Scan barcode
starwarrior91's review against another edition
5.0
One of my top five favorite Star Wars novels. A really great lead in to Episode III and tells (in my opinion) the definitive version of the Battle of Courscant. Absolutely love the scene where General Grievous is fighting Mace Windu on the roof of a Mag Lev train while trying to abduct Palpatine. It's fun reading this novel after watching the Clone Wars series and imagining characters and craft as they appeared on that show.
kolar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
limondesperso's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
While this book is most certainly not an easy read (typical James Luceno), it is none-the-less fun and informative. Many of the Clone Wars novels (most notably The Cestus Deception and Jedi Trial) have been lacking or not very cohesive. Attack of the Clones movie only shows the beginning of the Clone Wars. And Revenge of the Sith ends the Clone Wars, leaving us, the audience, yearning for answers as to how we get from AotC to RotS.
This is where Labyrinth of Evil comes in.
Plot:
Anakin and Obi-Wan are fighting in the Outer Rim worlds, thrown their by our favorite almost-Emperor, Palpatine. They discover the mechno-chair used by Nute Gunray and discover the location of the feared General Grievous, finally revealed in fine detail.
Meanwhile, Bail Organa watches the changes in government and begins to worry about the outcome. He and a few others (Mon Mothma from Return of the Jedi) start the outlines of what will become the Rebel Alliance.
Anakin and Obi-Wan race closer and closer to the true identity of Darth Sidious as the events tumble into what was made into the movie, Revenge of the Sith.
Good:
Little references from all the Clone Wars novels (well, mostly the good ones, Yoda, Shatterpoint, etc.) are integrated into one cohesive work. The end blends perfectly with the beginning of RotS. I just loved reading each little detail that blended with AotC, the previous Clone Wars novels, and even The Phantom Menace, making sense of all the wanderings that previous novelists have done.
Bad:
Probably the only reason this does not receive a full five stars is the apparent conflictions with the Clone Wars Animated Shorts (almost as good as the movies). In the shorts, the end is completely different than that in Labyrinth of Evil. Anakin and Obi-Wan are on completely different systems with completely different reasons for being there. I still wonder how this is reconciled in Star Wars canon.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
No coarse language. No sexual situations. This is Star Wars during the Clone Wars--expect Star Wars type of violence (lightsabers, blasters, war, etc.).
Overall:
If you wonder about what happens to Anakin and Obi-Wan just before RotS, this will answer your questions. It is way, way better than The Approaching Storm (which merely told an unimportant, filler story) in this regard. Definitely worthwhile and important to truly understanding the nuances of Revenge of the Sith.
This is where Labyrinth of Evil comes in.
Plot:
Anakin and Obi-Wan are fighting in the Outer Rim worlds, thrown their by our favorite almost-Emperor, Palpatine. They discover the mechno-chair used by Nute Gunray and discover the location of the feared General Grievous, finally revealed in fine detail.
Meanwhile, Bail Organa watches the changes in government and begins to worry about the outcome. He and a few others (Mon Mothma from Return of the Jedi) start the outlines of what will become the Rebel Alliance.
Anakin and Obi-Wan race closer and closer to the true identity of Darth Sidious as the events tumble into what was made into the movie, Revenge of the Sith.
Good:
Little references from all the Clone Wars novels (well, mostly the good ones, Yoda, Shatterpoint, etc.) are integrated into one cohesive work. The end blends perfectly with the beginning of RotS. I just loved reading each little detail that blended with AotC, the previous Clone Wars novels, and even The Phantom Menace, making sense of all the wanderings that previous novelists have done.
Bad:
Probably the only reason this does not receive a full five stars is the apparent conflictions with the Clone Wars Animated Shorts (almost as good as the movies). In the shorts, the end is completely different than that in Labyrinth of Evil. Anakin and Obi-Wan are on completely different systems with completely different reasons for being there. I still wonder how this is reconciled in Star Wars canon.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
No coarse language. No sexual situations. This is Star Wars during the Clone Wars--expect Star Wars type of violence (lightsabers, blasters, war, etc.).
