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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
adventurous
reflective
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I’ve long considered myself a Star Wars fan, but I guess it’s time for me to admit I’m a relatively casual one as far as fans go. While the movies bring me incredible amounts of joy, I watch them less for trivia or dissecting thematic elements than For The Vibes; I haven’t memorized every single planet and its characteristics and what species live there, and would honestly probably get smoked at a serious Star Wars trivia contest. To that end, that this is the first Star Wars tie-in novel I’ve ever read (whether in the EU/Legends canon or the post-Disney, sequel-compliant canon). Fortunately, I must say I was pleasantly surprised! Claudia Gray’s writing served as a great introduction to the wider world of the auxiliary material about the galaxy far, far away.
I loved the engaging writing style of this novel—at the end of chapters, I often had to physically stop myself from reading more and force myself to go to bed, and even then I’d sneak a few paragraphs of the next chapter before actually sleeping. I loved the connections to The Last Jedi—the main ones I could pick up were Leia’s Force-sensitivity and the appearance of Amilyn Holdo (call me a fake fan, but I didn’t realize that she was the same person as the purple-haired Amilyn Holdo in The Last Jedi until three-fourths of the way into the book) . And I loved the characters Gray introduced! Kier Domadi, as Leia’s love interest, is the perfect antithesis to Han Solo: where Han’s a roguish scoundrel whose dialogue with Leia is filled with bickering and banter, Kier is an upstanding, nerdy and shy model citizen with clear respect and affection for Leia that he doesn’t hesitate to show. Not gonna lie, as much as I love Han, I was kinda shipping Leia and Kier together…which makes Kier’s eventual fate that much more heartbreaking . And (teenage) Amilyn Holdo? She owns my entire heart. She’s like a mixture of Luna Lovegood and Ed from Cowboy Bebop, eccentric and wacky and unafraid to be herself, but at the same time intelligent, loyal, and deeply empathetic. (She’s also autistic-coded, I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules.) I loved seeing her growing friendship with Leia, and how they cane to trust and respect each other. I also really liked seeing the appearance of various familiar characters of the Star Wars universe, like Mon Mothma, Palpatine, and Grand Moff Tarkin.
Best of all, I thought this book painted a surprisingly nuanced, complex picture of politics and ethics under the reign of the Empire. This isn’t a book about Leia gaining empathy for innocent citizens under the Empire’s rule and learning how terrible the Empire is. She knows that already, and she wants to help. But unfortunately, there are many times at the beginning of the book where her well-meaning actions have awful, far-reaching consequences she didn’t intend, because the Empire’s rule reaches farther than she knows, than her parents trust her to know. This is a book about her coming of age and learning more about what she can do to help while in the position of power that she’s in—as well as what she can’t do. Gray does a great job of increasing Leia’s knowledge of and position in the Rebellion, all the while gradually raising the stakes, showing Leia’s attempts at humanitarianism and help that backfire under the Empire’s tyranny.
All the while, Leia grapples with the book’s central thematic question: should Alderaan and its leaders protect the people of the galaxy and remain a neutral safe haven, or use its influence to fight for the rights of the citizens, to overthrow the Empire? At what point, if any, does war become inevitable? Readers who are familiar with the original Star Wars trilogy, of course, know that the rebellion will, in fact, become the titular Star War—and that Leia will be an instrumental leader in it. But Gray still manages to build some excellent suspense and ethical tension in this novel*, because she deftly presents varying perspectives on this question through the points of view of different characters: Leia; her parents Bail and Breha Organa; Mon Mothma; Amilyn Holdo and Kier Domadi, Leia’s fellow Apprentice Legislators; extremist terrorist Saw Gerrera. And no one’s opinion is necessarily wrong (well…except maybe the extremist terrorist)—the way Gray writes them, you can easily see their points of view and empathize with their stories. When the book reaches its conclusion, it feels like the natural resolution to an ethical issue that had to be worked through, not something contrived or forced. And it’s honestly a question that was relevant here on Earth in 2017, when this book was published, and continues to be relevant today. What can we—especially the YA target audience of the book, perhaps the same age as the Apprentice Legislators—do to fight against injustice and oppressive regimes, whose influence grows stronger and more insidious by the day? Is there ever a point where more direct action is the best—or only—choice?
