Dark Disciple: Star Wars by Christie Golden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
**4.5-stars rounded up**
The only way to bring down the Sith’s most powerful warrior may be to join forces with the dark side.
Dark Disciple is an Adult novel within the Disney Star Wars Canon. To put it in timeline perspective, it is my understanding that this book falls after the novel, Catalyst and just prior to the Revenge of the Sith movie.
Interestingly, or at least for fans, this novel is based on a story arc scripted for The Clone Wars television series that went unproduced after the show was canceled.
My initial attraction to this book, besides the fact that I want to read all the Canon novels, was Asajj Ventress, the infamous former apprentice to Count Dooku.
This book built out her character in such a pleasing way. I love when a antihero gets their time to shine.
As the war rages on in the galaxy, Count Dooku’s tactics become more and more brutal. The Republic cannot stand by while hundreds more innocent lives are lost.
The Jedi Council surmises the best way to defeat Dooku, perhaps the only way, would be to join forces with someone who knows him best.
Asajj Ventress, Count Dooku’s former protege, becomes their focus for the mission.
Ventress, now making ends meet as a bounty hunter, is perfect for the assignment. After Dooku attempted to have her killed, she severed all ties with him and that hatred runs deep.
Quinlan Vos, the Jedi Knight assigned the mission, sets out to find Asajj with the goal of getting her to assist him in assassinating Dooku.
Once the two meet up, their budding relationship grows quickly. I loved the banter between them as they struggled to figure out a power balance.
Ventress ultimately teaches Vos many things, including how to harness the power of the dark side; a line that is most dangerous to cross.
As is to be expected, there was a ton of action in here. I loved the various battle scenes, but also loved the quieter moments between Vos and Ventress.
I certainly don’t need romance in my Star Wars, but for me, it was more about watching Ventress being able to let her guard down and open up to someone.
She has such a tough facade and reputation, and rarely lets that slip, even for a moment. Reading her in the more vulnerable moments, particularly when she told Vos the truth of what happened to her fellow Nightsisters, it gave me all the feels.
Additionally, the deep bond that forms between them was so well written. A forbidden romance if ever there was one.
Ultimately, this story did shred my heart in a hundred million pieces, but I’m willing to forgive Christie Golden because she wrote it with such care and grace.
Overall, I loved this story. Highly recommend to Star Wars fans who enjoy to dabble in the power of the dark side.
