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The Rise of Darth Vader

(Star Wars Legends)

James Luceno

3.87 · Rating details · 7,983 ratings · 402 reviews

Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker the Chosen One had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.
From the site of Anakin Skywalker s last stand on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, where he sought to destroy his friend and former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi a fearsome Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker the Chosen One had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.
From the site of Anakin Skywalker s last stand on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, where he sought to destroy his friend and former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi a fearsome specter in black has risen. Once the most powerful Knight ever known to the Jedi Order, he is now a disciple of the dark side, a lord of the dreaded Sith, and the avenging right hand of the galaxy s ruthless new Emperor. Seduced, deranged, and destroyed by the machinations of the Dark Lord Sidious, Anakin Skywalker is dead . . . and Darth Vader lives.
Word of the events that created him the Jedi Council s failed mutiny against Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the self-crowned Emperor s retaliatory command to exterminate the Jedi Order, and Anakin s massacre of his comrades and Masters in the Jedi Temple has yet to reach all quarters. On the Outer Rim world of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone are leading a charge on a Separatist stronghold, unaware that the tide, red with Jedi blood, has turned suddenly against them.
When the three narrowly elude execution and become the desperate prey in a hunt across space it s neither clone soldiers, nor the newly deployed stormtroopers, nor even the wrath of the power-hungry Emperor himself they must fear most. The deadliest threat rests in the hideously swift and lethal crimson lightsaber of Darth Vader behind whose brooding mask lies a shattered heart, a poisoned soul, and a cunning, twisted mind hell-bent on vengeance.
For the handful of scattered Jedi, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy somehow, someday reclaimed. Yet more important still is the well-being of the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, the children of Anakin and his doomed bride, Padme Amidala. Separated after Padme s death, they must be made safe at all costs, lest the hope they represent for the future be turned to horror by the new Sith regime and the unspeakable power of the dark side. From the Hardcover edition." ...more

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Paperback, 368 pages

Published June 27th 2006 by LucasBooks (first published November 3rd 2005)

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Start your review of The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars: The Dark Lord Trilogy, #3)

Feb 08, 2008 Chris rated it liked it

Shelves: movies, science-fiction

REVISED: 4/19/12

When you think about Darth Vader, many things come to mind. Dark Lord of the Sith. Bane of the Jedi. Throat-Crusher Supreme.

Emo?

No.

Of all my complaints about the new trilogy – and there are many – the biggest one has to do with how Anakin Skywalker was handled. I grew up loving Darth Vader. He was a vicious bastard, but by gods he was awesome about it. He was a hard-ass who inspired terror wherever he went, and he was a man who overcame insurmountable evils to ultimately redeem h ...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Crystal Starr Light rated it really liked it

Shelves: star-wars

Several Jedi, including Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone, are fighting a fierce battle on Murkhana when Order 66 arrives. Commander Climber, the clone leader amongst the Jedi, defies orders and allows the Jedi to leave. The three Jedi must then leave the planet and flee to safety, avoiding Darth Vader and his wrath.
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.

I Liked:
I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this novel. If you've read my review for Cloak of Deception, you learned how disappointed I was, h Several Jedi, including Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone, are fighting a fierce battle on Murkhana when Order 66 arrives. Commander Climber, the clone leader amongst the Jedi, defies orders and allows the Jedi to leave. The three Jedi must then leave the planet and flee to safety, avoiding Darth Vader and his wrath.
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.

I Liked:
I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this novel. If you've read my review for Cloak of Deception, you learned how disappointed I was, how I didn't like all the info-dumping and over-describing, and how I just wasn't very engaged. This book is completely different.
The primary characters really stand out, namely Roan and Olee. Roan feels a little like Arwen Cohl from CoD, a little like Lorn Pavan, a little like Han, and a little of something else. He's a Jedi who has lost two apprentices during the war. He's not a super Jedi, but he's decent. Only problem is, he really struggles with what the Jedi should do next. I adored how he met his mother, how they imply Jedi stealing babies (Roan's mother did not want to give him up), and how awkward it was.
Olee Starstone is completely different. She's a strong-willed woman, who wants to find other Jedi and regroup. She used to be a librarian, under the tutelage of Jocasta Nu before the war. Now, she's lost her master and is the unofficial Padawan of Roan.
Darth Vader also appears quite prominently, though not as prominently as you would figure from a novel with his picture splashed on it. I really liked how Luceno tightened the gap from Anakin in the prequels to Vader in the sequels. Vader is lacking confidence, upset with his new body, and questioning everything. Also, his single-minded goal of exterminating the Jedi keeps interfering with his missions, making Palpatine wonder if Vader is such a good apprentice after all.
The story is unique, as (especially at this time, before the Coruscant Nights books) we don't know what has happened to the few Jedi who escape Order 66. What many hoped to see in Karen Traviss' eponymous novel, we actually get to see here: Clones defying orders and saving Jedi, and what happens to them afterwards. It's touching and very neglected.
And, being this is a Luceno novel, we get tons of EU references, from Garm Bel Iblis, to the outcome of Fang Zhar, to Tarkin, and more. If there is one thing Luceno can get, it's tying in EU and making it seem like it was meant to be that way.

