Jude Watson takes over where Dave Wolverton left off (though I like Wolverton better) with a slightly shorter novel set on Bandomeer. Young Obi-Wan is frustrated with the stagnant job to which he has been assigned, and begins digging through records to discover the person who blew up a mine.
Meanwhile, Qui-Gon's concentration on his mission is sent spinning with a new arrival: his ex-apprentice Xanatos. The story of Xanatos's exit from the Order is deep and disturbing, and the lightsaber battles are impressively written.
A familiar face is young Si Treemba, the Arconan who Obi-Wan befriended previously. The newer characters are somewhat less vibrant than Wolverton's, but still memorable.
The main flaws appear to be: the cover art of Qui-Gon is clearly lifted from TPM, Clat'Ha is a nebulous presence, Obi-Wan seems to shift backward (not impossible, but odd), and the planet that Qui-Gon considered dangerous in the previous book seems quite tame.
I enjoyed this book a great deal!