What do you think?
Rate this book
Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice #18
Star Wars: The Threat Within
When Obi-Wan Kenobi started off as Qui-Gon Jinn's apprentice, he was just a boy. Now, on the verge of manhood, he is starting on the path that will lead him to become a Jedi Knight . . . and the master of his own fate.
As Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon investigate a strange wave of planetary sabotages, they find their relationship shifting--sometimes in a dangerous direction. As events turn deadly, their lives may never be the same again.
As Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon investigate a strange wave of planetary sabotages, they find their relationship shifting--sometimes in a dangerous direction. As events turn deadly, their lives may never be the same again.
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
15 people are currently reading
1393 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 15, 2022
It was ok. Was willing to go towards good, and give it 3 stars but halfway through I've lost interest as the plots with these little adventures go that usually are interesting and fun but sometimes they're too predictable and it's understandable because it's simple, it's for a young readers and whatnot, but still, couldn't like this one that much and I was glad I finished it without even having an end that paid off.
Read
December 20, 2016Surprisingly light, considering the bloodbath of many previous volumes
March 7, 2008
I have received a LOT of static for reading this "kids'" series but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I just recently found out that all of the Star Wars books are officially sanctioned by Lucas himself, conforming to his standards and input. I originally thought the books were unrelated fan fiction stories in which I wasn't interested.
The series fills in the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan that sets up the events of The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a rich character who is one of the few characters that we know the predominance of their life story through his becoming a Jedi in this series of books to his death later in the original Star Wars movie.
Jude Watson handles the material with an expert touch. While this finale is one of the less interesting stories, the series contains fascinating revealtions such as the couple who warn Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan about the rise of the Empire decades before their vision comes to fruition. Any Star Wars fan will enjoy these quick reads. I look forward to reading the Jedi Quest series...
The series fills in the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan that sets up the events of The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a rich character who is one of the few characters that we know the predominance of their life story through his becoming a Jedi in this series of books to his death later in the original Star Wars movie.
Jude Watson handles the material with an expert touch. While this finale is one of the less interesting stories, the series contains fascinating revealtions such as the couple who warn Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan about the rise of the Empire decades before their vision comes to fruition. Any Star Wars fan will enjoy these quick reads. I look forward to reading the Jedi Quest series...
March 24, 2019
This is part of a series but this one can be read as a standalone. This series is aimed at the younger audience and explores the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. In this one, Jedi master and padawan are sent to a planet where sabotage is affecting the work environment and the inhabitants are blaming a neighboring planet for these attacks.
I didn't care for this offering in this series. The highlight of this series is the relationship between Jedi master and padawan and that holds true for this book. Qui-Gon is realizing that Obi-Wan is close to becoming a peer instead of his pupil and he knows he must accept this even if it pains him. This means giving him responsibility to act of his own accord and this is equivalent to a parent trusting their child and believing that their teachings will guide them. The rest of the book fell flat. The reason this planet came known to the Jedi was never explored as the author just totally dropped that story arc. Also, the cusp of the story strongly resembled a previous book in this series that the author actually acknowledges by mentioning that previous incident several times.
This wasn't the best offering from this series. Actually, it could be one of the worst. It did have some heartfelt moments exploring the relationship between the two main characters. Unfortunately, that was not enough to carry this book.
I didn't care for this offering in this series. The highlight of this series is the relationship between Jedi master and padawan and that holds true for this book. Qui-Gon is realizing that Obi-Wan is close to becoming a peer instead of his pupil and he knows he must accept this even if it pains him. This means giving him responsibility to act of his own accord and this is equivalent to a parent trusting their child and believing that their teachings will guide them. The rest of the book fell flat. The reason this planet came known to the Jedi was never explored as the author just totally dropped that story arc. Also, the cusp of the story strongly resembled a previous book in this series that the author actually acknowledges by mentioning that previous incident several times.
This wasn't the best offering from this series. Actually, it could be one of the worst. It did have some heartfelt moments exploring the relationship between the two main characters. Unfortunately, that was not enough to carry this book.
January 10, 2024
Enjoyable but not quite up to the standard Watson set with some of the earlier work in the series. Really think it could have benefitted from being spread over two books, but at the same time not sure how there’d be enough content to get there, but I have some ideas.
Her characterization of Qui-Gon feels so authentic, though. Would love to see Watson revisit the character with a new book “in current canon.”
Her characterization of Qui-Gon feels so authentic, though. Would love to see Watson revisit the character with a new book “in current canon.”
January 26, 2020
A sort of Melida/Daan mirror, where Obi-Wan encounters a lot of the same issues he did there, and solves them in a completely different way. A little heavy-handed, but effective in showing how much Obi-Wan has grown over the series.
April 12, 2016
Star Wars Legends Project #58
Background: The Threat Within came out in March 2002. It was written by Jude Watson.
The Threat Within begins some months after The Only Witness (my review), 40 years before the Battle of Yavin and 8 years before The Phantom Menace. Most of the characters are brand-new, one-0ff characters (with brief appearances by Yoda, Mace Windu, and Jocasta Nu).
Summary: Bored after a long stretch of Temple life, Obi-Wan is relieved when he and Gui-Gon are sent on a mission to mediate a dispute between two worlds in the Vorzyd system. But they soon discover that the situation is more complex than they had expected. The conflict brings back unpleasant memories for Obi-Wan, while Qui-Gon struggles to allow his maturing apprentice to take a more active role in guiding their actions as a team, as he comes to grips with Obi-Wan's inevitable ascension to Knighthood.
