What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights #8
Diversity Alliance
When a fellow Jedi student, who holds the key to a New Republic secret coalition, turns up missing, the young Jedi Knights race across the galaxy to find him and are forced to confront a deadly enemy. Original.
232 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
11 people are currently reading
1121 people want to read
About the author
Kevin J. Anderson
1,032 books3,110 followersYes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.
I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.
My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 7, 2021
Bullet Review:
Better than the previous book, but the plot is so shaky and based on these implausible coincidences. Fonterrat just happens to be tied into Bornan Thul’s disappearance - how convenient for Zekk! Tyko acts shifty and none of the teens suspect a thing, for once, acting far stupider than your average teen. Then IG-88 pops up because I think the goal is to bring up all the bounty hunters from that blink and you’ll miss it scene from Empire.
As if that isn’t bad enough, this is the SECOND time Tenel Ka’s ship is attacked and destroyed. If I were these kids’ parents, I would be HELLA WORRIED and not let them fly anymore.
Full Review:
Bornan Thul is still missing and Jedi Student, Raynar, is understandably worried. His mother and uncle call him back to their merchant fleet for safety, so Jaina, Jacen, Lowbacca and Tenel Ka volunteer to take him in Tenel Ka's ship, Rock Dragon. Once there, they see how dangerous things are for the Thul family when a bounty hunter brother duo attempt to kidnap Raynar and his mother. The Four Teens then decide to do their own investigating on Kuar. Meanwhile, Zekk is on a quest to be a bounty hunter and gets his first mission to find Fonterrat, who very conveniently ties in with the Thul/Tarkona plot.
Oh BOY. It's been a few days since I finished this, and I'm right now puzzling over something: was this entire series this cheesy and I ignored it, or is this just a very shaky plot thread the authors hurriedly came up with?
Okay okay, it's not all that bad. I actually really like Lowbacca meeting back up with Raabakyysh"Raaba", hearing what happened to her and how she got drawn into the Diversity Alliance after her ignominious departure from Kashyyyk. Actually, that thread is really good! Lowbacca has really deserved a plot thread as fascinating as Tenel Ka's from "Lightsabers" and I think this is much better than the attempt in the "Darkest Knight".
The other major thread of this novel, the new political group, Diversity Alliance, is a great way to explore new stories without creating a new Empire with a new Superweapon. Star Wars may be a "galaxy far far away" but think of how many (white) human characters have appeared on the screen and compare that to the non-humans. In the movies, is the story about Chewbacca, Jar Jar, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt or...Lupita Nyong'o's CGI character, or is it about humans named Skywalker and Solo? (Sidenote: My conversation last night with my sibling turned into the subject about how the new movies have not only failed to provide any real diversity, in race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or species but also cannot provide any new iconic, memorable characters with which to hawk toys at gullible fans or children. I know I haven't seen the Disney movies more than once each, but damn, I cannot think of any alien character in them.) Humans overrun this galaxy; the Emperor even had an entire platform based on xenophobia. So I think there is a great story to be told based on the xenophobia in Star Wars - and given how this book treated Brakiss and the Shadow Academy, I could even expect some nuanced approach. For instance, aliens have been massively mistreated in this galaxy (the enslavement of the Wookiees is one such incident); their uprising to ask for autonomy, being ruled by beings who look like them instead of the very much human Leia and the human-centric Senate, would be a great point to get kids to think about bigger topics. At least in this book, none of this is touched upon, but it is an incredibly great premise.
That aside, I found myself having more trouble just being whisked away than I had in the first 6 books. The coincidences abound madly, the story elements were particularly juvenile, people are really more trusting than they ought to be (and from someone who can't take a hint to save her life, that's huge), and there are more and more parts where I feel like the authors are writing to fan service rather than because there was a good story thread.
Firstly, Fonterrant is the MacGuffin of this book. Zekk is sent to find this weasel and whaddya know, he inadvertently ties into the Bornan Thul disappearance! Tracking down Fonterrant leads to Zekk somehow finding Boba Fett AGAIN, only this time, Fett isn't trying to gun him down (they aren't on the same bounty, and that would be a waste of Fett's time according to the Bounty Hunter's Creed). While there is a logic to Fett's actions, my eyes were rolling in their sockets - in this big wide galaxy, they meet up AGAIN when looking for two different bounties?
