4 out of 5 Shovels
With the fourteenth installment of the New Jedi Order series by Del Rey, Destiny’s Way has a rounded out cast of twenty-four characters as well as their intertwining subplots. This book has several themes running through the story; the most significant themes concern the destiny of Jacen Solo and the turning point of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong.
As the story unfolds, the reader learns that the New Republic is still fighting skirmishes and introducing new ways to circumvent the Yuuzhan Vong advantage. The New Republic government is falling apart as elections begin for a new Chief of State. The Skywalkers, Solos and their comrades begin to collaborate on how to preserve the tattered government and win against the Yuuzhan Vong as odds dictate against an amicable solution. Resentment between the military officers and government officials escalate, causing desperate friends to resolve the issues with the military, politicians, and Jedi.
After elections, the Jedi Council reforms, with some mod
ifications, and becomes the High Council; all the while, a secret biological weapon is being developed for future use by the New Republic. Later the High Council rejects the use of such a weapon but the Chief of State overrides their vote with his authority. Master Skywalker again finds himself in the political arena in order to diffuse a dangerous situation.
Amid the chaos, Jacen returns to the loving embraces of his friends and family after his escape from the Yuuzhan Vong with his friend and teacher, Vergere. Many are skeptical of her motivations and Vergere becomes a prisoner of the New Republic.
In his quest to understand Jacen, his ordeal, his new friend, and the Force, Master Luke Skywalker questions Vergere in her prison cell intensely. There in confrontation with the avian, Luke finds a perspective he had not realized before about the nature of the Force and himself. Though not convinced of her intentions, Luke has the avian stay in the Skywalker apartment and far away from Jacen Solo.
After taking the imposed, but well needed, vacation by Master Skywalker, Jacen then reenters the war. With Jacen directing the battle from his mind, the Jedi fighter pilots melding with one another in coordination, the New Republic sets a trap for their invaders. The bait of Jaina and Jacen Solo proves to be wise as the Yuuzhan Vong fall into the ambush easily. A decisive victory for the New Republic forces echoes loudly and the Yuuzhan Vong flee from their failure.
Walter Jon Williams does a wonderful job explaining the answers to many of the questions that have arisen in the New Jedi Order series. There are a few surprises and returning characters. In addition to seeing Mara in action, Lando and Karrade being inventive businessmen, and the makings of a romance between Jacen and Danni Quee, the reader is not disappointed save one: Ben Skywalker. Holovids and pictures of the youngster is not enough, will Luke and Mara ever become participants in their baby's life? We would like to see this family dynamic developed.
This book was read in less than two days. However, with any novel, too many subplots and characters causes the story to feel slow in places and much needed character interactions are written as exposition. Overall, the novel is well written and enjoyable. Entertaining and enlightening, this novel to anyone reading in the Extended Universe.
Mara Jade
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