Fate of the Jedi: Abyss

Shorter review today, for Christmas!

Hope it isn't a bother or disappointment for anyone awaiting this book!

Troy Denning's writing is very solid here, it feels less like himself to be honest, it seems like for this novel at least that he has listened to many criticisms about his writing and I honestly didn't notice many of the hallmarks of his prose.

Lady Rhea and Vestara were a really awesome duo for me and I loved their relationship. Them exploring what I am betting is Mortis was really cool, and I loved Vestara seeing Abeloth for who she truly is and not letting herself be fooled by her.

The whole Mind-walking stuff where Luke and Ben leave their bodies was really cool but also extremely creepy, and I love the horror-edge this series has. It reminds me of what I loved with the books with the Vong, but does something different with it.

I really enjoyed when the Sith of like twenty think no two Jedi can be a match for them, and then are almost completely wiped out by Luke and Ben, which has some seriously golden fight scenes seeing Luke fight four sith at once, especially when he fights Lady Rhea and cuts her leg off, then her arm, then decapitates her.

Of course, Luke takes no pleasure in this, and it isn't an extremely easy battle, but he's such a damn good Jedi by now - as he should be - that he wipes the floor with them, even using his cut to blood-trail Vestara. Luke's development across these books is phenomenal.

It feels like Indiana Jones finding the Holy Grail, or the Ark of the Covenant when Luke and Ben talk to the Force ghosts. I seriously feel like we're learning so much more about the Force and the galaxy, and it was also very emotional.

I loved seeing Anakin again, and his godly quote.

“Evert Jedi Knight has to be his own light, because the light shouldn't go out when one Jedi dies.”

Mara gets to speak with Luke and Ben once more, and it's a really lovely moment to see them interact again, having Mara reconcile with her mistakes, and Luke's happiness to one day join her.

And, of course, Jacen, at peace with his life as a Sith, in damnation, almost believing he deserves it. He's still quite cruel, and he's definitely more Caedus than Jacen.

Another thing I like, is the future that Luke saw, Allana in a galaxy at peace with friends and trusted peoples of various species, and the throne Jacen saw someone on... Krayt from Legacy? I haven't read that yet, so a total guess!

As you can tell, I don't have a lot to say about the other plots, because they weren't very interesting.

Again, Leia and Han's plot was quite mediocre, and the Jedi and Galactic Alliance plot was more of the same, but a bit more excitement and action to it.

The book was generally very entertaining, and the only thing making it worse than the last two was how it drags a little bit in the other plots, but the Luke and Ben plot, as well as the Sith plot, was really good.

And I'm glad to finally be introduced to Abeloth, and I can't wait for more!

7/10