I Didn't Like:
There are a billion other Jedi in this book and I couldn't keep their names straight or remember them for the life of me. There are six total on Murkhana, but I could only remember Olee, Roan, and the one Vader killed (and I can't even remember her name!). Then Olee and Roan meet a bunch more Jedi on a ship, and none of them are memorable. This may be in part because I am listening to an audiobook, but it's hard to be invested in characters when they pass through so ~~transparently~~ transitorily.
For a book about Vader, there is stunningly little Vader. This was disappointing, even if Vader's development overall was good.
I went directly from listening to Revenge of the Sith to reading this, and there is a distinct difference in writing style, one that comes as quite a shock. After the intimate, dark, and tortured writing style from RotS, Dark Lord comes off as bland, uninspired and emotionless.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Little to none.
One smuggler makes eyes at Olee.
Several Jedi die. Order 66 is enacted. Vader lightsaber duels several Jedi. There is a big, final battle on Kashyyyk that results in the Wookiees imprisonment.

Overall:
While not seeing more of Vader was a disappointment and the writing style a drastic change from RotS, this is a decent final novel to the unofficial trilogy (Labyrinth of Evil, Revenge of the Sith, and Dark Lord). We get to see the effects of Order 66 on two vastly different Jedi, Roan (pessimist) and Olee (optimist). We get to see Darth Vader overcome his confidence issues and get adjusted to his body. And we learn what happened to Fang Zhar, how the Wookiees are imprisoned, and if there are other Jedi. A more than decent novel, very enjoyable and recommended. ...more

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Jun 17, 2009 Greg rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy-and-other-dorky-shit

As a punishment I had to read this book. It is the only Star Wars novel I've ever read. It's possible that this book makes those crimes against my childhood that Lucas calls Episodes 1 through 3 look like masterpieces compared to this.

The saving bit that earned this book a star?

The author felt it was necessary to explain in detail how Darth Vader urinates and defecates. Yup, if you ever wondered how he does then this book will teach you that most secret of all Jedi tricks. If you are like me an ...more

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Feb 12, 2017 Christopher rated it really liked it

Abridged Audiobook

3.5 Stars, considering what it is and what it's trying to be, which is making Vader non-stupid, and providing some insight into how the Jedi were wiped out along with how survivors dealt with it.

Mostly, this book follows some Jedi when Order 66 (the one that told the clones to murder the Jedi) went into effect. We get to see how they discover Palpatine's betrayal, how the galaxy suddenly has turned against them, and how they deal with the end of the only life they've ever know Abridged Audiobook

3.5 Stars, considering what it is and what it's trying to be, which is making Vader non-stupid, and providing some insight into how the Jedi were wiped out along with how survivors dealt with it.

Mostly, this book follows some Jedi when Order 66 (the one that told the clones to murder the Jedi) went into effect. We get to see how they discover Palpatine's betrayal, how the galaxy suddenly has turned against them, and how they deal with the end of the only life they've ever known. Some want to walk away, thinking that 10ish people an Order does not make, when it used to be thousands literally last week. Others are all "NO, WE WILL RISE UP!"... somehow. We just need to go find other surviving Jedi! I'm sure they exist. Right? Right?! I imagine it plays out like the end of any major war, where some of the losing side don't want to admit the war is over and they've lost.

