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stephtherose_'s review
5.0
I genuinely enjoyed this. Definitely will read more Star Wars books and just other books by Mike Chen!
hanlsha's review
5.0
this was everything Star Wars is for me. Ugh amazing! So good! Totally at a loss for words I loved this so much
thunderdone's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was LEAGUES better than I anticipated it being.
melsage1823's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A raw war political thriller that serves as the perfect sandwich between Attack Of The Clones and the Clone Wars Movie.
My gosh, my gosh. I don't know what I was expecting but it turned out really good. Just like how Claudia Gray knows how to write Leia. Mike Chen excels at writing Obi-Wan and Anakin. He really understands Anakin's struggles as well as Obi-Wan's doubts. With jam-packed action and high stakes it was a fun read. This book not only developed Anakin's complicated relationships with Obi-Wan but we also get to go inside Obi-Wan's head and understand how much of his emotional thoughts such as Satine and how Anakin keeps not opening up to him privately.
It also is a smooth transition that serves as the perfect character development that Lucas never gave Anakin and Obi-Wan between AOTC and ROTS. Its the perfect wrap up of what Anakin has taken with him as a jedi knight and how Obi-Wan is coping during the war and being a Master on the council. It really serves its purpose as expanded media and shows how Anakin and Obi-Wan were feeling at the very beginning of the war. I'm not a prequels era fan but this novel is practically a love letter to them. It includes all the characters you know and love whilst also including new fresh characters like Mill and Ruug that fit in perfectly.
I really enjoyed this novel there's not really anything that spoiled my enjoyment apart from one small thing. I think this book is way too fast paced and that it could have greatly benefitted from a more slower paced introduction. The title of the novel is Brotherhood but we just got to see the transition of that dynamic not straight before. A prologue of Anakin's knighting or Obi-Wan talking to Anakin after the knighting would have given time for the novel to breathe before going into the messy business on Cato Neimoidia. Apart from that though I have no other critisms as the novel told its story well and served its purpose well.
There's so many things I could praise as Mike Chens writing truly is genius and respectable to the title characters.
First the character development. A lot of the Star Wars books I've read have been really good at giving characters good arcs that are relatable and Brotherhood is no expectation. Although we get the typical struggles of Anakin being torn between the jedi and Padme we also got newer for example his internalised ableism and difficulty adapting to his new arm and becoming a mentor to others in terms of his title as Jedi Knight. We truly get to see his potential as a mentor as he helps Mill and it puts him in a really good place when we get to the Clone Wars Movie as a result. Obi-Wan gets the important arc of learning treat Anakin as an equal and trust him whilst also earning his nickname of the negotiator and doing his best to try sort out the mess that is Politics.
There isn't just Anakin and Obi-Wan's arcs though new characters Mill and Ruug. Ruug has intresting arc in the sense that it foreshadows what Obi-Wan will have to deal with post ROTS. Her contrasting dynamic with Obi-Wan's smooth optimism creates interesting conflict in the novel. Mill is not just there to show how much a future Ashoka will benefit from Anakin's mentorship but also how to find purpose in pacifism if you don't want to fight. She's an awesome empath jedi and I hope and pray we'll see her in another novel or piece of media.
Secondly the way it expands on the effects of the war and blends it in with important politics. The Cato Neimoidia subplot is done really well as it shows how far people will go for justice as well as how destructive war is. It also does a good way of showing that being neutral in a war won't protect you from any destruction and devastation. Whilst we have had incredible political episodes in the Clone Wars, Brotherhood through fleshing out Cato Neimoidia as a planet has how even bystanders will got caught in the cross fire. This manages to teach the reader the importance of neutrality in a conflict. It also further expands on the political clutch of Palpatine and Dooku on the war whilst showing the consequences of the jedis integration into the military. If you've seen the films and the Clone Wars movies and show, it'll clear up a lot of questions about how the galaxy dealt with the war. It also teachers the reader about the reality of war really well.
Finally, I think considering we're also handling the povs of Ruug, Mill and Ventress on top of Anakin and Obi-Wan, it really balances out everyone's roles and no povs feel irrelevant. Starting with Ruugs pov seems random but it ends up making sense in the end. Often novels can struggle with balancing more then one characters pov but Brotherhood manages it really well. Compared to say The High Republic novels where the pov switches can be abrupt and rough; Brotherhood's pov switches flow very well due to switching over a chapter. Brotherhood's storytelling style is emotional and distinct so it's to it's credit that it has a good flow to match. If you've been struggling with the abrupt pov switches in other Star Wars books than this one will leave you pleased.
Overall a fantastic AOTC sequel that develops Obi-Wan and Anakin to the points they are in the tv show. It serves the purpose of being part of expanded media and gives depth to the characters, world and era. This is a love letter to prequel and clone wars fans. You will not leave disappointed about how much context this story adds
Highly recommend.
My gosh, my gosh. I don't know what I was expecting but it turned out really good. Just like how Claudia Gray knows how to write Leia. Mike Chen excels at writing Obi-Wan and Anakin. He really understands Anakin's struggles as well as Obi-Wan's doubts. With jam-packed action and high stakes it was a fun read. This book not only developed Anakin's complicated relationships with Obi-Wan but we also get to go inside Obi-Wan's head and understand how much of his emotional thoughts such as Satine and how Anakin keeps not opening up to him privately.
