure I was super excited and pumped to read this as soon as I got home. However, I don’t think I ever finished it....and now, 24 years later, I can totally understand why.
I’ve written about this series before in my other reviews. Talked about how truly horrible it is, and just how bad the Davids’ storytelling ability is, even for a group of books geared towards 8 and 9 year olds.
Mission From Mount Yoda, surprisingly breaks the trajectory of the first 3 books, in that, unlike the crapfest that was Zorba the Hutt’s Revenge, this one tells a somewhat decent story and, aside from one throwaway reference to possible genetic mutation from radioactive waste, seems to steer away from the tree-hugging messages that are quite obvious. And while things still just happen for reasons, at least there’s a bit more explanation.
Of course, this book is still a mess. The Davids’ over reliance on onomatopoeia is still ridiculously prevalent. Their love of acronyms also appears on almost every page. SPIN, DARPAC, SSS, CAV. The way thins happen in this story is pretty juvenile and almost insulting. The conclusion is pretty tame. Hell, this entire series, if summarized into one word would be “tame”.
These books suck, no question, but I’m too far in to stop now.
I’ve written about this series before in my other reviews. Talked about how truly horrible it is, and just how bad the Davids’ storytelling ability is, even for a group of books geared towards 8 and 9 year olds.
Mission From Mount Yoda, surprisingly breaks the trajectory of the first 3 books, in that, unlike the crapfest that was Zorba the Hutt’s Revenge, this one tells a somewhat decent story and, aside from one throwaway reference to possible genetic mutation from radioactive waste, seems to steer away from the tree-hugging messages that are quite obvious. And while things still just happen for reasons, at least there’s a bit more explanation.
Of course, this book is still a mess. The Davids’ over reliance on onomatopoeia is still ridiculously prevalent. Their love of acronyms also appears on almost every page. SPIN, DARPAC, SSS, CAV. The way thins happen in this story is pretty juvenile and almost insulting. The conclusion is pretty tame. Hell, this entire series, if summarized into one word would be “tame”.
These books suck, no question, but I’m too far in to stop now.
April 23, 2021
If I had kids, I'd totally be reading these with them. They're just so strange, these stories, and I know they'd be even more fun as a family read.
So in this one, it was fun finally meeting Triclops. He's such a curious character, one who's been built up as a dangerous psychotic mutant throughout the series -- and then he appears, at first anyway, to be a victim of political violence and psychological torture through being institutionalized. I'm legitimately curious to see where things go at this point.
The visit to the planet Duro is fun. Not so many head-scratching moments in this one, though there's one time where Luke has a pissing contest with Ken about how much worse growing up on a moisture farm was compared to attending school. Which...given what happens to Luke in the films, a lack of patience and ability to connect with the youth is rather on point...
So in this one, it was fun finally meeting Triclops. He's such a curious character, one who's been built up as a dangerous psychotic mutant throughout the series -- and then he appears, at first anyway, to be a victim of political violence and psychological torture through being institutionalized. I'm legitimately curious to see where things go at this point.
The visit to the planet Duro is fun. Not so many head-scratching moments in this one, though there's one time where Luke has a pissing contest with Ken about how much worse growing up on a moisture farm was compared to attending school. Which...given what happens to Luke in the films, a lack of patience and ability to connect with the youth is rather on point...
December 6, 2023
For whatever reason, my local library growing up only had the final three books of this series, so this is the first one that was vaguely familiar, although I think most of the details had been misplaced over the years.
Having checked Dagobah off the list, we've now visited or mentioned every location from the original series. I do have to commend this book for filling in details of the Duros home planet, which is a location and species that are never mentioned by name in the movies (although we do get them in the background of some scenes, of course).
The environmental subplot is back at the forefront and concerns pollution of Duros, so you can check that off your scorecard if you're playing some kind of drinking game.
In fairness to my review of the second book, this book establishes that Ken studies things other than Star Wars trivia, so I retract my previous snarky statement.
Having checked Dagobah off the list, we've now visited or mentioned every location from the original series. I do have to commend this book for filling in details of the Duros home planet, which is a location and species that are never mentioned by name in the movies (although we do get them in the background of some scenes, of course).
The environmental subplot is back at the forefront and concerns pollution of Duros, so you can check that off your scorecard if you're playing some kind of drinking game.
In fairness to my review of the second book, this book establishes that Ken studies things other than Star Wars trivia, so I retract my previous snarky statement.
August 28, 2019
Still ridiculous, still awful..... Still going. On to book 5.
