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Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice #15
Star Wars: The Death of Hope
"I pledge myself to you, Tahl."
"I pledge myself to you, Qui-Gon."
With these words, two Jedi Knights acknowledged that their bond had grown beyond friendship and into love.
Now Tahl has been abducted in a trap that Qui-Gon feels he should have foreseen. Consumed by dark visions, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi must do everything in their power to get her back before it's too late. But that won't be easy in a land where nobody can be trusted . . . and everyone has something to hide.
"I pledge myself to you, Qui-Gon."
With these words, two Jedi Knights acknowledged that their bond had grown beyond friendship and into love.
Now Tahl has been abducted in a trap that Qui-Gon feels he should have foreseen. Consumed by dark visions, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi must do everything in their power to get her back before it's too late. But that won't be easy in a land where nobody can be trusted . . . and everyone has something to hide.
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
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1401 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 11, 2022
Great one!
If not the best in the series so far, then it's definitely in the top 5. Loved seeing Qui Gon from another perspective which is not tapped in the movies at all. The story is great, fun, sad, everything, with action that keeps building up until the end.
If not the best in the series so far, then it's definitely in the top 5. Loved seeing Qui Gon from another perspective which is not tapped in the movies at all. The story is great, fun, sad, everything, with action that keeps building up until the end.
July 14, 2018
Though I am giving this a positive review, I must warn parents and teachers that the final scene will likely be a bit worrisome for young children, especially those who have recently experienced their own personal tragedies. For older readers, such as myself, this is great; use discretion with children, though.
February 15, 2019
Actual rating is 3.5 stars.
I am fifteen books into this series and I just found my favorite book of the series. This is a continuation of the previous book so that one must be read before this one. In this one, Qui-Gon is determined to get Tahl back and he doesn't care how he achieves it. He is going down a dark path.
I have been saying for awhile that this series has become ho-hum and complacent. That changes with this book. The last several books have focused on individual missions that really did not matter too much. In this book the mission takes a back seat and focuses on Qui-Gon and the path he is on. We all know that the Jedi believe that attachments lead to bad decisions and this book delves into that. I liked how this played out with Qui-Gon too as he has always seemed distant and stoic. This shows him that he can be a regular human with feelings and he is not infallible. This book also includes flashbacks that detail how Qui-Gon and Tahl became friends and this was a nice personal touch that just adds to the relationship.
This series is meant for a younger audience but this one is definitely a little darker and can be enjoyed by all. I enjoyed the look into Jedi ways and whether there is a wisdom in their beliefs. My only regret with this book is that it is a novella instead of a complete novel. I would have liked an in depth look into this story line.
I am fifteen books into this series and I just found my favorite book of the series. This is a continuation of the previous book so that one must be read before this one. In this one, Qui-Gon is determined to get Tahl back and he doesn't care how he achieves it. He is going down a dark path.
I have been saying for awhile that this series has become ho-hum and complacent. That changes with this book. The last several books have focused on individual missions that really did not matter too much. In this book the mission takes a back seat and focuses on Qui-Gon and the path he is on. We all know that the Jedi believe that attachments lead to bad decisions and this book delves into that. I liked how this played out with Qui-Gon too as he has always seemed distant and stoic. This shows him that he can be a regular human with feelings and he is not infallible. This book also includes flashbacks that detail how Qui-Gon and Tahl became friends and this was a nice personal touch that just adds to the relationship.
This series is meant for a younger audience but this one is definitely a little darker and can be enjoyed by all. I enjoyed the look into Jedi ways and whether there is a wisdom in their beliefs. My only regret with this book is that it is a novella instead of a complete novel. I would have liked an in depth look into this story line.
June 21, 2021
2021 review:
Originally 4 stars now 3 stars. I like the flashbacks. Qui-gon really has taken over this story. It feels like Jude Watson just didn't know what to do with Tahl and decided to use her story to emotionally destroy Qui-gon. When Qui-gon was kidnapped and tortured, and drugged and drained of blood he still got to be an active character. Protocols were still followed. Tahl doesn't get any of that. She just gets damseled and dies. The flashbacks just end up showing me cool versions of Tahl we never really got to see in action.