Review: Well, talk about ending the series with a whimper instead of a bang. Between the last stand-alone and this one, the Jedi Apprentice series really just peters out after the conclusion of the Tahl arc. It seems like there really wasn't anywhere left to go, but they had a few more months to fill with product before the release of Attack of the Clones unlocked a whole new section of timeline to fill, so we get a couple of totally bland formula entries to finish things out. In some ways, The Threat Within prominently foregrounds many of the weaknesses of the series as a whole, particularly the earlier parts before the establishment of the multi-book plot arcs. Nearly all of the details that form the backbone of the story are weakly conceived.
I've complained in earlier reviews about planets that are simplistic and seem to only have one city, and the entire Vorzyd system feels like that. The Vorzyd society makes so little sense it's not even worth trying to explain all of the different absurdities about it. One of the first things we learn about the system is that it has never experienced a war in its entire history, but now it is on the brink of war because one of the planets is experiencing some minor sabotage and is accusing the other of being behind it. There are two things about this that are hilariously nonsensical: First, it's not the planet experiencing sabotage that is the angriest about the situation, but the planet they're accusing that is literally about to invade because they're so annoyed that the first planet is falsely accusing them of something they didn't do (but taking no other action). It's pretty hard to imagine that any civilization that thin-skinned has never experienced an armed conflict in its entire history. Second, how is a civilization that has never gone to war even prepared to go to war? How do they have weapons and a standing army filled with trained soldiers? Why do they keep those things around? The book is full of details like this.
When I realized that the Vorzydiaks were actually an alien race, it occurred to me that this is (I believe) only the second time in the entire series that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have been sent to a planet populated by non-humans. Actually, I take that back, because the previous time I'm thinking of, they weren't sent to that planet, they were hijacked on their way to a human planet. Now, there are a lot of humans and human worlds in the galaxy, but it seems odd in retrospect that we don't see more alien-populated worlds in their adventures. But hey, at least Watson is throwing in a bit of that at the end, right? Wrong. The Vorzydiaks, it turns out, look exactly like humans in every way, except they have big antenna coming out of the tops of their heads. Because that makes sense. And this is necessary because a key plot point requires Obi-Wan to infiltrate a group of Vorzydiaks, which he is able to do by wrapping his head in a turban to disguise the fact that he doesn't have antenna. Oy. Why construct a story that literally draws attention the absurdities of your setting and some of the shortcomings of the series as a whole?
Anyway, I'd complain that the plot feels like a retread of a couple of the earlier entries, but that wouldn't be entirely fair as this, at least, seems intentional. Obi-Wan himself draws the comparison several times, and we are meant to see how he has progressed as a character from then to now. Which felt a bit too on-the-nose (just show me, don't tell me), but as always, I do welcome the larger arc of character development within the series, and that's certainly all this particular entry had going for it.
The real trouble is that this feels like such an arbitrary point to end on, only 1/3 of the way through Obi-Wan's apprenticeship to Qui-Gon. But there's a new movie coming out with a new master/apprentice relationship to explore: Obi-Wan and Anakin. In fact, Watson had already completed the first couple books in the new Jedi Quest series by the time this book came out. I should note that I'm aware that, officially, there are actually two more Jedi Apprentice books, but they're "Special Editions" that actually bridge the Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest series, and only one of them features a storyline with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon that takes place after the end of this series. Perhaps that will give me some better closure on this series.
Actually, it seems logical that it will, but at the same time it certainly felt like Watson was trying to give some closure in this book. There are so many callbacks to previous events, as both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon reflect on how far Obi-Wan has come as well as how far they've come as a team. Qui-Gon in particular is suddenly obsessed with how grown up Obi-Wan is, and how practically ready he seems to assume the mantle of Jedi Knight. Which seems odd since, again, he's not even halfway through his apprenticeship. Actually, seeing Anakin's youthful ascension through the ranks of the Jedi in the other prequel films, Obi-Wan's continued status as an apprentice at the age of 25 seems a bit odd in retrospect, even given the wartime constraints of Anakin's apprenticeship. And Qui-Gon's certainty that the 17-year old Obi-Wan is nearly ready just adds another layer of strangeness. Do they just keep the relationship going because they like being a team? I like that explanation, so maybe I'll stick with it.
Certainly they make a pretty good team, though not in this book. This is like when you go into a restaurant and order from someone who has never used the cash register before while a more experienced worker hovers over their shoulder kind of walking them through it as necessary . . . Obi-Wan gets a big scoop on the mission early on and formulates a plan, and Qui-Gon decides to let him take the lead on his plan. But then they both quickly realize that this is actually not going to work out very well, except Qui-Gon doesn't want to say anything because he doesn't want Obi-Wan to think he has no confidence in his judgment, and Obi-Wan doesn't want to say anything because he doesn't want to admit his plan isn't working out . . . And meanwhile, everything is slowly but inevitably angling south. Arguably a number of deaths happen because Qui-Gon lets this mission turn primarily into a learning experience for Obi-Wan, which doesn't give you a lot of confidence in how the Jedi operate.
Ah, well. I read this entire series back when it was first released, many years ago, and I was not looking forward to going all the way through it again for this project, but until these last few books, I was pleasantly surprised. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have it behind me, and ready to move on to the next thing. I would pretty definitely recommend the 3 major multi-book arcs in this series (Xanatos, Jenna Zan Arbor, and Tahl, particularly that last), and avoid the rest where possible.
