Destiny's Way

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order #14

by Walter Jon Williams

In the war against the ruthless Yuuzhan Vong, the fall of Coruscant leaves the New Republic divided by internal strife and on their verge of bowing to conquest. But those who refuse to surrender - Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo and their children and comrades-in-arms are determined to seize victory against overwhelming odds.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novels

480 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Walter Jon Williams has published twenty novels and short fiction collections. Most are science fiction or fantasy -Hardwired, Voice of the Whirlwind, Aristoi, Metropolitan, City on Fire to name just a few - a few are historical adventures, and the most recent, The Rift, is a disaster novel in which "I just basically pound a part of the planet down to bedrock." And that's just the opening chapters. Walter holds a fourth-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, and also enjoys sailing and scuba diving. He lives in New Mexico with his wife, Kathy Hedges.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment in the New Jedi Order series.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

“War does not determine who is right---only who is left.” ---Bertrand Russell

“Politics is the art of controlling your environment.” ---Hunter S. Thompson

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” ---William Shakespeare

The fourteenth installment of the New Jedi Order series, “Destiny’s Way” by Walter Jon Williams, focuses on the political spectrum within the Star Wars universe. Space battles and intergalactic action/adventure take a back seat in this one to committee meetings, electioneering, and lobbying, all of which may seem boring to some fans, fascinating to others.

As someone who thinks that politics is a subtler and, in some ways, deadlier form of warfare, I fall into the latter camp.

“Destiny’s Way” starts with the successful return of Jacen Solo, who has been a prisoner of war under the Yuuzhan Vong for months. He returns with the former Jedi master known as Vergere, a mysterious character who believes that with Jacen lies a very specific destiny, one that she can’t, or won’t, divulge.

Jacen’s return coincides with a tumultuous transitional period for the New Republic. The government has, essentially, been destroyed after the fall of Coruscant. Efforts are quickly being taken to create a new, stronger form of government, and Master Luke Skywalker is using the opportunity to establish a Jedi Council within the new government through a strong lobbying campaign amongst the Senate.

Luke endorses Senator Cal Omas for the position of President. Omas has been one of the few outspoken supporters of the Jedis and is in favor of the formation of a Jedi Council. His biggest rival is the virulently anti-Jedi Fyor Rodan.

Luke spends much of his time on the campaign trail, while behind the scenes (and seemingly unbeknownst to him), back-handed deals and attempts at fixing the election are taking place.

When he discovers, too late, that Omas has been working in secret with scientists to develop a doomsday weapon that could destroy the Yuuzhan Vong in one fell genocidal swoop, Luke must figure out a political way to prevent the weapon’s use, as its mere existence goes against everything for which the Jedi stand.

Han and Leia, in the meantime, are conducting meetings with the Empire on Bastion in the hopes of utilizing Imperial firepower in the war against the Yuuzhan Vong. Officially, the Empire has remained “neutral” in the war but has, occasionally, under the leadership of Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, stepped in to assist.

The charismatic old Imperial officer still has much to offer, and, while the Empire will never see eye to eye with the New Republic, under the alliance created by Pellaeon, the Imperial Armada could still be a useful ally.

Of course, Leia knows only too well that it could also become a formidable foe again if the New Republic government can’t establish a viable government anytime soon. Pellaeon all but admits that the Empire has been keeping a keen eye on the situation for any moment of weakness to exploit.

Admiral Ackbar, from his deathbed, has been devising an intricate and complex plan of attack against the Yuuzhan Vong. Against Luke’s better judgment, the plan involves using Jedis as bait.

“Destiny’s Way” culminates in a tense space battle on the strategically unimportant planet of Ebaq 9, a battle which could tip the scales for the New Republic and seriously hurt the Yuuzhan Vong, assuming everything goes according to plan...

I’ve got a bad feeling about this…

[Jim C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another entry that pits the heroes we love against the Vong in a war that spans galaxies. This is not considered canon anymore as it is now part of the Legends timeline. In this one, we get three different plot stories. Jacen is returning home, the New Republic needs to establish some form of government, and there is a plan to take the offensive against the Vong.

This book was a nice, pleasant surprise as I had no experience with this author and I was a little surprised he authored a book this far into a series. The author did an excellent job. I was most impressed by how he balanced the three stories and all the characters. He touched upon everyone including Lando and gave us a nice peek into the Vong religion. This author understands Star Wars. He advanced the plot and at the same time he answered questions that fans might have been wondering about. There were several highlights to this book including the final battle scene, a conversation between characters about the force, and Mara Jade with an underwater incident.

I enjoyed the direction the author went with this story as it looks like we are in the final turn of this long series. This was my introduction to this author and I would definitely read more of his offerings as he seemed to be able to connect with the reader.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This was a solid entry in the series that advanced the story through political discussions and character development rather than action. I quite enjoyed the discussion surrounding the rebuilding of the Jedi Council.

[Steve Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in the NJO series.

This feels a bit different than the few last ones, with heavier focus on politics, planning and so on. Characters get some room to breathe in a book that feels like the calm before the storm that is the final arc of the series. Excited to see how the story unfolds in the closing stages.
A weak 4 for me.

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What happens if you need a diplomat who can also practice philosophy fight with a lightsaber and levitate small objects? Who else are you going to call but us?"

Jacen is back! Sure he's brought his crazy, feathered friend, Vergere, on whose side, no one is sure, but Han, Leia, Luke, Mara, and Jaina are ecstatic. Meanwhile, the Galactic Alliance is voting for a new president and tearing at the pieces of the slowly deteriorating Yuuzhan Vong forces.

NOTE: Based on audiobook and novel.

A brief audiobook note: Unlike its NJO predecessors, this book is 5+ hours long (vs the barely 4 hours of the previous ones). This makes the story flow much better, though I am pretty sure stuff is omitted (such as the Nen Yim plotline, of which I didn't catch a scent).

I cite the beginning of the end of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion with Rebel Dream/Rebel Stand, but you could very well cite it here, with Destiny's Way. For all the bumps and potholes I found in my journey through this book, one thing I can't fault is "doing nothing" nor "not having an impact".

Walter Jon Williams is a newbie to Star Wars EU, and he does a pretty dang good job, considering. His grasp of the major characters is impressive (even if Leia comes off as sounding a wee bit too happy about Jacen returning--in a squickly MILF-y way, if you catch my meaning). I was particularly impressed with Vergere (whom Stover wrote magnificently), Luke (who has such a rocky, inconsistent character at times), and Cal Omas (who supports the Jedi, but still sanctions the use of Alpha Red).

