Master & Apprentice (Star Wars)

A little over three years ago, I was introduced to author Claudia Gray through her first Star Wars book Lost Stars. It was a great tale that provided new intrigue to my favorite universe in all of fiction, and became my favorite book as a result. Since then I've been reading A LOT of the new canon Star Wars novel, and while several have been really good, I've been mostly excited for Gray's novels whenever I hear them announced. So I was pretty hyped when I heard about Master and Apprentice, a book not only written by her, but was set before any other point in the current canon. Let me say personally, I was not disappointed at all. Master and Apprentice is another great story in her already impressive literary resume. The film dives into the pre Phantom Menace era and gives great insight into what shaped certain events that the actual films failed to capture. We are treated to a very well written mystery, that shakes things up and has us frequently saying to ourselves "Wait a minute..." or "Ah, that makes sense now". But for me, the most important part of any work of fiction is characterization and we get A LOT of that here. Though the novel describes itself as a trial between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan (more on that later), the real dynamic is between the former and new character Rael Aveross. Through these two, we get a lot of clarity of Jinn's past and it's one of the best aspects of the book. Nevertheless, Kenobi still has an interesting arc himself, one that does resolve in a satisfying way. There are a handful of other interesting character who I won't say any more about, but are definitely ones I would love to hear more about in future stories and comic spin-offs. Also the world Pijal that most of the book takes place on is yet another wonderful new planet in the Star Wars galaxy that the little kid in me would love to be a part of. If I had one issue with the book, however, it's not with the story itself but rather the way it was described. The novel was marketed as a story about the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan being put under pressure during a severe assignment. That is featured, don't get me wrong, but it isn't as prevalent as you would likely believe. It feels more like a sub-plot than anything else, falling under the main plot as well as the aforementioned back story between Qui-Gon and Rael Aveross. It kind of reminded me of my first new canon novel "Lords of the Sith", which was described as Darth Vader and Palpatine's attempts to quell a resistance movement, when in actuality that storyline was really only in the last third. Now having said that, what is the main focus is still fantastic. It may have overshadowed what I was expecting to be first and foremost, but I still greatly enjoyed diving into that mystery and seeing these new characters. So in my mind, that makes up for the flaws just fine, though I'm not sure how others will react. In my opinion, this is Claudia Gray's second best Star Wars novel (Lost Stars still tops the list for me), and I'll be looking forward to anything else she adds to the ever growing canon. Highly recommended!

I have read Claudia Gray's other Star Wars books and they have not been favorites of mine. When I first heard about this book, I had hoped John Jackson Miller would be writing, since he did such a stellar job on the legends book Kenobi. This book undoubtedly grew from the short story of the same name that was included in From A Certain Point of View, which I thought was one of the best stories in that book. I have read a number of books on the Jedi Master and Padawan relationship by author Jude Watson. Though they were designed as youth books, her Jedi Quest, Last of the Jedi and contributions to Jedi Apprentice were excellent. This is the first Claudia Gray book that I actually enjoyed for the most part. The prophecies as a theme were interesting and there were some great characters in the book, most notably Rael Avaross, the grizzled veteran Jedi. There were a number of twists and turns that were genuine surprises. I loved the exploration of differing viewpoints on between Rael, Qui-Gon and young Obi-Wan, forcing each one to grow. The surprise invitation was a surprise, as was who opposed it. One thing I wasn't pleased with was some of the conversational language. Seriously, "getting laid" was a phrase used several times throughout the book, and I felt this is not a term that would be used in the Star Wars universe. The legends books kept the illusion beautifully. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audiobook. The veteran Star Wars narrator Jonathan Davis beautifully handles the narration and character voices. His Qui-Gon is wonderful and his Obi-Wan is so good, you would swear it was Ewan McGregor. He was brilliant on the legends book Kenobi as well. Even his Yoda was spot on. A great canon book for Jedi lovers like me.

A short background of me and Star Wars (SW): I've been a fan since nearly the beginning. I've read/enjoyed well over a hundred books, comics, novellas, games, etc... a drop in the veritable ocean of SW media, but still more than most. While my favorite SW novels are mostly from those of the old EU, Master & Apprentice has managed to edge it's way into that exclusive list. It was that good! M&A was a bit of a perfect storm for me in that it checked my boxes of enjoyment for a SW book: 1. Prequel-era timeline 2. Featured favorite characters 3. Focused on Force lore. I know there's sizable portion of fans who say their favorite Gray book, or SW book in general, is Lost Stars, but I found that to be not much more than a SW Romeo and Juliet. M&A however is SW through-and-through IMHO. To each their own! Here we get lots of detail on prophecy, more Qui-Gon, more Dooku, more Obi-Wan... all of which I felt was overdue in this context. The story-line and new characters didn't enthrall me as much as I would've liked (another roguish Jedi...?), and there was some new tech that didn't fit into the SW universe very well to me (nanites and full body personal shields - Trek anyone? ), but that didn't matter to me as much as the other points I did like. What separates SW from general sci-fi is the Jedi and the Force, which is of course what makes it sci-fantasy, and M&A has that in abundance. If you're a SW fan who likes stories that focus more on the Force-related elements, I highly recommend getting this one, even those who aren't a big fan of the new canon. Many people will of course compare this story to the beloved Jedi Apprentice series in Legends, which was where we got most of our Qui-Gon material until recently, and I can say that Master and Apprentice does not trample on those stories, so pick them both up!