Original review:
Spoilers for those who haven't read this one yet. Bambi's mom is deemed the childhood traumatic death. I raise this book as contender. At least Babmi's mom had artistic merit and wasn't done in a way that even child me was questioning the narrative given for why Tahl dies. So I forgot about the massacre of an entire village down to the last child. Well, this one packed a punch. 18 years later and having only read this book once before I can still recite quite a few scenes or at least paraphrase them including almost all the flashbacks and the last two chapters that once again destroyed me. If it hadn't come at the cost of making these characters feel show horned into a plot it would be even more emotional because it would feel more genuine and I'd be less upset about the death of a beloved character.
Originally 4 stars now 3 stars. I like the flashbacks. Qui-gon really has taken over this story. It feels like Jude Watson just didn't know what to do with Tahl and decided to use her story to emotionally destroy Qui-gon. When Qui-gon was kidnapped and tortured, and drugged and drained of blood he still got to be an active character. Protocols were still followed. Tahl doesn't get any of that. She just gets damseled and dies. The flashbacks just end up showing me cool versions of Tahl we never really got to see in action.
Original review:
Spoilers for those who haven't read this one yet. Bambi's mom is deemed the childhood traumatic death. I raise this book as contender. At least Babmi's mom had artistic merit and wasn't done in a way that even child me was questioning the narrative given for why Tahl dies. So I forgot about the massacre of an entire village down to the last child. Well, this one packed a punch. 18 years later and having only read this book once before I can still recite quite a few scenes or at least paraphrase them including almost all the flashbacks and the last two chapters that once again destroyed me. If it hadn't come at the cost of making these characters feel show horned into a plot it would be even more emotional because it would feel more genuine and I'd be less upset about the death of a beloved character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2016
Star Wars Legends Project #55
Background: The Death of Hope came out in October 2001. It was written by Jude Watson.
The Death of Hope begins immediately after The Ties That Bind (my review), 41 years before the Battle of Yavin and 9 years before The Phantom Menace. The book features several of the same characters as The Ties That Bind as they are set on the same planet.
Summary: Tahl has been kidnapped and Qui-Gon is out of his mind with fear that the vision he had of her death is about to come true. Throwing caution and all of his usual Jedi reserve to the wind, he and Obi-Wan race after the man who took her. It seems that Qui-Gon will stop at nothing to get his old friend back, even if it means crossing lines he has never crossed before.
Review: This book gets really, really dark, especially for a Star Wars YA novel . . . like, dead kids dark. The new level of maturity and emotional depth in this series continues to grow after the last book. That means there's definitely a lot to like here. The story moves fast and never slows down, but a sense of inevitable doom hangs over everything like a cloud, which scoots the reader even further towards the edge of their seat as it goes on. I feel like the title of this book is a total spoiler, especially if you know the title of the next book, but then again, I think any reader would have to at least suspect how this was going to end even from the previous book. Qui-Gon's tortured visions have not been subtle.
Most of the book is essentially a chase scene, occasionally interrupted by various plot developments, culminating in a climactic base-storming showdown. As a result, it doesn't give you a lot of time to slow down and think about what's going on . . . but there's a major point of the premise that makes no sense to me:
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan get their hands on a probe droid and on the vital statistics or whatever of their target, Balog. Apparently the probe droid can take these statistics and zero directly in and zip straight to wherever the target is, then race back and report to the people controlling it. Meanwhile, the target keeps moving, so they send the probe out again while moving towards the target's last known position, then the droid returns with the new position, rinse, repeat.
Okay, so first of all, this technology makes no sense. Balog is racing away at full speed toward wherever he's going, and the Jedi are in hot pursuit. But the probe droid is faster . . . So much faster that it can bounce back and forth between the pursuer and the pursued over and over again. But then, both of them are just riding in ordinary land speeders . . . Why don't Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon get in, I don't know, a starship? That way they could keep up with the probe and catch Balog the first time the droid does? But that's not even the real problem. The real problem is how the droid can find Balog at all, and how that whole business works. It's never explained, but either the droid is able to tell exactly where he is as soon as they target him, and then flies straight there immediately to confirm and then flies back . . . Which, why wouldn't it just tell them where he is at that point? . . . or the droid is so absurdly fast that it crisscrosses the whole planet and finds him as quickly as if it had just flown straight to him. But what makes even less sense than that is, why does the droid have to fly back and report? It's not equipped with any sort of transmitter? Really? Why on earth not?
It just really feels like Watson didn't think these details through at all, and that's kind of a distraction. And don't get me wrong, I loved the tension and the drama in this book, I just didn't like that there were several times when it kind of felt contrived. Like when Obi-Wan is injured slightly and Qui-Gon feels obligated to stay with him even though he's getting healing. There's no reason for Qui-Gon to stay. Obi-Wan is a big boy . . . Heck, Qui-Gon has sent him off on dangerous missions to other planets before! He could certainly have caught up later. Oh, well.
