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Master and Apprentice

(Star Wars Disney Canon Novel)

Claudia Gray (Goodreads Author)

4.16 · Rating details · 4,109 ratings · 601 reviews

An unexpected offer threatens the bond between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as the two Jedi navigate a dangerous new planet and an uncertain future.

A Jedi must be a fearless warrior, a guardian of justice, and a scholar in the ways of the Force. But perhaps a Jedi’s most essential duty is to pass on what they have learned. Master Yoda trained Dooku; Dooku trained ...more

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Hardcover, 330 pages

Published April 16th 2019 by Del Rey Books

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May 04, 2019 Khurram rated it liked it · review of another edition

I was a little disappointed in this book. It was ok and good in most places. I think my main problem with the book is having read the entire Jedi Apprentice series I had a very different picture in my mind of Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan. This being a new universe this could be forgiven, and Claudia Gray does a very good job with her own characters, but for me she just did not seem to Qui Gon and the Jedi right for me.

My problem with the Jedi was they seemed to need rescuing as much as the who they ...more

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Jul 21, 2018 rachael ♡ marked it as to-read

Shelves: star-wars-canon

This Cover. THIS COVER!!!

—

Claudia stays blessing me. QUEEN OF STAR WARS NOVELS.

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Aug 01, 2018 Peter Hale marked it as to-read

"Qui-Gon Jinn". Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time; long time.

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Apr 24, 2019 Neil R. Coulter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: star-wars, fiction

My history with Claudia Gray’s Star Wars novels hasn’t been very positive. Her first, Lost Stars, was one of the early entries in the new canon, and it has a lot of fans—but for a number of reasons, I didn’t care for it. Nor did I enjoy her two Leia-focused books, Bloodline and Leia: Princess of Alderaan.

But then I read her short story, “Master and Apprentice,” in From a Certain Point of View, and it was by far one of the best things I’ve read in the new canon. That story offered a quiet, ...more

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Apr 25, 2019 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copy, science-fiction, media-tie-in, tv-and-film, audiobook, star-wars

4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/05/02/...

I have been most impressed with Claudia Gray’s books in the new Star Wars canon, and I have to say, she has yet to disappoint me. Now she’s at the top of her game once again with Star Wars: Master & Apprentice, a novel set a handful of years before the events of The Phantom Menace which shines the light on 17-year-old padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and his complicated relationship with his mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn.

When the book 4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/05/02/...

I have been most impressed with Claudia Gray’s books in the new Star Wars canon, and I have to say, she has yet to disappoint me. Now she’s at the top of her game once again with Star Wars: Master & Apprentice, a novel set a handful of years before the events of The Phantom Menace which shines the light on 17-year-old padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi and his complicated relationship with his mentor, Qui-Gon Jinn.

When the book begins, the two Jedi have already been working together for several years, though deep down, both suspect that their current arrangement may be soon coming to an end. They are simply too different in their views of the Force, with Qui-Gon with his unconventional thinking and sometimes flagrant disregard for the Jedi Council’s advice while Obi-Wan is more of a stickler for the rules. These differences have created a tension between master and apprentice that both know can’t go on for much longer.

So when Qui-Gon is unexpected offered a seat on the Council to replace a retiring member, a part of him believes that the change may be for the best. No one would expect him to turn down such a prestigious position, and consequently, Obi-Wan can be transferred to a different master out of necessity. But before the older Jedi can make such a momentous decision, he knows he must meditate upon it, and in the meantime, he and his apprentice are dispatched to the planet of Pijal where an old acquaintance of Qui-Gon’s has requested their assistance in defusing a political situation between the royal house and their opposition.

