Dawn of the Jedi

For those that don't know, I'm a huge Star Wars fan. *HUGE*. And after the latest movie, I realized that while I've read the occasional book or comic book here and there, I've never actually read the whole expanded universe books before.

So I've decided to do that. 
Now it's not going to be a crazy read them all this year challenge, just a casual read through of the whole story. Thankfully the Star Wars wiki has compiled everything in a handy chronological timeline so I don't have to guess which book(s) to get next. 

So starting at the beginning:

On the planet Tython, the ancient Je’daii order was founded. And at the feet of its wise Masters, Lanoree Brock learned the mysteries and methods of the Force—and found her calling as one of its most powerful disciples. But as strongly as the Force flowed within Lanoree and her parents, it remained absent in her brother, who grew to despise and shun the Je’daii, and whose training in its ancient ways ended in tragedy. 

Now, from her solitary life as a Ranger keeping order across the galaxy, Lanoree has been summoned by the Je’daii Council on a matter of utmost urgency. The leader of a fanatical cult, obsessed with traveling beyond the reaches of known space, is bent on opening a cosmic gateway using dreaded dark matter as the key—risking a cataclysmic reaction that will consume the entire star system. But more shocking to Lanoree than even the prospect of total galactic annihilation, is the decision of her Je’daii Masters to task her with the mission of preventing it. Until a staggering revelation makes clear why she was chosen: The brilliant, dangerous madman she must track down and stop at any cost is the brother whose death she has long grieved—and whose life she must now fear.

Main Thought:

It's set 25,000 years before A New Hope, so it was a bit like picking up a history book about a civilization you already know and understand but want more info on how they got started. And I do love me some history.

Pros:

• Good storyline, just the right mix of action, dialogue, and flashbacks to keep the story flowing at a good pace but not rushing anything.
• Main character definitely had some internal struggles going on which was dynamic enough to keep me interested, but I really more enjoyed the people she meet and wanted to know more about them.
• Just enough detail so I got a good mental image of everything but not too much to bog down the story. I personally loved the details of the various planets, especially Tython, I loved this idea of the force being not just a feeling or intuition but a huge presence that shapes everything on the planet, including the weather.

Cons:

• The ending felt just a touch unfinished. Would have liked just a few more pages to truly wrap everything up instead of some things being left rather ambiguous.
• Really would like to know more about the other cultures and how they started but perhaps there's a book somewhere in this entire series that delves into that?

Overall? I loved it.

Up Next in the EU Legends timeline:

Five thousand years ago. After a Jedi ambush, the Sith mining ship Omen lies wrecked on a remote, unknown planet. Its commander, Yaru Korsin, battles the bloodshed of a mutinous faction led by his own brother. Marooned and facing death, the Sith crew have no choice but to venture into their desolate surroundings. They face any number of brutal challenges—vicious predators, lethal plagues, tribal people who worship vengeful gods—and like true Sith warriors, counter them with the dark side of the Force.

The struggles are just beginning for the proud, uncompromising Sith, driven as they are to rule at all costs. They will vanquish the primitive natives, and they will find their way back to their true destiny as rulers of the galaxy. But as their legacy grows over thousands of years, the Sith ultimately find themselves tested by the most dangerous threat of all: the enemy within.

Want to know what else I'm currently reading? Look to the right for my goodreads widget.