In conclusion, I’d definitely recommend this book to any Star Wars fan, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more of Claudia Gray’s works—both for Star Wars and her original fiction—in the future!
*Another way Gray builds tension is through dramatic irony for readers who have watched the original Star Wars trilogy, which I assume would be the vast majority of them (so I won’t spoiler-tag this). Leia talking about what she might do as future ruler/queen of Alderaan becomes so much sadder if you know its eventual fate in A New Hope. And when she worries about what the Empire will do to her and her family if they find out their involvement in the Rebellion, her worst-case scenario is that they kill her whole family—when the reality turns out to be so much worse.
I loved the engaging writing style of this novel—at the end of chapters, I often had to physically stop myself from reading more and force myself to go to bed, and even then I’d sneak a few paragraphs of the next chapter before actually sleeping. I loved the connections to The Last Jedi—
Best of all, I thought this book painted a surprisingly nuanced, complex picture of politics and ethics under the reign of the Empire. This isn’t a book about Leia gaining empathy for innocent citizens under the Empire’s rule and learning how terrible the Empire is. She knows that already, and she wants to help. But unfortunately, there are many times at the beginning of the book where her well-meaning actions have awful, far-reaching consequences she didn’t intend, because the Empire’s rule reaches farther than she knows, than her parents trust her to know. This is a book about her coming of age and learning more about what she can do to help while in the position of power that she’s in—as well as what she can’t do. Gray does a great job of increasing Leia’s knowledge of and position in the Rebellion, all the while gradually raising the stakes, showing Leia’s attempts at humanitarianism and help that backfire under the Empire’s tyranny.
All the while, Leia grapples with the book’s central thematic question: should Alderaan and its leaders protect the people of the galaxy and remain a neutral safe haven, or use its influence to fight for the rights of the citizens, to overthrow the Empire? At what point, if any, does war become inevitable? Readers who are familiar with the original Star Wars trilogy, of course, know that the rebellion will, in fact, become the titular Star War—and that Leia will be an instrumental leader in it. But Gray still manages to build some excellent suspense and ethical tension in this novel*, because she deftly presents varying perspectives on this question through the points of view of different characters: Leia; her parents Bail and Breha Organa; Mon Mothma; Amilyn Holdo and Kier Domadi, Leia’s fellow Apprentice Legislators; extremist terrorist Saw Gerrera. And no one’s opinion is necessarily wrong (well…except maybe the extremist terrorist)—the way Gray writes them, you can easily see their points of view and empathize with their stories. When the book reaches its conclusion, it feels like the natural resolution to an ethical issue that had to be worked through, not something contrived or forced. And it’s honestly a question that was relevant here on Earth in 2017, when this book was published, and continues to be relevant today. What can we—especially the YA target audience of the book, perhaps the same age as the Apprentice Legislators—do to fight against injustice and oppressive regimes, whose influence grows stronger and more insidious by the day? Is there ever a point where more direct action is the best—or only—choice?
In conclusion, I’d definitely recommend this book to any Star Wars fan, and I’ll absolutely be checking out more of Claudia Gray’s works—both for Star Wars and her original fiction—in the future!
*Another way Gray builds tension is through dramatic irony for readers who have watched the original Star Wars trilogy, which I assume would be the vast majority of them (so I won’t spoiler-tag this). Leia talking about what she might do as future ruler/queen of Alderaan becomes so much sadder if you know its eventual fate in A New Hope. And when she worries about what the Empire will do to her and her family if they find out their involvement in the Rebellion, her worst-case scenario is that they kill her whole family—when the reality turns out to be so much worse.
adventurous
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A bit of a slow start, but it really picks up in the back half and the payoff is fabulous.
adventurous
emotional
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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 really enjoyed Claudia Gray’s Bloodline when I listened to it almost exactly two years ago. I was delighted to find an audio version of Gray’s Leia: Princess of Alderaan and immediately dropped everything else I was listening to.
I was 8 when Star Wars: A New Hope came out. I have never been a super fan, but Star Wars is one of the cultural touchstones of my life. As a kid, my roll models were Jamie Summers – the Bionic Woman, Diana Prince – Wonder Woman, and Princess Leia Organa. Princess Leia was the one with smart mouth and I loved her.
I am so grateful for the care with which Claudia Gray has taken with her Leia-centric stories. I love the grit and complexity she has given Leia. It complements the depth Carrie Fisher brought to her portrayal of Leia. In Bloodline, Claudia Gray painted a thoughtful portrait of a Senator Organa who has tired of politics and wants to spend time with her husband and son. She is driven by duty, but is considering that perhaps she has given the galaxy enough. She is a politician, a leader, a warrior, a mentor, and a wife and mother. I loved the complex middle aged woman that Gray painted.
Leia, Princess of Alderaan is a YA novel about teen aged Princess Leia and how she comes to be involved with the Rebellion. In this YA book, Leia at 16 is already steeped in duty and service, but she is not yet a leader or have the skills to be a warrior. Gray does a beautiful job of taking Leia from a princess who feel neglected by her once loving parents to the Rebellion leader who will soon survive the destruction of her planet and keep fighting. The book begins with Leia announcing the challenges she will undertake during the year that will prove she is worthy to be the heir to the throne of Alderaan. During the coming year, she will prove the strength of her heart by undertaking charity missions throughout the galaxy, the strength of her mind by participating in the Apprentice Senate, and the strength of her body by climbing a mountain on Alderaan. To prepare for the challenge of her body, she joins a Pathfinder class with other members of the Apprentice Senate. All of these activities broaden her education as an independent thinker, diplomat and conspirator.
During the year she gets to know and develop a romance with Kier Domadi, a fellow Alderaanian, and Amilyn Holdo, who we meet later in their lives in The Last Jedi.
The relationships with Kier and Amilyn become vitally important to Leia through the book. They are the first relationships she has had with people who are her peers (as much as a princess can have peers). Until recently, Leia had always been with her parents, their shadow as they went about their duties. She has grown up immersed in planetary and galactic politics. What she lacked was the companionship of people her own age. Kier and Amilyn provide other perspectives and counterpoints as well as validation. Kier is her first love and her first heartbreak. We know this relationship has no future, but Gray doesn’t let that stop her from giving the relationship depth and heft.
As the book opens, Leia feels emotionally abandoned by her parents. She is used to being in their confidence and now she is shut out. She seeks to prove herself to Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail Organa. She takes initiative in choosing her charity missions and inadvertently compromises efforts to provide more long term solutions. She unknowingly endangers herself and runs across the nascent Rebellion. She also discovers her own strength and the harsh realities of the empire.
Eventually it becomes clear to Leia (it’s clear to the reader from the beginning) that her parents are heavily involved in the Rebellion and they have shut her out to protect her. This is where we really see the Leia that we got to know in the movies – she recognizes that ignorance will not protect her from the Empire’s wrath. Through her charity missions and work in the Apprentice Senate, it becomes clear to her that there is no possibility of safety in the Empire unless she is willing to become as corrupt as the Emperor.
In the end, Gray has answered the question of how Leia comes to be a 19 year old Senator and Rebel Leader. She has been forged in fire and accepted that safety is not an option. She still has some of the naivete of youth, but we know it won’t be long before she loses that too.
I was 8 when Star Wars: A New Hope came out. I have never been a super fan, but Star Wars is one of the cultural touchstones of my life. As a kid, my roll models were Jamie Summers – the Bionic Woman, Diana Prince – Wonder Woman, and Princess Leia Organa. Princess Leia was the one with smart mouth and I loved her.
I am so grateful for the care with which Claudia Gray has taken with her Leia-centric stories. I love the grit and complexity she has given Leia. It complements the depth Carrie Fisher brought to her portrayal of Leia. In Bloodline, Claudia Gray painted a thoughtful portrait of a Senator Organa who has tired of politics and wants to spend time with her husband and son. She is driven by duty, but is considering that perhaps she has given the galaxy enough. She is a politician, a leader, a warrior, a mentor, and a wife and mother. I loved the complex middle aged woman that Gray painted.
