Jedi Apprentice Series

In this 20-plus book young reader series, Jude Watson details Obi-Wan Kenobi’s apprenticeship under Qui-Gon Jinn. The series starts off with a twelve-year-old Obi-Wan on the verge of losing his chance at becoming a Jedi, desperate for a Master to choose him as a Padawan. But Qui-Gon is reluctant to take on a new apprentice; his former student, Xanatos, turned against Qui-Gon and embraced the dark side. The series navigates the rocky relationship between master and apprentice as Watson sets up new locations and characters in surprisingly dark and complex plots. Functionally a collection of three-to-four-book story arcs, Jedi Apprentice sets up events that will be followed up on in the subsequent Jedi Quest series as well as Attack of the Clones, sees Obi-Wan leave the Jedi Order, and even explores forbidden love. It’s got bounty hunters, a psychotic scientist, terrible tragedy at the Jedi temple, and surprise appearances by a fully-fledged supporting cast including Jocasta Nu, Even Piel, Adits Gallia, and Master Yoda himself. You’re all set to enjoy the Jedi Apprentice books once you’ve seen The Phantom Menace. Later books in the series set up some characters and locales from Attack of the Clones as well.  These are definitely obscure, under-the-radar Legends books but are loved by many. They’re Legends-y in so many ways and steers toward the dark and broody at every chance.  This is a great entry-level series for Padawans or for those who love to bask in early 2000s nostalgia. Somehow, books about Jedi going out on peace-keeping missions to expose corruption and take down the forces of evil are fairly hard to come by. Watson sets up a handful of characters—both good and evil—who span many entries in her many Star Wars books and forms a cohesive universe with long-form story threads worth investing into.