What do you think?
Rate this book
Labyrinth of Evil
- GenresStar Wars
Mass Market Paperback
Published January 1, 1827
12 people want to read
About the author
James Luceno
118 books1,063 followersJames Luceno is a New York Times bestselling author, best known for his novels and reference books connected with the Star Wars franchise and the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and novelisations of the Robotech animated television series. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and youngest child.
He has co-written many books with Brian Daley as Jack McKinney.
He has co-written many books with Brian Daley as Jack McKinney.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 24, 2025
In honor of Revenge of the Sith's 20th anniversary, I decided to revisit James Luceno's "Labyrinth of Evil," the prequel novel to Revenge of the Sith. Set one month before the film, it tells a very Clone Wars story, but as a prequel simultaneously. This isn't Luceno's first time tackling a prequel novel. He previously wrote the prequel novel to The Phantom Menace. That book is called "Cloak of Deception." Which is another one of my favorites.
Like most novels, George Lucas provided James Luceno with guidance, all drafts of "Revenge of the Sith," and additional details to incorporate into the novel. This included the well-known incident on Cato Neimoidia, which Obi-Wan prefers not to discuss, as well as information about Sifo-Dyas and the creation of the Clone Army, details regarding General Grievous, and other important elements.
James Luceno has a passion for weaving details from the lore into his writing. He frequently references events that take place before the novel and skillfully connects them to the films, novels, and comics. This is one of his standout strengths as a writer. It's clear that he has a deep love for the lore, especially relating to Palpatine and the Sith.
The story of the novel is engaging. It primarily follows Anakin and Obi-Wan as they play detectives, searching for Gunray and later, Darth Sidious. The plot culminates in the Battle of Coruscant, which is a significant moment in the war and a key turning point in Anakin's journey and eventual downfall.
One positive aspect of the novel is the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan. It highlights how far they have come since "Attack of the Clones," making Anakin's fall even more tragic, more so than in Dave Filoni's silly animated "Clone Wars" series. James Luceno successfully captures the playful banter that George Lucas wrote in "Revenge of the Sith." Anakin is often cheeky but also grapples with significant mental and emotional challenges. In contrast, Obi-Wan acts like the older, more mature, and wiser brother, often "rolling his eyes" at Anakin's antics.
The portrayal of General Grievous is quite impressive. He may not be as brutal as he appears in the 2D Clone Wars series, but he still possesses a menacing presence. This perspective comes from George Lucas, whom I respect. Unlike in Filoni's animated series, where he is depicted as a coward, this version of Grievous is genuinely intimidating. The Battle of Hypori, where he faced multiple Jedi, is also referenced. One of my favorite scenes is when Grievous confronts Nute Gunray after the Jedi manage to seize the chair that enables transmission and communication.
The pacing of the novel is well thought out. Each chapter varies in length, but the overall pacing feels just right. No part of the story receives more attention than another, and nothing feels neglected. Many novels struggle with pacing and chapter length, but this one maintains a smooth flow. It can easily be finished within a week or so, thanks to its effective pacing.
One of the weaker aspects of the novel is the climax. It is presented differently from Genndy Tartakovsky's excellent "Clone Wars" show. Perhaps my familiarity with the show prior to reading the novel influenced my perspective, but I still found the battle to be a decent portrayal. I appreciated how Luceno highlighted the viewpoints of Padmé, Bail, Mon Mothma, and C-3PO.
I enjoyed revisiting this novel, especially since I’m a big fan of James Luceno’s writing. His works are often regarded as some of the best, second only to Timothy Zahn’s novels. While rereading, I realized I had forgotten many details and was pleasantly surprised by several of them. It truly felt like I was experiencing the novel for the first time again. I had previously written a review of this novel, which I reread before crafting this one. My opinions have evolved since then, and I feel like I should have elaborated more in my original review. However, my ranking isn't going to change. I will keep it as a solid 3.5/4 stars, despite James Luceno being my favorite Star Wars author.
