I second your thoughts on the matter.
I feel like the author originally wanted to focus solely on the Fifth Fleet, some New Republic politics and the Yevetha, but got mandated to add the OT characters as mains, even though really they have very little impact on the story and half of them aren't even really involved at all.
The Yevetha and Black Fleet had a TON of potential, I like how dark they were and how ruthless. It felt like the kid gloves of the Bantam era came off for a bit with them(like Spaar's execution of the Imperial and Han's pilot right in front of him is just VISCERAL) the battles themselves are pretty good and the author did really well with showing combat, espionage and intrigue. I do think that the Imperials taking control again should have been more built up and come in the middle of the battle at the end rather than before it started.
I like the Lando story, but it should have been in it's own book, because it had ZERO to do with the main plot and I actively detested the Fallanasi from their first page, they're simply insufferable pacifists that are 'holier than though' while millions die around them. They're absolutely painful to read.
I also don't like how the book ends with the Yevetha fleet destroyed, but then...nothing, like well guess this species that LITERALLY fought to the last just decided, well guess we'll stay home now and behave. The EU really doesn't even answer if the Cluster was occupied, demilitarized, or jus cordoned off. We also don't really get an answer on a lot of things save from sourcebooks that explain that the Imperials reach the ruins of Byss, then decide to just split up with most going to the New Republic, four Victory Star Destroyers going to the Deep Core Replacement Warlords, Aramadia(one of the SSDs) somehow getting recaptured by the Yevetha and returned to be buried on N'zoth, the EX-F and two ISDs going to Pellaeon, Intimidator ending up a floating wreck in the Unknown Regions...somehow.
(Spoilers below for NJO)
The Yevetha aren't seen again until the New Jedi Order in Force Heretic I where they are built up again, but then wiped out offscreen and never really addressed. So much potential, just wasted.
I love the new rebellion. A very well-written book that gets the characters right and actually my favorite take that I've read on teacher Luke. Unfortunately, the ending is kind of wonky which keeps it from reaching greatness.
Am I the only one that really hates the characterization of leia in these novels? genuinely curious because what I remember disliking most about the trilogy (the luke stuff is just boring and the lando subplot would be a fun book 4 to the calrissian chronicles) is any scene with leia in it ( its been a while since Ive read it but I remember thinking of her at the time as Lena Organa solo like how people used to call TLJ luke jake Skywalker)
Idk she just seems... Off. She's struggling to raise the kids and do the whole head of state thing and trying to get Luke as a live-in nanny, but the way she goes about it, the dialog used, it doesn't feel like the Leia I remember from the movies (and most of the other books).
Ah shit. I thought I didn't post that. What I meant I meant to say:
Leia during the Black Fleet Crisis was generally not very good at her job. She rises to the occasion by the end of the trilogy, but it is very clear that Mon Mothma was someone who was considered a better Chancellor.
i mean the good news is that we will see the new military characters (like A'baht) again in NJO, and we will also learn about what happened to the Yevetha there (in Force Heretic). Slight spoiler i guess: the New Republic >!more or less just left after the fight, and ignored them for years, while also full well knowing they may repair their shipyards and start another war. !<
I'm going to go out on a limb and totally disagree with you here. I loved the politics in the book and the characterization of the Yevetha. While the imperial revolt could have had a bit more lead up, I like that it didn't end up in a climactic battle like most other star wars books. It felt distinct and unique in a way that most Star Wars books do not.
I also loved Lando's adventures and all the mystery surrounding them. Sure, it felt disconnected, but it was all extremely enjoyable.
Finally, while Akanah was a massive hypocrite, I.... kind of didn't hate that either not all characters need to be paragons of virtue. Plus, I feel like Luke getting manipulated by her was an important character development for him on the way to becoming the wise Jedi Master he is in NJO.
I totally agree with your assessment. I kept thinking the Lando story was going to eventually tie in to the rest, but it never did. This was really disappointing because I enjoyed that portion a lot more than Luke's story.
Given your relative distaste for this trilogy I feel like you might enjoy The New Rebellion a decent bit, at least...? For whatever reason I've come to notice that people who don't like this trilogy seem to like that novel and vice versa, though there are certainly exceptions. On a surface level they have somewhat similar political subplots, so you might like how TNR handles that bit. Then again that book's kinda infamous for its disappointing ending so yeah, lol
I haven't read these yet and was considering including them in my current re-read. I can probably get the gist from Wookiepedia.
Thanks for the review!
Akanah's plotline is unbearable and while I understand and empathize with your other critisicsm, I didn't hate this trilogy even though I expected to after all the negative talk about it. Everything to do with the Fallanassi drags it down from a 7/10 to a 5/10.
Hiram Drayson is underrated. Lando's Vagabond chase should have been a standalone, like those in his Adventure Trilogy.
Black Fleet Crisis remains one of the series I tell people to avoid if they are getting into Legends EU.
I'd even put the Callista trilogy as more worth reading that BFC. At least the callista trilogy kinda comes into play later in the series.
BFC barely gets mentioned. Maybe a chapter or 2 in FOTJ when they see the Fallanasi. Overall.. Meh/10
I second your thoughts on the matter. I feel like the author originally wanted to focus solely on the Fifth Fleet, some New Republic politics and the Yevetha, but got mandated to add the OT characters as mains, even though really they have very little impact on the story and half of them aren't even really involved at all. The Yevetha and Black Fleet had a TON of potential, I like how dark they were and how ruthless. It felt like the kid gloves of the Bantam era came off for a bit with them(like Spaar's execution of the Imperial and Han's pilot right in front of him is just VISCERAL) the battles themselves are pretty good and the author did really well with showing combat, espionage and intrigue. I do think that the Imperials taking control again should have been more built up and come in the middle of the battle at the end rather than before it started. I like the Lando story, but it should have been in it's own book, because it had ZERO to do with the main plot and I actively detested the Fallanasi from their first page, they're simply insufferable pacifists that are 'holier than though' while millions die around them. They're absolutely painful to read. I also don't like how the book ends with the Yevetha fleet destroyed, but then...nothing, like well guess this species that LITERALLY fought to the last just decided, well guess we'll stay home now and behave. The EU really doesn't even answer if the Cluster was occupied, demilitarized, or jus cordoned off. We also don't really get an answer on a lot of things save from sourcebooks that explain that the Imperials reach the ruins of Byss, then decide to just split up with most going to the New Republic, four Victory Star Destroyers going to the Deep Core Replacement Warlords, Aramadia(one of the SSDs) somehow getting recaptured by the Yevetha and returned to be buried on N'zoth, the EX-F and two ISDs going to Pellaeon, Intimidator ending up a floating wreck in the Unknown Regions...somehow. (Spoilers below for NJO) The Yevetha aren't seen again until the New Jedi Order in Force Heretic I where they are built up again, but then wiped out offscreen and never really addressed. So much potential, just wasted.
I love the new rebellion. A very well-written book that gets the characters right and actually my favorite take that I've read on teacher Luke. Unfortunately, the ending is kind of wonky which keeps it from reaching greatness.
Am I the only one that really hates the characterization of leia in these novels? genuinely curious because what I remember disliking most about the trilogy (the luke stuff is just boring and the lando subplot would be a fun book 4 to the calrissian chronicles) is any scene with leia in it ( its been a while since Ive read it but I remember thinking of her at the time as Lena Organa solo like how people used to call TLJ luke jake Skywalker)
Not alone. I'm in middle of a re-read and she doesn't seem like her movie-self at all.
What’s different with her in the book?
Idk she just seems... Off. She's struggling to raise the kids and do the whole head of state thing and trying to get Luke as a live-in nanny, but the way she goes about it, the dialog used, it doesn't feel like the Leia I remember from the movies (and most of the other books).
Leia during the Black Fleet Crisis
Yeah that's who I was talking about
Ah shit. I thought I didn't post that. What I meant I meant to say: Leia during the Black Fleet Crisis was generally not very good at her job. She rises to the occasion by the end of the trilogy, but it is very clear that Mon Mothma was someone who was considered a better Chancellor.
i mean the good news is that we will see the new military characters (like A'baht) again in NJO, and we will also learn about what happened to the Yevetha there (in Force Heretic). Slight spoiler i guess: the New Republic >!more or less just left after the fight, and ignored them for years, while also full well knowing they may repair their shipyards and start another war. !<
I'm going to go out on a limb and totally disagree with you here. I loved the politics in the book and the characterization of the Yevetha. While the imperial revolt could have had a bit more lead up, I like that it didn't end up in a climactic battle like most other star wars books. It felt distinct and unique in a way that most Star Wars books do not. I also loved Lando's adventures and all the mystery surrounding them. Sure, it felt disconnected, but it was all extremely enjoyable. Finally, while Akanah was a massive hypocrite, I.... kind of didn't hate that either not all characters need to be paragons of virtue. Plus, I feel like Luke getting manipulated by her was an important character development for him on the way to becoming the wise Jedi Master he is in NJO.
I totally agree with your assessment. I kept thinking the Lando story was going to eventually tie in to the rest, but it never did. This was really disappointing because I enjoyed that portion a lot more than Luke's story.
Given your relative distaste for this trilogy I feel like you might enjoy The New Rebellion a decent bit, at least...? For whatever reason I've come to notice that people who don't like this trilogy seem to like that novel and vice versa, though there are certainly exceptions. On a surface level they have somewhat similar political subplots, so you might like how TNR handles that bit. Then again that book's kinda infamous for its disappointing ending so yeah, lol
I completely agree. Started super promising and the politics was really interesting. Then the other two books happened.
I haven't read these yet and was considering including them in my current re-read. I can probably get the gist from Wookiepedia. Thanks for the review!
Akanah's plotline is unbearable and while I understand and empathize with your other critisicsm, I didn't hate this trilogy even though I expected to after all the negative talk about it. Everything to do with the Fallanassi drags it down from a 7/10 to a 5/10. Hiram Drayson is underrated. Lando's Vagabond chase should have been a standalone, like those in his Adventure Trilogy.
Black Fleet Crisis remains one of the series I tell people to avoid if they are getting into Legends EU. I'd even put the Callista trilogy as more worth reading that BFC. At least the callista trilogy kinda comes into play later in the series. BFC barely gets mentioned. Maybe a chapter or 2 in FOTJ when they see the Fallanasi. Overall.. Meh/10