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"I came into The Clone Wars having read only two of Traviss’ other Star Wars novels, Hard Contact and Triple Zero. Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy either. However I did like Traviss’ writing style and the themes she brought to each book. So I didn’t really know what to expect with The Clone Wars novelization. I had read the two other reviews below so I suspected the novel would be good, as long as my opinions did not conflict with the previous reviewers.
"The film the novel is based on wasn’t brilliant and quite a letdown, it seemed made entirely for children whilst throwing out existing canon for the Clone Wars. Ashoka Tano was the least Jedi-like Jedi ever, and I did find her rather annoying at times. So I was hoping reading the novel would give me the same events in totally different experience.
"Straight away we gain an insight into the mind of the infamous Jabba the Hutt. I don’t think any author of an Expanded Universe book has ever explored the mind of a Hutt before, let alone Jabba. It’s about time too; Jabba is one of the original villains from the first film and one the audience loves to hate. And it’s a brilliant insight into the crime lord’s mind, a schemer who his constantly planning his future; a cruel calculating mind; and a worried parent. Suddenly I find myself seeing Jabba in a completely new light, but instead of it being something that’s just added to help the story it seems more like Jabba has always been like that, I’ve just failed to see it before.
"We also get to see inside the great mind of Palpatine, and, as the audience already know of his darker side, Sidious. This is something that has only really been shown in glimpses during Matthew Stover’s novelization of Revenge of the Sith. Traviss fully explores this concept, having him say one thing and think something totally different.
"Traviss seems to nail down each character perfectly, from Anakin’s anger and morality problems, to Ventress’ hatred of the Jedi. Even Obi-Wan’s quote at the start of chapter seven captures the characters jokey sarcastic manner perfectly.
"One of the few gripes I had with the novel was the ending seemed very abrupt. However, I can’t really see how Traviss could have extended it further. The book is rather short and before I began I was worried by that fact, but this is not Traviss’ fault. The film it is based on, though not short, lacked much plot and left little for Traviss to extend upon. I’m amazed at how long Traviss managed to keep the scenes at the monastery going, most of the book took place there. If Traviss had not managed to keep if going for so long the book would have been even shorter.
"Traviss managed to change a film made for children into an enjoyable adult book, raising many interesting points, and including plenty of action.
"I would recommend this to anyone who has seen all the films, even if they didn’t see The Clone Wars film. Those who didn’t like the film or loved the film would defiantly benefit from reading this, to help change their views on the film."

"When I watched the film, I’m afraid I was disappointed. The plot was rushed and crowded, the characters were doing things that seemed out of character and Ahsoka Tano was the single most annoying thing I’ve ever had the misfortune to witness.
"It is a credit to Karen Traviss that she managed to make a silk purse from such a sow’s ear. The novelisation to the film is a significant improvement, filling in much more of the details behind the plots, providing more consistent characterisations and actually making me not want to garrotte the irritating new Padawan. She gives, as one might have expected, quite a bit of attention to Anakin and Rex and his troopers, which sometimes means that other characters are relegated, in this case Obi-Wan Kenobi is given less time than perhaps he could have been, but she also provides some interesting insights into some of the other characters, most notably Jabba the Hutt, which is one character I didn’t expect her to focus on. Her handling of the crime lord is true to the slug we all know and detest from the films but also manages to make us sympathise with the plight of an anxious parent.
"The combat scenes are handled more sensitively than in the film, so that the rather crass plot devices that are sometimes used in the film (ahem, a box? they used a box to fool the droids?) are less jarring.
"One criticism I would give is that Asajj Ventriss, who we see as the main antagonist of the book due to her active involvement in the conflict (as opposed to Dooku or Sidious, who as usual operate from the shadows), is perhaps not as developed as she could be. Traviss does try to provide back-story and motives for Ventriss, but of all the characters it would seem that this is the one that she was least comfortable with writing.
"Given my response to the film, I’m amazed I enjoyed this book as much as I did. It is certainly well worth reading, even if the original material on which it is based leaves a lot to be desired."

"A litmus test for any author of calibre is to take someone else’s story and retell it in such a way that none of the original story is lost and at the same time mark it with their own individual style.
"In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss has achieved this even though it is “loosely based” on the screenplay of the same name. This is because the screenplay contains material, both characters and situations, that Traviss excels in: namely military tactics and the attitudes of soldiers towards war. To this end, Traviss wastes no time in introducing characters the reader will be familiar with from any of the six Star Wars films: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku, Chancellor Palpatine, Jabba the Hutt and Yoda. Instead Traviss concentrates on the emotions these characters have for each of the various situations they find themselves in. Thus right from the beginning we don’t need to be told that Jabba the Hutt is an enormous, grotesque slug-like creature, instead we gain a more precious insight into this notorious gangster’s attitudes to other species, particularly human, and why their rules and laws cannot apply to him and his son’s criminal empire. Similarly we are witness to the true dual personality of Chancellor Palpatine as both leader of the Republic and Sith Lord, since the reader will be fully aware of this following Revenge of the Sith’s revelation.
"What makes this book a more interesting read than just another episode in the Star Wars universe is Traviss’s personal knowledge with the military aspects of the story, aspects that cannot be expressed in a PG rated movie. Just as in her previous three Republic Commando novels, Traviss has an excellent understanding of not just how battles are won (and lost), but more importantly, what motivates and drives a soldier. Time and time again throughout the story, we are given glimpses into what motivates a soldier –the comradeship of soldiering (brothers-in-arms); the ability to watch out for your comrades; the quality of leadership; to never leave a man behind. So when towards the end of the story and our heroes have their backs against the wall with the odds heavily against them we understand what soldiers fight for: it is neither for the glory nor a sense of loyalty to the cause but for the victory and for your brothers-in-arms.
"In the movie we see why Anakin Skywalker is the great Jedi warrior as he leaps from spider droid to spider droid destroying each in turn with a swirl of his lightsaber, however, Traviss captures Anakin’s affinity to the soldiers he leads (as a General in the Clone Army) and the loyalty of every single clone under his command. Anakin is a leader of men by example, battle-hardened by at least a year of war, unwilling to risk lives unnecessarily, able to listen to advice, and trusts implicitly the ability of his men. But, Anakin is also a troubled young man: guilt for being unable to save his own mother; anger at the Jedi Council for not recognising his destiny as the Chosen One; rage towards anyone or anything who may harm his comrades – and it is this dichotomy of a troubled adolescent and a brilliant military leader that Traviss captures so well.
"What threatens Anakin’s leadership of his troopers, and that of his relationship with his second-in-command, Captain Rex, is the introduction of his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Rex’s character is similar to Anakin’s, that of a good commander, who recognises that his duty is to the men who serve under him and to the General who leads him. The Anakin/Rex relationship is clearly defined not only by rank but also by the trust each has in the other. Traviss clearly indicates Anakin’s reluctance to accept Ahsoka as a Padawan and also as a member of his regiment, but Rex understands that it is also his responsibility to bring the inexperienced Padawan up to speed in a battle zone. There follows, as the story progresses, some nice insights by Traviss on how both Ahsoka and Rex learn to respect each others capabilities while at the same time, Anakin’s greatest concern is whether his Padawan will uncover the dark secrets from his past.
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars by Karen Traviss is an excellent addition to the Star Wars universe (many insider references add to her characterisations), however as the story progresses, the reader may find themselves empathizing too much with Jabba’s anguish. Certainly his son may be an innocent child, but lest we forget, Jabba the Hutt is the head of a powerful criminal organisation that endorses smuggling, slavery, torture and murder. His paternal anguish cannot right the wrongs he himself has committed."