*WARNING!* REVELATION SPOILERS!!!!
I finished Revelation almost a week ago, and wow! What a book! Karen Traviss really likes to stir things up, doesn't she? In terms of how I liked the book, I didn't think it had quite the same caliber as the rest of Legacy of the Force. It wasn't as intense as some of the previous books, especially the last few, but I think that's actually one of the reasons I liked it so much. It had the feeling of stopping to regroup before the final push to the end, which is exactly what it is. As far as individual parts of the book: One word- MANDOS! Two words- Admiral Daala! (?!) Three words- Jaina with Mandos! And of course, a bunch of words (too lazy to count!)- Jacen and Tahiri are losers who need to fall in a sarlaac pit! What I'm trying to say is, if this book did nothing else, it brought the three most significant time periods together and made them feel like one saga. Rise of the Empire era represented by Jusik (Gotab) and Venku, Post EpVI represented by Pellaeon and Daala, and NJO represented by...well, everything else.
Other misc. thoughts on the book: I think Jaina would make an amazing Mando! Kinda like Etain, but with a little more guts. I was also very pleased to see that Niathal has stopped being such a loser and has started to see sense. I loved the Epilogue when Luke finally is visited by Mara's Force ghost. It was just so cute and fluffy and made you want to go awww! And speaking of the end of the book, the end dialogue between Jusik and Jaina was a scene I'm never going to forget, for two reasons. The first is simply the sheer awesomeness of Bardan Jusik and Jaina Solo having a conversation about how to take down Jacen. Before this book, they were probably the last people I'd expect to see having a conversation just because it was so likely! The second thing: The whole time I was reading the dialogue, I just couldn't get over how different Jusik was. He was nothing like the Jusik I know from Republic Commando. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, either. I think it's actually a good thing. He seemed a lot wiser, and it wasn't because he was older. Thanks to Bardan Jusik, I have a completely re-defined view of how the Jedi Order should be, and unfortunately, it's nothing like how it actually is. I've noticed that Jusik's not the only one who thinks like this. Another person that comes to mind is Jolee Bindo. They both left the Jedi Order for similar reasons and both ended up with the same philosophy: The Force is an incredible gift, but unlike the Jedi, they do not treat like a gift, but a burden. I know. Simple. Ridiculously simple. And besides, the Jedi do that right? Wrong. Pick any era, NJO or Old Republic, and pick any random Jedi. I'll bet almost every time you'll find that they respect the Force for what it is: An omnipotent energy...thing (can't think of a good word) that no one can control or has any say over. And they realize that the ability to feel the will of this energy is an amazing gift that nearly all the other beings in the galaxy will never feel. That's good, but they need to go one step further. It is a gift, and they know it's a gift, but that's the Jedi's problem. (Warning: I'm about to say some stuff that some people might not agree with.) They'd all deny they were guilty of it, but Yoda had it all figured out: The Jedi really are arrogant. Not just the Rise of the Empire era Jedi, all of them. From the Early Old Republic to LotF, they see themselves as beings with a gift who use it to look out for those who can't look out for themselves. Meaning they think they are more powerful- arrogance. Arrogance with good intentions, but arrogance nonetheless. Honestly, I don't even think attachment or emotion has much to do with the dark side at all. Obviously hate and greed and jealousy are bad and will inevitably lead to the dark side, but where do you often find those traits? In those that think they are better than others. Just thought I'd give you something to chew on besides Deathsticks for once.

In other news... Nothing! Well, almost nothing. For the most part, my life has been more boring than a Banking Clan committee meeting. (They are Not a committee!) I do have one thing though. Remember Mel and Sars, my two best pals? They're the ones whose dad died back in Nov. Well... after much persuasion and Jedi mind-tricking on my part, the both got DeviantArt accounts! I know, it's not a Star Wars blog, but on the other hand, it's free. They both do AMAZING work, so promise me you'll check them out!
Mel
Sars
(And while I'm at it) My sister
Me

The only other things that are worth telling about are the following:
I finished Ferus!!!! (Last of the Jedi #9) 'twas VERY satisfying. Won't give anything away, but something happened that I've been waiting for for a loooong time! The only problem is now I have to wait 4 more months for the next one! (honestly! There, like, 100 pages! How long can they take to write? It's ridiculous! ) And for whatever reason, I have this horrible feeling that she's gonna kill Ferus off in the last one *shudders*
And last but not least, Journey ch3 may be a while. I've taken a short break to regroup, do a more in-depth outline and put it on partial hold to do some more on my much larger fic, Rillaia, which I plan to get up some time this century.
Well, that's basically what's new with me. Hope I didn't bore you, anger you or spoil Revelation for you!

MTFBWY
IGGMY
CDS