D
Background: The Threat Within came out in March 2002. It was written by Jude Watson.
The Threat Within begins some months after The Only Witness (my review), 40 years before the Battle of Yavin and 8 years before The Phantom Menace. Most of the characters are brand-new, one-0ff characters (with brief appearances by Yoda, Mace Windu, and Jocasta Nu).
Summary: Bored after a long stretch of Temple life, Obi-Wan is relieved when he and Gui-Gon are sent on a mission to mediate a dispute between two worlds in the Vorzyd system. But they soon discover that the situation is more complex than they had expected. The conflict brings back unpleasant memories for Obi-Wan, while Qui-Gon struggles to allow his maturing apprentice to take a more active role in guiding their actions as a team, as he comes to grips with Obi-Wan's inevitable ascension to Knighthood.
Review: Well, talk about ending the series with a whimper instead of a bang. Between the last stand-alone and this one, the Jedi Apprentice series really just peters out after the conclusion of the Tahl arc. It seems like there really wasn't anywhere left to go, but they had a few more months to fill with product before the release of Attack of the Clones unlocked a whole new section of timeline to fill, so we get a couple of totally bland formula entries to finish things out. In some ways, The Threat Within prominently foregrounds many of the weaknesses of the series as a whole, particularly the earlier parts before the establishment of the multi-book plot arcs. Nearly all of the details that form the backbone of the story are weakly conceived.
I've complained in earlier reviews about planets that are simplistic and seem to only have one city, and the entire Vorzyd system feels like that. The Vorzyd society makes so little sense it's not even worth trying to explain all of the different absurdities about it. One of the first things we learn about the system is that it has never experienced a war in its entire history, but now it is on the brink of war because one of the planets is experiencing some minor sabotage and is accusing the other of being behind it. There are two things about this that are hilariously nonsensical: First, it's not the planet experiencing sabotage that is the angriest about the situation, but the planet they're accusing that is literally about to invade because they're so annoyed that the first planet is falsely accusing them of something they didn't do (but taking no other action). It's pretty hard to imagine that any civilization that thin-skinned has never experienced an armed conflict in its entire history. Second, how is a civilization that has never gone to war even prepared to go to war? How do they have weapons and a standing army filled with trained soldiers? Why do they keep those things around? The book is full of details like this.
When I realized that the Vorzydiaks were actually an alien race, it occurred to me that this is (I believe) only the second time in the entire series that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have been sent to a planet populated by non-humans. Actually, I take that back, because the previous time I'm thinking of, they weren't sent to that planet, they were hijacked on their way to a human planet. Now, there are a lot of humans and human worlds in the galaxy, but it seems odd in retrospect that we don't see more alien-populated worlds in their adventures. But hey, at least Watson is throwing in a bit of that at the end, right? Wrong. The Vorzydiaks, it turns out, look exactly like humans in every way, except they have big antenna coming out of the tops of their heads. Because that makes sense. And this is necessary because a key plot point requires Obi-Wan to infiltrate a group of Vorzydiaks, which he is able to do by wrapping his head in a turban to disguise the fact that he doesn't have antenna. Oy. Why construct a story that literally draws attention the absurdities of your setting and some of the shortcomings of the series as a whole?
Anyway, I'd complain that the plot feels like a retread of a couple of the earlier entries, but that wouldn't be entirely fair as this, at least, seems intentional. Obi-Wan himself draws the comparison several times, and we are meant to see how he has progressed as a character from then to now. Which felt a bit too on-the-nose (just show me, don't tell me), but as always, I do welcome the larger arc of character development within the series, and that's certainly all this particular entry had going for it.
The real trouble is that this feels like such an arbitrary point to end on, only 1/3 of the way through Obi-Wan's apprenticeship to Qui-Gon. But there's a new movie coming out with a new master/apprentice relationship to explore: Obi-Wan and Anakin. In fact, Watson had already completed the first couple books in the new Jedi Quest series by the time this book came out. I should note that I'm aware that, officially, there are actually two more Jedi Apprentice books, but they're "Special Editions" that actually bridge the Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest series, and only one of them features a storyline with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon that takes place after the end of this series. Perhaps that will give me some better closure on this series.
Actually, it seems logical that it will, but at the same time it certainly felt like Watson was trying to give some closure in this book. There are so many callbacks to previous events, as both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon reflect on how far Obi-Wan has come as well as how far they've come as a team. Qui-Gon in particular is suddenly obsessed with how grown up Obi-Wan is, and how practically ready he seems to assume the mantle of Jedi Knight. Which seems odd since, again, he's not even halfway through his apprenticeship. Actually, seeing Anakin's youthful ascension through the ranks of the Jedi in the other prequel films, Obi-Wan's continued status as an apprentice at the age of 25 seems a bit odd in retrospect, even given the wartime constraints of Anakin's apprenticeship. And Qui-Gon's certainty that the 17-year old Obi-Wan is nearly ready just adds another layer of strangeness. Do they just keep the relationship going because they like being a team? I like that explanation, so maybe I'll stick with it.