As if that coincidence isn't bad enough, this set of the series seems to be answering the question "what Star Wars characters from the movies can we name drop to appease the fans?" As a kid, I was wowed to see Boba Fett and IG-88; here, it just makes this galaxy feels very much smaller - and the fact that these bounty hunters keep bumping into the 4 teens is weird!
I get this is a kid's book, but I think there were more mature, more clever events and set ups in the earlier books than here. At one point, the authors give this character, Kusk, a name, right after "a signal got off the merchant ship" and I immediately knew that he was involved in whatever plot was going to happen. I cannot believe a 12 year old reading this book (the audience to whom this is written) couldn't likewise suss out that something was up with the man. Three paragraphs later, whaddya know, the ship is under siege and Kusk is kidnapping Raynar and his mother. And of course, 4 teenaged Jedi (not older than 15) volunteer to help fire cannons and rescue the two because I guess child labor laws don't exist in this galaxy.
Nolaa Tarkona is essentially our villain this time around; her characterization isn't nearly as clever or nuanced as Brakiss. She wants all the most violent alien species because "propaganda doesn't work" apparently. I'm astonished she got this far - being able to churn up the masses is a huge advantage and much of the legwork for your movement could be made without firing a shot at all! But apparently, Nolaa doesn't think this - and I don't think it being because she wants all humans dead either. It's really at the heart, authors writing a character they think kids will find just smart enough. It's rather insulting that Nolaa isn't given a bit more complexity - the bits are there. Her past with slavery, the events of her half-sister, Oola. If only she was a bit more clever and thoughtful, then I could believe her grab for power; as it is, she veers towards the more "mustache twirly" villainous side.
And then there's how trusting all 4 teenagers are to Uncle Tyko. Perhaps I'll be proven wrong, but I wouldn't trust that guy with a sweater I didn't like - the guy acts totally shifty and untrustworthy (and again, coming from the Queen of Gullibility and Inability to Take a Frakkin' Hint, that says a lot). In other books, I have complained that teenagers act way too mature for their age - but here, the total opposite is true. These kids are about 15, yet not a single one is maybe slightly suspicious of Tyko (especially after what happened to Tenel Ka in "Lightsabers"!).
Another pet peeve: in this book, the Rock Dragon is heavily damaged for the 2nd or 3rd time in 2 books. If I were these kids' parents, I would ground them - meaning, they weren't allowed to fly. I'm astonished that 4 teenagers are allowed to gallivant in a space ship with no adult supervision in this galaxy in the first place, but after all the scrapes they've been through, Jedi or Not, as their parent, I would take away the proverbial keys.
I do think there are some good elements here - I like how the human/non-human thing is the crux of these books. I like that Raaba is our way of showing it to our main characters. But there are so many things in these books that keep bumping me out of the story. I really feel more and more that the first 6 were solid storytelling, even if for a more childish audience. These past few have been trying to appease the fandom with goofy cameos, relying on coincidences instead of clever stories, dumbing down the essence of the story and hoping the audience is too young or too dumb to notice.
Better than the previous book, but the plot is so shaky and based on these implausible coincidences. Fonterrat just happens to be tied into Bornan Thul’s disappearance - how convenient for Zekk! Tyko acts shifty and none of the teens suspect a thing, for once, acting far stupider than your average teen. Then IG-88 pops up because I think the goal is to bring up all the bounty hunters from that blink and you’ll miss it scene from Empire.
As if that isn’t bad enough, this is the SECOND time Tenel Ka’s ship is attacked and destroyed. If I were these kids’ parents, I would be HELLA WORRIED and not let them fly anymore.
Full Review:
Bornan Thul is still missing and Jedi Student, Raynar, is understandably worried. His mother and uncle call him back to their merchant fleet for safety, so Jaina, Jacen, Lowbacca and Tenel Ka volunteer to take him in Tenel Ka's ship, Rock Dragon. Once there, they see how dangerous things are for the Thul family when a bounty hunter brother duo attempt to kidnap Raynar and his mother. The Four Teens then decide to do their own investigating on Kuar. Meanwhile, Zekk is on a quest to be a bounty hunter and gets his first mission to find Fonterrat, who very conveniently ties in with the Thul/Tarkona plot.
