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jenny_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.5
For what the Chiss Ascendancy and the first Thrawn book achieved, I expected a lot more from this. I've been waiting to learn about Anakin and Thrawn's little expedition ever since Zahn hinted at it in the Ascendancy trilogy. And I was sorely disappointed.
This wasn't on par with any other Thrawn books. Not only that, Zahn made it clear he has no idea how to write a straight relationship. He's really good at unknowingly writing homoerotic subtext between male characters, but his depiction of an actual married straight couple was... abysmal. I don't know where he got that characterization of Padmé, but it hurt my soul to read it. Her scenes with Anakin were physically painful, and I say this as an Anidala fangirl.
It was just... plain. I didn't see my favourites in there, I saw a bland version of them. And even Thrawn's became unbearable at one point. I usually like him, but this book was so dry and boring that it lacked the little bit of warmth I need to appreciate him.
I hope the last book in this trilogy is better, and I hope Zahn never writes anything with Padmé or Anidala ever again. My loves deserve better than that.
This wasn't on par with any other Thrawn books. Not only that, Zahn made it clear he has no idea how to write a straight relationship. He's really good at unknowingly writing homoerotic subtext between male characters, but his depiction of an actual married straight couple was... abysmal. I don't know where he got that characterization of Padmé, but it hurt my soul to read it. Her scenes with Anakin were physically painful, and I say this as an Anidala fangirl.
It was just... plain. I didn't see my favourites in there, I saw a bland version of them. And even Thrawn's became unbearable at one point. I usually like him, but this book was so dry and boring that it lacked the little bit of warmth I need to appreciate him.
I hope the last book in this trilogy is better, and I hope Zahn never writes anything with Padmé or Anidala ever again. My loves deserve better than that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: War and Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse
jackiepreston's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Death, Slavery, and Violence
maeverose's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
This is my favorite of the series. Thrawn and Anakin/Vader’s dynamic and banter is so funny. I love it. I also thought the plot was fun. It helps that this also had less space battles..
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
maia313's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Really enjoyed this book. Like the first one was Thrawn largely through the perspective of Eli Vanto, this showed him through Vader/Anakin's in a dual narrative, which was interesting to see the change. I also liked Padme's characterisation, with it more similar to her Clone Wars personality. I wish we could have seen Eli Vanto (although that is to come later) or an update on Ahrinda Pryce, as she was so central to the first book. I think the first book was more enjoyable, and this one did feel largely like it was setting up for the last book as is often the case with second installments of trilogies, but all in all this was a good read- the audiobook version is very good, with the soundtrack making it feel like a radio play, as another reviewer said!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping
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