This contact is Rael Averross, a rogue Jedi who was also a former student of Dooku, like Qui-Gon Jinn. Averross is currently serving as lord regent to Pijal’s princess, her Serene Highness Fanry, who is only fourteen years old and is heir to a throne fraught with a history of political tension. Her planet is now in a position to affect the economic futures of other worlds in the region, and a corporation called Czerka also has stakes in the new hyperspace lane venture that is being discussed. When terrorists threaten to place that all in danger, Averross decides to call upon his old friend Qui-Gon despite the two of them having drifted apart over the years, because he knows Pijal is going to need all the help it can get. The urgency of the situation also leads the Jedi to enlist the aid of a couple of jewel thieves named Rahara, an escaped slave from Czerka, and Pax, a social outcast raised by a crew of protocol droids aboard an abandoned ship. Despite their differences, our motley crew of characters must work together to protect Fanry and safeguard Pijal’s interests. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon also needs to figure out what to do with his apprentice, as well as sort out his doubts with regards to his beliefs in ancient Jedi prophecies.

For a media tie-in novel, Master & Apprentice is surprisingly complex and layered. There’s certainly a lot to unpack here, compared to some of the more recent releases in the Star Wars canon. However, the central theme of the book is undeniably the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Gray explores this dynamic using a number of ways, including flashing back to Dooku and Qui-Gon’s time as master and apprentice to show how an individual Jedi’s views can be shaped by their style of training and instruction. It is perhaps no coincidence that both of Dooku’s students, Qui-Gon and Rael Averross, have ended up with rebellious natures, given the kind of person their teacher was and the Dark Side path he chose.

But back to the relationships between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: in the late 90s, I started reading a series of now-Legends middle grade novels called Jedi Apprentice, the first book of which was called The Rising Force and told the story of how they became master and apprentice. As this series was marketed for children, I didn’t demand too much from it, though I do recall wishing it had been a deeper exploration of the two characters’ personalities and bond as it went along. Twenty years later, it’s like Claudia Gray has finally written the kind of story I wanted. Qui-Gon’s fear of failing his apprentice is written incredibly well, and likewise so is Obi-Wan’s struggle to understand his master and his determination not to disappoint him. It was heartbreaking to read about their anxieties, knowing that deep down, they both loved and respected each other very much.

And of course, another one of the novel’s major topics is prophecy. I mean, considering how the Jedi prophecy of the “Chosen One” was the main impetus behind Anakin Skywalker and the whole Star Wars saga, this is huge—and accordingly, Gray gives this theme the gravitas and weight it deserves. Qui-Gon’s views on prophecies, which also explained his motivations in The Phantom Menace, were addressed here in Master & Apprentice, and also sets up a number of theories for Star Wars fans to chew on with regards to the new movies.

Typical of the author’s Star Wars novels, the characterization was also done extremely well. There’s a clear emphasis on developing relationships, and there are a whole web of them here to consider. The story takes a look at both past and present, examining the relationships of multiple sets of masters and apprentices, as well as the role the Jedi Council has played in those dynamics. In addition, we have the side characters and their relationships to each other and the protagonists. Following in the footsteps of a long line of rogue Jedi in Star Wars fiction, Rael Averross’ infectious personality and emotional openness completely stole the show for me. Rahara and Pax were also a joy to read about, and their personal stories offer some commentary on darker activities that still go on in the Republic, including smuggling and slavery. And then there are the shadowy villains and other dubious organizations like Czerka and or the Opposition on Pijal, though Gray is so subtle and clever with her writing that there will be twists and surprises you won’t see coming.

Needless to say, in my eyes, Master & Apprentice is one of the new canon’s better books. Personally, I also think it’s one of Claudia Gray’s bolder Star Wars novels, where she tackles more mature themes and uses some modern vernacular and risqué language which felt a little out of place at times (keep in mind I’m talking by Star Wars standards here, and I know some people let their younger kids read Star Wars tie-ins, so reader discretion is advised). To sum things up though, I had a great time with this novel, and after reading it, I also think it would be fantastic to see more prequel or pre-prequel era Star Wars books in the future.

