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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
1) This made me despise Revenge of the Sith a little bit more because it cut out all of Padmè’s agency and abilities and made her a prop to Anakin. Ugh.
2) Padmè still has epically bad taste in partners. Sabè is RIGHT THERE. Ugh. Knowing she chooses Anakin bothers me even more now. And it bothered me deeply in AOTC when she chose to be with him after admitting he slaughtered women and children for revenge. Like, woman, really?!?!
3) Speaking of, more Sabè always. She was my favorite handmaiden and could clearly kick ass as much as Padmè.
4) LGBT+ rep!
5) The plot was a touch uneven. Sabè’s brief side trip to Tatooine felt unnecessary and somewhat out of place.
6) I didn’t realize this was a trilogy. I’m curious about the next book but won’t get to read it for a while.
Overall, 3.75/5 rounded up to 4. Star Wars fans, particular those that like Padmè, her handmaidens, and learning more about the Galactic Senate will enjoy this.
2) Padmè still has epically bad taste in partners. Sabè is RIGHT THERE. Ugh. Knowing she chooses Anakin bothers me even more now. And it bothered me deeply in AOTC when she chose to be with him after admitting he slaughtered women and children for revenge. Like, woman, really?!?!
3) Speaking of, more Sabè always. She was my favorite handmaiden and could clearly kick ass as much as Padmè.
4) LGBT+ rep!
5) The plot was a touch uneven. Sabè’s brief side trip to Tatooine felt unnecessary and somewhat out of place.
6) I didn’t realize this was a trilogy. I’m curious about the next book but won’t get to read it for a while.
Overall, 3.75/5 rounded up to 4. Star Wars fans, particular those that like Padmè, her handmaidens, and learning more about the Galactic Senate will enjoy this.
The part itself seems to be almost filler, but I still found it entertaining. What I liked most was learning more about Padmé’s handmaidens. We get some background for those names.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4/5
another solid, short star wars book.
i love padme so much!!!
my rank is:
1. queen’s hope
2. queen’s shadow
3. queen’s peril
“Padmé Amidala was completely still. The brown halo of her hair spread out around her, softened here and there by white blossoms that had blown through the air to find their rest amongst her curls. Her skin was pale and perfect. Her face was peaceful. Her eyes were closed and her hands were clasped across her stomach as she floated. Naboo carried on without her.
Even now, at the end, she was watched.”
*logic voice* i dont want to be alliivee
another solid, short star wars book.
i love padme so much!!!
my rank is:
1. queen’s hope
2. queen’s shadow
3. queen’s peril
“Padmé Amidala was completely still. The brown halo of her hair spread out around her, softened here and there by white blossoms that had blown through the air to find their rest amongst her curls. Her skin was pale and perfect. Her face was peaceful. Her eyes were closed and her hands were clasped across her stomach as she floated. Naboo carried on without her.
Even now, at the end, she was watched.”
*logic voice* i dont want to be alliivee
Another excellent read. An in-depth look at Padme as a senator prior to the events of The Clone Wars, showing a woman fallible and yet determined to succeed.
I never got around to reviewing this when I finished it, I think because I didn't have the right words. I just recommended it to a friend and I think I finally found the way to describe it.
I have been waiting for this book for years. When I was little, I either wanted to be just like Obi Wan or one of the Handmaidens (weird dichotomy I know.) I was obsessed with them. I read all the Obi Wan books I could find, but the only thing I could find about the Handmaidens was one page in the children's picture book I Am A Queen. And you better believe I studied it for hours.
This story tells about the transition Padme makes from being Queen to being Senator.
It was a... I think 'quieter' story is a good way to explain it. It doesn't have a big bad, there aren't a ton of conflicts, and it's not Grand with a capital G like most Star Wars books.
It's about a woman standing at the cross roads of her life, deciding what to do next. It's about the handmaidens as they go into the next chapter of their lives. It's about politics, but how they affect people.
I really really enjoyed this one and already have the sequel on pre-order and have for two months now.
Also, when I finished this one there wasn't any word of a sequel at the time and my husband had to listen to me complain bitterly that there wasn't any more.
I have been waiting for this book for years. When I was little, I either wanted to be just like Obi Wan or one of the Handmaidens (weird dichotomy I know.) I was obsessed with them. I read all the Obi Wan books I could find, but the only thing I could find about the Handmaidens was one page in the children's picture book I Am A Queen. And you better believe I studied it for hours.
This story tells about the transition Padme makes from being Queen to being Senator.
It was a... I think 'quieter' story is a good way to explain it. It doesn't have a big bad, there aren't a ton of conflicts, and it's not Grand with a capital G like most Star Wars books.
It's about a woman standing at the cross roads of her life, deciding what to do next. It's about the handmaidens as they go into the next chapter of their lives. It's about politics, but how they affect people.
I really really enjoyed this one and already have the sequel on pre-order and have for two months now.
Also, when I finished this one there wasn't any word of a sequel at the time and my husband had to listen to me complain bitterly that there wasn't any more.
I have very mixed feelings about this book and the fact that I listened to the audiobook version makes it even more conflicting.
