Now, people just kind of look at [the prequels] without the same expectations that they had before they came out. Just look at them as individual pieces of George Lucas's vision, and I think they come off better that way." Multiple Narrative Modes: Most of the book is written in the third-person past tense, but on three occasions switches to the second-person present tense. The novel better described how Obi-Wan and Yoda avoided attention in the Temple. Cin Drallig is mentioned as Obi-Wan's fencing instructor; after seeing his corpse lying on the ground. Obi-Wan is mortified at the fact that Anakin could do such a thing, but he must let go of his attachments. When Obi-Wan lets the Force reach into him, it ‘ flows over him and around him as though he has stepped into a crystal-pure waterfall… it flows into him and through him and out again without the slightest interference from his conscious will… In the Force, he is beyond questions.’

The one explanation I greatly appreciated was to do with Anakin’s reaction to not being given the rank of Master even though he was allowed to sit on the Jedi Council as Palpatine’s representative.I had a lot of the stuff in the book about Anakin's critical failing: it being his attachment, his fear of loss, fear itself and the irony of the reputation that he has. They call him, canonically, the hero with no fear – whereas, in fact, he's ruled by fear, and that's what causes his fall." What's in that book is there because Mr. Lucas wanted it to be there. What's not in that book is not there because Mr. Lucas wanted it gone. The Paranoiac: Anakin is utterly convinced that someone on the Jedi Council is the reason he's not getting the titles and accolades he deserves. And this is before Palpatine starts his mind games. He's also thoroughly convinced Yoda's hated him from the moment they met. Fake Defector: As per Padmé's suggestion, Bail Organa tells Yoda and Obi-Wan that he's going to be one, appearing to support The Empire while really part of La Résistance.

From its publication in 2005 until the canon reboot in 2014, this book, like all other novelizations, was considered part of the Expanded Universe and classified as C-canon. However, Matthew Stover stated in 2006 that George Lucas was closely involved in its editing: Stover’s explanations with regards to the characters aren’t info-dumps. They add to and flesh out the characters, making them more whole, and that, in turn, enhances the story. Anakin Skywalker, recognizing the consequences of what he did by revealing Palpatine, rushed to the Chancellor's office. Shaak Ti stood in his way and tried to convince Anakin not to go, but Anakin rudely refused to obey the Jedi Master.Noodle Incident: In addition to "that business on Cato Neimoidia" from the film (which is fleshed out in Labyrinth of Evil), Anakin realizes that Padmé has been entertaining visitors (the Senators who form the proto-Rebellion) when he smells hoi-broth in their apartment—Padmé doesn't like hoi-broth, and Obi-Wan's allergy to it had once "nearly triggered an intersystem incident."