Another good one from Allston. He continues an excellent job of keeping the characters vivid, keeps the plot moving, and provides a spectacular space battle at the end. Plenty of good banter, and the non-Jedi characters make a good showing. ( )

Plot: The follow-up to Rebel Dream; picks up the plot where that one left off and brings it to a temporary conclusion. It's part of a series, and the big background plot arc does not get advanced at all with this one. Together with its prequel, it's a very contained story.

Characters: The focus is on a small number of known players, with the occasional walk-by of old acquaintances. The characters are kept the way they're generally drawn, though Allston dares to let them discover humor and even sarcasm.

Style: Solid writing that doesn't take itself too seriously. Star Wars novels that make the reader laugh are rare, but this one manages on occasion. Good balance between the overall series main plot and this duology's smaller plots - other books in the series bring everything bar the kitchen sink, this one doesn't.

Plus: Solid entertainment. Humour, especially situational humour.

Minus: One of the main plot devices is given away very early in the book rather than to keep it hidden until the end. Tension doesn't quite build because of that.

Summary: Just as Rebel Dream, a pleasant story to read that delivers on the promise of good entertainment. ( )