Certainly they make a pretty good team, though not in this book. This is like when you go into a restaurant and order from someone who has never used the cash register before while a more experienced worker hovers over their shoulder kind of walking them through it as necessary . . . Obi-Wan gets a big scoop on the mission early on and formulates a plan, and Qui-Gon decides to let him take the lead on his plan. But then they both quickly realize that this is actually not going to work out very well, except Qui-Gon doesn't want to say anything because he doesn't want Obi-Wan to think he has no confidence in his judgment, and Obi-Wan doesn't want to say anything because he doesn't want to admit his plan isn't working out . . . And meanwhile, everything is slowly but inevitably angling south. Arguably a number of deaths happen because Qui-Gon lets this mission turn primarily into a learning experience for Obi-Wan, which doesn't give you a lot of confidence in how the Jedi operate.
Ah, well. I read this entire series back when it was first released, many years ago, and I was not looking forward to going all the way through it again for this project, but until these last few books, I was pleasantly surprised. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have it behind me, and ready to move on to the next thing. I would pretty definitely recommend the 3 major multi-book arcs in this series (Xanatos, Jenna Zan Arbor, and Tahl, particularly that last), and avoid the rest where possible.
D
March 9, 2020
Great insight into the growing bond of Obi Wan and Qui Gon! Really enjoyed this!
February 19, 2024
Well, well, well. That's it. I finished this whole series of 18 books. The books are all rather short, all books being around 140 pages long each, and the target audience is rather young, probably for early teens.
The writing is very, very fluid and enjoyable. The books fly by, and you want to read more, and the individual books are small enough that you feel like starting a new one isn't a big commitment. Overall, I read the whole series of 18 volumes in a week and a half. This felt like binging a great cartoon with heart. Somehow, I felt like I was when I was binging Avatar the Last Airbender or The Clone Wars.
The stories are very good. They follow a much appreciated classic episodic sci-fi structure. Each book has the duo going on a mission on a faraway planet where different cultures, species, or political systems are having problems that need Jedi mediation. This is a great way to develop a series, in my opinion, and it works great here. Firstly, the story themselves are usually interesting, and the changing settings are never boring. Secondly, confronting the two characters with those external issues and different cultures, philosophies, ideas, and politics really helps the characters get fleshed out in a satisfying way. You see the characters react to and solve all these issues and confront those difficult ideas. This is a great way to show and not tell who these characters are, how they react to dire situations, how they react to grief, pain, shame, etc. Also, probably due to the fact that these books are meant for younger readers, the stories usually have a strong moral lesson to them, accepting failure, not believing appearances, and inter-generational misunderstandings. This feels very appropriate here, as the overarching narrative of the series is Obi-Wan's apprenticeship but the later books feel way more adult than a lot of "adult novels", tackling very dark and difficult topics, such as death, despair, mourning and going forward despite incredible loss. These harsh topics are done and explored gracefully and with heart and leave a lasting impression of satisfaction.
In terms of weaknesses, as mentioned before, the books are rather short and thus can not be expected to present a very deep or complex storyline per each book. This is somewhat alleviated by the series having some multiple parts storyline that take 3 or 4 books to resolve their storyline. The target audience shows as well in the treatment of violence, and there aren't a lot of lighsaber dismemberment (droids get their share though). There are some deaths and some tragic ones, but in general, the main characters try to incapacitate or capture rather than maim and kill, which I find very topical and appropriate for the Jedi anyway.
Overall, it was a great little series to binge read in between heavier reads. The fact that altogether I must have read around 2500 pages of those books in around 2 weeks should be a testament of how enjoyable those little books can be for Star Wars fans.
The writing is very, very fluid and enjoyable. The books fly by, and you want to read more, and the individual books are small enough that you feel like starting a new one isn't a big commitment. Overall, I read the whole series of 18 volumes in a week and a half. This felt like binging a great cartoon with heart. Somehow, I felt like I was when I was binging Avatar the Last Airbender or The Clone Wars.
The stories are very good. They follow a much appreciated classic episodic sci-fi structure. Each book has the duo going on a mission on a faraway planet where different cultures, species, or political systems are having problems that need Jedi mediation. This is a great way to develop a series, in my opinion, and it works great here. Firstly, the story themselves are usually interesting, and the changing settings are never boring. Secondly, confronting the two characters with those external issues and different cultures, philosophies, ideas, and politics really helps the characters get fleshed out in a satisfying way. You see the characters react to and solve all these issues and confront those difficult ideas. This is a great way to show and not tell who these characters are, how they react to dire situations, how they react to grief, pain, shame, etc. Also, probably due to the fact that these books are meant for younger readers, the stories usually have a strong moral lesson to them, accepting failure, not believing appearances, and inter-generational misunderstandings. This feels very appropriate here, as the overarching narrative of the series is Obi-Wan's apprenticeship but the later books feel way more adult than a lot of "adult novels", tackling very dark and difficult topics, such as death, despair, mourning and going forward despite incredible loss. These harsh topics are done and explored gracefully and with heart and leave a lasting impression of satisfaction.
In terms of weaknesses, as mentioned before, the books are rather short and thus can not be expected to present a very deep or complex storyline per each book. This is somewhat alleviated by the series having some multiple parts storyline that take 3 or 4 books to resolve their storyline. The target audience shows as well in the treatment of violence, and there aren't a lot of lighsaber dismemberment (droids get their share though). There are some deaths and some tragic ones, but in general, the main characters try to incapacitate or capture rather than maim and kill, which I find very topical and appropriate for the Jedi anyway.
Overall, it was a great little series to binge read in between heavier reads. The fact that altogether I must have read around 2500 pages of those books in around 2 weeks should be a testament of how enjoyable those little books can be for Star Wars fans.