Audiobook Comments: I absolutely adored Jonathan Davis’ performance on the Star Wars: Master & Apprentice audiobook. He’s always been known to me as “that Star Wars narrator who can do an amazing Darth Vader voice”, but obviously he’s incredibly talented and can do a lot more than that. Short of getting Liam Neeson himself to read this book, I don’t think you could have gotten a better voice actor for Qui-Gon Jinn. Stellar performance, as always. ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Jim C rated it really liked it

This book takes place before the prequel movies. In this one, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are sent to a planet that is about to sign a treaty that will open a hyperspace corridor which means this planet will be connected to the rest of the galaxy. Obviously, things don't go as planned.

This book is a terrific look into the relationship between master and padawan. It is also a terrific look into each character especially Qui-Gon. Their relationship isn't the smoothest and we get to see why as these two ...more

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May 20, 2019 Ben Brown rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars-canon

I’ve long maintained that in the time since Disney’s purchase of “Star Wars” in 2012, the very best materials released thus far in the new canon – and I’m including all of the new movies under this umbrella – have been Claudia Gray’s “Star Wars” novels. “Lost Stars,” “Bloodline”, and “Leia: Princess of Alderaan” are all TERRIFIC books, taking characters that we all know and love and placing them in thrilling, very OT-“Star Wars”-esque narratives. Which makes the fact that “Master and Apprentice, ...more

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Jul 29, 2018 Lucie marked it as to-read

Shelves: star-wars

A NEW STAR WARS BOOK BY CLAUDIA GRAY. I NEED IT NOW.

Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

We've been given so much new content for the prequel trilogy lately and it's making me appreciate this era more than I used to, I am so happy.

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Feb 11, 2019 Cho rated it really liked it

I'm preparing to fall into another star wars phase in two months and I have no regrets. The Jude Watson series about these two was basically my late childhood.

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Apr 22, 2019 Grace rated it liked it

Shelves: solid, star-wars

Me, mining this book exhaustively for every tiny detail about Jedi Order tradition, the master & padawan relationship, the layout of the Jedi Temple, and ancient Jedi prophecy: Wait, this book is supposed to have, like, a story?

This book does, in fact, have a story, and the story is mostly about Qui-Gon Jinn.

Obi-Wan is there, and we occasionally dip into his perspective, but the journey is mostly Qui-Gon's, the growth is mostly Qui-Gon's, and the eyes through which we view events are almost Me, mining this book exhaustively for every tiny detail about Jedi Order tradition, the master & padawan relationship, the layout of the Jedi Temple, and ancient Jedi prophecy: Wait, this book is supposed to have, like, a story?

This book does, in fact, have a story, and the story is mostly about Qui-Gon Jinn.

Obi-Wan is there, and we occasionally dip into his perspective, but the journey is mostly Qui-Gon's, the growth is mostly Qui-Gon's, and the eyes through which we view events are almost always Qui-Gon's. The concept of lineage is a powerful thread throughout this book. Occasional flashbacks take us back to Qui-Gon's childhood, and Dooku is a strongly felt presence in everyone's mind even when he's not physically there. We get to meet Dooku's first padawan, and as Qui-Gon grapples with his current relationship with Obi-Wan, he is just as strongly anchored in the past as he is in the present.

The massive thrust of this book is the moral dilemma(s). Qui-Gon is at a transition point, struggling with his relationship with Obi-Wan, struggling with his understanding of prophecy, struggling with his perception of morality and the role of the Jedi Order... He's pretty much going through it. If you're into flawed, well-meaning characters and debating moral issues that may have no one right answer, you'll probably like this book.

Qui-Gon comes off as a hypocrite half the time, but it's palpable how hard he's trying and how committed he is to doing "the right thing" -- whatever that may be. Confronting your own blind spots and flaws is something that comes up a lot. Obi-Wan totally blanks out when asked what would happen if two Jedi were to fight each other. "They wouldn't," he says. "The Jedi are united." Even though JUST chapters ago they discussed a sad case where a master killed his own padawan. Qui-Gon goes off on another Jedi for having a sexual dalliance (which doesn't technically break the Code) and then we learn that HE literally has a tragic romance (which EXPLICITLY breaks the Code) in his past.

