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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
informative
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:
No
padme naberrie…. i love you & you deserve the world
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Queen’s Shadow is everything nine-year-old me wanted from Star Wars. When I was younger, Padmé Amidala was my favorite character in the Star Wars franchise and I desperately wanted to read a book about her, even if it was just the novelizations for the prequel movies. Now, over a decade later, it’s in my hands. I couldn’t be happier with how E.K. Johnston portrayed her. She understands Padmé’s character and, as a result, this book shines. In the last line of her acknowledgements Johnston says, “And every girl who ever asked for more from Star Wars. You’re my spark.” And it shows. Queen’s Shadow is unmistakably Star Wars. It’s Padmé Amidala at her finest.
emotional
inspiring
slow-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
If you are interested in Padmé Amidala's circle of handmaidens, how they operate as part of her protective detail, and the politics of the Senate, this book will be interesting. If you are looking for any kind of action or anything else, look elsewhere.
This book is more of a character study, and while I did find it a better, deeper look into Padmé's personality than the prequel films, it also was a slog. The first half is snoozeworthy; the second half gets more into the politics and was (for me, a self proclaimed political wonk) more interesting
But overall it's just...well, I fell asleep a lot.
And tbh, the characterization of Padmé here makes the romance between her and Anakin even LESS believable, especially her staying with him after she found out about his slaughter of the sandpeople. The Padmé from this book would never have been okay with that.
Worth a read to understand her more, but be prepared for not much happening.
This book is more of a character study, and while I did find it a better, deeper look into Padmé's personality than the prequel films, it also was a slog. The first half is snoozeworthy; the second half gets more into the politics and was (for me, a self proclaimed political wonk) more interesting
But overall it's just...well, I fell asleep a lot.
And tbh, the characterization of Padmé here makes the romance between her and Anakin even LESS believable, especially her staying with him after she found out about his slaughter of the sandpeople. The Padmé from this book would never have been okay with that.
Worth a read to understand her more, but be prepared for not much happening.
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ehhh, okay, this was better than Queen’s Peril. Padme and her many handmaidens read much more mature than the sequel/prequel book, which I was especially glad for given majority of the story centers around politics and Padme learning her role as a senator. If she always read like a realistic 18 year old, I don’t think I would have finished this. It was fun to see more of certain characters that have had limited page or screen time so far. Finally, I was glad that the perspectives we largely focused on were Padme and Sabé, since there still wasn’t much to distinguish each of their voices, but I think in this case it worked better since these two really have spent much of their lives trying to become interchangeable.
I think where this falls down for me was that most of the book is… boring. I love the action and adventure of Star Wars, but with the synopsis I knew I wouldn’t get much of it. However, I feel like the potential character-work that could have been done to expand on Padme and Sabé was wasted. There were little bits here and there presented to add some layers and nuance, also to better separate them, but they were just crumbs. For how long this book was and how much nothing really happened, I would have expected these characters to go through a feast worth of growth. The dynamics between Padme and her handmaidens does get some more attention, but because there are so many, it was hard to really get invested into those dynamics or see the difference in them. Rather, they sort of run together as one big mess.
This wasn’t necessarily bad, it was just much more wrapped up in the politics of the Star Wars universe at this time than I really care for, and I doubt anything here will be especially memorable or impactful in future stories. It doesn’t close out much of anything in regard to the larger plot, in fact, it leaves a lot of loose threads.
Very fun read following Amidala and she transitions from Queen to Senator, and her early life as a senator. Gives life to her hand maidens, and shows the worker in putting together the Amidala persona. Plus more Naboo lore
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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:
Yes
This book is very politics-heavy, as Padmé is a senator for the majority of the story. I find it hard to believe that many teens would be interested in space politics unless they are already politically inclined. She undertakes noble missions including trying to free slaves from Tatooine (inspired by Anakin's mother). These passages are more engaging than the political meetings and parties that form the majority of the novel.
The audiobook narrative is interspersed with the Star Wars musical score as well as sound effects. The sound effects add to the world-building, but the distraction of ambient noise tracks detracts from the tale. Droids have mechanical voices, not the narrator's imitation of a robot speech.
Catherine Taber, the voice of Padmé in The Clone Wars animated series, narrates the novel. Taber is an adequate narrator but lacks the engagement and vocal talent of great narrators like January LaVoy. The majority of her narrative is flat; more emotion would have better served the audiobook.
I would recommend this novel to teens or adults who are die-hard Star Wars fans and want to know what happens between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Political junkies could also enjoy this story of how a new senator makes connections. Fans who are looking for an action-packed Star Wars novel filled with blaster and lightsaber fights should look elsewhere.
Read the review and get readalikes here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmaven/post/queens-shadow
The audiobook narrative is interspersed with the Star Wars musical score as well as sound effects. The sound effects add to the world-building, but the distraction of ambient noise tracks detracts from the tale. Droids have mechanical voices, not the narrator's imitation of a robot speech.
Catherine Taber, the voice of Padmé in The Clone Wars animated series, narrates the novel. Taber is an adequate narrator but lacks the engagement and vocal talent of great narrators like January LaVoy. The majority of her narrative is flat; more emotion would have better served the audiobook.
I would recommend this novel to teens or adults who are die-hard Star Wars fans and want to know what happens between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Political junkies could also enjoy this story of how a new senator makes connections. Fans who are looking for an action-packed Star Wars novel filled with blaster and lightsaber fights should look elsewhere.
Read the review and get readalikes here: https://guenevol.wixsite.com/novelmaven/post/queens-shadow
Amé "Ashoka" pero con este libro no pude conectar ni con Padmé ni con Sabé (Su Doppelgänger)