August 8, 2021
Not a great finale to a series. It felt like a rushed rehash of previous arcs, but it was nice to see Qui-gon letting Obi-wan take point on a mission. That being said these "pranks" were far to dangerous physically and mentally. They didn't feel like pranks. I think that the Jedi should have spoken up sooner than they did about what was really going on because things escalated to extremes very quickly.
August 16, 2012
A bit anti-climactic for a supposed finale, but I think the "Special Editions" are the true ending of this series; this one was still good, though.
November 20, 2025
⭐ The End of the Series, but Not a Good One
The Threat Within is a weak and careless conclusion to a series that deserved far better. The story never rises above a tired structure, and it becomes clear that Jude Watson no longer had interest in the world she created. The writing feels lazy and unfocused. The plot drags from the first chapter and repeats ideas from earlier books without adding anything new. There is no tension and no energy. It reads like an author trying to fill pages rather than finish a meaningful story.
The characters add nothing to the experience. They are forgettable and empty. The new cast is dull, and the political setting is bland. The entire book copies the Melida and Daan layout yet removes every emotional layer that made that arc powerful. Obi-Wan joins a group of teenagers who have no depth, and Qui-Gon deals with the adults with equal lack of purpose. The world feels small and lifeless because there is no effort behind any of these choices.
Obi-Wan’s portrayal is one of the weakest points in the book. His behavior makes no sense and shows a complete disregard for the character the series originally built. He begins the story craving excitement after eighteen books of nonstop missions, then suddenly questions his commitment to the Jedi Order without any emotional build-up. This is the same young man who begged to avoid the Agricorp and fought with everything he had to remain a Padawan. Watson ignores that history entirely and forces a conflict onto him that does not fit his personality or development. It is lazy writing, and it feels like she no longer remembered how he behaved in the early novels.
The continuity errors continue to grow. Qui-Gon treats Obi-Wan as if he is nearly ready for the Trials, even though he canonically does not become a Knight for eight more years. The duel between them shows how advanced Obi-Wan has become and how unaware Qui-Gon is of that progress. This mirrors the same neglect Qui-Gon once condemned in Tahl and creates another contradiction that Watson does not seem to notice. The writing loses any sense of consistency or emotional logic.
Watson also mishandles established Star Wars lore in ways that are impossible to ignore. She states in this book that Qui-Gon is in his fifties even though The Phantom Menace clearly places him in his mid-forties at most. The film was already out when this novel was written. There is no excuse for getting such basic information wrong. It shows a complete lack of care and adds to the growing sense that Watson was not paying attention to the facts of the universe she was writing in. This error breaks continuity and undermines the credibility of the story.
The series also mishandles Jedi life in a way that becomes distracting. The books constantly imply that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon live on nonstop missions without rest. Then this novel begins with Obi-Wan strangely bored at the Temple. There is no consistency in how time passes or how their work is structured. The timeline feels collapsed and rushed. If Watson had spaced out the final books across many years rather than forcing everything into one compressed period, say 3 or 4 years, many of these problems would not exist. Instead, the pacing destroys any chance for believable development.
Overall, The Threat Within exposes every weakness that grew in the last five books. The decline in Watson’s writing is unmistakable, and the final stretch of the series feels unfinished and poorly planned. The early Jedi Apprentice books had heart and a strong understanding of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The final books show an author who stopped caring, and the result is a disappointing and unsatisfying ending to a series that should have been far better.
The Threat Within is a weak and careless conclusion to a series that deserved far better. The story never rises above a tired structure, and it becomes clear that Jude Watson no longer had interest in the world she created. The writing feels lazy and unfocused. The plot drags from the first chapter and repeats ideas from earlier books without adding anything new. There is no tension and no energy. It reads like an author trying to fill pages rather than finish a meaningful story.
The characters add nothing to the experience. They are forgettable and empty. The new cast is dull, and the political setting is bland. The entire book copies the Melida and Daan layout yet removes every emotional layer that made that arc powerful. Obi-Wan joins a group of teenagers who have no depth, and Qui-Gon deals with the adults with equal lack of purpose. The world feels small and lifeless because there is no effort behind any of these choices.
Obi-Wan’s portrayal is one of the weakest points in the book. His behavior makes no sense and shows a complete disregard for the character the series originally built. He begins the story craving excitement after eighteen books of nonstop missions, then suddenly questions his commitment to the Jedi Order without any emotional build-up. This is the same young man who begged to avoid the Agricorp and fought with everything he had to remain a Padawan. Watson ignores that history entirely and forces a conflict onto him that does not fit his personality or development. It is lazy writing, and it feels like she no longer remembered how he behaved in the early novels.
The continuity errors continue to grow. Qui-Gon treats Obi-Wan as if he is nearly ready for the Trials, even though he canonically does not become a Knight for eight more years. The duel between them shows how advanced Obi-Wan has become and how unaware Qui-Gon is of that progress. This mirrors the same neglect Qui-Gon once condemned in Tahl and creates another contradiction that Watson does not seem to notice. The writing loses any sense of consistency or emotional logic.
Watson also mishandles established Star Wars lore in ways that are impossible to ignore. She states in this book that Qui-Gon is in his fifties even though The Phantom Menace clearly places him in his mid-forties at most. The film was already out when this novel was written. There is no excuse for getting such basic information wrong. It shows a complete lack of care and adds to the growing sense that Watson was not paying attention to the facts of the universe she was writing in. This error breaks continuity and undermines the credibility of the story.