Now, there were characters that were "meh" to me. Nom Anor seems to have taken a class in Wussy Villains, because he feels emasculated and timid. Definitely not the guy who, for decades, has been snooping on the New Republic. Oh, and can't we give this guy at least ONE victory? How has he NOT ended up dead for his past failures? The other one is Jacen, who leans aggravatingly towards doing what he did in books 1 - 12: not a whole lot of anything, other than whining about not knowing what his purpose is. Figure it out, boy. You've had 14 books to get it--more than Luke Skywalker or Leia Organa.

Williams does a good job adding lots of new people to the cast and including some old ones. Sien Sovv and Kre'fey are added to our military roster and, as the ultimate shock, NEITHER are human! Woohooo! Old characters that return are the ever-annoying Danni Quee (shame on the audiobooks/editor for leaving her out so much, even if I do wish she'd fall into a cheese grater), Admiral Ackbar, Winter (though no sign of her hubby, Tycho, for some reason), Lowie, and more in mere cameos. Characters that are startlingly missing include Nen Yim (audiobook only, I think) and Ben Skywalker, the beloved Skywalker boy who disappears as the plot requires. Ah, continuity, don't you love it?

Storywise, this book GOES places, and that is one of the biggest plusses for this book. Almost from the beginning, most of the NJO has been wallowing around, not being effective, tiptoeing around the Force because attacking might use the Dark Side (so...why was it okay when Luke did it?!), and other some fluff that really amounted to just stretching this cow as far as the cash would good. That stops here. So much happens in these pages--storylines are picked up, the plot moves forward, the end is in sight, the Force issues are resolved, the Jedi Council is finally freakin' formed (wasn't it back in Rebirth that Luke wanted to form the blasted thing?!). What I particularly liked were the conversations between Vergere and Luke about the use of the Force. WOW. That was great! It was great to have Vergere call Luke out on his stupidity for the last 13 books and to get the Jedi into action. And seeing some of our new Jedi actually become Jedi Knights was very good (though the line about having no Knighting ceremony is bullsh!t).

But I will say, some of the scenes were rather talky. For instance, one of the early scenes with the Yuuzhan Vong--Tsavong Lah, Shimrra, and Nom Anor--goes on way too long. I lost interest very quickly (of course, having Nom Anor complain every other sentence about an itch on his foot didn't help). Also, some of them seemed rather redundant. We only need Jaina making a passing comment about drills, not see her through each one.

Speaking of Jaina, how is a barely out of her teens woman a Major? That's a pretty high rank! And what about her training with Mara? Did she just drop that when her mother strong-armed her into Rogue Squadron back in Onslaught?

So, yeah, I've kinda picked this book apart and made it sound nasty, but actually, it's not bad. It only looks kinda weak if you compare it to Traitor (of course, many books look bad next to that piece of art). Destiny's Way does a lot of stuff right: things happen, people go somewhere, plotlines are tied up, and changes are made. Overall, not a half-bad book and worthwhile, particularly if you are already invested in the series.

[Kellen Arnoldy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was really good, up until the last few chapters. What a wet fart of an ending. Its clear that the disjointed attempt of this overarching series was haphazard at best. When you get to the conclusion of a major characters story should it feel like a last ditch, lazy attempt to somehow write off a character? The conclusion of the twins story in this book feels like you threw a dart at a bunch of half hearted ideas to figure out how they get to the next books. Let's just throw up some magic force holding air shields out of left field. Maybe a little magic lightsaber float to cheapen and bastardize a confrontation over 10 books in the making? That's not even true because Jaina and the warmaster didn't have that great of history anyway. Why even bother with a limp dick approach to a final confrontation with a major villan? Well at least magic force air shields can't hold heat for no evident reason. It was a good read, but the end really diminished all the good that came before.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

For 2021, I decided to reread Del Rey’s first attempt at a multi-author book series in the Star Wars universe: The New Jedi Order, which was published between 1999 and 2003. This shakes out to 19 novels, two eBook novellas, three short stories, and a tangentially-related prequel era novel.

This week’s focus: the fourth hardcover release in the New Jedi Order series, Destiny’s Way by Walter Jon Williams.

SOME HISTORY:

Before the release of his first sci-fi novel, Hardwired, in 1986, Walter Jon Williams wrote five nautical adventure novels between 1981 and 1984—To Glory Arise, originally titled The Privateer, is set during the American Revolutionary War, and the subsequent four books pick up almost thirty years later during the Anglo-American War of 1812. (Not to be confused with the other “War of 1812,” the French invasion of Russia!) As we will see in Destiny’s Way, Williams loves naval battles. Destiny’s Way made it to number seven on the New York Times bestseller list for the week of October 20, 2002, and was on the NYT list for two weeks.

MY RECOLLECTION OF THE BOOK:

I remember being dissatisfied with parts of Destiny’s Way, but unable to articulate why. This reread was very helpful in pinpointing which parts of the novel worked for me, and which parts didn’t.

A BRIEF SUMMARY:

The tide has turned for our struggling heroes! Jacen Solo returns from a year’s captivity in the hands of the Yuuzhan Vong, Luke Skywalker sets about reestablishing the Jedi Council, and the New Republic finally chooses a new Chief of State. And on Mon Calamari, the ailing Admiral Ackbar has conceived a major tactical plan that could spell the beginning of the end for the Yuuzhan Vong war...

THE CHARACTERS:

After Traitor’s tight focus on four characters, Destiny’s Way features another large cast of characters. We cut back and forth between Han and Leia on a diplomatic mission to the Imperial Remnant; Luke and Mara and others trying to ensure that the right person is elected Chief of State, so that they can finally reinstate the Jedi Council; Jacen Solo returns to his family, and has to decide what he’s going to do next; Jaina Solo has been promoted to Major and is attempting to train the rookies in her Twin Suns Squadron; Vergere is here, being Vergere; and Supreme Overlord Shimrra finally makes his way to the new Yuuzhan Vong capital of Yuuzhan’tar.

Jacen returns from Traitor’s terrifyingly intense philosophical journey to...go on vacation, I guess. I don’t begrudge him this free time (Vergere and the Vong put him through the ringer), but we get so many statements about how Jacen is important, and how he will be the key to understanding the Yuuzhan Vong, yet he’s not given many examples to prove himself. Instead of treating Jacen like a mature adult, Luke tries to separate him from Vergere’s influence; and while Jacen decides to serve in the last quarter as the Jedi meld coordinator again, he spends most of his time worrying about Jaina. When it looks like Jaina is in danger during the Battle of Ebaq-9, he rushes off to try to save her. He doesn’t really do anything, but he tries. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Speaking of Jaina: I thought that she had sorted out some of her issues in Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream, but nope, she’s back on her “I will die soon so it doesn’t matter” nonsense. On the whole, the New Jedi Order has a lot of good continuity, but then there are bits like this where you thought a character had changed and grown, but a few books later they’re right back where they started. I just want Jaina to find peace, but I entirely forgot about Luke’s prophecy during the Jedi Knighting Ceremony:

"I name you the Sword of the Jedi. You are like tempered steel, purposeful and razor-keen. Always you shall be in the front rank, a burning brand to your enemies, a brilliant fire to your friends. Yours is a restless life, and never shall you know peace, though you shall be blessed for the peace that you bring to others. Take comfort in the fact that, though you stand tall and alone, others take shelter in the shadow that you cast."