Oh BOY. It's been a few days since I finished this, and I'm right now puzzling over something: was this entire series this cheesy and I ignored it, or is this just a very shaky plot thread the authors hurriedly came up with?
Okay okay, it's not all that bad. I actually really like Lowbacca meeting back up with Raabakyysh"Raaba", hearing what happened to her and how she got drawn into the Diversity Alliance after her ignominious departure from Kashyyyk. Actually, that thread is really good! Lowbacca has really deserved a plot thread as fascinating as Tenel Ka's from "Lightsabers" and I think this is much better than the attempt in the "Darkest Knight".
The other major thread of this novel, the new political group, Diversity Alliance, is a great way to explore new stories without creating a new Empire with a new Superweapon. Star Wars may be a "galaxy far far away" but think of how many (white) human characters have appeared on the screen and compare that to the non-humans. In the movies, is the story about Chewbacca, Jar Jar, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt or...Lupita Nyong'o's CGI character, or is it about humans named Skywalker and Solo? (Sidenote: My conversation last night with my sibling turned into the subject about how the new movies have not only failed to provide any real diversity, in race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or species but also cannot provide any new iconic, memorable characters with which to hawk toys at gullible fans or children. I know I haven't seen the Disney movies more than once each, but damn, I cannot think of any alien character in them.) Humans overrun this galaxy; the Emperor even had an entire platform based on xenophobia. So I think there is a great story to be told based on the xenophobia in Star Wars - and given how this book treated Brakiss and the Shadow Academy, I could even expect some nuanced approach. For instance, aliens have been massively mistreated in this galaxy (the enslavement of the Wookiees is one such incident); their uprising to ask for autonomy, being ruled by beings who look like them instead of the very much human Leia and the human-centric Senate, would be a great point to get kids to think about bigger topics. At least in this book, none of this is touched upon, but it is an incredibly great premise.
That aside, I found myself having more trouble just being whisked away than I had in the first 6 books. The coincidences abound madly, the story elements were particularly juvenile, people are really more trusting than they ought to be (and from someone who can't take a hint to save her life, that's huge), and there are more and more parts where I feel like the authors are writing to fan service rather than because there was a good story thread.
Firstly, Fonterrant is the MacGuffin of this book. Zekk is sent to find this weasel and whaddya know, he inadvertently ties into the Bornan Thul disappearance! Tracking down Fonterrant leads to Zekk somehow finding Boba Fett AGAIN, only this time, Fett isn't trying to gun him down (they aren't on the same bounty, and that would be a waste of Fett's time according to the Bounty Hunter's Creed). While there is a logic to Fett's actions, my eyes were rolling in their sockets - in this big wide galaxy, they meet up AGAIN when looking for two different bounties?
As if that coincidence isn't bad enough, this set of the series seems to be answering the question "what Star Wars characters from the movies can we name drop to appease the fans?" As a kid, I was wowed to see Boba Fett and IG-88; here, it just makes this galaxy feels very much smaller - and the fact that these bounty hunters keep bumping into the 4 teens is weird!
I get this is a kid's book, but I think there were more mature, more clever events and set ups in the earlier books than here. At one point, the authors give this character, Kusk, a name, right after "a signal got off the merchant ship" and I immediately knew that he was involved in whatever plot was going to happen. I cannot believe a 12 year old reading this book (the audience to whom this is written) couldn't likewise suss out that something was up with the man. Three paragraphs later, whaddya know, the ship is under siege and Kusk is kidnapping Raynar and his mother. And of course, 4 teenaged Jedi (not older than 15) volunteer to help fire cannons and rescue the two because I guess child labor laws don't exist in this galaxy.