We also get to see more of Vader. This book follows shortly after the 3rd movie, so Anakin just basically burned to death and got thrown in this janky suit recently. We get to follow Vader as he goes around trying to wipe out the surviving jedi and basically making himself known to the galaxy. But that's not the interesting bit. The good part is that we learn some about the suit. About how it's put together poorly using inferior materials, which leads Vader to wonder if Palpatine is attempting to keep him weak. I felt it was an excellent way of trying to explain why Vader's suit from the original movies seems so much less polished and advanced than the other tech we see in the movies, despite him being a Dark Lord that basically rules the galaxy. Of course, given the time frame this book takes place in, they can't explain why he doesn't replace the whole thing over the next twenty years, but at least it shows that Vader notices his suit is a mess.

We also get into Vader's head more. We get to see his actual plans involving the Emperor, and his hate for Obi-Wan. Anakin went full 'the end justifies the means'. He's insane to think that Padme would ever have gone along with the crazy, but at least I can see why he's angry. I get it. You're insane and wrong and crazypants, but I get it.

All in all, a pretty good time.

Sidenote: This is a galaxy with a galactic senate and laws and the whole nine yards. How in the world is it legal for the army to murder all of its Generals? More importantly, because some lies could be told about a coup that the public could never verify, how could they murder all of the children in the Academy and not have any public outcry? Do they claim that the Jedi murdered their own children or some nonsense? ...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Kim rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2000s, 2005, action, male-author, sci-fi, star-wars

Did you know that Darth Vader is actually a whinging, emo sook? Neither did I until I read this book. I knew Anakin was pretty pathetic but I was hoping his transformation was the end of it. No it wasn't. He doesn't like his helmet or his prosthetic limbs or his gloves or sand. He thinks Palpatine is a big meanie. And so goes the first part of this book.

The other part revolves around Jedi Master Roan Shryne and his attempts to flee the Empire with a group of Padawans. It was interesting and serv ...more

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Mar 17, 2016 Robert rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of Plucky Protagonists Overcoming Disabilities...to Ruthlessly Crush Dissent

Shelves: guerre-stellari

I enjoyed this one.
Luceno handles Vader with a deft touch, his transformation is made much more plausible here. For one thing, the author directly addresses how nimble young Anakin becomes the lurching techno-Franken-monster of the Original Film Trilogy.
Somewhat surprisingly, perhaps, more pages are dedicated to a plucky band of Jedi survivors who are Vader's quarry as opposed to the Big Bad himself, but this structure works well. As in the films, Vader is scarier the less we see of him. ...more

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Aug 22, 2020 Iset rated it it was ok

Shelves: star-wars

Unfortunately, I found this “must-read sequel” to be very missable. I can’t put it more succinctly than that.

But of course, you want me to get into the nitty-gritty of it. Let’s get one thing straight immediately: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader isn’t a terrible book. It’s not even close to the Expanded Universe’s Top Ten Worst Books. The problem is that it’s just so darn mediocre; and yes, that comes off as bland in comparison to all the high drama of Revenge of the Sith to which this is tou
Unfortunately, I found this “must-read sequel” to be very missable. I can’t put it more succinctly than that.

But of course, you want me to get into the nitty-gritty of it. Let’s get one thing straight immediately: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader isn’t a terrible book. It’s not even close to the Expanded Universe’s Top Ten Worst Books. The problem is that it’s just so darn mediocre; and yes, that comes off as bland in comparison to all the high drama of Revenge of the Sith to which this is touted as the direct sequel. Why did this seem so mediocre to me? Well…

First, we’re introduced to a bunch of Jedi we’ve never met before as our protagonists, so we don’t have any pre-existing care for these characters, and Luceno failed to make me care for them. Quite a lot of the Jedi introduced in the book are just names and very forgettable. The only two that stand out are Olee Starstone and Roan Shryne, and even then, I couldn’t tell you much about their personalities. Olee used to be a librarian (not a character trait, I know, but this shows you how little she was developed) and other than that I draw a blank. Roan feels like he’s a second-rate Jedi and wants to chuck it all in after he realises that shit’s gone down. Sure, I start out with a low level of investment in these characters because generally speaking we like to support the good guys, but the book doesn’t draw me in to engage with these specific characters, to want to know what happens to them, and doesn’t really coax my empathy for them beyond that baseline of supporting common decency.

Second, Vader doesn’t appear in the book nearly as much as you’re led to believe by his ostentatious appearance on the cover, and when he does show up, he feels muted. He’s more Anakin Skywalker than Darth Vader, mentally whining about how people don’t understand him and it isn’t fair. I feel like that horse has already bolted from the stable, but even if I buy in to the suggestion that Luceno is trying to show more of the transformation from one to the other, I didn’t find that transformation very compelling. The glimpses of Sith training shown to us in the Darth Bane trilogy and Darth Plagueis, and mentioned elsewhere with great dread, suggest a torturous process to say the very least. Sidious gets him a tiny bit frustrated a couple times by thwarting his desire to go off chasing Jedi, and taunts him once about Padme’s death and how he should wish to kill him, but that’s about it. This seems kind of petty and small stakes, and to me doesn’t adequately explain how Vader gets his confidence back.

Third, I found the writing style to be tediously pedestrian. Luceno is kind of hit and miss with me in that way. Sometimes I find his style quite lucid, clearly described with some striking imagery and a few neat sci fi locales. This was not one of those times. The description of the battle on Murkhana felt lacklustre to me, and the return to Kashyyyk felt predictable. I was also annoyed at Chewbacca’s appearance because it felt like another ill-judged attempt to shove original trilogy cameos in to make us care, regardless of whether it makes sense that the same few characters would happen to be present for every important event in history. I’m happy with Chewbacca just being Han’s partner. He doesn’t have to meet Yoda. He doesn’t have to help Jedi in the aftermath of the Clone Wars, okay? Not to mention the unnecessary plothole this opens up in Chewie never speaking about it again – even after Palpatine is defeated and he can speak freely with his Rebel friends.

The only time this book vaguely sparked my interest was when it threw up the whole “Jedi stealing babies!” debate again. I’m pretty tired of this being rehashed over and over, so I’ll try to get this over with as quickly as possible. Yes, I think the age rule is pointless and futile since plenty of examples show it’s clearly not a requirement for a successful Jedi, and also because people should be able to choose their own life path at an appropriate age. No, I don’t think the Jedi are ‘stealing babies’. Given the founding principles of respect for life and self-determination, I seriously doubt the Jedi are coming and taking away babies without the express consent of their legal guardian or guardians, and I’m pretty sure people are allowed to leave at any time – and any scout that does otherwise has fallen. Come on, you don’t think that shit would be reported on if they were doing that, not least by parties with a vested hostility against the Jedi? Prequel books however seem to be constantly contradicting one another about this, with some books establishing that no they’re absolutely not, and then other books coming in kicking and insisting that yes they absolutely did! For Force’s sake, try to keep a consistent canon, will ya? What’s annoying about the books that suggest the whole Jedi stealing babies thing, is that they often make the rather insulting assumption that unless a child is brought up by its biological parents it must grow up to be some kind of maladjusted freak. Take it from someone who knows, we don’t grow up to be disturbed curiosities, and the insinuation that we’re missing something vital from our lives is offensive.

If I’m honest, the only reason I hesitate to make the cut on this one is that this is one of the very few novels where we actually get to go to Alderaan and it isn’t just referenced. The Expanded Universe was really missing a good exploration of Alderaan pre-explosion. And that’s not enough to save it.

4 out of 10 ...more

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Mar 04, 2009 Ron rated it really liked it

Recommended to Ron by: Wendell Andrea

Shelves: fantasy, star-wars, science-fiction

A necessary chapter in the expanded history of the Star Wars universe. While focused on Darth Vader's growing into his role as Sidious' apprentice and hatchet man, it also opened themes which will blossom into Episode Four.

Well-written, if pedestrian. I believe this is the first four chapter long epilogue I've encountered. ...more

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Dec 09, 2016 Kevin rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, audiobooked

This book does an impressive job making a believable transition from Anakin at the end of ep. 3 to Darth Vader as we see him in ep. 4 (or Rogue One now, I guess), where he seems fully on board w/ the Emperor and completely cold and remorseless. I hardly remember the plot now (a couple years after reading it) but I liked it if only for that.