The thing that I waited to address here that first came up at the end of the last book was the romance between Qui-Gon and Tahl. This is, again, the perfect example of how flawed and emotionally stunted the Jedi Order of this era is. Tahl and Qui-Gon are in a tiff for months because they don't get that the emotion they're experiencing is love, and Obi-Wan certainly has no idea that that's what's going on. Plus, since romantic love is something that Jedi aren't allowed to experience, Qui-Gon is totally unable to deal with the emotions that come with the threat of losing it, which (as we're about to see) puts him in serious danger of falling to the Dark Side just because he's an ordinary human male who is emotionally stunted by his flawed philosophy.
And really, what is it about romantic love specifically that the Jedi are so afraid of. As friends, Tahl and Qui-Gon are already as close as two people can be who aren't romantically involved. What's the extra danger on the other side of that paper-thin line? I mean, we've certainly already seen a few times when Qui-Gon was almost this frantic over danger to Obi-Wan, who is basically like a son or younger brother to him. What makes that less dangerous? It just really feels like, when George Lucas randomly decided that the Jedi were more of a monastic order, he arbitrarily decided that that carried a lot of earth-bound baggage connected to monastic life, like celibacy. And Star Wars storytelling has been grinding its gears trying to pretend like that makes sense ever since.
Anyway. At least we'll get some good drama out of this, I guess, and some great character stuff. I loved all of the flashbacks to Qui-Gon's experiences with Tahl when they were younger. There are great windows into Qui-Gon's character here, and he is handled really well. The flaws are incidental to the point of this story, and to what makes it worthwhile. It's definitely a solid entry in this series.
B
Background: The Death of Hope came out in October 2001. It was written by Jude Watson.
The Death of Hope begins immediately after The Ties That Bind (my review), 41 years before the Battle of Yavin and 9 years before The Phantom Menace. The book features several of the same characters as The Ties That Bind as they are set on the same planet.
Summary: Tahl has been kidnapped and Qui-Gon is out of his mind with fear that the vision he had of her death is about to come true. Throwing caution and all of his usual Jedi reserve to the wind, he and Obi-Wan race after the man who took her. It seems that Qui-Gon will stop at nothing to get his old friend back, even if it means crossing lines he has never crossed before.
Review: This book gets really, really dark, especially for a Star Wars YA novel . . . like, dead kids dark. The new level of maturity and emotional depth in this series continues to grow after the last book. That means there's definitely a lot to like here. The story moves fast and never slows down, but a sense of inevitable doom hangs over everything like a cloud, which scoots the reader even further towards the edge of their seat as it goes on. I feel like the title of this book is a total spoiler, especially if you know the title of the next book, but then again, I think any reader would have to at least suspect how this was going to end even from the previous book. Qui-Gon's tortured visions have not been subtle.
Most of the book is essentially a chase scene, occasionally interrupted by various plot developments, culminating in a climactic base-storming showdown. As a result, it doesn't give you a lot of time to slow down and think about what's going on . . . but there's a major point of the premise that makes no sense to me:
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan get their hands on a probe droid and on the vital statistics or whatever of their target, Balog. Apparently the probe droid can take these statistics and zero directly in and zip straight to wherever the target is, then race back and report to the people controlling it. Meanwhile, the target keeps moving, so they send the probe out again while moving towards the target's last known position, then the droid returns with the new position, rinse, repeat.
Okay, so first of all, this technology makes no sense. Balog is racing away at full speed toward wherever he's going, and the Jedi are in hot pursuit. But the probe droid is faster . . . So much faster that it can bounce back and forth between the pursuer and the pursued over and over again. But then, both of them are just riding in ordinary land speeders . . . Why don't Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon get in, I don't know, a starship? That way they could keep up with the probe and catch Balog the first time the droid does? But that's not even the real problem. The real problem is how the droid can find Balog at all, and how that whole business works. It's never explained, but either the droid is able to tell exactly where he is as soon as they target him, and then flies straight there immediately to confirm and then flies back . . . Which, why wouldn't it just tell them where he is at that point? . . . or the droid is so absurdly fast that it crisscrosses the whole planet and finds him as quickly as if it had just flown straight to him. But what makes even less sense than that is, why does the droid have to fly back and report? It's not equipped with any sort of transmitter? Really? Why on earth not?
