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berenikeasteria's review against another edition
4.0
Initially I was looking forward to re-reading this book because I remembered how good it was, remembered it being evocatively dark, and scenes of Anakin grappling with an ‘inner dragon’. Now I’ve finished, I realise that what I remembered was actually from Matthew Stover’s novelisation of Revenge of the Sith. It makes sense in hindsight; Stover is well-known in the Expanded Universe for his hard-hitting, no-punches-pulled entries, including Shatterpoint and Traitor. Mea culpa – it has been a decade at least since I last did a Star Wars books marathon re-read. But I still remembered enjoying Labyrinth of Evil, and the book didn’t let me down on that front.
It may not be as stark as Stover’s immediate sequel, but Labyrinth assuredly has its chilling moments. It’s hard not to feel the icy knife of grim sobriety when confronted with the fate of the determined Intelligence agent on Darth Sidious’ tail, or discovering that Anakin, when left alone without Obi-Wan, behind his back bullies and tortures witnesses in hopes of getting the information he deems vital at any cost. This is fairly mature stuff, and, as an adult, I appreciate the exploration of such difficult situations and themes. That said, I wouldn’t call it replete with gore. It summons the moments of horror when needed, but much of Labyrinth is an adventure chase as our protagonists travel to strange alien worlds in hopes of unravelling the mystery. Your mileage may vary of course – I have a pretty strong stomach and this seems pretty light to me, but others may find a different experience.
It’s that heart that really makes and dominates this story. Our Sith are not shown to have everything sewn up and in the bag – one mistake brings the Jedi in this book breathing down Sidious’ neck and you feel the tension is real and the outcome still changeable and resting on a knife’s edge. That’s a very nice thing to have when most of us reading this book already know what happens and these stories could so easily have been lazy and predictable with nothing deviating from the master plan laid out by the Sith. The story actually has stakes. But it isn’t made easy for the good guys either. Obi-Wan and Anakin have to follow a lengthy trail of minor hints and clues, all in hopes that it will lead to some substantive information, and facing resistance at every step. This ends up with them going on what is mainly a rollicking adventure across five different worlds; with interludes on Coruscant with Bail Organa reminding us of the grave risks when the fate of a galaxy is on the line. I suppose I can say that I wish more time had been spent on those worlds – but then, I openly admit that I love the books that deep dive alien worlds and locations, considering this sort of stuff to be the guest stars of any sci fi novel. That’s a minor wishlist criticism from me though, and a very personal one, based on what I prefer and enjoy.
The story feels well-plotted out, certainly, and definitely dovetails very smoothly with the opening of Revenge of the Sith, where we’re thrown right into the middle of the action and perhaps left to wonder a little bit exactly how we ended up with a battle above Coruscant, when the Republic were supposedly winning the war, and how such a high profile and well-guarded figure as the Chancellor could have been captured. Labyrinth answers all those questions. It also draws from and makes references to plenty of the other Clone Wars novels, making this feel like a coherent, joined up world. The downside to this is that there are frequent mentions of some of the not-so-good entries that I’d rather forget and cut from my personal canon.
When it comes to the rating I give this book, a caveat is in order. Labyrinth is not among the best the Expanded Universe has to offer. It wouldn’t make my top ten. But I do think it is a decent entry, decent enough to keep not cut, and I feel reasonably well disposed towards it because it is one of the few Clone Wars era novels that I consider satisfactory. I’ve found, during this re-read, that I didn’t enjoy quite a lot of them. Some were completely out of step with the universe and characters they purported to portray, some were just utterly boring, some were just mediocre. Luceno here at least creates a world that is recognisable to Star Wars fans, giving Anakin and Obi-Wan a plausible relationship instead of one that is hopelessly out of character. Throw in a decently constructed plot on top of that and some good tension, and yes, this is good enough to make my cut, even if there are better books out there. It’s set it up well, and now I’m looking forward to Stover’s novelisation of Revenge of the Sith.
7 out of 10
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.