See, I've always liked Padme's character and really liked the idea of getting to know more about her life and to get into her head. It was also kind of neat to see exactly how her decoys/handmaidens worked, which this booked showed well. BUT..."Queen's Shadow" gives us Padme at her most boring, in her first few weeks as Senator. Sure there was some danger but it was overshadowed by the politics. Which I guess politics were the point but not necessarily fun to read about. Honestly, what I really want is a book set during Episodes 1-3, through Padme's eyes. What exactly made her fall for Anakin when she was so hell bent against it? That kind of thing.
In regards to me reading the audiobook. I generally like science-fiction audiobooks because they often have those audio elements that truly make it come to life. Countdowns and blaster fire, that kind of thing. And oh boy, did this book have that to the extreme. Are Padme and her decoys/guards hanging out by the lake? Then the entire chapter has the sounds of moving water and insects chirping! Are they at the senate? Then there will be background chatter the entire time! The extra elements were just so extra that they were super distracting and a few times I missed the dialogue because it was hard to hear over the whooshing of the doors opening and closing.
All in all, it was okay, just could have been better.
See, I've always liked Padme's character and really liked the idea of getting to know more about her life and to get into her head. It was also kind of neat to see exactly how her decoys/handmaidens worked, which this booked showed well. BUT..."Queen's Shadow" gives us Padme at her most boring, in her first few weeks as Senator. Sure there was some danger but it was overshadowed by the politics. Which I guess politics were the point but not necessarily fun to read about. Honestly, what I really want is a book set during Episodes 1-3, through Padme's eyes. What exactly made her fall for Anakin when she was so hell bent against it? That kind of thing.
In regards to me reading the audiobook. I generally like science-fiction audiobooks because they often have those audio elements that truly make it come to life. Countdowns and blaster fire, that kind of thing. And oh boy, did this book have that to the extreme. Are Padme and her decoys/guards hanging out by the lake? Then the entire chapter has the sounds of moving water and insects chirping! Are they at the senate? Then there will be background chatter the entire time! The extra elements were just so extra that they were super distracting and a few times I missed the dialogue because it was hard to hear over the whooshing of the doors opening and closing.
All in all, it was okay, just could have been better.
I love that we’re following Padme and her handmaidens almost exclusively throughout this book. I love Star Wars but many of the characters don’t get their due. Padme is high on that list.
The best part of the prequels was the blatant commentary on politics and this book doubles down on it. Makes sense, politics has been ingrained in Padme and she can’t live without it. The subterfuge and intrigue reels the reader in. I almost felt like it needed more of that - perhaps less page space should have been devoted to Padme’s wardrobe and hair and makeup, then we would have got a political thriller that wasn’t just skin deep.
The Easter eggs about the films made me squee. Loved those moments and loved it even more that Padme was not buried in the past and present that we are familiar with.
Not sure about the romances - they just didn’t fit and seemed to be an attempt to draw in a certain crowd. The weird moment with Clovis at the end? Uh, what? It burst my bubble of being with a character I dearly love and her happy moment being stepped on by an idiot. Did we need that?
I love that these books expand our knowledge and understanding of the characters and the ways of their worlds. We need more.
The best part of the prequels was the blatant commentary on politics and this book doubles down on it. Makes sense, politics has been ingrained in Padme and she can’t live without it. The subterfuge and intrigue reels the reader in. I almost felt like it needed more of that - perhaps less page space should have been devoted to Padme’s wardrobe and hair and makeup, then we would have got a political thriller that wasn’t just skin deep.
The Easter eggs about the films made me squee. Loved those moments and loved it even more that Padme was not buried in the past and present that we are familiar with.
Not sure about the romances - they just didn’t fit and seemed to be an attempt to draw in a certain crowd. The weird moment with Clovis at the end? Uh, what? It burst my bubble of being with a character I dearly love and her happy moment being stepped on by an idiot. Did we need that?
I love that these books expand our knowledge and understanding of the characters and the ways of their worlds. We need more.
I’ve been searching for this book for ages and was thrilled to get it from my library.
Needless to say, I loved it. This isn’t a typical Star Wars book. Very little action here. Much more political intrigue. Which I adored! It was my favourite part of the prequels and it’s really fleshed out in this book.
Loved the descriptions of the planets - I could practically see Alderaan through the words.
The clothes sounded amazing. I loved the details surrounding Padme’s dressing routine and how it’s part of the whole senatorial personality.
Getting to know the other handmaids was great. I’ve always wanted to learn more about them and this book answered so much.
For a quiet book, it was quite gripping and I would love to read more.
Needless to say, I loved it. This isn’t a typical Star Wars book. Very little action here. Much more political intrigue. Which I adored! It was my favourite part of the prequels and it’s really fleshed out in this book.
Loved the descriptions of the planets - I could practically see Alderaan through the words.
The clothes sounded amazing. I loved the details surrounding Padme’s dressing routine and how it’s part of the whole senatorial personality.
Getting to know the other handmaids was great. I’ve always wanted to learn more about them and this book answered so much.
For a quiet book, it was quite gripping and I would love to read more.