Overall:
If you wonder about what happens to Anakin and Obi-Wan just before RotS, this will answer your questions. It is way, way better than The Approaching Storm (which merely told an unimportant, filler story) in this regard. Definitely worthwhile and important to truly understanding the nuances of Revenge of the Sith.
lilaezz's review against another edition
3.0
Although the parts with Anakin and Obi-Wan were a lot of fun and very well characterized the rest of this book falls short. Mostly because the writing style takes a while to get used to. Luceno's prose is quite heavy to read which makes certain parts hard to get through. I found the plot that didn't follow Anakin and Obi-Wan to be weak and not a lot of fun to read but other than that it was a relatively decent first foray into the Star Wars books. I do think it's a good prequel to Revenge of the Sith so if you like the characters in that movie I would recommend maybe giving this book a go, if you don't mind some heavy prose.
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It was alright. I usually don't like a bunch of action when I'm reading Star Wars books, and this one had a lot of action. I also wasn't a giant fan of the writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder
brentevs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jessraven's review against another edition
3.0
All in all, I found this to be a relatively enjoyable read. I found the dialogue between Obi-Wan and Anakin to be exceptionally witty and well-written; Luceno captures the essence of their dynamic very well. However, I had to deduct points because I found that the pacing drags at times, particularly during the Windu-centric chapters. Perhaps it's because I found the overall "hunt for Sidious" to be a dull storyline compared to the fast-paced action of the Obi-Wan and Anakin-centric chapters, but I had to take several breaks when trying to get through the slower sections of the book.
My much larger complaint, though, is Luceno's characterization of Padmé. While the films do arguably leave much to be desired, as well, the novels have always been - in my opinion - an opportunity to explore her character to a deeper extent. She is more than just Anakin's wife; she is the former Queen of Naboo and current Republic Senator, and she is far more than just a damsel in distress. You would barely be able to glean such an assessment from Labyrinth of Evil. We only see Padmé's strong, independent side once in the entire novel, when she picks up a blaster during the invasion of Coruscant; all of her other appearances reduce her to blushing over her relationship with Anakin, crying because Anakin isn't there, fainting and being pregnant. Luceno's characterization of Padmé Amidala, one of the most fascinating characters in the prequels, leaves so much to be desired. It may very well be that I was spoiled by reading E.K. Johnston's Padmé novels immediately prior to picking this book up, but I still see no reason that she should be written so... dully, even when she isn't the narrative's main character. Shaak Ti and Stass Allie were both given the opportunity to be vibrant and engaging, so why wasn't Padmé given the same luxury?
I did enjoy Labyrinth of Evil and would recommend it to fans of Obi-Wan and Anakin, and perhaps even Dooku, but I don't think I would read it a second time.
My much larger complaint, though, is Luceno's characterization of Padmé. While the films do arguably leave much to be desired, as well, the novels have always been - in my opinion - an opportunity to explore her character to a deeper extent. She is more than just Anakin's wife; she is the former Queen of Naboo and current Republic Senator, and she is far more than just a damsel in distress. You would barely be able to glean such an assessment from Labyrinth of Evil. We only see Padmé's strong, independent side once in the entire novel, when she picks up a blaster during the invasion of Coruscant; all of her other appearances reduce her to blushing over her relationship with Anakin, crying because Anakin isn't there, fainting and being pregnant. Luceno's characterization of Padmé Amidala, one of the most fascinating characters in the prequels, leaves so much to be desired. It may very well be that I was spoiled by reading E.K. Johnston's Padmé novels immediately prior to picking this book up, but I still see no reason that she should be written so... dully, even when she isn't the narrative's main character. Shaak Ti and Stass Allie were both given the opportunity to be vibrant and engaging, so why wasn't Padmé given the same luxury?
I did enjoy Labyrinth of Evil and would recommend it to fans of Obi-Wan and Anakin, and perhaps even Dooku, but I don't think I would read it a second time.
beccas_bibliomania's review against another edition
3.0
Good context for episode three but the author can be rather wordy and confusing at times