This whole book is a journey of self-knowledge and growth. It's very Jedi.

Personally, I have to admit that my favorite thing about this book was the details I was able to glean about Jedi life. Some things I learned:

• Council Masters don't take padawans

• The Jedi Temple has aquatic levels that are completely underwater

• There's a meditation maze (?)

• Padawans are expected to perform some traditional "squire" type tasks, such as caring for their master's tack and boots, etc.

• THERE IS A TRAINING DOJO RESERVED SPECIFICALLY FOR PADAWANS. This means nothing to anyone else, but I'm smug about it because I CALLED it.

• We continue to go with the new canon norm of taking padawans when they're in their mid-teens, instead of the Legends norm of aging out at thirteen years old

• THEY WENT BACK TO CELIBACY. Really? We're seriously doing this? Come on, Claudia.

• You can check holocrons out of the Archives

• Masters and padawans live in separate rooms (I'm never going to accept this. Give me a master/padawan suite or give me death)

• Jedi don't get to choose the color of their lightsabers

Other notable details:

• Despite the "older padawans" norm we're going with, Obi-Wan was 13 at the time he became Qui-Gon's padawan. This, combined with Obi-Wan's overwhelming feelings of inadequacy and how much time Qui-Gon spends vaguely being a jerk? Claudia Gray said JEDI APPRENTICE RIGHTS.

• Qui-Gon's painful past romance??? Tahl, am I right ladies

• Depa Billaba side-eyeing Yoda while saying "the Council needs fresh perspectives" I LOVE

• I'm a BIG fan of Rael. I love him. Poor guy.

• "Up the hell, he should shut."

• I'm so FREAKING glad to get a look at the actual text of the Chosen One prophecy. All the other prophecies are intriguing as well. Some seem to be utter nonsense, while others might have any number of explanations. I'm hoping someone smart will do an in-depth analysis.

• Obi-Wan LOVES TO FLY!!! HE SURE DOES!! I LOVE THIS SHOUTOUT TO HIS CHILDHOOD ENTHUSIASM FOR FLYING AS ALLUDED TO IN ROGUE PLANET.

• His traumatic piloting experience wasn't traumatic ENOUGH to explain such a sudden and extreme flip in sentiment, though. I'm going to need more background on what happened to make him hate flying.

• "People are more than their worst act. They are also more than the worst thing ever done to them."

• Dooku and Qui-Gon having a close and powerful bond is NOT something we have ever… seen before. I’m torn on whether I believe it or not, but it’s definitely an interesting dynamic to think about, especially with Qui-Gon emphasizing all the ways he and Dooku were similar, whereas he and Obi-Wan are so different. Are he and Dooku really THAT similar?!

• Can't believe Rael was literally offered a Sith apprenticeship and went, "Nah... I mean, I kinda like the Light."

• Pretty sure I fought some people from Czerka Mining Corporation once. Were they in KOTOR 2?

• The contrast between how the Jedi Order handled Rael, given the late age at which he came to the Order, and how they handled Anakin. They "erred on the side of mercy" and "treated him with compassion," tolerating Rael's non-conformance and iconoclastic attitude with leniency. Was this deliberately put here as a thought provoker? If so, it's working.

• The situation with the princess escalated SO QUICKLY and then somehow deescalated equally as fast. It was jarring. From "oh what a charming, precocious girl" to "OH GOSH SHE'S MURDERING EVERYBODY" and then suddenly back to "she's confined to her room for now, maybe she'll go to college and do something useful later on." Like yeah, I get that, we all go through a "ruthless murder" stage at the age of fourteen, right?

• I'm SICK of all this SLAVERY in my GALAXY

...more

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Apr 22, 2019 DiscoSpacePanther rated it really liked it

Shelves: space-opera, science-fiction, star-wars-canon, star-wars

This book has many shortcomings, but in the end these were irrelevant to me, because I simply enjoyed the story.