Like most novels, George Lucas provided James Luceno with guidance, all drafts of "Revenge of the Sith," and additional details to incorporate into the novel. This included the well-known incident on Cato Neimoidia, which Obi-Wan prefers not to discuss, as well as information about Sifo-Dyas and the creation of the Clone Army, details regarding General Grievous, and other important elements.
James Luceno has a passion for weaving details from the lore into his writing. He frequently references events that take place before the novel and skillfully connects them to the films, novels, and comics. This is one of his standout strengths as a writer. It's clear that he has a deep love for the lore, especially relating to Palpatine and the Sith.
The story of the novel is engaging. It primarily follows Anakin and Obi-Wan as they play detectives, searching for Gunray and later, Darth Sidious. The plot culminates in the Battle of Coruscant, which is a significant moment in the war and a key turning point in Anakin's journey and eventual downfall.
One positive aspect of the novel is the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan. It highlights how far they have come since "Attack of the Clones," making Anakin's fall even more tragic, more so than in Dave Filoni's silly animated "Clone Wars" series. James Luceno successfully captures the playful banter that George Lucas wrote in "Revenge of the Sith." Anakin is often cheeky but also grapples with significant mental and emotional challenges. In contrast, Obi-Wan acts like the older, more mature, and wiser brother, often "rolling his eyes" at Anakin's antics.
The portrayal of General Grievous is quite impressive. He may not be as brutal as he appears in the 2D Clone Wars series, but he still possesses a menacing presence. This perspective comes from George Lucas, whom I respect. Unlike in Filoni's animated series, where he is depicted as a coward, this version of Grievous is genuinely intimidating. The Battle of Hypori, where he faced multiple Jedi, is also referenced. One of my favorite scenes is when Grievous confronts Nute Gunray after the Jedi manage to seize the chair that enables transmission and communication.
The pacing of the novel is well thought out. Each chapter varies in length, but the overall pacing feels just right. No part of the story receives more attention than another, and nothing feels neglected. Many novels struggle with pacing and chapter length, but this one maintains a smooth flow. It can easily be finished within a week or so, thanks to its effective pacing.
One of the weaker aspects of the novel is the climax. It is presented differently from Genndy Tartakovsky's excellent "Clone Wars" show. Perhaps my familiarity with the show prior to reading the novel influenced my perspective, but I still found the battle to be a decent portrayal. I appreciated how Luceno highlighted the viewpoints of Padmé, Bail, Mon Mothma, and C-3PO.
I enjoyed revisiting this novel, especially since I’m a big fan of James Luceno’s writing. His works are often regarded as some of the best, second only to Timothy Zahn’s novels. While rereading, I realized I had forgotten many details and was pleasantly surprised by several of them. It truly felt like I was experiencing the novel for the first time again. I had previously written a review of this novel, which I reread before crafting this one. My opinions have evolved since then, and I feel like I should have elaborated more in my original review. However, my ranking isn't going to change. I will keep it as a solid 3.5/4 stars, despite James Luceno being my favorite Star Wars author.
February 24, 2025
If you’re a fan of The Revenge of the Sith film, you will love this book that leads right into the movie. There are so many good dialogues that are really eye opening. You really get a sense of just how close Obi-Wan & Anakin were and how much they respect each other not just as master & padawan, but as brothers and best friends. The portrayal of Palpatine’s foresight and manipulation make you feel for not only Anakin and the Republic, but weirdly Dooku and Grievous. The plot twists regarding the Battle of Coruscant are so frustrating because you keep feeling like there is hope for a better outcome, despite the inevitable fall of the Republic and the Jedi Order.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2025
The book leads up to revenge of the sith well, fills the gaps that take place in between episodes 2 & 3.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the books is detailed and well written.
Looking forward to reading revenge of the sith!
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the books is detailed and well written.
Looking forward to reading revenge of the sith!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews