(4.5 rounded up)

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. Kiersten White delivered the Star Wars story we all needed right now! Padawan follows a young, anxious Obi-Wan who is questioning his place in the Jedi Order and his abilities. When he recklessly takes off on a solo mission, he finds a planet that is both beautiful and terrifying, with some very interesting characters living there. I really enjoyed Obi-Wan's personal journey in this book and think young readers will relate to his questioning of his place in the world, his relationships, his talents, and his path in the world. At times the pacing was a bit slow (I could see how some readers might struggle with this), as he works through his thoughts and feelings. But overall, I think it will appeal to teens who are also trying to figure out how to navigate this crazy world we live in. I also really enjoyed the lessons of being connected to the planet and giving back as much as we take from it. There are a lot of positive things to be taken from this story. White also perfectly captured Obi-Wan's voice (and sass), which I think Star Wars fans will really enjoy.

Thjis book is a fun adventure following Obi Wan's days as a Padawan. Seeing more of the inner workings of the Jedi order before the events of Episode 1 is fantastic. It's also nice to see glipses into why Obi Wan trained Anakin the way that he did and how Qui Gon's teachings were passed down.

Star Wars books are always a good idea.

Let me explain.

I keep a special section in the library dedicated to Star Wars. And these books are always checked out. The newest ones always have a wait list. But even the oldest (non-canon) are frequently checked out.

Why? Partly because the universe has so much to offer! Partly because the stories are timeless. And partly because any fan will be able to find themselves in the story.

And partly because, let's be honest, the franchise keeps putting out new things - of quality. Here's to the fans who make my job as a librarian so much fun!

By its very nature, Padawan was going to be a hit with me. Kiersten White’s addition to the Star Wars canon - a young adult novel about the exploits of a teenage Obi-Wan Kenobi - was enticing to me on that premise alone.

What I was not expecting, however, was for this to serve as not only a satisfying story for Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, in terms of his arc, his growth, and certain parts of his personality that until now felt only like headcanon, but also for Padawan to so effectively tie together aspects of Legends and the finest of Star Wars publishing in a way that makes a grand tapestry of the whole thing.

Padawan follows 16-year old Obi-Wan Kenobi struggling to make sense of both his Jedi training and his master Qui-Gon Jinn. If you’re like me and you rabidly consume anything about Obi-Wan then you know that these issues with Qui-Gon won’t get resolved until Claudia Gray’s Master and Apprentice. But getting to that point is a journey, not a destination, and what Kiersten White has done is delivered one hell of a journey for my favourite Jedi.

Frustrated with the fact that all his friends get to do cool stuff while he’s stuck at the temple meditating with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan takes the opportunity to propose an exploratory mission to an uncharted world about which they do not have much information save preliminary notes from a long-gone Jedi named Orla Jareni. While Qui-Gon initially approves, when the day comes he doesn’t show up at the scheduled departure time, prompting Obi-Wan to rebel and just go on without him.

When he arrives on the planet, he discovers It is largely uninhabited, save for a group of youths who exhibit some very Force-like abilities. Reluctant to return to the Temple where he feels like there isn’t a place for him, Obi-Wan decides to stick around a little longer, but naturally discovers things are not as they seem.

The brilliance of Padawan cannot be overstated. From a storytelling tapestry point of view, it builds on just the right stories to both further the plot and to make the world feel richer. The reference to Orla Jareni (and Cohmac Vitus), for instance, was a welcome and very surprising link to Star Wars: The High Republic. It’s certainly not the first reference we’ve gotten to it in other media, but on a personal level, I had always wondered how much Obi-Wan knew about these Jedi who came before.

Beyond the High Republic the adventure as a whole felt so reminiscent of the Jedi Apprentice series, which operated very much on a planet-and-conflict-of-the-week format. Though the adventure ended when the book did, the lesson Obi-Wan derived from it stuck with him, and I can’t help but feel this adventure helps turn him into the young man who would finally manage to find some common ground with his master in a years time — and with his own Padawan in 10 years time.

But then there is Obi-Wan himself. In an interview, White said that the heart of Obi-Wan is that he cares so, so much and I could not have put it better myself. Beneath the devotion to the Jedi order and a certain way of life, Obi-Wan is all heart. He cares about his friends, about his Order, and he even cares about the well-being of strangers who would rather have nothing to do with him. Much of what makes him who he is remains in the periphery of the current canon. It’s there if you want to see it, but can easily be glossed over if you don’t. But with Padawan, Kiersten White has brought one of Star Wars’ oldest characters to the forefront and given him the introspective coming-of-age story he truly deserves. You couldn’t miss what makes Obi-Wan such an incredible character if you tried. I normally balk at definitive rankings, but it’s safe to say Padawan now sits in the top 3 of my favourite Star Wars books of all time.

Padawan is out July 26. Special thanks to Disney Books for the advance copy for review purposes.

"Padawan" by Kiersten White is a great read. It seems to fill in Luke's first meeting with Yoda:

Yoda: I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience.
Ben's Voice: He will learn patience.
Yoda: Hmmm. Much anger in him, like his father.
Ben's Voice: Was I any different when you taught me?
Yoda: Hah. He is not ready.
Luke: Yoda! I am ready. I... Ben! I can be a Jedi. Ben, tell him I'm ready.

Any fan of the series will love how this book shows a rash, impatient young Obi-Wan as a padawan. It is a true coming of age story where Obi-Wan must learn to come into his own and solve problems like a Jedi. White does a great job capturing the annoyance of adolescence and developing the character that so many love.

I’m always a fan of stories that provide more background for a well-known character, especially when those stories don’t conflict with the established history. Padawan is such a tale, providing a fun, intriguing, and insightful adventure for the beloved Obi-Wan Kenobi.

As the title suggests, Obi-Wan is still a padawan at the time this story is told, and he’s struggling to connect with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, and with the Force itself. Obi-Wan is wondering if he’s meant to be a Jedi at all, and when rumors begin to circulate that Qui-Gon is considering leaving the Jedi order, Obi-Wan panics. That panic incites a bit of rebellion, and the young padawan finds himself on a distant and dangerous planet with no way to contact the Jedi Temple.

He does not, however, find himself alone. In addition to a cadre of creatures seemingly bent on attacking him, Obi-Wan finds a group of teenagers and children left alone on the planet of Lenahra. All the children seem to be able to use the Force, but Obi-Wan soon discovers the truth behind the children’s’ powers, the planetary attacks, and the true motives of a figure from the children’s past.

White’s addition to the Star Wars canon is a fun read. Obi-Wan is one of my favorite Star Wars characters, so I enjoyed having him as the main character. I also really enjoyed a look at this younger, less self-assured version of him, and it’s easy to see how his experience throughout the book helped him develop into the Jedi Master we’re familiar with. The Lenahrans are motley little crew, but they’re well developed, and their fight for survival keeps the story moving.

The planet of Lenahra made for a fantastical setting, and I loved the parallels between the things seen on the planet and the Force. These parallels help Obi-Wan work through his inner turmoil and eventually find his way back to the Force and his calling. I also enjoyed seeing the Jedi temple and especially the hidden nook that starts Obi-Wan on his journey. The easter eggs scattered throughout the story were great; my favorite was the pseudo-cameo of Orla Jareni, who made her appearance in the High Republic arc.

All in all, Padawan is a great addition to the Star Wars universe. It’s geared more towards younger readers, but fans of all ages will enjoy Obi-Wan’s backstory, the aforementioned easter eggs, the action, and the overarching themes of found family and finding your purpose.

The writing was definitely rough around the edges and I wasn’t the target audience so I couldn’t really get into the story.

Thanks to Disney-Lucasfilm Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. As always, this review is spoiler-free.

All 16-year-old Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi wants is perfection. To be the perfect student to his Master Qui-Gon Jinn. To be the perfect friend to his fellow Padawans. To perfectly grasp all concepts of the Force. As anyone who’s ever been a teenager knows, life is anything but perfect and Kiersten White’s young adult novel, Padawan, shows how Obi-Wan Kenobi learned this lesson which sets him on the path to his future.

Adolescent Kenobi is struggling at this point in his Jedi Training. His cadre of friends is morphing into something he isn’t able to connect with as easily as when they were younglings. He thought that once he became an actual Padawan, things would get better, but the fact that Yoda appointed him to Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn doesn’t sit well - did Qui-Gon actually even want him? Plus all his training is taken up by meditation, something he still can’t quite figure out. Kenobi is basically being any 16-year-old who’s ever existed, emo to the core. During a thoughtful wander of the Jedi Temple one day, Kenobi stumbles upon a long lost message from a pair of Jedi from the past (High Republic fans take note!) and triggers a mission to the mysterious planet Lenahra. To Obi-Wan’s surprise, Qui-Gon actually approves of this last minute trip but come time to takeoff is nowhere to be found. Kenobi bravely/foolishly decides to carry on solo, throwing caution to the wind in exchange for the knowledge he feels this quest could bring.

Obi-Wan’s trip to Lenahra proves to be quite the adventure. The planet exists on no maps, is surrounded by a strange - almost sentient - asteroid belt, has gorgeous flora and fauna, and is populated by youngsters who seem to wield the Force the same way Jedi do. As Kenobi gets to know the planet and its inhabitants, he ends up with more than he bargained for; an easy fact-finding mission this is not. His time on Lenahra exposes him to the differences of others and forces him to think hard about his choice to remain a Padawan. Like a small town kid heading off to college, Kenobi is exposed to another world (quite literally) and he’s changed forever by it. As the mysteries of the planet and its inhabitants are unveiled, Kenobi must take all that he’s learned and decide who he really wants to be.

Author Kiersten White handles teenage Kenobi beautifully, emotions and all. The Star Wars universe has yet to explore this portion of the Jedi Master’s history and White is the perfect author for a YA Kenobi novel. Her writing is the perfect balance of introspection and plot development, which made for a book I didn’t want to put down. White’s made it clear that she studied Claudia Gray’s Master & Apprentice in the development and writing of Padawan, and it definitely shows. She does a great job of showing the rocky nature of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s early years and how they each are still growing, all while staying true to the nature of these two much beloved characters. Kiersten White is an exciting addition to the Star Wars authors club, I hope we get more from her in the future!

The fact that the majority of the book takes place on a brand new planet with new characters strongly works in Padawan’s favor. Obviously Star Wars fans know where Obi-Wan’s life takes him, but removing him from Coruscant and the Jedi was a smart move which kept the plot intriguing the entire way through. The book also smartly sprinkles in some easter eggs and cameos that will definitely have the Star Wars fandom buzzing!

I never really dwell on cover art in my book reviews, not for any reason in particular, however, artist Charlie Bowater’s Padawan cover is so awesome I have to give it some praise. Bowater’s take on teenage Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi is downright swoon-worthy; that blue-eyes stare would make even a bantha blush! Bowater is a British illustrator and concept artist and can be found on Twitter and Instagram, she’s definitely worth checking out if you’re an illustration art fan like me.

The Year of Obi-Wan has another hit on its hands, I really enjoyed Padawan and give it 4 stars. Highly recommend!

Young Obi-Wan is a character I think we could do with more of. An aspect of his life in which we know very little of. That being said, when the initial premise of this book came out, I was nervous. It was a young Obi-Wan book that had a premise oddly enough seeming like an ode to Lord of the Flies, and with the premise of a story without Qui-Gon Jinn. Neither of these elements had me particularly excited for this. In fact, I was ready to dislike this book. Kiersten White’s story here left me pleasantly surprised.

Obi-Wan is like your typical teenager. He is eager, probably a bit too much. Reactionary, a far reach from the thoughtful Obi-Wan we got in the latter two movies in the prequels, and accompanying Star Wars media. He is also full of doubt. Part of that journey is exploring that needling doubt in him. Whether he is good enough to be a Jedi? Whether he is good enough to save someone? Whether he is good enough to be Qui-Gon Jinn’s padawan. Further fueled by the fire of a Count Dooku visiting the temple, and seeing Qui-Gon. All this plays in Obi-Wan’s mind, that Qui-Gon might join Dooku in the Lost Twenty, and that it is his fault for being a failure of a Padawan. Ultimately, this book is a journey for Obi-Wan to the Obi-Wan we know from a majority of Star Wars media. White crafted a journey that takes him to that place, or at least a story that nudges him there.

That is not to say the book is without faults. It does drag a bit. I feel like there was way too much back and forth going on between Obi-Wan and the people who were staying on the planet, Lenahra. It felt like the same stuff got repeated, just with different words and different reactions. That withstanding, it did have a nice climax and it didn’t really detract from the book being good. Many books are like that and some love that. I personally do not, but to each their own.

Also, for any High Republic fans, I suggest you read this book as it will have a nice few surprises in store for you. I know I was shocked at them all.

Overall, I am giving this book four stars out of five. The journey of Obi-Wan is at the very core of this story, and that shines. Even if it falters in the middle, it still comes out the other end relatively unscathed, if you have the patience to withstand it.

An adventurous romp on the younger side of YA. I appreciated the book's look at a whiny teenage Obi-Wan while still keeping him consistent with the man he will one day be. Plot is pretty predictable but the supporting cast is fun and carry the novel in their own right. A great choice for those ready to move out of MG and into the YA section.

Star Wars Padawan by Kiersten White offers a good science fiction tale.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the fact that it doesn't attempt to upend Star Wars cabin or give us the "everything you think you know--is wrong," line.
it is a good story deftly told and looks at Obi-wan in his days as a young Padawan under Qi-Gon. It explores the fact that children who can connect with the force are taken from families at a very young age and trained in the Jedi Temple. It explores family and siblings, living up to the expectations of others and ourselves.

The story itself is described "Angered by his master's abandonment, Obi-Wan sets out on the mission alone, determined to prove himself. On a mysterious planet he encounters a pack of feral, Force-wielding teens who seem to be the planet's only inhabitants. As he experiences wild freedom with them and wonders if this isn’t the life he was meant for, Obi-Wan can’t escape the nagging sense that something is wrong with the Force there." And it is a fun and engaging story.

there were a few beats in the story that sort of missed for me--mostly scenes where we are waiting for the characters to catch up with the readers but they weren't that jarring and passed fairly quickly. I

Overall, #StarWarsPadawan was a fun, quick read. Thanks to #NetGalley,

Padawan is a young adult novel that provides us a coming-of-age story of a 16-year-old Obi-Wan Kenobi as he struggles with pains that many people will encounter in their own lives. I emphasize the young adult part because it truly needs to be read through the lens and emotions of our protagonist.

In this story, Obi-Wan is at an incredibly young age relative to the Jedi Knight and subsequent Master that fans know. When I first read it, I thought Kenobi’s emotions and thoughts were repetitive at times. However, it became evident to me that the author thoroughly embodied the emotions that someone at that age would feel as they go through monumental life changing moments. Taking it a step further, it would not surprise me if many people will find this book to be very relatable due to having felt similar emotions at some point in their own lives.

As a fan of worldbuilding, I was thrilled with the detail provided that allowed the author to create immersive settings for the reader throughout the novel. Furthermore, there are some not so subtle real world implications in play here and lessons that the author hopes readers will realize and adopt for themselves.

One of my biggest gripes was the amount of characters introduced in a short period of time. Some felt unnecessary, and the author is a bit self-deprecating about this in a way that feels like acknowledgement as a certain character remarks they won't remember who is who. They felt like irrelevant NPCs in a video-game, and in turn, I think the novel pays a price as the eventual villain is a bit undercooked due to lack of time to properly develop motivation.

Lastly, fans of The High Republic will appreciate the tie-ins, and those who have yet to begin that era can exhale as they are done in a very non-spoilery way. White truly did her homework and the novel is bountiful in references of multiple different sources of Star Wars media across various timelines.

Star Wars fans have been eating well in 2022 with a consistent diet of great literature content, and this book is no exception.

How do you tell a fresh story about one of the pillars of the Star Wars saga? You get Kiersten White to do it!

Padawan, a young adult novel, centers on a 16 year old Obi-Wan Kenobi, at a crossroads in his early Jedi life. Surrounded by questions of doubt, belonging and duty, Obi-Wan struggles to find his place among other Jedi padawans and as a student of his master, Qui Gon Jinn.

When he discovers a somewhat hidden piece of Jedi history, he ventures off to a mysterious world hoping to unlock a forgotten lore and prove himself a worthy advocate of the Force and the Jedi Order. What he uncovers brings about more questions than answers and a group of young people seemingly left alone on an unforgiving world left to fend for themselves.

Padawan is a thrilling look at what it means to truly find yourself at an age when the galaxy seems fully against you. Kiersten White crafted a wonderful, heart-felt tale of self discovery while redefining what selflessness means to a bloosoming Jedi, one who will help shape events galaxy wide for years to come.

Padawan fits seamlessly with Claudia Gray's, Master and Apprentice and offers more insight into decisions Obi-Wan would make later in life.

I highly recommend this book to young readers and Star Wars fans of all ages!

Padawan is a Young Adult novel following Obi-Wan in the early days of his apprenticeship to Qui-Gon. I originally was interested in this book due to hearing that there were High Republic connections, but I found the novel to stand on its own pretty well. Considering how much we've seen of Obi-Wan's life, I do think this novel covers a new arc of his character, and does so in a way that will keep you intrigued from start to finish.

The story begins with Obi-Wan making a discovery in the Jedi Temple that leads him to a planet off any charts or star maps. From there, the plot revolves around a certain concept that I won't spoil, but it's very original and was interesting to learn about. The supporting cast of characters kind of blurred together for me, and none of them really stood out to me, although I didn't find annoying either.

For the most part, the story seemed to move pretty quickly, although I did lose some interest reading during the second act. Once things are fully revealed towards the end, I found myself picking up the book more often. Also, if you are familiar with the different quips Obi-Wan makes in the Prequel trilogy, you'll laugh at a lot of different moments throughout. There is one moment where Obi-Wan mentions he'll "never have a Padawan as reckless as him", which I thought was pretty funny.

So do I think this novel is worth picking up? It depends. If you are looking to read something that is set deep within the Star Wars world, this book is not going to satisfy you. However, if you were a fan of books such as Phasma or Thrawn Ascendancy, ones that break loose from the context of the Skywalker Saga with interesting concepts, than this may be the book for you.

Obi-Wan has always been a central character in the Star Wars universe, but the last few years in particular have really seen his backstory get fleshed out, with the arrival of the TV show in which Ewan MacGregor reprises the role, and now, with books that depict him at even younger ages. It was fun to meet this character at an age before he developed his trademark sangfroid. Teenage Obi-Wan is hotheaded and eager to prove himself. It was a joy to watch his relationship with his mentor develop, and to see him come into himself as a Jedi.

I grew up reading the Jedi Apprentice series and loved the Master and Padawan relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. In the last few years, I've really enjoyed getting a greater glimpse into their relationship after the Legends rebrand through Master and Apprentice and so I was very excited to get an early copy of Padawan.

Padawan is a great novel that really showed Kenobi coming into his own, yet still setting up the struggles and issues between him and Qui-Gon that appear later in Master and Apprentice. The story was unique and very interesting. Since the start of the High Republic Era novels, I've enjoyed how the force is explored and how it is experienced by different Jedi which comes up throughout this novel as well.

I look forward to more Obi-Wan Adventures!

Padawan by Kiersten White centers on an Obi-Wan Kenobi struggling to find his way as a Jedi Knight, leading to an impromptu and reckless solo mission to a unique planet with a problem that strikes at all the issues facing the young Kenobi. While it might take a while to get going, and has some repetition, White’s Padawan has a journey for readers and Obi-Wan alike worth experiencing, balancing coming-of-age basics and a good new Star Wars adventure.

In Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fresh learner to Qui-Gon Jinn and struggling to find his place in the Jedi Order and the Force, to the point he’s unable to meditate or feel like he’s ever doing good enough despite being an exceptional Jedi already. When concerns about Qui-Gon’s intentions towards Obi-Wan push his self-doubts and fears over the edge, a chance finding left by Jedi from the High Republic era leads Obi-Wan to make a rash and rebellious decision: take a mission on his own to an unknown world, hoping to prove himself to his Jedi friends, his Master, and to the Force itself or else give up on being a Jedi because it clearly doesn’t want him to succeed if he can’t. On the strange new world, one where the planet is seemingly alive and coordinating attacks against a pack of teenage inhabitants stranded there, Obi-Wan finds a mystery he can bury himself in to avoid the doubts coursing through his head.

While we’ve just seen a doubt-filled Obi-Wan in the excellent Obi-Wan Kenobi series, this is a whole different part of his journey, a different part of the constant struggle against the dark, magnified by several aspects, like his youthful age as a teenage Padawan, the peers around him and a need to prove himself to them, and a far too patient and aloof Master he wants to appease as well. Kiersten White really captures the depth of this anxiety box Obi-Wan forces himself into, to the point I felt some anxiety just reading his constant self-doubts and spiraling feedback loop of despair and indecision, making the studious and exemplary Jedi Master fans know and love a little more relatable as he deals with insecurities about his place in the galaxy and how he appears to his peers. To hear and see Obi-Wan struggle like many have, and still do and will (I know I’ve had my moments and will again), was a refreshing take on the character, as it’s not hard to imagine he was always faithful and trusting of the Force so it’s relatable he wasn’t, even at this stage of his career (the Jedi Apprentice series* did cover how he had his issues in Legends and I was a big fan of those growing up), and many adolescents, going from high school to college per se, will feel many of these same fears, but any life change can bring about similar feelings and anyone at any age could relate. At times White’s prose with the internal problems Obi-Wan faces was a little too much, as like I said it gave me some anxiety, but also because it feels a tad repetitive, the arguments he has with himself not changing much for the first half of the book while the density of the spirals exacerbates the feeling of sameness. By the end though, how he comes to understand his place in the Force, and how that trickles down to the mysteries of the planet, the group he meets and lives with while there, and his ultimate future and path we all know from the films (and now show), is well-earned by White’s pacing in the second half and usage of his more familiar personality.

The planet, Lenahra, is a star in of itself, alongside the group of teenagers stranded there and just scrounging by to survive, like the Lost Boys from Peter Pan. I loved the idea of a planet like Lenahra because it’s such a rich setting, as often times the books have our characters visiting planets but there’s nothing too memorable about them, but considering this one is basically a character itself means it’s far from forgettable. The way the teenagers and younglings with them interact with it, and the ultimate truth of their interactions and what it means for them and the planet is bountiful in allegory about climate change, how we interact with nature, and cautious tales about fighting for a past/ideal set by our elders/parents instead of finding a path for ourselves. Their plight and interactions with Obi-Wan are fitting for this moment of his life, as helping them allows Obi-Wan to help himself with the doubts and spirals affecting him now. I enjoyed the mixed group of characters, from the burdened leader Audj (a Mikkian), trying to make the best of the situation handed to them and later has to come to terms with how she could’ve been doing it differently; Zae-Brii, a changling who straddles the line of adherence to the past but wondering about more, their relationship with Audj helping both her and Obi-Wan (and the non-binary aspect of being a changling was welcomed one); Casul, Audj’s often angry brother, brings a surprising but very welcomed bi representation to the book for himself and even Obi-Wan; Shush, the elder Nautolan who looks out for the younger two that are stuck in barrels of water due to the planet’s aggressive nature making any other water source dangerous; and a few others that don’t have as big of roles but all have distinct personalities and wants/desires. It’s an interesting group and how Obi-Wan works his way into their tight-nit community, gaining friends not unlike the ones he has in the Jedi Temple, and how they play off him and his problems gives us both a fuller picture of Obi-Wan but also of them, making me grow to like them like Obi-Wan does as his trip to Lenahra expands.

The aggressive nature of the planet to its inhabitants might feel like the villain here, but when the actual one makes themselves known and Obi-Wan begins to understand what’s really going on (which took a little longer than I liked), the book kicks into an exciting pace right until its end. The villain is a little too evil to really add too much dimension to the story, though their connections to Obi-Wan’s new friends add an extra bout of tension just as the truth becomes clear while also make the resulting clash with them less difficult for Obi-Wan to overcome, as the villain makes it too clear too quickly of their true intentions. Thankfully it’s up to Obi-Wan in the opening half to make headways into the new group, because if the villain was introduced earlier, much of the conflicts with the other teenagers wouldn’t have happened/book would’ve been way shorter. But in the end, this book is less about defeating an external source of conflict than conquering internal conflicts, so it works that the external fight isn’t as hefty as the internal content Obi-Wan and his friends deal with as events unfold.

As a big fan of Qui-Gon Jinn, even in his sparing usage here, White really captures his unique idiosyncrasies and lines up nicely with his even briefer appearance in the recent show and other materials (besides his meatier role in Master & Apprentice and the upcoming Tales of the Jedi show of course). It made me wish there had been more of him, but this book isn’t about him so it was welcomed how impactful he was regardless. While I liked Qui-Gon’s part of Padawan, Dex’s didn’t quite land as well. As I discussed a bit with my fellow Manor writer Chris, in the end Dex’s role could’ve gone to any character it felt like, as while this is how they first meet, it was written knowing they are friends instead of written as if they weren’t/had just met. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t fun to have Dex and finally see how they met, but considering how he was used in the recent Brotherhood (which makes a reference to this book!), this felt disappointing.

Here are a few other things:

The whole mission spawns from Obi-Wan finding a hidden carving on the Jedi Temple walls with the names Cohmac Vitus and Orla Jareni scrawled next to it, who characters who have been at the forefront of stories set in the High Republic era. If you haven’t read anything in the era yet (get on it now, it’s fantastic stuff!), you won’t feel left out as White just skims the surface for what she needs to give context, but for a fan it was enough and really exciting to see how easily it fit into the story here. Plus, she deftly avoids spoiling anything that happens to either character, though the fact the information isn’t available in the Jedi Archives raises some interesting questions that probably won’t be answered until the era’s third story Phase comes out (it’s just about to enter Phase II in October this year).

*There’s even a character from the Jedi Apprentice series that appears in Padawan, complete with a bit of a wink and a nod about what happened between them in Legends.

There’s plenty of hints at other stories to be told about a younger Obi-Wan, be it his Trials or his trip to Ilum for his kyber crystal, and I liked White’s writing of Obi-Wan more than enough I’d be happy if she came back to cover those moments and more. In fact, the way she covers romance for Kenobi, his thoughts on it and openness to whomever/whatever and how it views it compared to the Force, would make her a perfect fit to tell the story of his fateful time with Satine (White even makes a funny little nod to her with Obi-Wan ruminating what type of person he would and wouldn’t end up with).

Either I missed it or it’s left open on purpose (both because it doesn’t really matter and maybe it’s an opening for White to return), but the mysterious financier who helps the villain with men and ships to get to the planet is never named. Is it perhaps a hint of Sith-ly plotting (Palpatine and/or Plagueius) considering the truth of the planet and what taking from it can do?

Padawan by Kiersten White develops an engrossing story during a formative time in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s life, writing characters and conflicts that bring the galaxy far, far away just a little closer in an exciting and depth-filled way, despite repetition and a slower first half.

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Padawan takes us on an adventure in a galaxy far, far away with a teenage Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now, how can it get any better than that? Kiersten White did marvelous job with character portrayals and story-telling in this huge galaxy we know and love. I really liked how the story had a crossover moment between The High Republic and Prequel eras. It’s so wonderful to get content connecting eras we already know and love with new THR era. It really brings all the eras of Star Wars together even more into one big cohesive story.


What a treat it was to follow Obi-Wan during his Padawan days more! I loved reading about this era of Obi-Wan and getting a glimpse into who he was then. It was nice seeing a bit more carefree Obi-Wan in his youth. He definitely channeled a bit of Anakin in him then. Especially, when he flies off to some random unknown planet cause of minor information he found from a past Jedi. Rebellious Obi-Wan, you just love to see it.

We follow Obi-Wan to the planet of Lenahra and watch him not only discover the secrets of the planet, but also find balance for it, as well as, the balance within himself. We always see Obi-Wan as this great Jedi, therefore it was fascinating reading about Obi-Wan battling within himself about the Jedi, the Force, and if he really belongs there. I liked that by the end Obi-Wan understood more about his connection to the Force and what he had to do to connect closer to it. I also liked that he understood Qui-Gon’s teaching methods more and that he just needed to figure out their message to get it. I will never get enough of having more Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan content. Their Master/Padawan relationship is one of my favorite in Star Wars.

I adored this book so much and highly recommend it!

Padawan is a satisfactory young adult Star Wars book. Immediately starting with some action and some interesting references, the reader is quickly drawn in which was a positive point for me. This book definitely reads like a young adult book, so keeping the intended audience in mind, I think this book tells a nice "coming of age" story for a young Obi-Wan Kenobi.
White does an excellent job with her characterization of Qui-Gon Jinn, and there is a seamless connection to the way that both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are written in Master & Apprentice. It is clear that White has a strong grasp on other aspects of Star Wars literature, which helped to make this book more enjoyable.
For me, I was a little disappointed in the way that the book was tied up in the conclusion. It felt very convenient and at times the dialogue seemed a bit plain.
Ultimately, this is a very unique story where the reader is introduced to new aspects of the force and the broader galaxy. This book goes to show that just when you think you know the force, you learn how little you actually know.

a perfect quick read about my lil baby padawan obi wan 🥹🥹

I absolutely adored everything about this one! I could read an entire series about obi wan during his baby training days!!

my only complaint about this one was that we didn’t get enough qui gon jinn!!! like what the heck!! I would pay for hours and hours on end of them together

and can we talk about count dooku? I swear, this is like PRIME star wars era!!

a huge thank you to disney hyperion and netgalley for sending me this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

this was the PERFECT hangover cure for the obi wan series ending!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: spanish albariño blend