Nolaa Tarkona is essentially our villain this time around; her characterization isn't nearly as clever or nuanced as Brakiss. She wants all the most violent alien species because "propaganda doesn't work" apparently. I'm astonished she got this far - being able to churn up the masses is a huge advantage and much of the legwork for your movement could be made without firing a shot at all! But apparently, Nolaa doesn't think this - and I don't think it being because she wants all humans dead either. It's really at the heart, authors writing a character they think kids will find just smart enough. It's rather insulting that Nolaa isn't given a bit more complexity - the bits are there. Her past with slavery, the events of her half-sister, Oola. If only she was a bit more clever and thoughtful, then I could believe her grab for power; as it is, she veers towards the more "mustache twirly" villainous side.
And then there's how trusting all 4 teenagers are to Uncle Tyko. Perhaps I'll be proven wrong, but I wouldn't trust that guy with a sweater I didn't like - the guy acts totally shifty and untrustworthy (and again, coming from the Queen of Gullibility and Inability to Take a Frakkin' Hint, that says a lot). In other books, I have complained that teenagers act way too mature for their age - but here, the total opposite is true. These kids are about 15, yet not a single one is maybe slightly suspicious of Tyko (especially after what happened to Tenel Ka in "Lightsabers"!).
Another pet peeve: in this book, the Rock Dragon is heavily damaged for the 2nd or 3rd time in 2 books. If I were these kids' parents, I would ground them - meaning, they weren't allowed to fly. I'm astonished that 4 teenagers are allowed to gallivant in a space ship with no adult supervision in this galaxy in the first place, but after all the scrapes they've been through, Jedi or Not, as their parent, I would take away the proverbial keys.
I do think there are some good elements here - I like how the human/non-human thing is the crux of these books. I like that Raaba is our way of showing it to our main characters. But there are so many things in these books that keep bumping me out of the story. I really feel more and more that the first 6 were solid storytelling, even if for a more childish audience. These past few have been trying to appease the fandom with goofy cameos, relying on coincidences instead of clever stories, dumbing down the essence of the story and hoping the audience is too young or too dumb to notice.
January 1, 2023
What a shockingly deep book! I've always loved Kevin and Rebecca's Young Jedi Knights Series, and this is one of the entries that I had not read yet.
This book really does a lot for me for Jacen and Tenel Ka's relationship. That is absolutely not the main thrust of the story, and is only found in a few small moments throughout, but it was delightful nonetheless. Jacen feeling awkward around Tenel Ka, trying to be helpful without intruding was really sweet. Tenel Ka acknowledging (to the reader) that she actually liked Jacen's jokes and hoped he would keep making them. Then Jacen makes a comment later on about protecting her from the arachnids, and while it is played as funny when Tenel Ka puts on the warrior girl-power look, its obvious she likes the sentiment from Jacen. I don't know if Kevin and Rebecca knew where the kids story would go when they grew up, but they absolutely did a great job of setting it up.
I also really liked the Diversity Alliance threads. This theme isn't just exclusive to this book, but to the 5-book arc as a whole. The Diversity Alliance is actually an interesting analogue for how reparations can be taken to an extreme and can cause problems of their own. Its actually quite funny how on the nose the organization is, given its name is the "Diversity Alliance". I wonder if Kevin and Rebecca knew how precient their book series would actually be.
This book also has a super dark moment, like a moment so dark I would think adult novelists would be afraid to include. However, it works very well to show how evil the villains are and to solidify them as being on the wrong side of history.
I liked the caper of the plot, even though it kind of feels a little like its a filler book for the series. However, because of this book, I believe the later ones will mean more and have more impact to the reader, making this book really valuable.
I wish we had a Zekk/Boba Fett series of books. That would be really interesting and this book gives us the smallest of tastes of that.
Overall, I think this is a well done book and was quite enjoyable. Its actually one of the deeper books in the series, and I want to give kudos to Kevin and Rebecca for taking big swings with this one. 9.1 out of 10!
This book really does a lot for me for Jacen and Tenel Ka's relationship. That is absolutely not the main thrust of the story, and is only found in a few small moments throughout, but it was delightful nonetheless. Jacen feeling awkward around Tenel Ka, trying to be helpful without intruding was really sweet. Tenel Ka acknowledging (to the reader) that she actually liked Jacen's jokes and hoped he would keep making them. Then Jacen makes a comment later on about protecting her from the arachnids, and while it is played as funny when Tenel Ka puts on the warrior girl-power look, its obvious she likes the sentiment from Jacen. I don't know if Kevin and Rebecca knew where the kids story would go when they grew up, but they absolutely did a great job of setting it up.