The parts with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are good, but the side characters are just so boring.

This book is awesome! Since the first pages you feel hooked to the plot and then you have to read more soon because you need to know more about it. The writing is so intriguing you will read it in the blink of an eye. I love Claudia Gray's writing so much!!

If you have ever wondered about it, read this novel. It is an Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon novel, but make no mistake - this is an Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon novel from Qui-Gon's point of view (for the most part). The title could refer to them or another Master-Padawan pair, or simply refer to a single character. There in lies the beauty of it. I read 'Lost Stars' first and liked Claudia Gray's writing style, and immediately started this one. While 'Master and Apprentice' doesn't quite achieve that level of masterful storytelling in the galaxy we have come to love, it nevertheless is an intriguing tale and a total page-turner. Two novels in, I feel Gray does a better job writing new characters, and her understanding of the lore sometimes feels a tad lacking, but she still manages to retain the essence of the old characters and the world in moments where it counts. The twist, while not a total shock, was well done. The novel gets better as it goes on, and in quite a few ways serves to enhance our understanding of events that we know will unfold.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It took me right back into the Star Wars universe with many of the beloved and known characters. The story was thrilling and gave lots of deeper info into the Jedi order, prophecies and the minds of both Qui Gong and Obi Wan. I’m sure I’ll read this again or get the matching audio book so I can listen to it. If you enjoy the Star Wars universe, I highly recommend this book

I found this book very brilliant to read, the fact that it's not just Qui-Gon-Jinn but it's also a massive story line as if it's like, who is the murderer? sort of thing, anyway Obi-Wan-Kenobi is up-to date to, as he has the look of Ewan McGregor in the 39-40 BBY, eight years prior to Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. And Qui-Gon-Jinn has something to hide from his Padawan, yet it all begins on the Planet Teth where Qui-Gon-Jinn and Obi-Wan-Kenobi are still not in sync with each other, Qui-Gon-Jinn still thinks that he needs more training, where as it's easier for him to focus in between fire shots in a battle. Obi-Wan-Kenobi is slightly more off guard and slower than his Master we find out that they are after Wanbo The Hutt, that is they threaten him and plan to take the Crime Lord back to Couracant, that is until his Majordomo. Comes into it, Thurible, and has Qui-Gon-Jinn's Padawan at gun-point, swapping back around and shaking hands on it, and putting matters aside, the Jedi Council back on Couracant does have news for Qui-Gon-Jinn, that is if he will take this one in a life time pleasure. for Qui-Gon-Jinn to be seated on the Jedi Council, he is not sure for if he does this, then he loses Obi-Wan-Kenobi, yet he does want to be seated on the Jedi Council, yet the Jedi Council asks Qui-Gon-Jinn and Obi-Wan-Kenobi that they have a final mission together to be in sync for their bond is not good, and that is to go to Pijal. Where it has been under attacked by an unknown terrorist group, but the Jedi Council hasn't asked them of it, an old friend of Count Dooku's, first Padawan, and Qui-Gon-Jinn's, who is older now and his name is Rael Aveross, Former Jedi Knight and Regent to the next heir to Phijal's throne, that is Princess Fanry. Who is fourteen years old, but Rael Aveross thinks Halin Azukka is the Oposition who are the terrorists, trying to attack the Princess, and requires Qui-Gon-Jinn's help, other than that, you will notice that there are four or five (I didn't count them) Before moments when Qui-Gon-Jinn is fourteen years old-fifteen years old as his missions are in wars and terrorists threats. But mainly, he is inspired with prophecies of the force, both Sith and "the Chocen One" but Count Dooku to take him on as his second Padawan, is intrigued as well, we can tell why! But Rael Aveross is a young Jedi Knight who helps Qui-Gon-Jinn, these are good moments to read. You also have jewel thieves on the Meryx, you have, Rhara Wick, who was on the Planet Hosnian Prime, and at the age of five, she ended mining on the Hosnian Facilities, that is until Czerka Corporation ended blasted down on the miners and caught them as slaves. Rhara Wick ran away, as far as she could and met, Pax Miripher who on Couracant, as a kid was in an open locker and was raised by eighty-two, or eighty-eight droids and ended up speaking like one, but mainly cared for Rhara, and after leaving Alderann, they were usally heading for Rodia to get paid. But thought to go to Pijal and get a Kyber Crystal, yet there is a plan to get rid of the Princess, and in a few days, Queen Fanry but who is it out of many characters, well you will see as a good read, At least Count Dooku comes in now and again and you get to know more about Rael Aveross as well. And how Count Dooku was as a teacher and why Qui-Gon-Jinn was interested in all these prophecies, just to tell readers that I like to put in my reviews, the names of all the Planets, but mostly the main Planets and the the Characters, with their background, just in case anybody is confused about it.