David's Review of No Prisoners

4/5 Rancors - The previous Star Wars books by Karen Traviss have been extremely good, and No Prisoners also reaches her high standard. Her special area of interest in her books is the clone troopers that the Republic uses to fight the Separatists. This book continues that pattern. Captain Rex is back, and he is sent on a routine three-day shakedown mission along with Anakin Skywalker's Padawan Ahsoka. Anakin hopes to use the time to spend a couple of days with Padme. The mission turns out to not be routine when they are sent off to rescue Hallena Devis, a Republic undercover agent who is caught up in the middle of a Separatist invasion.

Things become even more complicated when a band of Jedis led by Master Djinnn Altis joins forces with them. Master Altis' followers do not think that attachment between Jedis causes any problems or necessarily leads to the dark side. Ahsoka has big problems working with them because their beliefs are so different and because the entire situation challenges some of her core beliefs. Anakin, of course, is very anxious to talk privately with Master Altis and learn more about his philosophy regarding attachments. A further complication is that the ship they are on is commanded by Captain Gil Pellaeon. He and Agent Devis are lovers, so he worries that any actions he takes may be construed to have been influenced by his relationship with Devis. We also are able to meet Callista and see her function as a real Jedi instead of as a spirit and as the new person she becomes when she and Luke Skywalker fall in love in the Callista Trilogy.

I have enjoyed all of the Star Wars books written by Karen Traviss. I was disappointed to read on her blog recently that she will no longer writing any books for the Expanded Universe. The Clone Wars stories are heading in a different direction from the path taken in her previous books. She will be missed.