Williams has said that he did not plan on this part--he was writing the novel and that's what happened, and it must have been the Force. But no one pushes back against this at all! They all hear this frankly depressing prophecy, and the only person to think “oh that doesn't sound right” is Jacen. But he merely thinks that, and then doesn’t say anything. There are some times in Star Wars where the will of the Force seems completely separated from what is best for an individual, and this is a really stark example of that. I feel like people always call Jaina “The Sword of the Jedi,” and forget what it means: that she will always be alone, and she will never find peace. She's just this weapon to be used, with no thought about how that affects her; and especially with how Jaina is acting in Destiny's Way, it’s so upsetting to me.

Meanwhile, Luke is actively trying to get the Jedi Council reestablished--he’s been pushing for this since Vector Prime, but this is the first time it actually seems feasible. But to get this done, he has to wade into politics (definitely not his strong point). Luke talks to a number of politicians, which is fine, but Lando and Karrde take things a step further--they bribe people, then blackmail them with the proof of their bribery, which seems like such an underhanded way to get Cal Omas elected.

Questions of legality aside, Omas is elected and Luke makes the decision to split the Jedi Council between six Jedi positions and six members of the New Republic government. And I'm not quite crazy about that? Luke has always struggled with how to define the Jedi Order: they receive significant financial support from the New Republic, but at the same time he doesn’t want them to be a tool of the government. I feel like letting half the Council be the Minister of State, and the Head of Intelligence, and the Military head commander, and the Minister of Justice, etc, is not quite the best option--because that seems like the government will become even more involved in the future of the Jedi Order, and I'm not sure how to reconcile that.

Han and Leia get the Deep Core hyperspace routes from Admiral Pellaeon, and that’s it. They’re happy that their son has returned, Han ends up leading the Smuggler’s Alliance ships during the Battle of Ebaq, but that’s the extent of their involvement here. And I’m fine with that! Han and Leia had a lot of prominence in earlier books, especially in regards to their marital problems, but they’re solved them now and can take a break.

Vergere comes with Jacen to Mon Calamari, she’s questioned for a while, and then she’s released--which leads to some super awkward conversations, because she lurks in the Skywalker residence. We finally get her backstory, delivered in a monologue to Jacen: that she was an Old Republic Jedi and she went off with the Yuuzhan Vong 50 years ago. First, this revelation felt a little clumsily delivered, and second, I’m not sure that she would identify herself as an Old Republic Jedi? The Vergere of Star by Star and Traitor was mysterious, and seemed opposed to the dichotomy of Jedi and Sith. But I did like her conversations with Luke; I thought the dialogue was very well done, and I loved the way that Vergere would push against Luke’s pre-conceived ideas. It is frustrating to me that Vergere is the only one to take action against Alpha Red (Luke throws his hands up in the air; Vergere destroys their research), and that in saving Jacen and the rest on Ebaq-9, she sacrifices herself. With her death, we’ve lost so much of both the Old Republic traditions as well as the further insights she could have given the Jedi.

Admiral Ackbar returns! He’s retired and in very poor health, but he finally comes up with a plan to defeat the Vong. I like it, but I wonder why no one came up with this before? The answer is that there’s 19 books and we need to drag this out… Part one of his plan involves small engagements: they’ll attack the enemy where they’re weak, so they can safely train their rookies. Part two involves leading the Yuuzhan Vong into a trap with Jedi as bait, and then decimating their fleet. Part one goes pretty well--we don’t see a lot of examples of it in action, but we do see a minor skirmish at Duro. The Battle of Ebaq-9 is a resounding victory, with very few setbacks.

We finally see the grand entrance of Supreme Overlord Shimrra, but his appearance takes a lot of focus away from the Warmaster Tsavong Lah. Up to this point, the Warmaster has been our primary antagonist; he has a good tactical mind, but his weakness is that he’s a true believer in the Yuuzhan Vong gods and in their sacred mission. We don’t get to see his tactical skills in this book, though, because he’s really only present for the trap at the end. I also felt like the lack of focus on his character made his death scene fall a little flat. I’m glad that Jaina was able to kill him in personal combat, but it felt like an ignoble end for such a prominent character.

Shimrra is a mystery--he’s very powerful, he seems to have some sort of telepathic ability, but the end opens up the possibility that the situation is very different than it initially appeared. I can’t get a good read on him, other than he’s a big dude with rainbow eyes. Fortunately Nom Anor is here to be...Nom Anor. He delves into the Jeedai heresy, realizes that it could be better structured, falls prey to the false information about Ebaq-9, and gets the heck out of Dodge. (Classic Nom Anor.)

ISSUES:

I mentioned in the intro that Walter Jon Williams loves naval battles, and you can see that in the battles here, especially in the final battle of Ebaq-9. He loves how ships move against each other. You can follow most of it, which is good--sometimes I find that the space naval engagements can get a little confusing. Jaina gets pretty flustered during battles, which I'm not sure I buy based on how jaded she had been in previous engagements in previous books and also with her current “I'm going to die” attitude. But she is very concerned about her fellow pilots, which could explain that. I liked Jacen being the Jedi meld coordinator again--keeping everyone together, making them work better together--and I think that will be something that we'll see more of in future books.

But Williams also really likes politics (and I also like politics!), yet it doesn't work so well for me here. Some of the conversations felt rather dull and prosaic, and I didn’t agree with some of the decisions made--which may have tainted my view of all the political scheming. The dull nature and strong focus on the political scenes led me to feel like the pace was a little slow until we got to the lead up to the Battle of Ebaq-9. Destiny's Way is about 450 pages--which is a lot shorter than Star by Star--but there's still a lot to wade through before you get to the really exciting bits towards the end

I think my biggest issue with Destiny's Way was how poorly at times it fit with the books that came previously. I suspect this was what dissatisfied me so much in my initial read years ago. Jaina had made real progress with her issues...except now she regresses. Jacen had matured and grown into a strong adult...except he’s given few chances to prove himself. Wedge and the others had come up with this Insider plan to fight like the old Rebel Alliance...except now they don't. Danni Quee was working on countering the Yuuzhan Vong...except now she’s been taken off projects, and has nothing to do.

