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Title: Star Wars: The Rise Of Kylo Ren (2019-) #2 (of 4)
Author: Charles Soule, Clayton Crain (Cover Art), Will Sliney (Artist)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.8/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: January 12, 2020
Book Summary: SNOKE SINKS HIS CLAWS IN! YOUNG BEN SOLO FACES THE KNIGHTS OF REN! With the new jedi school in ruins and fellow students hot on his trail for the murder of their master, Ben Solo flees to the only friend he has left in the galaxy - a man named Snoke. But Snoke has plans for Ben - and ideas about the Force that are as dangerous as they are intriguing for the troubled young jedi. If Ben wishes to be truly free - the answers might lie with the dark side. And with the Knights of Ren! But it won’t be the first time he’s tangled with the Knights. In the past, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker journeys to the Unknown Regions and brings young Ben along for the mission. Can even Luke Skywalker stand against the fabled Knights of Ren?!
Book Review: We have reached book two of the canonical series of Ben Solo's rise to the dark side.

On the mysterious garden planet, Snoke tells Ben that this place was built by people who wanted an oasis of light in "the great shadow" but did not succeed. Ben tells Snoke that he believes that the Knights of Ren could be able to teach him. Snoke agrees but believes that the Knights of Ren may not want to take him on because of his last name. Ben says he hates his name.

A droid appears and tells Snoke that there is an incoming call from General Brendol Hux. Snoke informs the droid to explain that he cannot take the call from Hux at the moment. Ben inquires who Hux is but Snoke tells him that Ben is not his only friend. Snoke continues to inquire about Ben's true name as once he has embraced the Dark Side that only his true name will have. Snoke senses the name Ben has in mind and praises it but Ben disagrees that it was a name he has contemplated as a child. Snoke agrees and says that is why it is correct because children's thoughts are pure and they do not deceive.

Snoke theorizes that the Knights could be the ones to help Ben in becoming his true self. Ben asks if Snoke knows where they may be but Snoke tells him that he will have to find them on his own. He would have to go back to the place where he once saw them the first time but he also warns that he cannot fail to join the Knights because to fail would mean his own death.

There is a change of scene to years earlier where we find Luke, Ben, and Lor San Tekka are on a starship. They are heading toward a Jedi Outpost on Elphrona. Luke asks Tekka if he is certain that a Jedi outpost would be located so far away from the Core Worlds. Tekka answers that during his travels, he has learned to recognize a description of a Jedi outpost. It is at this moment that Snoke contacts Ben and asks if he is okay. Ben answers that they are headed toward an Outpost on the edge of the Outer Rim to find "junk Master Luke will lock away in his temple and never use." Ben is also frustrated because Luke is not allowing him to reach his full potential as a force wielder.

Once inside, they note the temple seems to have a lot of artifacts in place. Luke, however, warns Ben to be careful with what they touch and tells him of the time where he found a lightsaber that sprung a trap.

Luke finds a Jedi holocron while Ben discovers a lightsaber rifle. It is at this moment where Jedi and Padawan sense a presence. They turn and find the Knights of Ren right before them. The leader of the Knights, Ren, tells them that all within the temple belongs to him. Luke retorts and tells Ren that the stuff belongs to him as he is the last of the Jedi. Ren turns to the Knights and tells them they are going to get what they came for and ignites his lightsaber. Luke tells Tekka to stay out of it and he orders Ben to watch over him. Tekka protests and tells him that he won't be able to take them on his own but Luke ignites his own lightsaber, telling him that he will do fine.

Ren orders his Knights to attack Luke. Dodging their attacks, Luke uses the force to repel the Knights back away from him. Tekka marvels at Luke's ability while Luke inquires whether or not the Knights have had enough. Ren answers that he still has numbers on his side. Ren turns on the lightsaber and tells Luke that if this lightsaber leaves his hand, it will explode. He also makes note of the dark side within Ben. Luke orders that Ren and his Knights leave. Ren agrees to do so but not before removing his mask and telling Ben should he wish to explore his dark side to feel free to contact them.

The issue returns to the present. Ben has returned to the Jedi Outpost where he finds the discarded mask and puts it on. The transmission inside tells him that he would find Ren and the Knights on Vanrak.

This issue offered a lot more of Ben and that of his past. Although not entirely enough of it but just enough to give the readers a glimpse of Ben's past. A taste, if you want to put it another way. Ben's character feels a bit of a selfish boy but that can seem to be because of the large looming shadow cast from his famous Uncle Luke. I am only assuming that due to this, Ben feels that because Luke did not give him enough training, he thinks the Ren and his Knights would give him what he needs and perhaps even allow him more of a chance to shine outside Luke's looming shadow.

I am quite looking forward to seeing how the next issue plays out and see how the rest of Ben's past and present shape into Kylo Ren.