The series also mishandles Jedi life in a way that becomes distracting. The books constantly imply that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon live on nonstop missions without rest. Then this novel begins with Obi-Wan strangely bored at the Temple. There is no consistency in how time passes or how their work is structured. The timeline feels collapsed and rushed. If Watson had spaced out the final books across many years rather than forcing everything into one compressed period, say 3 or 4 years, many of these problems would not exist. Instead, the pacing destroys any chance for believable development.
Overall, The Threat Within exposes every weakness that grew in the last five books. The decline in Watson’s writing is unmistakable, and the final stretch of the series feels unfinished and poorly planned. The early Jedi Apprentice books had heart and a strong understanding of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. The final books show an author who stopped caring, and the result is a disappointing and unsatisfying ending to a series that should have been far better.
March 31, 2024
The Threat Within by Jude Watson - 18th book in the series
Challenging, dark, emotional, hopeful,
inspiring, reflective, sad, and tense.
Fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
This is a very important lesson that needs to be learned, but unfortunately...MOST people learn it the hard way.
I'm nearing the end of the Jedi Apprentice series...with two to go.
I'm not sure I would've picked these books up...IF I hadn't decided to read my entire collection of Star Wars: Legends books in chronological order.
I had set a goal to keep my per book average to about 400 pages/book...and these are destroying this goal, but on the flip side (and if you've read this story...you know that there was a pun just done)...I have been having SO much fun with these novellas.
Again, this story is about how the older generation is ONLY focused on work, while the younger generation feel that they are losing out in life.
They decide to do peaceful pranks to wake up the older generation, but as it goes...the bigger the pranks and the more daring...it starts to get out of hand.
Not every kid will learn this from the story, but after they've "touched the fire", they will recognize that it's hot...and avoid doing it, again (at least that's the hope).
I really loved this story.
Challenging, dark, emotional, hopeful,
inspiring, reflective, sad, and tense.
Fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
This is a very important lesson that needs to be learned, but unfortunately...MOST people learn it the hard way.
I'm nearing the end of the Jedi Apprentice series...with two to go.
I'm not sure I would've picked these books up...IF I hadn't decided to read my entire collection of Star Wars: Legends books in chronological order.
I had set a goal to keep my per book average to about 400 pages/book...and these are destroying this goal, but on the flip side (and if you've read this story...you know that there was a pun just done)...I have been having SO much fun with these novellas.
Again, this story is about how the older generation is ONLY focused on work, while the younger generation feel that they are losing out in life.
They decide to do peaceful pranks to wake up the older generation, but as it goes...the bigger the pranks and the more daring...it starts to get out of hand.
Not every kid will learn this from the story, but after they've "touched the fire", they will recognize that it's hot...and avoid doing it, again (at least that's the hope).
I really loved this story.
May 24, 2024
This one was much better than the previous few, and that’s entirely due to the interaction between Qui-gon and Obi-wan. I’ve said in previous reviews of this series, I’m really just here to see how those two are getting along so when it comes to the politics of whatever mission they’re on I don’t mind it being a lighter less complicated mission.
The highlight in this one is that Qui-gon is trusting Obi-wan to take the lead on the mission, and when he’s not trying to reassure Obi-wan that he trusts him or give him some gentle advice, Qui-gon is thinking about how sad he is that Obi-wan is growing up and is going to leave him some day (and Qui-gon is trying to be strong about that and not let that love develop into attachment to try to keep Obi-wan from growing and someday leaving the nest lol).
Qui-gon is getting a bit ahead of himself since Obi-wan is only 17 and they still have like 8 years together before he has to worry about that… but it was very sweet
The rest of the plot is about the kids of the planet trying to reform their absurdly workaholic society in which no one has a life outside of the job. It’s very mild and harmless until one of the teens goes too far. It all gets resolved pretty quickly in a similar way to Melida Daan, and I could see why some readers thought it was unsatisfying as an ending, but as I said, interesting and well developed plots/conflicts are not why I read these books.
The highlight in this one is that Qui-gon is trusting Obi-wan to take the lead on the mission, and when he’s not trying to reassure Obi-wan that he trusts him or give him some gentle advice, Qui-gon is thinking about how sad he is that Obi-wan is growing up and is going to leave him some day (and Qui-gon is trying to be strong about that and not let that love develop into attachment to try to keep Obi-wan from growing and someday leaving the nest lol).
Qui-gon is getting a bit ahead of himself since Obi-wan is only 17 and they still have like 8 years together before he has to worry about that… but it was very sweet
The rest of the plot is about the kids of the planet trying to reform their absurdly workaholic society in which no one has a life outside of the job. It’s very mild and harmless until one of the teens goes too far. It all gets resolved pretty quickly in a similar way to Melida Daan, and I could see why some readers thought it was unsatisfying as an ending, but as I said, interesting and well developed plots/conflicts are not why I read these books.
January 5, 2024
A mild improvement over the previous installment of the Jedi Apprentice series.
“The Threat Within” finds Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon sent on yet another seemingly peaceful mission of diplomacy, only to find out, as they have done for 18 books now, things aren’t what they seem and they’re quickly thrust into a conflict that could spell disaster for the planets involved, but still managing to teach an important lesson about responsibility to citizens and Jedi alike.
While this still continues with so-so plots and recycled ideas, this series does keep doing one thing right, and that’s highlighting the bond between master and apprentice and showcasing how much Obi-Wan has grown since his fledgling days as a Padawan under Qui-Gon’s tutelage.
