To avoid spoiling anyone before they've had the chance to pick up a copy of Sacrifice, I'll do an introduction first.

Due to the last two weeks of classes and finals, I wasn't able to read this book right away. I wanted to, I really wanted to especially after I heard that someone died, and because I knew the winner of the Darth Who contest would be revealed.

Yesterday I picked it up and started reading.

I had a book review written, ready for posting. I had one. But then I finished the last pages of the novel and couldn't put it up.

I tried to remember when it first happened--when I first 'met' her. It must have been May or June. Sometime soon after school got out about 9 years ago, the summer where, after Zahn, I read everything Bantam Spectra and LucasBooks had to offer.

Why does she want to kill him? Who is she? How dare she want to kill him.

But I was hooked. I was intrigued. I was in. I was her fangirl and anyone who's ever known my Star Wars career knows two things about me: I absolutely love Luke Skywalker, but fell deeply for Mara Jade. She was my screen name, my website, my fanfiction.

Caedus, if you remember, was my vote, is now poor consolation.

I really will miss her.

And how dare they do that to Luke. How. Dare. They.

Oh, and as an aside, please don't comment saying how much you're glad they killed her off, how much you don't care, or how much of a cynical EU fan you are now that the books are completely a disappointment in your opinion.

Frankly, I don't care to read mean comments. I still like the books, I still like Mara.

My favorite EU character just died. I want some time to mourn.