I also really liked the Diversity Alliance threads. This theme isn't just exclusive to this book, but to the 5-book arc as a whole. The Diversity Alliance is actually an interesting analogue for how reparations can be taken to an extreme and can cause problems of their own. Its actually quite funny how on the nose the organization is, given its name is the "Diversity Alliance". I wonder if Kevin and Rebecca knew how precient their book series would actually be.
This book also has a super dark moment, like a moment so dark I would think adult novelists would be afraid to include. However, it works very well to show how evil the villains are and to solidify them as being on the wrong side of history.
I liked the caper of the plot, even though it kind of feels a little like its a filler book for the series. However, because of this book, I believe the later ones will mean more and have more impact to the reader, making this book really valuable.
I wish we had a Zekk/Boba Fett series of books. That would be really interesting and this book gives us the smallest of tastes of that.
Overall, I think this is a well done book and was quite enjoyable. Its actually one of the deeper books in the series, and I want to give kudos to Kevin and Rebecca for taking big swings with this one. 9.1 out of 10!
May 28, 2021
After literally months of waiting, this book finally arrived at the library! Hopefully, as things return to normal, shipping times will decrease!
As for the book itself, it was great; I’m just glad it finally got here. Now, I can read the remaining volumes in my collection...which have been collecting dust since last summer!
As for the book itself, it was great; I’m just glad it finally got here. Now, I can read the remaining volumes in my collection...which have been collecting dust since last summer!
July 24, 2007
I'm totally in love with the Young Jedi Knights books. They're so silly, but they were a big part of my childhood, from about age 10-13. I wanted to be Jaina Solo so badly. XD
March 15, 2017
I think the overall concept of a Diversity Alliance (aliens banding together to fight/protest mistreatment at the hands of humans) is a good one. Worthy of a plotline for a full novel, as opposed to being used here in two or three novellas. Everything is too simple. It's a small universe. Zekk bumps into Boba Fett (of course). Lowie bumps into his old wookiee friend Rayna (of course). Because planets are small and so is the universe.
Raynar is under the protection of his family in their group of ships, because his father has gone missing. And these ships make frequent hyperspace jumps for security reasons. Best to be completely safe - anyone tracking them down would have a lot of difficulty following the randomized jumps. So...of course they should let the Jedi's droid hack into their computer system and set the randomization program. And of course the kids are allowed to take off in their own ship to do some investigating - and then check back in. Because that's what a security team would allow, right?
Raynar is under the protection of his family in their group of ships, because his father has gone missing. And these ships make frequent hyperspace jumps for security reasons. Best to be completely safe - anyone tracking them down would have a lot of difficulty following the randomized jumps. So...of course they should let the Jedi's droid hack into their computer system and set the randomization program. And of course the kids are allowed to take off in their own ship to do some investigating - and then check back in. Because that's what a security team would allow, right?
March 19, 2009
I read this whole series several times when I was a kid. These were a lot of fun and easy to read. They really helped me along my way to enjoy reading and becoming obessed with Star Wars. We meet alot of charaters that became close frinds to the reader. I feel Anderson was able to identify what a young adult would be lookig for in characters and hit it bullseye. Kudos for a great series.
August 5, 2024
Takes way too long to get going, it's a real drag at times. And with this we get an introduction to our new Big Bad, Nolaa Tarkona, or Not-Oola as I like to call her, half-sister of everyone's favourite ROTJ background character/Rancor food and genocidal anti-Human racist. They hint at her backstory, but I don't think the whole anti-Human angle is explored very well - her revolution against the male-dominated Twi'lek society is something more interesting though!
But a lot of the plot is a bit contrived - why is IG-88 here, and of course you find Lowbacca's long-lost girlfriend out in the middle of nowhere...
But bear in mind this is a kid's book, there are some good action moments and Jacen is pretty great here. Not the best though, onto the next.
But a lot of the plot is a bit contrived - why is IG-88 here, and of course you find Lowbacca's long-lost girlfriend out in the middle of nowhere...