The strongest elements are the development of Qui-Gon Jinn’s relationships with both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Count Dooku—these are the best character-based parts to the story, and I was happy that (to the best of my knowledge) they didn’t seriously contradict any of the pre-Disney Legends canon, so that this book can sit comfortably enough in both (or either) continuities. There are some ...more

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Jul 16, 2019 Robert rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Those Who Turn Toward the Light

Shelves: guerre-stellari

“It matters which side we choose. Even if there will never be more light than darkness. Even if there can be no more joy in the galaxy than there is pain. For every action we undertake, for every word we speak, for every life we touch—it matters. I don’t turn toward the light because it means someday I’ll ‘win’ some sort of cosmic game. I turn toward it because it is the light.”

We live in morally grey times, and to its credit the mythos of Star Wars is flexing to incorporate a little more ...more

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Jun 06, 2019 Drewthereader20 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: new-releases, scribd, hardcover, 2019-favorite-books, audiobook, library-books, 2019-reads

This was so good. Plz check out the audiobook of this one! There were a lot of sound effects and nice voice acting as well!(:

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Sep 25, 2019 Jerry rated it it was ok

Years ago, there was a fabulous Star Wars novel series called Jedi Apprentice. Though it was intended for younger readers--after all, it was published by Scholastic--it brought new life to the character of Qui-Gon Jinn, who I always wished we'd seen more of after he got killed in The Phantom Menace. Jude Watson, who wrote all but the first book in that series, did an excellent job of bringing a galaxy far, far away to the page.

So, then...why are they giving us an alternate version of Qui-Gon and ...more

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Apr 22, 2019 Allyson rated it it was ok

This was...not the book I was looking for.

CG wrote the two (pretty unarguably) best books in the new Star Wars canon, so it's safe to say my expectations for this were pretty high -- especially since Obi-Wan is my favorite character not named Ahsoka Tano.

But...

The political plot was as dull as that of The Phantom Menace. And character-wise, Qui-Gon remains as inscrutable as ever, while Obi-Wan has been shoved into a box labeled "persnickety rule-follower and/or whiny teenager." I mean??? No one ...more

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Oct 04, 2019 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: orphalins, the-robots-will-kill-us-all, sci-fi, professional-fanfic

Still ace at Star Wars novels, Claudia. I really should read her non-Star Wars work at some point, but every time I finish one of her SW books, I'm left satisfied, and feel no need to do so. Perhaps this is a mistake.

This book was unexpected, both in that she chose to write about the earlier period of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi's partnership instead of the later period most SW writers play in, and that I enjoyed it so much, when I'm usually not that into prequel-era Star Wars very much. I Still ace at Star Wars novels, Claudia. I really should read her non-Star Wars work at some point, but every time I finish one of her SW books, I'm left satisfied, and feel no need to do so. Perhaps this is a mistake.

This book was unexpected, both in that she chose to write about the earlier period of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi's partnership instead of the later period most SW writers play in, and that I enjoyed it so much, when I'm usually not that into prequel-era Star Wars very much. I just don't have as much emotional connection to the characters, even though both Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor bring gravitas to the material that makes me have affection for them (and Obi-Wan features quite a bit in the Clone Wars TV show).

While there is a space adventure here, featuring a coronation, a galactic treaty, terrorists jeopardizing that treaty, and an evil galactic corporation that exists on slave labor, this is really a book about the emotional relationship between Qui-Gon and his fourteen year old apprentice, Obi-Wan. Qui-Gon has been given a chance to join the Jedi Council, which is a surprise because he so often is at odds with them. This drives a wedge in their already fragile master/apprentice relationship, as Obi-Wan feels like he has never been good enough for Qui-Gon, and that he doesn't understand his master; Qui-Gon leaving to join the Council feels like an abandonment on top of that. Qui-Gon also has struggled in how to reach Obi-Wan. He is not one to follow the rules blindly and often does things not by the book. He feels torn by his desire to join the Council, and what he sees as his duty to Obi-Wan.

