Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (Star Wars: Clone Wars)

First of all, Dark Rendevous seems like it was written more for a younger audience. It's part of the Star Wars adult novel line, but in tone it's very lighthearted The scenes in the Jedi Academy almost at times come across like a blend between Harry Potter and Star Wars. The story focuses on Whie and Scout, two pre-teen Jedi. We see the kids cry and act like kids. Some of the comical scenes are a bit over the top (including a toilet scene). So, just be aware that this book might not be written for you.Despite this, Sean Stewart does a good job writing a young adult Star Wars novel that engages in interesting character development and has a unique voice. We see far more character development in this book for Dooku and Yoda than in the entire Clone Wars TV series. We learn a bit about their past and how they think. Admittedly, in terms of screentime, Dooku and Yoda aren't the main characters of the book, but their relationship drives the story. There are a few scenes in which I think Yoda comes off as too much of an impish gnome, but he also has some genuinely heartwarming pieces of wisdom - just like Yoda from Empire Strikes Back.The rest of the Jedi come across as rounded characters more than capable of carrying the story. Whie and Scout, and their masters, Jai Maruk and Maks Leem, have their strengths and weaknesses. Their characters have multiple layers. I particularly liked how Stewart switches narrative points of view, allowing or own view of each character to grow and change.I do like the way Stewart uses narrative voice in the book. The narrator is more active than in most Star Wars novels. Some of the passages have a lyrical quality. The narrator sometimes dishes out pieces of wisdom or astute observations about characters. It makes what is a relatively simple story and gives it more thoughtful content.Overall, this is not a bad Star Wars book. It's obviously geared towards younger readers, but I suspect adults who are light of heart will enjoy it as well. We certainly learn more about Dooku and Yoda than in any other single Star Wars EU book out there.

Yep! There is definitely humor to be found in the Star Wars universe, but oftentimes it's more at the expense of the "bad guys" or Anakin losing his lightsaber. But in Dark Rendezvous we see a much more "human" side to oft stoic Jedi, even a little chuckle or two during scenes with Dooku or Ventress. Yoda delivers a few good ones, too, especially explaining how he got to be Grand Master (gigglesnort).Scout was a standout character for me; I originally bought this book because I'm desperate for anything involving Asajj Ventress (she's my favorite), but I found Scout to be incredibly endearing without becoming annoying. I'm biased, but I would have liked to have seen more of what became of Asajj, but that's for another book. I really enjoyed getting to see a little into Dooku's head and simultaneously more into Yoda's immense power that's often talked about but rarely shown. When Dooku's scared of something, you know you'd better be as well.What was especially nice about this story is the look inside the daily goings-on of the Jedi Temple. After nearly a full year of immersing myself into SW lore, the Temple always remained a very cut-off place for me. Sure, it's central to a lot of things and home to the "good guys", but what exactly goes on inside those walls? What do the children do everyday? Does the concept of fun even exist in there? As it turns out, yes it does. And you don't know how happy it made me to read the parts involving the tournament and how very much like a regular school it is for the Padawans.I give this four stars instead of five because even though I think she was given some good dialogue, I really would have liked to have seen Ventress as more than a lapdog to Dooku. She's an amazingly layered character who's very rarely given the chance to be shown as more than an evil creature of the Dark Side. I liked her conversation with Dooku from her ship, but their first meeting left me wanting. Also, the ending was brought about too quickly. The idea of Dooku seriously contemplating turning his back on the Sith in incredibly appealing, but then it's dashed when a certain pair show up and his jealousy overrides everything he'd been thinking about and planning for weeks. At least throw in a few lines to deal with that instead of just ending it there.

Love the new legends binding. They look great lined up on the shelf.The story was fun. Well written and introduced new characters that you cared about.

I stopped getting Star Wars books, apart from the occasional prequel book, some time ago. Reading this has encouraged me to take a better look at the recent books. On a technical level, this is a good book. The general writing is very good. The main characters have a lot of depth and development, including such established characters as Yoda and Dooku. The supporting characters are quite vivid and clear. The general descriptions are very vivid, well chosen and very good. The action scenes, of which there are quite a lot, are generally written from one or two characters' perspectives only. It's not always clear what is going on in the overall battle, but the character's own view, personal commentary, and the reason for the choices they make is excellent. It also fits the tone of the book, which is all about personal choice. The main characters really appealed to me, and if the author writes another book featuring `Scout' I would probably get it.Why I really enjoyed this book, though, was its moral clarity. The big thing these days seems to be "moral ambiguity", which appears to boil to the "good guys" just being the side with the best PR. In this, good and evil are clear. It's not about your politics or your economic status or following blindly your country's leader, it is a personal choice, and not irrevocable but ongoing. The psychological battle within Dooku, watching him make his choices, was really enjoyable. The "secondary" story of the two Padawans finding their place in the Force was just as good. So, to sum up, this is well written, thoroughly entertaining, sometimes moving, and I enjoyed it.

The book is just fantastic. If you are a big fan of Count Dooku definitely read this book. Cannot recommend more

Hey... It's a "midquel" to a prequel so... yeah, the stakes aren't particularly high, you know how it has to end. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Dooku's character was pretty inconsequential and whittled down in the movies and in the Clone Wars cartoon he's a predictably one-note, one-dimensional (cartoon...duh) villain. In this book he gets a good dose of nuance and a little back-story. His interplay with both Yoda and Sidious is interesting and lively.The side story involving two young Padawans (one strong and confused, one weak yet cunning and determined) is pretty effective and I actually wanted more of it.Yoda's story is predictable but he is written comedically and it works.The prose is surprisingly rich and emotional! The problem with so many Star Wars books is that they read like 2nd rate Tom Clancy in space with little magic or romance. This book does NOT have that problem. It captures the failing grandeur of the old republic with beautiful and vivid description and emotion.The only complaints I have is that Dookus past and his relationship with Yoda could have borne even more exploration through flashbacks. Maybe I'll get that with the now canon production of Dooku: Jedi Lost.One other element i could have done without was pointlessly shoe-horning Anakin and Obi-wan into the story in the last couple chapters. They added nothing to it, they were just kinda there. Overall I really liked it and would recommend.

This book is well written and very dramatic. It features the villlains: Asajj Ventress and Count Dooku. The narrative was relatively easy to follow and the story was enthralling to read. It was nice to read about some Padawans and the tournament for Jedi Apprentices to be appointed. Thanks a lot, Sean!!

I bought it used so i didn't expect quality to be in good shape

A must have in any Star Wars collection. This is a Yoda centric novel with Count Dooku as the primary villain. It offers plenty of lightsaber battle scenes and insight as to what brought on the fall of the Republic. The best part of this novel is Yoda as a primary character. This is the only Star Wars book I've read where Yoda has such a central role in the story.Dark Rendezvous is a good action adventure novel and will statisfy any fan of the Star Wars universe. If you have a casuel interest in Star Wars it also stands on it's own so it's very accessable.Dark Rendezvous doesn't appear to be easy to get so buy it now before it's out of print.Check my other reviews for more Star Wars hits and misses.