Obi-Wan: *approaches Anakin*

Obi-Wan: *detects same exact feelings of passion and love and anxiety leaking from Anakin as when he was with Padme*

Obi-Wan: lol that's weird she's not even here?

Anidala extracts from Brotherhood (2022), Mike Chen

Notice whenever Obi Wan reflects on a/p’s warmth, ease, tenderness, passion it’s mediated through his association of a/p with what was there, what is here & what could have been between him and Satine

got my hands on Brotherhood and

wait, is this book about that one time Anakin saved Obi-Wan’s life and why it doesn’t count?

No one: ...

Author of SW Brotherhood: Obi-Wan is going to have thick, luscious hair even longer than in AotC! His long locks will flow in the wind like a model in a holo ad... Also Anakin is wracked with envy. Just absolutely simmering with jealousy and lust

I read two Obi-Wan books in the run up to the Kenobi series premiere, and I keep waffling on whether I should write up a review on them or not, because I loved one and hated the other. Kenobi, by John Jackson Miller, which was one of the latest EU/Legends novels, and the new Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen, just released last month.

Kenobi is set when Obi-Wan first goes into hiding on Tatooine after giving baby Luke to Owen and Beru. It’s about 70% moisture farmer and Sand People drama, with the other 30% comprising Obi-Wan’s struggle to adjust to being in hiding- he tries to stay out of the moisture farmer drama but just can’t help getting involved to help people- and how extremely terrible he is at staying undercover. (Among other things, he meditates out loud and at one point gets overheard by a 15-year-old girl eavesdropping on him.) Also all the female characters have a crush on him- seems pretty legit. I loved this book a lot, even though a bunch of Tatooine OCs got more of the pagetime than Obi-Wan himself did. It was a really good story and the fact that it was smaller scale felt right for it. I love getting to see more about civilian life in Star Wars, and the ending to the whole civilian drama plotline had some surprisingly great thematic parallels with Vader. The Sand People getting more development was also great, even if it wasn’t completely unproblematic. This book also has Obi-Wan find out about Anakin’s murder rampage on the Sand People tribe in AotC, which was interesting, and the whole story is framed by a Sand People myth about the two suns that parallels Obi-Wan and Anakin’s story. Oh, and the book starts off with Obi-Wan landing on planet and almost immediately getting into a bar fight while holding baby Luke. A+.

In contrast, I hated Brotherhood by Mike Chen. It had all my least favorite Star Wars fandom takes, made canon. Even though existing canon actively shows that they’re not true!!! The Jedi don’t feel emotion, check, Mace hates Anakin, check, Qui-Gon was super perfect and him living and training Anakin would have been the solution to everything that went wrong, check. I’m so tired of these takes. There might be an element of Anakin being an unreliable narrator for some of those, but if so, it’s not well conveyed, to the point where I didn’t even consider it until I read a review of book. The writing comes off as mostly supporting what Anakin says. The other thing I couldn’t stand about this book is that it’s supposedly about how Obi-Wan and Anakin became brothers (it’s set at the beginning of the Clone Wars and starts with Anakin’s knighting) but it also establishes that for the past 10+ years of Anakin’s apprenticeship, they fought constantly. This book wants me to believe that after 10 years of fighting, they became as close as they were only during the war??? That apparently Obi-Wan literally raising Anakin from the age of 9 didn’t result in them bonding at all?? What????? And then the big reconciliation that is the start of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship as brothers and as The Team....... is Obi-Wan realizing that Qui-Gon trusted Anakin, so he should too. It’s not anything to do with Anakin himself or Obi-Wan’s relationship with him, it’s just about Qui-Gon. I have no words.

The Sand People massacre is coincidentally also brought up in this book. Anakin actually tells Palpatine about it, hoping for validation of his feelings of anger, and of course Palpatine not only gives him that, but says he was right to do it and describes it as “justice”. Which is then followed up by Palpatine confirming that... no, the Jedi don’t feel emotions like normal people, and yes, Mace unfairly hates Anakin. Again, if this was supposed to be unreliable narration by Anakin, that’d be one thing, but the only thing the narrative actually calls Anakin out on is his prejudice against Neimoidians. As it stands, the narrative pretty much acts like Palpatine was right in this conversation, which is a big No-No for me. It’s either extremely poorly written Anakin-as-an-unreliable-narrator, or just canonizing Very Bad Takes. Also, the way this books acts like Jedi are bad and compassionless and Anakin is a super special snowflake for feeling emotions, unlike them? It misses the point very badly. The whole point is that Anakin was a great Jedi. That’s what makes his fall so tragic. Because Palpatine’s insane talent at manipulation and grooming aside, Anakin knew better, he knew right from from wrong, and he fell anyway. He made the wrong choice at a crucial time because of his fear, and that choice doomed him, his loved ones, and the galaxy.

Where Brotherhood shines, in my opinion, is in its supporting characters. There are 2 OCs who I really grew to love. The first is Mill Alibeth, a Zabrak Jedi Initiate (about 10 years old) who Anakin winds up bonding with, whose problem is that she can’t deal with how strongly she feels emotions through The Force- a problem that is a lot worse for her with the war breaking out. The second is Ruug Quarnom, a former Black Ops Neimoidian guard who becomes an ally of Obi-Wan’s as he investigates a mysterious bombing of a civilian sector on Cato Neimoidia. Obi-Wan’s plotline of solving the mystery behind the bombing is very interesting, and the only reason I actually kept reading the book. The development of the Neimoidian people was also great.

I also enjoyed a scene featuring the return of Dex early on in the story, and this book has a very cute Anidala date, even though it leans too heavily into the “Anakin is selfish” aspect of his personality in his choice of date spot for my taste. (Yes, he’s nascent Darth Vader, but that shouldn’t be coming out so strongly. There’s no point in his fall if he was never actually good.) This book also gets bonus points for recanonizing Obi-Wan’s Ben alias as having been a nickname Satine used for him (which was previously canonized in Kenobi and made me very happy), and for mentioning Anakin meeting Cal Kestis from Jedi: Fallen Order. Siri Tachi is also briefly mentioned! I’m not sure if this is her first appearance in Disney canon, but either way, she has a quick appearance in this book so she does exist in the new canon. Sister the trans clone from EK Johnston’s Queen’s Hope makes an appearance in this book too. Also, points for bringing in the furnace heart metaphor for Anakin from the RotS novelization, and tying it to a story Shmi used to tell Anakin.

This was mostly just incoherent rambling and I’m fully aware of that; if anyone wants an actual coherent book review for either book just let me know.

grrr brotherhood

Ruug and Ketar...... Obi-Wan..... during Anakins betrayal

Mill Alibeth....... Anakin.... when Ahsoka leaves the order

The integration into the GAR

Mill Alibeth!!!

Clone Trooper Sister 😵‍💫

hope this makes sense

I got Brotherhood because I have little to no self-control when it comes to Star Wars. 🤣📚

sw brotherhood ramblings (spoilers!)

okay so SW Brotherhood was really good. The plot was weak at times but the characterizations and character relationships (esp between Anakin and Obi Wan) is A+++. And isn’t that why we’re here? To read about the characters? It’s not called Star Wars: Good Plot (although the plot itself is fine enough)

I just finished it so I haven’t had time to stew, and I haven’t read anyone’s opinion on it or read much from the author with the exception of the acknowledgements (surprisingly informative) and one (1) tweet explaining that blitzball is from Final Fantasy X which is the most important piece of canonical Star Wars lore of all time. Anyway. Spoilers below the cut since I wrote a lot.

Overall I love it.

There were several weak spots, especially in the plot - for example, why did Obi Wan accept such a bad bargain in the first place? I guess he was desperate, but the investigation never would’ve worked with what he had. Ketar was also the weakest character imo. His descent into villainy is obviously supposed to mirror Anakin and I think also be a reference to the "angry young man without support or healthy emotional outlet” to “we’re all domestic terrorists” pipeline irl but it was very rushed and happened very quickly. Like this dude went from angry to terrorist in a few days? And we never really got to hear his Tragic Backstory until the trial, which didn’t help in his favour (although the nuance on how badly the Republic treated Cato Nemoidia was well done). It does, however, in a rushed way, show us how people exploit angry young men for terrible purposes, and how leaving them aside and assuming everything’s fine without affirming that you care or checking leads to terrible consequences which, hey, in this political environment probably helps. To be fair to Ruug, she did try at first before she got busy. Also the be fair to her she was only busy for a few days, but this whole thing took several days which, again, feels like it’s a bit too fast to be realistic. The final confrontation with Ketar was also quite heavy handed and messy, since Mill was narrating his emotions at every turn (we know he’s angry, thank you Mill, that’s been obvious for a while now) while Obi Wan and Anakin often talked to each other on the side... while Ketar was holding a detonator for a bomb and monologuing? Where did they have the time.

Another weak part is that imo it relies far too heavily on Anakin-related dramatic irony. Now, to be fair, what’s the clone wars without increasingly heavy handed Anakin-related dramatic irony? [deep sigh] It also mentions the memes a lot. Like, I get that technically Anakin is right and sand is, in fact, coarse and rough and irritating and it does, in fact, get everywhere, but every time you mention it I remember the meme and it makes things funny. Is this part supposed to be funny, Mike?

The golden, shining spotlight is the characterizations (barring Ketar) and the Anakin and Obi Wan relationship, though. And to a lesser extent the Anakin and Mill Alibeth relationship, which is adorable and Mill is the light of my life. Astonishingly, Obi Wan isn’t characterized as a perfect being who can do no wrong and Anakin isn’t characterized as a dumb impulsive idiot! I mean, don’t get me wrong, Anakin is both dumb and impulsive, but he’s also compassionate and caring and he loves so fiercely and he’s a genius who likes to fix things. And Obi Wan level-headed and eloquent but he also acknowledges mistakes he made with training Anakin (and he’s not gonna fix them, as we know) and he has blind spots he doesn’t consider. I have become so jaded with the way fandom portrays the two of them lmao. Even a tiny smidgen of Obi Wan not being perfect is enough to make me happy. Anakin’s relationship with his new arm is also nicely done. In the Prequels (specifically, in side notes) there was this very ableist idea given by George Lucas (and said to be believed by the Jedi Council) that his arm being cut off means that he is weaker in the Force due to the lack of midichlorians. Luckily, the Jedi Council never mentions this here and Anakin does have problems with his arm (understandable, it’s a new prosthetic) but he comes to accept it as a part of him and useful. What a breath of fresh air. Another very good reference to the difference between the more expressive TCW Anakin and the less expressive Prequels Anakin is the explicit note that Anakin puts on a monotone when he speaks to the Jedi. This ... fits. Anakin in TCW tends to be more expressive, Anakin in the Prequels is less, yes, but he sounds the most natural in the first 20 mins of Revenge of the Sith and when alone with Padme. It’s a very good tidbit to fill in.

Anakin and Obi Wan’s relationship is wonderfully done. They obviously care and love each other. The ways they work with each other, the ways the reign each other in, highlight their good parts and mitigate their bad, their slow acceptance that they’re equals now, both of them chilling out with regards to each other. The banter... it’s a great way to show them sliding into their Clone Wars relationship while acknowledging the friction (but care!) in AOTC. The way Obi Wan wishes Anakin was here to get him out of the mess because Anakin always manages to find a way but when Anakin shows up he immediately protests about having a plan that Anakin ruined. Anakin trusting Obi Wan to take care of himself and focusing instead on the bigger picture instead of his loved ones. Genuinely unprecedented for this boy, we love to see some growth. ([stares out into the distance])

Anakin and Mill are adorable, he’s always been good with kids (heavy...handed...Anakin-based...dramatic...irony....) and it shows in how he cares about her and encourages her to follow her heart. And he tells her that he’s learning from her and he does! He notes some things that he wished Obi Wan did for him and he does it for her! Genuinely so cute.

Obi Wan and Ruug... is probably something we should have more of. She seems like a rougher, more cynical version of Obi Wan - clearly meant to parallel him the same way Ketar parallels Anakin, except he could also see bits of Anakin in her. She’s also just a very cool character. Brave and good, but also cynical and pragmatic and hardened by war. We don’t get to see her interactions with Ketar as much, especially after he starts talking to Ventress, which is on purpose but still to both of their detriment. I also like how Ventress is more of a manipulator than a fighter here. Good to remember all of her skills, and good to remember that she also has reasons to dislike the Republic.

Side note, while I am talking about relationships: Anakin and Padme are so obviously in their Honeymoon Phase and it’s so funny. Obi Wan suspects but each time he’s like “are they... nah. No. I am going to think about something else.”

There are also some legit criticisms of the Jedi that I like being delivered. Like obviously they’re good, they’re trying to be good while the Republic is asking them to stray further from their vows, but lookat little Mill Alibeth pointing out that for a peacekeeping force, the Jedi place way too much value on their swords. Also Ventress pointed out some stuff but that’s was more in the manner of a creative use of the truth to make a better lie. It’s a well done piece of manipulation, certainly, but it’s not as impactful.

Lastly, author Mike Chen noted that he read the Revenge of the Sith novelization in his acknowledgements. Based and it shows and I love him for it. Literally bits in the narration that ties directly into that novel. The continuity of it all. [Chefs kiss].

And now she saw into his very essence—a smoldering furnace of a heart, a passion so furious that the intensity of his feelings might be the very thing to incinerate himself into his worst nightmare: a cold, withered dragon’s final grasp for control, its brilliant home burned away into a lifeless lump of minerals.

Mike Chen „Star Wars:Brotherhood ”

Star Wars + Moodboards

Clone Trooper: Sister

"What's your name, trooper?" “Sister. It's how my brothers tell everyone I belong."

It was quiet in the house, after.

It was the sort of quietness that Obi-Wan knew was the last thing holding up the fragile peace between them. It was the sort of quietness he knew needed not to be forced to end, otherwise more things would be broken.

