Booknote: Star Wars: Lords of the Sith

Paul S. Kemp, Star Wars: Lords of the Sith. New York: Del Rey, 2015. ISBN: 9780345511447. 

Genre: Science fiction
Subgenre: space opera, Star Wars
Format: e-book galley
Source: Netgalley

This book is another novel of the time when the Emperor and Darth Vader were consolidating their power after the Clone Wars. There are insurgencies going on, and for the most part, the Emperor has been happy to let Vader be the enforcer. However, this time the Emperor feels a need to get involved, so Vader and him head off to the Twi'lek homeworld to deal with an incompetent (or so it seems) planetary governor and an insurrection. What they find is that they were lured into a trap. They get stranded, and they become the hunted ones.

A significant part of the novel explores the relationship between the Emperor and Vader and between Sith master and Sith apprentice. Sure, the Emperor may call Vader an "old friend," but let's just say they have a different definition of friendship and leave it at that. As they see the need to rely on each other in a very hostile environment, we get more insights into how they work with and relate to each other.

The book does contain a good blend of intrigue and action, and you do wonder if the rebels will beat the Emperor and Vader or not. The novel's pace is pretty quick; you get into the action right away. Overall, this was a good and entertaining read that I really liked. For libraries that collect Star Wars novels, this is a good selection.

4 out of 5 stars.

This book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges: