Master and Apprentice Spoiler Policy

This is a spoiler-free review. The plot summary here is an introduction to the characters and the scene and no further. If you choose to read, the outcome full of its twists and turns is all there for you to explore, spoiler-free.

Introduction

Master and Apprentice is a book in the Star Wars universe by Claudia Gray. Even though it takes place in the Star Wars universe, it is definitely readable for a person unacquainted with typical Star Wars. It’s an easy and entertaining read with lots of quality characters and story elements to make the pages fly by. A story about a Jedi trio that has to solve a mystery in a new place while also solving mysteries about themselves, Master and Apprentice is a story with a little bit of everything.

Characters and Plot

The two characters the story is filtered through are Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his Jedi Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. They are at a precipitous phase in their relationship, unable to connect and work as a team. Jinn is worried about failing Kenobi as a teacher, while Obi-Wan is worried about getting the pair killed and disappointing his master. Receiving their largest mission yet, the pair has to find a way to get in sync with each other for the sake of their futures and their lives. Their mission sends them to the backwater planet Pijal to facilitate the signing of a treaty important to the future of the Outer-Rim planet, among many others. The treaty is to be signed in two weeks once heir to the throne Fanry comes of age, but complications are putting the signing in jeopardy, leaving the pair with Jedi Rael Averross, the Lord Regent, to maneuver a way to keep the signing on schedule.

The treaty is a big deal. With clauses turning Pijal from a monarchy into a democracy but also the opening of a trade route essential to the success of many Outer Rim planets, its failure would have worldwide ramifications. However, not everyone on the planet and moon approves of the bloated treaty, leading to acts of dissent bordering on terrorism by some of the citizens. Fanry has been waiting for this moment under the protection of Aveross for many years, and with her life possibly in danger, rooting out the terrorists is the top priority. This is important to Rael Aveross too. He has lived here with Fanry as a father figure for over a decade, and after his storied past in which he lost a Padawan in heartbreaking fashion, her safety is to him a form of atonement for his past deeds. With the stakes high as the treaty signing ceremony approaches, he requests the help of the Jedi pair to show that the quarry is too large to solve alone.

The Jedi pair is dispatched to root out the “Opposition,” which are troupe performers turned domestic terrorists. Their pranks started as political statements against the signing of the treaty for a litany of reasons, but then interspersed with these pranks came actual terrorist attacks, full of explosions and destruction. While the group had not yet claimed any lives, upcoming casualties were starting to seem inevitable. After a failed assassination attempt on the future monarch Fanry using a unique method, tensions were at an all-time high. The treaty was due to be signed in just a week, and Jinn and Kenobi were responsible for getting the treaty passed at all costs.

However, no mission worth retelling is that simple. The crime scene is hard to decipher, especially with the Jedi trio all tunneled on different aspects of the threat. After the leader of the Opposition, Halin Azucca, meets the Jedi pair face-to-face and they all run into the “blackguards,” who wear lightsaber-proof armor, the situation gets muddier. The truth becomes an enigma, and the people Jinn and Kenobi can trust are quickly dwindling. To add to the mystery, Qui-Gon Jinn starts experiencing “visions” in his sleep, and they learn of a traitor in their midst. With a new base of knowledge, the pair starts to have questions about whether the treaty is something that should be ratified. Their mission assigned by the council is to enforce its signing, but is that in the best interests of the people? When Jinn chooses to follow his personal beliefs even when they contrast with the Jedi teachings, strict rule follower Kenobi has to make a tough decision, with the fate of the mission in his hands.

As the plot unravels, the characters continue to get questions and not answers. All three Jedi are out of tune due to their inner-struggles, which makes the rest of the story that much more engaging. This is about as far as we can go without spoilers, but Jinn and Kenobi each have to make a choice about whether to go through with a coronation and treaty signing that is “destined” to fail or look further for answers.

Review

This is a novel about inner-conflict at its core. Jinn is fighting a battle about whether to trust his instincts and “the Light” or the Jedi Council. He is pulled between following convention for the sake of his Padawan and making a decision based on his “visions” for the possible betterment of the planet. Obi-Wan is outraged that his master could even fathom disobeying the Council but also wants to repair his relationship with Jinn and progress in his training. Averross is attached to Fanry like his old Padawan, and his fear of the past repeating itself is blinding him. Throughout the story, they all confront their problems. Jinn has to learn right from wrong, Kenobi learns to acknowledge others’ viewpoints, and Rael learns that he has to leave the past behind by a singular occurrence that drastically shifts the battlefield.

The story’s development is super interesting, as all the characters are learning drastically different lessons throughout the same story, all of which are relatable to real life. The battles of Qui-Gon and Rael are especially interesting, as they present themselves as opposites. Jinn has to learn how to draw on his experiences to make correct decisions, while at the same time, Aveross is learning that sometimes previous notions can cloud your judgment. What makes the story great is that both of them are human problems. Standing up for what we think is right like Jinn is something we think about in our own lives almost every day, while on the flipside, recognizing our biases and outside influences when making decisions is just as important. They are learning to reach a state of balance, while Kenobi is being enlightened to the fact that balance exists in the first place. He is learning that sometimes two things can be equally right, and two different processes can give the same answer. He is stuck in his own ways, and it takes a large push for him to recognize other paths. He is learning that the world is a lot bigger than he is, which is something everyone in our world needs to get a grip on. Sometimes to do what’s right, you have to break the rules, and that’s why doing the right thing often takes so much courage.

Overall, the intrigue of the story is that it will make you think deeper. You can read it like you would read any other fiction and just gloss over the pages, but Master and Apprentice has more to offer. Each character has a fatal flaw, and their journey to cover it is worthy of learning from. The different ways in which they attack their insecurities are eye-opening and relatable, easy to apply to daily life. If you know more about the Star Wars universe, you can see the progress the characters make throughout their lives and see them apply what they learn in the story, which makes the ending of the novel gratifying.

Final Statement and Further Reading

Final Opinion: Great. Whatever level you view the book from, it will be a joy to read, especially if you have an interest in the main characters.

Further Reading: The Star Wars novel Lost Stars by Claudia Gray is another similar book I would recommend if you like Master and Apprentice. It follows other unique characters in the universe fighting similar battles and learning about themselves.