jenny_librarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Excuse me, Claudia Gray, but I did not sign up for a book that would set this kind of heartbreaking ending. I would like my money back for emotional damage, please (never mind that I got it from the library).
We all know and love Leia Organa. I'm a prequel girl all the way, but Leia is as badass as her mom, and she was the original warrior princess. This book is a good introduction to how she became the Leia we first meet in A New Hope. It's very much YA (she's a bit whiny at times, like every teenager in existence), but the steps she takes here and the friendships she makes inform a lot of her character in the movies.
Two side characters got my attention in particular, alongside Leia:
1) Kier. I knew from the very beginning (like the moment they started flirting) what the twist would be, but I did not expect that ending. I don't remember how I got spoiled, but I knew it would happened and Claudia Gray still managed to rip my heart right out of my chest with that one. Kier is that lawful good character that is set up for failure from the very beginning because of those morals, and it provides great contrast to what Leia becomes once she joins the Rebellion.
2)Amilyn. My girl is autistic-coded as hell and I was LIVING for it. I did not realize it was that character from the sequels (because I tend to ignore the existence of episodes 8 and 9 as best I can 🙃 ) and I will probably have to rewatch to see if that characterization holds up in the movies (doubt it), but she is everything and I love her with all my heart.
Because it was released in 2017, it doesn't perfectly hold up with more recent canon (like the fact that Leia already met Obi-Wan in the Kenobi series, and that the same show pictured the Aldera palace as a modern skyscraper rather than an expansive household built on historical foundations). However, I think it's a very good read for young people who want to know more about Leia. Gift this to your Star Wars-loving teens and young adults. And then take a few hours to borrow and read it yourself!
We all know and love Leia Organa. I'm a prequel girl all the way, but Leia is as badass as her mom, and she was the original warrior princess. This book is a good introduction to how she became the Leia we first meet in A New Hope. It's very much YA (she's a bit whiny at times, like every teenager in existence), but the steps she takes here and the friendships she makes inform a lot of her character in the movies.
Two side characters got my attention in particular, alongside Leia:
1) Kier. I knew from the very beginning (like the moment they started flirting) what the twist would be, but I did not expect that ending. I don't remember how I got spoiled
Spoiler
about his death, and let's be real, we all knew he had to be gone before A New Hope2)Amilyn. My girl is autistic-coded as hell and I was LIVING for it. I did not realize it was that character from the sequels (because I tend to ignore the existence of episodes 8 and 9 as best I can 🙃 ) and I will probably have to rewatch to see if that characterization holds up in the movies (doubt it), but she is everything and I love her with all my heart.
Because it was released in 2017, it doesn't perfectly hold up with more recent canon (like the fact that Leia already met Obi-Wan in the Kenobi series, and that the same show pictured the Aldera palace as a modern skyscraper rather than an expansive household built on historical foundations). However, I think it's a very good read for young people who want to know more about Leia. Gift this to your Star Wars-loving teens and young adults. And then take a few hours to borrow and read it yourself!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Murder, Death, Grief, Colonisation, Deportation, and Classism
Minor: War, Body shaming, Death of parent, Slavery, Violence, and Blood
heather667's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Deportation, Child death, Colonisation, and Genocide
Moderate: Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Slavery
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, War, and Alcohol
More...