January 25, 2021
It's taken me some time to come back to this series, because the first three books were just so stupid, and I really mean they were dumb. But my desire to read Star Wars tie-in fiction from the beginning is forcing me to continue, and I suppose at least these are short. I will say, though, that this one is the best of the bunch. That's not saying much - the first three were all one star reads - and much of the same idiocy is repeated regarding names, but it's marginally less idiotic than the others. Though I shake my head at the hidden "good" son of the Emperor saying how if he takes his father's throne he'll start fixing things, because how about he starts fixing things by not taking the throne and returning to the basic democracy of the Senate before his dad started screwing things up in the name of power. No one calls him on it, though, that would require thought.
Honestly, these books would improve at least ten percent if the authors were forbidden from using the word "dark" because the dark prophets having dark visions and giving dark blessings is ridiculous. Might as well tattoo "we are evil" on their foreheads...
Honestly, these books would improve at least ten percent if the authors were forbidden from using the word "dark" because the dark prophets having dark visions and giving dark blessings is ridiculous. Might as well tattoo "we are evil" on their foreheads...
November 22, 2024
I know these are kids books, but as I may have mentioned in my review of Zorba's Revenge, all the details from the West End gaming books or wherever some of the minutiae comes from does not make it more of a "Star Wars" book, and certainly doesn't make for good prose, which kids deserve, even at a simpler level. I am so curious how these books, with their amazing covers, were perceived by the intended audience at the time. Also, looking at what was canon at the time, did the "adult" Star Wars novels' authors mostly ignore the content of these books? Did I only learn about some of these characters through the Essential Character Guides and Star Wars Galaxy trading cards before finally encountering them in this series of kids books?
I'd be curious to read some of Paul and Hollace Davids' other works to better understand their credentials, and see if their Star Wars work were flukes among good or great books.
I'd be curious to read some of Paul and Hollace Davids' other works to better understand their credentials, and see if their Star Wars work were flukes among good or great books.
September 1, 2018
This story was clearly meant for younger fans. With that in mind, the book was okay. It clearly is part of Legends/EU Canon, but how it fits I can't quite make out.
I read the first few books in this series years ago, and you can tell these came out before Lucas did his Prequel Trilogy. It is hard to not want to try to figure out how the Prophets of the Dark Side would fit in with the Sith, and what we know about that Dark Side order.
I would only suggest this book to hard core Star Wars fans, and then only if you have a desire to read everything Lucasfilm officially licensed to be published.
I read the first few books in this series years ago, and you can tell these came out before Lucas did his Prequel Trilogy. It is hard to not want to try to figure out how the Prophets of the Dark Side would fit in with the Sith, and what we know about that Dark Side order.
I would only suggest this book to hard core Star Wars fans, and then only if you have a desire to read everything Lucasfilm officially licensed to be published.
December 29, 2025
Star Wars: Legends: Jedi Prince 04 Mission from Mount Yoda by Hollace Davids, Paul Davids
3.0 Stars
adventurous
Fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
I'm not impressed with this series. It seems underwhelming. It is hitting a beat, but not the one for the story, but for getting a story completed (whether it is good/bad).
I wish I was inspired in this adventure. I'm just trying to finish it, so I can go on to other Star Wars stories that have real life and stakes, and that I'm into. Ugh. Two more stories, then freedom (hopefully).
3.0 Stars
adventurous
Fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
I'm not impressed with this series. It seems underwhelming. It is hitting a beat, but not the one for the story, but for getting a story completed (whether it is good/bad).
I wish I was inspired in this adventure. I'm just trying to finish it, so I can go on to other Star Wars stories that have real life and stakes, and that I'm into. Ugh. Two more stories, then freedom (hopefully).
April 4, 2022
The environmentalist flavor of the day is hazardous waste dumping with a side of "hey maybe don't steal or destroy other cultures' historical artifacts" Also C3P0 fixes something in the Millennium Falcon, which is the LEAST in character thing he's done thus far. Also Ken thinks that you have the same level of decision-making at 12 as you do 18, and Triclops' third eye doubles as a tractor beam. 🤌💋
April 3, 2024
Mission from Mount Yoda (Star Wars: Jedi Prince #4) by Paul and Hollace Davids.
Basic storylines: Kadann, the Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side wants to capture and destroy the carbonized body of Trioculus. Meanwhile, the Rebel Alliance is trying to save the archaeologists on the dying planet of Duro.
Ok, this book in the series is more of the same as the previous books. Another 2 star.
#MiddleGradeMarch2024.
Basic storylines: Kadann, the Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side wants to capture and destroy the carbonized body of Trioculus. Meanwhile, the Rebel Alliance is trying to save the archaeologists on the dying planet of Duro.
