There stood Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, brothers-in-arms of the Jedi Order. And together, they were unstoppable.
Released on May 10th, 2022, Mike Chen's Star Wars Brotherhood is another welcomed and valuable entry into the Star Wars prequel era.
Chen's other works include:
From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
Here and Now and Then
A Beginning at The End
If you're interested in more of his work, you can check out his website: Mike Chen - Writer & Author (mikechenbooks.com)
Basic Plot Summary
Taking place at the start of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan has been newly appointed to the Jedi Counsel, and Anakin, finally a Jedi Knight is soon set to take on a Padawan of his own. Things start off rocky, however, as Obi-Wan is sent alone on his first assignment to Cato Neimodia after a devastating terrorist attack that is being blamed on the Republic.
Anakin, on the other hand, is sent on his own mission to deliver medical supplies on the planet, Langston. Unable to sit back and listen to orders (very much like him anyways), he secretly sets off to Cato Neimodia to help is former master, while bringing along a promising youngling initiate.
Praise and Critique
My first Star Wars films were the prequels, so I really enjoyed this book. Mike Chen did a wonderful job setting up and introducing different scenes and characters. I was also pleased with how well he integrated Asajj Ventress into the story as this is where Obi-Wan and Anakin first encounter her. What I definitely did not expect was for Chen to reference a particular Jedi that has become beloved by fans old and new:
He continued to watch Anakin, who took a moment to gather himself before stopping to talk with Jaro Tapal and the red-haired youngling who trailed him.
Red-haired youngling?! The one and only, Cal Kestis!!
Cal Kestis is the main character from the game Star Wars Fallen Order. This is the first time I have seen him officially referenced in another piece of media. It may be a small thing but trust me when I say that this a very welcomed surprise.
As for critique, I can't say too much without spoiling anything, but I felt that there were certain breaks in momentum for some chapters. Again, without spoilers, there would be a major event that takes place, only for the next chapter to backtrack because it's being told from a different point of view and that character hasn't experienced said major event. It doesn't happen too often, but when it does, it can be a little irritating as it feels like it only serves to slow down the story.
One last critique I have has to do with the youngling initiate, Mill Alibeth. She is a very interesting character and I welcome her addition as she has good development throughout the story. I'm doing my best to not spoil anything here, but she can come off as pretty annoying. She's a very smart young Zabrak girl that offers valuable insight to Anakin and Obi-Wan, but there can be some moments that might make your eyes roll. Regardless, she did grow on me, and I came to care about her and grew an interest in her story. It just took some time (and maybe a second reading). I wouldn't mind seeing her return in future books or comics.
Do I Recommend This?
Yes, I absolutely recommend this book for those who love prequel-era Star Wars and are engaged with Obi-Wan and Anakin's dynamics. It's not only a nice blast to the past of the beloved duo, but it also adds more to further substantiate their brothers-in-arms relationship. A good read! Plus, anyone new to the franchise also doesn't need to have any extensive knowledge about the Star Wars universe to enjoy this book.
Final Rating and Thoughts
My final rating is an 8.7/10. Obi-Wan and Anakin are an iconic duo in film and novels. Even if a person has never seen a Star Wars film in their life, they would have at least heard the names of these characters. If you love camaraderie, then I think you'll love this book.
"You know, if we're going to be on the 'Net together, you might want to cut that hair."
-Skyguy
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