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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
So good. Claudia Gray has totally cemented herself as one of the best Star Wars authors out there. Her Leia is perfectly written, and I enjoyed the exploration of her relationship with her adopted parents and Mon Mothma. I'm really excited to see Amilyn Holdo again too, after the way she's written here. There are moments, most often in the character interactions, that are just so exciting and moving.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....there was a princess who became a legend.
Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia Organa faces the most challenging task of her life so far: proving herself in the areas of body, mind, and heart to be formally named heir to the throne of Alderaan. She's taking rigorous survival courses, practicing politics, and spearheading relief missions to worlds under Imperial control. But Leia has worries beyond her claim to the crown. Her parents, Breha and Bail, aren't acting like themselves lately; they are distant and preoccupied, seemingly more concerned with throwing dinner parties for their allies in the Senate than they are with their own daughter. Determined to uncover her parents' secrets, Leia starts down an increasingly dangerous path that puts her right under the watchful eye of the Empire. And when Leia discovers what her parents and their allies are planning behind closed doors, she finds herself facing what seems like an impossible choice; dedicate herself to the people of Alderaan—including the man she loves—or the galaxy at large, which is in desperate need of a rebel hero...
Oh, man. It’s official that Claudia Gray can write a breathtaking Star Wars . Leia: Princess Of Alderaan is the second Star Wars book that I read by her, and it won’t be last one. It's another book that I cannot seem to describe all the feelings that I'm having. Leia is my favorite character in Star Wars , and I was excited for a chance to get to read about younger Leia. I was curious to find out how Leia got to where she was and how she got there. Once I started reading, it wasn't long before I was in love. It reminded me of the reason I loved Leia. Leia: Princess Of Alderaan was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time. When I turned the last page, I spend some time thinking about the book. I even talked to a few of my friends who are Star Wars fans about the story.
Emotions in this book, I felt them all. I felt as I was facing all challenges that Leia was facing. I felt her fear, anger, confusion, love, and hope. Leia faced so much to be named heir to the throne. I wasn't even aware of how much she would have to face to get there. Leia never gave up, no matter how hard or frustrating it could be. I could not begin to imagine, to face everything that she had at sixteen years old. I knew that Leia was strong, and it seems as she always been that way. There was so much happening in this book, and I couldn't get enough of Leia's journey. Every page and chapter is filled with so many adventures. I was rooting for Leia to succeed in her challenges from the start until the end. This is one of the reasons that I love Leia.
Keir. I couldn’t help but love him. I loved the relationship between him and Leia. It did not take long to see how much the two of them cared for each other. That ending, if that’s not what love is, then I don’t know what is. In general, I was in shock at that ending. I didn’t even think of that possibility. My emotions were everywhere at that time. I don’t believe that I can even explain them at this moment. I felt all the feelings that Leia was feeling at that time. I think this book was an emotional roller coaster ride but in a good way. Leia: Princess Of Alderaan is the one book that I know I will go back to in the future. I would highly recommend this for any Star Wars fans.
”Is it deadlier to fight against that kind of tyranny or to let it flourish? When is it time to give up on peace and take up arms?”
Princess/General/all-around-badass Leia Organa is one of my favourite characters in the Star Wars universe and I am so happy that this book didn’t disappoint or stray from the character we all know and love. Claudia Gray has a real knack for storytelling and I have enjoyed every book of hers that I’ve read so far.
Leia: Princess of Alderaan tells the story of Leia growing into the staunch defender of justice and her people we all love. We are also given insight to a number of other characters in the world which I thoroughly enjoyed, namely Amilyn Holdo. It was beautiful seeing how that friendship blossomed and the respect between the two ladies was lovely.
I was slightly concerned at the amount of times it was mentioned that Leia felt abandoned by the Organa’s and that they were too busy to pay attention to her, as I was worried that it might be used as a plot point to show weakness however upon reflection it was used to show that she was only human and was only sixteen when she joined the resistance.
