Oh boy… Before I start this, I want to say that I have been following this idea since it was first posted, and I was interested to see how it turned out. That being said, everything I have to say isn’t nice.
When I first started reading this, I was very interested in the first half(seeing the clones, Clonemasters, glimpses of Anakin and Obi-Wan’s life, the Sith planet, Obi-Wan and Anakin at the temple and working with Bail, etc). When the second half (specifically after the incident on the Sith planet and everything afterwards) came in, my interest kind of went downhill. I had issues that Vader had so much screen time by himself when some of that could have had Obi-want meeting Vader immediately and get to know him; I didn’t like Dahlia that much-the fact she felt a little tacked on so late into the story and had such an important role when it could have been brought down a bit; some of the scenes at the end felt too far apart from one another (i.e. Obi-Wan taking out the battlemoon, Vader trying to survive); and Nashira and Siri didn’t really do anything(okay, that’s just a nitpick, so you can take it or leave it, if you want).
Also, this story felt like a lot didn’t happen, or there was much significance to it. True, ESB did not have a lot going on, but when you have a threat like Darth Vader looming over everyone, you get a sense of urgency, and it makes you feel for the characters in the end. Here, you have small-time bounty hunters who are working for a Clonemaster, whose fate is left unknown and doesn’t appear to have a presence after the first act (but maybe I’m wrong-I could have missed something). That point is also another problem I have with these specific prequels, there’s no big bad guy to fill in Darth Vader’s spot (unlike in Ep 1, where Pre Vizla was there from start to end, was a compelling villain with good motivations, and personally, should have been kept for the entire trilogy-maybe come back as a Jedi driven mad and out for revenge).
In spite of all of my negative criticisms (and there are some more minor things here and there), there were good ideas in this story. The whole thing with Anakin on Korriban and becoming a Sith Lord was awesome. Seeing the clones work was good too, and I like how they go into TotJ lore, but there were some things that didn’t mesh as well and won’t for other works (if you’re interested in the EU content), e.g. that whole thing of Anakin, Obi-Wan, AND Vader not really knowing each other and presumably not meeting for a while, when the three of them saved a planet called Skye (mentioned in the first SW comics annual in '78, I think). Maybe, after Anakin has become a Sith Lord, he joins Obi-Wan (who has gotten to know Vader while he was away) and helps in the final assault with his Dark Side powers. After the battle (be months or right after) Obi-Wan tries to bring Anakin back, but Anakin leaves, telling Vader to be wary of the Jedi way.
Again, there are a few things I like about ‘Knight of the Empire,’ but the story was not done as well as I would have liked. Then again, that’s just me, and I don’t know what everyone else thinks about it. I am still interested in Ep 3, so I’ll stick around to see what else is in store.