The probable final book in the Darth Bane trilogy has a nice teaser on the back that perfectly sums up what you’ll find inside: If the dark side’s most powerful master can capture the ultimate secret, the Sith will never die—and neither will Darth Bane. If that doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will – and if you’ve already been reading this series, you shouldn’t need me to convince you to pick up this latest volume. But if you haven’t already discovered this series, or just want to read my thoughts before picking this up for yourself – click on the link for my spoiler filled review.

In Dynasty of Evil, we start to see how the Sith began to consolidate their power - Bane knows that money and knowledge are the tools he needs to ensure the Sith will one day be victorious over the Jedi. So he has many simultaneous things going on in the background – like a crime lord but with much loftier and more long term goals. He knows he will not live to see the Sith’s ultimate revenge on the Jedi, but he’s doing everything he can to ensure that future comes to pass.

His only problem is an apprentice who seems reluctant to challenge him. Bane is not convinced Zannah is ever going to get around to it - or worse, that she’ll wait until he’s weak - too worn out to face her at his full strength. That is not what he had in mind for the Rule of Two. The apprentice must prove they are stronger than the master, thus ensuring only the most powerful survives. But Bane’s body is breaking down – not just from the rigors of time, but accelerated because of his time in the Orbalisk armor – so he doesn’t have time to train a new apprentice. So when Bane hears about a holocron containing the knowledge of Darth Andeddu – a Sith master who discovered the mystic art of spirit transference – Bane see’s a way out of his predicament. He will begin a quest that will literally circle back on his own history from the previous two books – in ways I didn’t expect.

Zannah on the other hand knows how intelligent Bane is - she thinks he’s trying to trick her into fighting him by showing her his growing ‘weakness’. She thinks it’s all a ploy, that in reality he’s not really weak at all. Still she is determined, she will beat him - and soon. But first she must be ready to do her part in the continuation of the Rule of Two – she must find an apprentice of her own, ready to begin training the moment she defeats Bane (or ready to take her place as Bane’s apprentice should she fall). Zannah finds an unlikely possible apprentice in a fallen Jedi named Set Harth, but can he learn to put the Sith before himself. More importantly she learns from this man that Bane is after the secrets of immortal life – making a mockery of the Rule of Two – she realizes that the time has come to destroy her master once and for all.

In this mix is the return of some minor characters from previous novels who begin to take a more central role this time – the daughter of the healer who had helped Bane in the past, and a former member of the Gloom Walkers (the fighting force Bane was a part of before his Force abilities were discovered by the Sith). I enjoyed the fact that a number of potential Sith apprentices make some appearances – and the Jedi remain completely clueless. There are some interesting locations brought in to this book too, between the mined out shell of a planet (which reminded me of the starting point for the Knights of the Old Republic 2 game) to the place where Andeddu’s holocron lay. Basically, I feel like this is a stronger book overall than Rule of Two was, and I really enjoying it a lot.

I swear this is one of the best connected trilogys in the EU - and it was completely unplanned as one. The pace of the book was really well done – even though you’re waiting for the ultimate confrontation between Master and Apprentice at the end – there was more than enough excitement along the way that I never wished it would just get on with it – in fact, we get treated to both Bane and Zannah fighting together, as well as beginning their duel but having it prematurely ended before they can finish it. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out which one would ultimately wind up on top at the end – and I’m sure that in some quarters the ending will be controversial, but it’s really the best possible solution. What’s important is, every angle is considered throughout the book – if you’ve thought of an argument about the nature of the Rule of Two – chances are so has the author, and he has the characters try and work it out too.

There’s just all kinds of cool little hints at things to come in this book - phrases that the characters use which are meaningful from the movies (sometimes taken in context, sometimes used completely differently). It’s just one of those books that’s really a joy to read. I think the entire trilogy is worth reading, and while Path of Destruction remains my favorite, Dynasty of Evil is a close second (and Rule of Two right behind it) – and simply a must read for any fan of the Saga.

Review Copy courtesy of  Del Rey.