In the first installment of the "Dark Nest" series, a number of Jedi Knights go missing during a crucial rebuilding period. The Solo twins, among others, have followed a Force compulsion to aid a mysterious group in the Unknown Regions, and the Jedi Council wants to know why. At the same time, the Chiss blame the same Jedi for interfering in territorial disputes.

Han and Leia Solo trail the young Jedi to a new, fascinating, yet disturbing society of bug-like aliens. What they find leads them to an old friend, new enemies, and a puzzling pattern of behaviors by the AWOL Jedi.

In general, I feel the Star Wars novels have been decent to good quality, even when I haven't cared too much for a storyline. The writing in The Joiner King is well done; however, I question certain plot points, such as the Joiners' pulling Jaina, Jacen, Tahiri, and others from their duties.

As much as I enjoy Star Wars, I feel the "Dark Nest" premise is not up to the caliber set by earlier Star Wars works, such as Timothy Zahn's Thrawn series and Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy series, etc.

I would like to see events that can make the Star Wars fan feel more than grief and/or disappointment. I want to see more than, well, war. While that may seem an odd sentiment in reference to an inherently tumultuous universe, it is not impossible. Strife drives the machine, but the promise of reader satisfaction keeps it going. Unfortunately, I haven't felt that kind of reader satisfaction lately.

We shall see how the remainder of the "Dark Nest" series plays out. Maybe it will surprise me.

-C.W.

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