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Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice #12

Star Wars: The Evil Experiment

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An evil scientist is imprisoning and torturing Jedi to find the secret behind the Force. She taps their emotions, monitors their actions . . . and then drains them of their blood.

Qui-Gon Jinn is now her captive.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is desperately searching for his Master. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon must match wits with one of the most dangerous enemies he has ever encountered.

His survival depends on it.

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

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1422 people want to read

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Jude Watson

151 books608 followers

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5 stars
584 (28%)
4 stars
687 (33%)
3 stars
629 (30%)
2 stars
125 (6%)
1 star
16 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Jim C.
1,780 reviews35 followers
January 11, 2019
This is part of a series and continues from the cliffhanger from the previous book. The previous book is the only one that is really needed to be read for this one. In this one, Qui-Gon is captured by a scientist who want to understand the force thru science and Obi-Wan is attempting to rescue him.

I was really enjoying this book of this series until the final pages. Up to those final pages, I considered this entry as one of the better ones of this series. I like the concept of trying to understand this mysterious aspect of the force thru science. And Obi-Wan continues to impress as we are getting a nice view of his progression as a padawan. That is one of the highlights of this series is seeing Obi-Wan becoming more and more adept. All in all I was on board with everything in this book meant for the younger audience. Then, I read the final pages. Just no. It did not make sense and I feel these final pages are a result of the author wanting another cliffhanger. I have no problem with that but it has to work within the story and it did not.

This is a nice series and I am loving the look into Obi-Wan as a padawan and it is nice to get more of an insight to Qui-Gon. Even though I did not care for the cliffhanger I will continue this series.

Profile Image for Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library).
4,896 reviews87 followers
July 1, 2018
Continuing the story arc that began in The Deadly Hunter, The Evil Experiment is yet another "juvenile" Star Wars novel that would make enjoyable reading for adults as well. I don't want to give away the ending, so, I'll just say this: Make sure you have the next book handy before finishing this one.
Profile Image for Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah*.
1,066 reviews190 followers
March 25, 2014
"Sometimes the home you find is the one you are meant to have."

Obi-Wan and Astri race to uncover the mystery of Qui-Gon's whereabouts after being kidnapped by the brutal bounty hunters. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon must fight to stay alive while being the subject of experiments by an evil scientist.

This book was a very quick read for me due to its fast pace and intense action scenes. Although it was difficult to watch Qui-Gon suffer so much at the hands of his captor, it was refreshing to see Obi-Wan take the lead in this book. For once, he is in charge and handles everything is a surprisingly efficient way! It was heartbreaking and beautiful to see how much he cares for his master and how deep the bond is between the two.

Very glad that this series seems to keep getting better!

Profile Image for Rebecca.
1,136 reviews115 followers
May 29, 2021
2021 review:
While there are differences between this three part arc and the next one, its bugging me that Qui-gon is able to be functional when he was literally being drained of his blood and Tahl, well let's just say her version of a similar arc doesn't end well. Tahl is wonderful in this book. For the last 6 books or so she has functioned in a similar way as Oracle functions within the Bat Family. I like that this arc explores ethics in the field of science.

Original review:
3.5 stars. A fun quick read that has well developed characters and is a good way to get young readers thinking about ethics and how it impacts science and medicine.
Profile Image for Genevieve Grace.
976 reviews117 followers
January 24, 2020
Back on this train because I need inspiration. Now we're really getting into the thick of Jenna Zan Arbor's evil plot, and I know it's just going to get worse. I'm desperate to know who the mysterious second person in her facility is! "You don't know him, but you're close to him." I rarely stumble over a plot point I don't already know about through fandom osmosis, so I'm excited!
Profile Image for Drew Ck.
57 reviews5 followers
June 3, 2015
Qui gon is a scientist's project to discover the Force after being captured by a Bounty hunter. Obi Wan tries to find him but is forced to leave him and take a cure to their friend, who is slowly dying due to the scientist.
Profile Image for Cudahy Family Library.
129 reviews10 followers
April 20, 2023
‘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!!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
72 reviews
February 23, 2024
The majority of this book involves Obi-wan trying to find where Qui-gon is being held, and Qui-gon trying not to die in the meantime. Even got a nod to the famous line from the movies with Qui-gon silently willing Obi-wan to find and help him lol, which I probably shouldn’t have enjoyed as much as I did. The villain of this story is pretty dark, and she’s not even a Sith or force sensitive, she’s just some scary scientist who infects populations with diseases so that she can swoop in with a healing cure, and her current interest is draining force-sensitive’s of their nice midiclorian-rich blood so she can figure out how to harness the Force for her own ends hahah yikes. There’s a few characters in the current canon who do similar things but this one is more successful at being scary, imo (I mean the guy in TBB is also pretty intimidating but not on this level).

I do appreciate that this series allowed the author to do 2 and 3 parters occasionally (which is the case with this book being part 2 of 3) so that we could get a fuller story and more character development out of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Graff Fuller.
2,053 reviews32 followers
February 18, 2024
The Evil Experiment by Jude Watson

Adventurous, emotional, hopeful, inspiring, mysterious, sad, and 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 Stars

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.
Profile Image for Robert Alexander Johnson.
233 reviews2 followers
November 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Steady and Engaging Continuation

The Evil Experiment continues directly from The Deadly Hunter, following Obi-Wan’s search for Qui-Gon. The story keeps the tension and mystery alive, showing Obi-Wan’s growth as he relies on his instincts and reasoning rather than the Force. I appreciated how the book again focused more on character and intellect than on lightsabers or Force powers, which made it feel grounded and thoughtful.

While the book was enjoyable and well-paced, it did not stand out as much as some earlier entries. Still, it’s a solid continuation that deepens Obi-Wan’s independence and maintains interest for what comes next.
Profile Image for Alba.
206 reviews
July 13, 2020
Por el momento es la historia con la que más he disfrutado de la serie hasta ahora, de momento abarca dos libros y seguro que un tercero, pues este acaba con media trama por resolver.

El progreso de Obi-Wan como padawan se nota en esta historia, que, separado de Qui-Gon, le toca tomar decisiones y seguir su instinto y enseñanzas Jedi, ¡y se está convirtiendo en el sabio Obi-Wan que conocemos!

Quería empezar con mi novela de veraneo pero tal como ha acabado la cosa voy a leer el siguiente para cerrar la trama.
Profile Image for Alyce Caswell.
Author 18 books20 followers
April 6, 2023
I can see why I was so dismayed to find myself confronted with another cliffhanger when I was a kid, but now I can appreciate how well it was done. Whereas a lack of pages hurt the previous instalment's climax, the extra pages in this book helped it deliver a much better one - and I enjoyed seeing Obi-Wan get his chance to shine as the main investigator trying to solve the mystery. It shows how much his character has grown throughout the series to this point.

As always, Watson introduces yet more likeable guest characters in this book. Astri remains a highlight.
Profile Image for Hansel Haase.
65 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2024
A nice little follow-up to Deadly Hunter, this book splits up Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and further digs into the mystery set up previously, giving Obi-Wan a lot of action and surprisingly doing a lot with Qui-Gon despite him being captured. I couldn't wait to jump into the next book!

A solid 3 stars—maybe not groundbreaking literature but certainly a worthwhile read for Star Wars fans of any age.
Profile Image for Malcolm Cox.
Author 1 book4 followers
June 12, 2025
Following directly on from The Deadly Hunter, Obi-Wan has to undertake an investigation to locate his missing master as well as the source of a cure. He teams up with the daughter of his master's ailing friend as they race against the clock to track down the mastermind behind he recent goings on.

