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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel like this deserves a longer review than I’ll give here—and maybe I’ll do one—but suffice it to say that there were parts of this book I loved (all the Holdo and Bail stuff) and parts that made me cringe (the 16-year-old girl stuff). Now, I’m fully aware that this was designed as a YA novel, and that’s fine—just not my cup of caf, as it were. However, the good definitely outweighed the cringe and I’m glad I read it. If you’re a Star Wars fan, this is worth your time. It provides a bit of context to the Leia/Holdo relationship that will change how I watch TLJ from here on out.
I really liked this book! It's a pretty thorough dive into teenage Princess Leia Organa. Her first love, how brilliant she is, her personality before Alderaan was destroyed and she was tortured on the Death Star. The action was fun. My only gripe, and it's probably not fair since teenagers are not known for their excellent decision-making, is that Leia engages in some seriously idiotic decision-making and behavior and that made me a bit nuts. Overall, very well worth the read and my favorite Star Wars book of the Disney-canon era.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Claudia Gray's writing is so smooth and easy. Her books focused on smaller groups of characters (such as this one and <i>Master and Apprentice</i>) are where her writing really shines. I'd read a character study about the platter of fried nuna legs aboard the <i>Coronet</i> if Claudia Gray wrote it.
I wish there wasn't this perfunctory romance quota that needed to be filled. I don't really feel like it adds much.And I understand that Kier is supposed to provide some contrast to Han (Breha saying she wished Leia fell for a "scoundrel" instead) and for Leia to experience loss, along with some character development-y stuff, but I don't think the romance was what we needed.
Pre-review:
I love how this book follows Leia taking her first steps in the Rebellion and inevitably finding herself in a bit of trouble as she finds her place in bringing down the Empire...
...meanwhile, Luke is on Tatooine, like, trying to plan his day around going to Tosche Station AND having enough time to reorganize his spaceship model collection.
Naberrie-Skywalker twins, you will always be famous.
I wish there wasn't this perfunctory romance quota that needed to be filled. I don't really feel like it adds much.
Pre-review:
I love how this book follows Leia taking her first steps in the Rebellion and inevitably finding herself in a bit of trouble as she finds her place in bringing down the Empire...
...meanwhile, Luke is on Tatooine, like, trying to plan his day around going to Tosche Station AND having enough time to reorganize his spaceship model collection.
Naberrie-Skywalker twins, you will always be famous.
I am literally falling desperately in love with the newer EU books. I don't know how anyone could honestly disparage these. They just give us so much history, and back stories of these amazing characters. Firstly, teenage Leia you just see so much of her father in her. Everything that was driven in her was so similar to Anakin. She loved so fiercely. The thing about Leia was-- she had someone to hone it. Where as Anakin had arrogant, judgmental Jedi making all the wrong mistakes with him. Obi Wan was a terrible Jedi Master lol He wasn't really a great Padawan either lol but I got my beef with the Jedi.
After reading this it surprises me that she wasn't as present in Ben's life, and she allowed his fall to the dark side. But it also humanizes the characters and make them make real mistakes in this fictional world. As a whole, I loved this book. I loved the origins of our General Organa.
After reading this it surprises me that she wasn't as present in Ben's life, and she allowed his fall to the dark side. But it also humanizes the characters and make them make real mistakes in this fictional world. As a whole, I loved this book. I loved the origins of our General Organa.
Leia is and always has been/will be my favourite character in the Star Wars universe. Watching her growth in this book was the best thing I could ask for and prepared me so well to watch The Last Jedi! By far one of my favourite Star Wars books.
3.5 Stars. Pretty solid Star Wars read. I think that Claudia Gray really nailed Leia's character as a really interesting mix of Princess and Hero. The romance was kind of meh - perfectly fine, but arguably not entirely necessary. Leia's relationship with Holdo, however, was amazing, and I almost wish that had taking up a bit more of the space that Kier's character ended up with. Then again, the two characters do sort of represent Leia's (and also her parents') D Plot struggle to balance the needs of Alderaan with the needs of the galaxy. Hmm...
3.5 I am sure if I had read this when it came out I would have rated it a little higher. However at this point I believe there are simply more canon novels that are better than it.
Leia's story in this is nonetheless an interesting one, a good connection piece from Kenobi to Rogue One/A New Hope. I am grateful it exists and I did enjoy it thoroughly.
Leia's story in this is nonetheless an interesting one, a good connection piece from Kenobi to Rogue One/A New Hope. I am grateful it exists and I did enjoy it thoroughly.