I thought the book did an excellent job of portraying the emotional arcs of both characters, and their resulting conflict. Watching them clash with one another while being able to see inside of their thoughts, and that they both respected each other but couldn't find a way to communicate that, was a little heartbreaking. This book gets at the heart of the Jedi/Padawan relationship, how even though Jedi aren't supposed to love, it's impossible for a master not to care for, even love, an apprentice they spend years bringing up, and for an apprentice to care for the Jedi who raised them. We get echoes of this in the relationships between Jedi Rael Averross (also an apprentice of Dooku) and his Padawan, and with the princess he acts as Regent for on the planet Pijal, as well as the relationship between Qui-Gonn and Dooku himself in the form of flashbacks.

The one thing that didn't work perfectly for me is that there are hints to the overall Star Wars mythology in the ancient Jedi prophecies that Qui-Gonn studies, including one that I'm pretty sure predicted the births of Leia and Ben Solo ("She who will be born to darkness will give birth to darkness," or something like that; I've returned the book to the library). The reason that I didn't like this very much is that I wanted to know what all those prophecies were referring to! And we don't get any answers. Obviously this is a Me complaint; the prophecies were deployed strategically, and I think Gray meant them to be a fun nod, not something to obsess over (like Qui-Gonn and Dooku do). Well I can't help that I'm obsessive and hate unsolved puzzles, which in one of life's great ironies, I am terrible at solving. ...more

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Apr 18, 2019 Jonathan Koan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reading-challenge-2019

This book right here

Wow. I have never been so blindsided by a book before. I really thought this was going to be a straightforward, simple, Master and Apprentice style storyline. What it was, though, was a deep, interesting look at philosophy and morality while also having action, twists, and plenty of Star Wars references.

To begin with, I love how Claudia Gray writes Qui-Gon. She has stated that he is one of her favorite, if not her favorite character in Star Wars. Early in the novel, he 👏🏼This 👏🏼 book👏🏼 right 👏🏼 here 👏🏼

Wow. I have never been so blindsided by a book before. I really thought this was going to be a straightforward, simple, Master and Apprentice style storyline. What it was, though, was a deep, interesting look at philosophy and morality while also having action, twists, and plenty of Star Wars references.

To begin with, I love how Claudia Gray writes Qui-Gon. She has stated that he is one of her favorite, if not her favorite character in Star Wars. Early in the novel, he struggles with the difficult nuances of being a parent. As an apprentice is like a child, a master is like a parent. But every parent has to balance teaching their children, disciplining their children, and forgiving their children. Qui-Gon struggles with all of these in the most human way possible. He also struggles with whether he is the right master for Obi-Wan, and struggles with the decision to join the council. Never before has Qui-Gon been so thoroughly examined, nor have these concepts and difficulties been so accurately displayed in fiction format.

Obi-Wan Kenobi also deals with the difficulty of being an apprentice. He want to live up to the expectations of his master(similar to how children want to live up to their parents expectations), and he tries to balance Qui-Gon's teachings with his own personality. Obi-Wan at multiple times demonstrates the emotional insecurities that teenagers face, but it doesn't seem cheesy or cringeworthy like in when other writers portray teens.

The action was well written, and that's coming from someone who doesn't usually like action in books. It was well paced and was just the right length. Normally, you can kind of predict what the major twist will be, but I genuinely was caught off guard. I was pleasantly surprised and it propelled me to finish the story.

The philosophy examined in this book was quite interesting. I usually don't care for the force centered aspects of Star Wars, but the way Claudia Gray tackled premonitions and prophesies matched up with not only the prequels and clone wars, but also have several parallels(though not really overt) to old testament prophecy.

Having the character of Rael Aveross kind of annoyed me because he wasn't what I'd expect from a jedi, although he at times reminded me of Jorrus C'baoth in that not all jedi are like Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, or the main characters and are the best jedi that they can be. Rael, however, has an interesting arc.

There was one really small thing that irked me(which would be considered a spoiler), but it's really small and is to be expected in current fiction.

There's so much more that I loved that I just can't get into without spoliers, but this book is amazingly deep in everything it provides.

