Star Wars: The Changing of the Guard (Star Wars: Jedi Quest)

Rating:
Summary: Jude Is Brilliant
Review: Okay...I'll admit...the JQ series has often left me feeling like it's somehow lacking something. There was a certain quality to Jude's writing back during the JA series that I kept looking for and couldn't quite find.

Well with 'The Changing of the Guard' I *have* finally found it.

Though these stories are understandably different because they deal with a different Master/Padawan team...the flare I loved is back. That special kick that leaves you with a smile on your face when you're done reading.

Maybe it's the fact that she brought back several dearly loved characters and one that most of us hoped never to see again. Maybe it's the snappy dialogue and dry humor (I had to put the book down and just laugh more then once). Whatever it is...I feel like the overall quality is back up where it belongs and I couldn't be more pleased.

Now if only we could only do something about her cliffhanger fetish...

Rating:
Summary: The Spectacular Sequel
Review: This fantastic adventure and deceiving plot lines was great and phenomenal. The Jedi's who everyone is really familiar with, travels to the mysterious planet of Romin where they hope to find Granta Omega, a criminal mastermind. This strange planet is a home to many disruptive criminals including Janna Zan Arbor, an evil scientist who tests unsteady experiments and tries to get close to the force. She once almost drained the entire life out of Qui Gon Jinn and tested chemicals that makes you fell no pain on Anakin Skywalker called the zone of self-containment. The native people of Romin are exceptionally poor and a great percent of them lived in Poverty. Obi Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and a group of Jedi's must land and infiltrate the palace. The Jedi's disguised as Slam and a gang of deceiving band of thieves, met Teda the planet's dictator. Soon, the Jedi's helped Joylin, a leader of the rebellion group against Teda, to take down Teda's empire and arrest the officers in control. Finally, the real Slams came and escaped with Zan Arbor and the great leader Teda. Before they left the planet, the Jedi's placed a tracking device on their spaceship. What's so amazing is that the ship is leading them to Granta Omega. What's so interesting is that Omega was expecting them. This thunder striking tale is full of deception and heart pounding sequence that will leave you hanging.

I really enjoyed this book. It really left me hanging and wondering about the next book whether it would be as genuine as this book. Quotes such as "It's too late," replied Joylin" left or added a twist into the story. Sentences such as "But Anakin was not listening. Something was wrong," really got me interested and hopeful. Even more exciting, those quotes were at the end of the book as well.

Jude Watson has been one of my most favorite writers of all times. I also recommend other authors such as Lemony Snicket and his series of unfortunate events or J.R.R. Tolkein and his Lord of the Rings. Jude Watson uses lots of fantastic cliff hangers in her writing. I love the cliff hangers! Quotes such as "Omega. He knows we are coming." left me hanging especially that it was the last sentence of the book.

My most favorite part of the book is where Janna Zan Arbor, Teda, and his officers figured out who the Jedi's were. I felt sad for the Jedi's at first, but then I realized that after they lost their fake identity, that this part of the story that had the most fighting scenes and actions besides the raiding of the palace. It was really cool that the Jedi's could finally show off their skills. My least favorite scene is where the people of Romin raided the palace of Teda. I felt it wasn't really an important part of the story. It kind of wasted space, but was really informative to the end of the book. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves a thrilling adventure and great twists to a story.