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Review by Bones, UK, 2010:
"A new 9-book series kicks off, as did the previous Legacy of the Force, with Aaron Allston. Outcast clearly has much setting up to do ready for the remainder of the series and for the most part does it well. It lacks the one thing that I found difficult about Betrayal, which was the convoluted combat scenes that took place at the start of the Second Galactic Civil War. Here the conflict is more streamlined and based less on overt hostility and more on paranoia.
"The three main plots that run through Outcast look at Luke and Ben tracing Jacen's footsteps, Leia and Han helping out Lando and Jaina rallying a resistance to the restrictions placed upon the Jedi by the government. I personally found the first of these plots the most satisfying. The development of Luke and Ben as individual characters and also as father and son were very well handled and I find myself liking the man Ben is growing into - he has the maturity afforded him by his experiences whilst retaining some inescapable adolescent tendencies and emotions. I enjoyed very much the scenes set on Dorin and learning more about Plo Koon's people and their traditions.
"The Coruscant section of the book also helped develop a few characters, such as Jaina and Jag. They are now more comfortable with each other, contrasting with the awkwardness Jaina in particular felt about admitting her feelings previously. It is a shame that we missed the blossoming of the relationship, but their level of interaction is appropriate given the time frame. This particular arc also raises some interesting questions about the mysterious illness that appears to be afflicting the Jedi. The one thing I was less convinced about in this arc was that there were a lot of decisions and reversals made at government and judicial levels that might have benefitted from more time spent with the characters making said decisions.
"The last arc seems somewhat isolated from the other two, dealing with the imminent annihilation of Kessel by forces unknown. I enjoyed this part of the book, particularly its links to previous works, most notably Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy, but have yet to see its importance in the grand scheme of things - perhaps future books in the series will explain this. Additionally little explanation was given regarding the mysterious caverns.
"Overall, a promising start to the series. I enjoy Allston's writing style and find it easy to read. It is permeated with his trademark humour which provides moments of lift. I did find it distracting at times, particularly when dealing with Jag (isn't he supposed to be dead straight? Allston himself even alludes to that himself at one point in the book) but I find that those moments of levity capture some of the original films' essence. Hopefully the series will continue as it has begun."
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Review by Ewan, Star Wars Books, 2009:
"As the opening chapter of a new nine-book series Outcast is a lot better than Legacy of the Force's Betrayal. Allston's style of prose flows smoother in Outcast and there is a level of succinctness that makes this book an enjoyable read. Following on just two years after the events of Invincible, Outcast does not require the same level of character exposition that held Betrayal down. Fans unfamiliar with the Legacy of the Force series will find Outcast's opening act and lack of character introductions a bit disorientating.
"Outcast is a standard three-act story split into three sub-plots that principally feature Luke and Ben, Han and Leia, and Jaina and Jag. There is a good sense of cohesion with the overall story in all the sub-plots, the story flowing naturally between sub-plots.
"The story's central premise, the persecution of the Jedi Order for their failure in preventing Jacen's fall to the Dark Side, is well handled especially considering that many in-universe characters would still have a living memory of Palpatine and Vader's reign of terror. Luke, as the head of the Jedi Order and the most recognisable embodiment and face of the Jedi Order, is responsible for Jacen's actions. Although Allston handles Luke's trial well enough there has to be reservations about the terms of his banishment: if Luke can discover the reasons for Jacen's fall he will be pardoned and return to the Order. It is as if a get-out clause has been created and stated for this new series before it has even got off the ground. We can only hope that the series' plot develops without relying solely on this when the time comes to bring closure to this series.
"Allston creates a sense of foreshadowing in Jaina and Jag's relationship as readers of the Legacy comic series will relate to in their discussion of forming a rival Jedi school. And Tahira's choice of forgoing her Jedi training and becoming a bounty hunter resonates with the choice that Cade Skywalker makes in the Legacy comics.
"Overall Outcast is a good introduction to this new nine-book series with just enough hints on offer as to the series' potential direction."
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Review by Amanda, USA, 2009:
"This is a very good book. I couldn't stop reading it!!"
Rating: 5 / 5