Brotherhood is a novel that thoroughly enhances and is enhanced by the Star Wars film it is in closest proximity to, Attack of the Clones. It is a love letter to the Star Wars prequels that takes the characters seriously and does not compromise in its thoughtful portrait of the setting or its conflicts. On par with film novelizations as Rogue One and Revenge of the Sith, though not a novelization itself.

Authors of Star Wars book, “more to say, have you”, on the Clone Wars? Seems hard to believe, seeing how much material has already been created focusing on the era. Specifically, seven seasons of a TV show, a handful of comic mini-series, and the beginning and end of the second Prequel films, and plenty more have explored the Clone Wars. My first reaction to hearing that Del Rey was going to be producing yet another Clone Wars story was met with more “…huh, okay” from me than an enthusiastic welcome. And, unfortunately, the nature of From a Certain Point of View stories meant that I couldn’t remember Mike Chen’s entry in the anthology well. Thankfully, my trepidation and forgetfulness was negated by what turned out to be a well-written, engaging novel: Star Wars Brotherhood!

There are a few ways that Mike Chen is able to bring a sort of fresh energy into the Clone War. First, he focuses really well on the characters’ relationships with one another, usually at extremely formative times, and that helps bring a lot of depth to the story. Second, he is able to ask good questions using outside points of view that make explicit questions other stories had left mostly under the surface. And finally, Chen uses some real-world elements well, which gets this book back to the heart of George Lucas’s visions for the Prequels. In reality, Brotherhood feels more like it belongs in the Prequel era than the Clone Wars animated series did: it’s relational, it’s political, it has a few structural warts, but it’s all charm and all heart the whole way down.

We’ll look at these in turn.

First, the relational aspect. The most important relationship in the novel is Obi-Wan’s relationship with Anakin Skywalker. After the events of Geonosis, Obi-Wan and Anakin are no longer operating as Master and Apprentice. Instead, they are peers: both acting as full Jedi Knights, both acting on their own autonomy of sorts. This brings a new dimension to Obi-Wan, who had been training Anakin out of an obligation to Qui-Gon Jinn. This new relationship forces Obi-Wan to reckon with what kind of teacher he is and what kind of man Anakin has become. This sort of retrospection is actually pretty uncommon in the era, as prose novels seem to populate this era the least. Instead, we’re used to cartoons and comics merely showing us this relationship. It was a really great touch to see this introspection from Obi-Wan, a character that I’ve never really come around to liking. Both are put into new situations, and both are forced to grow on their own. Obi-Wan is forced to learn again how to be a Jedi on his own, while Anakin…we’ll revisit him.

Brotherhood Full CoverObi-Wan is also challenged by the relationship of a pair of Neimoidian Guards, Ruug and Ketar. After a bombing on Cato Neimoidia destroys most of the planet’s capital, Obi-Wan is dispatched by the Jedi Council, alone, to figure out who caused the bombing and regain the trust of the Neimoidians. He also hopes that this trip will be a chance to undermine the Trade Federation a little, bringing them from their close, almost one-sidedness toward the Separatists and bring them closer to the Republic. But the bombing seems to have been orchestrated by the Republic, and evidence, both physical and mental, starts to sway the Neimoidians against the Republic. This leads him into communication with Ruug and Ketar, who are a sort of mentor and apprentice relationship that looks suspiciously like one Obi-Wan used to share.

Ruug, as it turns out, is one of the more interesting characters to come out of the novel (which is saying a lot, as it features some great cameos and some great new characters!) as one who is interested only in the truth, whatever it costs her. She is also able to poke Obi-Wan and force him to ask questions of himself that he wouldn’t on his own, serving as a great foil to him. Chen attributes this character to a Deep Space 9 influence, a show that I’ve never seen, but I think she fits well into the Star Wars galaxy. She is competent, but not a blind follower. She is deft and clever and looks at the bigger picture; a lot of things Obi-Wan isn’t. He blindly follows the Council and rarely thinks that his point of view is wrong, which is very paradigmatic of the Jedi at the time. Ruug, though, from the outside, shows what Obi-Wan could be if he stopped for a moment and critically evaluated his surroundings.

Anakin is also fleshed out really well against two characters: his new wife, Padmé, and young Jedi initiate Mill Alibeth. Both force Anakin to slow down and look at the galaxy from new perspectives. Padmé and Anakin’s marriage, and the immediate week after it, were covered in EK Johnston’s latest novel, Queen’s Hope, so this book takes place probably a few days later. The couple has separated to fight the war in their own ways, but both are set in their way of looking at it. Thankfully, some time with Padmé gives Anakin the chance to see the war not as an ideological battle, but a battle for the souls of the galaxy and for their material benefit. In the end, this relationship doesn’t play out as much as the one between Anakin and Obi-Wan, but Chen writes Padmé in a really refreshing way. I found her dialogue to be quite wooden in the animated series, and she skews very young in the Queen’s trilogy, but this one felt more like Natalie Portman to me.

What turns out to be a more stretching relationship for Anakin is his new mentorship of young Zabrak Mill Alibeth. Mill, without giving too much away, has a power that would fit well into the High Republic era: she is extremely empathetic and can sense pain. This forces her to withdraw from the Force, as she can’t control this power and it hurts her. (Yes, there are some extreme parallels with Vernestra Rwoh’s Padawan Imri Cantaros, but I won’t get in those here…as much as I’d like to!) Anakin, who wants to jump straight into danger and doesn’t think about the cost it bears on people, is forced in really interesting ways to consider his approach to war. I would really love to get into this relationship more, but the unfortunate part (for this review, not for the novel) is that it doesn’t develop until later in the novel, which would be getting too far into spoilery material for a day-of-release review. But needless to say: Mill is a fantastic foil for Anakin and challenges him in ways that Ahsoka couldn’t, as both serve as different sorts of learners for Anakin.

The second strength is that this book feels like a true sequel to Attack of the Clones. The events in that movie mattered more to the characters than anything, I think, we’ve seen before led us to believe. I really appreciated seeing the way that Geonosis was such a turning point for Obi-Wan, and seeing what his life looks like after such a traumatic battle and after making so many sacrifices. And I really appreciated that this book allowed Obi-Wan time to really ask: what happened on Tatooine? Queen’s Hope touched on it for a moment, explicitly dealing with the murder of the Tuskens…and it moved on. Obi-Wan doesn’t have quite the same interaction with that moment, but it feels more weighty and it feels like it takes the moment more seriously than Queen’s Hope did.

