kaitlyn_wren's review against another edition
3.0
kier domadi BOOOO LAME i’m happy he died. pls note that this book is a victim of the saw gerrara effect.
emmafong's review against another edition
4.0
i really enjoyed this !! i thought there was a lot of great character development for leia as she stepped into the rebellion and it made me want to rewatch tlj to see the connections. this also his ESPECIALLY hard after watching the first few episodes of kenobi. i love leia organa so so so much.
lessariel's review against another edition
5.0
“Politics involved its own kind of battles, and Leah discovered early on that she liked a good fight. “
This is the story of Leia as she embarks on her year of growth. Opening with her day of demand where Leia pledges her take of mind, body and heart. Tasks which will prove her worthy to be a Princess of Alderaan, to take the throne someday and rule in a fair and just manner for the betterment of the people. However, recently, her parents have been distracted. There are more dinner parties than usual and less time to talk.
“She felt nothing but the burning desire to do something that would matter, or to her parents and to the entire galaxy, and the confidence that she could.” Leia sets out in her challenge of the heart, aid missions to various planets which prove eye opening for her. She sees for herself the way the Empire works and, recklessly, sets out to try and right some wrongs. Unknowingly this upends plans her parents had to solve the same issues. Gray handles the parental disappointment and distress of a child perfectly, pulling at your heart for a daughter who wants to be noticed, who longs for the easy communication of her childhood.
To help with her isolation and her challenge of the body Leisa mother sets up a Pathfinder class, containing several connections Leia will need when she embarks on her time in the Apprentice League at the Imperial Senate. Here we meet the risk taking, slightly strange Amilyn Holdo who’s dress sense confuses and distracts whilst her strange way of viewing the world is a bit like an oracle. As the year moves on Leia forms a strong friendship with Holdo, harking forward to events in movie cannon. Amongst the other juniors is a second representative from Alderaan, the calm and thoughtful Kier who seems to understand Leia from the start even if he mangles his meaning and initially annoys her. It is his wisdom that helps her unravel her feelings about her perceived successes and failures.
“Nobody learns anything new without saying the first few times they try. You have to face that and figure out how to get back up again. That means learning how to feel is the most important lesson of all. “
whilst Leia opens her eyes to the manipulation of the Empire and to the distress of others we see the spark of the rebel, one who investigates and picks at a thread until she knows all she can. A third of the way in we encounter this idea...
“She hated the Empire, of course, but that didn’t mean she should just pick up a blaster and start shooting at the first thing that made her laugh.”
A true moment (as are several of the throwaway lines) of giggl s hit me here & I had to take a moment to reflect on what her future holds.
As this is happening Leia also develops a romance suitable to her teenage years and connections in the junior senate. Whilst discussing her choices after Kier has visited the palace her Mum has this bit of commentary “I suppose a tiny bit of me hoped that my daughters first romance wouldn’t be so ... Suitable. Sometimes it does a girl good to fall for a bit of a scoundrel now then.”
Her developing relationship with Kier is approved by her parents, he cares about Alderaan and swiftly becomes the person Leia wants to turn to, wants to tell everything to (but doesn’t)
By the end of the story Leia has grown from an over confident teenager who can’t see the ripples caused by her actions into ana duly I. The best way possible. As her Mum says ‘ “You’re learning the most powerful lesson of all, my daughter,” Breha continued. “You’re learning how to fall.” ‘
Throughout this amazing novel Gray stresses the message of hope and learning from disaster in a brilliant but occasionally heart breaking way.
For the newcomer to the world of Star Wars this could be a confusing story of an alien girl with several characters whose presence makes no sense. But if that’s you why would you have this book? Unless you came to Star Wars from episode VII.
For this fangirl, a product of the original trilogy who loved to playground games as Leia, though the book just kept on giving. Insights into her mind set, hints at what’s to come and reasons for the rebellion being the way it is with the leaders it has. By the end of the book we are well on our way to having a true New Hope.
I loved this book but it did destroy my heart just a little bit throughout and majorly towards the end!
