Star Wars Brotherhood Book Review

Is the Star Wars Brotherhood book good and worth your time? Are the events described in this story revealing new insights into the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin? This review aims to answer all your questions by going in-depth with Mike Chen’s recently released Star Wars novel!

Obi-Wan Kenobi series is just a few days away, the hype is uncontrollable. What better way to prepare us for that show than a book that describes how Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship changed from master-apprentice to equals, to brothers.

Star Wars Brotherhood is a novel by Mike Chen, Published by Del Rey. It was released on May 10, 2022. This is Mike Chen’s first Star Wars novel, I don’t want to reveal too much yet, but I feel that this isn’t the last time we see his work.

Since this is not an illustrated book, I need to point out that the images I used in my review are only for illustrative purposes to help our readers visualize how some characters or scenes may look.

Star Wars Brotherhood starts right after Attack of the Clones. Both Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have been recently promoted. But this is no time to celebrate, the Clone Wars have begun and everyone must contribute if they hope to stop the threat of the Confederacy of Independent Systems led by Count Dooku.

Star Wars Brotherhood Plot (light spoilers)

Cato Neiomoidia is a beautiful planet full of pillars and mountains of unimaginable scale. Neiomoidian society flourish on gigantic bridges suspended thousands of meters above the ground where the hungry and dangerous wildlife prowls.

The Neoimoidians run the Trade Federation, one of the most powerful trade conglomerates of the galaxy. After declaring Nute Gunray a splinter faction, the Trade Federation announced its neutrality in the recent conflict between The Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but that neutrality is threatened by an unspeakable tragedy.

Zarra, the capital city of Cato Neimoidia was bombed, but it wasn’t a standard bombing. A whole section of the city was completely severed from the bridge and dropped thousands of citizens of all ages and statuses to a horrible death.

In a bold statement, Count Dooku, leader of the CIS, instantly pointed his finger at the Republic. Claiming they targeted Nute Gunray, who was in the bombed district an hour before the explosion occurred.

In an attempt to prevent the Trade Federation from siding with the enemy, the Republic offers to send someone to investigate and cooperate with local authorities to find the true author of this crime.

Dooku suggests that Chancellor Palpatine must go, but after deliberation, all parties agree that recently promoted Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is the most indicated Jedi for the task. After all, he’s replacing Coleman Trebor, a top negotiator that was killed by Jango Fett in the Battle of Geonosis.

The only condition is that Obi-Wan must go on his own, without a team or any kind of backup. Also, he can’t communicate with the Republic or the Jedi Council.

Anakin is eager to spend time with her wife Padmé, but he’s also been promoted to Jedi Knight, and that means he has his own responsibilities. He’s tasked with providing medical supplies to Langston, certainly not something that someone like Anakin would enjoy, but he didn’t have a choice.

What a surprise it would be when he finds out that younglings are going to join him in this mission. Anakin is the opposite of a patient Jedi and dealing with curious children isn’t anything his training has prepared him for, this includes a young girl that reminds him of his early days as a youngling.

IMPORTANT! From this point, the review will contain heavy spoilers.

Just married

He’s just married Padmé, a Jedi Knight leading battalions in the war and a Senator who advocates for diplomacy over aggressive negotiations (most of the time) are now bonded in a sacred union. Secrecy and discretion are required whenever they meet in public, if they’re discovered it’d be a huge scandal.

Both have pretty busy schedules, but every once in a while they can spend quality together, not as a Jedi and a Senator, but as a couple. Having dinner, taking a walk together, or kissing under the veil of the night are some of the things that Anakin wishes for, more than anything.

Obi-Wan isn’t aware of the type of relationship they have, but he doesn’t need the Force to know that something odd is going on. He chooses not to do or say anything about it because, in his mind, Padmé is something positive in Anakin’s life. This isn’t wrong, but no one would expect how far he would take this, how many lives would be sacrificed for the sake of hers.

