Dynasty of Evil (Third Darth Bane Novel)

[Darth Fanboy]

Well I picked it up yesterday and read it all in one sitting. This could be the best book in the trilogy. Easily better than the first one for sure and a good story that ties the three books together. It was a better resolution to the Bane storyline than I thought would be written as well.

Anyone else pick up this book and want to share their opinions? If anyone has any questions about the plot or wants any kind of spoilers I'll post upon request.

[Darth Yan]

my mum said she'd pick it up in the states. Evidently many on TFN thought it was stupid, but then Ulicus and I presented an alternate interpretation.

[Darth Fanboy]

Not enough Mandalorians for the TFN crowd I take it. :p

Spoilers following for those who want them
Spoiler

-Darth Zannah defeats Darth Bane in combat using Sith Sorcery to overwhelm Bane. Her attacks are very interesting.
-Bane learns the life transfer technique from Darth Andeddu's Holocron, and attempts to use it on Zannah in a last ditch effort to survive their duel. Zannah's willpower proves too strong for Bane to overcome.
-The physical effects of prolonged usage of the Dark Side are examined. Bane is not as powerful as he once was, due to this and lasting damage from his time covered in the orbalisks. At the end of the book Zannah is beginning to show the signs of this as well, although the possibility exists that it is a side effect of Bane's failed life transfer attempt.
-Darth Cognus becomes the next Sith Apprentice, chosen by Bane she sits idly by as Zannah and Bane duel sworn to serve whomever survives. She is an Iktochi (Same as Saesee Tiin for those unfamiliar) with proficiency in that species' innate force talents. Before becoming Darth Cognus she was simply known as "Huntress" and served as an assassin for hire.
-Caleb's daughter (a child in the first book of the trilogy) has married into the monarchy of the planet Doan, learns Bane still lives, and vows to take revenge.
-A Dark Jedi named Set Harth is initially chosen by Zannah to become her apprentice, but flees during the climactic events of the book and ends up stealing Andeddu's holocron. The end of the novel shows him on the run from Zannah eager to go into hiding and learn Andeddu's secrets of immortality.

[Darth Yan]

actually it was more that they feltSpoiler

bane possessing zannah was stupid.

[Darth Fanboy]

Doesn't matter if they felt it was stupid, because it never happened.
Spoiler

I'm not a big fan of how life transfer was done in Dark Empire, but in the context of this book I thought it was fantastic. Bane seeking it out to prolong his life over his concerns that Zannah was unfit to succeed him was an interesting way to start that particular angle, but him having to use it in a last-ditch effort to simply survive and failing was great. It made me think about Palpatine's line in Episode III about those with power fearing to lose that power.

I know there are people who didn't continue with the Bane trilogy because of the terrible flaws from the first book, but I think books two and three are better, and it isn't necessary to read book one to enjoy two and three.

[Havok]

Did they retcon the time frame of Bane's existence? Is it still 1000 years before Palaptine?

[Darth Yan]

therebouts. About 981 before palpy came to power but no no major retcon.

[Havok]

That sucks. I think that Bane's line should go far longer than just 1000 years. Oh well.

[Darth Yan]

illuminatus said in one timeline that he wanted bane's line to be at least 4000 years (seventh battle of rusaan would be 4000 years before Yavin).

[VT-16]

Here's something interesting, the author himself provides commentary on the ending of the book.

Warning, HUGE ENDING SPOILERS for those who haven't read the book yet.

Link

[Darth Yan]

the links common knowledge to us tfners. It was there to clean up controversy.

[Darth Yan]

I'm also going to be doing a sequal fanfic covering Cognus's training by Zannah. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.