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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish I could give this book 3.5 stars – I did enjoy it, but I also felt that it lacked something. I appreciated the detail into Padmé's life and I do feel that the book somewhat deepened her character, but I wish it had done more. Perhaps I expected too much of it, and that's okay! It was still a fun read. I loved learning more about Naboo culture and the handmaidens, and now feel inspired to do a deep-dive into Naboo history and culture!
I've come to read Star Wars novels exclusively on audio because they do such an amazing job with music, sound effects, and voices. This one had two out of the three. The voices weren't solid like others but beyond Padme and Palpatine the voices aren't terribly distinct. (Unlike Obi-Wan and Yoda, for instance.) I'm glad to see Padme getting some recognition in the books, at least, since the movies have done her quite the disservice. The very end of the story got to me, too, I'll admit.
This is SO freaking good. I love Padme. I love Star Wars politics. I love the handmaidens. I love Bail and Mon Mothma. I love the Clone Wars shout outs and senate procedures. I love that this is a Star Wars book with minimal action, and barely anything consistent for a story besides just being Padme’s adjustment to a new way of life.
I love that I got to read this while Andor was on.
And I love that there’s more.
(Also it is kind of weird that Sabe doesn’t quite have an arc?)
I love that I got to read this while Andor was on.
And I love that there’s more.
(Also it is kind of weird that Sabe doesn’t quite have an arc?)
I'll add my voice to the many other people have said the same thing: This is the book that every fan who fell in love with Padmé Amidala, the Handmaidens, and the Star Wars Prequels has waiting to see for decades. When I first heard that this book was coming out, I screamed like a little fangirl. When it appeared at my library to fill my hold request, I screamed again.
I really enjoyed watching Padmé come to the realization that being Queen of Naboo and and Senator of Naboo and the Chommell Sector are two very different different positions, and how she had to adapt and evolve from the former into the latter. It was also interesting to see her beginnings in the Senate, and how she came to meet people like Mina Bonteri, Mon Mothma, and Bail and Breha Organa (particularly the last two, given their future relationship(s)). Also, the first paragraph of the first chapter? Sent me into shivering, crying fits because of its hints to Padmé's ultimate fate.
And then there is Sabé and the other handmaidens. While the other handmaidens from Padmé's tenure of Queen played a minor role, Sabé and the three Senatorial handmaidens, Dormé, Versé, and Cordé, were much more to the foreground in their efforts in supporting Padmé. While the three Senatorial handmaidens kept things running on Coruscant within Padmé's offices, Sabé serves Padmé in more further-flung areas, from Padmé's efforts to lessen the slave situation on Tatooine (I was thrilled that Padmé had not forgotten that Shmi Skywalker was left behind as a slave, though she wasn't in a position to do anything until after Shmi had already freed herself with the help of the Lars and possibly the Whitesuns [a hint at involvement with Beru and possibly her family?]), to tracking the source of her early bad press and the threats against her.
Then there's the epilogue. Padmé dead, Versé and Cordé dead, and Sabé heartbroken and left to pick up the pieces. I absolutely loved that Sabé had managed to save Padmé's writings, which showed just how much she had planned and how much she had done that we had never seen in the films and The Clone Wars series. Padmé's death on a personal level was tragic enough, but to see just how much she had planned to do, her efforts to reform and improve the Republic, all cut short because Sheev Palpatine is a fucking asshole megalomaniac and Anakin Skywalker got played, made it even more heartbreaking. If she'd just had more time, Padmé would have been able to make so much of a difference...
Needless to say, I utterly loved this book. Definitely a favorite.
Spoiler
Overall, I absolutely loved this. It challenged my own preconceptions on Naboo, its culture, and political structure. When I read at the beginning of the book that Padmé's second term was ending just four years after the Trade Federation Occupation, I was thrown (though that really has to do with me being used to four-year political terms), but ultimately I came to like the idea. It gave Padmé more of a chance to move into the next phase of her life before the events of Attack of the Clones unfolded.I really enjoyed watching Padmé come to the realization that being Queen of Naboo and and Senator of Naboo and the Chommell Sector are two very different different positions, and how she had to adapt and evolve from the former into the latter. It was also interesting to see her beginnings in the Senate, and how she came to meet people like Mina Bonteri, Mon Mothma, and Bail and Breha Organa (particularly the last two, given their future relationship(s)). Also, the first paragraph of the first chapter? Sent me into shivering, crying fits because of its hints to Padmé's ultimate fate.
