Rating: 
Summary: The Dark Shadow
Review: In his travels Qui-Gon has seen many things that he wants to forget, but "now his worst pain, his worst regret, had caught up with him at last." When he and Obi-wan reached Bandomeer he recieved a note welcoming him to the planet and it was signed: Xanatos. This disturbs Qui-Gon greatly, but he shut's Obi-Wan out, telling him it was just from an old friend. Though Obi-Wan suspects otherwise he is not allowed to question the Jedi Master about it. The are summoned to the govenor's quarters and told that the official letter the Jedi Concil recieved that asked for help was not from the govenor, but she asks him to stay still because they do need help. To the rage of Obi-Wan, he won't be helping Qui-Gon act as Guardian of the Peace, he is still sent to the Agri-Corps to become a farmer. He and an old friend find a secret room full of minning equiptment from offworld (the biggest minning company in the galaxy) and Obi-Wan is kidnapped. When he finds out this, he goes to fight Xanatos. He runs away from that fight but it isn't the last fight he'll have with his old apprentice. He finds Obi-Wan and frees him from Offworld slavers. They face Xanatos together but he escapes. But they do manage to save the planet from blowing up. Just another day. :)
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting
Review: Here is the story of how and why Qui-Gon Jinn chose Obi-Wan Kenobi to be his Padawan! Qui-Gon had been hurt when his Padawan named Xanatos failed Yoda's last test and left the Jedi Temple. But Qui-Gon had been devastated when Xanatos became so greedy that he killed innocents! Ever since Qui-Gon had kept himself from caring too much for students. The Temple received a request from the government of Bandomeer for a Guardian of the Peace. The Home Planet Mines and the Offworld Corporation were meeting, and Offworld was known for making competition disappear. Qui-Gon knew his past was coming full circle. Xanatos still wanted Qui-Gon dead! Xanatos would use Qui-Gon's weakness (not getting to know or trust his students) against him. Obi-Wan's death from it would just be an added bonus! **** Well written and a wonderful plot, but it does not go into enough details in some areas. I loved watching the Master teach the Padawan and witnessing the Padawan teach the Master a thing or two! Recommended! ****
Rating:
Summary: A quick read and an engaging story.
Review: All in all, not bad. This is a very direct continuation to "Jedi Apprentice 1: The Rising Force" so if you read that one you will probably want to read this one as well. (And vice versa: read Part 1 first before hitting this one.) In reality, for me it would have been nice (and cheaper) if both books were wrapped up in one. They really should have been since the plot was such a direct continuation. The plotting in this second book was good and, overall, the story was enjoyable to read. The only problem for me came at the end. I will not give away anything but a certain solution that Qui-Gon employs at the end just seems way too tacked on for me. (It reminded me of those science-fiction shows like "Star Trek" where the heroes sometimes have to figure out a solution to wrap-up the entire episode in about five seconds.) Perhaps there was some deeper symbolic meaning that I missed but I doubt it. That is a small complaint, however. The overall characterization was excellent and this book (along with Part 1) show us the initial formation of the relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi - something that will not be explored in the movies, thus making this a worthy addition to the collection of books for those fans who want to know all the details behind the characters. I think younger readers will love this story and it also appeals to the older reader (like myself, at 29 years of age). This is done by telling an involving story that also offers a relatively quick read.
Rating:
Summary: It's a Great Book!!
Review: I love this book! It's has lots of action and you can never put it down! You just keep on wanting to know what happens! It's a really fun book!!
Rating:
Summary: Non-Stop Action All the Way Through!
Review: This whole book simply amazes me! It is soo fun! The conflict was well thought out and the end it GREAT! This book is definetely one of the best of the 13 book series. Don't miss this great Star Wars adventure!
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Rival
Review: The Dark Rival picks up right where The Rising Force left off and doesnt slow down. After the betrayal of his first padawan Xanatos, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn is still unwilling to accept another apprentice. But when Xanatos returns wanting revenge Qui-Gon must rely on Obi-Wan and the bond between them continues to grow. With explosions, bombs, lightsaber duels and a prison break this book moves at a fast pace and is impossible to put down till the very end. Get the word out the jedi apprentice series is a must read for star wars fans of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Rival
Review: Even more thrilling and adventurous then the first book in the Jedi Apprentice series, The Dark Rival is one that I found impossible to put down. The reason Qui-Gonn Jinn never wanted to train another Padawan was because of the first apprentice he had, Xanatos. He was a promising student, but when the dark side overtook him he became something Qui-Gonn could never face again. The hauntings of his betrayal still hurt Qui-Gonn, and he is still very uncertain of the boy who wants to win Qui-Gon's heart, Obi-Wan Kenobi. He doesn't know if he can face an apprentice ever again after what happened with the former Xanatos. But now the nightmare thqat haunted Qui-Gon has returned with only more cunning and power then ever before. Xanatos has returned -- and it will take both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, though their bond is not complete -- to try taking the formidable, dark Xanatos down. This was an intensely involving book in the series, and probably the scariest climax of all.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant! A real page-turner!
Review: The Dark Rival is the second installment in the Jedi Apprentice series. It's just as good as the first one, if not better! Even though the series was intended for a younger audience, I-a fourteen-year old-still fell in love with the books! The first book-The Rising Force-tells how Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are by chance sent to the same planet (Bandomeer) on separate missions. Twelve-year old Obi-Wan is sent to work with the Agri-Corps after being rejected from the Jedi Temple when Qui-Gon refused to take him as his apprentice. Despite what he learned on the journey to Bandomeer, Obi-Wan still holds out hope that Qui-Gon will have a change of heart and ask him to become his Padawan Learner. Even though they have separate missions on the planet, fate makes sure Obi-Wan gets involved in Qui-Gon's mission. Qui-Gon was sent to Bandomeer to act as Guardian of the Peace, but it was really a trap set by Qui-Gon's ex-apprentice-turned-to-the-dark-side, Xanatos. Xanatos wants revenge against his former Master. Will he succeed with his dark plan? Will the experience with Obi-Wan cause Qui-Gon to change his mind and accept him as his apprentice? Read this book and find out!
Rating:
Summary: Exellent! Even better than the first!
Review: When I first noticed these books in the bookstore I was inclined to dismiss them as 'just another kiddy Star Wars series'. A younger, cheesier version of the explosive and compelling Junior Jedi Knights and Young Jedi Knights. I must admit, I have rarely been more wrong. I actually started reading them, and they are as good, perhaps better than some other Star Wars books I've read. Definitly on an equel par with Young/Junior Jedi Knights. It is so cool to find out what Obi-Wan Kenobi was like at about twelve or thirteen. Anyway, the basic plot of this book is that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon arrive on Bandomeer at last and are about to separate and go on their own missions. Obi-Wan is still a little sad and upset that he has to give up all hope of becoming a jedi because Qui-Gon still refuses to train him. However, Qui-Gon is still facing some inner demons of his own, and they are compounded when his former apprentice gone bad Xanatos returns hungry for revenge... Another good thing is that this book, and the one before it, flesh out Qui-Gon's character much better than even Episode 1 did. When I watched that movie I found myself really wanting to care about him, but the movie simply didn't allow us to know him well enough. These books, however, bring out aspects of his character that were barely touched upon in the movie, and make him a much more beleivable, much more endearing character. It also sheds new light on the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, and we can see just how heartbreaking it must have been for Obi-Wan when Qui-Gon is killed in Episode 1. I would recommend this series to any Star Wars fan, no matter what their age.
Rating:
Summary: Xanatos, the Dark Rival
Review: This book is differnet to all others. It shows you a lot of stuff that you should remember. Xanatos: the evil dark apprentice,. Qui-Gon Jinn's former Padawan. Qui-Gon Jinn: Although we meet him in the first book, The Rising Force, Jude explains him more to us here. Obi-Wan Kenobi: Any Jedi Apprentice book shows you Obi-Wan, so this book was no different in the case. But it gives you yet another look at him. In this book, we see Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn on a planet called Bandomeer. Qui-Gon has been sent as a Guardian of the Peace, and Obi-Wan will be joining the Agri-Corps. As you can probably guess, Obi-Wan is not happy that Qui-Gon Jinn will be saving a planet while he watches plants grow..... The story goes on rather normally, until Obi-Wan and Si Treemba accidently stumble accrose a storage area. Obi-Wan uses the Force to get inside of it, and finds a box with a broken circle as a lock on it, and several other boxes with a black triangular patch that showed a red planet. Obi-Wan reconizes it as OFFWORLD, and contacts Qui-Gon Jinn. Thats all I am going to say, but now you get a drift of what's happening. If I could I would give it ten stars.
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