But bear in mind this is a kid's book, there are some good action moments and Jacen is pretty great here. Not the best though, onto the next.
March 29, 2021
The scrappy kid crew Jaina, Jacen,Tenel Ka, and Lowbacca go to the planet Kuar. It was the last place Raynar’s father was before he disappeared. While there they fight combat arachnids, meet Lowie’s presumed dead friend, and get ambushed by assassin droids!
Zekk is hired to find a creature named Fonterrat who took cargo from a bartender . While at the last known location of Fonterrat he runs into the most dangerous bounty hunter of them all Boba Fett!!
The best book of this series so far! It surpasses anything the rat can copy and try to foist off as their own !!
Zekk is hired to find a creature named Fonterrat who took cargo from a bartender . While at the last known location of Fonterrat he runs into the most dangerous bounty hunter of them all Boba Fett!!
The best book of this series so far! It surpasses anything the rat can copy and try to foist off as their own !!
July 26, 2025
Rather off-putting that the new villains are a group trying to unite all "aliens" to overcome the oppression and historic atrocities committed by humans. Like, sure, most of those atrocities were by the Empire (presumably), but it doesn't seem like the New Republic has been doing much to make amends.
Maybe I shouldn't be reading too much into the politics of a children's scifi/fantasy novel from the 90s, but... how can you not.
Maybe I shouldn't be reading too much into the politics of a children's scifi/fantasy novel from the 90s, but... how can you not.
August 20, 2020
I felt like this one ended before it really got going. I feel like there was a lot more "quick encounter with inconsequential enemy" than in previous books, which detracted a bit from the story overall. However, even the best series have their weaker points, and as far as weaker points go, it was pretty decent.
July 3, 2018
En bok om rasism...
Kul att träffa IG-88
Kul att träffa IG-88
July 24, 2020
3.5 stars
November 8, 2021
It's fine. Perfectly serviceable. Nothing too too special, but nothing bad, either.
I'm running out of things to say about this series, unless they change something up in the later books.
I'm running out of things to say about this series, unless they change something up in the later books.
November 14, 2023
Another good read. I am so glad I picked this one up. The saga is a page turner.
June 11, 2024
Like most KJA Star Wars books it's a good concept with lackluster execution. The main antagonist isn't fleshed out enough, and in a desperate attempt to tie her into the movies, it makes her motivations nonsensical. She hates humans because a Twilek sold her sister to a hutt?
Also we see the same bounty hunters with nobody new since ESB. It's been 20 in-universe years, none of them have retired or been killed?
The likeable main cast, interesting setting and fun action save this book
Also we see the same bounty hunters with nobody new since ESB. It's been 20 in-universe years, none of them have retired or been killed?
The likeable main cast, interesting setting and fun action save this book
May 31, 2025
The real-world political implications... troubling.
May 26, 2022
I think this is much better than the previous book. The characters felt more mature to me, and start to think like adults. The premise of this one is really interesting and the Diversity Alliance is a really different kind of villain empire. I wish these books were longer as this one feels way too choppy and I think it would have benefitted from more space for Kevin Anderson to do his thing. The coincidental meetings of all kinds of people in this one are really far fetched which I think is partly due to limited space to develop these story lines in. However, still a good time.
July 3, 2023
Diversity Alliance by Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. This is #8 in the Young Jedi Knights middle grade series.
I'm enjoying how this series of books at times mentions someone, some place, or occurrence from the original Star Wars saga.
I feel the need to mention that the cover art is lacking on this one. The drawing of the kids; Jacen, Jaina and Tenel Ka; is not very good.
I'm enjoying how this series of books at times mentions someone, some place, or occurrence from the original Star Wars saga.
I feel the need to mention that the cover art is lacking on this one. The drawing of the kids; Jacen, Jaina and Tenel Ka; is not very good.
August 6, 2017
There are a LOT of randomly new planets named in this book. It's highly annoying.
Why is Tenel Ka not on the cover?
There is a larger focus on Raynar Thul and his family than in book 7. There are both abduction and assassination attempts, all somehow related to his father's disappearance.
Raynar's uncle Tyko (his father's brother) is like a not-as-nice Lando, in my mind. I have issues with him from the start.