The romance in this book was just enough. Kier was a delight to read about and his care for Leia was so pure. I loved that the romance wasn’t the main focus and it didn’t change who Leia was as a person, it helped her grow but wasn’t the main reasoning behind the growth. Whilst I’m saddened it obviously wasn’t going to turn out too well for them, I enjoyed the short ride it took me on.
Claudia Gray did the Star Wars universe proud. May the force be with you.
Princess/General/all-around-badass Leia Organa is one of my favourite characters in the Star Wars universe and I am so happy that this book didn’t disappoint or stray from the character we all know and love. Claudia Gray has a real knack for storytelling and I have enjoyed every book of hers that I’ve read so far.
Leia: Princess of Alderaan tells the story of Leia growing into the staunch defender of justice and her people we all love. We are also given insight to a number of other characters in the world which I thoroughly enjoyed, namely Amilyn Holdo. It was beautiful seeing how that friendship blossomed and the respect between the two ladies was lovely.
I was slightly concerned at the amount of times it was mentioned that Leia felt abandoned by the Organa’s and that they were too busy to pay attention to her, as I was worried that it might be used as a plot point to show weakness however upon reflection it was used to show that she was only human and was only sixteen when she joined the resistance.
The romance in this book was just enough. Kier was a delight to read about and his care for Leia was so pure. I loved that the romance wasn’t the main focus and it didn’t change who Leia was as a person, it helped her grow but wasn’t the main reasoning behind the growth. Whilst I’m saddened it obviously wasn’t going to turn out too well for them, I enjoyed the short ride it took me on.
Claudia Gray did the Star Wars universe proud. May the force be with you.
Starwars novels are hit or miss for me. I finished this in two days. Love love love how Leia was portrayed and honestly I don't think anyone could have wrote her better.
This is everything I wanted, except I wish it were longer. If you like Leia at all and you liked those Royal Diaries books from the 00s you'll love this. Leia's a real teenager with foibles and personal problems, but she grows and wrestles with the tricky exigencies of rebellion in a very believable way. Gray also draws tons of parallels between Leia and Padme, which I loved cause she's my personal favorite star wars character (discounting III). And because Luke's not around, Leia gets to use the Force in real actiony ways instead of basically a Weasley clock! I wish the pathfinding was more in-depth, but otherwise pretty much a perfect EU book.
Update: I didn't realize Leia's Luna Lovegood-esque, aerial silks flying friend Amilyn Holdo is going to be played by Laura Dern in The Last Jedi. The copycat characterization bothered me, but the payoff of having two female leaders with decades of friendship in Last Jedi is 👌👌👌
Update update: Read this before seeing Last Jedi and it becomes probably the best mainstream movie about two female leaders working together I've ever seen. Granted, that bar is low, but still
Update: I didn't realize Leia's Luna Lovegood-esque, aerial silks flying friend Amilyn Holdo is going to be played by Laura Dern in The Last Jedi. The copycat characterization bothered me, but the payoff of having two female leaders with decades of friendship in Last Jedi is 👌👌👌
Update update: Read this before seeing Last Jedi and it becomes probably the best mainstream movie about two female leaders working together I've ever seen. Granted, that bar is low, but still
I really enjoyed this book! It had it all romance, rebellion, humour and great messages! The end caught me by surprise though, didn’t see that coming! Would highly recommend!
“Nobody learns anything new without failing the first few times they try. You have to face that and figure out how to get back up again. That means learning how to fail is the most important lesson of all”
“Nobody learns anything new without failing the first few times they try. You have to face that and figure out how to get back up again. That means learning how to fail is the most important lesson of all”
Claudia Gray writes Leia wonderfully, and excels in this story of the 16-year-old princess. Great story and pacing, with a few too many obvious references to other Star Wars stories/characters (I wonder how many were contractually obligated tie-ins!). A stellar Star Wars novel!
