Missed a post? Catch up on The Year of Kenobi here.

The Story

Following Tahl’s abduction in the last book, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are hot on her trail. Of course, the political plot thickens, with the person responsible turning out to be one of the twins Tahl was there to help before becoming collateral damage. Qui-Gon is torn between his Jedi duty, and his commitment to Tahl. For his part, Obi-Wan remains firmly committed to his duty, and doesn’t understand how Qui-Gon can forsake it so easily (maybe he’ll understand a bit better in a couple of years when he meets one Satine Kryze?)

For the most part, the book is essentially one very long chase, with the two Jedi crossing New Apsilon, Qui-Gon in search of his love, and Obi-Wan hoping his master can just hold it together.

Thoughts and Impressions

You all know I was already all in on this arc. Totally here for a forbidden love story. Given where we see Qui-Gon in The Phantom Menace I didn’t expect this to go particularly well. My suspicions were proven correct when they manage to rescue Tahl, but much like in Qui-Gon’s vision, she dies in his arms.

You know, if I had a nickel for every time someone’s love dies in their arms in Star Wars, I’d have like…a dollar. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s still too much you know?

It’s made all the more tragic by the series of flashbacks included in this book, each one going further back in time to illustrate just how long Qui-Gon and Tahl have been friends, and how strong their bond is. Jedi preach no attachments, but they are formed by the very nature of their existence. I wonder if this will come up in the next book at all.

This is also not the first time we see Qui-Gon’s visions come true, with him having a morbid vision of Obi-Wan’s lonely future a few books back. As the series winds down I wonder if this will pop up again.

The ending of the book is heartbreaking, yes, but I like to believe when Qui-Gon passes nine years from now, that when he gets to the other side, Tahl is there waiting for him, with a few notes on his Darth Maul fight.

What’s Next?

Qui-Gon is mad. Like really mad. Like revenge mad. This is not going to go well.

***

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