I thought the book was excellent overall, so let me break it down into points:
1. The 2 year jumps: I thought they were great! I didn't have a single problem with them, as it actually broke the monotony for me. I don't know, but I'm just the type of person who doesn't enjoy a book straight through because I get bored of the same characters trudging through the same plot for 300+ pages (except in this case, of course). If the plot is written masterfully, then that may not be the case. But generally this masterfully written plot is rare, and generally it is masterfully written because it is broken up into several subplots that eventually merge into the main plot. Some rare exceptions would be the X-Wing books. So anyway, at least for me that's a preference when reading a book. So I loved the jumps. To have the Jedi and Sith separated into two separate sections that were touched on chronologically would have bored me, and I don't see how it could have flowed very well. However, I will admit that the acquiring of the fleet was way too short and vague. Could have expounded so much more there, so much more.
2. The Sith themselves: I think the Hidden Sith on Korriban are utterly stupid. That plot point annoys me to no end. However, the Sith on Kesh have me very excited! If The Powers That Be must mess with Sith one more time (and it seems that they must), then I really like the way they're doing it. I love Vestara and wouldn't mind one bit if she and Ben got together. I think it would be rather interesting, as long as Ben doesn't go Dark or anything dumb like that. Maybe Vestara plays with Ben's emotions so as to get closer to Luke? I have no idea. But I'm really liking the Sith from Kesh, most definitely.
3. Daala: a pain in the butt this go-round. She was treated as almost two totally different people in Outcast and Omen. Which do I prefer? Probably Omen. But I think they need to be consistent. I more envision Daala to be the type of person she is in Omen, not Outcast. I felt Golden got closer to her true character, but the fact that it clashed with Allston's character was aggravating. I enjoy the way she's stringing the Jedi along, as it's about time somebody dealt with them politically instead of simply, "Either you're for us or against us...period." And so either the Jedi are loved or hated. This is much more complicated, much more involved. Very intriguing.
4. Javis Tyrr and the Press in general: Excellent! Do I want to wring Tyrr's scrawny little neck? Of course! But then that's the point. He's an amazingly well written little irritant, and I hope he gets his due eventually. But for now he's a great antagonist. His broadcasting of the Jedi's actions is so nice...I don't know if it's ever been done before! Other than the Clone Wars, when they were heroes. This way they're shown as something other than gods. They're shown in a bad light politically...which goes back to what I was saying above with Daala.
5. Han, Leia, Allana, and the Livestock Exchange: Second best instance in the book! The whole situation was such a breath of fresh air! They weren't fighting troops, droids, or Sith. They were fighting animals! And of course everyone saw it coming, duh, but who cares? I loved that bit so much...it was so different! Finally a bit of norm thrown into their lives. It's like the Washington Parish Fair (a big fair we have near here with plenty of livestock) thrown into the Star Wars Universe. And then the whole stampeding, rampaging animals that Jedi Wan let loose. And it didn't last too long, might I add, which can be a major flaw sometimes. I couldn't be happier with that bit.
6. Luke and Ben's adventures: I thought the Aing-Tii were great. Well...Tadar'Ro that is, as we didn't really see anybody else. And I didn't mind what seemed to be somewhat of a lacking reason for their visit. Luke and Ben were able to tell the Aing-Tii that they were going to have to work things out on their own...I thought that was rather helpful. At least it kept them from waiting around for an answer that wasn't coming from Those That Dwell Beyond the Veil. And I was glad Ben learned flow-walking. I thought his walk back to Jacen was a little too short, but I very much appreciated it. His sobbing afterwards was a wonderful touch. I felt a little bit more of a finality settle on Ben and Jacen's relationship. It had always seemed to end so choppily before...so yeah. And I thought Ben's and Luke's moments together were great. The food bits that Sword mentioned, I didn't think were a problem. Again, it was a bit of norm that Star Wars seems to lack quite often. There were a couple of places that it seemed the dialogue was flailing a bit, or just plain cheesy, but that was okay. Overall it was very nice. And I liked the many mentions of Mara there were...quite nice.
They stated twice that Ben had red hair (good clarification), and twice that he had green eyes (bad clarification). So I guess it's even on the continuity.
7. The Jedi going insane: Seems to be happening a bit too slow for my taste...it's the same every time, who cares? Are they going to drag this out for 8 books and then resolve it in the 9th? I don't know, but I feel like they should get a move on. I don't mind the storyline itself, but it needs a very good explanation. Some virus or something is going to make me rather mad. A simple manipulation from the Sith will also be bad. What can they do? I have no idea, but that's why I'm not an author. It needs to be written well, and I hope they have it planned out nicely. It's another nice bit of difference from what we've been seeing (I'm all for different this time around), but I'd like to see it on a larger scale. Half the Jedi going insane and attacking the other half. A few Jedi losing their lives, two separate Jedi armies going at one another! Now that would be a battle to behold, and I think holding it in the Temple would be a nice touch. But that's just me. The little here and there cases are getting old. I realize we're only on the second installment, but still. Hope they pick up the pace.
8. Jaina and Jag's engagement: Agh! It was amazing! It's about time, but why should I complain about something I can't change? Instead, I'm just so happy! And Jaina was portrayed wonderfully in this book. She wasn't in it all that much, but I so enjoyed some of the lighter touches on her appearance and such. The red dress, the ponytail, the exhaustion from washing dishes. Normal things! And I was very happy to see her and Jag's date be a mission all its own. I was expecting something on a more...important scale, but that's not what I got. And I was actually very pleased with it.
) However I wouldn't doubt if Ben got the disease in order for it to hit closer to home.
