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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I have had my Star Wars fixation since the end of 2021, about a year and a half at this point. I've already read a SW few books spanning across canon and legend, and it's really fascinating to see how authors write Star Wars. Some are really fantastic, such as The Wrath of Darth Maul and Padawan,while others aren't so much, like Jedi: Battle Scars. I still plan on reading more in the near future (I've been wanting to dive into the High Republic books forever now), which, as of reading this book, includes finishing the Padmé Trilogy.
This book is heavily politically focused rather than the action we'd usually see from other SW books, but I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Padmé is such an interesting character, and reading her struggle from her transition from elected monarch to senator really intrigued me. Her passion for being a voice for her people, particularly her commitment to anti-slavery, made me like her so much. Additionally, her interactions with Queen Breha and her family really rounded her out as a character (Shout out to R2 for entertaining Padmé's infant niece by waving his shocker over her. R2, as always, being the best droid ever!).
Sabé was a fine deuteragonist. I didn't find her as interesting as Padmé, but the ending hinting that she was joining the rebellion got me curious. I don't know yet if she gets more development in the trilogy or if she's explored more in other works as her own protagonists, but, either way, I would like to see where her character is taken.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I just really like Padmé, and I look forward to reading what other aspects Johnston explored in her character.
This book is heavily politically focused rather than the action we'd usually see from other SW books, but I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Padmé is such an interesting character, and reading her struggle from her transition from elected monarch to senator really intrigued me. Her passion for being a voice for her people, particularly her commitment to anti-slavery, made me like her so much. Additionally, her interactions with Queen Breha and her family really rounded her out as a character (Shout out to R2 for entertaining Padmé's infant niece by waving his shocker over her. R2, as always, being the best droid ever!).
Sabé was a fine deuteragonist. I didn't find her as interesting as Padmé, but the ending hinting that she was joining the rebellion got me curious. I don't know yet if she gets more development in the trilogy or if she's explored more in other works as her own protagonists, but, either way, I would like to see where her character is taken.
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I just really like Padmé, and I look forward to reading what other aspects Johnston explored in her character.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was exactly the book I wanted to read. Not very action-packed, I'll admit, but instead full of the characters who've been ignored way too long: Padmé and her handmaidens. Now I only need for Keira Knightley to return in SABÉ: A STAR WARS STORY.
(For real tho, a book about SABÉ in the Rebellion would be EVERYTHING)
(For real tho, a book about SABÉ in the Rebellion would be EVERYTHING)
Slowly finished this one, but won't be going on to the others in the series. This is the second book I have read from this author and I am not a fan of the writing style.
adventurous
fast-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
A quick, entirely enjoyable read. I'm not sure I have ever read a Star Wars novel where the main female characters outnumbered the male characters. My memory could be faulty, but either way I love how having a cast of young women gives Johnston the opportunity show us a variety of takes on femininity and women supporting women.
Johnston breathes such life into the handmaidens that it honestly seems criminal we never see any of them again in other media. I would LOVE to see a show or film devoted to the handmaidens' exploits after Padme's death and during the early years of the Rebellion.
Lastly, the audiobook is read by Cat Taber, who voices Padme in the Clone Wars series. I know Taber more for her work on Star Wars: The Old Republic, as the Sith Warrior companion, Vette. So I got to listen to Vette read me a fun story of sneaky lady badassery.
Johnston breathes such life into the handmaidens that it honestly seems criminal we never see any of them again in other media. I would LOVE to see a show or film devoted to the handmaidens' exploits after Padme's death and during the early years of the Rebellion.
Lastly, the audiobook is read by Cat Taber, who voices Padme in the Clone Wars series. I know Taber more for her work on Star Wars: The Old Republic, as the Sith Warrior companion, Vette. So I got to listen to Vette read me a fun story of sneaky lady badassery.
Another really enjoyable SW book from E.K. Johnston. Like her previous book, Ahsoka, QS really gives a good look at Amidala and also her handmaidens. The book also does a really good job of showing the politics and alliance building that enhances the prequel movies.
slow-paced
“Maybe this was why Naboo encouraged its children to go into public service at such young ages: it ensured they were awake.”
I love politics & Star Wars.
E.K Johnston’s acknowledgement about how she writes about girlhood for “every girl who ever asked for more from Star Wars”? That’s so Greta Gerwig of her.
The epilogue took me out
I love politics & Star Wars.
E.K Johnston’s acknowledgement about how she writes about girlhood for “every girl who ever asked for more from Star Wars”? That’s so Greta Gerwig of her.
The epilogue took me out