A review by a_chickletz
Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray

5.0

I remember when I saw The Phantom Menace in the theater. I was in the 5th grade and I fell in love with Ewan McGreggor... but, I also was touched by the brief time we shared with Qui Gon Jinn. Lucas did so well in casting Liam in the role that to this day if someone adapts Qui Gon I need to be able to picture Liam saying the lines and if they flow with his character.

Little of Qui Gon's background has made it's way into official canon. There is now the extinct EU that seemed to focus on his time under Dooku's training but even then, it was not much but enough for someone one gain some insight on how he should be written.

Claudia Gray is that person and has been that person since Lost Stars was published.

There is a benefit of someone who comes from a fanfiction background writing for something they enjoy. As fans, we come to care about the characters and study them a lot more than a normal reader would or someone who has a passing fancy or interest. Lucasfilm has hit a goldmine in nabbing Claudia and I do hope they never loose her.

She has written this excellent story about Qui Gon that covers almost everything that made me love him from the one film that featured him. She has also captured an Obi Wan that seems to be, as Yoda said, influenced by Qui Gon over time. It makes their moments in Episode 1 so much more stronger and pogiant than before.

The other characters Claudia has created for this story as well are strong and truly have enough weight to stand alongside the existing canon figures. When finishing the book I realized how much I wanted to see Raael again; how I hoped to see more of the two thieving pirates. And of course, how I wanted to have more flashbacks with Dooku and Qui Gon.

I want more. I hope I see more? And lastly, I hope it is her who writes it.

But an even better twist?: I want Claudia to tackle stories of Obi Wan and Anakin, too.