Ok, this book in the series is more of the same as the previous books. Another 2 star.
#MiddleGradeMarch2024.
December 17, 2017
I found this book so addictive! I just couldn’t put it down. Seeing all the movies in a space of a few weeks and seeing the latest movie made me want to read the books also. Will definitely read other books in this series in the future. :) ❤️
February 2, 2023
I remember finding this in the library at my school over twenty years ago now, my first interaction with Star Wars novels.
Definitely a better novel than the first three imo, finally introducing Triclops helping the book up a bit.
Definitely a better novel than the first three imo, finally introducing Triclops helping the book up a bit.
June 7, 2019
Not bad. I enjoy these quick little Star Wars reads.
October 4, 2020
2.5. Not as cringey as the last three thankfully and I was able to get through it easier. So that's good.
January 1, 2021
I'm forcing my way through this series at this point. Zorba the Hutt was hilariously bad. This is just bad. Least favorite of the batch so far.
October 7, 2021
2.5 stars
Honestly this was boring until Triclops was properly introduced.
Honestly this was boring until Triclops was properly introduced.
March 10, 2022
Seriously don't know what to say that I haven't said before about these books. But this one in particular seemed especially rushed and lacking in plot.
October 3, 2022
Man I don’t know why I’m trying these still. It’s even more disappointed because there is honestly some potential in the plot, characters, and art, but it is utterly squandered.
June 11, 2025
Chewbacca says "uwu" in this book and I love that.
Read
August 25, 2025How could I forget about Kendalina? So dumbbbbb
Also, why are the books so vague about some things, but shockingly descriptive about suffering?
Also, why are the books so vague about some things, but shockingly descriptive about suffering?
December 15, 2025
i refuse to believe that palpatine's son is a good guy
December 28, 2025
cute book. i really like this series.
February 3, 2026
Why am I still dragging through this series...
February 17, 2026
This series is genuinely so silly. The plot of this one was just as weird
April 21, 2015
Kicking off the second mini-trilogy, Mission from Mount Yoda brings a new tenor to the series (as much as possible for a "kids book" series). The base of rebel operations moves from Yavin 4 to Dagobah, and the Empire is also making big changes. The Prophets of the Dark Side, seeing their opportunity to take control now that Trioculus is in carbonite, make a very drastic move and basically steal Trioculus's body and destroy it and Kadann declares himself the new ruler of the Empire. Time passes in a strange way in this series, but we get the basic sense enough time passes for information to get spread around where it needs to be spread. An interesting component of this entry is the antagonism between the Dark Prophets and Hissa, and while the whole Dark Prophets thing seems to contradict Tarkin in Episode IV (when he says Darth Vader is the last of the adherents to the Force, since he must not know the Emperor was Sith, too), it adds an interesting layer to the Empire, with the political moffs antagonistic to the Dark Force users. Hissa pays a heavy price for his loyalty shifts, but we almost feel sympathy for him, considering the terrible pressures upon him by all sides (almost).
Another engaging aspect of this story, so to speak, is the relationship of Han and Leia: the authors add some friction to their relationship, slowing down Han's romantic fervor, even making him question his desire to marry her. While that sort of thing is usually irritating in a romantic comedy, its brevity and believeability come across very well, even for a "kids book." It adds just enough of a twist to prolong things without being nonsensical, and the rest of the story adds enjoyable components and moments that make their relationship a bit richer.
Similarly, the "Ken is a teenager" subplot again threatens to diminish the enjoyable nature of this for older readers, what with the sort of inane "he has to start school" idea (which is inane, considering he has been raised in the secret Library of the Jedi - the boy knows almost more than our heroes; he's certainly had more formal education than Luke!), but it is again brief and ends quickly and we get back to better action soon enough. At least the authors came up with some slightly plausible reasons for why he has to go to school, indicating his Jedi Library education didn't cover everything (though, he is lacking in mostly practical things, which is a cautionary tale against the purpose of education).
The Environmental Problem of the Week is toxic waste dumping, and surprisingly our heroes cannot solve the problem this time. Instead, they aid the sufferers and rescue a civilization's historic art treasures and basically abandon the problem. That gives the story a strange authenticity: they can't just magically counteract decades of toxic waste dumping. Let this be a lesson to you, First World countries.
Finally, we meet Triclops, and his connection to Ken and knowledge of Ken's secret past are hinted at well without dragging the story down. The authors do a fine job of wrapping up this story while setting up eager anticipation for what comes next. This series is rather impressive, I must say.
