Book Review for Star Wars Book Club for January: Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived

Book: Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived (The Old Republic book #2) by Paul S. Kemp

Cover Art and Design by LucasArts

Edition: Paperback

Description:

“Our time has come. For three hundred years we prepared; we grew stronger while you rested in your cradle of power. . . . Now your Republic shall fall.”

A Sith warrior to rival the most sinister of the Order’s Dark Lords, Darth Malgus brought down the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in a brutal assault that shocked the galaxy. But if war crowned him the darkest of Sith heroes, peace will transform him into something far more heinous—something Malgus would never want to be but cannot stop becoming, any more than he can stop the rogue Jedi fast approaching. Her name is Aryn Leneer—and the lone Jedi Knight that Malgus cut down in the fierce battle for the Jedi Temple was her Master. Now she’s going to find out what happened to him, even if it means breaking every rule in the book.





Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived is a well-written character driven story that centers around Sith Lord Darth Malgus, Jedi Knight Aryn Leneer and former Republic soldier Zeerid Korr. The story explores the darkness that loomed around this era of the Old Republic that left the characters questioning who they are, what they stand for and what they are willing to do.

Dark and twisty doesn't even begin to describe this story, when the Empire attacked Coruscant the surprise attack did what it was supposed to do of catching the Jedi off guard. While the rest of the planet was being attacked, Darth Malgus led a strategic and brutal attack at the Jedi Temple. This sneak attack happened when most of the Jedi Masters were off world on Alderaan trying to negotiate a peace treaty between the Republic and the Empire. Thanks to Jedi Knight Aryn Leneer who was on Alderaan, had felt a terrible loss and a disturbance in the Force and knew the Jedi and the Republic had been betrayed. The peace negotiations were nothing more than a sham. Aryn was so overwhelmed by the loss of her master, Jedi Master Ven Zallow that she made a decision to go to Coruscant. Aryn's decision would have her go against the Jedi Order and everything she believes in.

In what appeared to be a victory for the Empire and the Sith, Darth Malgus was also caught off guard because he was expecting a full scale attack on Coruscant only to find out peace negotiations were still being held. He felt betrayed by Sith Lord Darth Angral who he felt had used both the attack and Darth Malgus as a way to strengthen the Empire's negotiation tactics. There is also some "office politics" that seemed to be playing out with Darth Malgus being maneuvered out of the way for the ambitious Darth Adraas.

As for former Republic soldier Zeerid Korr, he was currently a smuggler but he had only gotten in this line of work because he needed the money. Back when he was in the Republic army, his wife Val had died in an aircar accident which left his young daughter Arra disabled after her legs were crushed and had to be amputated. Relived from the army, he was taking care of his daughter but without any money and zero job opportunities despite his skills, he was truly in need of money. He ended up getting involved with the criminal underworld organization The Exchange. He was finding himself getting more indebted to The Exchange the more he worked for them but his latest job may give him the opportunity to clear all that away. However, this job is dangerous because he will have to find his way to Coruscant which is being controlled by the Empire.

This fast paced story was exciting to read because as the three stories start to merge and the characters are interacting you see how each of them are in a constant struggle, be it internally to trying to survive. A major factor in this story is the ongoing strength of the characters, they're each fighting for something they truly believe in which doesn't necessarily mean they are doing the right thing. However, as the story moves along you start to see a change in the characters and the possible ramifications if they continue on their current path. Such as with Aryn, she was becoming so angry that she wasn't thinking clearly and it was starting to take her down a path she may not return from.

I feel like the author does a good job of selling the desperation, exhaustion, anger and sometimes humor within the story. Without revealing too much about the ending, it does take some unexpected twists yet very narratively satisfying especially compared to some of the other Old Republic stories I've read. This was a good read.