It just really feels like Watson didn't think these details through at all, and that's kind of a distraction. And don't get me wrong, I loved the tension and the drama in this book, I just didn't like that there were several times when it kind of felt contrived. Like when Obi-Wan is injured slightly and Qui-Gon feels obligated to stay with him even though he's getting healing. There's no reason for Qui-Gon to stay. Obi-Wan is a big boy . . . Heck, Qui-Gon has sent him off on dangerous missions to other planets before! He could certainly have caught up later. Oh, well.
The thing that I waited to address here that first came up at the end of the last book was the romance between Qui-Gon and Tahl. This is, again, the perfect example of how flawed and emotionally stunted the Jedi Order of this era is. Tahl and Qui-Gon are in a tiff for months because they don't get that the emotion they're experiencing is love, and Obi-Wan certainly has no idea that that's what's going on. Plus, since romantic love is something that Jedi aren't allowed to experience, Qui-Gon is totally unable to deal with the emotions that come with the threat of losing it, which (as we're about to see) puts him in serious danger of falling to the Dark Side just because he's an ordinary human male who is emotionally stunted by his flawed philosophy.
And really, what is it about romantic love specifically that the Jedi are so afraid of. As friends, Tahl and Qui-Gon are already as close as two people can be who aren't romantically involved. What's the extra danger on the other side of that paper-thin line? I mean, we've certainly already seen a few times when Qui-Gon was almost this frantic over danger to Obi-Wan, who is basically like a son or younger brother to him. What makes that less dangerous? It just really feels like, when George Lucas randomly decided that the Jedi were more of a monastic order, he arbitrarily decided that that carried a lot of earth-bound baggage connected to monastic life, like celibacy. And Star Wars storytelling has been grinding its gears trying to pretend like that makes sense ever since.
Anyway. At least we'll get some good drama out of this, I guess, and some great character stuff. I loved all of the flashbacks to Qui-Gon's experiences with Tahl when they were younger. There are great windows into Qui-Gon's character here, and he is handled really well. The flaws are incidental to the point of this story, and to what makes it worthwhile. It's definitely a solid entry in this series.
B
January 28, 2023
In and of itself, the basic plot and premise of The Death of Hope isn't all that great. In fact I found it kind of simple and a bit of a snooze fest.
However, where this one excelled above other Star Wars books, and it's saving grace, is Watson's ability to flesh out the characters of Qui-gon and Obi Wan. Not only does their relationship continue to grow to the point we eventually meet them in Episode One but we get to experience their emotions and feelings more so than usual.
This book gives us glances of Qui-gon's struggle with his feelings of attachment and Obi wan's questions of Qui gon's motivations as well as his own growth in the force.
Sure this series tends to be hit or miss in story but you can't deny Waton really understands Star Wars characters…something she eventually really excelled at in the Jedi Quest and Last Jedi series.
However, where this one excelled above other Star Wars books, and it's saving grace, is Watson's ability to flesh out the characters of Qui-gon and Obi Wan. Not only does their relationship continue to grow to the point we eventually meet them in Episode One but we get to experience their emotions and feelings more so than usual.
This book gives us glances of Qui-gon's struggle with his feelings of attachment and Obi wan's questions of Qui gon's motivations as well as his own growth in the force.
Sure this series tends to be hit or miss in story but you can't deny Waton really understands Star Wars characters…something she eventually really excelled at in the Jedi Quest and Last Jedi series.
October 13, 2020
3,5 - Si bien el anterior y primera parte de esta misión no me dijo gran cosa, he disfrutado mucho con las revelaciones con las que acabó y los sentimientos con los que tiene que lidiar Qui-Gon durante el rescate de Tahln. Obi Wan ha madurado un montón en estas últimas entregas, hasta el punto de tener que tomar él las decisiones importantes y frenar a Qui Gon.
Para el próximo se espera un Qui Gon unleashed con sed de venganza y ya se sabe que la venganza es una autopista al lado oscuro... ¡Resiste Qui Gon!
Para el próximo se espera un Qui Gon unleashed con sed de venganza y ya se sabe que la venganza es una autopista al lado oscuro... ¡Resiste Qui Gon!
April 3, 2014
"Courage was something a Jedi did not think about. It was simply the will to do right. It was the discipline to move forward."
Omg. I have...no words for this right now. I am a huge emotional incoherent mess after reading this.
So beautiful. So sad. So beautifully sad.
Qui-Gon... you are so much more complex and wonderful than I ever realized...
BE RIGHT BACK, CRYING EVERYWHERE. KTHXBAI.
Omg. I have...no words for this right now. I am a huge emotional incoherent mess after reading this.
So beautiful. So sad. So beautifully sad.
Qui-Gon... you are so much more complex and wonderful than I ever realized...
BE RIGHT BACK, CRYING EVERYWHERE. KTHXBAI.
February 29, 2024
The Death of Hope by Jude Watson
Adventurous, challenging, emotional,
mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.
Fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 Stars
I know that these books were/are not written for me (a dude in his late fifties). On the other-hand, for the most part...the lessons taught in these stories are really well thought out and executed (no pun intended).
In this current arc, I'm less interested in the story, though I like Tahl as a character, but feel TOO much time is being spent on this (in world problem and reader problem).
I feel for Qui-Gon Jinn, but this is an attachment. I believe that he's lost his focus (Jedi-ness, if you will).
We know that he doesn't turn to the Dark side, but in this arc, it looks like he's losing his mind in sadness for losing Tahl.
Of course, I'm enjoying the story being told...and loss is part of life, but the ideal of the Jedi, is holding a higher standard. So, this isn't a lesson that most of us can understand, let alone do, but we definitely understand his frustration...for all of us have lost SOMETHING (whether it is a loved one, or pet, or a first edition baseball card, etc.). To the Jedi, these are attachments...and this is a problem.
For people in our world, this is Life.
So, I'm not sure what is the overall point/moral of the story, as it were.
Moving on...
Adventurous, challenging, emotional,
mysterious, reflective, sad, and tense.
Fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 Stars
I know that these books were/are not written for me (a dude in his late fifties). On the other-hand, for the most part...the lessons taught in these stories are really well thought out and executed (no pun intended).
In this current arc, I'm less interested in the story, though I like Tahl as a character, but feel TOO much time is being spent on this (in world problem and reader problem).
I feel for Qui-Gon Jinn, but this is an attachment. I believe that he's lost his focus (Jedi-ness, if you will).
We know that he doesn't turn to the Dark side, but in this arc, it looks like he's losing his mind in sadness for losing Tahl.
Of course, I'm enjoying the story being told...and loss is part of life, but the ideal of the Jedi, is holding a higher standard. So, this isn't a lesson that most of us can understand, let alone do, but we definitely understand his frustration...for all of us have lost SOMETHING (whether it is a loved one, or pet, or a first edition baseball card, etc.). To the Jedi, these are attachments...and this is a problem.
For people in our world, this is Life.
So, I'm not sure what is the overall point/moral of the story, as it were.
Moving on...
January 3, 2018
Tahl has been kidnapped and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan must rescue her before it is too late...
With Qui-Gon pledging himself to Tahl, things were never going to end well for her. Just like a red-shirt in Star-Trek, you know she has a limited life expectancy, and Qui-Gon will have to choose the Jedi order over her (going back on his word), or she is not going to make it back alive...
With Qui-Gon pledging himself to Tahl, things were never going to end well for her. Just like a red-shirt in Star-Trek, you know she has a limited life expectancy, and Qui-Gon will have to choose the Jedi order over her (going back on his word), or she is not going to make it back alive...
April 6, 2025
Scholastic said, "We need you to write these middle years Star Wars books about young Obi-Wan learning to become a Jedi. Space hijinks stuff." And Jude Watson heard, "Write baby's first critiques of capitalism, some stuff about genocide and the horrors of war, and also that beloved OC? Yeah, she's dead now. Watch characters deal with that."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2017
that was intense. i miss the old EU
March 7, 2017
Qui-Gon Jinn enamorado es un bodrio de principio a fin.
January 5, 2017
Picking up just moments after The Ties That Bind, The Death of Hope continues with Qui-Gon chasing after Tahl, his newly-beloved, after she's been kidnapped by the Absolutes, a totalitarian group that wants to regain control of the planet Apsolon. The story focuses primarily on his and Obi-Wan's search for her, neatly twisting the Master/Apprentice relationship on its head, as Obi-Wan now has to act as the voice of reason against Qui-Gon's impetuosity.
