Troy Dennning is definately probably up there on my list of favorite Star Wars authers. Mainly because he portrays the characters that we already know extremely well and puts them in a new light. Dark Nest does exactly that. We see every main character go through a personality makeover it seems. Of course these possible personalities were implied at the end of NJO. I just never expected it to hit me so hard.
**Warning Spoilers ahead**
We have Jacen who once was for being diplomatic, and then was put through torture with the Vong. He came out of that a little more harsher, but still had the hint of the old Jacen in him. Now he seems even harsher then before and almost even selfish. Sure his protection of his daughter is important, but his methods of protecting her leave me a little shaken. His mind probe on Madame Ta'Chume and his erasing of Ben's mind and the bruise that it left. Then his determination to help the Chiss win the war, I think that was only fueled by his anger with the attack on his daughter. True Jacen has become strong, but he tries to teach Luke about weakness and not to hide it, while he's hiding his own. Alanna. And due to this mind set that Jacen has I believe he's the one that leaked the information to the Chiss, This is why his parents were to be kept alive, and unharmed. Theu hint at Cal Osmas being the leak, but I think that is to throw you off.
Then we have the relationship between Jag and Jaina. It's kinda sad really, I resented every second she was a Joiner. True her personality can be the reason she became one, but I just wished she had more sense then that. I honestly couldn't stand chapters with her in them, they just made me shudder evertime she rubbed some bugs antennaes. Plus it was just to much Killik talk for me..."Urubbur?".... I'm glad that her and Zekk weren't really a couple I actually kinda liked Jag and Jaina together, but I knew they wouldnt last. But I never expected they would be trying to shoot eachother down, or Leia to actually pretty much do it.

Then we have Leia, finally a Jedi(yay!) and actually haveing a sibling quarrel. I've never seen Luke and her actually have a disagreement. It ussually seems to go as "oh yes Luke your the the Jedi you know best". Then we have her resenting polotics, which is a slight twist and wonderful one. I'm glad Leia is a Jedi now and she couldn't of had a better Master.

Then we have Han who is ussually the carefree not really worried about much kinda guy. Course he's gone through a lot the past 10 years. But it's amazing how sentimental that can make a guy. His love for his wife and his worry for his kids seemed to be multiplied by 10. He still talked and acted like Han, be he didnt think like Han used to. And whats with this huge bug phobia he has? Did I miss something?

Luke hasn't changed much, except he's taking a little of Jacen with him, in regards in acting instead of contemplating what to do. Him titling himself Grand Master was a huge surprise, and I'm not horribly against it. It almost needed to be done. Considering the huge devide in the order.

Anyways in regards to the plot, I found it extremely interesting and was loving everything that happened even when i resenting some things(for instance Jaina) It's good for things to happen to characters that you might be against, It's not always going to be perfect. The way that Denning fit in the recordings of Padme was very well done. And his humor especially with C3PO,Juun, and Tarfang was great. But if you notice a past blog I was against the Jedi's use of the "darkside", well I'm glad that was somewhat resolved. Well by Luke anyway. Which confused my the cover of The Swarm War. Luke never uses foce lightning ever in the trilogy. Mara does, which in a way I guess fits her personality. Also the fact that it took three books for Jedi to figure out what to do was slightly annoying, I understand that there were difficulties. But am I the only one that seemed to know the answer when we found out about Lomi Plo and Welk. The fact they honestly believed everything would be good with Lomi still on the loose, is beyond me.
Also this has to be the first trilogy where everything wasn't completely answered. Who gave away the mission to the Chiss? When will Alanna be revealed? Will Jaina continue to be a Joiner? Here's hoping she won't. What about the other Myrker survivors? was thier Dagabah trip helpful? And what will happen to the Jedi council now with a Grand Master in charge? Here's hoping I get these answered in May with Betrayel. But overall the book is definately a great entry into post NJO and I'd recomend it to anyone!