Dark Tide II: Ruin

[b:Dark Tide II: Ruin 320357 Dark Tide II Ruin (Star Wars The New Jedi Order, #3) Michael A. Stackpole https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331429816l/320357.SY75.jpg 1134103] brings us the direct continuation of the events that occurred in the first volume of the Dark Tide duology. [a:Michael A. Stackpole 17739 Michael A. Stackpole https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207602690p2/17739.jpg] manages to keep the pace of the narrative steady, but intense.In this book we have two new interesting points to be added to the political tension present in the first volume. Firstly, we have a growing distension within the Jedi, largely motivated not by divergent philosophical or religious thoughts, but by ego and naivety. Kyp Durron leads a more individualistic and short-sighted faction of the Jedi, while Luke takes a more moderate and cautious stance.One of Durron's followers, Daeshara'cor, ends up being motivated by revenge against the Vong, threatening to build a powerful weapon like the Death Star to put an end to the alien invasion. For those who know the reckless Kyp Durron from [a:Kevin J. Anderson 4845 Kevin J. Anderson https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1215310030p2/4845.jpg]'s Jedi Academy trilogy, the only and best thing I can say is: “like master, like apprentice”.I would like to say that “for the first time our heroes have some secret or McGuffin capable of defeating the Vong”, but that is the constant of each book in the series. Our heroes always manage to contain (at least for now) the invasion, but the costs are extremely high. However, how they do in this book gives us a great sense of satisfaction.The ending, which in turn involves Senator Elegos A'Kla, is quite tragic and, perhaps, one of the darkest moments in Star Wars so far, perhaps comparable to what happens with Chewbacca in [b:Vector Prime 192214 Vector Prime (Star Wars The New Jedi Order, #1) R.A. Salvatore https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412181316l/192214.SX50.jpg 2799032] (in my honest opinion, what happens to A'Kla is even worse).I don't need to say that this is a duology and it only makes sense to read both books to have a better reading and entertainment experience. [a:Michael A. Stackpole 17739 Michael A. Stackpole https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207602690p2/17739.jpg] doesn't disappoint and I guarantee it's hours of frantic fun.