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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
One sentence (if you don't want to read all of my review): This book feels fresh in the way it does not shy away from writing about the experiences of young women and makes your favorite characters more real by having them go through just that.
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I read this one after reading Queen's Shadow as I personally feel like prequels are best enjoyed after knowing the context of the story that they are expanding. I loved the first book and I went into this incredibly excited and this book did not disappoint. This book is a phenomenal sequel and even surpassed how much I enjoyed the first book.
The story begins with Padme awaiting the results of the election for the Queen of Naboo, she is only fourteen years old. This story serves as a good reminder of how young she actually was in the Phantom Menace. Taking place just a short time before that movie, it continues to show just how she felt as she moved into the throne of Naboo and how smart she actually is. She had a huge hand when choosing the handmaidens and how the decoy maneuver began.
The Handmaidens. They are easily the best part of this book and maybe I am biased because I loved them in the first book. They have so much personality and they are all individual characters with unique skills to bring to the table. They get into trouble and they have conflict and they just feel so real. Too often do authors treat young female friendships as perfect and without any imperfections. As someone who was once a teenage girl, I know that I got into fights with my friends and that I caused problems and got mad with them for no reason. Over-sanitizing that aspect of growing up occurs in so much media and Johnston just hits the nail on the head in this book.
There are a great deal of scenes that made me laugh out loud while reading this and the transition to the much more serious back half of the book that occurs during the events of the Phantom Menace is done beautifully. Do I love the chapters where it shifts the story to Darth Maul or Obi-wan? No, not particularly. I don't feel they add much. But, do I think that they detract from/hurt the story? Also, no. I think that this book shines brightest when you appreciate just how strong of a politician and character Padme is but also recognize how her reign as queen is strengthened by the relationships she formed with the Handmaidens.
As I stated in my review of Queen's Shadow (which is admittedly much shorter than this), E.K. just has this special charm when writing these female characters. She writes about experiences that many of us had while growing up (i.e.: having a first period) in a way that doesn't feel phoned-in or forced. This book feels fresh in the way it does not shy away from writing about the experiences of young women and makes your favorite characters more real by having them go through just that. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and will definitely re-read when I need something familiar and comforting. Thank you, E.K.!
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I read this one after reading Queen's Shadow as I personally feel like prequels are best enjoyed after knowing the context of the story that they are expanding. I loved the first book and I went into this incredibly excited and this book did not disappoint. This book is a phenomenal sequel and even surpassed how much I enjoyed the first book.
The story begins with Padme awaiting the results of the election for the Queen of Naboo, she is only fourteen years old. This story serves as a good reminder of how young she actually was in the Phantom Menace. Taking place just a short time before that movie, it continues to show just how she felt as she moved into the throne of Naboo and how smart she actually is. She had a huge hand when choosing the handmaidens and how the decoy maneuver began.
The Handmaidens. They are easily the best part of this book and maybe I am biased because I loved them in the first book. They have so much personality and they are all individual characters with unique skills to bring to the table. They get into trouble and they have conflict and they just feel so real. Too often do authors treat young female friendships as perfect and without any imperfections. As someone who was once a teenage girl, I know that I got into fights with my friends and that I caused problems and got mad with them for no reason. Over-sanitizing that aspect of growing up occurs in so much media and Johnston just hits the nail on the head in this book.
There are a great deal of scenes that made me laugh out loud while reading this and the transition to the much more serious back half of the book that occurs during the events of the Phantom Menace is done beautifully. Do I love the chapters where it shifts the story to Darth Maul or Obi-wan? No, not particularly. I don't feel they add much. But, do I think that they detract from/hurt the story? Also, no. I think that this book shines brightest when you appreciate just how strong of a politician and character Padme is but also recognize how her reign as queen is strengthened by the relationships she formed with the Handmaidens.
As I stated in my review of Queen's Shadow (which is admittedly much shorter than this), E.K. just has this special charm when writing these female characters. She writes about experiences that many of us had while growing up (i.e.: having a first period) in a way that doesn't feel phoned-in or forced. This book feels fresh in the way it does not shy away from writing about the experiences of young women and makes your favorite characters more real by having them go through just that. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and will definitely re-read when I need something familiar and comforting. Thank you, E.K.!
I really enjoyed this book! The Phantom Menace has never been my favorite Star Wars but this made me see it in an entirely new light!
I already love Padme, duh, but getting her inner monologue and watching how the Amidala illusion came to be was so cool!! Sure it was pretty evident it was more of a juvenile book than adult fiction, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Also Padme is bi???? Hello?????
A really cool piece of Star Wars! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I already love Padme, duh, but getting her inner monologue and watching how the Amidala illusion came to be was so cool!! Sure it was pretty evident it was more of a juvenile book than adult fiction, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Also Padme is bi???? Hello?????
A really cool piece of Star Wars! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Really loved the first two thirds of this book - setting up and exploring the personalities of Padme and her handmaidens. Didn't love the ending where the story essentially rushes through the plot of Episode 1, which somewhat threw off the pacing and kept the story from really having its own ending. Still, a fun read.
I enjoyed the first half more, since the second half was filling in pieces of episode one.
It’s a cute book I think it’s a fun read if you like padme or the prequel trilogy you’ll like this book
i would recommend re-watching The Phantom Menace before reading this, it was more of a companion novel than I was expecting (as in it basically skipped over any scene that was actually in the movie and assumed the reader knew what happened) but it was still fun and enjoyable though i needed to refresh my canon-memory a couple of times. my favorite thing was the (correct) narrative assumption that teen girls can be so extremely talented and brave and loyal to one another.
Since I enjoy Ep. I so much I really enjoy all the books leading up to it. This gives a great insight into more of Naboo (my favorite SW planet) and gives insight into the Handmaidens, which are otherwise not really talked about despite their importance. Plus, it tells the events of Ep. I from Padmé's point of view, which was a nice touch.
There's more to Star Wars than the Jedi and well, war. If I had any complaints it is that you need to have seen Ep. I enough to be able to follow along because, since it's told from a non-Jedi point of view, it leaves out some points that I feel are needed. For me though, that's not a problem.
Highly recommend for Star Wars fans.
#StarWars
There's more to Star Wars than the Jedi and well, war. If I had any complaints it is that you need to have seen Ep. I enough to be able to follow along because, since it's told from a non-Jedi point of view, it leaves out some points that I feel are needed. For me though, that's not a problem.
Highly recommend for Star Wars fans.
#StarWars
It was really great to learn more about the handmaiden characters, and more of Padmes background. I feel like the ending was very rushed though! There is very little depth or insite to any of her interactions with the Jedi or Anakin, and I feel like spending some time with that would have made the book much more satisfying and interesting. The last several chapters just felt vague and rushed rather than taking the opportunity to really get to know Padme and these relationships that later become central to her life.
fast-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes