Rating: 
Summary: Superb, even out of the Jedi Apprentice books
Review: This book was great! I liked the part where Qui-Gon slashed through the table, The Ties That Bind must be spelled "character development". We're finally going in-depth on emotions. Another superb book by Jude Watson. Nice cliffhanger too.
Rating: 
Summary: How To Comment Fairly
Review: This is the 14th installment in this series without counting the special edition. How can a reader rate this work? This is rhetorical as I direct it at no other comments. This book is one long yawn until we learn something of Qui Gon Jin. It appears that he is taking a step that is forbidden, and the same step that Anakin will take on his path to the Dark Side. This seems to be a pattern with Qui Gon, as this time around he openly defies protocol and the Jedi Council. No wonder his first Apprentice went Dark Side, and that his new Apprentice will be the Master for the Darkest Knight of them all!This book has the most abrupt and jarring ending of all 14 issues. The ending is horribly cliché, however fitting, as this is a lousy installment. Readers should not get sucker punched by buying a book and think there are going to read a story, and then find they are handed a fragment. Unlike a previous trilogy that was portrayed as a trilogy, this is an unknown quantity. In order to make this story work, with however many other books will be required to finish this tale, they will have to be exceptionally good, as this opening is exceptionally bad. I have been a fan since the very first release of Episode IV. My interest has carried over to virtually all of the books, and even the compilations. If fans accept a product prior to reading it we become nothing more than a, "Sure Thing", for George Lucas and his money machine. I have no problem for paying my way for a good story. This is just an example of taking the built in readership for granted by handing out a product that is badly conceived. Perhaps this can be rescued with whatever continuation they have planned. It will have to be exceptionally good.
Rating:
Summary: A whole new side of Qui-Gon
Review: This one was, without a doubt, the best one yet. (I've yet to read Deceptions, mind you, but I don't think it could possibly be better. As good, yes, but not better.) The first thing to note about this one is that all of a sudden, Obi-Wan is sixteen. He's matured quite a bit, although I know many people who do not consider sixteen to be at all mature. Tahl is back, and she's more independent than Qui-Gon wants her to be. He's afraid that, since she's blind, she'll get hurt when she goes off alone. It's a legitimate worry, but Tahl doesn't share his concern. So when she goes off on a mission alone and our favorite Jedi duo follows her, she's understandably annoyed. A probe droid attack leaves her reluctantly glad that he came -- she could sense the droids, but she couldn't *see* them. The most intense part of the book for me had nothing to do with the main action, but more with the characters themselves. I haven't been so happy about a Star Wars book since *Vision of the Future.* I had been hoping the whole book for something to happen, but I never actually thought Watson would do it! (Are you curious yet? Good.) I hope that this book hasn't sealed the death warrant for one of the characters, because it would depress at least three others, plus me. The next title, *The Death of Hope* doesn't sound very promising, does it? We shall see, but unfortunately not soon enough.
Rating: 
Summary: The Ties that Bind
Review: Welcome to another thrilling new book in the Jedi Apprentice series. Jedi Apprentice #14, many people would say, is one of the most surprising books in the entire series. Not only has the series taken a large jump. In Jedi Apprentice #13, Obi-Wan was fourteen. Now, our hero is sixteen. I'm sure all of us are dying to know what happened during that large time period, but it also leaves a small gap for our imagination to take over. It makes us think if either Jude is trying to get us to use our imagination for once, or is getting sick of writing these books over and over. The Ties that Bind starts off with Obi-Wan Kenobi being sixteen. Much older than fourteen in the previous book...
Qui-Gon Jinn keeps having disturbing visions of Tahl in trouble, he can't calm himself like a normal Jedi, and he acts rudely in front of the Jedi council. My best explination would be that he was not being the renouned Qui-Gon Jinn that he normally was. Tahl, meanwhile is on a long mission on a planet whoose King was assassinated, and rebellion was in sight. In surprising twists and turnes, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan find themselves fighting to keep their Jedi friend alive as Tahl in kidnapped just after something happened between her and Qui-Gon. Something that will change their world before them. Will Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan have enough time to free Tahl and restore peace to a helpless planet? Find out when the next epic thriller, Jedi Apprentice #15: The Death of Hope, comes out.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Well, I must admit this one surprised me. It was starting to seem as if the series was past it's golden days, and I wasn't expecting much from this one, but it surprised me, as these books tend to do, by being not only well-written, but also having a unique and inspiring plot and well defined characters. Anyway, in this book Qui-Gon has a disturbing vision of Tahl, his childhood friend, in serious danger. He takes Obi-Wan and heads back to the temple immedietly, only to find her about to depart on a mission to a planet they had set to rights several years earlier, that is coming apart at the seams once again. The Jedi Council forbids him to go after her, but he ignores their warnings and follows her anyway, and what he finds is quite disturbing... Meanwhile, Qui-Gon also is somewhat perplexed at the sudden deepening of his feelings towards Tahl. Is it possible he could be falling in love? As you can probably guess, this book full of action and excitement as well as character stuff, so fans of either will be satisfied. My only real problem was that I didn't like that it skipped over so much time. (two years) In Deceptions it was fairly obvious that taking a Padawan was an issue for Tahl as well as Bant, and being that it has been a recurring theme throughout the series, I assumed it would be delt with, but now it has just been skipped over, so we'll never know what made Tahl change her mind about Bant. As for the Tahl/Qui-Gon thing, well, I could see it coming even in book five when she was first introduced, but being that these books are aimed at 8-12 year olds, (though older teenagers and adults read them shamelessly) I didn't think it was something they would address in this series. I'm not a big fan of romance at all, but there are some exceptions, and I happen to like this relationship. The down side is that since Tahl doesn't appear anywhere in Episode 1, we can only assume she dies in the next couple of books, which annoys me greatly, since she's always been one of my favorites. What's interesting about this is that it comes to terms with something that's never been mentioned before. It's fairly obvious that in the new order of Jedi, love and marriage between Jedi or even Jedi and non-force sensitives is no problem whatsoever, since we have examples such as Luke and Mara, Kam and Tionne, among others I'm sure; but when is this shown in the old order? It will be interesting to see how the Council reacts when they hear. Anyway, fans of the series will love this one, but if you're just starting out, read it from the beginning so it will make sense.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Well, I must admit this one surprised me. It was starting to seem as if the series was past it's golden days, and I wasn't expecting much from this one, but it surprised me, as these books tend to do, by being not only well-written, but also having a unique and inspiring plot and well defined characters. Anyway, in this book Qui-Gon has a disturbing vision of Tahl, his childhood friend, in serious danger. He takes Obi-Wan and heads back to the temple immedietly, only to find her about to depart on a mission to a planet they had set to rights several years earlier, that is coming apart at the seams once again. The Jedi Council forbids him to go after her, but he ignores their warnings and follows her anyway, and what he finds is quite disturbing... Meanwhile, Qui-Gon also is somewhat perplexed at the sudden deepening of his feelings towards Tahl. Is it possible he could be falling in love? As you can probably guess, this book full of action and excitement as well as character stuff, so fans of either will be satisfied. My only real problem was that I didn't like that it skipped over so much time. (two years) In Deceptions it was fairly obvious that taking a Padawan was an issue for Tahl as well as Bant, and being that it has been a recurring theme throughout the series, I assumed it would be delt with, but now it has just been skipped over, so we'll never know what made Tahl change her mind about Bant. As for the Tahl/Qui-Gon thing, well, I could see it coming even in book five when she was first introduced, but being that these books are aimed at 8-12 year olds, (though older teenagers and adults read them shamelessly) I didn't think it was something they would address in this series. I'm not a big fan of romance at all, but there are some exceptions, and I happen to like this relationship. The down side is that since Tahl doesn't appear anywhere in Episode 1, we can only assume she dies in the next couple of books, which annoys me greatly, since she's always been one of my favorites. What's interesting about this is that it comes to terms with something that's never been mentioned before. It's fairly obvious that in the new order of Jedi, love and marriage between Jedi or even Jedi and non-force sensitives is no problem whatsoever, since we have examples such as Luke and Mara, Kam and Tionne, among others I'm sure; but when is this shown in the old order? It will be interesting to see how the Council reacts when they hear. Anyway, fans of the series will love this one, but if you're just starting out, read it from the beginning so it will make sense.
Rating:
Summary: Still waiting
Review: Well, I'm still waiting. Asked Mom, said the 14th book wasn't at Barnes and Noble yet, but I'm going to go to bordres today insted. Read other reviews,(Here, Bayley from Ontario,Canada. B&N.com Bayley's Excelent, yeah, I'm the kid who's name is Anna, who LOVES Obi-wan!! Title 'Jedi Aprentice is outa this world!!(Actully outa this Universe!!!!!)') And Bayley's was quite good, even though I didn't read the whole thing(I didn't want to spoil the surprise) But I've heard Info about it. 1, Obi-wan's 16; 2,Obi-wan and Qui-gon's Padwan-Master relationship has grown (that's a good sign) 3, Tahl's in the book, I think, 4, Qui-gon and Obi-wan are going on some, mission. Well, that's all I know.
Rating:
Summary: Another Wonderful Read!
Review: Well, there isn't too much to say about this book that I haven't said for all of the previous ones in the series. Once again Jude Watson proves that this series is just as enjoyable for those of us twice the recommended reading age, and I find them to be the best written interpretation of the Star Wars universe outside of any of the movie novels. As for this book itself, I found it very enjoyable. Inparticular, I will say that Chapter 17 made me giggle like a little girl and the last page of the book brought me close to tears. Poor Qui-Gon! With the Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon relationship now quite solid, it is kinda fun to have a new type of relationship to deal with (I actually kinda saw this coming, but I never really pictured Qui-Gon as that type of character). I hope I've peaked your interest enough to make you read the book! Can't wait for the next one! (Darn cliffhangers!) (At least I get to read 'Jedi Quest' next month...)
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