Another engaging aspect of this story, so to speak, is the relationship of Han and Leia: the authors add some friction to their relationship, slowing down Han's romantic fervor, even making him question his desire to marry her. While that sort of thing is usually irritating in a romantic comedy, its brevity and believeability come across very well, even for a "kids book." It adds just enough of a twist to prolong things without being nonsensical, and the rest of the story adds enjoyable components and moments that make their relationship a bit richer.
Similarly, the "Ken is a teenager" subplot again threatens to diminish the enjoyable nature of this for older readers, what with the sort of inane "he has to start school" idea (which is inane, considering he has been raised in the secret Library of the Jedi - the boy knows almost more than our heroes; he's certainly had more formal education than Luke!), but it is again brief and ends quickly and we get back to better action soon enough. At least the authors came up with some slightly plausible reasons for why he has to go to school, indicating his Jedi Library education didn't cover everything (though, he is lacking in mostly practical things, which is a cautionary tale against the purpose of education).
The Environmental Problem of the Week is toxic waste dumping, and surprisingly our heroes cannot solve the problem this time. Instead, they aid the sufferers and rescue a civilization's historic art treasures and basically abandon the problem. That gives the story a strange authenticity: they can't just magically counteract decades of toxic waste dumping. Let this be a lesson to you, First World countries.
Finally, we meet Triclops, and his connection to Ken and knowledge of Ken's secret past are hinted at well without dragging the story down. The authors do a fine job of wrapping up this story while setting up eager anticipation for what comes next. This series is rather impressive, I must say.
December 31, 2022
Star Wars Legends Project #318
Background: Mission from Mount Yoda was written by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids and published in January 1993. It is the fourth book in the Jedi Prince series. The Davids wrote the whole series.
Mission from Mount Yoda begins just after Zorba the Hutt's Revenge (my review), a year after the Battle of Endor (5 years after the battle of Yavin). The main characters are Ken the Jedi Prince, Luke, Leia, Han, Artoo, Threepio, and Chewie, plus the evil Kadann, et al. Most of the story takes place on Dagobah and Duro.
Summary: With Trioculus frozen in carbonite, the threat from the Empire seems temporarily abated and the heroes head to Dagobah to enroll Ken in an elite school that the Alliance has built there on the newly-christened Mount Yoda, site of a top-secret Alliance base. Meanwhile, Kadann, chief Prophet of the Dark Side, has his own plans to wrest control of the Empire and destroy the Alliance once and for all.
Review: I was utterly baffled by the choice to so unceremoniously pull the series' chief antagonist off of the board at the end of the last book. I guess they ran out of ideas for him and decided to playtest a few new villains, mid-series? Who even knows with these people. Maybe they really just thought they couldn't have the characters visit Bespin without freezing someone in carbonite. Any explanation you can think of is as likely as any other, at this point. I'm not entirely sure these books weren't generated by a roomful of monkeys with typewriters, if I'm honest.
Take this for example: “According to legend, the Jedi Prince wore a dome-shaped birthstone on a necklace chain.” Like, again, still, what is a Jedi prince and how does that even work, but also why are there legends about him? He's 9. And also, that's not even what a "legend" is . . . and why is it *so* specific? Where is any of this going?
Moving on, this time around we get a rhyming villain, always super-intimidating, and the characters contend with just plain-old regular pollution that has made the planet Duro unlivable. (I'm not sure, and can't be bothered to check, whether this was the book that established this fact about Duro in the canon, but anyway, there it is.) That's kind of a side-plot here, because this is one issue they can only comment on, but not fix.
Yadda yadda yadda. This is, blessedly, maybe the most forgettable of the series so far.
F
Background: Mission from Mount Yoda was written by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids and published in January 1993. It is the fourth book in the Jedi Prince series. The Davids wrote the whole series.
Mission from Mount Yoda begins just after Zorba the Hutt's Revenge (my review), a year after the Battle of Endor (5 years after the battle of Yavin). The main characters are Ken the Jedi Prince, Luke, Leia, Han, Artoo, Threepio, and Chewie, plus the evil Kadann, et al. Most of the story takes place on Dagobah and Duro.
Summary: With Trioculus frozen in carbonite, the threat from the Empire seems temporarily abated and the heroes head to Dagobah to enroll Ken in an elite school that the Alliance has built there on the newly-christened Mount Yoda, site of a top-secret Alliance base. Meanwhile, Kadann, chief Prophet of the Dark Side, has his own plans to wrest control of the Empire and destroy the Alliance once and for all.