And speaking of Qui-Gon, Watson is probably the only author in the pantheon of Star Wars writers who really seems to get his character and the many issues he has with the Jedi Order.
I know this series can be (and has been) better, but as the Jedi Apprentice series starts to comes to a close, it’s hard to pick a series of Star Wars books that has remained relatively consistent. That’s something we can’t say for much of the lame Disney era.
“The Threat Within” finds Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon sent on yet another seemingly peaceful mission of diplomacy, only to find out, as they have done for 18 books now, things aren’t what they seem and they’re quickly thrust into a conflict that could spell disaster for the planets involved, but still managing to teach an important lesson about responsibility to citizens and Jedi alike.
While this still continues with so-so plots and recycled ideas, this series does keep doing one thing right, and that’s highlighting the bond between master and apprentice and showcasing how much Obi-Wan has grown since his fledgling days as a Padawan under Qui-Gon’s tutelage.
And speaking of Qui-Gon, Watson is probably the only author in the pantheon of Star Wars writers who really seems to get his character and the many issues he has with the Jedi Order.
I know this series can be (and has been) better, but as the Jedi Apprentice series starts to comes to a close, it’s hard to pick a series of Star Wars books that has remained relatively consistent. That’s something we can’t say for much of the lame Disney era.
March 26, 2024
I started this series in April 2022 with my 6 year old boy. We finished this series, the 18th book, tonight with my 8 year old boy and 6 year old boy (who joined us around book 5 or 6).
So it's been almost exactly two years of Jedi Apprentice in our lives. For the first half of the series, I had a rule: we had to read one non-Star Wars in between each one. But I gave up on that because the series constantly left us on cliffhangers that we needed to continue immediately.
I have enjoyed these nights immensely. So much.
I have enjoyed the adventures, the character growth, Obi-Wan's increasing maturity, and the Qui-Gon's strong, yet gentle, leadership. And most of all, I've enjoyed all the hours spent with my growing boys.
This final book was a little simpler in plot, characters, and place. It was the perfect combination that gave us plenty of emotion while being one of the easier plots to understand and follow.
I wouldn't call it a big climax of the series but rather a confident, adventurous end to the series.
Very good.
So it's been almost exactly two years of Jedi Apprentice in our lives. For the first half of the series, I had a rule: we had to read one non-Star Wars in between each one. But I gave up on that because the series constantly left us on cliffhangers that we needed to continue immediately.
I have enjoyed these nights immensely. So much.
I have enjoyed the adventures, the character growth, Obi-Wan's increasing maturity, and the Qui-Gon's strong, yet gentle, leadership. And most of all, I've enjoyed all the hours spent with my growing boys.
This final book was a little simpler in plot, characters, and place. It was the perfect combination that gave us plenty of emotion while being one of the easier plots to understand and follow.
I wouldn't call it a big climax of the series but rather a confident, adventurous end to the series.
Very good.
August 13, 2025
Honestly, not quite what I was hoping to get as a series finale. I know there are two "special edition" follow-ups, but as far as resolving Jedi Apprentice as a whole, this book just didn't quite do it. It felt something like a redo/mashup of Defenders of the Dead/Uncertain Path (books 5-6) and Fight for Truth (book 9)... except not as good? All in all, the plot just wasn't all that strong, and the characters didn't quite shine like they normally do in Watson's writing.
That being said, I have to give 2 stars for Qui-Gon's brief visions of the future (I'm a sucker for even obvious foreshadowing) and Obi-Wan being given the chance to take the lead on the mission. I wish there had been a little more buildup to the latter, but it did give the outcome a little more weight.
That being said, I have to give 2 stars for Qui-Gon's brief visions of the future (I'm a sucker for even obvious foreshadowing) and Obi-Wan being given the chance to take the lead on the mission. I wish there had been a little more buildup to the latter, but it did give the outcome a little more weight.
October 28, 2017
A pleasant one-book adventure finale to the series (not including the Special Editions) sees Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan turn a corner in their relationship. The master finally accepts his Padawan can be trusted and is a partner, not just an apprentice, and they move to a new phase in their relationship of cooperation. Qui-Gon remains his slightly aloof self and Obi-Wan remains an under-confident teenager. Overall, this book relates a routine mission with fairly low stakes and little danger--Qui-Gon even laughs at one point as he coasts from one scene to the next almost as if to appreciate that he earned a low-key denouement after more death-defying installments in the previous story arcs.
April 1, 2024
The Threat Within by Jude Watson.
This is #18 in the middle grade Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series.
This story continues to show how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's relationship is becoming closer to peers. Qui-Gon is realizing how much Obi-Wan has grown as a Padawan and also realizing that he will be a great Jedi.
Although the storyline is just ok and slightly similar to the plotline of a previous book in this series (#5 The Defenders of the Dead), I still really enjoyed it. It also gives us some foreshadowing of the rise of the Empire decades before it happens.
I gave this 4 stars.
#MiddleGradeMarch2024.
This is #18 in the middle grade Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series.
This story continues to show how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's relationship is becoming closer to peers. Qui-Gon is realizing how much Obi-Wan has grown as a Padawan and also realizing that he will be a great Jedi.
Although the storyline is just ok and slightly similar to the plotline of a previous book in this series (#5 The Defenders of the Dead), I still really enjoyed it. It also gives us some foreshadowing of the rise of the Empire decades before it happens.
I gave this 4 stars.
#MiddleGradeMarch2024.
December 30, 2020
"Thinking on your feet was a Jedi necessity."
This admittedly took me a very long time. It's partly because I'm kind of fed up with this series at this point, there's only so many books you can take with the same basic formula.. even with Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Bant. I love the three of them, but good god. It was admittedly rather good though, if we're going by story. It was interesting, and I really do like how Watson manages to blend the "real world" with the Star Wars universe in this way, I think I would have enjoyed it A LOT as a tween myself. Now it was just something I had to get through, with some nice Obi and Qui-Gon details, so...
This admittedly took me a very long time. It's partly because I'm kind of fed up with this series at this point, there's only so many books you can take with the same basic formula.. even with Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Bant. I love the three of them, but good god. It was admittedly rather good though, if we're going by story. It was interesting, and I really do like how Watson manages to blend the "real world" with the Star Wars universe in this way, I think I would have enjoyed it A LOT as a tween myself. Now it was just something I had to get through, with some nice Obi and Qui-Gon details, so...
January 2, 2023
Had to start off the year with an easy one. 😅
You can tell that this was supposed to be the end of the series, it was a nice end and shows the growth that both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have made in their years together. There isn't much mention of the years passed but apparently the series covers 4 years of time.
I also have to enjoy that the focus of the storyline in this book is that there is more to life than just work or being productive, as that is something I often find myself struggling with.
You can tell that this was supposed to be the end of the series, it was a nice end and shows the growth that both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have made in their years together. There isn't much mention of the years passed but apparently the series covers 4 years of time.
I also have to enjoy that the focus of the storyline in this book is that there is more to life than just work or being productive, as that is something I often find myself struggling with.
December 10, 2023
The plot was mediocre . It was about a workaholic society . The best part was seeing Qui gon grapple with the fact Obi wan was getting older and closer to becoming a jedi knight . Obi wan and Qui gons relationship is the real reason to read this series .Also I don't get why fanfic writer bash Qui gon so much . Granted He kinda was a selfish broody dick during the The uncertain path . However overall Qui gon and Obi wan had a strong bond and were like Father-son . Qui gon Jinn is a Flawed character and the jedi apprentice does a good job with it
August 21, 2019
When Obi-Wan Kenobi started off as Qui-Gon Jinn's apprentice, he was just a boy. Now, on the verge of manhood, he is starting on the path that will lead him to become a Jedi Knight . . . and the master of his own fate.
As Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon investigate a strange wave of planetary sabotages, they find their relationship shifting--sometimes in a dangerous direction. As events turn deadly, their lives may never be the same again.
As Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon investigate a strange wave of planetary sabotages, they find their relationship shifting--sometimes in a dangerous direction. As events turn deadly, their lives may never be the same again.
March 19, 2020
And now it’s over, except for the special editions. :( Those are multi-generational stories, so I’m sure they’ll feel more like stand-alones. Which is fine, and I’m looking forward to reading them, but...
I liked the parallels with Melida-Daan. Brought things full circle. And while I know Obi-Wan still has 8 more years of training before Qui-Gon dies on Naboo, he’s grown so much and I love the opportunity to reflect on how far he’s come since the beginning. Good book.
I liked the parallels with Melida-Daan. Brought things full circle. And while I know Obi-Wan still has 8 more years of training before Qui-Gon dies on Naboo, he’s grown so much and I love the opportunity to reflect on how far he’s come since the beginning. Good book.
April 6, 2023
This book kind of felt like a classic clip show, but instead of clips we had many long references to events in previous instalments. I can't tell you how much I loathe clip shows. The plot itself is heavily reminiscent of the Melida/Daan arc. It had nothing new to add though, so I was bored for much of it.
A disappointing end to the series, but at least I have one special left to read (and two other books that I will count as existing beneath the JA umbrella).
A disappointing end to the series, but at least I have one special left to read (and two other books that I will count as existing beneath the JA umbrella).
May 8, 2025
I read and reread this series, and the next series, 'Jedi Quest' which follows Anakin and Obi-Wan's master/Padawan journey, A LOT in my early teen years. There are still several of these books that stick with me because the story telling was very good and memorable. I feel like the characters of both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are very well done. And let's be honest... there's NOT enough Qui-Gon in the SWs fiction (or movie) universe, and it's a crying shame.
February 13, 2018
Final entry in the regular Jedi Apprentice series (there are two Special Editions). It's really interesting to see Obi-Wan maturing and developing and how Qui-Gon deals with that. The cover and blurb on this book are misleading and suggest that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are battling each other, but fortunately that's not the case.
October 3, 2019
Dość krótka pozycja. Jeśli ktoś oczekuje dużo dynamicznej akcji to tu jej nie znajdzie. Dla mnie jednak bardzo fajnie było poczytać o pierwszych chwilach, kiedy Qui-Gon Jinn zaczyna zdawać sobie sprawę z tego, że być może nie zostało mu już zbyt wiele czasu z Kenobim i zaczyna dostrzegać, że jego padawan staje się gotowy na zostanie Rycerzem.
October 17, 2020
Qui-Gon's chest tightened. He was so proud of Obi-Wan's path, of his achievements. Why couldn't he see him as a Knight? Perhaps I do not want to see the boy grow up, he thought.
Este libro:
Este libro:
August 2, 2024
This was probably the worst one. They're all simplistic, of course, but this was basically a two dimensional pamphlet against violent action, in which a 17 year old Obi-Wan is somehow more inept than he was at 14 on Melida/Daan. Qui-Gon's reflection of how he's growing up was the best part, but not enough to save it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews