Book Review: Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

Book: Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader by Ryder Windham

Edition: Digital

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader is a fast-paced and exciting story that gives readers a glimpse into the life of Anakin Skywalker and his later transformation into the Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Although the story includes slight recaps of the Star Wars movies I-VI, there is new information woven throughout. As the story begins, it follows a young Anakin Skywalker and his mother Shmi arriving with other slaves to the planet Tatooine to work for Gardulla the Hut. Anakin and Shmi's ownership changed to Watto, a Toydarian due to Gardulla losing a bet to him.

Under new ownership things changed a little bit where Watto housed them in a single home at Slave Quarters Row instead of the place being filled with other unfortunate souls. Anakin also worked at Watto's parts dealership buying, selling and repairing tech for the Toydarian. And Shmi was able to make additional income by cleaning computer memory devices. Despite the betting living conditions, the Skywalkers were under no delusion about their lives, it might be better working for Watto than for Gardulla but they knew that they were still slaves.

Anakin's skill with controlling a Podracer had Watto seeing more opportunity to make money gambling on the races. In between working for Watto, racing in Podraces and secretly building his own racer, Ani was repairing a Protocol Droid. But his skills in Podracing came in handy when a small group of strangers arrived at Watto's shop looking for parts for a Naboo starship.

Anakin found out more about the strangers when he invited them to his home in order to wait out a sandstorm. The group included a young human woman named Padmé, a human man a Jedi named Qui-Gon Jinn, a young Gungan man named Jar Jar Binks and an astromech droid R2-D2.

Thanks to Anakin's help in winning the Podrace they were able to get the parts they needed and he was able to gain his freedom. This was bittersweet for Anakin because he was free but the same could not be said for his mother. Despite Qui-Gon's negotiations with Watto, he wasn't able to free her.

Things progressed over the years with Anakin immersed in his Jedi training but at 20 years old something new was changing for him. He found himself falling in love with the former Queen now Senator of Naboo, Padmé Amidala.

There were many forces that were drawing Anakin closer to The Dark Side such as his secret love with Padmé; the death of his mother and his reaction to it; Chancellor Palpatine's "guidance and influence" and the never ending growing darkness within him. Once he completely embraced The Dark Side, he was Anakin no more, he had become Darth Vader.     

By the time the Rebel Alliance was underway, Darth Vader's terrifying reputation precedes him. But Vader and Emperor Palpatine would soon meet their match against the latest group of rebels which included Princess Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C3PO.

This was a good and well-written read and I enjoyed reading the additional scenes that coincide with the movie scenes. And not to mention gaining insight into Anakin/Vader's thoughts throughout the story and during the interlude. As in the movie Return of the Jedi, Anakin's redemption is shown but the story delves a bit more into it. The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader tells a heartbreaking story of one who should have been a hero but became enticed by the very thing he was supposed to fight.