It also is a smooth transition that serves as the perfect character development that Lucas never gave Anakin and Obi-Wan between AOTC and ROTS. Its the perfect wrap up of what Anakin has taken with him as a jedi knight and how Obi-Wan is coping during the war and being a Master on the council. It really serves its purpose as expanded media and shows how Anakin and Obi-Wan were feeling at the very beginning of the war. I'm not a prequels era fan but this novel is practically a love letter to them. It includes all the characters you know and love whilst also including new fresh characters like Mill and Ruug that fit in perfectly.
I really enjoyed this novel there's not really anything that spoiled my enjoyment apart from one small thing. I think this book is way too fast paced and that it could have greatly benefitted from a more slower paced introduction. The title of the novel is Brotherhood but we just got to see the transition of that dynamic not straight before. A prologue of Anakin's knighting or Obi-Wan talking to Anakin after the knighting would have given time for the novel to breathe before going into the messy business on Cato Neimoidia. Apart from that though I have no other critisms as the novel told its story well and served its purpose well.
There's so many things I could praise as Mike Chens writing truly is genius and respectable to the title characters.
First the character development. A lot of the Star Wars books I've read have been really good at giving characters good arcs that are relatable and Brotherhood is no expectation. Although we get the typical struggles of Anakin being torn between the jedi and Padme we also got newer for example his internalised ableism and difficulty adapting to his new arm and becoming a mentor to others in terms of his title as Jedi Knight. We truly get to see his potential as a mentor as he helps Mill and it puts him in a really good place when we get to the Clone Wars Movie as a result. Obi-Wan gets the important arc of learning treat Anakin as an equal and trust him whilst also earning his nickname of the negotiator and doing his best to try sort out the mess that is Politics.
There isn't just Anakin and Obi-Wan's arcs though new characters Mill and Ruug. Ruug has intresting arc in the sense that it foreshadows what Obi-Wan will have to deal with post ROTS. Her contrasting dynamic with Obi-Wan's smooth optimism creates interesting conflict in the novel. Mill is not just there to show how much a future Ashoka will benefit from Anakin's mentorship but also how to find purpose in pacifism if you don't want to fight. She's an awesome empath jedi and I hope and pray we'll see her in another novel or piece of media.
Secondly the way it expands on the effects of the war and blends it in with important politics. The Cato Neimoidia subplot is done really well as it shows how far people will go for justice as well as how destructive war is. It also does a good way of showing that being neutral in a war won't protect you from any destruction and devastation. Whilst we have had incredible political episodes in the Clone Wars, Brotherhood through fleshing out Cato Neimoidia as a planet has how even bystanders will got caught in the cross fire. This manages to teach the reader the importance of neutrality in a conflict. It also further expands on the political clutch of Palpatine and Dooku on the war whilst showing the consequences of the jedis integration into the military. If you've seen the films and the Clone Wars movies and show, it'll clear up a lot of questions about how the galaxy dealt with the war. It also teachers the reader about the reality of war really well.
Finally, I think considering we're also handling the povs of Ruug, Mill and Ventress on top of Anakin and Obi-Wan, it really balances out everyone's roles and no povs feel irrelevant. Starting with Ruugs pov seems random but it ends up making sense in the end. Often novels can struggle with balancing more then one characters pov but Brotherhood manages it really well. Compared to say The High Republic novels where the pov switches can be abrupt and rough; Brotherhood's pov switches flow very well due to switching over a chapter. Brotherhood's storytelling style is emotional and distinct so it's to it's credit that it has a good flow to match. If you've been struggling with the abrupt pov switches in other Star Wars books than this one will leave you pleased.
Overall a fantastic AOTC sequel that develops Obi-Wan and Anakin to the points they are in the tv show. It serves the purpose of being part of expanded media and gives depth to the characters, world and era. This is a love letter to prequel and clone wars fans. You will not leave disappointed about how much context this story adds
Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and War
jessraven's review
5.0
Hands down, without a doubt, no competition whatsoever: this is the best Star Wars book that I have ever read. Mike Chen understands these characters in a way that no other author has ever fully accomplished. He perfectly encapsulates their mannerisms, their wit, their humour, and their heart. I laughed, I cried - I wanted so much more! I could read a thousand pages of prequel-era content from Chen and it would never feel like enough. I need more Obi-Wan, more Anakin, more Ventress, more Ruug - more Mill! Give me all the Mill Alibeth!
And finally, finally, FINALLY - an author that can write Anakin and Padmé's dynamic! It was clever, romantic, and so much fun.
My only question, as I turn the final page, is: hey, Mr. Chen! When is the inevitable Obi-Wan and Satine book coming out? Because you, sir, are the only writer I would trust to put their story on paper.
And finally, finally, FINALLY - an author that can write Anakin and Padmé's dynamic! It was clever, romantic, and so much fun.
My only question, as I turn the final page, is: hey, Mr. Chen! When is the inevitable Obi-Wan and Satine book coming out? Because you, sir, are the only writer I would trust to put their story on paper.
willybee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thecurseofchris's review
5.0
I can't believe a Star Wars book is getting a 5/5 from me, yet here we are. Mike Chen absolutely nails Anakin and Obi-Wan as characters during the early days of the Clone Wars. I was fully invested in the plot because Chen's writing is so well done. I should also mention that I listened to the audiobook which was top-notch (honestly, I'd recommend that over reading it physically). This is a great way to bridge the gap between episodes 2 and 3 (especially if you've read the Revenge of the Sith novelization).
d3vilxl3gacy's review against another edition
4.0
Basically just Clone Wars era fan service and I'm here for it.