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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I loved Claudia Gray's first take writing Leia, Bloodline, and this book might be even better.
I have no idea why it took so long for a book about Leia's teenage years to be written but I'm glad we finally have it. The characters, especially the Organa family, are just wonderful and complex. I also appreciated appearances by a number of familiar faces - and for once, all these appearances actually made sense within the greater context of the world, something which has not always been the case (particularly where the droids are concerned).
This book also introduces other characters and all of them are unique and interesting in their own right, particularly Amilyn Holdo, who I have officially dubbed "Space Luna" and look forward to learning more about when The Last Jedi is released.
This book is just a joy to read - and also very sad, since we know what's going to happen to Alderaan in a few years.
I have no idea why it took so long for a book about Leia's teenage years to be written but I'm glad we finally have it. The characters, especially the Organa family, are just wonderful and complex. I also appreciated appearances by a number of familiar faces - and for once, all these appearances actually made sense within the greater context of the world, something which has not always been the case (particularly where the droids are concerned).
This book also introduces other characters and all of them are unique and interesting in their own right, particularly Amilyn Holdo, who I have officially dubbed "Space Luna" and look forward to learning more about when The Last Jedi is released.
This book is just a joy to read - and also very sad, since we know what's going to happen to Alderaan in a few years.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really twists the knife about what happens after the events of the book, in a very well written way
A surprisingly emotionally-engaging story based on the coming-of-age of the titular character. Her relationship with her parents and their individual characterization were the big stand-out elements of the book to me, but the rest of the supporting cast get some strong moments too. The political bits weren't great, specifically the depiction of the Empire was as more cartoonishly evil than even typical Star Wars Extended Universe stuff, but that's not what anybody is reading this book for anyway.
One of my favorite Star Wars characters and I'm a total sucker for great friendship themes. It was absolutely soul warming to read the origin and growth of Lea's friendship with Amilyn.
Prior to reading I expected to feel a sense of hope throughout the book but it was honestly stupid of me since we go into this already knowing the fate of Alderaan. Because of that every hopeful statement made just leaves you with a haunting feeling and you can just call my heart wrenched.
I think Gray captured Leia's personality perfectly and wrote this book in a way that felt more historical rather than fictional. I loved it.
Prior to reading I expected to feel a sense of hope throughout the book but it was honestly stupid of me since we go into this already knowing the fate of Alderaan. Because of that every hopeful statement made just leaves you with a haunting feeling and you can just call my heart wrenched.
I think Gray captured Leia's personality perfectly and wrote this book in a way that felt more historical rather than fictional. I loved it.
For completionists only, or hardcore Claudia Gray fans I guess. (Disclaimer that I haven't read any of her other work, but I imagine if you love her writing you'd want to read this too.) It definitely feels more middle grade than YA at times, and Leia is often so slow to realize things that she comes across as kind of stupid rather than a brilliant strategist and tactician - and sure, she's learning, and she's a teenager, but some of the plot revelations are telegraphed light-years ahead of when they show up. It's nice seeing the beginning of her friendship with Amilyn Holdo; the token love interest is fine, I guess, . And seeing more of everybody's favorite space dad Bail Organa is great - and honestly Bail and Breha, queen of Alderaan, are my favorites in the entire book. But I'm old, and maybe I'm just too old for this book.
Spoiler
even if you know he's gonna bite it from about the second page he's in and are thoroughly unsurprised when he does
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
the organas 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
the whole like last 10-20% of this had me crying in the club bail and breha are SO important to me and they love leia so much
still not a huge claudia gray fan but I loved how she wrote the organa family unit as so full of love for each other, and I liked how she handled bail and breha dealing with starting a rebellion and also being parents
the whole like last 10-20% of this had me crying in the club bail and breha are SO important to me and they love leia so much
still not a huge claudia gray fan but I loved how she wrote the organa family unit as so full of love for each other, and I liked how she handled bail and breha dealing with starting a rebellion and also being parents
A very entertaining novel! It was fun getting to know kick-ass Princess Leia as a love-struck and idealistic teenager, and see her deal with her frustration about being too young to do much to help the world, and learn the consequences of her mistakes. I thought it fits with the grown-up Leia we get to know in the movies. In many ways it reminded me of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles books, a YA series which I loved, only this one is set in the familiar Star Wars universe.
A solid prequel, with good emotional payoff if you also read Bloodline (the author's other Leia book).