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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Dark Rival, Jedi Apprentice book 2, May 2, 2002
This review is from: The Dark Rival (Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice, Book 2) (Paperback)
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".
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant! A real page-turner!, February 9, 2001
This review is from: The Dark Rival (Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice, Book 2) (Paperback)
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!
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true to the spirt of Star Wars book, November 27, 1999
This review is from: The Dark Rival (Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice, Book 2) (Paperback)
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.
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