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"The
Captive Temple is, for me, the best book yet in the Jedi
Apprentice series. It manages to do play to all of Watson’s
strengths: her ability to build relationships between characters,
her deep introspection, intrigue and pace. Whilst it does have its
downsides, its biggest negative is simply its predictability (the
identity of the adversary and of the spy were both, I felt, very
obvious) but that is a small failing when compared with the
positives.
"The rebuilding of the bond between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon is the
best part of this book. Watson manages to put both characters
through the mill, so to speak, and challenge them emotionally with
the issue of Obi-Wan’s previous betrayal and yet, through a series
of clever events, they manoeuvre closer and closer to the
inescapable truth: that the two of them are right for each other. I
know that makes it sound like an overly schmaltzy romance, but the
internal journeys of both characters and the trust that must be
re-earned are very well handled. The storyline is also
well-constructed, with a clever set of mishaps that follow an
ostensibly random pattern but nevertheless hold devious purpose; the
adversary of the book is deliciously conniving and villainous.
Watson also develops some of the other characters quite nicely,
particularly Tahl (who I am sure will be turning up in further
volumes) and Bant Eerin (who I hope will be turning up in further
volumes), both of whom were enjoyable characters.
"There is much to recommend this book, from the emotional
journeys to the well-detailed and fast-paced combat. A definite high
point of the series."
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