Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy.  Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look at an intriguing and compelling upcoming Star Wars novel, with Master of Evil by Adam Christopher.

Amazon

After a couple of years of inadvertently avoiding extended Star Wars fiction (mainly because I’ve been more focussed on Warhammer 40,000 fiction), I’ve been making a big effort to try and grab or highlight some of the newer Star Wars novels, including the compelling early rebellion focused novel, The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed that came out earlier this year.  While there are a few other cool Star Wars books coming out in the second half of 2025, the one that has really caught my eye is the complex and character-focused book, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher.

Christopher, who previously wrote the sequel-trilogy set-up novel, Shadow of the Sith (which is still on my to-read list), is returning to his Sith focus in a big way with Master of Evil.  Set for release in November 2025, Master of Evil will follow Darth Vader on his journey deeper into the dark side of the force, as he embarks on a quest to conquer death.  Sure to be complex, character-driven and intense, Master of Evil sounds like an exceptional read, and I love it’s compelling, lore-focussed plot synopsis.

Plot Synopsis:

After Revenge of the Sith, a newly forged Darth Vader hunts for the secrets of life and death under the watchful eye of Emperor Palpatine.

In the wake of Emperor Palpatine’s rise to power, the true nature of his most sinister enforcer remains a mystery. Darth Vader is a dominant yet illusive figure: the shadow cast by a malignant Imperial regime, unknowable to even its top officials. But even as his humanity gives way to myth, Vader remains haunted by the promises of the dark side, seeking the ultimate power that his master has hinted at but withheld—the power to conquer death itself.

On the volcanic world of Mustafar, Vader undertakes a dark ritual, bleeding a kyber crystal to forge his lightsaber. This act unleashes a power far greater than he anticipated, giving him a glimpse into the limitless potential of the Force.

Vader is determined to follow this vision, even if it means defying his master’s orders. Yet he finds the Emperor suspiciously supportive of his mission, even sending Vader to the Diso system to investigate rumors of a Force-wielding shaman able to raise the dead. At his side are a cadre of the Emperor’s scarlet-robed Royal Guard, led by Colonel Halland Goth—a decorated soldier with a very personal interest in Vader’s mission.

Even as the Emperor’s true motivations reveal themselves, Vader falls deeper into obsession. His journey takes him far across the galaxy, chasing rumors and phantoms. But no matter how far he travels, he cannot escape the shadows within his own soul. Haunted by the echoes of his past, Vader circles the true resolution to his quest: only once all weakness is purged can he become a master of evil.

I am really intrigued by Master of Evil’s plot, and I think its one that has an awful lot of potential, especially for hardcore Star Wars fans.  Frankly any book that follows Darth Vader, especially during his early days as a Sith Lord, is going to be an instant get for me, and I am extremely curious to see Vader settling into his role as the Emperor’s shadowy enforcer.  You’ll have to assume that this will result in quite a personal and character-focused plot, as the scarred and emotional Vader tries to come to term with all that he’s done and all that he’s lost.  The extra focus on Vader learning more about the dark side of the Force, especially with how it relates to stopping death, is going to be fascinating, and I look forward to seeing how the central character moves further away from the heroic Anakin to the resolute and merciless Vader.

Naturally, the above plot synopsis sounds pretty lore-heavy, so I imagine that Master of Evil isn’t going to be a book aimed towards more casual Star Wars fans.  I personally love some of the more lore-heavy Star Wars novels and comics, such as Charles Soules’ Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith comic series, that was set in a similar period, and they can make some very compelling and personal reads.  Indeed, it looks like Christopher is going to be revisiting some of the elements that Soule introduced in this comic, and it will be interesting to see where Christopher takes some of these more obscure bits of the lore in Master of Evil.

Overall, I think that Master of Evil has a ton of potential, and it could end up being one of the top pieces of Star Wars extended universe fiction out in 2025.  I love the complex story synopsis above, especially as Star Wars fans will be blessed with one of the first Darth Vader novels in years, and I am excited to dive into the mind of a young Vader as he learns more about the evil he has dedicated his life to.  I look forward to seeing Adam Christopher’s take on one of fiction’s most iconic villains, and if Master of Evil’s story is as half as cool as its fantastic cover, then we’re in for an awesome time with this book.