Star Wars: Cloak of Deception and Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

Note: These reviews have already been posted on Universe Of StarWars blog by me.


James Luceno
The Ballantine Publishing Group
Published in United States - Jul 2002
First Mass Market Edition (Paperback)
344 Pages Link

Star Wars - Cloak of Deception, by James Luceno falls first in the timeline of published novels. The novel is placed about thirty two and a half years before Star Wars: A New Hope (IV Episode), the movie. Or on an easier scale, it is placed just before Star Wars Episode I: Phantom Menace. Valorum holds the title of Supreme Chancellor and Palpatine is gathering allies to run for that title.

I do not prefer to summarize much here, because that would spoil the read if you intend to do it. The novel introduces Darth Maul, and his master Darth Sidious. It also portrays the nefarious intent of Nute Gunray, who, by the end of the novel, heads the Trade Federation with the help of Darth Sidious 'coaxing' his competitors. It also involves the Master and the Padawan, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, trying to foil the assassination attempt on Chancellor Valorum. It lays all the bricks required and starts a couple of threads in the Galactic Republic that seem to conclude way up to Episode III.

Overall, it is a good starter for someone not already reading any sci-fi literature. It does not contain many of the planetary-scaled or system-scaled scenes that are too common in Star Wars literature. It is more of a political drama driven by a good mix of action and adventure.


Michael Reaves
The Ballantine Publishing Group
Published in United States - Feb 2001
First Edition (Hardcover)
320 Pages Link

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves quenches the thirst for all those who have been the fan of Darth Maul, since the screening of Episode I: Phantom Menace. The story is set just before the happenings in Phantom Menace and after the Cloak of Deception.

The book portrays the driving force of Darth Maul, vaguely hinting on his origins and how he got trained under Darth Sidious. It also gives the details on the Sith philosophy and the reason behind the one-master-one-apprentice way of the Sith. The hook in the novel is around a holocube that contains information on the Sith. Two characters, notably not Jedi Knights, but a human, Lorn and his droid friend, I-Five, come to possess this holocube from a Neimodian, and thus are targeted by the Sith warrior.

But a Star Wars novel cannot be complete with out a Jedi, and hence it shows the role of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Though, I should say that it revolves around another Padawan-become-Jedi Knight, Darsha Assant, and Lorn and I-Five's struggle against the over powered Darth Maul.

It gives us a rich picture of the Republic that becomes the cauldron for brewing the galaxy-wide happenings in the Star Wars universe.

The writing is easy and it seems like a walk in the park, and it urges you to go on. If you watched the Episode I movie or have read the novelisation of it, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter comes easily into perspective.