The Joiner King is Troy Denning first Dark Nest novel, chronicling the Killik expansion. The Killiks are an insectoid race that may be responsible for putting together the Corellian system and for much of the ancient architecture once found on Alderaan.The book is admittedly slow, with one of the more interesting plot points coming fairly early on, as we learn that Jacen Solo has been away for nearly five years, learning from the Fallanassi, the Aing-Tii, and many other Force users, broadening his horizons from the Jedi point of view. The similarities between Jacen's desire to see beyond the Jedi dogma are eerily close to the machinations of Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith.
Luke Skywalker begins to fret about the sudden disappearance of many younger Jedi, including Jaina Solo, and eventually Jacen Solo. He soon learns that the Jedi have joined with the Killiks after answering "the call." After a little research, Luke finds out that they were summoned by Raynar Thul, who disappeared after the disastrous mission to Myrkr will fighting the Yuuzhan Vong, nearly seven years prior. Thul, who escaped on a stolen freight that eventually crashed and burned, is horribly scarred, but was "repaired" by the Killiks, and because of his Force connections he becomes a sort of ruler, or the title Joiner King.
The Dark Nest, a villainous faction of the Killik nation, is also revealed, and it is suspected that the Dark Nest is ruled over by two dark Jedi, the same who stole the freighter Raynar Thul escaped on.
In terms of readability, Denning is one of the better Star Wars writers. He is able to make his characters fit what other writers have done, and he works well within the continuity of the series. Han Solo in the Dark Nest is the same as Han Solo at the end of the New Jedi Order series. The only real difference in character is Jacen, and even then, the character feels like it belongs in this series.
Re-readability: 8.3
Final Grade: B+
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