Review: I was utterly baffled by the choice to so unceremoniously pull the series' chief antagonist off of the board at the end of the last book. I guess they ran out of ideas for him and decided to playtest a few new villains, mid-series? Who even knows with these people. Maybe they really just thought they couldn't have the characters visit Bespin without freezing someone in carbonite. Any explanation you can think of is as likely as any other, at this point. I'm not entirely sure these books weren't generated by a roomful of monkeys with typewriters, if I'm honest.
Take this for example: “According to legend, the Jedi Prince wore a dome-shaped birthstone on a necklace chain.” Like, again, still, what is a Jedi prince and how does that even work, but also why are there legends about him? He's 9. And also, that's not even what a "legend" is . . . and why is it *so* specific? Where is any of this going?
Moving on, this time around we get a rhyming villain, always super-intimidating, and the characters contend with just plain-old regular pollution that has made the planet Duro unlivable. (I'm not sure, and can't be bothered to check, whether this was the book that established this fact about Duro in the canon, but anyway, there it is.) That's kind of a side-plot here, because this is one issue they can only comment on, but not fix.
Yadda yadda yadda. This is, blessedly, maybe the most forgettable of the series so far.
F
December 10, 2025
Ken wrestles with the existential dread of the idea of going to school, and puts it off for another book through misadventure...
So silly premise of this book is the head prophet of the dark side always speaking in quatrains, particularly as he didn't do so in previous books of the same series.
But oh my Force, they killed Trioculus! (I suspect he's not dead, but still pretty cold to blast him to pieces after he had been frozen in carbonite and then "rescued" by Hissa.) But then top that by melting Hissa in toxic waste while he's fully conscious. Toxic waste dumping on Duro is the environmentalism element in this book, and that story point stuck around through NJO where the Yuuzhan Vong terraform the planet.
This book also finally introduces Triclops who is delightfully creepy. Given the shortness of the book, they do well supporting that he's unstable through actions, like being upset that they "force" him to abandon his pacificism while Force choking someone.
Despite the villain deaths, stakes are rising, and we got another location that doesn't appear in the films, so that's good. Less leaning on the movies in general as things go along. I do think the writing gets better as this series goes along.
It ended up not being a true danger, but there was a nice moment where Ken comes into an empty hanger bay that feels a bit unsettling in a good way for a page or so.
So silly premise of this book is the head prophet of the dark side always speaking in quatrains, particularly as he didn't do so in previous books of the same series.
But oh my Force, they killed Trioculus! (I suspect he's not dead, but still pretty cold to blast him to pieces after he had been frozen in carbonite and then "rescued" by Hissa.) But then top that by melting Hissa in toxic waste while he's fully conscious. Toxic waste dumping on Duro is the environmentalism element in this book, and that story point stuck around through NJO where the Yuuzhan Vong terraform the planet.
This book also finally introduces Triclops who is delightfully creepy. Given the shortness of the book, they do well supporting that he's unstable through actions, like being upset that they "force" him to abandon his pacificism while Force choking someone.
Despite the villain deaths, stakes are rising, and we got another location that doesn't appear in the films, so that's good. Less leaning on the movies in general as things go along. I do think the writing gets better as this series goes along.
It ended up not being a true danger, but there was a nice moment where Ken comes into an empty hanger bay that feels a bit unsettling in a good way for a page or so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2016
Supreme Prophet Kadann is set to bring down Trioculus and take control of the Empire. The prophets also have a secret mission to contain a threat to the dark side. The Rebels are helping to save archaeologists and their treasures on the planet Duro when they come across a valuable secret of the Empire.
My ten year old son Kile whizzed through this book. When I asked him what he liked in particular he said, “I liked the whole thing.” To me he once again enjoyed the young Jedi prince Ken in the story and he also liked the secret tunnels and mysterious finds. I enjoyed that there was another environmental theme about mining pollution in this novel. Kile likes the stories and how they continue from one book to another. He also likes the pictures including the picture guide to characters that are at the start of each novel.
Overall, Mission from Mt. Yoda was another great addition to the series and kept Kile very entertained. He can’t wait to read the last two books in the series.
Book Source: Kewaunee Public Library
This review was first posted on my blog at: http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2016/...
My ten year old son Kile whizzed through this book. When I asked him what he liked in particular he said, “I liked the whole thing.” To me he once again enjoyed the young Jedi prince Ken in the story and he also liked the secret tunnels and mysterious finds. I enjoyed that there was another environmental theme about mining pollution in this novel. Kile likes the stories and how they continue from one book to another. He also likes the pictures including the picture guide to characters that are at the start of each novel.
Overall, Mission from Mt. Yoda was another great addition to the series and kept Kile very entertained. He can’t wait to read the last two books in the series.
Book Source: Kewaunee Public Library
This review was first posted on my blog at: http://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2016/...
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