The final strength I’ll mention here is that the book deals with real world issues well, without being heavy-handed. A lot of Americans have been dealing with the issues of mis-information and the ability to trust the media, and this book plays on that well. When a whole civilization’s capital is rocked, who or what do you believe? When two major ideological factions are giving two disparate pieces of news, what’s the truth? And how is the average person supposed to work through this? Again, this comes to a head in the novel late-game, so I can’t get into a ton of it, but this aspect brings in quite a bit of Lucas’s heart into the novel.

So, I did mention warts before, and I feel it’s time to bring those up again here, sadly. You might have picked up on one already, if you’ve been reading carefully: it’s a slow burn. A lot of the meat of the book happens in the second half, which is pretty typical, but I think a lot could’ve been brought a little more closely to the front of the novel. There’s a distinct point, almost literally half-way through, where I felt the pace pick up and zip toward the end. You might’ve also noticed that I didn’t talk about the plot much. The plot serves as an engaging point to begin the novel, but it is resolved, in my opinion, unsatisfactorily. As I spoke with someone else, I asked him if certain elements had been resolved, and he didn’t think so. Despite the fact that the book is focused primarily on relationships, I felt like it was a bit disappointing to leave the plot hanging like this. With the strength of the relational writing, some may not even notice! And to that end, since the plot served as a backdrop for the relationships, it didn’t need, I don’t think, a masterful resolution…but one was needed.

Investigating the era through the lens of relationships, Brotherhood proves that there is still good material to be mined from the seemingly over-explored mine of the Clone Wars. By bringing the timeline to it’s immediate beginning, and more importantly, focusing on the beginnings of relationships, Mike Chen brings an enjoyable and powerful read to our bookshelves.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book, through NetGalley, from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.

So you’ve finished Obi-Wan and are wondering what to do with all of the emotions you’re processing. Yeah, us too. The show was painful for fans of the prequels and The Clone Wars, who watched Obi-Wan and Anakin develop a brotherhood (heh). Love that dynamic (and further gutting)? Enter Brotherhood by Mike Chen. Check out our 5 reasons why you need to pick up Brotherhood.

5 Reasons to Read Brotherhood by Mike Chen

- It gives us context for a statement made in Revenge of the Sith. No surprise that Mike Chen tapped into one of his favorite books ever to bring us a moment that is easily overlooked by the masses but brings a question to in-depth fans. In ROTS, Obi crash-lands and there’s a reference to an incident on Cato Neimoidia. Nearly 20 years later, we have the answers to what went down.
- There is additional political reference for The Clone Wars. If you’ve watched TCW (movie and tv show), you likely know a lot more about what was happening around the galaxy during this time. Far more than you’ll ever get in the prequels. The political landscapes are always the most interesting part of the Skywalker Saga (to me, at least).
- We see Padme and Anakin go on a date, something we almost never see in other media. Usually they’re busy hiding their emotions and rushing off to their political and Jedi duties. Mike gifts us a generous period of time with them.
- New characters! We meet two new influential characters that left me with a lot of questions. I hope we will see them both again in other media.
- It hurts. A lot. I asked Mike how he could write a story that gifts us so many amazing, compassionate Anakin moments, knowing what was to come in eps 3-6. He shared that he just had to write it as if he didn’t know those things were coming. If only we could READ it that way. Fans of TCW know what I’m talking about.

This book is a prequel kid's dream. It fills in the blank between Attack of the Clones and Clone Wars. Everyone is perfectly in character. A must-read for any Star Wars fan. This is my new favorite canon Star Wars book. My cohost reviewed the book in more detail on site, and we both absolutely loved it.

Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen is an amazing display of what Star Wars publishing could be. With Disney and Lucasfilm currently exploring the Original and Sequel Trilogies in movies and series, fans are left wanting more of the Prequel Era.

Brotherhood is everything I could have wanted in a Clone Wars Era Obi-Wan and Anakin story. While the two are separated throughout much of the story, their relationship is felt regardless. Be it Obi-Wan wishing he had his former padawan to make split second decisions, or Anakin wondering what his wise former master would do to stem the tide of the war, Mike Chen delivers an incredible view of their relationship.

One of my favorite parts of Brotherhood was the introduction of Mill Alibeth, a Zabrak youngling who joins Anakin on his journey to save Obi-Wan after his capture on Cato Neimoidia. She has an interesting relationship with the force, which allows her to feel the emotions of beings around her. Anakin’s time spent with Mill and the relationship they develop over the course of the novel serves as a set up to Anakin eventually taking on a padawan. Anakin’s development from the beginning to end of the story is clear, and it was something I didn’t even know I needed until I had it. Anakin in Attack of the Clones is very different from Revenge of the Sith, and seeing his character grow in a time we have yet to see in any form was very rewarding.

I think the biggest question I have after reading is…did that business on Cato Neimoidia count?

I want to thank DelRey for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mike Chen's Brotherhood is a really stunning portrait of two men who are having to come to terms with how their relationship is changing, and ultimately how it can be their strength. Anakin is becoming a Jedi Knight and Anakin and Obi-Wan no longer share the bond of Master and Apprentice. However, they still love one another and rely on one another when things get tough. When Obi-Wan is sent on a solo mission to Cato Neimoidia and finds himself in hot water, Anakin comes to his rescue.

Chen has said that he hopes that what people take away from this book is a better understanding and sympathizing with Anakin. I say that he is wildly successful at this. Seeing Anakin with Padme, Anakin with Obi-Wan, and Anakin with Mill allows readers to dive deeper into his motivations and heart than we've ever had the opportunity to go before. Mill is a wonderful addition to his life as her role as an empath removes the walls Anakin builds with those around him, even those closest to him. Chen has a deep understanding of Anakin and it's on full display here.

Chen also has a deep respect for the Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover, which readers of that book can clearly tell. He pulls direct references from that story and also pulls style elements, making reading the two books together seamless.

All in all, I loved the story and the characters of this book. It is absolutely the book prequel fans deserve, and I hope everyone picks it up. I hope that Star Wars fans continue to get the opportunity to read more Mike Chen Star Wars stories for years to come.

Brotherhood is a snapshot of a brief time in the lives of Anakin and Obi-Wan . They are contemporaries, partners and brothers. In the midst of Anakin keeping the biggest secret of his life from Obi-Wan they are each sent on separate missions that test their resolve and reinforce the way they look at the galaxy as a whole.

Chen's story is a love letter to the prequel trilogy. He gives readers a full story around Cato Nemoida ( no its NOT just a throwaway line from Episode 3) during the beginning of the Clone Wars with some stunning cameos from the prequel trilogy and the clone wars.

