Based on unproduced episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, this thrilling novel features Asajj Ventress, former Sith apprentice turned bounty hunter and one of the great antiheroes in the Star Wars galaxy.
The only way to bring down the Sith’s most dangerous warrior may be to join forces with the dark side.
In the war for control of the galaxy between the armies of the dark side and the Republic, former Jedi Master turned ruthless Sith Lord Count Dooku has grown ever more brutal in his tactics. Despite the powers of the Jedi and the military prowess of their clone army, the sheer number of fatalities is taking a terrible toll. And when Dooku orders the massacre of a flotilla of helpless refugees, the Jedi Council feels it has no choice but to take drastic action: targeting the man responsible for so many war atrocities, Count Dooku himself.
But the ever-elusive Dooku is dangerous prey for even the most skilled hunter. So the Council makes the bold decision to bring both sides of the Force’s power to bear—pairing brash Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with infamous one-time Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress. Though Jedi distrust for the cunning killer who once served at Dooku’s side still runs deep, Ventress’s hatred for her former master runs deeper. She’s more than willing to lend her copious talents as a bounty hunter—and assassin—to Vos’s quest.
Together, Ventress and Vos are the best hope for eliminating Dooku—as long as the emerging feelings between them don’t compromise their mission. But Ventress is determined to have her retribution and finally let go of her dark Sith past. Balancing the complicated emotions she feels for Vos with the fury of her warrior’s spirit, she resolves to claim victory on all fronts—a vow that will be mercilessly tested by her deadly enemy . . . and her own doubt.
Dark Disciple is set in between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, and starts as the animated tv show, Clone Wars, ends. Both Asajj Ventress and Quinlain Vos are characters seen in the tv show, though Vos only appears once or twice while Ventress plays a larger role. I was sure how to approach the novel at first because the thought of Ventress actually forming an attachment to someone sounds…odd, but I’m glad I decided to give it a chance because it turned out to be quite a fun read!
The storyline itself is one that brings a lot of surprises, like the Jedi approved assassination attempt of Dooku comes into play. Jedi don’t do assassinations, it sort of goes against who they are as a whole. And I can say that it definitely threw me for a loop at times as characters changed and became better people…and in some cases worse. We get to see sides of characters we didn’t know were there, and I kind of like it. This book not only gives depth to two characters I never thought about being together in any form, but also explores what it means to be Sith, Jedi, and someone who finds a way to walk a line between one or the other.
Asajj Ventress is a former Sith, who after being betrayed by her master turned away from that lifestyle and began forging her own path as a bounty hunter. She’s a no nonsense warrior, who knows her skills and how to use them…and she’s one of my favorite female badasses from the universe. If I had to describe Asajj in four words it would be intelligent, lithe, sexy, and terrifying. I’ve always seen her as a self confident character and it was actually really nice to get inside her head and see what her insecurities were, and how even in her most tender moments (though rare) she never loses who she is and where she’s been. Quinlain Vos is a Jedi with a largely unique sense of personality and humor, and considered somewhat of a renegade when it comes to how he approaches his missions which are largely undercover. He walks a fine line but it’s still a surprise as to how well he meshes with Asajj, it’s a duo I never truly expected…and I liked that their story is not a typical one at all.
Overall I think it’s another excellent addition to the new extended universe, and I really wish they had been renewed for another season of Clone Wars because I would have loved to see how this book would have translated into that format. If you enjoy your sci-fi with plenty of action, lots of character development, twists and turns, and a little bit of romance then this is definitely one to check out!
Reading updates
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Started reading
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9 November, 2015:
Finished reading
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9 November, 2015:
Reviewed