This is a new beginning, where Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy now has put out enough adult Jedi to shift toward training younger students. Naturally, his own niece and nephews, Jacen and Jaina, along with Anakin are among the youngest. In this series, Jacen and Jaina are the center, along with their friends Tenel Ka and Lowbacca.
This included five separate books, but was later combined into an omnibus which is where the title Rise of the Shadow Academy comes from.
Review
On the whole, the Shadow Academy arc is a good series. I naturally liked some books better than others. The final book in the series is apparently the most popular, and certainly has the most action as the clash with the Shadow Academy finally reaches Yavin 4. Possibly my favorite is Lightsabers, as it gives us an exploration of the aftermath of a tragedy. It’s more personally focused than some of the other parts.
Darkest Knight is also fun to me, not so much just for its own sake, but because we have so rarely gotten to see Kashyyyk, which is where it is mainly set. Yavin 4 I found delightful, for much the same reason. It tied into many other stories and I now envision the training I saw in the Dark Forces Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy games.
Overall, one thing I love about this series isn’t just the series itself. It’s the way it so ties into other stories, opening more up on the places that otherwise were rarely glimpsed before it came out.
On the whole, I wouldn’t say Jacen and Jaina had huge developments in it. Their basic personalities are just expanded versions of what we got when they were younger. There were some, like how the difference in status (between them and Zekk) affect points of view for instance. Other traits were revealed in the earlier, adult books, when they were even younger. Tenel Ka and Lowbacca were both introduced and developed as characters.While the famed adults (Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, Lando) were in it, they were not the focus.
Heir to the Force
Our starter is a simple on Yavin 4 adventure where we get to know the Solo twins, Tenel Ka and Lowie’s personalities and interests. A discovery of an old crashed TIE fighter leads to an opportunity to hone Force skills, teamwork, exploration and more. There is only one problem: the pilot isn’t as dead as they thought!
This one is a bit slow, but forms a good foundation.
Shadow Academy
This one introduces our villains. An old enemy resurfaces, and a new group of evil doers has arisen.
A visit to Lando’s Gemdiver Station for the Solo kids and Lowbacca ends in a kidnapping. Luke Skywalker and Tenel Ka race to find the perpetrators and rescue them. The captured twins and wookiee must somehow resist their enemies attempts to seduce them to the Dark Side and figure out a way to escape.
The Lost Ones
The young Jedi knights are home for a visit along with their friends Lowie and Tenel Ka. Zekk, a street scamp who lives with old Peckum who often takes supplies to the Jedi Academy, takes them on adventure through the lower levels of the city. But things go sideways when Zekk gets invited to a diplomatic dinner and feels embarrassed by his ignorance of protocol. As he storms off to clear his head he finds the Shadow Academy is looking for its own young Jedi knights. But Zekk is at a disadvantage: with the few opportunities of a street kid and no previous training to fall back on, his loyalty and friendship to his friends may not be enough.
Lightsabers
The time at last has come for the young Jedi to build their own lightsabers. It will be a challenge to find what they need on Yavin 4. But there is also a question of character. Are they truly ready, mature enough? When disaster happens, the friends find out Tenel Ka isn’t quite who they thought she was. And no matter how tough, she might be needing some help.
Darkest Knight
Lowbacca’s sister is about to go on a dangerous rite of passage, and he needs to be with her. The YJK go with him to Kashyyyk. But the Second Imperium has targeted the world and it’s computer fabrication center as part of it’s plans to defeat the New Republic. Their former friend Zekk is to lead the mission, and part of it is to eliminate the Young Jedi Knights.
Jedi Under Seige
The Second Imperium and it’s Dark Jedi, including Tamith Kai the nightsister and Zekk, the former friend of the Solo twins, are about to attack Yavin 4. It’s up to the YJK to defend it.
Lore and Continuity of the Shadow Academy
(Recommendations are not exhaustive, just a list of places with the most reference info)
Tionne tells Nomi Sunrider’s Tale from Tales of the Jedi.
Tionne, a secondary instructor, is introduced first in the Star Wars Adventure Journal
Brakiss, Luke’s former student, is mentioned in I,Jedi by Michale Stackpole and The New Rebellion by Kristin Kathryn Rusche.
Jacen and Jaina Solo were born in the Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn. They got the most character development in The Crystal Star by Vonda McIntyre and The Corellian Trilogy: Ambush at Corellia, Assault at Selonia, Showdown at Centerpoint by Roger Allen McBride.
Imperial Royal Guards seem similar to what is in Crimson Empire. Factions of the Empire have been mentioned throughout the entire Expanded Universe, and even after the treaty signed with the main Empire and Pellaeon, some continued to cause trouble.
For more on Yavin 4 as experienced by the Young Jedi Knights in the Shadow Academy arc and beyond, recommended:
Jedi Academy (where Luke founded the academy with adults) by Kevin J. Anderson.
I,Jedi by Michael Stackpole
Jedi Outcast (game) Kyle Katarn goes to retrieve his lightsaber, and later returns to defend it. Here you can see some of the practice rooms and you get to perform some of the same exercises.
Jedi Academy (game) where you as Jaden Korr get to train and test at the Academy before going on missions.
Illustrated Guide to the Star Wars Universe by Kevin J. Anderson, Art by Ralph McQuarrie
Yavin 4 is part of the Shadows of Revan expansion and has a daily area (subscribers) and strongholds available
Classic Star Wars comic strips
For more on Kashyyyk
Revenge of the Sith (movie, comic adaptation, novel adaptation)
Knights of the Old Republic (game, playable level)
You visit the lower regions looking for a Star Map. You also find companion Jolee Bindo living here.
Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn
Leia visits to hide here from the noghri hunters.
Republic comics (the last few)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno
The Force Unleashed
This has continuity issues, but does include Kashyyyk in the archipelago regions particularly, but you do play as Vader in one level and Starkiller in another.
For more on Dathomir
Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton (introduced)
Star Wars Infinities End comics Story arc by Pat Mills
For more on Coruscant
The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith
Illustrated Guide to the Star Wars Universe by Kevin J. Anderson, Art by Ralph McQuarrie (Yes again)
Star Wars The Old Republic MMO
This is the main world for all 4 Republic origin stories. It includes a planet story arc, heroics, bonus missions, and visitable and buyable strongholds.
Darth Maul Shadowhunter and Coruscant Nights by Michael Reaves has ample visits to the underworld.
X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Wedge’s Gamble and the Krytos Trap, by Michael Stackpole
Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno has exensive exploration of the Works area.