Mikes knowledge and affection of the source material make this book a spectacular and in some place heartbreaking ride, The inner monologues from the characters deepen your rewatch of the Prequels and give you a solid experience of the tragic lives of these two men whose paths were changed due to a Dark Lord of the Sith . An amazing read..

Star Wars: Brotherhood proves an excellent prologue to Star Wars: The Clone Wars and a fun new chapter in the Star Wars prequel era, shedding light on a turning point in Anakin and Obi-Wan's relationship that previously went overlooked. Any Star Wars fan should give it a read.

My review of Star Wars: Brotherhood for Dork Side of the Force:

Star Wars: Brotherhood does many things right, but most of all, it gives prequel fans the Obi-Wan and Anakin story they’ve been waiting 20 years for.

Though Brotherhood is not the first novel to chronicle the tumultuous and foreboding Clone Wars era, author Mike Chen’s Star Wars debut is both action-packed and quietly intimate as it explores the earliest days of the conflict that spelled the end for the Jedi Order and the Republic.

Brotherhood is as much about the evolving relationship between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker as it is about the changes they’re personally experiencing – with the Order, with the clone troopers, with the government, and within themselves. And being a prequel era novel, Brotherhood is also very much about the wide variety of politics and cultures in the galaxy, and at many times puts the Republic on trial for the decades of wrongs and neglect that feed into the Separatist cause.

Future Sith Lord emperor and current Chancellor Palpatine may have orchestrated this war and the Jedi’s downfall, but the anger, outrage, and distrust of the Jedi felt by the worlds who left the Republic are very, very real.

Brotherhood is set in the earliest days of the Clone Wars, showing Anakin’s promotion to Jedi Knight and Obi-Wan’s to Master and a seat on the Jedi Council. Just as Anakin and Ob-Wan are navigating their new relationships and roles, the Jedi at large are trying to comprehend their place as peacekeepers-turned-generals.

Though fans know this war will rage for years, in these early days, there’s much hope for a quick and peaceful resolution. The combination of reluctance to command troops and a steady mindset of hope for peace drive each main character’s point of view and motivations throughout the novel.

The main plotline of Brotherhood is “that business on Cato Neimoidia” – a horrific terrorist attack on one of the planet’s floating cities that killed many and hit the heart of Neimoidian culture. And many point to the Republic as the culprit.

Obi-Wan is sent to the planet to investigate alongside an emissary of the Separatists – none other than Asajj Ventress, who at this time serves the dark side and Count Dooku as his assassin. Knowing Ventress’s full arc as seen in The Clone Wars and Dark Disciple, Chen’s portrayal is the perfect introduction to the morally gray character.

That’s especially true for Ventress and Obi-Wan, who throughout the animated series had a chaotic, sassy, and often flirtatious relationship as they battled for dominance. Ventress is one of the beloved Star Wars characters who mercilessly and hilariously roasted Obi-Wan on a frequent basis, and we forever thank her for it.

Tensions are already high among the Neimoidians, and Ventress and the Separatists plan to push them to violence by exploiting the beings’ grief, anger, and long-held biases.

In true Obi-Wan fashion, the Jedi Master gets himself in a dangerous pickle, gets shot at many times, and performs a very nice speech that doesn’t really do anything to quell the crowd’s intense emotions. And in Anakin’s true fashion, the new Jedi Knight swoops in to kind of, sort of save the day in the most unorthodox way possible.

Though the two remain apart for much of the novel until the third act, the distance fast-tracks their evolution from master and apprentice to brothers – with a few awkward moments in between.

This book chronicles one of Anakin’s most important “growing up” moments. He’s surely pleased to be out from under Obi-Wan’s thumb, but he also seems to recognize the love and respect he had for his former master as a mentor has evolved into feelings of camaraderie and kinship. Brotherhood shows Anakin slowly beginning to understand and respect their new relationship – one that includes responsibility for his own actions alongside their long-held system of checks and balances on each other.

One of the biggest and most reflective journeys for Anakin in Brotherhood is his new relationship with a Jedi youngling named Mill Alibeth, whom he helps conquer her fears of the Force while showing the importance of self-acceptance and identity beyond their roles at Jedi.

Anakin is also juggling his secret marriage to Senator Padme Amidala, who gets a few brief scenes in Brotherhood. Like in E.K. Johnston’s recent Queen’s Hope, which also shows the early Clone Wars, Brotherhood features some of the best scenes of Anakin and Padme together. Even just for a day or two, they get to disappear from their lives at Jedi and Senator and just be two young newlyweds.

Their moments are brief but powerfully intimate, giving them the space and privacy to continue learning and loving each other. We all know how their story ends, but it’s beautiful to finally see moments of genuine joy between them.

Since Queen’s Hope just came out a month ago, Brotherhood feels so much more impactful. Both books fill in so much of the blank spaces missing from Anakin and Padme’s relationship journey, making it feel authentic rather than one birthed from passion, fear, and chaos.

At the heart of this war story is the lesson of balance – between Anakin and Obi-Wan, between their roles as Jedi and generals, and the heavy scales carried by the governments and peoples of the Republic already exhausted by conflict.

And while the Clone Wars series filled in the years between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Brotherhood feels like an essential piece of storytelling I didn’t know I was missing. Like The Clone Wars, Brotherhood is both an epic war story and a touching character study – a riveting page-turner and one that offers some of the best characterizations of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi in all of Star Wars.

Brotherhood shows Anakin and Obi-Wan in their prime, adding depth to their arcs in the prequel movies as well as their legacies in the original trilogy films. It’s also just plain fun, perfectly paced, and is superbly written from start to finish.

Brotherhood isn’t just a tie-in or filler story for the Clone Wars, it’s essential reading for the prequel era.

Review (in French) can be read here : https://www.starwars-universe.com/actu-19041-critiques-de-brotherhood-de-mike-chen.html

This book was nothing short of dazzling. It really is one of the definitive experiences for both of its central characters. Mike Chen was able to synthesize a lot of the cinematic energy of the various Anakin & Obi-Wan portrayals with a tale that feels truly fresh & insightful. I adored how this feels like both a noir AND a war story, while also being an exploration of change. This is about two men, two friends, two brothers, realizing that things aren't the same anymore. It's so human. It has universal ideas at the forefront, and it MOVES like Star Wars. It's got that pulp serial pacing that I adore. I can't recommend it highly enough.

This book beautifully captures the dynamic between two of the most famous characters in modern storytelling and is guaranteed to please fans of the Star Wars prequels as well as fans of The Clone Wars TV series. A slightly longer review can be found linked below.

