Revan (Star Wars: The Old Republic, #1)

Title: Revan (Star Wars: The Old Republic, #1)

Author: Drew Karpyshyn

Published in: 2011

Date read: 7th January 2015

Score: 4/5

Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Revan" by Drew Karpyshyn, published in 2011, is a Star Wars Legends novel that bridges the events between the video games Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) and The Old Republic (SWTOR). It delves into the untold story of the enigmatic Jedi-turned-Sith-turned-redeemed-Jedi, Revan, after the first KOTOR game.

The novel begins with Revan living a peaceful life on Coruscant with Bastila Shan, the Jedi who helped redeem him, and their unborn child. However, Revan is plagued by disturbing nightmares and fragmented visions of his forgotten past as a Sith Lord, convinced there's a lurking threat far beyond the known galaxy that turned him and Malak to the dark side.

Driven by these premonitions, Revan decides he must uncover the truth. He leaves Bastila, venturing into the Unknown Regions, where he eventually finds the true Sith Empire on the planet Dromund Kaas, hidden for centuries. There, he is captured by the powerful Sith Lord Darth Scourge and the insidious Darth Nyriss. Revan is held captive and tortured by the mysterious and supremely powerful Sith Emperor, who desires to extract information from his mind about the Republic.

Years later, Meetra Surik (the "Jedi Exile" and protagonist of KOTOR II), having completed her own journey, sets out to find Revan. She travels to Dromund Kaas and forms an unlikely alliance with Darth Scourge, who, disillusioned by the Emperor's tyranny, agrees to help her.

Together, Meetra and Scourge manage to free Revan. Revan's memories fully return, revealing the Emperor's insidious plan to invade and conquer the Republic. The three confront the Emperor in a climactic battle, but the Emperor proves too powerful. In a devastating moment, Scourge betrays Meetra, killing her to serve his own vision of defeating the Emperor in the future.

Revan is re-captured by the Emperor and placed in a stasis prison, where he spends centuries. His spirit, however, resists the Emperor's mental assaults, subtly influencing and delaying the Sith Empire's plans, effectively sacrificing himself to buy the Republic more time. "Revan" explores themes of sacrifice, the weight of destiny, and the lingering threat of the true Sith Empire.

Comments:
Never heard of the characters and read as a stand alone book from this particular era. Thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the link with Mandalorians and the glimpse into the Sith lifestyle and hierarchy. Left me wanting to read more from this time.

Books that we've read by Drew Karpyshyn (4):
Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane #1) (2006), Rule of Two (Star Wars: Darth Bane #2) (2007), Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane #3) (2009), Revan (Star Wars: The Old Republic, #1) (2011)