Cloak of Deception

[Brian]

I started reading COD and the book seems like it is a big snoozer. Is it any good?

[Whuffa]

Well as far as prequel novels go it's pretty good. If you like political novels, that is. CoD is mostly an elaborate introduction to the politic climate in TPM.

If you've just started reading SW books I'd reccomend you stay clear of all the prequel era novels before you've read all the good stuff because most of them are not that good and they might scare you away from Star Wars EU. The only ones I liked were the movie adaptations and CoD. The Approaching Storm was the worst SW reading experience ever for me and a waist of 25$ bucks and good trees. If you plan on reading the NJO tough, I suggest you read Rogue Planet. I don't wanna say why 'cause I might spoil it for you.

[JediKeri.]

ugh, was is BORING!!

I never finished it

[Rogue_0009]

<span style="color:silver">It gets better towards the end.</span>

[Zane Marit]

It is a good read...I agree about not reading it if you are new to the EU though. It gets better towards the end.

[Brian]

Well, I am not exactly new. I have read Truce At Bakura, The Han Solo Trilogy, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, and Shadows of the Empire.

I am actually trying to go somewhat chronological in my EU reading.

[Luminara Skye]

I found COD boring, too. It was so political. I honestly couldn't tell you what it was about. I haven't been too impressed with many of the PT novels. I hope Shatterpoint is better.

[Brian]

After getting 2/3 of the way through the book, it isn't as boring as it first seemed. While not as entertaining as I would have liked, the story is okay for what it is about (politics, taxation, etc.)

[Flight]

IMO, the prequel-era novels are definitely lacking in comparison to the rest of the EU. One reason I'm looking forward to Mace Windu: Shatterpoint so much - if MWS does as well as he did with TR, the prequel-era will get a much-needed lift.

Cloak of Deception wasn't exactly terrible, but it definitely wasn't a stellar reading experience, either. I found it mildly interesting, but it was something I had to make myself finish.

[Brian]

Yeah, I feel like I am forcing myself to get through it so I can move on to the next novel.

[Darth Vegas]

I read it within two days I couldn't put it down, the book was very interesting, and it got really good towards the end, had a nice twist ending.

I appreciated the appearance of Tarkin, that was kinda cool.

[Brian]

I finished the book last night and the ending was pretty good. Still, the beginning is kind of dull, but like most everyone here has said, it does get better at the end. COD clears up some things only touched upon in TPM and it shows just how devious Palpy really is.

[jedisaber]

i haven't read cod yet, but from what i hear its ok

[Brian]

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[Master Patton]

COD i thought was great....since vergerge is in it....And it show's sides of jedi masters that I have yet to read...

[X-3PO]

I loved Cloak of Deception. Perhpas because Palpatine is one of my favorite charecters. But I appreciated the subtle writting of Palpatine which gave great little hints at things. I loved the discreet mind trick Palpatine preformed on Havok, when they were talking at the table. I think it was skillfully written with the material that was available. If you don't like political type books why are you reading it? It says on the book that it is part political thriller. I personally enjoy politics, especially the fun complex politics of the Star Wars universe, and enjoyed not only seeing more about these politics, but also seeing Palpatine doing what he does best, manipulate others.

[Master Shrive]

I'm only half way through it at the moment, but I've gotta say I'm impressed. In general it's been a good read, but what I like most is the little things. So far this book has included two references to two major EU characters that don't appear in the main story line for another few decades, and it gives background for a major OT character. I'm really impressed.

[Ripley]

The political intrigue is fairly good, the Jedi sections average, but the pirate storyline was meh at best. Ultimately, it didn't really add much to The Phantom Menace.

[smudger9]

I thought the book was brillaint. Great in depth plot with regards to the corruption in the senate and it involves Qui-Gon a hell of a lot, which I liked. In my opinion this is a worthy introduction to the Phantom Mencae, and in some ways better then TPM!!!!

[Ripley]

Originally posted by smudger9@Apr 13 2006, 05:15 PM
I thought the book was brillaint. Great in depth plot with regards to the corruption in the senate and it involves Qui-Gon a hell of a lot, which I liked. In my opinion this is a worthy introduction to the Phantom Mencae, and in some ways better then TPM!!!!
Quoted post

I found the government part, while the best part of the novel, to be weak in comparisons of other EU political thrillers like Black Fleet Crisis.

[Galahad_Skywalker]

So far, it's the one EU book that's influenced my view of Star Wars the greatest, and it's been four years since I've read it. I don't know, maybe it's stuck with me so long because TPM actually made so much sense to me afterwards, and having that make sense made the political situation that birthed the Empire make sense.

[Shistavanen Jedi]

In my opinion, the only Star Wars books that are worse than Cloak of Deception were the Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy, at least among the ones worth mentioning! I must admit that I have little love for the Prequel books in general (Maybe Outbound Flight will remeady that). There's a lot of interesting characters that have been ignored or not written well enough and I think an oppurtunity was missed with them. (Take Quinlan Vos, Aalya Secura and Kit Fisto as examples)

[Whuffa]

As someone already mentioned, this book sheds A LOT of loght on the events in Episode 1. The movie just had too much backstory and I found it more enjoyable after reading this book because I knew what was really going on.

[Master Stock]

I can't believe there are people that don't like this book... it's brilliant. I guess it is a little complex, with a couple of plots weaving at the same time, but it is great. Really makes you appreciate Episode I that much more.

[Jedi Master Harrison]

Having just finished the book, I thought I'd read through this thread. The book has obviously got a very mixed reaction to it.

Personally, I really enjoyed it. It made the events at the start of TPM clearer, it developed several characters, which I found interesting and the political events were well written.

Sure, if you only want action, then it's not the novel for you, but if you felt inquisitive about the political scene during the PT, then it provides great background reading. You learn even more about how devious Sidious is and also get a good helping of Qui-Gon, a character who (perhaps understandably) didn't get enough screen time.

I'd rate Cloak of Deception as at least 4 out of 5.

[Cydon]

As would I. The book only lacked "good guy" supporting characters.

[Jedi Master Harrison]

As would I. The book only lacked "good guy" supporting characters.

A fair assessment.

[lovelucas]

actually I really like all the EU prequel novels - provides tons of insights to the characters I love. You can see Palpatine already getting his ducks lined up...
plus see the developing relationship between Obi Wan and Anakin - and can readily understand that by the time AotC takes place Anakin is very much the rebellious teenager chafing under the rules of his parental unit.

[Braden Dar]

Funny, I just finished reading COD. I have started reading the Prequel era stuff because I don't want to "read ahead" from my place in the Young Jedi Knights series, and then into the NJO era.
I never actually wanted to get into the Prequel stuff, since the movies failed to live up to the Original Trilogy for me, but I have found the "cloak and dagger" stuff to be pretty good.
The book centers on the Trade Federation and why they had that droid army and why they wound up blockading Naboo. It has some "appearances" by Darth Sidious, but features Senator Palpatine prominently. It also has a lot to do with Supreme Chancellor Valorum.
I only felt less than enthused reading the last twenty or so pages as it did turn into a politics/legal type of story.
All in all I give it a pretty high rating.
I've also read Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter and Rogue Planet.
I'm now starting on Shatterpoint, and then I'll likely be reading Labrynth of whatever its called. Sorry, the actual title escapes me as I type this at my local library (the book is on my side table waiting for me).

I say go ahead and read the novel, and try to get your hands on any of the other novels and follow them in chronological order. It helps to better understand the movies (though the authors and Lucas didn't really collaborate on them. More, the novels were written to tell a story of how it seemed to them likely that the events transpired).