I found two interviews with Walter Jon Williams from circa 2002 that shed a lot of light on why this issue existed:

The chief problem I experienced was that I was early delivering my manuscript, and that other authors were late. (I don't blame them for being late. I've been late with books in the past, and I know how easily it can happen.) As a result of this, I didn't get to actually read the four books prior to mine until after I'd completed my own, which resulted in a lot of rewriting in order to deal with "retroactive reality checks." (2002 TheForce.net interview)

"Developing the big pictures and writing the big scenes was never a problem. It was always the little details that made life miserable," the author reveals, recalling a series of surprises that caused a few headaches and frantic rewrites. "What do you mean I can't kill Zavval the Hutt because he's already dead? What do you mean Winter's married? When did Winter get married? What do you mean, years ago? All these little discoveries meant more rewriting -- Jaina Solo's love-life in particular. That certainly wasn't in any of the outlines.” (2002 StarWars.com interview)

As a newbie to the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Williams was only familiar with the movies. He was sent a lot of the reference material, but he didn't have the background with the Expanded Universe books like some of the other authors, and I think it shows. There are a lot of throwaway lines, where I suspect he sent in his manuscript and they sent it back with notes about things he needed to address. So you have these awkward bits where we learn that Winter's with Admiral Ackbar because her husband Tycho is off with Wedge. Williams wrote his manuscript having no idea of Winter's history with Tycho, and these explanatory lines feel awkward and unnecessary. I think the most egregious fit issues come with the developments that happened in the Enemy Lines duology: because Williams wasn't able to read those books and was just going off of outlines, it just feels like all the progress that happened there is lost.

There was an online rumor that Williams never read a single Star Wars book before he wrote Destiny’s Way, and I don't think that's true. I think he did immerse himself in the Star Wars universe, and really enjoyed the process of writing in it. I just don't think he has as good of an ear for Star Wars as some of the other writers do. When Han and Leia find out that Jacen's alive, they send messages to him. Han's message says “Way to go Sprout,” which doesn’t sound like Han at all! Some of the characters sound OK, some sound off, but your mileage may vary here. I might just be more sensitive to these issues of tone.

IN CONCLUSION:

While all the books after Star by Star have featured the tide turning for our heroes, the end of Destiny's Way marks a major victory. The Warmaster Tsavong Lah is dead, the New Republic is revitalized, and the Jedi Order finally has some structure going forward. But at the same time, I felt like the pace was a little slow for most of the book, and Destiny's Way had a lot of niggling issues with continuity and tone that affected my enjoyment of the book overall.


Next up: an eBook novella that’s set in-between Chapters 21 and 22 of Destiny's Way, Ylesia by Walter Jon Williams.

My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/Taw_h7qtMmM
Extended Destiny’s Way rants: https://youtu.be/c_oXhhMi428

[Caleb Likes Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Easily a top NJO book so far.

I loved a whole lot of this one. Probably my favorite thing about it was the characters and their dynamics—especially Jacen, Luke, and Vergere. The way these three bounce off one another is so entertaining and at many times thought-provoking, especially when Vergere is involved. I fell in love with her during Traitor and this book solidified her as a new favorite. The rest of the characters were excellent as well such as Jaina, Han, Leia, and the various Yuuzhan Vong. I also loved some of the more political sides to this book, especially earlier on. The ending is great as well, providing an epic and action-packed conclusion.

I have few problems with this book. Probably the only one significant enough to be worth discussing is that I did think the book started to drag a little at one point, maybe around the 2/3 mark. I absolutely loved the first half and the ending, but that little bit of the book wasn’t as engaging to me. Still good, just not amazing.

Overall this was an excellent read. I didn’t expect the absolute double-whammy of Traitor and Destiny’s Way in terms of being a huge high point for the series, which made it all the more delightful.

Rating: 9.5/10

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't bad. A decent follow up to 'Traitor', which was the best entry in the series so far. Jacen Solo returns after a brutal captivity, and his savior, Vergere, is also his captor. Vergere's character is quite interesting as she has a way of saying the truth while wrapping it up in lies at the same time. You're not sure who she is, what she really wants, or whether or not she means the lies and the truth she speaks. I have little interest in the Yuzzhan Vong themselves, and much more in Vergere.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good with lots of action, especially in the last third of the book. The only thing that kinda dragged was the political stuff. However, I enjoyed this book and I feel it moved the plot slightly forward.

[Janek Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly one of the better books in New Jedi Order series, although it suffers from the same mistakes as its predecessors: Vongs are suddenly shown being passive, lacking initiative and without the military genius shown in beginning of the series. "The ultimate enemy" is now a rotting carcass of what it once was, which is quite frankly very sad, as the change happens overnight and without insight into their actions or to be more fitting lack of them.

There are funny moments here and there, but most importantly the aspect of the relationship between the Force and Vongs is opened for the first (second, if you count Traitor) time together with more insight into some of the more important characters opinions.

Main drawback comes from the depiction of Vongs as near imbeciles, ready to jump on every carrot on a stick New Republic points before them. I am really getting tired of Jedi on stimpacks saving destroying everything the Vongs throw at them. The narrative is dumbed down for the average reader, but alas this is not Zahn writing, so we cannot really expect more. The reader is left without wondering, as every action of every character is explained explicitly - which comes with the prize of the motives being more times simpler than simple. I do hope that the next books will use less pages on the depiction of Jaina's maneuvers and more on the reasoning behind character decisions.

Even then I give the book 4 stars, but that is mainly given with the knowledge that such rating applies to comparison with other NJO books.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine. It was fun seeing Ackbar again. Finally the New Republic has a real victory against the Vong. The action was quite good. The Mon Calamari scenes were pretty boring.

[Adam Kiewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one is very difficult to review. overall, I'd like to say it was insightful and that the better scenes make this another great installment.... it just so happens to also have some awful scenes.

some areas were fantastic- the political rebuilding, the force mysticism and theory, the planning, the characters, ect

some areas were horrible- the finale, the odd minor plotholes that kept springing up, ect.

and some areas weren't actually the fault of the author, but still sucked- it really took 14 books to decide whether or not it was morally acceptable to fight against a force trying to destroy an entire galaxy? Half the time I feel like this should be taking place 10-20 years later than it does due to the changing of the guard with the young characters, and other times I feel like it should be taking place 10 years earlier for various reasons

let's dig in. first, I want to say that some of the way the force was written about was absolutely brilliant. I'll be Rereading this one just to catch some of it again. on the flip side, I don't think the author really understands that the force should have limits. Maybe it would have been fine if others had continued to write that jedi could send entire sentences and images to each other, but it becomes spotty after this. and vergere? apparently she can just do anything she imagines. systems need rules, and while the concepts were written fantasticly, the actual restrictions broke the system entirely. it's a massive shame for an otherwise fairly consistent universe.

speaking of consistency, there was very little here. How did anyone approve the scene where the entire plan revolves around retreating their people into a secure bunker, and then having the bunker have absolutely no durability due to "they didn't expect an assault on it"??? not to mention character inconsistencies. vergere went from one of my least favorite characters, to one of my favorites, to one of my least favorite characters once again all inside of this one book.

