I quit Aftermath: Life Debt a few months ago because I got really fed up with it, and only recently went back and finished it. I actually kind of enjoyed what I read, so now I can say I like both the first book and this the same. They’re kind of fun, but ultimately not entirely my thing. I’ll still read the third book in due time, because now I want to see where these characters go.
I also read Heir to the Jedi, and found it excruciatingly boring and overall pretty bad. The first person thing was gimmicky and didn’t capture the feel of Luke Skywalker. The plot sucked hard as well. I did, unexpectedly really like the character of Nakari Kelen, whose fate was very disappointing, and what really pissed me off about the book. I think I actually hated it.
On a side note, I got to the end of the second chapter of Catalyst before realising I had no clue what had just happened in the book.
So what I’m really saying is that returning to The New Jedi Order was like catching up with old friends.