Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic II: Refugee [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

The second story line is also a sub-story. Nom Anor is the fallen Executor of the invading Yuuzhan Vong race. He has been banished as a Shamed One. Not satisfied to sit back and accept his fate, Nom Anor has begun a heresy of sorts by establishing a cult amongst the Shamed Ones that reveres the Jedi, and looks upon them to free the Samed Ones of the shackles of oppression.

The main story follows Leia and Han Solo, their daughter Jaina and Jag Fel as they return to Bakura. Bakura was the subject of the novel 'Truce at Bakura,' which takes place immediately after 'Return of the Jedi.' In that novel, an alien race called the Ssi-ruuk were threatening to 'entech' an entire planet. Entechment is a process of stealing the souls of a sentient being and using it to control a machine.

Bakura appears ready to sever its ties with the New Republic and form an alliance with a race once subjugated by the Ssi-ruuk. There is more than meets the eye though. The Prime Minister is missing, but then suddenly reappears. The Deputy Prime Minister suspects something is up. Malzana Thanas, the daughter of a political hero of Bakura, is being tried for treason. Intrigue abounds.

Overall, this novel was pretty clever. The story on Bakura had many layers, but about two thirds of the way through, the pieces fall into place rather obviously for most readers. It was interesting, and a bit refreshing, that most of the action took place away from the war against the Vong. However, there is a bit of a surprise near the end of the book that will cause most readers to scratch their head a bit.

Tahiri has an interesting role in this triology. She is dealing with an inner demon, and after this novel, she may never be the same again. This sub-plot has alternated between being interesting and annoying. Hopefully, it will reach an interesting conclusion in the third installment.

I'd recommend this novel to anyone that has been reading the New Jedi Order. I would not recommend starting with this novel. Go back to the beginning and read 'Vector Prime' and other novels in the series first.

A solid novel by the Williams/Dix team as the story evolves from conflict into a mysterious semi-solution. Not to say the authors give anything away, but the references make for good questions about the trilogy's conclusion. For instance, Tahiri and Riina of Domain Kwaad what will happen to these two distinct personalities? What of the Zonama Sekot? Is it friend or foe? How could these two factors lead to a resolution to the Yuuzhan Vong war?

This trilogy slow to start has picked up hopefully to a good resolution in the third installment.

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