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A review by nerdynatreads
Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Uh… this is not a great foot to start the year with, Star Wars 😟
This felt very young adult. We follow Padme as she creates her team of handmaidens who assist her, but there doesn’t actually feel like much of a plot. We get glimpses of them working together, but really, a lot of their bonding is glossed over. Although we are introduced to each of the girls in the beginning, all of them blend together quickly and none of them seem to have an especially strong voice in the novel. Though this makes sense for their ability to switch places with Padme, it didn’t work well for a story.
Since Naboo is known for young prodigies, I also expected the girls to be more mature, but they all very much feel their age which makes the angle of them working as politicians for their planet a bit silly. This is only worsened by Panaka’s role in the story, coming across as a stern father figure to them.
I realized that the story was starting to lay things out for the events of Phantom Menace, but it was in such small pieces that it was hard for me to get invested. Until I hit the last fourth of the book when it changed to a speed-run of the Phantom Menace plot through the eyes of Padme or the handmaidens. It was so fast that I couldn’t really enjoy the new angle of the story and didn’t explore much additional like I would have preferred.
This was a let down, it didn’t go into enough about Naboo that interested me when we were first introduced in Phantom Menace, glossed over the plot I was sold, and rehashed a movie I’ve seen many times. Super bummed and hoping the other Padme books in this series go better, but I’m not holding my breath.
This felt very young adult. We follow Padme as she creates her team of handmaidens who assist her, but there doesn’t actually feel like much of a plot. We get glimpses of them working together, but really, a lot of their bonding is glossed over. Although we are introduced to each of the girls in the beginning, all of them blend together quickly and none of them seem to have an especially strong voice in the novel. Though this makes sense for their ability to switch places with Padme, it didn’t work well for a story.
Since Naboo is known for young prodigies, I also expected the girls to be more mature, but they all very much feel their age which makes the angle of them working as politicians for their planet a bit silly. This is only worsened by Panaka’s role in the story, coming across as a stern father figure to them.
I realized that the story was starting to lay things out for the events of Phantom Menace, but it was in such small pieces that it was hard for me to get invested. Until I hit the last fourth of the book when it changed to a speed-run of the Phantom Menace plot through the eyes of Padme or the handmaidens. It was so fast that I couldn’t really enjoy the new angle of the story and didn’t explore much additional like I would have preferred.
This was a let down, it didn’t go into enough about Naboo that interested me when we were first introduced in Phantom Menace, glossed over the plot I was sold, and rehashed a movie I’ve seen many times. Super bummed and hoping the other Padme books in this series go better, but I’m not holding my breath.