saarah662's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loooooooved this book. This trilogy is amazing.
rhganci's review against another edition
1.0
Maybe it’s just not the right time, so soon after The Dark Tower. This book just seems horrible – the characters are uninteresting, the dialogue is terrible, and there’s really just not a whole lot to like about it. Karpyshyn might be a horrible author. Perhaps some day I’ll come back to it, but right now I have no interest in finishing the story.
kecresser's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bdesmond's review against another edition
3.0
Rule of Two, the second book in the Darth Bane trilogy, was a fun read but it fell victim to sequel syndrome. What I mean by that is that most of the best parts of the book were reminiscent of (and perhaps better done in) the first book, and so there was a feeling of repetition in places. I didn't totally mind this as some of the repetitious sections were fun to read (ie Bane seeks power, Bane finds power) and in a way were understandable because of Karpyshyn's video game background, but they were repetitive nonetheless.
Now, this second book did bring things to the table that I really enjoyed. Bane's relationship with his apprentice, Zannah, was fun to read about. I liked her character a lot and am looking forward to seeing more development in their dynamic in the final book of the trilogy. Additionally, I think that Drew handled the multi-POV format better in this book. The POV count was cut down by a few, and the ones chosen were more interesting and better written (though still not excellent) than some of the ones in Path of Destruction. There is also a lightsaber fight in this one that was cooler than anything that happened in the first book. I really enjoyed it. I'm one of those people who wants there to be lots of sword fights in my Star Wars; so sue me.
Overall it was a good entry in a solid trilogy. Dynasty of Evil is up next.
Now, this second book did bring things to the table that I really enjoyed. Bane's relationship with his apprentice, Zannah, was fun to read about. I liked her character a lot and am looking forward to seeing more development in their dynamic in the final book of the trilogy. Additionally, I think that Drew handled the multi-POV format better in this book. The POV count was cut down by a few, and the ones chosen were more interesting and better written (though still not excellent) than some of the ones in Path of Destruction. There is also a lightsaber fight in this one that was cooler than anything that happened in the first book. I really enjoyed it. I'm one of those people who wants there to be lots of sword fights in my Star Wars; so sue me.
Overall it was a good entry in a solid trilogy. Dynasty of Evil is up next.
arat's review against another edition
3.0
2.5, very middle of the road, but it earns the 3 star because of Zannah.
I was scared of how boring she (and honestly the rest of the book was) during the first half. I haven't read enough old Star Wars books to know if the extensive setup is typical or a feature of Karpyshyn's writing, but It fortunately pays off in the second half. Characters go from passive and reactionary to very active. Seeing Darth Bane accomplish little during the book (other than being the force master that effortlessly kills anything and everything), was a great contrast to both his character in the first book and the cunning of his new apprentice.
Zannah also had to face a lot of uncomfortable conversations. Her worst enemy wasn't any of the people she fought, but the debates with herself and others. Wanting to cling to simple pleasures of life when that takes her attention away from her training; dogmatically repeating Darth Bane's ideology but slowly shaping it into her own words after a decade of indoctrination; the final action she takes to solidify her sole desire to learn and become powerful. She always feels on the edge of doubt and betrayal, and never takes that step.
I'm hopeful the final book in the trilogy solidifies her, actualizes her, and develops her wants and desires for the future sith beyond what Darth Bane wants.
I was scared of how boring she (and honestly the rest of the book was) during the first half. I haven't read enough old Star Wars books to know if the extensive setup is typical or a feature of Karpyshyn's writing, but It fortunately pays off in the second half. Characters go from passive and reactionary to very active. Seeing Darth Bane accomplish little during the book (other than being the force master that effortlessly kills anything and everything), was a great contrast to both his character in the first book and the cunning of his new apprentice.
Zannah also had to face a lot of uncomfortable conversations. Her worst enemy wasn't any of the people she fought, but the debates with herself and others. Wanting to cling to simple pleasures of life when that takes her attention away from her training; dogmatically repeating Darth Bane's ideology but slowly shaping it into her own words after a decade of indoctrination; the final action she takes to solidify her sole desire to learn and become powerful. She always feels on the edge of doubt and betrayal, and never takes that step.
I'm hopeful the final book in the trilogy solidifies her, actualizes her, and develops her wants and desires for the future sith beyond what Darth Bane wants.
lanko's review against another edition
5.0
Ten years have passed from the previous book and Bane's apprentice is growing, specially her power. Right in the beginning she is manipulating her lover for both pleasure and power.
There is a massive lightsaber battle, probably one of the best one in the entire saga.
Bane continues his studies, which is something I like characters to do. Also, the two Sith get in a lot of trouble as well. So much for secrecy, but it that fails, nothing that cunning and brute force can't solve.
The Jedi were a bit lacking, though. They seemed stupid at times, like going on a critical secret mission without telling anyone where it was, for example. And the dude in battle meditation who needed to be right in the middle of the fight? In the previous book there was someone using that skill from numerous battleships away.
Sometimes Bane and Zannah also put too much their ideals before anything else, which sounded a bit surreal as well. I know it's Star Wars, but I actually expected them to at least flirt a little. You know, young hot woman in her best age and loner power hungry guy.
But this didn't do anything to diminish my rating of the book. The ending is also great, that feeling something big and bad is gonna happen in the near future.
There is a massive lightsaber battle, probably one of the best one in the entire saga.
Bane continues his studies, which is something I like characters to do. Also, the two Sith get in a lot of trouble as well. So much for secrecy, but it that fails, nothing that cunning and brute force can't solve.
The Jedi were a bit lacking, though. They seemed stupid at times, like going on a critical secret mission without telling anyone where it was, for example. And the dude in battle meditation who needed to be right in the middle of the fight? In the previous book there was someone using that skill from numerous battleships away.
Sometimes Bane and Zannah also put too much their ideals before anything else, which sounded a bit surreal as well. I know it's Star Wars, but I actually expected them to at least flirt a little. You know, young hot woman in her best age and loner power hungry guy.
But this didn't do anything to diminish my rating of the book. The ending is also great, that feeling something big and bad is gonna happen in the near future.
blacksentai's review against another edition
2.0
This book is a disaster. Just awful. I realize the problem with almost all of the sith philosophizing book. The ideals of the sith and Jedi are both on the extreme ends of stupid. In keeping with the fiction characters on either side have to be the embodiment of those remarkably stupid ideals. When dealing with the sith (and especially with Darth Bane and Darth Zannah and this whole rule of two business) they're basicallly cartoons. They run around the galaxy tying people to train tracks. Karpyshian tries to show how truly evil they are in a number of scenes, but it just so often comes off as silly.
They also have this bad habit of both saying out loud and too themselves that they're soooo dark. Bla bla I'm the darkside bla bla I'll murder you and your children for darkness bla bla hate and rage are in me bla bla bla. It's a never ending string of reminders of how dark the sith are. I get it. I got it. Dark Lords doing dark evil things.
This books pacing, while better in many ways than the first darth bane book, is still a freakshow. There are all these scenes where they try and make characters out of Jedi, and they just drag the book down, because we know from the start that none of these characters matter.
Spoiler
There's a scene where Darth Zannah learns she can cause people's worst fears to come to light before them and drive them insane by it. She uses this on an opponent and we're supposed to be sort of shocked at the malevolence of the act, but it's so childish all the weight is stripped from it.They also have this bad habit of both saying out loud and too themselves that they're soooo dark. Bla bla I'm the darkside bla bla I'll murder you and your children for darkness bla bla hate and rage are in me bla bla bla. It's a never ending string of reminders of how dark the sith are. I get it. I got it. Dark Lords doing dark evil things.
This books pacing, while better in many ways than the first darth bane book, is still a freakshow. There are all these scenes where they try and make characters out of Jedi, and they just drag the book down, because we know from the start that none of these characters matter.
Spoiler
They try and show an emotional bond between Zannah and some useless other character, but since Zannah has spent the ENTIRE book talking about how fucking dark and evil she is we know she's going to kill him. It doesn't help her characterization at all. It's also not a surprise that every jedi we've come to know in this series of books ends up dead here.necromantia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Murder and Torture
sabra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5