Exile

Exile by Aaron Allston is the fourth book in the Legacy of the Force series, and the second by Allston in this nine-volume arc. In Exile, Allston continues the events chronicling Jacen Solo's journey to becoming a Lord of the Sith.

Unfortunately, Exile does little to excite readers, or surprise anyone within the story. In fact, most of the characters feel emotionally detached, as if even they were bored with the story. In the past, Allston has written highly engaging, entertaining and detailed prose, regarding space battles, or even ground-based military incursions. Exile offers little of this material, however.

Most of the book follows Ben Skywalker, a character who–until now–has seen little individual and up-close-and-personal time in the series. Sadly, there's nothing new or interesting here to capture the reader's attention. It feels very much like what it is: a filler until the next hardcover, which is a shame; Allston is a much better author than this book represents, and it certainly does him no justice.

The ending feels especially weak and contrived, prompting more questions, than providing answers. Though still a fast-paced read, it lacks the excitement to stand out in the crowded field of Star Wars literature.