So he let it be. Let it hold onto them for the rest of the day, the evening, past the setting of the suns and into the night.

The first sign of the quietness coming to an end was Cody coming to lay down next to him. If he would've gone to sleep somewhere else, it would've meant that he needed even more time. Obi-Wan still didn't say anything, didn't push for anything, just let him lay there. Cody's back was not quite touching Obi-Wan's, but he was still close enough for Obi-Wan to feel the warmth radiating from him.

Obi-Wan waited. He had gotten good at waiting.

Then, after the desert had fallen asleep around them, Cody spoke.

"I do understand", he said. His voice was level, in a way Obi-Wan recognised that almost deceptive. Not because he was lying, no, but because he needed to make it so in order to speak the truth.

"Understand what, exactly?" Obi-Wan asked. He both heard and felt Cody shift.

"Understand why you can't let go", Cody said. "How you are probably never able."

There was another moment of the quietness between them. Obi-Wan listened to Cody breathe through all the thoughts and feelings that were undoubtedly storming inside of him.

"I never would've been able, no matter what", Cody said then, his voice now more quiet, but also more harsh around the words, as he was trying to get them out in time. "I know Fox wasn't perfect, none of us were, but he was mine."

"I'm not sure it's the same thing", Obi-Wan said. "Fox and Anakin were two very, very different people."

"They were", Cody said, almost spitting the words out, like he was insulted by even the thought of his brother being compared to Anakin. "But he was still mine and he was still yours."

Obi-Wan stared at the darkness of the house for a long, long moment in the quietness.

"Yes", he whispered, finally. "He was."

actual footage of matthew stover writing the the FIRST FUCKING PAGE of RotS

Bedtime stories 6

Cody: Uh... ?

Rex: Hardcase is snoring.

Cody: ... So... so what?

Rex: So, there are five dudes in my bed, and Hardcase himself because he can't sleep alone. He snores and it's hot as hell, so I let them down to have a peaceful sleep.

Cody: ...

Rex: Do you mind if I read a little before?

___

Confused Cody is confused.

What do you think? As a big brother, is he going to accept Rex no matter how weird all this is? Or is he going to kick him out because he doesn't want to be bother too?

___

DA link for the win >> Bedtime stories 6 by NicodemusLily on DeviantArt

___

@the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond

Also find me on Ao3--DragonRider9905

Everything is separated by series

Canon

One Shots/Stand Alones

Hunter's Stress Journal

Clonetober 2022

Lessons from the Past Offer Hope for a Golden Future

AUs

To Be a Jedi (Hunter Force-Sensitive AU)

The Clone's Incomplete Guide for Navigating the Afterlife (We're Learning as We Go)

Technically, We’re in Love (Tech/OC)—Same AU as Broken, Not Shattered

Broken, Not Shattered (Crosshair/OC)(Hunter/OC)—Same AU as Technically

With You From Dusk till Dawn (Hunter/OC)

The World Where You Live (Hunter/OC) (Tech/OC)

Reader Inserts

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy!

Feel free to comment and/or reblog. Would be much appreciated!

Okay I’m absolutely LOVING this book so far..

Spoilers for Brotherhood by Mike Chen below

(not really big spoilers just a list of moments and details I’m obsessed with from the first 15 chapters)

I can’t stop thinking about:

Obi-Wan thinking about Anakin 90% of the time

Obi-Wan worrying about Anakin like a mama bird who’s baby has left the nest

Anakin not knowing what to do with authority and freedom now that he has it

Obi-Wan finding that ironic considering how often he had to deal with Anakin begging to be allowed to do whatever he wanted

Dex teasing Obi-Wan about Satine

Dex continuing to be Obi-Wan’s go to information guy

Anakin and Padme being really cute on their little date

Anakin taking Padme “racing” because it’s his favourite thing to do

Padme being excited about bringing Anakin to a place that sells food that might remind him of Tatooine

Obi-Wan and Anakin both making themselves feel better by imagining how the other would be making fun of them

Both Obi-Wan and Anakin using memories of Qui-Gon to centre themselves

References to other Star Wars novels that I’ve actually read!! (Padawan and Master & Apprentice)

The chapters are super short which is great for my ADHD

And the vibes are a perfect mix of AOTC and The Clone Wars

My absolute favourite part though, has been:

Anakin having to deal with the younglings (…yikes)

Also Obi-Wan finding it hilarious that Anakin has to deal with the younglings

🩷 Sister 🩵

Just like her brothers and the Jedi, around these parts we love & respect Sister and her gender identity. 🏳️‍⚧️

Art taglist: @the-hexfiles @your-slutty-gf @msmeredithrose @lonely-day3636

You can find more of my art here in my masterlist or by clicking my art tag.