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cyris_reads's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
graff_fuller's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed the arc that Obi-Wan had...with Astra (daughter of Didi).
I hadn't expected THIS story...when I started it, but I got it...and liked how the story was revealed.
Unfortunately, it was left on ANOTHER cliffhanger. Ugh, not sure I'm going to read the NEXT story...at this moment.
I think that Jude Watson is doing a good job with these stories.
I hadn't expected THIS story...when I started it, but I got it...and liked how the story was revealed.
Unfortunately, it was left on ANOTHER cliffhanger. Ugh, not sure I'm going to read the NEXT story...at this moment.
I think that Jude Watson is doing a good job with these stories.
jaredkwheeler's review
3.0
Star Wars Legends Project #52
Background: The Evil Experiment came out in February 2001. It was written by [a:Jude Watson|11912|Jude Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1403530689p2/11912.jpg].
The Evil Experiment begins almost immediately after [b:The Deadly Hunter|359810|The Deadly Hunter (Star Wars Jedi Apprentice, #11)|Jude Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374774230s/359810.jpg|349927] (my review), 43 years before the Battle of Yavin and 11 years before The Phantom Menace. Didi Oddo's daughter, Astri, returns to play a major role, along with Tahl, the scientist Jenna Zan Arbor, the bounty hunter Ona Nobis, and various others from the previous book.
Summary: Qui-Gon Jinn has been taken prisoner by a ruthless genius obsessed with studying the Force, Didi Oddo lies at death's door from an infected blaster wound, and Obi-Wan and Astri will stop at nothing to save them. Tracking a faint trail left by the deadly bounty hunter who captured Qui-Gon, they race across the galaxy in search of a secret lab, hoping against hope that they aren't already too late.
Review: Where Qui-Gon first started to take shape as a character a couple books ago, here Obi-Wan finally starts coming into his own. This is definitely his book, as he takes charge and takes action to go to Qui-Gon's rescue. I like that we hear the Jedi are fully mobilized in the search for Qui-Gon, but Obi-Wan is still allowed to pursue his own leads. Makes so much more sense than if the Jedi left it all up to him, but it lends plausibility to his involvement and ultimate success, as well.
The best part is the unexpected role played by Astri. Where Qui-Gon would have seen her value immediately, Obi-Wan (and the readers) expect her to be something of a liability when she insists on tagging along, but her particular skills come in handy in clever and entertaining ways, and she is well-written and serves as a good partner for Obi-Wan. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing more of this pairing.
The bits with Qui-Gon in captivity generate a little suspense but mostly feel like a wasted opportunity, or like pointless filler to break up Obi-Wan's desperate hunt. At the very least, this segment could have done a better job explaining how he is rendered so helpless. I don't really buy the "he's weakened" explanation. He deliberately decides not to use the Force to heal himself so that his captor can't study him, which seems short-sighted, particularly given his insistence that this research isn't going to go anywhere. If he's sure this is a research dead-end anyway, then what's he playing at? And wouldn't it be way harder for her to study him if he, like, heals himself with the Force and then turns the tables on her?
Anyway, I'm saving my extra-special super nitpicking complaint for a trio of minor criminals who play a small but significant role late in the book. Their names are Cholly, Weez, and Tup . . . I'm sorry, are these Star Wars characters, or Victorian street urchins? What is this nonsense? They just felt like refugees from a totally different genre of YA lit.
Other than that, this story clips right along with some nice twists and turns, and none of the head-scratching maybe-plot-holes of the last story. And then it still doesn't resolve, although this feels like a bit less of a major cliffhanger and a bit more like an arbitrary place to split this volume off from the next. I really think that we could count on the audience this is aimed at to keep going through the whole story if it were all compiled as one book. Accelerated Reader classifies this at a 4th-grade reading level. I think they could handle it. Ah, well. On to the (I hope) stunning conclusion.
C
Background: The Evil Experiment came out in February 2001. It was written by [a:Jude Watson|11912|Jude Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1403530689p2/11912.jpg].
The Evil Experiment begins almost immediately after [b:The Deadly Hunter|359810|The Deadly Hunter (Star Wars Jedi Apprentice, #11)|Jude Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374774230s/359810.jpg|349927] (my review), 43 years before the Battle of Yavin and 11 years before The Phantom Menace. Didi Oddo's daughter, Astri, returns to play a major role, along with Tahl, the scientist Jenna Zan Arbor, the bounty hunter Ona Nobis, and various others from the previous book.
Summary: Qui-Gon Jinn has been taken prisoner by a ruthless genius obsessed with studying the Force, Didi Oddo lies at death's door from an infected blaster wound, and Obi-Wan and Astri will stop at nothing to save them. Tracking a faint trail left by the deadly bounty hunter who captured Qui-Gon, they race across the galaxy in search of a secret lab, hoping against hope that they aren't already too late.
Review: Where Qui-Gon first started to take shape as a character a couple books ago, here Obi-Wan finally starts coming into his own. This is definitely his book, as he takes charge and takes action to go to Qui-Gon's rescue. I like that we hear the Jedi are fully mobilized in the search for Qui-Gon, but Obi-Wan is still allowed to pursue his own leads. Makes so much more sense than if the Jedi left it all up to him, but it lends plausibility to his involvement and ultimate success, as well.
The best part is the unexpected role played by Astri. Where Qui-Gon would have seen her value immediately, Obi-Wan (and the readers) expect her to be something of a liability when she insists on tagging along, but her particular skills come in handy in clever and entertaining ways, and she is well-written and serves as a good partner for Obi-Wan. I definitely wouldn't mind seeing more of this pairing.
The bits with Qui-Gon in captivity generate a little suspense but mostly feel like a wasted opportunity, or like pointless filler to break up Obi-Wan's desperate hunt. At the very least, this segment could have done a better job explaining how he is rendered so helpless. I don't really buy the "he's weakened" explanation. He deliberately decides not to use the Force to heal himself so that his captor can't study him, which seems short-sighted, particularly given his insistence that this research isn't going to go anywhere. If he's sure this is a research dead-end anyway, then what's he playing at? And wouldn't it be way harder for her to study him if he, like, heals himself with the Force and then turns the tables on her?
Anyway, I'm saving my extra-special super nitpicking complaint for a trio of minor criminals who play a small but significant role late in the book. Their names are Cholly, Weez, and Tup . . . I'm sorry, are these Star Wars characters, or Victorian street urchins? What is this nonsense? They just felt like refugees from a totally different genre of YA lit.
Other than that, this story clips right along with some nice twists and turns, and none of the head-scratching maybe-plot-holes of the last story. And then it still doesn't resolve, although this feels like a bit less of a major cliffhanger and a bit more like an arbitrary place to split this volume off from the next. I really think that we could count on the audience this is aimed at to keep going through the whole story if it were all compiled as one book. Accelerated Reader classifies this at a 4th-grade reading level. I think they could handle it. Ah, well. On to the (I hope) stunning conclusion.
C
hstapp's review
3.0
Much better than he last book. Star Wars books tend to be much better when the main characters are separated, as they are here.
lorien13's review
5.0
I finally reread this, and it's a lot better than I recall. Although the title and cover are straight up terrible (talk about bad Photoshop instead of just getting a look alike), the story is great. Picking up right after the end of The Deadly Hunter, this one isn't as hard to predict. Instead the twists and turns aren't as big. But the ending is also a cliffhanger done well enough that I think I'm going to pick up my third Jedi Apprentice in one day, my fifth in the month!
janebby's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
fandom4ever's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
‘The Evil Experiment’ is the twelfth book in the Jedi Apprentice series and a direct continuation after the cliffhanger in ‘The Deadly Hunter’. With Qui-Gon now a captive, Obi-Wan is masterless and must use everything he’s learned thus far to try and bring his master home. Watson does an amazing job of showing how capable Obi-Wan has become under Qui-Gon’s tutelage. He’s still a bit hesitant, after all he’s still a kid and not sure that people will listen to him or do as he says no matter that he’s a Jedi. But overall, he focuses on all the lessons and how Qui-Gon would act in each given situation, which proves to be his greatest asset in the search.
The book once more switches between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s points of view and here you get to see that while trying to remain strong, Qui-Gon is worried about how long he can last as a prisoner and very much awaiting his Padawan to rescue him. I love the level of trust that is shown in this book. The two of them have grown so much and truly care so much for each other.