Leia, Princess of Alderaan is a YA novel about teen aged Princess Leia and how she comes to be involved with the Rebellion. In this YA book, Leia at 16 is already steeped in duty and service, but she is not yet a leader or have the skills to be a warrior. Gray does a beautiful job of taking Leia from a princess who feel neglected by her once loving parents to the Rebellion leader who will soon survive the destruction of her planet and keep fighting. The book begins with Leia announcing the challenges she will undertake during the year that will prove she is worthy to be the heir to the throne of Alderaan. During the coming year, she will prove the strength of her heart by undertaking charity missions throughout the galaxy, the strength of her mind by participating in the Apprentice Senate, and the strength of her body by climbing a mountain on Alderaan. To prepare for the challenge of her body, she joins a Pathfinder class with other members of the Apprentice Senate. All of these activities broaden her education as an independent thinker, diplomat and conspirator.
During the year she gets to know and develop a romance with Kier Domadi, a fellow Alderaanian, and Amilyn Holdo, who we meet later in their lives in The Last Jedi.
The relationships with Kier and Amilyn become vitally important to Leia through the book. They are the first relationships she has had with people who are her peers (as much as a princess can have peers). Until recently, Leia had always been with her parents, their shadow as they went about their duties. She has grown up immersed in planetary and galactic politics. What she lacked was the companionship of people her own age. Kier and Amilyn provide other perspectives and counterpoints as well as validation. Kier is her first love and her first heartbreak. We know this relationship has no future, but Gray doesn’t let that stop her from giving the relationship depth and heft.
"You know, every once in a while, it’s okay to just live for yourself.” Kier held up a hand, forestalling her objection. “I’m not telling you to be, I don’t know, selfish or trivial. You’d never want that; that’s not who you are. But it’s all right to just, you know, be a person. Every once in a while, you can let go and live in the moment. I think you have to. Because if you’re carrying the weight of the worlds every single day, you get tired. You don’t have strength when you need it most, because you already burned yourself out.”
As the book opens, Leia feels emotionally abandoned by her parents. She is used to being in their confidence and now she is shut out. She seeks to prove herself to Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail Organa. She takes initiative in choosing her charity missions and inadvertently compromises efforts to provide more long term solutions. She unknowingly endangers herself and runs across the nascent Rebellion. She also discovers her own strength and the harsh realities of the empire.
Apparently, every once in a while, leadership meant abandoning decorum and yelling as loud as you could.
Eventually it becomes clear to Leia (it’s clear to the reader from the beginning) that her parents are heavily involved in the Rebellion and they have shut her out to protect her. This is where we really see the Leia that we got to know in the movies – she recognizes that ignorance will not protect her from the Empire’s wrath. Through her charity missions and work in the Apprentice Senate, it becomes clear to her that there is no possibility of safety in the Empire unless she is willing to become as corrupt as the Emperor.
In the end, Gray has answered the question of how Leia comes to be a 19 year old Senator and Rebel Leader. She has been forged in fire and accepted that safety is not an option. She still has some of the naivete of youth, but we know it won’t be long before she loses that too.
My parents. My friends. My world. These are the things the Empire can never take away.
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2017/09/2017-book-161.html
Gray's Star Wars books have been hit or miss for me (I loved Lost Stars, but thought Bloodline was a bit dull), but you had better believe I am here for a novel about teenage Leia dealing with princess duties, finding her first love, and getting involved in the Rebellion. Yesssssss. I especially enjoyed seeing a lot of Leia's mother-- Bail Organa has been a big prescence in the series, but I appreciated a Star Wars property looking at a mother-daughter relationship for a change. Plus the Luna Lovegood-esque friend was pretty great. So, yesssss. A-/B+.
Gray's Star Wars books have been hit or miss for me (I loved Lost Stars, but thought Bloodline was a bit dull), but you had better believe I am here for a novel about teenage Leia dealing with princess duties, finding her first love, and getting involved in the Rebellion. Yesssssss. I especially enjoyed seeing a lot of Leia's mother-- Bail Organa has been a big prescence in the series, but I appreciated a Star Wars property looking at a mother-daughter relationship for a change. Plus the Luna Lovegood-esque friend was pretty great. So, yesssss. A-/B+.