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Jan 19, 2012 Dustin rated it it was ok

This will be a fan boy rant, but I don't care.
For a book that's supposed to be solely about Darth Vader's rise to prominence and power after becoming the towering figure in black he's most known for, he hardly plays any role in this book. Disappointing is easily the best word to describe this book. I was expecting brutal exploits that bridge the gap from the last crappy prequel to the first original, and there were none. Hell, the entirety of this book basically covers a few month span shortly a ...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Kevin rated it really liked it

Since his creation, Darth Vader has made a footprint and rightfully received his place as one of the greatest villains of all time. However as the years have gone on writers and even video game creators have turned this once imposing Dark Lord of the Sith into a joke. And it's not fair. This book however made me believe in Vader's power once more. His overcoming of his handicap and truly earning his place as the second most powerful being in the galaxy was a great load off of me, a dedicated Sta ...more

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Aug 12, 2015 Jim rated it it was ok

Of course this book is not good. I can no more blame this book for being what it is than I can blame a bird for flying. I can blame only myself, and then also blame The Star Wars Minute for dragging my mind into these nooks and crannies.

If you like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing you will like.

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Feb 13, 2010 Tyler Hurst rated it it was amazing

Had Katie and me listening earnestly as they described Vader from a perspective that we've never see in the movies. ...more

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Oct 11, 2016 Jen • Just One More Page rated it it was ok

Shelves: adult, adventure, finished-series, science-fiction, space, literal-garbage

This review is also posted on my blog.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Feb 14, 2020 Jordan Anderson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, star-wars, legends, rise-of-the-empire, sci-fi, 4-stars, fiction, clone-wars

While Luceno’s newer stuff has shown a downward trend, older books like this (and pretty much everything he wrote from the prequel era) are actually good.

Dark Lord distinguishes itself from other prequel era/rise of the empire novels but establishing a believable and entertaining story that fills in gaps, answers questions, and, most of all, is a lot of fun to read.

Luceno writes Vader, not as the badass villain he became known, but as a struggling sith apprentice, confused, hurt, betrayed, and a ...more

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Jul 13, 2018 Natalie K rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars, science-fiction, fiction

This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed it—James Luceno does a good job of getting up close and personal with Darth Vader (which, to be honest, is kind of a scary thing!).

(view spoiler) ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 James rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction, star-wars

A great read. This book gave some great insight into the mind of the Emperor, Darth Vader getting used to his new body, and what happened to the Jedi that escaped Order 66, Chewbacca, C3PO & R2D2. It was also nice to get some more background on Alderaan.

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Jun 02, 2020 Bobby Semendy rated it it was amazing

Turn to the dark side

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Dec 20, 2020 Akindle rated it it was amazing

A lot of copy and paste, but if I remember correctly, a great last scene of (view spoiler) That scene just made it for me. ...more

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Jul 11, 2018 Jared rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: worth-a-look, star-wars-legends-project

Star Wars Legends Project #173

Background: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader was released in November of 2005. It was written by James Luceno, who has written nearly a dozen Star Wars novels.

Dark Lord is set during the months following Order 66 (19 years before the Battle of Yavin). The main characters are mostly one-off Jedi, in addition to Darth Vader, but there are major appearances by Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Bail Organa, Captain Antilles, and others. Most of the story takes place on Mur ...more

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Jan 13, 2010 Chad Warner rated it did not like it

Recommends it for: Star Wars fans

Shelves: fiction, star-wars, science-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 15, 2014 Herdis Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, favourites, star-wars, american, fantasy

I see that a lot of the reviews here spend a considerable amount of time whining about the prequel trilogy.

I'm not going to do that.

Me, I'm a sucker for a good hero-turns-villain story. So I actually really enjoy the prequel trilogy.

Yes, it has its flaws. Many of them. But a lot of people seem to think that Vader just emerged automatically black clad and badass. But he didn't. We know all along that he was a young jedi seduced by the dark side. The portrayal of Anakin is far from perfect, but th I see that a lot of the reviews here spend a considerable amount of time whining about the prequel trilogy.

I'm not going to do that.

Me, I'm a sucker for a good hero-turns-villain story. So I actually really enjoy the prequel trilogy.

Yes, it has its flaws. Many of them. But a lot of people seem to think that Vader just emerged automatically black clad and badass. But he didn't. We know all along that he was a young jedi seduced by the dark side. The portrayal of Anakin is far from perfect, but the idea of him as an originally very human character in my opinion only makes his transformation all the more powerful.

James Luceno walks us through some of the later parts of this transformation, and he does so with skill and conviction. He wisely waits a long time to "reveal" Vader's identity to the other characters, thus prolonging the dramatic tension of Anakin's betrayal and turn to the dark side. This is also intensified by our seeing the story from many different perspectives.

