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Star Wars: the Old Republic: Fatal Alliance is a chance for Star Wars fans to read the newest novel and immerse themselves in the characters before the release of Star Wars: the Old Republic video game in 2011. Bioware and Lucas Arts collaborated to make this game a reality, and no doubt there will be a scramble to get their hands on it. Before that, there is this book, Sean Williams's latest novel in the Star Wars series since his bestseller Star Wars: the Force Unleashed. Having published thirty novels for all age groups interested in these novels, Sean Williams makes sure this one acts as a taster as well as a prequel. Since the late seventies, the Star Wars franchise has been the staple part of any self-respecting sci-fi media buff and this leads readers to a new chapter in the series, and it will be interesting to see how this is received by the game fans too.

Eighteen-year-old Padawan Shigar Konshi has been sent on a dangerous mission to Coruscant to find out the real reason for a trooper being kicked out of the esteemed Black Star squad. As he is young, he is unaware of what lies ahead and will fall into plenty of traps along the way. Whatever happens, this mission is slated to be boring. As it was mentioned in the movies about a young Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi council originally found Shigar unready for the Jedi trials, due to Master Nobil's training being incomplete. A Mandalorian joins into the hunt for the object, his reason why are unknown, leaving the Jedi Padawan to engage the dangerous Sith Apprentice, but he has doubts based on his natural human instinct for emotion.

All in the novel are interested in a treasure kept hidden in a vault, protected by the best guards. The auction set by Tassaa Bareesh of the Hutt cartel has the Republic and the Empire along, and Shigar must find the treasure too, yet none of the seekers have any idea of the treasure's deadly history, the fatal alliance of the story being the Sith, Jedi, Republic and Empire joining their efforts to prevent a universal disaster.

This book like the others in Sean William's series stays faithful to the Star Wars universe, and the movies with descriptions of Darth Chrahis's appearance from his Carbonite Sarcophagus is reminiscent of Darth Vader's intimidating look when he addresses his subordinates. Star Wars: the Old Republic has interesting characters even if there are only eight at a time in powerful scenes. One character not mentioned in the list at the beginning is Lema Xandret, and her part in betraying the Republic and Empire, and the reason will give rise to other memories of the Star Wars movies. The truth about Lema's heritage is shocking and moves the story along at a rapid pace fans will really enjoy. It reads as epic as the movies and has exciting dialogue as well.

Star Wars supporter Sandra Scholes has enjoyed the movies and reading the novels for ten years now, and still remembers the time she went to the movies to see the re mastered version of Star Wars: A New Hope.