Rule of Two (Star Wars: Darth Bane #2)

Title: Rule of Two (Star Wars: Darth Bane #2)

Author: Drew Karpyshyn

Published in: 2007

Date read: 7th August 2012

Score: 5/5

Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Rule of Two" by Drew Karpyshyn, published in 2007, is the second novel in the "Darth Bane" trilogy within the Star Wars Legends continuity. It continues the story of Darth Bane, the Sith Lord who single-handedly reshaped the Sith Order by establishing the Rule of Two – a doctrine dictating that there should only ever be two Sith Lords: a master to embody power, and an apprentice to crave it and eventually usurp the master.

The story begins shortly after the events of "Path of Destruction." Bane has successfully eradicated the Brotherhood of Darkness, the misguided Sith faction he once belonged to, and orchestrated the near-total destruction of both the Jedi and the Sith forces at the Battle of Ruusan, thereby wiping the slate clean for his new vision. He is now the sole surviving Sith Lord.

Bane immediately takes on an apprentice, a young, Force-sensitive girl named Darth Zannah. Zannah, who was inadvertently responsible for the deaths of several Jedi during the Battle of Ruusan, embodies cunning, potential, and a natural affinity for Sith sorcery. Bane begins her rigorous training, moulding her into the perfect embodiment of his Rule of Two: a lethal weapon capable of eventually surpassing him.

The novel focuses heavily on Zannah's brutal apprenticeship under Bane. She is subjected to gruelling physical, mental, and spiritual trials designed to strip away all weakness and instil absolute loyalty to the Dark Side and the Rule of Two. Bane is a harsh, demanding, and utterly ruthless master, pushing Zannah to her limits, believing that only through immense struggle can true power be forged.

Meanwhile, the Jedi Order, unaware of Bane's survival and the true nature of his "Rule," believes the Sith threat has been extinguished. However, a Jedi Master named Lord Hoth's niece, who blames Bane for her uncle's death, dedicates herself to hunting him down. This quest for vengeance introduces a persistent threat to Bane and Zannah as they work to rebuild the Sith in secret.

As Zannah's power grows, she faces both external threats from the Jedi and the internal pressure of Bane's demanding mentorship. Bane himself begins to feel the first stirrings of age and the limitations of his own power, realizing that for the Rule of Two to succeed, Zannah must eventually become stronger than him. He seeks forbidden knowledge and ancient Sith artifacts to ensure his legacy and the strength of the new Sith Order, even if it means risking his own life or sanity.

The climax involves a confrontation between Bane and his apprentices and the Jedi who are closing in. It is a testament to the brutal efficacy of Bane's doctrine and Zannah's growing power within it. "Rule of Two" explores the dark philosophy behind the Sith's most enduring dogma, and the relentless, often painful, process of forging a new generation of Dark Lords.

Comments:
Every Star Wars fan needs to read these books. They explain so much.

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)