The new characters introduced, Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone, are interesting and worth following. It took a little while for me to become invested in their journeys, but this is understandable, as we must, from the beginning, know something of their inevitable fate. The interesting bit here is that, although Shryne and Starstone are, arguably, the "heroes" of the story, you don't root for them. For this book is, as its title suggests, chiefly a story of Vader and his development. So you know Shryne and Starstone (and their missions) are doomed. What keeps you hooked is the desire to see how Vader brings them down.

In other words, this is a brilliant book for those of us who enjoy a good villain story. Luceno's book elegantly maps a small part of the gap between Sith and Hope, suggesting something of Vader's rise to power and his final defeat of his former self. It is a development at first tragic, as Vader realises the magnitude of all he has lost, and then triumphant, as he realises the potential of all he can be. At the same time, Vader is not permitted to triumph entirely, as Sidious' control over him is made even more apparent. The interplay between Vader's desire for power and Sidious' control makes for a very tense, interesting ending. ...more

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Jun 19, 2019 Ursula Johnson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars

Evolution of a Sith Apprentice

This is another superb book from veteran Star Wars author James Luceno. Following the events of Revenge of the Sith, young Darth Vader is still adjusting to his new suit of armor and learning the ways of the Dark Side. Darth Sidious issues several tasks to help his apprentice find his way. The thoughts of Palpatine and Vader are what make this book so special. Their changing dynamic relationship, requirements of the Dark Side and the extensive damage Vader suffered ...more

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Mar 25, 2021 Algedi rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021-selection, star-wars

7/10

I didn't go into this reading expecting to super enjoy it, since Labyrinth of Evil was such a let-down for me. I actually liked this book better than I had anticipated, although I think some of the flaws that ruined LoE for me are still present.

Plot: it's definitely interesting. In the firt portion of the book, we get to watch the execution of Order 66 from a different perspective than the one we're accustomed to. We watch it through the eyes of unknown, regular Jedi and this makes it a pec ...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Michael rated it it was ok

So far, I am not impressed with this book. I'm about a third of the way through the book; so far we've had an introduction of a variety of uninteresting characters [most of whom we can assume will die by the end of the book, and thus will have no impact on the greater Star Wars story], and Darth Vader being emo. To be fair to Mr. Luceno, Anakin Skywalker was portrayed as painfully emo in the films.

I am hoping that, by the end, we'll see actual character growth out of Anakin - *something* has to ...more

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Apr 01, 2015 Naomi rated it really liked it

Shelves: printed-edition, star-wars, read-in-2015

So dissapointed with the end of my favorite character in the book (view spoiler) but still, i really liked it.

The last characters that appeared right at the end, gave me goosebumps! Won't spoil but it was great to see them. Now this Cudgel guy... (view spoiler) gave me to something to think about, that's for sure but haven't read that many Star Wars books to know more ...more

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Jul 06, 2020 Andrew Bell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A unique insight into a very different Vader than the one we're used to seeing. Picking up directly after the events of ROTS, we get to go inside the mask and experience the POV of Anakin-turned-Vader and all the struggles and challenges that came with it. This one was somewhat different than a typical Luceno book, as it was more straightforward and contained less subplot than his other works. ...more

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May 06, 2011 Callie Rathjen rated it it was amazing

I thought this book was a very good book. It summed up everything that happened after Star WarsIII Revenge of the Sith. It told me what Darth Vader was thinking after his makeover. It also told me what happened to other Jedi just not Obi-Wan. I give this book five stars because it kept me interested til the end It also me interested because it expanded on what I like to watch the Star Wars movies. If you love Star Wars and readin, you should really read this book.

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Apr 05, 2014 Danielle rated it really liked it

i loved the confliction between vader and his former self. you can see throughout the book him starting to become more and more of a vader. the wanting to forget who he was before. just brilliant.

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Sep 08, 2015 Andrew Beet rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

this book was a great read and it was good to find out how anakin skywalker became darth vader but i don't think the book needed to explain how he takes a piss and a number 2.
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About James Luceno

James Luceno

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James Luceno co-wrote a lot of books with Brian Daley as Jack McKinney.

He is a New York Times Best-Selling author currently living in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and youngest child. ...more