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Darth Maul Shadow Hunter is set just prior to the opening scenes of
the blockbuster 1999 film addition to the Star Wars Saga, The Phantom Menace.
Shadow Hunter, written by Michael Reaves, brings to light one of the
Legendary Sith from a galaxy far far away, Darth Maul.
This book is told through the eyes of four characters: Darth Maul, Darth Sidious,
Lorn Pavan and Darsha Assant. After waiting years in the darkness, Darth Sidious,
whom we know as Senator Palpatine, takes his first steps into his master plan
of bringing down the Republic and declaring himself ruler of the galaxy.
Hath Monchar, a Neimoidian from the Trade Federation, has betrayed the Dark
Lord and Darth Maul is sent to silence the traitor. This mission is completed
within the first few chapters of the book, but Maul learns from his Master an
even bigger threat to their domination on the world is about to begin. Darsha
Assant, a Jedi Padawan, has one more trial to complete before she is given the
title of Jedi Knight by the council.
She is to go deep into the underground world of Coruscant to retrieve a member
of the Black Sun Origination from the Crimson Corridor Sector and bring him
to the protection of the Jedi in return for some vital information regarding
a blockade from the Trade Federation. During the early stages of her mission,
Darsha meets Lorn Pavan and his clever thinking droid, I-Five. Lorn and Darsha
get off to a rocky start since Lorn harbors an old secret which causes him to
hate all Jedi in general and Darsha is trying so hard not to fail her Master.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Coruscant, Darth Maul seems to be searching for the
same information as Darsha—it becomes a race as both parties try to outwit
and outsmart the other.
Darsha and Lorn help make an excellent tale, and quality read times—Reaves
has brought out their feelings about what they believe in and for each other
in a gripping way. Also, you can almost feel the energy from Darth Maul as you
read about him. It’s a brilliant book (you could say ‘the force is
strong in this one’).
An added bonus to this amazing Darth Maul prequel is a short story about him—“Darth
Maul: Saboteur,” which was previously only available in e-book format—from
James Luceno, author of some of The New Jedi Order books.
If you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan, and particularly if you’re
a Darth Maul-a-holic, this is the book for you. There’s no book in the
Star Wars series like it. Well, enough from me. Get the book yourself
and I‘ll be back later with another review from a galaxy, far, far, away.
May the Force be with you!
Interested in Star Wars books? Check out Coinneach’s reviews of Mandalorian
Armor (from the Star Wars Bounty Hunter series) and of the Children’s
Star Wars series.