The problem is that the whole thing makes little sense. I get that Watson upped the stakes for Qui-Gon by making his relationship with Tahl more romantic, but it doesn't ring true to me for a couple of reasons. For one, the Jedi aren't supposed to form these attachments, and Qui-Gon and Tahl are both characters who adhere to their edicts pretty strongly. Sure, Qui-Gon has a reputation for breaking the rules when his feelings tell him otherwise (see: The Ties That Bind), but this is a core part of his Jedi training that he overlooks without much angst or consideration. Both have a moment of hesitation before declaring their love for the other, but it's brief.
For another, the two were already close friends, and had been for years, before reaching this point in the last book. I'd like to think that, without their pledging their lives to each other in the previous book, Qui-Gon would still be going on this chase to find her. Instead, she creates a forced relationship that only serves to drive Qui-Gon forward. It bothers me, because their relationship before was one that supported the idea that men and women could be friends without it becoming anything more, but now it's just another romantic subplot used to drive a man's character development. It's disappointing, especially in a juvenile series where Tahl serves as a strong role model for young women.
If Watson had made this just a subplot, I could overlook it to some degree, but this is the main plot for the entire book. I think Watson is trying to show us how attachment can be bad for Jedi, giving us some foreshadowing into Obi-Wan's relationship with Anakin in about fifteen years' time, but by converting Tahl from an independent character into Qui-Gon's girlfriend, she turns her into a trope instead of a fully realized character. She captures the emotion well (enough so that I'm surprised this is a book written for younger children), but she also does a disservice to one of her best characters.
This book is such a disappointment.
The problem is that the whole thing makes little sense. I get that Watson upped the stakes for Qui-Gon by making his relationship with Tahl more romantic, but it doesn't ring true to me for a couple of reasons. For one, the Jedi aren't supposed to form these attachments, and Qui-Gon and Tahl are both characters who adhere to their edicts pretty strongly. Sure, Qui-Gon has a reputation for breaking the rules when his feelings tell him otherwise (see: The Ties That Bind), but this is a core part of his Jedi training that he overlooks without much angst or consideration. Both have a moment of hesitation before declaring their love for the other, but it's brief.
For another, the two were already close friends, and had been for years, before reaching this point in the last book. I'd like to think that, without their pledging their lives to each other in the previous book, Qui-Gon would still be going on this chase to find her. Instead, she creates a forced relationship that only serves to drive Qui-Gon forward. It bothers me, because their relationship before was one that supported the idea that men and women could be friends without it becoming anything more, but now it's just another romantic subplot used to drive a man's character development. It's disappointing, especially in a juvenile series where Tahl serves as a strong role model for young women.
If Watson had made this just a subplot, I could overlook it to some degree, but this is the main plot for the entire book. I think Watson is trying to show us how attachment can be bad for Jedi, giving us some foreshadowing into Obi-Wan's relationship with Anakin in about fifteen years' time, but by converting Tahl from an independent character into Qui-Gon's girlfriend, she turns her into a trope instead of a fully realized character. She captures the emotion well (enough so that I'm surprised this is a book written for younger children), but she also does a disservice to one of her best characters.
This book is such a disappointment.
July 25, 2017
Yeah I know it's sad, Tahl died but two humongous issues I have: 1. As far as I recall Jedi have ways of keeping poisons out of their bodies. Did the pre- Luke Jedi not know this? No one taught them this crucial thing? 2. Why didn't Qui Gon or at least Obi Wan contact the council and get help either right after Tahl was kidnapped or at the very least contact them for Jedi healer help? Sometimes I wonder what these authors are thinking or not thinking. Or maybe my over thinking ruins books for me.
June 3, 2015
Qui Gon is desperate to rescue his love, fellow Jedi Knight Tahl. With Obi Wan at his side they go to the ends of their endurance and beyond, but what they find at the end of their rescue attempt threatens to cause a rift between the master and his apprentice.
April 21, 2023
seventeen years since I first read this and I'm still not okay with it
August 2, 2018
WHYYY? You knew it was going to happen, I knew it was going to happen, we ALL knew it was going to happen, but WHYYYY.
*sighs*
So we finally see where Qui-Gon Jinn loses the person he knew and loved best, Tahl, and force did it suck. He spends this whole book pushing to save her, he almost doesn't help a village being attacked, turns back only to find its too late, goes through this huge rescue, gets her to the medics, only to lose her in the end. It's literally a more drawn out affair of Obi-Wan and Satine in the Clone Wars TV show and I HATED that whole arc. Let's have a Jedi you adore and would fight Fenrir himself to keep safe and happy, let's have him fall in love, and then KILL the love of his life. In the immortal words of Jar Jar Binks HOW WUDE!!!!.
This is the beginning arc of Qui-Gon's slip from the light side for a little bit, I imagine we'll see him go a little dark side, chase the person who killed her, and almost kill him. Poor Obi-Wan gets blown up, wounded, dragged for days without sleep, all to help Qui-Gon save Tahl, only for her to die anyway. Seven hells. Watson what are you doing to my smol boi?
So yeah, this book was all the feels you knew was coming, especially if you know Qui-Gon's history and why he always seemed more sad and reserved later in life. This was the moment.
*sighs*
So we finally see where Qui-Gon Jinn loses the person he knew and loved best, Tahl, and force did it suck. He spends this whole book pushing to save her, he almost doesn't help a village being attacked, turns back only to find its too late, goes through this huge rescue, gets her to the medics, only to lose her in the end. It's literally a more drawn out affair of Obi-Wan and Satine in the Clone Wars TV show and I HATED that whole arc. Let's have a Jedi you adore and would fight Fenrir himself to keep safe and happy, let's have him fall in love, and then KILL the love of his life. In the immortal words of Jar Jar Binks HOW WUDE!!!!.
This is the beginning arc of Qui-Gon's slip from the light side for a little bit, I imagine we'll see him go a little dark side, chase the person who killed her, and almost kill him. Poor Obi-Wan gets blown up, wounded, dragged for days without sleep, all to help Qui-Gon save Tahl, only for her to die anyway. Seven hells. Watson what are you doing to my smol boi?
So yeah, this book was all the feels you knew was coming, especially if you know Qui-Gon's history and why he always seemed more sad and reserved later in life. This was the moment.
November 16, 2025
⭐ A Disappointing Book
This continues the steep decline that began in book fourteen and unfortunately makes the series feel off-track. The only element that works is the growing maturity of Obi-Wan. Everything else fails to land.
The story is weak, the plot is dull, and the characters feel wrong. The worst part is the love story between Tahl and Qui-Gon. These are two Jedi Masters who have spent their lives devoted to the Jedi Code. Suddenly abandoning it after years together as close friends does not feel believable. The entire book revolves around their feelings, and it damages the integrity of both characters. I do not understand the creative choice behind this arc.
Book thirteen had been a rebound, but this arc is disastrous. There are almost no meaningful character moments besides Obi-Wan trying to be the voice of reason for Qui-Gon. Of all Jedi to lose their way, it should not have been Qui-Gon.
This continues the steep decline that began in book fourteen and unfortunately makes the series feel off-track. The only element that works is the growing maturity of Obi-Wan. Everything else fails to land.
The story is weak, the plot is dull, and the characters feel wrong. The worst part is the love story between Tahl and Qui-Gon. These are two Jedi Masters who have spent their lives devoted to the Jedi Code. Suddenly abandoning it after years together as close friends does not feel believable. The entire book revolves around their feelings, and it damages the integrity of both characters. I do not understand the creative choice behind this arc.
Book thirteen had been a rebound, but this arc is disastrous. There are almost no meaningful character moments besides Obi-Wan trying to be the voice of reason for Qui-Gon. Of all Jedi to lose their way, it should not have been Qui-Gon.
April 1, 2024
The Death of Hope by Jude Watson.
This is #15 in the middle grade Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series.
No spoiler preview: Jedi Knight Tahl was been abducted and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan must do everything in their power to get her back.
I enjoyed all of the flashbacks regarding Qui-Gon and Tahl that were included in the story line. Also some more info regarding Qui-Gon and his first Padawan Xanatos.
Another one from this series that I highly enjoyed. Although I saw the plot line twist coming I was still taken aback. This story is darker than the previous in the series.
As this is the 2nd book in the story arc of books, 14, 15, 16 I would highly recommend you read #14 before this one.
I gave this one 5 stars.
#MiddleGradeMarch2024.
This is #15 in the middle grade Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice series.
No spoiler preview: Jedi Knight Tahl was been abducted and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan must do everything in their power to get her back.
I enjoyed all of the flashbacks regarding Qui-Gon and Tahl that were included in the story line. Also some more info regarding Qui-Gon and his first Padawan Xanatos.
Another one from this series that I highly enjoyed. Although I saw the plot line twist coming I was still taken aback. This story is darker than the previous in the series.
As this is the 2nd book in the story arc of books, 14, 15, 16 I would highly recommend you read #14 before this one.
