Book Review: Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact SPOILERS!

Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact was the first Star Wars novel by Karen Traviss. It's about a recently formed squad called Omega and all about the beginnings of the war, especially a Jedi dealing with the Republic having its own army of clones and how she deals with that. Synopsis: As the Clone Wars rage, victory or defeat lies in the hands of elite squads that take on the toughest assignments in the galaxy--stone-cold soldiers who go where no one else would, do what no one else could... On a mission to sabotage a nanovirus research facility on a Separatist-held planet, four clone troopers operate under the very noses of their enemies. The commandos are outnumbered and outgunned, deep behind enemy lines with no backup--and working with strangers instead of trusted teammates. Matters don't improve when Darman, the squad's demolitions expert, gets cut off from the others during planetfall. Even Darman's apparent good luck in meeting a Jedi Padawan vanishes once she admits to her woeful inexperience. For the isolated clone commandos and stranded Jedi, a long, dangerous journey lies ahead, through hostile territory brimming with Trandoshan slavers, Separatists, and suspicious natives. A single misstep could mean discovery...and death. It's a virtual suicide mission for anyone--anyone except Republic Commandos.

The novel opens with a first-person account of the last time Darman hears from his squad in the Battle of Geonosis. After evacuation from the planet, Darman is assigned to a new squad called Omega. He's not the only one: there's Atin from Prudii Squad, Niner from an unknown squad, and Fi from another dead squad. Jedi Master and General Arligan Zey assigns them to the planet Qiilura, where the nanovirus research facility is. Apparently, a Separatist scientist named Ovolot Qail Uthan, is developing a nanovirus that is aimed at clone troopers. She's guarded by a True Mandalorian mercenary. Zey tells Omega that there's a Jedi Master and his Padawan, Etain, are on the planet and haven't reported in since before the Clone Wars kicked off. Etain, meanwhile, is on the run from a Weequay mercenary working for the True Mandalorian, who's name is Ghez Hokan. The local human farmers take Etain in and hide her from Hokan, despite the fact that she's a Jedi and beings on the Outer Rim heavily mistrust Jedi.

Omega heads for Qillura and when they get there, they paratroop down when their transport is blasted out of the sky. Niner, Fi, and Atin land near each other but Darman gets separated and tries to find his squad. Instead, he meets a local shape-shifter called Jinart, who lures him to Etain. It's there, during their initial meeting, that she shows she doesn't have knowledge that the galaxy is in a war and that she was unaware that the Republic had an army of clones. After days of travel, Etain becomes more and more confident in becoming a commander while learning tactics and military strategy from Darman. Ghez Hokan has not only killed Etain's Master but has also removed a Neimoidian for incompetence and gets an army of Battle Droids to help him secure the base. The Weequay gets captured by Niner and the others and within days, the meet up with Etain and Darman.

Using the Force, Etain learns that Hokan has hidden Dr. Uthan in one of two buildings. They devise a strategy to infiltrate both places at once and locate the doctor. Things don't go as planned. Hokan, though expecting an army of clone troopers, beings to sabotage the base except for the research lab. The virus is their last defense against the clones but circumstances force them to flee the base. Hokan is killed by Fi while Darman brings Uthan down. They rendezvous in a field where Master Zey shows up and stays on Qiilura with Etain to train the locals in self-defense. Darman and the rest of Omega leave Qiilura as hey head back into the war.

All in all, a very good first novel for Karen Traviss to explore the Star Wars galaxy. Well crafted, great character arcs, and a strong, believable cast kept my interest. It lagged a bit in the middle where the only action is both groups planning to take each other down and with the members of Omega Squad searching for one another.

Book Review: A Black Jewels Novel: The Invisible Ring SPOILERS!