I also wish I could slap someone upside the head for the odd directions Jacen and jainas arcs keep taking. knowing what happens years later for them, all I can say is that they should have been switched. their ends make no sense, and that was for some odd reason, set up very poorly in this story.

This one isn't the completely authors fault, but the indecision that stretched for so long was inexcusable. Luke shouldn't be so confused after this long, especially if you're bringing kyp over to his side.

the ending was absolutely dreadful. there was so much momentum going into the final scenes, and somehow I walk away firmly ranking this as one of the 3 worst book endings I have ever read. it's made so much worse by how much the other books have built up this conflict, just to end in such an asinine way.

I'm also so sick of the same phrases being repeated over and over again in this series. why does Anni capitson keep being brought up?? it's been over 10 books, multiple years have passed, and we only knew her for a very short time. LET IT GO. Why is jaina always being written as being so sweaty? I doubt any other character in all of literary history has ever been described as sweaty so many times. she must be the sweatiest individual in the history of life. neither one of these needed to be mentioned over half a dozen times each in this novel alone, in addition to the 30+ times they've been brought up previously. adding on to this, didn't we already solve jainas issues with living? why did that come up again? why bring Danni quee back into the fold just to do nothing at all?

what this is is a very good book that has numerous brilliant ideas that failed to capitalize as a whole due mainly to details being ignored. it was such an odd ride of extreme highs and lows that I don't really know what to think other than overall the experience was positive and (hopefully) advanced the story in large ways

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know it seems weird to read only book #14 of a 19 volume series, but I have an explanation. I was around when the original movies first came out and have been a fan most of my life. I’d been reading Star Wars novels (the Extended Universe, beyond the novelizations) awhile before the New Jedi Order series was first published. I was in a Star Wars fan group at the time, and there was a member who was happy to provide spoilers. I’d already heard about how they killed Chewbacca in the first book of the series, because that made the mainstream entertainment news at the time. Noooo! Not Chewie!!! The NJO sounded too depressing, so I decided not to read books in the Star Wars timeline taking place after Timothy Zahn’s Vision of the Future. I didn’t read any Star Wars books for a few years afterward, until finding some prequel and original trilogy stories that appealed to me.
But I’ve read several other books by the author of this one; he’s a talented writer, known for the complexity of his work. And he’s a local. I’ve heard good things about this book. At some point--I don’t know how many years ago--I acquired a used copy. Being back in a Star Wars phase and open to trying things I’d previously avoided, I decided to finally read this one.
There’s enough recap/detail in the narrative that I didn’t feel lost even though I was reading book #14 of a series.
Throughout there are some interesting, often cynical observations about politics and governments. Some of the characters have great conversations about the Jedi Code and what actions reflect the dark side of the Force. I’ve always thought the Jedi Code was too rigid and should’ve allowed for acknowledgement of feelings like fear and anger. I loved the bits featuring Talon Karrde and Lando Calrissian. Talon is my favourite EU character. Although Leia and Han didn’t get many pages, they’re well-depicted. Luke has some really good moments. Jaina is sympathetic and a little heartbreaking, with the burden of responsibility she bears. Jacen is also sympathetic, but knowing that he goes off the rails later on casts a shadow over everything he does. Admiral Ackbar has some good scenes. Mara gets to do some skulking about but isn’t as interesting as she’s been in other stories. Vergere is creepy and untrustworthy, which augments the sense of tension in the book.
The Yuuzhan Vong are nightmarish in every way. The tech derived from living sources is creative and at times mindblowing. But one book featuring their cruelty is plenty for me.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d call this one a mediocre installment. The writing is nothing spectacular, but stuff is always happening and it’s far from boring, which is more than I can say for certain other NJO books. I do feel like he had no idea what to do with Mara. She was mostly just there. Which was frustrating. It’s kind of understandable—he had no idea of any Expanded Universe anything before he was hired to write for NJO, though he was naturally a fan of the movies. Obviously I prefer the books where it’s obvious the writer did their research on the characters they were working with and understood them on a deep level (like Dark Journey). The flat characterizations of the majority of the characters and the lack of character voice did detract from the enjoyment somewhat, but I did still enjoy it quite a bit. A lot of politics, but I like politics. And sure, there’s a lot of sitting and talking, but I’m a prequel fan so I’m okay with that. 😉 And he did do a pretty good job with Vergere. So this one’s in the middle of the quality scale.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still find the Vong to be a bit dull as both a race & an adversary, and I think there is a bit too much going on in this novel for its own good. But there's no denying that Walter Jon Williams conveys a fantastic sense of forward momentum, and he handles the literary Legends cast of the Lucasverse with considerable skill...and a great deal of welcome humour. I wish he had written more for the Star Wars universe.

[Jesse Fleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well written, couldn't put it down! All the political and philosophical intrigue was brilliant!!

[Lance Shadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's a wrap for Destiny's Way, the next novel in the New Jedi Order!

And this is the second book in the series that I can say is great- it is now in contention with Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream as the New Jedi Order's best book. So lets get right into why!

THE STORY: So many plot threads are coming to a head in this novel: The New Republic, in shambles since the fall of Coruscant, has reconvened on Mon Calamari hoping to regroup- and Luke Skywalker is there to help them do so. Jacen Solo returns from wherever he had gone, along with the mysterious Vergere. Jaina Solo has been further consumed by her duties with the military.
While the Yuuzhan Vong still have the edge in the war, the defeats are beginning to add up- but Warmaster Tsavong Lah has learned that the New Republic leadership is convening in one place, giving him the chance to deal a final, fatal strike that will seal their ultimate victory.

