Star Wars - Dark Journey book review

I’m glad that Jaina finally got a book to herself! I think the strongest part of Dark Journey is Jaina’s emotional arc, and the development of her Trickster role. But unfortunately Cunningham also added loads of Hapan court intrigue to the novel. So we have Ta’a Chume actively scheming (none of which I wanted here!); and while I love Tenel Ka, this should have been primarily Jaina’s story.

00:00 - Intro
01:26 - Jaina
03:58 - Kyp Durron
05:32 - Jagged Fel
06:41 - Tenel Ka & Lowbacca
07:40 - The OT 4
08:03 - Hapan drama
09:10 - The Yuuzhan Vong
11:18 - Issue 1: Not a romance novel but...
12:37 - Issue 2: Messy initial continuity
13:57 - Issue 3: Hapan court intrigue
14:52 - Issue 3a: Poor Teneniel Djo
16:37 - Issue 3b: Tenel Ka
17:45 - In Short

[codysparks]

I’m actually in the minority that really liked this book. After all that happened in Star by Star, I found it nice to get a low key character-driven story. Though I do tend to enjoy Jaina’s character more than most people, so I appreciated getting to see her process the heavy losses endured in the previous book.

[kidcardco]

Gotta hand it to you.

You came dressed for the occasion. 3 seconds in to the video and I knew where this was going. Lol

Thanks for the review Meg!

[starwarstimeline]

I really loved Jaina treading on the edge of the Dark Side, and the mistakes she makes while dealing with her sibling's death, as well as her dynamics with Kyp throughout this series and the Legacy. EDIT: The story connected to the Hapes Cluster has always been some of my favorite NJO series. Their intro in the Courtship of Princess Leia was brilliant and I knew right there Prince Isildor would become a major figure in the franchise.

[thesweuteen]

Interesting criticisms, but I personally absolutely loved this book! The Hapan politics and everything going on with that I loved, but I do understand that you would've wanted less of that and more focus on Jaina. Maybe it's because I love Tenel Ka, Hapes, and anything to do with that, so seeing it in the NJO was very satisfying. Of course, the best part of the books for me is Jaina Solo's development after the death of her brother, the beginning of a romance that I absolutely adore, and the dynamic between Jaina and Kyp as well.

[CharlieHarper]

my favorite part was when the yuuzhan vong began chanting yun harla during the battle of hapes when jain executed her plan

[rasonj]

I don't remember reading Dark Journey as a teen, but reading it as an adult was so frustrating because it was extremely close to a favorite. Jaina has always been my favorite character in the EU, but since some early development in the Jedi Academy series, my reread has showcased that authors went through a long period of not knowing what to do with her. This book did a great job of establishing and expanding some of her character traits, but like you said, it gets really bogged down by less interesting Hapan intrigue. Multiple times the story would come to a complete halt to have a multiple page exposition dump about things both characters in the scene would obviously know. It felt to me like Cunningham has a story she wanted to tell, presumably because the Hapans really appealed to her and I can't blame her, I always liked them too. The problem is the story she wanted to tell doesn't seem to fit with being IMMEDIATELY AFTER STAR BY STAR. Coruscant just fell, Anakin and presumably Jacen just died. Everything happening in this book feels so laughably out of place immediately after those events, except for Jaina herself dealing with the repercussions. Unfortunately, that too doesn't get a satisfying ending because it seems this book was required to perfectly wrap everything up in a neat bow by the end, because the about face Jaina does in the last chapter completely undermines the entire journey for me.

Like I said, was extremely close to one of my favorite books, and I think it's flaws were largely caused by production concerns rather than author failings. Unfortunately, those flaws make it one of my least favorite to have reread so far. Gaaah

[robbgodek]

I loved this one. So many payoffs from “lightsabers” and the Hapes Consortium. Wishing Jaina got a little darker but I dont understand why people dislike this one so much😅

[daniel-zhqc]

Its interesting how Jaina becomes the major protagonist after star by star, which should assuage some of your issues with this book. But boy howdy; this book made me fall in love with Tenel Ka....

[rasonj]

Had to pause because once again your costume work made me laugh so hard. Incredible reference to the very uncanny cover art.

[aamirrazak]

The funeral for Anakin was a touching moment, in some ways I wished Jaina had a speech or eulogy to give during it. I was surprised that Kyp, out of all people, gave Anakin such a profound eulogy during the funeral. I liked that part and the jag fel introduction, but by and large I felt this book was meh. I know Jaina was in a dark place after the mission to Myrkr, but some of her dialogue snappiness and anger in the book was too much imho. And I didn’t care for the Hapes stuff much, I felt bad for tenel kas mom though that was tragic

[thesweuteen]

I started dying when I noticed your shirt. How appropriate 😂

[WoodenFilms]

Great review and awesome outfit as usual.

[audioin]

Finally finished Dark Journey!!

I loved it, was a very entertaining and enjoyable book. I actually didn't mind the Hapes politics bits, I find Ta'Chume's scheming and their culture quite amusing. But there was too much of it, and was not good how little Teneniel Djo was in it.

There definitely should have been much more focus on Jaina and Tenel Ka, to make it their coming of age story.

I was a bit disappointed at how throughout the whole book they were implying Jaina was going to work on a new understanding of the force, but then at the end suddenly they were like - ummm no, its not her path. Like yep its not her path totally, but after all she goes through, Jaina, Jacen and Kyp could each bring their different ideas together once the war is over.

They should have spent much more time on Anakin's funeral!! It was only a few paragraphs and seemed like nobody actually cared. Would have been cool to see Jaina form a special link with Anakin's force spirit and get some guidance from him!

Was great to see the continuation of the Jag romance, it definitely leaves a cliffhanger at the end of this book, I hope there will be conference rooms in the next book ;)

Best bits were definitely the Trickster bits - How on earth do you beat these invincible Yuuzhan Vong - by understanding their technology, tricking them and inspiring dissent amongst the ranks! So much more interesting and intriguing than the Disney trash.

Long live Jaina, Meg and the EU!!

[Ashmoleon]

i seem to remember that particular paperback being in a bookstore here for YEARS like..i bet it might still be there

[williambacon]

What do you think of Jaina becoming Empress Consort of the Fel Empire later in life.

[DIEGhostfish]

I liked Jag and his father talking even if Soontir felt a bit too imperial/chiss and not enough Corellian.

[SJHFoto]

You said that you wish there was more of Jaina processing what she went thru with the loss of her brothers. I think the ENTIRE book was her trying to hide from processing this, and in the course of doing so, pushing everyone away and going to the dark side. SPOILER AHEAD: While I think she worked out her leaning towards the dark side in this book, we will find that her pushing people away is something she will do for awhile yet. She basically believes that she will die in the war, and that it will be easier on everyone when she does if she doesn't get too close to them. I think this mentality stems from the way she copes with Anakin's death (and her belief that Jacen too is dead)

[SJHFoto]

Nice T-shirt! Did you make that-I've never seen it before.

[DIEGhostfish]

The final naval battle is so glossed over I've got no real idea what's going on.

[mhillis]

Awesome review love the shirt, didn’t like this book so much not sure why parts were definitely good but overall but of a let down enjoyed kyp in it tho