This book was a fabulous insight into the relationship between Kenobi and Skywalker. ( )

Once again took me some time to get into. This book would be a lot better without the introduction of the youngling character, in my opinion. I found her character annoying and unnecessary. I would’ve liked a more sole focus on Anakin and Obi Wan ( )

Not too bad. Characterizations where pretty spot on. Story was entertaining. Nice to see how Anikan and Kenobi relationship changes since Anakin becomes a Jedi Knight. ( )

3 1/2 stars: Good

From the back cover: The Clone Wars have begun. Battle lines are being drawn throughout the galaxy. With every world that joins the Separatists, the peace guarded by the Jedi Order is slipping through their fingers.

After an explosion devastates Cato Neimoidia, the jewel of the Trade Federation, the Republic is blamed and the fragile neutrality of the planet is threatened. The Jedi dispatch Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the Order’s most gifted diplomatic minds, to investigate the crime and maintain the balance that has begun to dangerously shift. As Obi-Wan investigates with the help of a heroic Neimoidian guard, he finds himself working against the Separatists who hope to draw the planet into their conspiracy—and senses the sinister hand of Asajj Ventress in the mists that cloak the planet.

Amid the brewing chaos, Anakin Skywalker rises to the rank of Jedi Knight. Despite the mandate that Obi-Wan travel alone—and his former master’s insistence that he listen this time—Anakin’s headstrong determination means nothing can stop him from crashing the party, and bringing along a promising but conflicted youngling.

Once a Padawan to Obi-Wan, Anakin now finds himself on equal—but uncertain—footing with the man who raised him. The lingering friction between them increases the danger for everyone around them. The two knights must learn a new way to work together—and they must learn quickly, to save Cato Neimoidia and its people from the fires of war. To overcome the threat they face they must grow beyond master and apprentice. They must stand together as brothers

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"That was the difference between someone like her and someone like him: Obi-Wan Kenobi was too good for a galaxy at war."

"Hold on to that. The way you care about others will power you through adversity."

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I enjoyed this book but find that its nearly forgettable months later after I read it. ( )

3.75 ★
Brotherhood had two jobs: tell the audience what exactly happened in Cato Neimoidia and explore the Anakin - Obi-Wan relationship. Both tasks were executed, but none really felt fulfilling enough.

I don't really have complaints about the Cato Neimoidia plot outside of personal taste. The shining point really was the discussion about grief and war and anger, how they affect perspective and what to do in front of evil. But the plot itself happened, the story is there, I didn't care as much as I could have about it.

But the relationship between those two...felt stilted. I'd say Chen was a bit too heavy-handed on the insecurities on both sides, making it very dissonant from all the others characterizations we have for them. Yes, they banter and disagree, but they are still very found of each other! This book is called brotherhood, it should have leaned into that.

A lot of it is caused by the incessant mention of Qui-Gon. Why. It makes sense, specially for Obi-Wan, to remember his teachings and wonder what would have happened if he had survived, but the name-drop was so frequent it felt too out of nowhere. Anakin relying so much on a vague memory of him for guidance over Obi-Wan full decade of training was very strange.

It also takes on aspects of the jedi order portrayal that I am not comfortable with, and have to wonder if these authors are getting cues from the storygroup or it's just an effect of them being a Legends generation. Mace Windu being framed as "very mean" and Yoda almost aloof is something I'll personally pretend is a narrator bias from the characters.

Now. I'm still rating it 3.75. Because the other half of the book is spent with Anakin and the youngling Mill and it was so well executed! I like their dynamic from start to finish, and the resolution to Mill's conflict perfectly foils for Anakin later on. Anakin is a great master to Ahsoka, and seeing glimpses of it here was spectacular. It shows how much he was good, that he was indeed a great Jedi, even when sometimes he bended the rules. It makes his fall more heartbreaking. It contrasts a lot with his insecurities regarding Obi-Wan, and by the end I wish this more lighthearted portrayal of his had settled with the former Master as well. ( )