I've just finished reading Dark Nest: The Joiner King (by Troy Denning) and I've decided to write a quick/short review. As with all reviews I do, it will probably contain spoilers - so if you do not want spoiling please stop reading now.

The Dark Nest Trilogy was published back in 2005 and I've just reading in now (in between reading the Legacy Of The Force "LOTF" series of books and the current Dark Horse comics!). Also, I have not read any of the New Jedi Order series (I've just started purchasing them).

Reading this book with what I know from LOTF is a bit weird. I know the what the final outcome is for certain characters and yet I still felt worried for them.

First up, Alema Rar. Poor Alema Rar. Losing her sister, having her mind warped by the Joiner process and falling to the Dark Side. I think the most "evil" part about all of this was Luke knowing that she was going to fall (he even admits it part way through the book) and only trying to help her as he duels with her. Due to LOTF, Alema has become a favourite of my and this book gave me some great insights into her fall.

Then there is Jacen Solo. Returning to the group after a leave of absence, he has the Solo cockiness and the Jedi abilities to back up his decisions. The weird part about Jacen is how far he is willing to go to get what he believes is the best outcome - he practically sleeps with Tenel Ka just so he could get the Hapan's involved in the fight.

Luke and Leia get quite a pleasant surprise from R2-D2 when the little droid plays back part of meeting between Obi-Wan and Padme. Finally Luke and Leia get to see who their mother is, and it made me happy for them. I'm slightly confused what R2-D2 thinks he's protecting them from but hopefully its something that gets answered before the end of the trilogy. I also found it good that Leia decided to finally become a Jedi and to undertake the full Jedi training approach (would have been weird for her to become a Jedi Master straight away).

The "bugs" and Joiner process freaked me out a little bit. I'm kind of like Han in the fact that I'm not too big a fan of bugs, but Troy did an amazing job of describing the Nests and their thought/logic process. I felt slightly annoyed and sorry for Rayner Thul, the scarring he had received in the crash/through being with the nest for so long meant the he kept getting caught in a illogical argument loop. At one point I so wanted Leia or Han to just slap him across the back of the head.

I also enjoyed how the Chiss were portrayed. After Outbound Flight/Survivors Quest, I've come to like how the Chiss think when it comes to military planning/tactics - and this book just added to my enjoyment of Chiss tactics.

Anyways, I really enjoyed The Joiner King and I look forward to reading Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen - but first I've got LOFT: Revelation to read!!!!