A whole new year of CBR, awesome! I’m excited to find new books and new perspectives from everyone. Last year, in large part thanks to my fellow Cannonballers, I focused more on reading books by authors different from me. Specifically I read more authors of different genders and also more international authors. Most of my favorite reads of the year came from this intentional expansion. This year I’m focusing on what could be called “intuitive reading”. Instead of making a plan and sticking to my Goodreads list of to reads, I’m planning on going old school and just wandering shelves and grabbing whatever interests me in the moment. 
That’s how I found Drew Karpyshyn’s Bane series. Darth Bane was a hardcore Sith during the Sith Era, which is pre-Prequels. Path of Destruction is part one in a trilogy telling Darth Bane’s story. Personally, I found Bane’s story, inner monologue, and philosophy way more interesting than anything the vanilla Jedi have ever had to offer in the mainstream Star Wars stories.
Without giving up too much, here is the basic plot – an insignificant miner on a significant planet can’t keep his head down, no matter how much he tries. He can’t help but stirring up trouble and getting into fights. This leads him to a lot of zagging where most people would zig. His unique choices lead him to a unique position within Force users. Karpyshyn’s writing is well-paced and fun. (My only caveat is his very one-dimensional writing of the only female character of note.) I knew him from his work on Mass Effect, but Star Wars types would probably know him from his work on the beloved Knights of the Old Republic video game.
As I was writing this review I learned that Darth Bane will likely get some sort of Disney show, so I think Disney+ enthusiasts might enjoy reading these books prior to whenever that show comes out! How fortuitous. It’s almost like the Force led us to this shelf!
I recommend this book for any Star Wars fan, casual or not.