The Old Republic: Deceived

By: Paul S. Kemp

The Old Republic: Deceived is a novel set in the Star Wars universe that takes place during the Old Republic era, and is based on The Old Republic MMORPG.

Plot: Darth Malgus leads a successful attack on Coruscant, sacking the Jedi temple and killing many Jedi, including master Ven Zallow.  His padawan, a force empath named Aryn Leneer, was on Alderaan attending a peace negotiation with the Sith, when she felt her master's death.  She immediately knew the Jedi had been deceived by the fake peace negotiations, and set out to avenge her master's death.

Meanwhile, an ex commando named Zeerid Korr, is forced to take a spice run for the exchange to the newly conquered world of Coruscant for The Exchange.  He only excepts this impossible mission because it will provide him with enough credits to get his daughter, Arra, a hoverchair, and clear his debts so he can become a farmer on Dantooine.

Aryn meets up with Zeerid on Vulta, where his daughter lives, and as chance would have it, tags along with him on his mission to Coruscant so he can deliver his shipment, and she can battle with Darth Malgus, and claim her revenge.  Now all they have to do is get past an imperial blockade surrounding the planet...

Review:  The Sith in peace negotiations?  Doesn't the Sith credo start off: "Peace is a lie..."?  If this is before the credo, I can see why they adapted it.  This goes against everything any Star Wars Sith fan believes.

The novel itself is well written with many complex characters, all with their own agendas and motives.  The author also includes extensive narrative in the blow by blow lightsaber duels that makes it easy for the reader to visualize the battles just like the feature films.

Also, Darth Malgus is a very complex character.  Through the novel, the reader can figuratively feel the hatred radiate of of his persona, with every one of his conversations dripping with malice, even to the one person he loves.

If you are looking for an intergalactic tale, worthy of the Star Wars franchise, then look no further.  The Republic and the empire will keep the reader enamored as they go head to head for galactic conquest, even though weaker Sith will enter into peace negotiation.  The book is an excellent precursor to The Old Republic, the MMORPG set to come out in September at the moment.

Discussion:  Was it a mistake for the Sith tor enter into peace negotiations?