Star Wars "Master of Evil" was probably my most anticipated release last year book, movie, TV across all categories. And what we got in Master of Evil is solid. What I was really looking for was the connection between Anakin and Vader, and we get a kind of clear line. It gave me what I wanted, but I’m not sure it was as satisfying as it probably should have been, or that it technically answers all the questions. After sitting with it for a bit, I wouldn’t call it a cop out, that’s too strong, but it just doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. The start of the book is fantastic, and the ending is fantastic too. The plot is fairly simple: it’s kind of a standalone story. Set a year or two after Episode III, Vader is searching for a temple. Along the way, we meet a cast of characters unique to this time period, making it its own kind of standalone story. The major protagonist is Emperor's Royal Guard, Halland Goth and his droid. Goth, who is dying, is central to the story from the start. In Vader books, we often see two types: the deep, layered Vader and the brooding, just-breathing type. This is the latter. So there isn’t a lot of depth, but it’s still an entertaining book, and I don’t take that away from it. There isn’t necessarily a ton of action, though there are a couple of cool set pieces. Do we learn anything new? Maybe. Maybe not. A solid read, just not groundbreaking. 3/5 #starwars