We’re solidly in May 2022 now which means it’s time for the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Attack of the Clones to commence and what better way to do so than with a book about Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker set almost immediately after the film’s events? Out today, Brotherhood by Mike Chen stars those two very same Jedi as they try and find their footing in the early days of a war no one expected and while trying to reestablish their own dynamic now that they are no longer Master and Padawan. Spoiler Alert: You’re going to want to read this.
There’s some business on Cato Neimoidia that requires the Jedi’s attention: the planet’s capital city was ruthlessly bombed but the identity of the perpetrator isn’t clear. Obi-Wan Kenobi offers himself up as the Republic’s sole representative to try and help get to the bottom of everything. Meanwhile, a newly knighted Anakin Skywalker is faced with his biggest challenge yet: younglings. And speaking of Cato Neimoidia… wouldn’t it be interesting if the Separatists had sent a certain dark side user to do their own poking around?
Brotherhood is, first and foremost, fun with a large side of emotions. Mike Chen falls into the club of Star Wars storytellers who you know have read and reread Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization many a time and its effects manifest here in the best way possible. This novel feels like a deliberate bookend with that novelization being a part of the matching set. Whereas Revenge of the Sith gave us “the phrase Kenobi and Skywalker has become a single word”, Brotherhood gives us two men who haven’t yet figured out how to be that heroic partnership as they adjust to no longer being mentor and learner. It’s an excellently done exploration of them both and, even though they spend much of the book apart, the start of their dynamic that we eventually see become fully realized in both The Clone Wars and the opening of Revenge of the Sith.
(Also, for the Anidala shippers out there: this book pairs very nicely with E.K. Johnston’s recently released Queen’s Hope as we get to see more of the very early days of Anakin and Padmé’s marriage. The authors communicated about their books, and it shows. There’s also some entertaining observations about them from Obi-Wan’s point of view that really just confirm what most folks have thought for ages.)
While the Anakin-Obi-Wan dynamic is clearly at the heart of the book, it stands on its own as a good ol’ Star Wars adventure too. It’s a fun book and a quick read that I went through in just about one sitting; getting up only to refill my coffee. Chen’s writing style fits in nicely with many of the other authors who’ve written in the galaxy before him. In retrospect, his story in the Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View feels like a teaser for what he could do with a full novel and I will not be surprised if we get to see him write another Star Wars book but from a dark side point of view one day. Where Chen does particularly well is with everything Anakin related as we see the Jedi grapple with feelings related to the Jedi Order, his wife, his life back on Tatooine, and also everything that happened extremely recently with his mother. That last one in particular can be a hard line to walk in regards to balancing a sympathetic portrayal and also not excusing a whole bunch of murder but Chen manages to complete that tightrope act well.
Brotherhood also features its fair share of cameos and nods towards other parts of the Star Wars galaxy, both canon and Legends, and I feel extremely certain that Chen knew exactly what he was doing with all of those. I won’t spoil them for other readers but let’s just say that the first one made me yell loudly enough that a housemate checked in to make sure everything was okay. Easter eggs aren’t what makes a book or any Star Wars book good but when you can tell when they’re being incorporated lovingly by someone who loves those original stories as much as you.
There are two character appearances who are elevated above cameos and who’ve already been revealed who I specifically want to call out: Dex and Asajj Ventress. In short, I believe that fans of both will be rather satisfied with them inclusion here. Everyone should include Obi-Wan meeting with Dex over cake scenes in their books. It’ll be for the best. As for Ventress, her introduction can only be described in the incredibly professional terms of a *chef kiss* and I stand by that. While she certainly has a role in the book, it’s more akin to a dash of Ventress and honestly, it’s the perfect amount especially for her first meeting with Obi-Wan. That might seem to be a weird statement to make but I swear it makes more sense after you read the book.
If you’re looking for a good read featuring either Anakin or Obi-Wan, Brotherhood is the book you’re looking for. Heck, Brotherhood is the book you’re looking for if you want a good Star Wars time with a heaping side of feelings.
Thank you to Del Rey for providing an early copy of the book for review purposes.