This could be one of Obi-Wan’s biggest mistakes; letting the seed of love grow for so many years until it eventually consumes everything else just to keep itself alive. Could there have been a world where Anakin didn’t turn to the dark side? How much of the Jedi Order’s destruction is Kenobi’s responsibility?

Anakin’s growth from a Padawan to a Jedi Knight

As previously mentioned, Anakin is now a Jedi Knight of the Republic. Clone Troopers now obey him without hesitation, his unconventional approach to situations will likely be less questioned by Obi-Wan, and he’s also a role model for younglings and Padawans.

Obi-Wan struggles to remember that they are no longer master-apprentice, though, he often needs to prevent his former Padawan from doing something impulsive. After being captive without any help from the outside and almost dying several times, Obi-Wan comes to the realization that Anakin’s impulsiveness combined with his cold head is what allows them to overcome the direst of situations.

In Attack of the Clones, we often see them in a push and pull dynamic where the friction between them is almost palpable. Later, in Revenge of the Sith and the Clone Wars animated show, it’s very clear that their relationship has evolved. While still having various differences in philosophy, they work as a perfect team without the previous friction that existed when it was a one-sided relationship.

This is the start of that journey; a powerful, arrogant, and immature apprentice who more often than not is a pain in the ass for his master, eventually becoming a respected Jedi among his peers and torment to face as an enemy.

Getting used to a new arm

We all know limbs being cut off by a lightsaber isn’t uncommon in Star Wars. However, no one really talks about the psychological process of incorporating a mechanical replacement into your daily life.

Not being to feel the texture of things or the softness of Padmé’s skin is something that definitely hit Anakin. In a certain way, he’s now “incomplete”. Adjusting the strength and speed of his new hands takes time, but Skywalker would certainly adapt faster than the average person.

I know this aspect might not be very important to most people, but as someone who’s worked with amputees, I really appreciate the brief mention of this process.

There’s always a first time for everything

Kenobi is a very reliable Jedi that has proved himself time after time. He’s now temporarily replacing Coleman Trebor. His first task as a member of the Jedi Council? Prove that the Republic didn’t commit an unspeakable crime against the Trade Federation.

Despite being framed by Dooku’s agent, Obi-Wan always acts with good faith, humility, and respect. His trust in diplomacy is above everything and he exhausts every resource he has to de-escalate the conflict.

Unsurprisingly, everything went wrong. He’s declared an enemy of Cato Neimoidia, his communicating device was destroyed, and his life is now at risk. A Neimoidian soldier offers to help him but he refuses, escaping would destroy any remaining hope for negotiations.

For a brief moment, Obi-Wan almost gives in to despair. He finds the thought of desiring that Anakin was with him both amusing and desperate. Of course, Anakin can’t keep himself away from trouble, not even when he’s taking care of a youngling.

In his cell, another Neimoidian soldier driven by rage and anger attempts to murder him but our cautious master prepared himself for the worse. Pulling his lightsaber from a hidden spot, Obi-Wan reflects the blaster fire from the guards and proceeds to escape the room.

As he runs, Anakin almost collapses with him. In a confused but relieved state, Kenobi asks Skywalker the reason for his presence. Anakin responds with a usual smarty-pants answer. Technically he was about to rescue him, but Obi-Wan freed himself before, so technically speaking, it doesn’t count as one of the ten times that Anakin saved him.

New characters in Star Wars Brotherhood

Star Wars Brotherhood introduces a few new characters. The spectrum of their personalities is very wide, they all have different motivations and conflicts. Here are my favorite characters from the book.

Ruug Quarnom

Ruug Quarnom, a female Neimoidian soldier who is part of the Neimoidian Royal Guard, a job that was forced upon her after she questioned the decisions of the Trade Federation.

After meeting personally with Obi-Wan, she acknowledges him and his commitment to the truth, no matter which side is responsible. This unexpected and unofficial alliance will prove fruitful in the later chapters of the book, as both of them will save each other in situations where they’d probably die without help.