It's really hard to work with characters that have been covered almost ad nauseum in any franchise, but this novel did it incredibly well. Between the beautiful connections to Master and Apprentice, Queen's Hope, the Clone Wars, Dark Disciple, and the Revenge of the Sith novelization, to interesting new characterization for beloved characters, this novel felt like a breath of fresh air,

In the films, and even to an extent in the TV show, you only really get Anakin's POV, and getting Obi-Wan's POV as a young person struggling with changes in roles and entering another level of adulthood after struggling to raise a child when he was too young himself is so nice. It's a wonderful reminder of his humanity right before the show comes out. Truly my only real criticism was that I wish we'd seen more of Obi-Wan's POV of things that Anakin saw in a warped way - specifically about Mace Windu. Mace is often maligned by Star Wars fans and misunderstood, because he is often framed through Anakin's misguided POV, and I would've loved to see Obi-Wan's POV of certain moments with Mace, to offer a better picture. (This is my plug to read the Obi-Wan & Anakin comic, which covers this well!)

This novel did what all prequel era media does best - it makes the tragedy even sadder. The new characters were interesting and their deliberate parallels felt like they fit well with how Star Wars is always like poetry, rhyming, as George would say. The politics were incredibly relevant and delicately handled, which Star Wars novels don't always succeed at.

I know the author had so many limitations working with these huge legacy characters, and I think it's only other fault was how, since it was written and released before the Obi-Wan series, and before Filoni could finish his storylines with his Clone Wars characters like Ahsoka and the clones, some characters being off limits limited the story. Both Queen's Hope and this novel were set before the beginning of the Clone Wars show to avoid including Ahsoka, and in doing so covered a previously unseen transitional era in all these characters' lives, but her absence is really felt, although handled well with the foreshadowing. (Mike did his best with Satine as well - Mandalore is super off limits right now as they finish the Mandalorian, but he did his best to include Satine a lot, and I appreciated it!)

The lack of clones, however, really was a disappointment. The novel's central premise is Anakin and Obi-Wan figuring out what brotherhood means to them, and Obi-Wan realizing Qui-Gon was more like a father to both of them than he was a father to Anakin. I figured they would be parsing this out while also coming to terms with getting to know their clone commanders and battalions. For the clones, brotherhood is everything. In Queen's Hope it is briefly mentioned how Anakin relates to the clones and their view of the world in that way. It would have been interesting to see them navigate creating this brotherhood with each other as they learn about what it means to the clones, and develop different brotherhood with their clone commanders. Commander Cody especially is an underutilized character, and I would've loved to see more of him with Obi-Wan. Rex, like Ahsoka, is one of Filoni's probably off limits characters, but his brotherly relationship with Ahsoka and close partnership with Anakin seems like it would've fit well here. (In the Ahsoka walk-about arc and in the Ahsoka novel, she refers not just to her "brother", but to her "family." That includes Anakin and Obi-Wan, but also Rex!) How do the Jedi feel while creating these bonds at the beginning of the war? The author deftly skirted around this by showing that the official integration of the Jedi into the Galactic Army of the Republic wasn't until the end of the novel, but it definitely was a loss (that I still don't blame the author for).

I did appreciate, though, especially as a High Republic fan who enjoyed seeing how the Jedi all have different relationships with each other and with attachment, that in the absence of talking about clones, they focused on both their transitions as Jedi, and showing Jedi culture. Overall, this was a wonderful addition. And I loved finding out how Obi-Wan takes his coffee.

For all of its flaws, one of the things the "Star Wars" prequels consistently got right was the relationship between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. A relationship characterized by equal parts competition, respect, love, and irritation. Dave Filoni took the pieces of this relationship and delved deeper into them in "The Clone Wars," exploring how the duo goes from their thinly-veiled animosity in "Attack of the Clones" to their more brotherly camaraderie in "Revenge of the Sith." But how do they go from where "Attack of the Clones" ends to where "The Clone Wars" begins? It's a question that Mike Chen's novel, "Star Wars: Brotherhood," answers beautifully. Despite an initially slow start, "Star Wars: Brotherhood" deftly explores this period in Anakin and Obi-Wan's lives - the transition from Master/Apprentice to true partnership and brotherhood. And it's a wonderful, emotional read.

Shortly after the Clone Wars began at the Battle of Geonosis, an apparent terrorist attack rocks the neutral world of Cato Neimoidia. But with Cato Neimoidia being vital to the Trade Federation, both the Republic and the Separatists try to sway the tide of war in their favor. And Obi-Wan Kenobi finds himself in the center of the fray, tasked with traveling alone to Cato Neimoidia on a mission to uncover the forces behind the attack. But Count Dooku and the Separatists have sent their own emissary - the mysterious Asajj Ventress. And back on Coruscant, Anakin Skywalker grapples with one of his hardest assignments to date - wrangling a bunch of Jedi Younglings while his (former) Master risks it all to save the Galaxy. What results is a book that simultaneously explores the power of brotherhood, the danger of extremism, and the uncertainty of destiny.

Those who enjoy the more political aspects of the prequels will find a lot to love here. From the warring political machinations of Obi-Wan and the Neimoidian government to Asajj Ventress's not-so-subtle attempts to lure an ordinary Neimoidian guard to the brink of extremism, Mike Chen layers this book with enough intrigue to make even the best political thrillers nervous. But if you're looking for loads of "Clone Wars"-style action, you might be a bit disappointed. It takes a while for "Brotherhood"'s story to properly begin, with Chen luxuriating in the ability to carefully and masterfully seed all of the various threads. And while those initially disparate threads do eventually come together in an immensely satisfying climax, it can be a bit difficult to power through some of the earlier chapters.

Mike Chen's exquisite character work, however, easily helps draw readers into the story while he sets the plot up. His gift of embedding every member of his supporting cast with breathtaking amounts of depth is, perhaps, the most impressive part of the book. Each chapter of "Brotherhood" is told from a different character's point of view, with Chen shifting back and forth between a half dozen or so characters. And through these shifting viewpoints, he introduces readers to an uncertain Jedi youngling with an unusual connection to the force, a loyal member of the Neimoidian guard dedicated to following the truth wherever it leads, her apprentice who teeters on the edge of extremism, and Asajj Ventress, all too eager to exploit the situation however she can.

Each of these characters could easily be the primary focal point of an entire book. But the way Chen weaves their stories and points of view together with Anakin and Obi-Wan's leads to something far more engaging. A sprawling tale of political intrigue and imminent extremism - all wrapped around a cast of well-developed and captivating characters. It's a combination that feels perfect for a "Star Wars" book. And Chen brings it to life by giving each of these characters the care and time they deserve, inviting his readers to truly understand and sympathize with them. And it's that ability to truly relate to these characters, to understand their points of view, that makes "Brotherhood" such an effective read.