I gave this one 5 stars.
#MiddleGradeMarch2024.
April 6, 2023
A surprisingly dark and intense instalment, considering that MG readers would have also picked this up at the bookstore. The story is essentially a race against time and the tension steadily rises when you realise that time may just run out. Damn, that ending is a gut punch. I really liked seeing this side of Qui-Gon, although I was constantly distracted by thoughts such as "hang on, are we not going to acknowledge that pledging oneself to another Jedi is, in fact, very unJedi-like?".
But in the pursuit of delicious angst, I will ignore those niggling thoughts as I pick up the next book. ;D
But in the pursuit of delicious angst, I will ignore those niggling thoughts as I pick up the next book. ;D
January 19, 2019
"I pledge myself to you, Tahl."
"I pledge myself to you, Qui-Gon."
With these words, two Jedi Knights acknowledged that their bond had grown beyond friendship and into love.
Now Tahl has been abducted in a trap that Qui-Gon feels he should have foreseen. Consumed by dark visions, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi must do everything in their power to get her back before it's too late. But that won't be easy in a land where nobody can be trusted . . . and everyone has something to hide.
"I pledge myself to you, Qui-Gon."
With these words, two Jedi Knights acknowledged that their bond had grown beyond friendship and into love.
Now Tahl has been abducted in a trap that Qui-Gon feels he should have foreseen. Consumed by dark visions, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Kenobi must do everything in their power to get her back before it's too late. But that won't be easy in a land where nobody can be trusted . . . and everyone has something to hide.
June 12, 2025
After the sudden but inevitable betrayal at the end of The Ties That Bind, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan race to track down the kidnapped Tahl.
This had the hallmarks of an RPG due to the number of side quests our hapless Jedi were forced up in their madcap chase to rescue Tahl.
Distractions aside, this was quite exciting, with some pretty brutal scenes in it. The conclusion was pretty certain (there is no Tahl in The Phantom Menace).
This had the hallmarks of an RPG due to the number of side quests our hapless Jedi were forced up in their madcap chase to rescue Tahl.
Distractions aside, this was quite exciting, with some pretty brutal scenes in it. The conclusion was pretty certain (there is no Tahl in The Phantom Menace).
April 3, 2019
Once again, this series surprises me and show me that even being Jedi, two people can fall in love and learn to deal with struggles. And ultimately the losses that being the Jedi can bring. My fascination with Qui-Gon is so much deeper now that just the original Jedi Master who found Anakin Skywalker.
July 30, 2024
This book is literary edging. The characters keep almost reaching their goal only for something to get in the way last minute, sometimes very unconvincingly, so it gets rather repetitive. The last fifty pages or so were good, but before that... I also knew what happens at the end, which didn't exactly help.
November 26, 2019
I can't quite decide where I stand on this one. I appreciate the depth Watson is trying to give Qui-Gon as a character, but I really think Tahl was fucked over in the process and in such an unnecessary way that it was hard to truly feel moved by that part of the story.
January 25, 2020
"There is no help for me now." Qui-Gon looked down at Tahl's lifeless body. His hand still clasped hers. "There is only revenge."
This is, and I cannot overstate this, bad.
March 11, 2020
Oh, Qui-Gon. I knew how this one was going to end since I’ve read Secrets of the Jedi multiple times, but still. It just gave it an extra sense of foreboding. And Qui-Gon is very much NOT in a good place right now.
November 25, 2020
クワイガンがひたすら哀しいお話。悲劇が予見できても結局その道を辿るしかないというのが切ない。1番守りたい人を守れないのは、誰かを守ることを生業としている人には余計に辛いことのように思う。オビワンはクワイガンを気にかけて、徹夜が続こうが、お腹がすこうが、足の骨が折れようが、全力でクワイガンをサポートし続ける健気パダワン。改めてクワイガンのパダワンにもどって以降はじめて、オビワンがクワイガンに反論。ジェダイの道を説くとは。
オビワンはこの頃からしっかりオビワンなんだなぁー。
オビワンはこの頃からしっかりオビワンなんだなぁー。
January 16, 2021
Really landing at a 3.5 - good development, interesting character study of Qui-Gon, but the middle part of the story is clunky. I round up because that’s what I do.
And there’s even a part that reminded me of Star Trek V’s rock climbing scene, which for me is a plus!
And there’s even a part that reminded me of Star Trek V’s rock climbing scene, which for me is a plus!
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