THE BAD: I don't have very many problems with this book, but there are a few that need to be pointed out- mostly as a result of issues carried over from earlier books in the series.
First off, I was not a fan of the subplot with Leia and Han going to the Empire to forge alliances- again. Yep, this is a rehashed plot point from much earlier in the series (Dark Tide II: Ruin). It's boring from a standpoint of overarching narrative/thematic pacing, but worse yet, it doesn't make sense from a worldbuilding standpoint either. The New Republic and Imperial Remnant successfully established their alliance by the end of Dark Tide II, and in Star by Star we see the fleets of Pellaeon and Kre'fey actively working together. So why does Leia need to be playing diplomat with them again? And its not like any of the books between Star By Star and this one had any sort of falling out between the factions. So this all feels like a big continuity error. Worse yet, after the one chapter where this subplot plays out, the book just drops it afterwards. While I'm happy that they Walter Jon Williams didn't continue to rehash this storyline here, it's still jarring to see it dropped after the first 20% of the novel. I don't know whether Williams needed to give something for Han and Leia to do at this point of the book or if it is supposed to be a continuing thread for the final 3rd of the New Jedi Order, but either way, the book doesn't even offer the kind of resolution that promises continuation. It just gets jarringly dropped.
Second, this book sets up a major development for Jaina that falls completely flat. Jaina Solo is given the title of "Sword of the Jedi" by Luke and it feels completely unearned. We get a vague description of what this title is supposed to mean, yet Jaina's story in the series so far has largely failed to properly build to it. Her story has largely been pretty messy and haphazard throughout the series so far, but even the most consistent through-line, her ironclad commitment to her military career, does not fit the description of "Sword of the Jedi" that Luke gave when he bestowed the title upon Jaina. Don't get me wrong, the name "Sword of the Jedi" sounds really cool, it rolls off the tongue really nicely, but that's pretty much all it is. A cool-sounding title, placed on a character who has not earned it over the course of this series.
Next up, Mara Jade. She is left with pretty much nothing interesting to do in this book. I'm starting to get mad that they just shipped Ben Skywalker off to the plot convenient safehouse that is The Maw at this point, because a) The series has established that pretty much nowhere is safe from Vong invasion, so I'm not convinced that The Maw is a safe zone that can't just be attacked at some point. b) it has robbed Mara (and to a lesser extent, Luke) of a potentially interesting story dilemma with balancing the protection of their child and how they are needed as heroes and leaders by the galaxy.
Then there's Lando Calrissian, who makes a minor appearance in this book only because he's Lando. It's almost comical at this point how writers keep trying to shoehorn Lando Calrissian into EU books just because he was a big movie character when the writers have no idea what to do with his character. Oh Well.

THE GOOD: While this book has its flaws, "Destiny's Way" had some amazing aspects. When this book was good, it was usually really good.
This is without a doubt the most thematically rich book in the entire series so far. The previous book, Traitor, was one of the few times Star Wars tried to have some moral ambiguity and stray from the black and white dichotomy the franchise is usually known for, but for me, most of that was just talking even if it was interesting. In Destiny's Way, that moral ambiguity is taken much further- we go from the mere philosophical discussions of "Traitor" to actually forcing the characters to confront these hard questions head on.
First off, we have the revelation that a bioweapon has been developed to fight the Yuuzhan Vong that promises to be extremely effective- to the point where it will result in genocide of the invading armies. This forces the characters to confront the uncomfortable possibility of the New Republic doing anything to achieve victory- how much is necessary to stop the continued ravaging of the galaxy and its citizens at the hands of the Vong, and how much is going so far that the New Republic becomes just as bad as the enemy that is invading it?
This is also showcased well through the characterization of Jaina Solo. I've been incredibly critical of her with almost every single book in the series so far- I even threw shade at her earlier in the review. But for the most part, the "Sword of the Jedi" moment notwistanding , I really liked Jaina in this book, especially because of how well her story here tied in with the thematic elements of the novel's wider narrative. For Jaina, her story in this book is about the conflict between being the leader that her fellow New Republic pilots need, and the physical and mental cost that constantly engaging in battle has taken on her. It leads to some excellent exchanges between her and Jacen.
Speaking of Jacen, I thought he was great in this book. He is still largely what the legends continuity called a "Gray Jedi"- a jedi who still follows the light, but goes against the grain compared to his colleagues that are more firmly devoted to the jedi ideals. But instead of constant internal conflict, Jacen is more secure in his way of thinking, summed up very effectively when Luke tells him to "never stop asking questions". He managed to learn much from Vergere without falling into the worst of her tendencies or ideas.
With that, let's get into Vergere for my biggest hot take in this whole review: I like her so much better in this book than I did in "Traitor". Don't get me wrong, she works just fine in that book as a foil for Jacen's character arc. But with "Traitor", it was just the opposite side of the same coin- she helped direct him to a more secure place, but she didn't radically alter Jacen on a fundamental level. However, I absolutely love her conversations with Luke because it feels like she is challenging him to his very core and forcing him to question his way of thinking. I just find how Luke and Vergere bounce off each other much more interesting than how Jacen and Vergere bounced off each other.
Finally, I found Han and Leia's interractions with Jacen and Jaina to be pretty nice and wholesome. They don't have much of an arc in this book but there's still 5 books left in the series I think it's just fine here.

Enough about the characters, what else works?
First off, the DIALOGUE. This is one of my favorite aspects of the whole book, and is essential to why this novel works as well as it does. "Destiny's Way" is a slow-burn character driven story for our main ensemble of Skywalkers and Solos, and the book is rather light on action. It is why the conversations between Luke and Vergere lead to such effective development for Luke, and its why the interactions between Jacen and Jaina work so well. Its also why the political drama stays interesting.

There aren't very many action sequences, but when they happen, Walter Jon Williams does a pretty good job with them. While not all of them work, the most important one does- the final battle. The slow burn sequences all built up to a major confrontation in the finale- and the payoff , unlike the "Sword of the Jedi" moment actually felt completely earned.

Finally, I want to highlight the knighting ceremony in the last 3rd of the novel. Aside from the "Sword of the Jedi" moment , It is simply amazing. I love the little speeches that Luke gives to each character, and I love how the pairings of Jedi Masters chosen are thematically appropriate for each apprentice getting knighted. The scene is also dripping with atmosphere thanks to Williams' excellent descriptions. I didn't read the Young Jedi Knights books yet, but the atmosphere and dialogue of this scene is so immersive and so well written that I was thoroughly engaged regardless. I'm sure it would have been rewarding to me if I read those books before the NJO, but each of the characters was summarized in previous books effectively enough ore developed in the NJO on their own effectively enough that I wasn't lost on who these people were either. This may very well be my favorite scene in the entire NJO saga thus far.

THE CONCLUSION: Final rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up.
It's hard to say which is the better NJO book of the two- Destiny's Way or "Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream". The latter has more airtight execution and is more entertaining to read. The former is more flawed but it is also more ambitious both narratively and thematically, and accomplishes significantly more for the series as a whole. Rebel Dream is a better Star Wars book, but Destiny's Way is probably a better New Jedi Order book.
But here's what's important: Destiny's Way is an excellent book in the New Jedi Order. I think it's a series high point. The dialogue is very effective in conveying the dramatic tone of the novel, the action scenes work when they need to, and the story and characters are progressed in the novel very well.
I could not have returned to a better continuation after my months-long hiatus from the series, and my motivation to push to the NJO's conclusion has been effectively reinvigorated. I am hoping to finish the series by the end of 2023- so let's keep going.