Overall, this was an amazing book and might just be my favorite canon novel. 9.3 out of 10! Excellent work, Claudia Gray!
...more

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Aug 14, 2018 Frank-Intergalactic Bookdragon marked it as to-read

Shelves: cover-luv, 2019, star-wars

The cover makes me so happy I'm crying, it looks just like Last of the Jedi books which was the first full series I read on my own
-----
This will make another fine addition to my collection ...more

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Aug 21, 2018 Maria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: releases-2019, gen-scifi, faves-2019-edition

A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one!

This gets 5 wars out of 5 stars purely for the fun I've had reading it

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May 13, 2019 turniip rated it liked it

It’s me, book, not you. I’ll try again soon when I am less grumpy.

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Aug 24, 2019 Donna rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi

Yes, it's another Star Wars book. And again, I highly recommend the audios. They make for a fun afternoon. While the original Star Wars cast is my favorite, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are my second favorite.

I'll admit first that this one started off a little slow for me. The set up seemed too long. Once that was out of the way the story picked up and I was reeled in. I liked the developing relationships in this. And not just with the two Jedis but also the other characters. They were all ...more

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Apr 24, 2019 Tait Sougstad rated it it was ok

Prepare yourself to be dazzled with council meetings, political discussions, teacher/student angst, and characters as flat as the paper they are printed on. Qui Gon and Obi Wan must wrestle with the ethical perils of corporatocracy, cultural imperialism, slavery, prophecies, and the Jedi code. Once again, Claudia Gray sculpts a lengthy and monotonous young-adult sci-fi, baptizes it in a bacta tank, which the Disney Star Wars story group rubber stamped for production. (Are you guys even reading Prepare yourself to be dazzled with council meetings, political discussions, teacher/student angst, and characters as flat as the paper they are printed on. Qui Gon and Obi Wan must wrestle with the ethical perils of corporatocracy, cultural imperialism, slavery, prophecies, and the Jedi code. Once again, Claudia Gray sculpts a lengthy and monotonous young-adult sci-fi, baptizes it in a bacta tank, which the Disney Star Wars story group rubber stamped for production. (Are you guys even reading this stuff before it goes out the door anymore??)

Behold, a typical quote: "You’re lord regent Rael. The council wouldn’t have named you to the position and expected you to do nothing. Your mandate is to help govern a world. And if you are willing to shift from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one, why shouldn’t the status of lunar citizens be reexamined as well."

Not quite as memorable as, "That's no moon," but still has its own ring to it.

The plot and characters were set up out of a dungeon master's playbook. New world, new edgy Jedi character, new side characters, all with their distinctive flair and lengthy back story. The history of everything is told with encyclopedic detail, all perfectly superfluous and disposable. The way new Star Wars canon is going, we will likely never hear about any of it anywhere else. Every motivation ends up being entirely arbitrary, and characters are inflexible in cartoony ways.

Master and Apprentice find time in unusual situations to work out their differences. It must be Jedi standard operating procedure to offer criticism or affirmation in the middle of a firefight.

In the end, (view spoiler)

Also, I generally enjoy Jonathan Davis's audiobook performances. However, this book was full of the irritating "quiet yell" voice he uses during intense situations, where the characters are supposed to be yelling over the din, but Davis doesn't want to actually yell in the soundbooth, so he does sort of a glottal squeeze and turns everyone into an old man. Also, I'm not sure this was intentional or he just ran out of voices for the panoply of side characters, but every artist or "alternative" character has a sing-song lisp.

This was a great opportunity to add some depth to the prequels, but the opportunity was missed. Star Wars (and Gray) needs to get back to what it is trying to accomplish with these books. Right now, it is diluting the formula, and I'm not sure how long people will stand for it before they get bored and move on. If you are looking to the novels for additional insights and expansion of the core Star Wars story, don't waste your time with this one. There is some discussion of the "prophecies" mentioned in the prequels, and some development of young Obi Wan, but that's about it.

