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In Darth Bane - Path of Destruction, a young man named Dessel created the modern Sith legacy by wiping out all rivals and taking command of the Dark Side's destiny by invoking the Rule of Two. But this was only the beginning of the story.

Drew Karpyshyn picks up the tale of the Dark Lord right where his first novel left off with Darth Bane - Rule of Two. Rescuing a confused, frightened and angry young girl named Zannah from the war torn battlefield left from the clashing forces of the Jedi Army of Light and the Sith Brotherhood of Darkness, Bane sculpts her as his apprentice and prepares to bring his plan and ideals to pass.

What follows is a dark tale of power lust and the consequences of giving in to the Dark Side's raw ambition. Bane devours clues and Sith legend, discovering the tomb of Freedon Nadd and the hidden fortress of an even more ancient Dark Lord, Belia Darzu. All the while, Bane is pursued by Jedi, including ostentatious Valenthyne Farfalla and Johoun Othone, who craves vengeance for Bane's murder of his master, General Hoth.

This excursion into the Expanded Universe gives even more insight into this era's Jedi, even revealing how they initially became the protectors of the Senate, thanks to an ancestor of Chancellor Valorum. Bane grows in power through insect-like creatures called orbalisks that envelope his body, making him a funnel of Dark Side energy, trying to control his rage as he educates his new apprentice, giving Zannah enough information to crave more, but not enough to make her stronger than he… yet.

Zannah herself is a deliciously complex, conflicted character, having been brought into the Sith mindset at such a young age. She faces difficult tests as she struggles to grasp all of Bane's knowledge while plotting to eventually overthrow her master. She must also confront her cousin Davorit, a failed Jedi/Sith hopeful who is convinced it's not too late to save her.

However, this IS a Sith novel and though the Jedi do fight valiantly to rid the Universe of the Dark Lord, don't expect a happy Star Wars ending. Darth Bane - Rule of Two continues to add more depth to the Dark Side of the Force, and, as Obi-Wan said "From a certain point of view" you never know whom your heroes are. This novel truly reveals why:

"Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it."

Science fiction enthusiast David Maddox has been many things, including Star Trek characters and the Riddler in a Batman stunt show. He holds a degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University, and has written several articles for various SF sites as well as the Star Wars Insider and the Star Trek Communicator. He spends his time working on screenplays and stories, acting on stage and screen and giving tours at Universal Studios Hollywood.