The Dark Rival

When I first read this book I was speechless. I never would have guessed that Qui-Gonn had ANY feelings toward his young padawan Obi-Wan! But boy was I wrong! The two Jedi are sent on a mission, and many wrong things happened. Obi-Wan was kidnapped and Qui-Gonn had to rescue him. Everything that happened was all because of Qui-Gonn's other student. Will Obi Wan Kenobi die so that his master can hunt down his dark sided student? Or will Qui-Gonn find anougher way to get out of the mining area. Find out and read The Dark Rival. Trust me, you will love it.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have reached Bandomeer and must now go their separate ways. Obi-Wan was so hopeful that Qui-Gon would take him as an apprentice after all they've gone through but Qui-Gon is reluctant to do that. Qui-Gon cannot forget his past, concerning his first apprentice, Xanatos, who had gone to the dark side of the Force. Qui-Gon sees in Obi-Wan what he saw in Xanatos; eagerness, determination, and strength. He also sees the same weaknesses; fear and anger. But Qui-Gon's past is just about to catch up with him, can Xanatos have been the one who had gotten him involved with the mining corporations in Bandomeer? Qui-Gon is afraid that Xanatos is not only back into his life... he's afraid that Xanatos wants revenge.Truly exciting and fast-paced, "The Dark Rival" is a fantastic read! This is Jude Watson's first try in the Jedi Apprentice series, with Dave Wolverton writing the first book, "The Rising Force". Now Jude Watson has written 18 more books after this and she's done an astoundingly good job!This series explains a lot about how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan first meet. Their beginning is far from simple and all smooth-sailings, which would be pretty monotonous if it was. Though the books are said for ages 9-12, like many other reviewers I agree that the Jedi Apprentice Series are for anybody. Extremely well-written, the emotions, thoughts, and feelings of the main characters are very well put down into words. I also like the different array of humans and aliens which are portrayed, both good and bad; the strong-willed, hot-headed Clat'Ha, the faithful Arconan Si Treemba, Guerra the Phindian who has a strange sense of humor (we'll see more of him!) and more. Even Xanatos is a pretty good 'bad' character, if you see what I mean.Like I said the rest of the Jedi Apprentice books, altogether 20 books, are written by Jude Watson and are all very highly recommended from me. The books don't really 'end' at all, the books ends in either a cliffhanger or with a little glimpse into the future. Believe me, once you start reading them, you'll want to read the next one... then the next one... I can't wait for Jude Watson's next Star Wars series, The Jedi Quest Series with Obi-Wan Kenobi as the Jedi Master and Anakin Skywalker as the Padawan Apprentice.Another Star Wars Series I recommend and like a lot are the Young Jedi Knights series. The stories are about Jacen and Jaina Solo (twins of Han and Leia Solo), and their friends as they journey on the road to becoming Jedi Knights. More on the teenager level of reading. For adult readings, a few selections I enjoy reading are "The Thrawn Trilogy", "Rogue Planet", "The Jedi Academy Trilogy", "The Corellian Trilogy", and "The Truce at Bakura".

The Dark Rival is the second installment in the Jedi Apprentice series. It's just as good as the first one, if not better! Even though the series was intended for a younger audience, I-a fourteen-year old-still fell in love with the books! The first book-The Rising Force-tells how Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are by chance sent to the same planet (Bandomeer) on separate missions. Twelve-year old Obi-Wan is sent to work with the Agri-Corps after being rejected from the Jedi Temple when Qui-Gon refused to take him as his apprentice. Despite what he learned on the journey to Bandomeer, Obi-Wan still holds out hope that Qui-Gon will have a change of heart and ask him to become his Padawan Learner. Even though they have separate missions on the planet, fate makes sure Obi-Wan gets involved in Qui-Gon's mission. Qui-Gon was sent to Bandomeer to act as Guardian of the Peace, but it was really a trap set by Qui-Gon's ex-apprentice-turned-to-the-dark-side, Xanatos. Xanatos wants revenge against his former Master. Will he succeed with his dark plan? Will the experience with Obi-Wan cause Qui-Gon to change his mind and accept him as his apprentice? Read this book and find out!

Um.... Ok...how can I put this? How about ...... absolutly amazing and MORE FUN than exploding a potatoe with the Death Star's laser (OK, so I really used a potatoe in a microwave, but...) This bok was SO great! Not to put down the first book, but this one was better! Really! The storyline was great to begin with, but when the author explained the characters' feelings, it really gave it the traditional Star Wars flavor. She(the author) really captured Obi-Won's and Qui-Gon's personalities...just kept very true to the charecters. She explained Obi-Won's loyalty to Qui-Gon, and despair at not being picked as his Padawan learner. We also see a rare point of view: Qui-Gon's- his unsettled feelings toward Xantos, and growing fondness towards Obi-Won. The book really shows the essence of true friendship-which I've found, most Star Wars fans have found. Also, hte book compells the reader to be in the story- you can hear the characters saying the lines. It is really great the way she explained how the characters feel, so that you can see not only how they feel, but why. Surprisingly, she made this book incredibly interesting, even though you could see the end coming ( even if you didn't see the movie, by the middle of this book it is obvious what will happen.) I mean, I had to FORCE (I didn't mean it like that-try the verb meaning)myself to read it slow, and it was still finished in less than a day. I just can't emphasize enough this book portrays the characters: Obi-Won's and Qui-Gon's unique (reluctant but eventually much more than Padawan and Master), Obi-Won's own....what's the word? Come on, during the movie could you picture him as...clumsy? (Well, he is) In the book, the charecters are real people; and while they still fight with laser weapons, they have normal, everyday battles with a Star Wars spin.(That's the whole point of the Obi-Won/Qui-Gon struggle)..what I'm trying to say is that, if you apply the lessons to real life, you could most definately learn something. And last, I, too am poor, to-be-pitied teenage-Jedi wannabe who is out of the age group. DON'T LISTEN! Actually, I think you will appreciate it better if you are older. Well, goodbye- and may you always live in a world a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away- I cetainly do.

Don't be fooled by the fact that these novels are published by Scholastic and marketed as children's books. The first two Jedi Apprentice novels are well written and are entertaining and informative for adult readers as well. If you were curious about Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's past, and about life as a Jedi, you'll love this book! This book is essentially Part Two of a cohesive story formed by the Jedi Apprentice novel #1 'The Rising Force' and #2 'The Dark Rival'. It doesn't matter that these are published as two separate books with two different authors, they function as one coherent novel. Book #1 ends suddenly, and #2 takes off right where the first one ends. I suspect they broke them up so they wouldn't be too large or intimidating for young readers, but essentially they form one long novel, dealing with one week in time when Obi-Wan Kenobi is 12 years old and is nearing his 13th birthday. If a student at the Jedi academy is not picked as an apprentice by their 13th birthday (presumably this refers only to human life spans) they are sent away from the academy, destined not to become Jedi but to either become healers or join the Agricultural Corps and use their Force talents to grow crops. Obi-Wan is sent by Yoda to help the Agri-Corps on a world called Bandomeer. This is a disappointment for Obi-Wan, since he thinks it means the instructors at the academy have already decided he will not be trained as a Jedi. The Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn is also travelling to Bandomeer in a diplomatic capacity, and Obi-Wan desperately tries to impress the famous Jedi, hoping that he can convince him to take him on as his Padawan. Qui-Gon is determined to never take another Padawan, since his last apprentice turned to the Dark Side and betrayed him. However, it seems Yoda, who foresaw their future together, is right, for Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, though having only just met and not Master and Padawan, have an immediate bond form between them. These novels should be REQUIRED READING for all Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan fans. It really sets up their relationship and history in an interesting way. It adds interesting backstory to the characters in the movie. Also, this history is referred to in the Patricia C. Wrede novelization of 'The Phantom Menace'. Another thing that really impressed me about these books was the insight into the Jedi Temple, the Jedi Academy, and the way Jedi are trained. We get many wonderful Jedi sayings ("We are not saints, but seekers") and a detailed look at life in the Jedi Temple and the training of a Jedi. Yoda gets some great lines. I only hope the next books in this series are this good! I'd give this book SIX STARS if I could!