Ruug is willing to do lots of things in order to help her people, some of them might be questionable but there is no doubt that she deeply loves her planet and fellow Neimoidians. She’s determined to find who’s behind the bombing, even though she’s no Jedi, her skills and experience will prove invaluable in the investigation.

After saving Obi-Wan not once but twice, she proves her faith in the Jedi Master. Helping an enemy of the Neimoidian government is treason, her life is on the line from the moment she helped him.

Ketar Nor

Another Neimoidian soldier, inexperienced and with deep-rooted prejudices against the Republic. Despite having the same rank as Ruug, she’s considered her superior. After the trauma of watching the bodies of his people, his resentment grew like a wildfire.

His hate for the Republic started after his parents, two of the best Neimoidian artists of their era were humiliated and disparaged during the Festival of Stars, an important Coruscant event. This grudge would remain dormant until the Cadesura district tragedy.

When Obi-Wan was accused of conspiring against the Cato Neimoidia government, Ketar Nor acted as the prosecutor. His pain and anger made him extremely easy to manipulate to the point where he even plan to bomb Neiomoidian infirmaries to frame the captured Jedi.

He was influenced from the very beginning by Dooku’s agent. Everything word was used to trigger his anger and redirect it towards the figure that represented the Republic. Acting as a spark in a room filled with fuel, this mysterious agent hoped that Ketar’s actions would ignite the rest of the Neimoidians’ pain and anger to make them end their neutrality and finally join the CIS in their war effort against the Galactic Republic.

Asajj Ventress

She was introduced in the first Clone Wars animated show (2003), but since it isn’t considered canon anymore, Star Wars Brotherhood is now the first time she officially appears in the story.

Asajj Ventress was born in the inhospitable Dathomir. She was once a Jedi, but the dark side consumed her after her master was murdered right before her eyes. In an attempt to murder the leader of the pirate group that killed her master, Ventress was captured and forced to fight in an arena as a Gladiator. Later, Count Dooku discovered and took her as his new Acolyte.

Just like the Jedi are trained for negotiation and mediation, Sith apprentices learn deception and manipulation. From the moment she arrived, Ventress was able to get under the skin of Ketar Nor, feeding his resentment towards the Republic and channeling that hate specifically towards Obi-Wan Kenobi.

As Dooku, Ventress moves in the shadows, manipulating evidence, creating conflict or distrust between individuals, and committing murder are the activities she’s used to. After the Clone Wars erupted, she became a commander of the droid army, often competing against General Grevious for the favor of their master.

Anakin and Obi-Wan will encounter her on numerous missions, though, none will truly beat the other.

Mill Alibeth

She’s probably my favorite character from the book. A young Zabrak who, unlike her fellow Padawans, doesn’t chase ideas of adventure or completing the Trials. Mill has a special connection to the Force, she can feel the emotions of people around her as if they were her own. This ability is often a double-edged sword, while allowing her to understand how someone feels, it also overwhelms Mill with pain or suffering.

This is right at the beginning of the Clone Wars, when we meet her in the first chapters, the Jedi haven’t officially joined the Grand Army of the Republic. Aren’t they peacekeepers? Why are they becoming Generals for the Clone Troopers? Is it right to rush the process of knighthood of the Padawans so they can guide troops in battle?

These are some of the questions that haunt her, and rightfully so. With how fast the events unfolded, no one really questioned if the Jedi Order should be involved in a conflict of this scale.

Mill feels like a stranger among the other… younglings and often thinks of ways to cut herself from the Force. Thankfully, Anakin Skywalker is by her side in a crucial moment of her life. His trust and insight help Mill to choose a path that fulfills her desire to aid others without wielding a lightsaber. Sadly, this might be the only time we hear about her.

Overall thoughts

The first thing that I noticed was that the chapters are named after a character. I was confused for a few pages but it actually turns out that the name of a chapter corresponds to the perspective of said character. It is the first time I encounter that in a book (not that I read that much) but I think it’s a very creative way to put you in each character’s shoes.

