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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It starts slow and then picks up about halfway through.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Murder, War
I found it entertaining and fun. I felt the beginning started out a little slow in certain areas in giving details. I enjoyed that we got to see the handmaidens and how they were chosen. They slowly take over the story, and that’s a good thing. Padmé is never too far from the focus.
While it is a good prequel to Queen’s Shadow, I wish this had been written first. I think I would have gotten more out of Queen’s Shadow then.
I really enjoyed seeing a different point of view on the Phantom Menace. I wish we got more of it. I enjoyed the bit we got from Jar Jar’s POV, and I wish we got to see the conversation between him and Padmé, his thoughts on Padmé revealing herself as queen, or just something about those two. Poor Jar Jar is given so much abuse by the fans, that I was excited when his scene started. It was done so well that I wanted more.
Minor Spoilers...
Spoilers...
We get a bit into Maul’s head that really show how tragic his life is. Unlike with Jar Jar, I think we got just the right amount of Maul.
I listened to the audio, and it was done well. There’s a particular scene that I knew was coming from Queen’s Shadow, but it still hits hard.
While it is a good prequel to Queen’s Shadow, I wish this had been written first. I think I would have gotten more out of Queen’s Shadow then.
I really enjoyed seeing a different point of view on the Phantom Menace. I wish we got more of it. I enjoyed the bit we got from Jar Jar’s POV, and I wish we got to see the conversation between him and Padmé, his thoughts on Padmé revealing herself as queen, or just something about those two. Poor Jar Jar is given so much abuse by the fans, that I was excited when his scene started. It was done so well that I wanted more.
Minor Spoilers...
Spoilers...
We get a bit into Maul’s head that really show how tragic his life is. Unlike with Jar Jar, I think we got just the right amount of Maul.
I listened to the audio, and it was done well. There’s a particular scene that I knew was coming from Queen’s Shadow, but it still hits hard.
4/5
reading these out of order lol.
this was fun! i dont have much to say other than naboo parents suck for letting their daughters into such dangerous positions at such a young age! wish this was explored more in this.
also, i think u need to be pretty familiar with the phantom menace to really get what was going on. the end of the book does take place during it but it skips a lot and only briefly summarizes what happens. it’s been a while since i watched the movie, so at times i was kind of confused at times bc of all the glossing over some of the events of the movie.
i think this is more like a 3.75, really bc i felt the emotions of padme and the handmaidens were a bit surface level and could have been explored more, but im rounding up to 4 bc why not lol
reading these out of order lol.
this was fun! i dont have much to say other than naboo parents suck for letting their daughters into such dangerous positions at such a young age! wish this was explored more in this.
also, i think u need to be pretty familiar with the phantom menace to really get what was going on. the end of the book does take place during it but it skips a lot and only briefly summarizes what happens. it’s been a while since i watched the movie, so at times i was kind of confused at times bc of all the glossing over some of the events of the movie.
i think this is more like a 3.75, really bc i felt the emotions of padme and the handmaidens were a bit surface level and could have been explored more, but im rounding up to 4 bc why not lol
Queen’s Peril was an amazing prequel to Queen’s Shadow, but I felt that it was a little inconsistent at times. For example, when it was mentioned that Anakin Skywalker crashed his pod racer, and he broke his legs or something. Then, it was never mentioned again.
Also, it went from them being trapped on Naboo, to going to speak in the Senate on Coruscant, to meeting Anakin on Tatooine, to going back to Coruscant, to back to Naboo, where they were incarcerated.
But I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in this book! I love how all but one, I think, of Padmé Amidala’s handmaidens were lesbians or at least lesbian curious.
Overall, I enjoyed Queen’s Peril, and would give it 4.4/5.
Also, it went from them being trapped on Naboo, to going to speak in the Senate on Coruscant, to meeting Anakin on Tatooine, to going back to Coruscant, to back to Naboo, where they were incarcerated.
But I loved the LGBTQ+ representation in this book! I love how all but one, I think, of Padmé Amidala’s handmaidens were lesbians or at least lesbian curious.
Overall, I enjoyed Queen’s Peril, and would give it 4.4/5.
What a book. I absolutely loved it. This was a riveting look at how Queen Amidala created her band of handmaidens/bodyguards.
Set prior to the events of The Phantom Menace, we meet the newly elected queen as she plans out how to govern and protect herself. I love her squabbles with Captain Panaka and the introduction of each new handmaiden.
What sets this book apart was how it dealt with the fact that these characters are young teenage girls, but the author doesn’t try to infantilise them.
Far too often, young girls and their behaviour are mocked but that’s because men don’t try and understand anyone who isn’t like them.
While the average teenage girl may not have the burden of a planet on their shoulders, they definitely have much more gravitas than they’re given credit for.
Somehow Padme and the others don’t come across as precocious—which makes most young people in popular culture insufferable to put up with. These young children knew their limitations but also what was needed for governance and they went ahead and did it.
I was so caught up with Padme and her handmaidens that every time the story broke off to tie in characters from the films it felt like an intrusion.
I would say that the only drawback to the book is that it introduces TPM far too soon. Granted, the invasion by the Trade Federation only takes place 70% into the book, but I feel like we needed at least one other significant win for Padme and her team before they were faced with the gruelling invasion.
That aside I just can’t get enough of this book. We’re able to step into the shoes of all these characters and understand the motives behind their actions.
I also feel like the author’s writing was much more fluid in this book, almost as if the burden of expectation had been lifted.
Having read these two Amidala books, I can’t wait for more. We could do with as many books as possible on this great Naboo Queen.
Set prior to the events of The Phantom Menace, we meet the newly elected queen as she plans out how to govern and protect herself. I love her squabbles with Captain Panaka and the introduction of each new handmaiden.
What sets this book apart was how it dealt with the fact that these characters are young teenage girls, but the author doesn’t try to infantilise them.
Far too often, young girls and their behaviour are mocked but that’s because men don’t try and understand anyone who isn’t like them.
While the average teenage girl may not have the burden of a planet on their shoulders, they definitely have much more gravitas than they’re given credit for.
Somehow Padme and the others don’t come across as precocious—which makes most young people in popular culture insufferable to put up with. These young children knew their limitations but also what was needed for governance and they went ahead and did it.
I was so caught up with Padme and her handmaidens that every time the story broke off to tie in characters from the films it felt like an intrusion.
I would say that the only drawback to the book is that it introduces TPM far too soon. Granted, the invasion by the Trade Federation only takes place 70% into the book, but I feel like we needed at least one other significant win for Padme and her team before they were faced with the gruelling invasion.
That aside I just can’t get enough of this book. We’re able to step into the shoes of all these characters and understand the motives behind their actions.
I also feel like the author’s writing was much more fluid in this book, almost as if the burden of expectation had been lifted.
Having read these two Amidala books, I can’t wait for more. We could do with as many books as possible on this great Naboo Queen.
Exactly what I had been hoping for from this book. Fun Star Wars story focused on Padme and her handmaidens. :)
3.5 rounded up. I wish the second half of the book was more than just a recap of Phantom Menace. I wanted way more training montages and teen girl bonding and badassery from Padme and her bodyguards!
A very good book that tells you more about Padmé and her handmaidens. Someone of the dialogue is rough but nothing too bad.