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bashsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I'm biased because Padmé Amidala is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time... but I love this book. Johnston has such a good grasp on her voice, and her belief system. The Clone Wars is my favorite version of the Star Wars canon, so seeing characters like Bonteri and Clovis was really cool. I've always wanted more political nitty-gritty from Star Wars (which feels like a weird thing to say, but it's true), so Queen's Shadow felt tailored to me. Can't wait to read the other two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Trafficking
Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
-Evils of capitalism -Space pirates -Major natural disaster -Assassination attemptsspill_the_tea's review
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Death and Sexual content
abigail_reads06's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Confinement and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
jenny_librarian's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Listen, I love Padmé. She’s one of my favourite Star Wars characters. A book about her should be my jam… this wasn’t. It wasn’t all bad, but it did not hold what I thought it would.
The story itself is a little boring. I read Queen’s Peril first, since it comes before in chronological order, and it had a lot more action going on. Even as a queen, there was stuff happening. I don’t mind a political book, but even the political stuff in this was swept under the rug to make room for paragraphs of outfit and hairdo details. Where is the characterization and budding friendship Padmé struck with senators Organa and Mon Mothma? How did Mina Bonterri go from friendly to downright cold to a Separatist whom Padmé was still in good terms with? Who wants to kill Padmé? It had so much potential, and it doesn’t answer any question about Star Wars as a whole.
The characterization of Padmé is fine, but she doesn’t sound like the woman who fell in love with Anakin. I don’t care if the author isn’t an Anidala fan. Padmé Amidala Naberrie was in love with Anakin Skywalker, and their respective characters need to reflect what we know of them in canon. There are multiple instances in this book where Padmé’s characterization is directly in conflict with what we see afterward in the movies and in Clone Wars, including the fact that she not once even mention his name. Qui-Gon is named multiple time, but neither Obi-Wan nor Anakin even appear in her thoughts when she thinks of the Naboo invasion. It just doesn’t make sense, and it makes me believe the author tried to retcon Padmé to fill this headcanon QPR with Sabé at the risk of contradicting the actual canon.
Talking about Sabé, she’s the only handmaiden with a “voice”. All the others chirp in here and there (and those who appear in Queen’s Peril are better developed then), but none is as fully realized as Sabé. And I firmly believe this is because the author wants a damn romance between her and Padmé so much. Saché and Yané live together and seem to be in some kind of romantic relationship, but we hear nothing of them except for a brief mention at the beginning and midway through. Sabé, though, has entire chapters dedicated to her when… nothing really happens?! Like she helps slaves escape Tatooine in the beginning and… that’s it? The rest is just this kind of weird love triangle developing with Tonra. And while it could have been interesting, it didn’t pull me in at all.
I am quite disappointed in the lack of contribution to the greater Star Wars canon this book provides. I hate that I’m still going to read the last book because I’m starved for Anidala stuff and would read anything that explores the little time they had together, even if it leaves me wanting.
The story itself is a little boring. I read Queen’s Peril first, since it comes before in chronological order, and it had a lot more action going on. Even as a queen, there was stuff happening. I don’t mind a political book, but even the political stuff in this was swept under the rug to make room for paragraphs of outfit and hairdo details. Where is the characterization and budding friendship Padmé struck with senators Organa and Mon Mothma? How did Mina Bonterri go from friendly to downright cold to a Separatist whom Padmé was still in good terms with? Who wants to kill Padmé? It had so much potential, and it doesn’t answer any question about Star Wars as a whole.
The characterization of Padmé is fine, but she doesn’t sound like the woman who fell in love with Anakin. I don’t care if the author isn’t an Anidala fan. Padmé Amidala Naberrie was in love with Anakin Skywalker, and their respective characters need to reflect what we know of them in canon. There are multiple instances in this book where Padmé’s characterization is directly in conflict with what we see afterward in the movies and in Clone Wars, including the fact that she not once even mention his name. Qui-Gon is named multiple time, but neither Obi-Wan nor Anakin even appear in her thoughts when she thinks of the Naboo invasion. It just doesn’t make sense, and it makes me believe the author tried to retcon Padmé to fill this headcanon QPR with Sabé at the risk of contradicting the actual canon.
Talking about Sabé, she’s the only handmaiden with a “voice”. All the others chirp in here and there (and those who appear in Queen’s Peril are better developed then), but none is as fully realized as Sabé. And I firmly believe this is because the author wants a damn romance between her and Padmé so much. Saché and Yané live together and seem to be in some kind of romantic relationship, but we hear nothing of them except for a brief mention at the beginning and midway through. Sabé, though, has entire chapters dedicated to her when… nothing really happens?! Like she helps slaves escape Tatooine in the beginning and… that’s it? The rest is just this kind of weird love triangle developing with Tonra. And while it could have been interesting, it didn’t pull me in at all.
I am quite disappointed in the lack of contribution to the greater Star Wars canon this book provides. I hate that I’m still going to read the last book because I’m starved for Anidala stuff and would read anything that explores the little time they had together, even if it leaves me wanting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Classism
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and War
kylieqrada's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
3.5
I enjoy the Star Wars novels but I have to be in the right headspace for them. This one follows Padme Amadala during her tenure as a Senator. It was quick and engaging, but a little YA-ish for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Sexual harassment
Minor: Torture, Death of parent, and Murder
abeplaut's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and Classism
miagw962's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
"What will you do without her?"
Loved this a lot. Not too much to say except I just really truly appreciated being able to have a more in depth look at Padmé as a character as well as her handmaidens. It's a story I've been interested since watching the prequels and The Clone Wars so I was just really happy with my experience reading this. The Epilogue hit me like a ton of bricks because I honestly wasn't expecting it. So happy to be reading all these stories about the female characters of Star Wars that may not get a chance to shine in some of the movies or shows. I loved the intimacy of this - it was a completely different tone to Ahsoka which was also written by E. K. Johnston. Makes me excited to pick up Queen's Peril which I think is kind of like a prequel? Honestly this should be made into an entire series, I would absolutely love to hear more about Padmé and her handmaidens.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Violence
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
4.0
I knew I had to read this, because I love Padmé and always want more of her. The relationships between Padmé and all the handmaidens are wonderful and so sisterly. I loved seeing more of the political maneuvering, like in the Clone Wars, and how all the girls had to learn to navigate. And SABE. I love Sabé.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Sexual harassment