Knight Errant (Star Wars)

Title: Knight Errant
Author: John Jackson Miller
Superseries: Star Wars

Ratings

Score: 9/10
How likely I am to read the next in the Series: If there is one, I'll read it.

Review

This book is everything that "Cloak of Deception (Review: 3/10)" should have been. It has fast flowing action, great characters, and layer upon layer of political mystery and intrigue. In essence, it contains almost everything I look for in a book.

The one thing that I don't believe it has is a strong plot. I expect that this is because, while it IS a standalone book, it follows the story-arc started in the two Knight Errant comic series (Aflame and Deluge). However this didn't seem to be that much of a problem, since despite not knowing where the book was going, I couldn't put it down.

While it isn't the earliest book in the star wars timeline, it almost is, being set in the dark ages of the Republic. That means it's pretty different from the films (lots of Sith, one Jedi) and as such, it's probably not the best to read as an introduction to the expanded universe (try Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter [Amazon US|UK] for that), but it IS an incredible book, and one that should be read by every star wars reader.

The Sith in this book are written particularly well. There is quite a few of them (Seven Sith Lords make an appearance, as well as their minions), and they are all unique. Each of them adds a new aspect to the book, and in some ways, each Sith Lord represents a different story. This is part of what helps it flow so well, the story is constantly changing, there isn't a dull moment. And that's just the bad guys.

The main character herself is... Not the greatest. She feels a little under-developed, but again I feel that this is due to the fact that half the story is in comic form, and we don't know a lot of what's happened to Kerra. The one thing we do see is that she's not the model Jedi, which is refreshing after many ideal Jedi in the Expanded Universe. But my favourite characters are the artillery captain, Rusher, and the mysterious demolitions expert, Narsk.

These two characters are the two that really add depth to the book. They work for the Sith, but only because the Sith are the only people around. This idea is an interesting one, because it allows the author to show prejudice against them (working for bad guys), while also showing that there are just ordinary people in the star wars universe. Too often the main characters in the star wars books are all "professional heroes", or fighter pilots, or basically full-time good guys. It's nice to see more realistic people.

This is probably one of my favourite books in the Star Wars universe (and given the general quality of the books, that's saying something). As I mentioned earlier, not the best book to start your expanded universe experience. But once you've read a couple with the movie characters in, read this. It's easy to read, while still being complex, and a great addition to the Star Wars series.

More Information

Main Protagonist(s): 1 Female
Main Antagonist(s): Several, mixed
Main Relationships: None
Genre: Science Fiction
Brief Synopsis:

The Republic is in crisis, torn by plague and conflict. The Sith roam unchecked, vying with one another to dominate the galaxy. But one lone Jedi, Kerra Holt, is determined to take down the Dark Lords -- one act of sabotage at a time. Her enemies are strange and many: Lord Daiman, who imagines himself the creator of the universe; Lord Odion, who intends to be its destroyer; the curious siblings Quillan and Dromika; the enigmatic Arkadia. So many warring Sith weaving a patchwork of brutality -- with only Kerra Holt to defend the innocents caught underfoot. Sensing a sinister pattern in the chaos, Kerra embarks on a journey that will take her to many worlds and into fierce battles against even fiercer enemies. With one against so many, her only chance of success lies with forging alliances among those who serve her enemies -- including a mysterious Sith spy and a clever mercenary general. But will they be her adversaries or her salvation?

ISBN: 978-0345522641

Amazon Link: US UK
Pages: 400
First Published: January 2011
Publisher: Arrow