[Anakin Targaryen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were certainly parts where the writing dragged, however the narrative has slowly gotten to be more fulfilling with each book in the second half of this series. Probably due in large part to what happens with a lot of longer series: the beginning requires places seeds and setting things up, which are now being resolved and concluded. All in all, one of the better ones of the series.

[Adhara Black (Clara Carvalho) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primeira leitura: 2012
Releitura: 2023

4.5/5


Continuando com a minha releitura de The New Jedi Order então né, aviso de spoilers de todos os livros até o momento.

Destiny's Way finalmente traz Jacen Solo de volta ao conflito principal. É interessante ver ele tentando se ajustar depois de ter passado tanto tempo em cativeiro e convivendo com a Vergere. O Jacen de agora é bem diferente do Jacen lá de Vector Prime.

Assim como seu irmão, Jaina também é uma personagem diferente da Jaina de Vector Prime. Não no sentido de mudança de personalidade ou algo assim mas é bem claro que ambos estão muito mais maduros e que as experiências de cada um durante o conflito com os Yuuzhan Vong os molda de maneiras bem interessantes.

Finalmente a Ordem Jedi parece estar voltando aos eixos, com o Luke tomando claras atitudes tentando reestabelecer o conselho jedi enquanto tem uma eleição pra chefe de estado rolando. Ver o posicionamento dele dá um alívio porque a sensação é que a ordem como uma entidade estava super desorganizada desde o início da guerra(ou até mesmo antes).

Um exemplo bem claro disso (ou de falta de comunicação entre os autores da série) é a quantidade de personagens que são referidos como cavaleiros jedi e nunca tinham passado por uma cerimônia dizendo tal. Nesse livro, rola algo oficial (mesmo sendo mais um show político do que qualquer outra coisa) e passa a impressão que as coisas estão tomando um rumo decente.

Falando na cerimônia... Incrível demais. É um momento bem significativo, principalmente considerando que é a galera que sobreviveu a missão lá em Star by Star. Além disso, a profecia da Sword of the Jedi rola durante a cerimônia e mesmo já sabendo que vinha aí, me arrepiei. É um momento icônico.

"I name you the Sword of the Jedi. You are like tempered steel, purposeful and razor-keen. Always you shall be in the front rank, a burning brand to your enemies, a brilliant fire to your friends. Yours is a restless life, and never shall you know peace, though you shall be blessed for the peace that you bring to others. Take comfort in the fact that, though you stand tall and alone, others take shelter in the shadow that you cast."

Veremos as consequências e como isso afeta a Jaina em muitos dos livros futuros e sei que tô ansiosa pra passar por essa experiência outra vez.

A reclamação que tenho a fazer é como em alguns momentos o autor parece se apoiar demais na muleta dos personagens da trilogia original. Almirante Ackbar pra um llado, Almirante Ackbar pro outro... Chegou a ser entediante. Vergere nesse livro também, tá meio insuportável. Nunca fui muito fã dela mas apreciava as sacadas de sabedoria dela (principalmente depois da releitura de Traitor) mas nesse livro ela parece mais servir como um deus ex-machina do que qualquer outra coisa (não comento mais pois spoilers).

Enfim, leitura legal e cheia de politicagem mas a melhor parte mesmo foi ver os gêmeos reunidos depois de tanta tragédia.

[Jeff Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Destiny's Way took me a while, but it's not because it was uninteresting. The book is very complex, but not too much so. When you have a universe as complex as the Star Wars Universe, and at the same time, you have a story as complex as the New Jedi Order series, it would be very easy to let it get away from you.

The series is very story-driven, but there is an incredible amount of detail. Some authors tend to put way too much into their books, but this isn't one of them. There is simply too much story in the book to stuff it full of extra detail. Some important things happen, and since this is getting towards the end of the series, things are going to start to finish up. You don't really get that feeling.

Fighting sequences are frantic, but the author is able to pull back and make diplomatic scenes interesting and compelling, using those to set up the battle scenes. Which let's be honest, is how wars are. It's not just indiscriminate fighting, but the politicians have a goal in mind, and they are using the military to accomplish those goals. The wrench in this war is that the Vong are fighting a holy war. This adds an aspect to Star Wars that has not been around before this series. Jedi/Sith wars can be said to be holy wars, as well but it is a different dynamic between the Yuuzhan Vong's religion and the Force.

In terms of the series, I think that this one is well written, but not to the same extent as some others. There are several that move faster and are more exciting than this one, and some that just drag. This does neither, but it is an indispensable part of the series for some of the events that take place.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better novels of the series. Destiny's Way, like the other hardbacks, seems to pull together all of the disparate parts of the storyline from the NJO plot. The practical application of Jacen talents was welcome; Luke's turnabout on the Force a forseen but well done event; Vergere's continually enigmatic character was intriguing as always; the Knighting of the next generation of Jedi Knights was a nice symbolic touch on many levels; everyone being IN CHARACTER; all made this book a wonderful read.

My two favorite components: 1)Mara being a (behind the scenes, action-oreinted) spy again. It has been too long since my favorite character was in her element. Let's hope the future authors continue this trend. 2)Jaina as the Sword of the Jedi. Her reaction to this idea is wonderful, both in action and in thought. Jacen's reactionary concern for her is also apt. It is time for Jaina to take that kind of role permanently, not in the back and forth way that she's had for the previous novels.

This novel will make you want to read the next one immediately. The manner in which Destiny's Way pulls together the Jedi so definitively leaves the resounding question of 'what's next?' preeminent in your mind.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better novels of the series. Destiny's Way, like the other hardbacks, seems to pull together all of the disparate parts of the storyline from the NJO plot. The practical application of Jacen talents was welcome; Luke's turnabout on the Force a forseen but well done event; Vergere's continually enigmatic character was intriguing as always; the Knighting of the next generation of Jedi Knights was a nice symbolic touch on many levels; everyone being IN CHARACTER; all made this book a wonderful read.

My two favorite components: 1)Mara being a (behind the scenes, action-oreinted) spy again. It has been too long since my favorite character was in her element. Let's hope the future authors continue this trend. 2)Jaina as the Sword of the Jedi. Her reaction to this idea is wonderful, both in action and in thought. Jacen's reactionary concern for her is also apt. It is time for Jaina to take that kind of role permanently, not in the back and forth way that she's had for the previous novels.