The stars of the book, of course, are Anakin and Obi-Wan. And longtime "Star Wars" fans will adore the way Chen develops them over the course of the book. The way they both finally learn to respect and trust each other's skills and points of view, the way Obi-Wan begins picking up on Anakin's increasingly passionate feelings, and the promise of these two finally forming the partnership - the brotherhood - we see them embody in "The Clone Wars" and "Revenge of the Sith." For fans of these characters, "Brotherhood" offers a feast of great character beats. The whole book just feels like the perfect bridge between "Attack of the Clones" and "The Clone Wars."

Throughout their interactions here, it's easy to see the beginnings of the arc that later plays out over the course of "The Clone Wars" and "Revenge of the Sith." An arc of friendship to brotherhood to betrayal. But for now, they're great friends, brothers, and partners. Chen offers a genuinely emotional take on their relationship, especially towards the end of the novel. You can feel his love for these characters, and for "Star Wars" in general, as he layers in all of these references to previous adventures and foreshadows the darkness yet to come (including some surprising and emotional references to the novelization of "Revenge of the Sith"). And as a fan myself, I can't overstate how joyous an experience reading a story like this centered around these two was.

At the end of the day, "Star Wars: Brotherhood" delivers an emotionally satisfying and frequently captivating tale of brotherhood, political intrigue, and dangerous extremism. Despite an initially slow beginning, Chen weaves one story after another into an explosively fun read. And his character work brings the whole thing full circle - especially for fans of Anakin and Obi-Wan. If you're looking for something to read in preparation for the upcoming "Obi-Wan Kenobi" show (or if you're just looking for a stellar "Star Wars" story), look no further than Mike Chen's "Star Wars: Brotherhood."

“Without context, facts are useless.” – Dexter Jettster, Brotherhood

There are several themes woven throughout the latest Star Wars novel: prejudices, mentorship, societal systems and participation therein. But this particular line appears to be the thesis of it all. It’s the driving force behind the entire plot. Everyone is racing to find, understand, or conceal the context.

Context, therefore is king, when reviewing Brotherhood. For example, I am a guest of RoguePod who has managed to bring up a particular character every time I have been invited on. That context is important. Because, even though I did my best to approach this book on its own merits, my efforts were doomed the moment author Mike Chen began teasing the appearance of said particular character.

After the first tease, I began religiously watching any updates that Chen posted on his Twitter about Brotherhood. And he has not been shy about his influences. I knew to expect elements of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaä, Matthew Stovers Revenge of the Sith novelization, and E. K. Johnston’s Queen’s Hope. The can was open, and there was no stuffing the worms back in, and that is how that metaphor works thank you.

In short, thanks to a singular tease about a single character, I could not approach this book outside of the context Chen himself provided. In addition to the titles listed above, I was also keenly aware of other works with which Brotherhood was intersecting.

At first, I was rather frustrated with myself, that I was unable to approach or review Brotherhood solely on its own merit. When I took a moment to let my thoughts percolate, however, I considered the even broader context: Star Wars. Knowing the context of Star Wars, knowing the various influences from which George Lucas pulled, doesn’t lessen A New Hope as a story. It just provides a different lens through which to view it. Furthermore, being a part of the Star Wars franchise actively requires Brotherhood be in dialogue with other entries.

Beyond the obvious chronology and recurring characters, the strongest dialogue I saw was specifically with the stereotypes that many alien species within Star Wars can fall into. As stated by RoguePod many a time: the way that aliens are othered in Star Wars often reflects real-life racism, especially when the humans are a majority white cast. Neimoidians especially have had a very specific, and very racist, stereotype associated with them since their introduction in The Phantom Menace. And Chen deliberately brings Brotherhood into dialogue with it.

It’s not just a meta commentary, clumsily overlaid on top of the story. Instead, like the thesis of “context,” it is baked into character motivations and permeates every important conversation. The Neimoidians, and how the in-universe galaxy is determined to view them only through a specific stereotype, is the emotional core of the novel. It’s what the villains seek to weaponize, the Jedi seek to understand, and the two main Neimoidian characters seek to express. And it culminates in a scene that is straight-up Shakespearean in nature (Julius Caesar fans, keep a weather eye).

Without the context of Star Wars, this could feel like simply another scifi book where aliens replace marginalized groups to make white people like me more comfortable with the commentary. Within the context of Star Wars, the commentary has teeth. Brotherhood demands that its own franchise take a look at itself and the messages it spreads.

On the reverse side of this conversation: knowing the context of a work doesn’t automatically make it good. Knowing that a story is a reference to Kurosawa doesn’t automatically elevate that story to the same level. Fortunately, Chen shows significant craftmanship in his writing. The various themes mentioned before weave through one another, as do Chen’s stated influences, each one reinforcing the next.

For example, the theme of mentorship consistently questions how the characters do or do not participate in societal systems. Newcomer Mill Alibeth puts Anakin into a mentorship role that questions Jedi participation in the war with her Nausicaä-influenced pacifism. Our two main Neimoidians – royal guard Ruug Quarnom and cadet Ketar Nor – are constantly discussing the best way to help their people within the galaxy’s growing division. Through Ruug’s attempts at mentoring Ketar, we are prompted with critical questions: Is there any true choice of neutrality within this system created by the Separatists and the Republic? Or is participation in one side or the other unavoidable?

Even what initially felt to me as a cute reference to Satine Kryze, a spot of fanservice for Obi-Wan fans, wound its way back. By the end, Chen bringing in the context of Mandalore’s neutrality – that which effectively held off Palpatine’s complete galactic takeover for a time – forced me to reflect on the final decisions of each of our viewpoint characters.

Chen’s writing finesse does not stop at his ability to weave big-picture ideas. Sometimes authors that are skilled at symbolism and themes remain at arms-length to the messy individuals of their story. Taking that omniscient third-person view so that the various threads of the thematic tapestry are shown clearly. Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization, one of Brotherhood’s influences, uses this angle.

Even deep-dives into a character’s emotion Stover writes in a bardic fashion, as someone retelling a myth by a tavern fire. The tale already done, the tragedy already wrote, and we but the distant audience watching it go up in flames. Stover puts the symbolism and themes at the forefront, the characters artistically just out of reach.

Brotherhood, by contrast, drops us into the shoes of our characters. The themes and symbolism weave around them not as a distant lesson to a distant audience, but as something tangible to their present circumstances. Something the characters question and grapple with.

A great example of this is the sun dragon tale. Created in Stover’s work as mythical symbolism for Anakin, Chen guides it down into something personal. Anakin spends a lot of time reflecting on this tale that his mother told him, and it informs the way he engages with Mill, passing along Shmi’s mentorship.

Chen’s symbolism draws us closer to the characters because they too are following the thematic threads that are often reserved for the readers alone to see. And what a treat that is, because Brotherhood portrays the characters we know with dangerous accuracy. Descriptions of Dexter Jettster repeatedly took me out.

There are, of course, characters we already know. Our three big names are Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ventress. These are the characters that were marketed to us, the reasons many of us picked up this book. And I am pleased to say that Chen delivers on each of them.

But Chen’s original characters absolutely deserve their own mention. Mill and Ketar manage to be foils and commentary on Anakin while still being full-formed in and of themselves. But out of all the characters, the standout was truly Ruug Quarnom.

This bluntly complex Neimoidian manages to steal every scene she’s in, even when sharing the stage with the big shots like Obi-Wan and Ventress. It’s through her eyes that we get to see Neimoidians in a new and better light, but not by way of being a pure cinnamon roll, too good for the galaxy. Ruug is flawed, trying to make the best choices in a galaxy giving her the worst options, and fully aware that her decisions have consequences. And often bloody consequences at that. She also gets the honor of Obi-Wan comparing her favorably to an old friend.

I can’t be too specific in my praise of Ruug, for the sake of spoilers, but if Ketar and Mill are foils to Anakin, Ruug is Obi-Wan’s, and the pay-off took the air out of my lungs. Even knowing the context of her influence (that Deep Space Nine intersection), she never felt like a cheap knock-off of Obi-Wan or Kira Nerys.

Rather, Ruug is the most fully realized characters in the entire novel. She easily entered the top three of my favorite ladies in all of Star Wars and is worth the price of admission alone. Chen has spoken more than once on Twitter that he would like to explore her life further, and I personally would love to spend more time with Ruug Quarnom.

Brotherhood by Mike Chen is a worthwhile entry in the dialogue Star Wars is continually having with itself, bringing much needed context to bear. Brotherhood is also a skilled tapestry of themes worth exploration. Brotherhood is also simply fun: a fun adventure with engaging characters. Highly recommended.

https://roguepodron.com/2022/05/10/context-is-king-and-dex-is-hot-in-mike-chens-brotherhood-a-guest-review/

As the Clone Wars begin, Obi-Wan Kenobi and newly knighted Jedi Anakin Skywalker redefine their relationship from master and apprentice to brothers. Mike Chen hits us with surprising insight into Kenobi and Skywalker and the changes they face as the Jedi prepare for war.

From mullets, to overly curious younglings this book has it all!

In all honesty, I was not as excited about this book as I should have been and it definitely blew away any expectations I had. Mike Chen gifted us with the introspective, complicated, and thoughtful relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan as they both grew into their new relationship. Not to mention the best introduction to our favorite twin lightsaber wielder Ventress herself! The new characters are interesting and well done. From a soldier who’s seen too much, to a youngling who feels lost in the Force. The story has some fun moments and some great mystery aspects that kept me invested. There were plenty of interesting nods to both canon and legends material that I really enjoyed! In addition to one particular cameo that I was ENTHRALLED to see!.

This is a must-read for every Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars fan out there! The prequel vibes are strong and the character dynamics are totally wizard.

Sal P.

“Maybe I’ll just grow it out to annoy you. Have you seen how Obi-Wan’s hair flows in the back?”

Anakin Skywalker

Brotherhood is de eerste roman van de hand van Mike Chen, eerder schreef hij al wel het korte verhaal Disturbance in de From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back anthologie. Het verhaal in Brotherhood speelt zich vlak na Attack of the Clones en Queen’s Hope af.

De oorlog is net begonnen, de Jedi hebben een nieuwe taak als leiders van het nieuwe leger van de Republic. Obi-Wan Kenobi heeft tijdelijk plaats genomen in de Jedi Council, Anakin is gepromoveerd naar Jedi Knight, en de twee moeten een nieuwe balans in hun relatie zien te vinden. Wanneer een terroristische aanslag een stad op het neutrale Cato Neimoidia verwoest en de Republic hier de schuld van krijgt reist Obi-Wan naar de planeet af om uit te zoeken wie er werkelijk achter de aanslag zit. Ja, dat lees je goed, we komen eindelijk te weten wat er op Cato Neimoidia gebeurt is dat volgens Obi-Wan ”niet telde” als een keer dat Anakin zijn leven gered zou hebben.

Obi-Wan reist in zijn eentje af naar de planeet om de plek van de aanslag te onderzoeken, terwijl een afgezant van Count Dooku en de Confederacy of Independent Systems het onderzoek zal waarnemen. Zo kunnen de regering van Cato Neimoidia en de Trade Federation er zeker van zijn dat de onderste steen boven zal komen en de juiste partij zal boeten voor deze gruwelijke daad.

Ondertussen heeft Anakin zijn eigen problemen, als kersverse Jedi Knight en echtgenoot is zijn leven compleet veranderd. In het begin van het boek spendeert hij in het geheim wat tijd met Padmé, de twee genieten van elkaar en Chen laat veel meer chemie tussen de twee zien dan we de films en eerdere boeken gedaan hebben. De relatie tussen die twee is na het lezen van Brotherhood voor mij een stuk realistischer. Maar lang kunnen de twee niet van elkaar genieten, beiden moeten weer aan het werk. Voor Anakin betekent dat dat hij met een groep Younglings richting het front vertrekt om humanitaire hulp te bieden. Nu de Jedi een belangrijke rol in de oorlog gaan spelen vinden ze het belangrijk dat zelfs de Younglings al – op zo veilig mogelijke manier – met de oorlog in aanraking komen, en een hulpmissie is daar uitstekend geschikt voor. Maar wanneer Obi-Wan op Cato Neimoidia in de problemen komt schiet Anakin, samen met Youngling Mill Alibeth, te hulp.

Tot dusver hebben we Neimoidians vooral gezien als leden van de Trade Federation, maar in Brotherhood zien we ze in een compleet nieuw daglicht. Chen geeft het ras en de planeet een flinke lading diepgang en geschiedenis waardoor Nute Gunray niet meer het eerste is dat in mijn gedachten omhoog komt bij het horen van de naam ’Neimoidian’.

In Brotherhood zijn we eindelijk ook getuigen van de eerste ontmoeting tussen Obi-Wan en Asajj Ventress. Zij is de afgezant van Dooku die het onderzoek van Obi-Wan, zogezegd, overziet om er zeker van te zijn dat hij geen valse bewijzen fabriceert die de Seperatists zouden aanwijzen als de schuldige partij. Het is altijd een genot om Obi-Wan en Ventress tegenover elkaar te zien, en ik heb dan ook met smart op deze eerste ontmoeting tussen de twee gewacht.

Chen is overduidelijk een fan en een schrijver met oog voor detail, het boek zit boordevol kleine, maar logische, verwijzingen naar bekende personages als Kitster en droid modellen als de HK assasin droids uit (Knights of) the Old Republic. Ook iedereens favoriete diner eigenaar, Dexter Jettster, heeft een rol, en Chen licht zelfs een tipje van de sluier op over de geschiedenis tussen Dex en Obi-Wan. De twee zijn blijkbaar al sinds hun jonge jaren bevriend.

Chen zorgt verder ook voor een hoop momentjes die de personages wat realistischer maken. Zo heeft Anakin problemen met het wennen aan zijn nieuwe, mechanische, arm. Obi-Wan twijfelt heel erg of hij wel goed genoeg is om onderdeel van de Jedi Council te zijn. En kleine momenten zoals Obi-Wan die bij het afweren van blaster bolts die bolts heel bewust naar plekken richt waar ze niemand kwaad kunnen doen geven de personages het realisme dat het geheel een wat completer gevoel geeft.

Youngling Mill is een interessant nieuw personage met empathische gaven, zoals we ook bij Imri zagen in The High Republic. Mill gaat met Anakin mee en de twee ontwikkelen al snel een band en manier van samenwerken die mening lezer aan Ahsoka zal doen denken. De mogelijkheid dat Mill Anakin’s padawan zou kunnen worden wordt op een geloofwaardige manier verhinderd, maar het voelt af en toe wel alsof Mill een Ahsoka stand-in was. Gelukkig is ze als personage wel ver genoeg uitgediept dat je er als lezer een band mee krijgt en ik zou het niet erg vinden haar in latere verhalen terug te zien. Ook zou ik het overigens niet erg vinden als Chen de kans zou krijgen een Anakin en Ahsoka verhaal te schrijven.

De bijna dertien uur durende audio versie van het boek is ingesproken door Jonathan Davis. Davis heeft wat mij betreft altijd een prima voorleesstem, zijn tempo en intonatie zorgen ervoor dat je makkelijk in het verhaal meegesleept wordt, en uiteraard helpt een flinke dosis John Williams muziek daar ook zeker bij. Het boek is opgedeeld in 54 hoofdstukken welke allemaal vanuit het oogpunt van één personage verteld worden. De hoofdstukken duren gemiddeld zo’n 10 minuten, wat het boek uitermate geschikt maakt om even tussen andere activiteiten door te luisteren.

Brotherhood weet uitstekend de prequel sfeer te grijpen, ik twijfelde er geen moment aan dat dit zich direct na Attack of the Clones afspeelde. Het is een verhaal dat uitstekend laat zien wie Obi-Wan is en dat maakt het denk ik ook een prima boek om je voor te berijden op de Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ serie die later deze maand van start gaat.

"Ninth time. That business on Cato Neimoidia doesn't - doesn't count." -- Obi Wan Kenobi



When writing a tale from a one liner or an easter egg in a story, it always comes with risk. The question that one must evaluate is "Is it a story worth being told?". It is not an easy question to answer. Often times we deal with the over-saturation of things like this being made in a story without the true evaluation of whether it is a story worth being told. Then, when one makes the determination that it is a story that is worth being told, there has to be a story that fits. Almost like a piece of a puzzle that must fit just right on all four side.

I am happy to say that Brotherhood is that puzzle piece that slides gently and properly into the overarching puzzle that is Star Wars canon. It is able to take things in a logical sense that I didn't expect to fit so well.

I believe we can all believe that Anakin's dialogue in Attack of the Clones can be clunky at times. That awkward sand line that is buried in most Star Wars fans minds. Yet, where other writers have shied away from dealing with the reality that was Attack of the Clones, Chen embraces the movie. Everything good and bad about it. Anakin acknowledges the cringiness of his words (bonus points for getting the word "cringed" in this book, not only once, but twice, a word I never thought I'd see in a Star Wars book with Anakin).

Ever wonder how Jedi officially became generals in the Clone Wars? Or why Anakin and Obi Wan sometimes wear armor in The Clone Wars? Brotherhood gives us the answer to those questions. But Brotherhood doesn't just deal with the small things, but also the larger things. When starting this story, I went to it thinking that it would just provide some answers about what went down on Cato Neimoidia. I am going to tread lightly about what I reveal, as I want to keep spoilers light, but this whole journey plays a surprisingly key part in that transition we see in characters like Obi Wan and Anakin from Attack of the Clones, to The Clone Wars, and then to Revenge of the Sith.

It is things like this that make this book thrive. Its naturalness. The way it doesn't shy away from the hard things of this era, or the things that might make a writer walk around in circles just to nail the logic. Chen deserves all the applause for this, as he solves each of these things in a way that feels logical, that fits the story. He does not not shy away from it, nor chose the cheap way out when it comes to moments listed above, and others littered throughout the book.

Brotherhood embraces this Star Wars era thoroughly, embracing the humanity of the characters which in the end, makes this a beautifully human Star Wars story and one of the best Star Wars novels in recent years.

With the prequel era as my favourite Star Wars era, and Obi-Wan Kenobi as my all-time favourite character, it’s been something of an interesting experience this year. Even with the evidence right in front of me, I have a hard time believing that this is actually happening. I’m actually getting new stories with my fave.

This sentiment of “I can’t believe this is real” carried me right through Mike Chen’s Brotherhood, and I mean that in the best way possible.

The story, which details “that business on Cato Nemoidia” that Obi-Wan refers to in Revenge of the Sith is the story of Obi-Wan and the newly-knighted Anakin Skywalker right on the verge of becoming the men we see in The Clone Wars. The truth of the war, and their role in it, hasn’t fully settled on them yet, and they are faced with trying to solve new problems with old solutions.

An explosion on Cato Nemoidia separates the dynamic duo of Kenobi and Skywalker, as the former is sent to investigate on behalf of the Republic and the latter is sent on a separate mission accompanied by a squad of Clone Troopers and a group of Jedi Initiates. When word covertly reaches Anakin that Obi-Wan’s mission has been compromised, and with no other way to alert help, he charges in to save his former master, accompanied by empathetic initiate Mill.

If ever there was a prequel-era book that fully grasps who these two men are to each other and to those around them, it’s Brotherhood. Their dynamic felt so organic, and so familiar. Chen is a writer who absolutely understands Anakin and Obi-Wan. He manages to balance them out, without ever coming down on the side of which one is the more “correct” Jedi. In his hands, there is no judgement call to make. Both are doing the best they can, and doing what they think is right within the parameters the galaxy has set for them.

Though the narration is, in Chen’s own words, a tight third person, it never once feels limited in scope. The back and forth between Obi-Wan and Anakin’s points of view is occasionally peppered with narration from other characters — Mill, Nemoidian guard Ruug, and even badass Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress herself — to fill in the narrative gaps ensuring that the reader always has the fullest picture of what is going on.

Though large interconnected stories can sometimes suffer for trying to connect too much to their one little piece of the narrative — or in some cases, not connect enough — Chen balances this extraordinarily well.

Where this happens specifically is in bridging the gap between Obi-Wan and Anakin’s live action appearances and their animated ones. Though we as viewers understand the connection simply by virtue of their being the same characters, Chen takes the time to weave the strands of the two portrayals together, showing that one version of them simply does not exist without the other.

As a final note, an aspect of the novel that truly resonated with me was the depiction of romance. Both new love and lost love were given their due here, and were made unambiguous on the page. Though Obi-Wan and Satine Kryze, Duchess of Mandalore never actually speak or interact, it is made obvious enough that the romance they shared in their youth has stayed with Obi-Wan still, and isn’t brushed aside in a quippy one-liner, but shown to be the integral part of his character that such early experiences tend to be.

And then there is Anakin and Padmé, the newly-married forbidden love story that launched an entire saga. Though they do not spend all that much time together, what scenes we do get of them fit so naturally with where we last saw them in Attack of the Clones. Their passion for one another is never in doubt. Their affections, their hopes and dreams for the future, are not glossed over, but given the full weight of the romance it is, while letting the undercurrent on impending tragedy seem like the tragedy it is.

It’s a common refrain I hear these days, that we are in a prequels renaissance. If this is a sign of things to come, if the stories my generation grew up with are being treated with such respect and seriousness, while keeping the humour and heart that made us love them in the first place, then I would say the prequel kids like myself are poised to come out on top.

Star Wars: Brotherhood is out May 10, 2022. Special thanks to Del Rey for an advance copy for review purposes.

May is the month of Obi-Wan Kenobi and it is certainly kicking off with a bang.

Well, quite literally. Mike Chen’s Star Wars: Brotherhood, the latest adult novel from Del Rey, propels us right into that "business on Cato Neimoidia” at the onset of the Clone Wars when an explosion devastates the Neimoidians’ capital city. It's a story that’s been seventeen years in the making since its brief mention in Revenge of the Sith, and the wait has definitely paid off.

This isn’t your average Star Wars action-adventure story that just runs through the motions and calls it a day. Brotherhood exposes the beating heart that inextricably links Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi together. As the age of heroes begins, Chen doesn’t just scratch beneath the surface but instead takes a pickaxe to it and mines for the richest gold: it’s a story that bears the weight of two mourning souls; it’s a political thriller that challenges what happens when extremism is left unchecked; it’s a mystery shrouded by the ever-growing presence of the Dark Side; and it’s a story that faces the harsh ideological truths of wartime as the Jedi Order moves beyond its original peacekeeping edicts.

Can you tell I love this book yet?

This is Mike Chen’s second time writing in a galaxy far, far away — he previously penned the Palpatine-centric story “Disturbance” in From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (2020) — and he once again proves he is someone Lucasfilm Publishing should work with more often. Chen is a prequel-era fan through and through and you can feel that love oozing off the page, whether it’s the subtle nods to the Clone Wars micro-series or the heavy influence of Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization, one of Chen’s favorite works that he has paid homage to in all of his Star Wars writing thus far.

One aspect of the book that immediately stood out is how it somewhat blurs the lines between where Attack of the Clones ends and Brotherhood begins. I started this right after an Episode II rewatch and it felt as if I were continuing where George Lucas left off in 2002. In many ways, Brotherhood is a direct-sequel that recontextualizes the beginning of the Clone Wars and shows how the Republic is reaping what it sowed, both politically and morally, after approving the use of a clone army.

All this to say, I couldn’t have timed my reading experience better and I’d strongly recommend revisiting the film before diving into Brotherhood to heighten your appreciation of it.

As the Republic and the Jedi Order face a new reality, so do our heroes. Brotherhood explores Anakin’s graduation from Padawan to Knight as well as his new responsibilities of being a husband — if you’re looking for some extremely wholesome “Anidala” moments, you came to the right place. Chen puts Anakin’s intense passion for people he loves most on full display while also allowing him plenty of room to grow.

Through Anakin’s mentorship of Mill Alibeth, an original character who has a compelling arc of her own, you start to see him forming the leadership qualities that he’ll need to eventually take on his own Padawan. This working partnership, along with the trustworthy R2-D2, is easily one of the most, if not the most, compelling parts of the novel and illustrates Anakin in such a fresh and respectable light.

Opposite of Anakin, Obi-Wan is facing struggles of his own as he is sent to uncover the truth behind the Cato Neimoidia bombings in the hopes of deescalating the war. Despite dealing with a very precarious situation on a divided homeworld, he still finds enough time to sit with his thoughts. He ponders his evolving and increasingly equal-footed relationship with Anakin while also coming to terms with his own insecurities after filling in a recently-vacated spot on the Jedi Council.

Yes, you heard that correctly: Obi-Wan has imposter syndrome! We love a relatable king!

Brotherhood also adds a confounding variable in the form of the ever-elusive Asajj Ventress, who goes toe-to-toe with Obi-Wan during his time on Cato Neimoidia. Although Asajj is familiar to fans who’ve watched several seasons of The Clone Wars, Chen does a great job of establishing the character for those without that context. It becomes wildly fun to watch Obi-Wan and Asajj play coy with each other amidst the backdrop of a high-stakes investigation. She represents the many unique and dangerous challenges in the war ahead, and I’m thrilled that Chen included her in-universe introduction.

Between the Attack of the Clones 20th anniversary and the upcoming premiere of the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series, it feels like an incredible time to be a Star Wars fan. Adding Brotherhood into the mix only amplifies the excitement and creates the perfect celebratory storm. Brotherhood is Mike Chen’s love letter to the prequel era and it captivated me on an intellectual level while providing a highly entertaining Star Wars story. It truly is a must-read that you can’t ask much else from.

Turns out that time on Cato Neimodia did count for something really special.