I do enjoy a good police-procedural storyline, and this one delivered one I wasn't expecting from this series. A tight story and a compelling story arc.
Profile Image for Daniel Gaul.
276 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2025
An interesting look at the mad scientist who will haunt the Jedi all the way into the early Imperial era. I can't help but wonder if some of her experiments were similar (in theory) to those being performed by Darth Plagueis. Some of the story feels a bit over the top; even with the backing of the Jedi Council, it feels like Obi-Wan has a lot of leeway that a typical teenager wouldn't/shouldn't have.
Profile Image for Lisa.
640 reviews12 followers
July 13, 2017
I'm starting to get annoyed with these books just because to create any sort of tension the authors have to treat the Jedi as pathetic fools sometimes. The ending left something to be desired. QuiGon, Obi Wan and a third competent being couldn't take on one scientist and free the other captive? This made absolutely no sense.
Profile Image for David Braly.
234 reviews
January 15, 2019
An evil scientist is imprisoning and torturing Jedi to find the secret behind the Force. She taps their emotions, monitors their actions . . . and then drains them of their blood.

Qui-Gon Jinn is now her captive.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is desperately searching for his Master. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon must match wits with one of the most dangerous enemies he has ever encountered.
Profile Image for Samuel Saul Richardson.
243 reviews4 followers
September 15, 2022
Great book with an effective continuation of the story. Although they haven't used the term yet- there is a possible Midi-Chlorean part here when they're discussing the science behind the Force. We also arguably see Obi-Wan use a type of Force Healing.

Who let this cover slide? This is a children's book. 😅
Profile Image for Bryan.
18 reviews
March 13, 2024
Much more exciting than the previous book which was used to set this plot up. Assuming the next book will be the conclusion for this particular story but can't wait to dive in. We are more than halfway through the series at this point, so not sure if there will be more multi-book stories after this, but I hope so.
Profile Image for Gary Varga.
456 reviews
May 26, 2025
This story is interesting but just a stepping stone in an overarching tale. Due to that it feels incomplete even as a chapter. Nothing feels resolved nor particularly moved on.

Worth reading as part of the series but has a lower value compared to others in the series. Certainly not worth reading in isolation.
Profile Image for Julie.
3,525 reviews51 followers
January 3, 2018
Entry two in a three-book story arc. I liked this one. Lots of Qui-Gon being Qui-Gon, and a fast-paced story around it of Obi-Wan and Astri (and Tahl) trying to figure out the mystery. The villain of this tale is particularly nasty.
Profile Image for K.
645 reviews3 followers
November 25, 2020
ここで死ぬわけはないとわかっていても、ドキドキしてしまう。ここまでやられっぱなしでいいのかジェダイマスター!!これが本当に正しい手がかりかどうなのかわからない。間違っていたらマスターは死んでしまう。そんな不安を抱えつつ、クワイガンの教えを思い出しながら、自分の直感とフォースをたよりにがんばるオビワンは相変わらず健気。ようやく再会できたのに、ええー!またそんな過酷な試練を! 自分のライトセーバーをわたすオビワンにほろりしつつ、次回こそクワイガン、ジェダイマスターとしての意地を見せて欲しい!!
Profile Image for Adayla.
361 reviews
May 12, 2023
Read aloud with the boys (ages 7 and 5). This one was like the previous in the series, on the creepy side. Some intense moments.

Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice read aloud time will for sure be one of my cherished memories with these wonderful, adventurous little boys.
Profile Image for Anthony English.
90 reviews
September 7, 2023
Really liked the mystery aspect of this one & seeing Obi-Wan use his detective skills which will serve him & Anakin well in the future. Jenna Zan Arbor was a great villain. Cold, calculating, & crazy...the making of a good villain lol.
Profile Image for Zoey.
507 reviews5 followers
June 23, 2024
The roles have flipped with this one. It’s now Obi Wan’s job to save his master, and Qui Gon’s job to have faith in his padawan. I’m starting to have a greater appreciation for their dynamic than I did before. I think it has something to do with Qui Gon actually trusting and valuing Obi Wan.
Profile Image for Barbara Oudová Holcátová.
78 reviews5 followers
July 30, 2024
This worked better as a detective mystery, and though I personally dislike "scenes from captivity", that's hardly the book's fault. Qui-Gon was a bit too stupid, but I guess that can be excused by his state, and Obi-Wan was given WAY too much freedom for how young he is...
287 reviews
June 30, 2017
She should have killed him while she had the chance
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews

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