As the Clone War is just beginning, Cato Neimoidia is among the systems who have taken a stand of neutrality between the Republic and the Separatists. Cato Neimoidia has suffered a devastating terrorist attack, a bombing in a civilian center. More and more, I’m finding a new appreciation for audiobooks and the Star Wars productions are among the best.īrotherhood begins shortly after the events of Attack of the Clones and almost immediately after EK Johnston’s Queen’s Hope (Chen notes in the afterword he and Johnston corresponded, as their stories take place so close together). Before writing this review, I took a drive and experienced this story again through this medium. The sound production and a healthy dose of John Williams’ Attack of the Clones score immersed me in this story. The audiobook adaptation, narrated by Jonathan Davis, is also excellent.

It’s well worth your time and deserves a spot on your bookshelf among the best Star Wars novels. It’s a quiet, thoughtful story allowing us inside the minds and vulnerabilities of two iconic figures in Star Wars. If you count Obi-Wan and/or Anakin Skywalker among your favorites, this is essential reading. What I will say again is Mike Chen wrote a beautiful story, one I’ve been waiting for. If you want to go in fresh, stop reading here and come back later. I’ll keep this review as spoiler-free as I can, but will be touching upon some of the plot elements and new characters introduced. Obi-Wan is so accustomed to being the teacher, there is a mourning when Anakin is knighted the Jedi – the empty nest of a Jedi Master without a Padawan. Here, we see each dealing with life drastically (and rapidly) changing around them. We’ve only ever seen it when their lives depend on working together. Chen makes every effort, most of them subtle while some are more obvious, to establish the devotion between Obi-Wan and Anakin. There could be no other title for this book than Brotherhood. Their strength isn’t in their lightsabers, it’s in the emotional vulnerabilities they face while the bond they share changes. In Brotherhood, the forthcoming novel from Mike Chen, the friendship and bond between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are explored in a much quieter space and smaller scale. Those are great, but both are shadowed by the turmoil of a galaxy at war. The Clone Wars and Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization supplemented what little friendship the prequels portrayed. The exploration of that friendship is something I’ve wanted for years.

One of the most striking things about A New Hope as a child is the melancholy smile of Obi-Wan Kenobi, remembering Luke Skywalker’s father as a “good friend”. Mike Chen did it! He gave me the story I’ve been waiting for.

Brotherhood book star wars