This novel will make you want to read the next one immediately. The manner in which Destiny's Way pulls together the Jedi so definitively leaves the resounding question of 'what's next?' preeminent in your mind.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great addition to the NJO series. We learned in the last book of the series, Traitor, that Jacen Solo was still alive. The first third of this book looked at his welcome back by his family and friends. Now, I am not the most sentimental guy, but I liked how the author staggered Jacen's return. He first meets up with his Uncle Luke, than Han & Leia, then finally his twin sister, Jaina. Each meeting was more and more emotional and touching for the young Jedi. The rest of the book featured the return of an aging, and ill, Admiral Ackbar who puts forth such a simple plan to turn the tide of war, I am not sure why some other half intelligent character didn't think of it sooner. (We are talking pretty simple here. This is something JarJar Binks could have thought up.). While the lame plan is executed, Walter John Williams, the author, puts us through some of the more exciting action sequences I have read in a Star Wars novel. And, on that alone, I would recommend any fan of Star Wars to read this book. Of course, it helps if you understand what is going on too.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I am a big fan of the New Jedi Order series, I was not impressed by Destiny's Way. Unlike other books in the series, which were written by authors who were Star Wars fans and kept up with the other Star Wars novels, Williams came to the series having never previously read a Star Wars novel. This lack of familiarity shows itself in the way he uses the characters. They just don't seem to be the same characters we've been following these past few years. For example - Jacen had a major trial in the last book, and now he seems to be back to the same old routine as if his life hadn't profoundly changed. It was also unsettling to see Warmaster Tsavong Lah, the main enemy character so far, take a such a minor role in the book. Without giving away an important plot point, I feel like so much character building was wasted.

Ultimately this book was a let-down. If you're a New Jedi Order fan, you know you need to pick this book up. If you're new to the series, don't start with Destiny's Way - go back and read Vector Prime (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 1).

[Luke Zwanziger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a solid read. This epic mega series has been building for this moment. A long philosophical approach to the force, its meaning, and its significance to the "force negative" Vong. Jason captured by the Vong, slowly shifts his view of the force. It is seriously a good read, but may not be best read without prior knowledge of the series.

It is a lot of work to read the other books that lay the grounds for this, but man, it is totally worth it. Williams writes just enough action, to support the strong character developing that is occurring.

[Todd Selby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot has happened since the Fall of Coruscant. Jaina Solo has flirted with the darkside, yet resisted it. Jacen Solo has journeyed through the lands of the dead and emerged a new man. And the New Republic has finally begun to get its act fully together. Destiny's Way brings these elements together and delivers a stunning tale that proves itself worthy of being a part of the New Jedi Order series.

I thought Jaina was used pretty well here. She's continuing to play her role as ace pilot and Trickster goddess. I liked the battle at Obroa-skai and seeing Tenel Ka again. Her reunion with Jaina was quite touching. And now Jaina knows that jacen is in fact alive. I thought Vergere's story about Zonama Sekot was interesting, even though she seemed a bit too theatrical when narrating it. Actually, overall I didn't much like Vergere's characterisation here; it seemed to different from Traitor, and made her character seem very different. Although, her in her final scenes she seemed more in line with her previous characterisation. And now things are really tied to Rogue Planet, now that it seems Zonama Sekot might have something to do with the war. The early scenes with Han Leia and Pellaeon were cool. I like the idea of Pellaeon's garden. It's a relaxing place for an older gentleman to tend and nurture, even though it has an Imperial twist to the way it's grown. Han's views of the Empire are hilarious, especially his hypothesis of how Palpatine would have handled the Vong.

Some of the best parts of this novel involved the Yuuzhan Vong, especially Nom Anor. His long stay in the galaxy means jack shit when faced with the mighty presence of Supreme Overlord Shimrra. Every scene with the Vong leader screams epic. Here is a man who commands nothing but respect and admiration. There is no treachery within his court. His first scene where he calls out the individual caste leaders is great. Even Tsavong Lah can feel fear, apparently. The bit with the itching was cool and funny. Nom's smart enough to resist the temptation to scratch himself, but others are not so, and suffer Shimrra's great wrath. This is clearly what Jacen was talking about after he'd fled Coruscant. The World Brain is not making things easy for the Vong. We also get to see more of the mysterious Onimi. We know from his introduction in Edge of Victory that he's capable of great deception, so it's interesting to see his role next to Shimrra. The secret of the Eighth Cortex cannot be trusted to just anyone, so clearly he is much more than a jester to Shimrra.

I liked Lando and Talon's role in this book. From influencing the Chief of State election to foiling Yuuzhan Vong spies, they are really awesome. Lando's YVH mouse droids are a neat innovation, and Mara is the lucky one who gets to use them first. The parts with the Military are good. With Borsk and Pwoe either dead or in prison, the military can finally hold the reigns in this war and get things accomplished. Ironically, though, Borsk's death has inspired Traest Kre'fey to fight even harder against the Vong. The real treat of this novel, though, was the triumphant return of Ackbar. Not even old age can keep this man down. Never once does he balk at the strength of the Vong forces. He is fully confident that he can beat them, and he does. The Battle of Ebaq 9 is strategically brilliant, and set up perfectly. Ackbar is back indeed. Even Tsavong Lah fleeing to the planet's surface is fruitless, since he'e defeated by the combined efforts of Vergere and Jaina. It's almost weird that he's killed off here. He's been the driving force behind everything in this series for so long, the main villain who's showed up in the majority of the series to this point. Now that Shimrra is around, it seems he will assume the title of Big Bad. And of course Nom, ever the pragmatist, flees. He is easily the most interesting character that this series has produced, and I can't wait to see how his story develops. The last scene between Onimi and Shimrra was veeerrrry interesting. Clearly there is much more to this jester than meets the eye. Just how much do his words have an effect on the Supreme Overlord? Who is really the jester? Nom seems to notice the complexity behind Onimi, but now that he's on the run he might not be able to investigate further.

Overall this book is very good. It really does a great job of taking everything from the series and bringing it together. Not even Star by Star accomplished this. There were some parts of the novel that seemed like filler, where only minor events occurred, but most of these built up greatly over the course of the novel. The knighting ceremony was cool. Nice to see Luke really appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of his students. His proclamation to Jaina was intriguing. Sword of the Jedi. Seems like Jaina will definitely feel the burden of being the granddaughter of Anakin Skywalker. I liked that Cal Omas's character was really fleshed out. He's such a stark contrast to Borsk, but he's not above government secrets, as is the case with Alpha Red. This weapon raises a lot of interesting questions about the new government. Are they willing to stoop to the levels of the Empire to defeat their enemies? Vergere obviously made this impossible to find out, but still, it says a lot about Cal and NRI.

I give this a 9.9 out of 10 for an epic story. Great characterizations, battles, and continuity.

[M Hamed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheaters never prosper, Lando thought virtuously