I thought the reveal of who had hired the bounty hunter and now held Qui-Gon captive was really well done. The questioning in the prior book never shed too much light on who it might be, thus never ruining the reveal. Due to this being the second book in this particular storyline, Watson was able to further flesh out many of the characters that were introduced last book. For instance, we get to learn more about the mysterious bounty hunter and get to see how far Astri will go when her father’s, Didi, life is on the line.
This is a well done book. Obviously because of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, we know that Qui-Gon can’t die but that doesn’t matter here. You still feel the tension, the race against time, and are completely captivated as to how Qui-Gon will be rescued. The book once more leaves us on a huge cliffhanger that leaves you stunned. I am impressed that we’re heading into a trilogy for this story arc and I absolutely can’t wait to begin the next book!!
The book once more switches between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s points of view and here you get to see that while trying to remain strong, Qui-Gon is worried about how long he can last as a prisoner and very much awaiting his Padawan to rescue him. I love the level of trust that is shown in this book. The two of them have grown so much and truly care so much for each other.
I thought the reveal of who had hired the bounty hunter and now held Qui-Gon captive was really well done. The questioning in the prior book never shed too much light on who it might be, thus never ruining the reveal. Due to this being the second book in this particular storyline, Watson was able to further flesh out many of the characters that were introduced last book. For instance, we get to learn more about the mysterious bounty hunter and get to see how far Astri will go when her father’s, Didi, life is on the line.
This is a well done book. Obviously because of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, we know that Qui-Gon can’t die but that doesn’t matter here. You still feel the tension, the race against time, and are completely captivated as to how Qui-Gon will be rescued. The book once more leaves us on a huge cliffhanger that leaves you stunned. I am impressed that we’re heading into a trilogy for this story arc and I absolutely can’t wait to begin the next book!!
thebookslayer's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ofclumsywords's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I wasn't kidding when I said that I was excited for this plot to be a multiple book arc in my last review and this did not disappoint! Obi-Wan is separated from his master at the very end of Deadly Hunter and now he has to navigate how to find Qui-Gon all on his own.
Now that Qui-Gon is gone, we really get to see Obi-Wan's progression of all he has learned in his apprenticeship. He conducts the entire investigation without any Jedi supervision and with the help of Astri, Didi's daughter. Though he lacks confidence during certain parts of the mission, he really does an excellent job. He lets himself take his time to think things through instead of jumping to conclusions and being quick to judge. He lets Qui-Gon's past lessons come back by remembering his teachings as if Qui-Gon is right there next to him speaking them out loud.
With that being said, it also makes me sad to realize how far Obi-Wan has come and that there are only a few books left in this series. And Qui-Gon's eventual death. Seeing them apart while Qui-Gon is still alive and hearing Qui-Gon say multiple times in this book that he is proud of Obi-Wan and that he knows that Obi-Wan will find him is like a knife in the heart. Their bond is growing stronger and all their past differences are in the past. We get to see each of them really care for each other and worry about the other and getting an inside look to Obi-Wan's apprenticeship is really driving home how much Qui-Gon's death effected him in The Phantom Menace.
I really cannot wait to begin the next book; and getting to buddy read it (something I tried for the first time here on StoryGraph and was so much fun) made reading this book with so much angst much more bearable.
Now that Qui-Gon is gone, we really get to see Obi-Wan's progression of all he has learned in his apprenticeship. He conducts the entire investigation without any Jedi supervision and with the help of Astri, Didi's daughter. Though he lacks confidence during certain parts of the mission, he really does an excellent job. He lets himself take his time to think things through instead of jumping to conclusions and being quick to judge. He lets Qui-Gon's past lessons come back by remembering his teachings as if Qui-Gon is right there next to him speaking them out loud.
With that being said, it also makes me sad to realize how far Obi-Wan has come and that there are only a few books left in this series. And Qui-Gon's eventual death. Seeing them apart while Qui-Gon is still alive and hearing Qui-Gon say multiple times in this book that he is proud of Obi-Wan and that he knows that Obi-Wan will find him is like a knife in the heart. Their bond is growing stronger and all their past differences are in the past. We get to see each of them really care for each other and worry about the other and getting an inside look to Obi-Wan's apprenticeship is really driving home how much Qui-Gon's death effected him in The Phantom Menace.
I really cannot wait to begin the next book; and getting to buddy read it (something I tried for the first time here on StoryGraph and was so much fun) made reading this book with so much angst much more bearable.