In the 1990s, Anne Bishop blew our minds away with her stellar Black Jewels Trilogy and in 2000 she returned with another tale set in her world. That novel was called The Invisible Ring, and it featured Daemon when he was still a prisoner of Dorothea SaDiablo. But he's just a side character here. The main hero is a Red-Jeweled Warlord called Jared and tells his tale of how he met the last of the Gray Lady's and how her power was used to wipe out a Terriellean army (yes, this is the book that Daemon brought Jaenelle in Queen of the Darkness). Jared is a Red-Jeweled Warlord bound as a pleasure slave by the Ring of Obedience. After suffering nine years of torment as a slave, he murdered his owner and escaped--only to be caught and sold into slaver once again. Purchased by a notorious queen, Jared fears he will share the mysterious fate of her other slaves--never to be seen again--and so prepares himself for death. But the Gray Lady may not be what she seems, and Jared soon faces a difficult decision: his freedom... or his honor.

Dorothea assigns her new Master of the Guard, Krelis to kill the Gray Lady at a slave auction. It's there that the Gray Lady buys Jared and puts the Invisible Ring on him. Jared is mortified by this. He's heard tales of what became of her slaves, that they've all been killed on the journey back to her territory of Dena Nehele. In the group of slaves that she's purchases is an insane man, several kids, and a "broken" Black Widow. During an attack, Jared saves the Gray Lady's life and learns that she's not an old woman, but rather the granddaughter of the real Gray Lady. Jared is furious with her for putting her life in danger and nearly getting herself killed. Lia, the Gray Lady's granddaughter, tells him that after the last assassination attempt, her grandmother and Queen wouldn't risk it and that they've been using the salve market auctions to buy slaves and free them once they return to Dena Nehele. Days later, another attack occurs and Jared takes Lia, who's wounded, to a hotel off their traveling path. Daemon meets Jared there and, after healing Lia, demands to know why Jared is traveling with a young woman. Jared tells Daemon everything that happened once he was purchased. Daemon reveals that he used his Black Jewels to plant a persuasion spell on the "Gray Lady" to buy Jared.  Daemon pays for jared and Lia's room and tells Jared he wears the "Silver" Ring. Puzzled by what this means, and after Lia's several denials that the Invisible Ring is real, he begins to question whether or not he's a free man. He takes her back, days later, to the group and they continue their travels to Dena Nehele. Meanwhile, it appears the Krelis has been following a trail left by a spy in the Gray Lady's slave group.

Days later, and after Jared, with the Warlord Prince Blaed, convince Lia and the Black Widow Thera to take their coaches through the Shaladoran Territory as it's in front of the mountains that ring Dena Nehele. In truth, Jared wants to see his family again. When they arrive, they find the whole territory in ruins. Apparently the Queens of Shalador refused to bow down before Dorothea and she had her army slaughter everyone. Only a handful remain. It's revealed then that Lia is a virgin and doesn't have the Gray Jewels. She still has her Green ones and is vulnerable to her enemies. Jared sets aside his anger and, after talking with a rogue Warlord named Talon, forms a plan to help her reach safety. Lia asks Jared to see her through her Virgin Night and makes the Offering to the Darkness and comes out with the Gray Jewels. Jaren learns from Talon that the Silver Ring stands for Honor and the Gold for Lover, and that they are very real. They prepare to leave but the path is blocked by Krelis and they learn that the spy among them is Brock and his brother is the insane Garth (who was a Master of the Guard at one point). Lia connects everyone to Jared as he wears the Red Jewels. The Hayllians attack and during the fight, Lia panics and is killed. Jared roars in anger and the connections flare with Gray Power and wipe out the Hayllian army. It turns out that the witch that was hit was Thera with a sack of pig ofals and that Lia was in a safe Gray bubble. A day later, they arrive in Dena Nehele and Jared leaves with Talon to "shed my slave skin." In spring, Jaren meets Daemon in an inn and Daemon tells him that he's heard about Witch and how he was born to be her lover. They part ways after Daemon says that Jared now wears the Gold. In Dena Nehele, Jared runs into Grizelle, the Gray Lady who wants to know if he's there to put more hurt into her granddaughter's heart. He says he isn't and that he wears the Gold and goes to kiss Lia.

All in all, a great prequel to the whole series. A wonderful tale of magic and adventure and love. Anne Bishop was at her best and continues to be so throughout the whole series and her other fantasy novels.