I must mention that I read the physical book while also listening to the audiobook. Jonathan Davis is the narrator for Star Wars Brotherhood. Hearing his voice combined with music and sound effects elevates the experience to the next level. Even if he does all the voices, you can clearly notice the changes in tone, pitch, and inflection depending on which character he’s voicing.

He even does impressions of voices from characters like Yoda or Mace Windu, they are far from perfect but as a listener, I really appreciate the effort this man put into his craft.

As I read every paragraph, I could picture every hall, room, and corridor with clarity. Feeling how the characters interacted with their surroundings was very easy thanks to Mike Chen’s ability to describe the environment. Even the fight scenes were super easy to imagine, it felt like I was watching a Clone Wars episode.

In fact, I believe this would have been a very good arc in the Clone Wars animated show. An interesting story that lets the audience know each character on a deeper level, Anakin’s smart ass, and Kenobi’s sassy jokes perfectly complement each other and alleviate tension when needed.

I loved how we get to know more about the Neimoidians. Hard-working individuals who have proved to be at the top of fields like art, economy, and military industry. They work together as a hive to increase the well-being of their people.

Sadly, it only takes one minority group to tarnish the reputation of an entire species. After Nute Gunray joined the CIS, everyone immediately believed that all of them are greedy cowards. A sad but true reflection of how prejudices work in both Star Wars and the “real world”.

The story, while entertaining isn’t something that I find special. It felt very slow sometimes and when the climax finally came, it felt underwhelming. I know it’s hard to create suspense when we already know that the two main characters finish the story without any major disturbances but that doesn’t make disappear the feeling that something’s missing.

Rugg and Mill were characters that I really liked, both of them contribute in very particular ways to both Obi-Wan and Anakin’s development, without them, I don’t know how this book would have felt. It’s such a bummer that they’re filler characters that we’ll probably never see again. I really hope someone brings them back in the future!

Speaking of characters that I want to see more, Dexter Jettster or “Dex” help was crucial for Obi-Wan. In Attack of the Clones, it felt strange that a Jedi with lots of resources had to rely on such a peculiar character. With Brotherhood, we finally got to know why. Dex used to be one of the best information brokers in the galaxy! It’s no wonder why Obi-Wan would trust him with such delicate information. I hope this isn’t the last time we get to see Dex.

As time passes, Star Wars projects are more connected to each other, even if it’s with small appearances. Jedi Master Jaro Tapal and a red-headed youngling (who we played in Jedi Fallen Order) have a brief interaction with Anakin Skywalker.

Duchess Satine Kryze, leader of Mandalore, Bo Katan’s sister, and the only person that made Kenobi consider leaving the Jedi Order, also shows up for a few moments in the book.

I got goosebumps imagining that we could see Obi-Wan and Cal Kestis together in an upcoming project, especially after a connection between a game and the Obi-Wan series was recently suggested by the cast.

My favorite part of the book was when Anakin finally faced Ventress. Their brief duel was flawlessly described, I could picture every striking movement, every time a lightsaber was ignited or turned off. I could even remember how Ventress’ ship looks like with the description given, I can’t emphasize enough how well-detailed everything is.

Verdict

Star Wars Brotherhood is a good book to fill in some gaps. As I mentioned before, it’s like experiencing a Clone Wars episode. It’s entertaining, with a good plot, captivating environment, well-written characters, and a great audio version.

Is it something groundbreaking that totally changed my perspective on Anakin and Obi-Wan’s relationship? No, absolutely not. It is just a small glimpse of how they eventually become brothers, to be completely honest, I’m not even sure the title fits.

With that said, I definitely recommend that you read it if you have the opportunity. We’re getting lots of content about Obi-Wan, if you love the character or want to learn more about him, this is absolutely worth reading.

With so many books, series, games, and comics we cannot discard the possibility of a connection between this book and an upcoming project. I can’t wait to see what they have prepared for us!

What do you think about the book? Who’s your favorite new character? Did it hit or miss your expectations?