And then there is Sabé and the other handmaidens. While the other handmaidens from Padmé's tenure of Queen played a minor role, Sabé and the three Senatorial handmaidens, Dormé, Versé, and Cordé, were much more to the foreground in their efforts in supporting Padmé. While the three Senatorial handmaidens kept things running on Coruscant within Padmé's offices, Sabé serves Padmé in more further-flung areas, from Padmé's efforts to lessen the slave situation on Tatooine (I was thrilled that Padmé had not forgotten that Shmi Skywalker was left behind as a slave, though she wasn't in a position to do anything until after Shmi had already freed herself with the help of the Lars and possibly the Whitesuns [a hint at involvement with Beru and possibly her family?]), to tracking the source of her early bad press and the threats against her.
Then there's the epilogue. Padmé dead, Versé and Cordé dead, and Sabé heartbroken and left to pick up the pieces. I absolutely loved that Sabé had managed to save Padmé's writings, which showed just how much she had planned and how much she had done that we had never seen in the films and The Clone Wars series. Padmé's death on a personal level was tragic enough, but to see just how much she had planned to do, her efforts to reform and improve the Republic, all cut short because Sheev Palpatine is a fucking asshole megalomaniac and Anakin Skywalker got played, made it even more heartbreaking. If she'd just had more time, Padmé would have been able to make so much of a difference...
Needless to say, I utterly loved this book. Definitely a favorite.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.5/5 stars. I’m biased as a fan of the handmaidens from the comics taking place after ROTS, so I was very curious to learn more about them. Sabé is my favorite, so it was nice to read bits from her experience, and getting to know all the handmaidens better.
I agree with other reviews that as a story there isn’t much of a plot to move, so the pace is very slow. But it was an enjoyable read to learn more about non-main characters, and I love supporting more female stories in the Star Wars universe. As a fan, it’s fun to delve deeper and further into the world-building, and to see cameos of beloved and notorious characters in a completely separate context.
I agree with other reviews that as a story there isn’t much of a plot to move, so the pace is very slow. But it was an enjoyable read to learn more about non-main characters, and I love supporting more female stories in the Star Wars universe. As a fan, it’s fun to delve deeper and further into the world-building, and to see cameos of beloved and notorious characters in a completely separate context.
I LOVE PADME AND THIS WAS SO FUN
Also Gimmie more politics pls
Also Gimmie more politics pls
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I need to point out that the rating is not a reflection of Johnston's writing. She does a great job of showcasing the close friendship between Padme and her handmaids. She fleshes out characters from Phantom Menace, and I love the interaction between all the women. It's true as some of the reviews have pointed out there isn't much physical action, and the book is more Padme finding out what she wants to do after being Queen, so more political.
So why the one star?
It's one thing that I have no idea if Johnston is responsible for or the Star Wars suits since the Disney buy out are. When she sees the Jedi Temple, Padme reflects on her time with the Jedi in PM and notes that Qui-Gon knew that she was really the Queen when she was posing as a handmaid. In other words, he saw though the disguise and knew. Honesty, for me, the best part of the whole prequel series was Padme and her handmaid's pulling that off. Yes, the viewers knew, but the Jedi didn't in the movie. This book changes that and it makes me angry. It's bad enough that the Clone Wars tv series in the later seasons assassination of her character. Now we have this. Can't have a woman outsmarting a male Jedi. Soured the whole book for me.
So why the one star?
It's one thing that I have no idea if Johnston is responsible for or the Star Wars suits since the Disney buy out are. When she sees the Jedi Temple, Padme reflects on her time with the Jedi in PM and notes that Qui-Gon knew that she was really the Queen when she was posing as a handmaid. In other words, he saw though the disguise and knew. Honesty, for me, the best part of the whole prequel series was Padme and her handmaid's pulling that off. Yes, the viewers knew, but the Jedi didn't in the movie. This book changes that and it makes me angry. It's bad enough that the Clone Wars tv series in the later seasons assassination of her character. Now we have this. Can't have a woman outsmarting a male Jedi. Soured the whole book for me.