Ancient foes and technological terrors threaten the New Republic and the New Jedi Order! Join the Legendary Adventures as we read the second book in the Jedi Academy trilogy, Dark Apprentice!
Not all is as it seems on the forested moon of Yavin IV. Luke’s new Jedi Order is training within the same Massassi Temples that once housed the Rebel Alliance in the years leading up to their battle against the first Death Star. Gantoris and Kyp Durron seem to be promising students, early acolytes gathered by Luke as he searched the galaxy for people who are attuned to the Force. But an evil spirit deep within the temples, the spectral remains of the ancient Sith Lord, Exar Kun, possesses and later destroys Gantoris – and now, he has his eyes on Kyp Durron!
In the aftermath of the Republic and Jedi’s ancient battles with the fallen warrior Freedon Nadd, the Sith cult was in disarray. In parts of the galaxy, Sith survivors were sent to the edges of the galaxy, forgotten by the ones that claimed to lead them. In other parts of the galaxy, Jedi flirt with the darkness, including Exar Kun. Kun would later lead the Sith in a massive war against the Jedi. Later, Exar Kun would battle with the spirit of fallen Freedon Nadd, learning how to maintain his own consciousness after death. This consciousness was different than that of Qui-Gon Jinn or Anakin Skywalker, as he was tied to a physical location. Unfortunately, the Jedi set up shop in that very location…
Kyp Durron serves as a great student for Luke, as his grasp on his powers grows exponentially. After recently being freed from slavery in the spice mines of Kessel, Durron relishes in his newfound freedom as a student and a newfound control over the Force as a whole. Unfortunately, he doesn’t find himself really fitting in at the Praxeum, choosing to stay aloof from the other Jedi that he doesn’t really connect with. He secludes himself, only really becoming friends with one of the other Jedi, a clone named Dorsk 81. Despite his isolation, his growing power in the Force completely overwhelms the other students, who begin to start paying attention only to him, ignoring their own abilities!
Luke begins to worry about this seclusion and the rate at which his powers are growing. This feels like a dangerous combination to Luke, because he has already personally felt the affect of the dark side on his own life, and having seen how it affects other, as well. Luke retreats a little bit from Durron, insisting that he pay more attention to meditating on the abilities he already has instead of always seeking to gain more. This irritates Durron, and sends him even further down the dark path. Instead of meditating on his own abilities, Durron expands his consciousness over Yavin, bumping into the spirit of Exar Kun. Kun’s influence over the young student grows as he feeds off the anger and frustration bubbling below the surface. With all of this extra power, Durron grows powerful enough to summon the Sun Crusher and use its immense powers. In a duel with Luke, who showed up to stop him, Kyp overpowers the Jedi Master, sending him into a Force-induced coma.
The darkness had seemingly won over young Durron. In control of the Sun Crusher, and having bested Master Luke Skywalker in battle, the possessed young man goes to Carida to carry out his deepest desires for revenge. For one, he wants revenge on Daala and the Empire for imprisoning him. But more than that, he wants revenge on the Empire for holding his brother hostage. With his newfound Force powers, and not to mention, a giant superweapon, Durron’s plan to save his brother from the Empire won’t be easily stopped…
Legendary Travel Tips:
-This book is bookended by the two other books of the Jedi Academy trilogy, Jedi Search and Champions of the Force.
–The Essential Reader’s Companion dates this book to 11 ABY, seven years after Endor, and six after Thrawn.
Legendary Adventures
The New Republic: Heir to the Empire | Dark Force Rising| The Last Command| Isard’s Revenge | Jedi Search
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