Books Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - The Force Is Not As Strong As It Should Have Been With This Series
Well I guess I better start out by clearly stating that this review is based upon the entire "Legacy of the Force" series and not solely on this particular book. With that in mind, this same review will be posted on each book in the series under the same guidelines, as a review on the entire series, not just a single book in the series. With that in mind, here goes...

My first comment is that the overall feel for this series seems to be a bit off. Now I don't know if it is me, or if other readers got the same impression. I have the tendency to believe that it was due in part to having more than one author writing the series, rather than having just a single author write all nine (9) books in the series. There are definitely some books in the series that are much better written than others, not that any of these authors are bad by any means, it just feels like something got lost somewhere in the shuffle. Like I said, maybe it's just me.

The plot of the series is pretty good, with Jacen Solo turning over to the dark side and following in his grandfather's footsteps, while at the same time cementing his hold on the galaxy itself and attempting to get Luke and Mara's son Ben to become his apprentice. This of course put everyone on a collision course that makes it even more interesting because of the family ties involved.

However, did any other readers feel like Jacen was merely a punk trying to be Sith Lord? Or once again is it just me. I felt that the other Sith in the story, were much better portrayed as true Sith and that Jacen was merely being used as a puppet to an even greater Sith who has of yet been unrevealed. Which would make the story much better with that back-story alone instead of the predominant one.

I did really enjoy Jaina's relationship with Boba Fett and the Mandalorians and that alone brought the whole series an extra star and a half in my book.

I was saddened to see the demise of one of my favorite characters as I felt that this character had so much more to offer than the pipsqueak wannabee Sith, Jacen Solo.

I would recommend this series as it is "Star Wars," and therefore, a definite must read for those of us who are one with the force. However, please be forewarned that the various books in the series seem to have a rollercoaster of up and down moments and the whole series as a whole could have been much better if written by only one author rather than several.

Here are the links for each individual book in the series starting with the first one.

Betrayal (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 1)

Bloodlines (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 2)

Tempest (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 3)

Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 5)

Inferno (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 6)

Fury (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 7)

Revelation (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 8)

Invincible (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force)

Shawn Kovacich
Star Wars Fan and Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.

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Rating: - Characteristic Allston, fun entry in the series
EXILE was a fun book, playing to Aaron Allston's strengths as well as solidifying the Confederation as an equal to the Galactic Alliance.

Allston did a good job of maintaining a balance of both "his" characters and Denning's, continuing Alema Rar's hunt while bringing the Solos together with the Antilles and the Terriks—together, the titular exiles. Their plotline is filled with the good-natured humor I've come to expect from Allston's novels, without going overboard against the dark backdrop of Jacen's turn and the galactic war.

Ben, meanwhile, has a significant storyline of his own; Jacen tries to test his suitability as a Sith apprentice. Fortunately, he fails; Ben proves that he isn't willing to put himself ahead of the lives of others, something Jacen does daily.

Jacen also has to deal with the expanding war; by the end of the book, not just Corellia is arrayed against him. It doesn't help that Mara and Luke are chasing after Lumiya; they've found evidence of her involvement with Jacen. Allston does a good job of playing the two off of Jacen; even though the reader knows what's going on, he makes sure Jacen isn't just relying on his ability to outright lie in order to escape suspicion.

While the "exiles" and "Sith" plotlines don't really intersect, Allston does a good job of advancing both from where Tempest left off. While the climax that will be Sacrifice isn't obviously set up, EXILE is still a fun and interesting piece of the LEGACY OF THE FORCE story.

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Rating: - Excellent Read and follow up to Tempest
I just finished EXILE and it was GREAT... The interaction between the characters was the same as in the movies. The way it moved to the climax of the book, was at times slow and others to fast, but it was a good read over all.

I still do not like the references to the Dark Nest Trilogy, I did not read it so I kept getting lost in translation, the same way I did in Tempest.

The cliffhanger was awesome, eventhough I already knew who the sacrifice would be. If you read carefully and knowing who the sacrifice would be, the book gives you hints of the identity.

Star Wars fan this is one of the GOOD ones, go for it.... but read Dark Nest Trilogy if you do not want to get lost

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Rating: - breath of fresh air
I was begining to feel depressed about this series because of how dark the themes are, not that this book makes the story bright and happy but I was begining to find the series less fun to read. I picked this book up as a last chance for the series and read it cover to cover in a couple days. I loved it, it really brings the story back to the fun adventureous plot without losing the more sinister undertones that make it exciting.