This is the story of Leia as she embarks on her year of growth. Opening with her day of demand where Leia pledges her take of mind, body and heart. Tasks which will prove her worthy to be a Princess of Alderaan, to take the throne someday and rule in a fair and just manner for the betterment of the people. However, recently, her parents have been distracted. There are more dinner parties than usual and less time to talk.
“She felt nothing but the burning desire to do something that would matter, or to her parents and to the entire galaxy, and the confidence that she could.” Leia sets out in her challenge of the heart, aid missions to various planets which prove eye opening for her. She sees for herself the way the Empire works and, recklessly, sets out to try and right some wrongs. Unknowingly this upends plans her parents had to solve the same issues. Gray handles the parental disappointment and distress of a child perfectly, pulling at your heart for a daughter who wants to be noticed, who longs for the easy communication of her childhood.
To help with her isolation and her challenge of the body Leisa mother sets up a Pathfinder class, containing several connections Leia will need when she embarks on her time in the Apprentice League at the Imperial Senate. Here we meet the risk taking, slightly strange Amilyn Holdo who’s dress sense confuses and distracts whilst her strange way of viewing the world is a bit like an oracle. As the year moves on Leia forms a strong friendship with Holdo, harking forward to events in movie cannon. Amongst the other juniors is a second representative from Alderaan, the calm and thoughtful Kier who seems to understand Leia from the start even if he mangles his meaning and initially annoys her. It is his wisdom that helps her unravel her feelings about her perceived successes and failures.
“Nobody learns anything new without saying the first few times they try. You have to face that and figure out how to get back up again. That means learning how to feel is the most important lesson of all. “
whilst Leia opens her eyes to the manipulation of the Empire and to the distress of others we see the spark of the rebel, one who investigates and picks at a thread until she knows all she can. A third of the way in we encounter this idea...
“She hated the Empire, of course, but that didn’t mean she should just pick up a blaster and start shooting at the first thing that made her laugh.”
A true moment (as are several of the throwaway lines) of giggl s hit me here & I had to take a moment to reflect on what her future holds.
As this is happening Leia also develops a romance suitable to her teenage years and connections in the junior senate. Whilst discussing her choices after Kier has visited the palace her Mum has this bit of commentary “I suppose a tiny bit of me hoped that my daughters first romance wouldn’t be so ... Suitable. Sometimes it does a girl good to fall for a bit of a scoundrel now then.”
Her developing relationship with Kier is approved by her parents, he cares about Alderaan and swiftly becomes the person Leia wants to turn to, wants to tell everything to (but doesn’t)
By the end of the story Leia has grown from an over confident teenager who can’t see the ripples caused by her actions into ana duly I. The best way possible. As her Mum says ‘ “You’re learning the most powerful lesson of all, my daughter,” Breha continued. “You’re learning how to fall.” ‘
Throughout this amazing novel Gray stresses the message of hope and learning from disaster in a brilliant but occasionally heart breaking way.
For the newcomer to the world of Star Wars this could be a confusing story of an alien girl with several characters whose presence makes no sense. But if that’s you why would you have this book? Unless you came to Star Wars from episode VII.
For this fangirl, a product of the original trilogy who loved to playground games as Leia, though the book just kept on giving. Insights into her mind set, hints at what’s to come and reasons for the rebellion being the way it is with the leaders it has. By the end of the book we are well on our way to having a true New Hope.
I loved this book but it did destroy my heart just a little bit throughout and majorly towards the end!
elizabethmalousek's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ca_nela's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emosucculents's review against another edition
4.0
honestly reading this knowing what happens to alderaan and the organas hurts my heart. however, i love reading about leia, the senate, star wars politics, etc. i find it so fascinating!
this is definitely a book for someone who enjoys star wars, obviously, and like i said before, politics.
this is definitely a book for someone who enjoys star wars, obviously, and like i said before, politics.
alkane5867's review against another edition
2.0
Fair. The character could have been further developed. I also wished it brought us closer to how Leia became the young woman in A New Hope. This felt too disconnected from the greater lore.