The book opens with sixteen year-old Princess Leia underoing the "Day of Demand" ritual, in which the heir presumptive to the throne of Alderaan publicly demands that her parents recognize her as crown princess. Their response is to require her to undergo the three traditional challenges of Mind, Heart, and Body, to prove her worthiness. Completing these three challenges provides the throughline for this novel and the incidents which slowly but surely bring her into full participation in the Rebellion. The challenges, and what Leia does to prepare for them, also serve to explain how a very young princess and senator came to have the skills which Leia reveals during the original trilogy movies.
As I have written before, I think Claudia Gray writes the best version of Princess Leia: a woman of intelligence and vulnerability as well as action-hero courage. As a teenager, this Leia still has a great deal to learn, but is already a person of both passion and substance. Gray also does a good job in capturing the paradox of principled royalty: being born into both extrordinary privilege and extrordinary obligation.
As I have written before, I think Claudia Gray writes the best version of Princess Leia: a woman of intelligence and vulnerability as well as action-hero courage. As a teenager, this Leia still has a great deal to learn, but is already a person of both passion and substance. Gray also does a good job in capturing the paradox of principled royalty: being born into both extrordinary privilege and extrordinary obligation.
A good Star Wars book. It shows a little more of what Princess Leia faced and why she fought against the Empire.
I love Leia, but the main enticing factor for my wanting to read this right away was actually hearing that it fills out some of her history with Holdo, which I found intriguing in The Last Jedi. And on that front, it didn't disappoint (except, perhaps, in that I want more).
Amilyn Holdo is basically a slightly more grounded (slightly) space Luna Lovegood. I also got a suuuuuper neurodivergent vibe from her (most especially in that she's repeatedly described as having a "monotone" voice and communicates largely through metaphor and references). She's really just delightful, and her friendship with Leia is great not only because they're both awesome (in very different ways, which is part of what makes them such a good duo) but because it finally gives us a chance to see young Leia interacting with someone who isn't male.
But aside from that, the book also delves into the early stages of Leia's introduction to what would become the Rebellion. I don't want to give too much away, not even what other characters might make appearances, but suffice it to say I really enjoyed and felt enriched by what is fleshed out here. I don't think it's a spoiler to say we get to see what Alderaan was like when it, y'know, existed, so that was really nice too. Elements from the original trilogy, the prequels, the new trilogy, and even Star Wars Rebels are all seamlessly woven into the story to give the overall universe an even more cohesive quality.
ALSO, there is an alien race with multiple/shifting genders and it's explicitly said that it's appropriate to use singular "they" for them, and thereafter that's exactly what's used in the book. It's done very smoothly without calling TOO much attention to it. Thank you, Claudia Gray, for showing how easy and natural it can be.
All in all, I loved this entry into the new canon EU and am glad to be ending 2017 with such a great story.
Amilyn Holdo is basically a slightly more grounded (slightly) space Luna Lovegood. I also got a suuuuuper neurodivergent vibe from her (most especially in that she's repeatedly described as having a "monotone" voice and communicates largely through metaphor and references). She's really just delightful, and her friendship with Leia is great not only because they're both awesome (in very different ways, which is part of what makes them such a good duo) but because it finally gives us a chance to see young Leia interacting with someone who isn't male.
But aside from that, the book also delves into the early stages of Leia's introduction to what would become the Rebellion. I don't want to give too much away, not even what other characters might make appearances, but suffice it to say I really enjoyed and felt enriched by what is fleshed out here. I don't think it's a spoiler to say we get to see what Alderaan was like when it, y'know, existed, so that was really nice too. Elements from the original trilogy, the prequels, the new trilogy, and even Star Wars Rebels are all seamlessly woven into the story to give the overall universe an even more cohesive quality.
ALSO, there is an alien race with multiple/shifting genders and it's explicitly said that it's appropriate to use singular "they" for them, and thereafter that's exactly what's used in the book. It's done very smoothly without calling TOO much attention to it. Thank you, Claudia Gray, for showing how easy and natural it can be.
All in all, I loved this entry into the new canon EU and am glad to be ending 2017 with such a great story.