+1 star for reviving the Faleen from canon purgatory. Long live the Black Sun. ...more

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Aug 31, 2019 julia ☆ [owls reads] rated it really liked it

Shelves: sw, sci-fi

4 stars!

*

“We don’t choose the light because we want to win. We choose it because it is the light.”

Master and Apprentice is a delight! The novel is such a fun glimpse into Obi-Wan’s younger years and gives a lot of insight into Qui-Gon as a character. There is a lot of action and political intrigue, as to be expected with Star Wars novels, but also quite a bit of humor and some really really touching moments between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.

Claudia Gray is back with another fantastic Star Wars ...more

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Apr 21, 2019 Andi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: recommend-to-anyone

I remember when I saw The Phantom Menace in the theater. I was in the 5th grade and I fell in love with Ewan McGreggor... but, I also was touched by the brief time we shared with Qui Gon Jinn. Lucas did so well in casting Liam in the role that to this day if someone adapts Qui Gon I need to be able to picture Liam saying the lines and if they flow with his character.

Little of Qui Gon's background has made it's way into official canon. There is now the extinct EU that seemed to focus on his time ...more

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May 26, 2019 Kingtchalla83 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Claudia Gray is is a phenomenal author. I've only read her Star Wars books, but ole boy! I found myself highlighting whole sections while reading. Once again I purchased the book with an audio upgrade. Listening to a Stars War is an experience because of the narrator, music and sound effects. The production is unlike any book I've listened to before.
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Master & Apprentice follows Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, his Padawan. Their relationship is slightly ...more

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Oct 16, 2019 Tyler Sampson rated it it was amazing

Claudia gray once again proves that she is the new Timothy Zahn of the Disney canon. Master and apprentice is a fantastic look at the relationship between Qui Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Master and apprentice definitely resides among the best of the new Disney canon books.

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Sep 18, 2019 Lata rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: auth-f, scifi-fantasy, 2019-read

Who would have thunk that Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi would have had a contentious relationship in the early part of Obi-Wan's apprenticeship? Well, Claudia Gray crafts a plausible scenario of the two continually reading each other incorrectly and causing disagreements and miscommunication. And then they have to go on a mission together, on which they encounter a far more loosey-goosey Jedi, whom Gray uses to provide a nice contrast to Qui-Gon's own approaches of dealing with the Jedi ...more

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May 11, 2019 Alex rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5/5. A solid Star Wars story that reveals a lot about the Jedi council and the relationship between Qui-gon and Obi-wan. The audio book is a fantastic production, as the narrator does a great job of imitating Liam Neeson and Ewan Mcgregor for the book’s titular characters. His Christopher Lee is also serviceable.

The story pits following the letter of the law against following the spirit of the law in regard to the Jedi code. It’s interesting, but it gets a bit long and bogged down in side ...more

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Jun 02, 2019 Maciej Kuczyński rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'll give the book 5 stars for what it is. And it's a Star Wars book. :D I think I still prefer Star Wars in a movie form. You can't really picture all the aliens and places while reading the book unless you google every race and planet whose names you don't know. I also listened to the audiobook while reading the book, and the narrator's performance as Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi was brilliant. It was almost like listening to a movie. :D

The story was okay. There were Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, ...more

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May 13, 2019 Angela H. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scribd, science-fiction, re-read

Claudia Gray portrays the struggles that led to bringing Quigon and Obiwon together as master and apprentice. Their thoughts, actions, and words are expressed as if they are attempting to understand each other. Ultimately, their bond grows powerfully that allow them to work together for good.

The author also expresses betrayal in two folds - in Jedi Council and in their mission. Hints are placed within the story that reveals the betrayers. If you are knowledgeable on StarWars, you may already ...more

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About Claudia Gray

Claudia Gray

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Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is ...more

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“...And partly because I wanted to give them a chance to be… better. Bigger of spirit. That rescue suggests they have it in them.” “People are more than their worst act,” Obi-Wan recited. It was something Qui-Gon had said to him many times, which at last seemed to be sinking in.” — 3 likes

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