Brotherhood - Book Review

“That business on Cato Neimoidia doesn’t- doesn’t count.”

If you are a fan of the Star Wars prequels, then you remember watching Revenge of the Sith and wondering what kind of business Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had on Cato Neimoidia. Being able to experience an unturned stone in Star Wars storytelling à la Rogue One in book format has never been more satisfying than in Brotherhood. Author Mike Chen’s debut in the galaxy far, far away (besides his short story, Disturbance as part of the anthology From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back) is one that will be remembered for a very long time. Set soon after Attack of the Clones, Brotherhood tells the story of Obi-Wan on an investigative mission to frame the war faction responsible for a sudden bombing attack on the jewel of the Trade Federation, Cato Neimoidia—while Anakin is taking on a much more subtle assignment with a group of Jedi Initiates. The mission turns quickly into a high-stakes adventure that is full of twists and turns, mystery, but most importantly deep characterization.

Brotherhood is a testament to Mike Chen’s love and respect for the prequels. The author truly understands Obi-Wan and Anakin and was able to expand upon their character development in an incredible way, arguably equal or greater to Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith novelization. In fact, the author’s appreciation for Stover’s novelization is clearly evident with the invocation of Anakin’s sun-dragon myth, further exploring the Jedi’s strongly emotional and caring personality in a way that is not necessarily dark but true-hearted. Furthermore, the book contains even more nods and mentions to other stories, from Queen’s Hope to Kenobi to Master and Apprentice and even Jedi: Fallen Order, which despite being short and often subtle offer the more dedicated fans an interconnected and familiar experience.

Each chapter is titled after the character whose point of view describes the story, with Obi-Wan taking on a mission on his own apart from Anakin for the very first time—the Master becoming a member of the Jedi Council and the now former apprentice taking on Jedi Knighthood. Although the two heroes don’t reunite until later in the book, Chen spends plenty of time depicting the evolution of the relationship between them. It’s a smooth transition from the constant bickering between Master and apprentice as seen in Attack of the Clones to the mutual respect and beautifully balanced partnership as seen in The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith (before Anakin turns to the dark side, of course).

Although Brotherhood is heavily focused on Obi-Wan and Anakin (as the gorgeous cover art by Laura Racero and the title entail), Mike Chen created two memorable supporting characters for the novel: the Neimoidian guard Ruug Quarnom and the Zabrak Jedi Initiate Mill Alibeth. Ruug provides an inside look at Neimoidian culture, breaking the stereotypical barrier that has been built by the Republic and any other outsiders who see the species as dishonest, greedy, and cowardly. On the other hand, Mill represents Anakin’s first attempt at mentorship; her empathic ability allows her to connect with the Jedi Knight through the Force and deeply understand Anakin’s persona, his heart. Brotherhood also gives room to two iconic prequel characters, Dexter Jettster and Asajj Ventress—the latter making her very first chronologically canonical appearance.

Are you ready to find out more about that business on Cato Neimoidia? Then make sure to grab a copy of Brotherhood (the audiobook is narrated by Star Wars veteran Jonathan Davis) today, and let us know your thoughts about this amazing book on our social media channels.