grantahedrick 's review for:

Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston

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A fascinating political drama that is character driven and so real you can hear the rush of traffic on Coruscant and smell the flowers in the water on Naboo. Johnston has created a truly masterful novel that delves into the personal and political life of Padmé Amidala and the handmaid's/bodyguards/spies who attend her. With warmth and love she has fleshed out these women and with grit and stone she has shown us what they are capable of. And truly capable they are.

With equal focus between the politics and the minute details of life we are lead through Padmé's beginnings as a senator in the Intergalactic Senate and the personal life of one of her most trusted aides Sabé. These two power-houses show us strength and nerve as much as they show us their deception and stealth.

If you like strong female characters, political dramas set in space, and a fresh new look at the queen/senator from Naboo: read this book!