On a mysterious planet he encounters a pack of feral, Force-wielding teens who seem to be the planet’s only inhabitants. As he experiences wild freedom with them and wonders if this isn’t the life he was meant for, Obi-Wan can’t escape the nagging sense that something is wrong with the Force there. Growing attachments, startling revelations, and a looming threat to both the planet and his new friends will bring Obi-Wan face-to-face with his worst fear: that maybe he was never supposed to be a Jedi at all. Can he connect with the living Force in time to save himself and everyone around him?
It’s really kind of bonkers when you stop & think how much Obi-Wan Kenobi content we got in 2022: the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, the new Marvel comic (which I’ve been collecting but haven’t started), BROTHERHOOD, and then PADAWAN.
I mean.
Hello there!!
I think PADAWAN is one of those cases where I had to kind of readjust my expectations for the book on the fly. Maybe having come off the high of reading SHADOW OF THE SITH had just…changed me? SHADOW OF THE SITH really turned out to be one of, if not the most epic Star Wars novels I’ve read, in terms of scope.
Whereas PADAWAN ultimately feels like a more isolated, fun adventure story. That said, this book is a total blast, and it was really cool spending some time with Obi-Wan as an angsty, teenage padawan!
The early stages of PADAWAN felt almost like a mirror to Claudia Gray’s MASTER & APPRENTICE, in terms of the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn. While it’s certainly something you can see in Ewan McGregor’s brilliant depiction of the character, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a character that struggles with a lot of anxiety and self-doubt. This is something that’s just explored more deeply in the books.
In PADAWAN we see this anxiety manifest in some unexpected ways, as Obi-Wan feels torn between his desire to do right by Qui-Gon, and his desire to get out into the galaxy & use what he’s learned to do some good. Qui-Gon is such a methodical, deliberate teacher, and it’s clear that Obi-Wan feels frustrated by the pace.
Which is how he, Obi-Wan, winds up on an ill-advised, unauthorized solo mission to a planet with a mysterious connection to the Force, and a near-sentient desire to kill anyone who sets foot on its surface.
Yikes.
If I had one complaint about PADAWAN, it’s that we’re introduced to a whole lot of new characters in a very short amount of time. When Obi-Wan lands on Lenahra (the aforementioned dangerous planet) he meets a group of young people there, scraping by and surviving against the odds. The group is composed of many different species, some of which I don’t believe I’ve ever encountered in Star Wars before (I may be wrong). So it just took quite awhile to get the hang of who everyone was, and form a mental picture of what they looked like.
There’s also a slightly repetitive quality to the story, with Obi-Wan desperately trying to get his new friends to accept his help leaving the planet, and with them refusing, and vowing to stay as a way of honoring their families who brought them to Lenahra.
It’s a really vibrant & diverse cast of characters in this book, and PADAWAN also features one of the coolest cameos imaginable! It’s always fun to see more of some of the prequels characters…and that’s all I’ll say about that!
Oh! This book also features a super direct connection to The High Republic, which was so exciting to see!!
PADAWAN was really fun! There’s definitely some depth to the story, with Obi-Wan constantly exploring his relationships. His relationship with the Force, with himself, with Qui-Gon, with the galaxy around him. He’s in his head a lot, and this book does not shy away from that aspect of the character. There’s some really great action sequences, some funny/lighthearted moments, a whole lot of weird creatures, and a ton of teenage Jedi angst.
May the Force be with you!
Grimdark Dad 