His mother seems a bit overbearing and has a "helicopter mom" mindset - one where she seems to think her son can do no wrong. You can tell she loves him though and does want what is best for him.
Raynar's embarrassment and reactions to certain discomforts show how he's changed since the first book.
We see how the Diversity Alliance's leader Nolaa Tarkona has made an impact on Ryloth (and for female Twi'leks in general). It'd almost be nice if she wasn't so horrible.
And we learn how the Diversity Alliance is incredibly anti-human, which turns out to be dangerous for our companions.
The bond between Jacen and Tenel Ka grows - and he does more to impress her and make her like him. He doesn't even realize that he likes her, which is adorable.
The Rock Dragon's failsafe if TK or her crew don't put in the right codes is awesome.
I love the mention of the Bounty Hunter's Creed. It wasn't used enough in Legends, IMO.
It's interesting to watch Zekk work towards being a bounty hunter.
There are quite a few surprises on Kuar.
The ending has a good cliffhanger.
Why is Tenel Ka not on the cover?
There is a larger focus on Raynar Thul and his family than in book 7. There are both abduction and assassination attempts, all somehow related to his father's disappearance.
Raynar's uncle Tyko (his father's brother) is like a not-as-nice Lando, in my mind. I have issues with him from the start.
His mother seems a bit overbearing and has a "helicopter mom" mindset - one where she seems to think her son can do no wrong. You can tell she loves him though and does want what is best for him.
Raynar's embarrassment and reactions to certain discomforts show how he's changed since the first book.
We see how the Diversity Alliance's leader Nolaa Tarkona has made an impact on Ryloth (and for female Twi'leks in general). It'd almost be nice if she wasn't so horrible.
And we learn how the Diversity Alliance is incredibly anti-human, which turns out to be dangerous for our companions.
The bond between Jacen and Tenel Ka grows - and he does more to impress her and make her like him. He doesn't even realize that he likes her, which is adorable.
The Rock Dragon's failsafe if TK or her crew don't put in the right codes is awesome.
I love the mention of the Bounty Hunter's Creed. It wasn't used enough in Legends, IMO.
It's interesting to watch Zekk work towards being a bounty hunter.
There are quite a few surprises on Kuar.
The ending has a good cliffhanger.
September 9, 2016
One of the parts in the book i like is Luke sky walker help raynar get back to his mom. Another one is when a shadow chaser arrived it was a really big deal for a little part of the book. One part is were you meat jacen and jaina is a part that was pretty cool part of the book. I really love this book so much! I really liked the start of the book and i think that was my favorite part of it. I think more people should read this book because they may enjoy it they may not. But still its a good book in my opinion and that what matters to me.
November 15, 2013
This was a pretty quick read. A little hard to get into, but once the lightsabers came out I really couldn't put the book down. Raynar's father has been missing since the previous novel and the young Jedi search for clues that will lead to his discovery. I like that the two groups, Jedi and Bounty Hunters, are inadvertently looking for the same person. The Diversity Alliance sounds like an interesting antagonistic group mirroring hate groups in real life. Overall a good read.
December 23, 2014
The villain is a complete joke. Why does she hate humans? Her half-sister was a victim of slavery, but it wasn't even to humans!! It was to a Hutt! Also, the Empire is no longer a thing and the New Republic fully embraces other species. Who exactly are they trying to kill? Oh of course, there's one human in the book who hates aliens just to justify their cause. The only thing that saves this is Zekk's story.
August 6, 2011
A little bit lacking in story. I realize it's a transitional book of sorts, but int he pivotal book where you're introducing us to a new organization known as the Diversity Alliance, please tell a bit more about them!
June 2, 2009
It's great to see Zekk coming into his own here. He's gaining confidence, and becoming even more awesome as time goes on.
July 29, 2023
Not a bad read, but not a great one either.
February 8, 2015
3.75/5
May 21, 2015
Love all of the Star Wars universe characters in this one. The scenes with Boba Fett are fantastic.
November 25, 2008
this book has a fairly decent plot but could use just a bit more action in my opinion.
February 7, 2015
Thankfully back to form. Short but entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews