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A review by angelqueen04
Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston
5.0
As someone who loved [b:Queen's Shadow|40886114|Queen's Shadow (Star Wars)|E.K. Johnston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532125038l/40886114._SY75_.jpg|63718901], I was thrilled to see another book starring Padmé Amidala and the Handmaidens be released. Here E.K. Johnston fleshes out Padmé’s rise to power on Naboo before the events of The Phantom Menace, as well as how the Royal Handmaidens came to be in her service, and she does so brilliantly! And as an additional treat, I listened to this book in Audible Audio format and thus was gifted with hearing Catherine Taber (the actor who voiced Padmé in the Clone Wars animated series) read the book to me. Needless to say, I was tickled by this book in every way.
I loved seeing the beginnings of Padmé’s life in politics, how she chooses to handle the situation she was left with by the previous administration, the challenges she has to face, and also just making the job hers in general. And getting to know each and every one of the handmaidens was a delight, particularly seeing how Captain Panaka recruited each one of them.
I also loved how smoothly Johnston lay out the girls’ differing sexualities, particularly Sabé’s flirtation with another girl who is visiting for a summit that Padmé put together, as well as Saché and Yané’s evolving relationship. It did not feel forced at all, but instead unfolded as natural as can be. It wasn’t treated as unusual or surprising, and I love how normal everything felt.
One last thing in particular – the last few pages, where the story slips ahead to the other “girl in the white dress” (or the original girl, depending on your point of view). At first, I was a bit confused when the text started talking about this girl and her life and surroundings, because I didn’t realize that it had switched to a different character. I went back about 30 seconds and listened to it again, unable to believe what I was hearing. But I listened, and realized that yes, Johnston had gifted us with a little epilogue tying Padmé to her daughter, Leia. I started crying and didn’t stop until it was finished.
Another slam dunk for E.K. Johnston! For any Padmé fan!
I loved seeing the beginnings of Padmé’s life in politics, how she chooses to handle the situation she was left with by the previous administration, the challenges she has to face, and also just making the job hers in general. And getting to know each and every one of the handmaidens was a delight, particularly seeing how Captain Panaka recruited each one of them.
I also loved how smoothly Johnston lay out the girls’ differing sexualities, particularly Sabé’s flirtation with another girl who is visiting for a summit that Padmé put together, as well as Saché and Yané’s evolving relationship. It did not feel forced at all, but instead unfolded as natural as can be. It wasn’t treated as unusual or surprising, and I love how normal everything felt.
One last thing in particular – the last few pages, where the story slips ahead to the other “girl in the white dress” (or the original girl, depending on your point of view). At first, I was a bit confused when the text started talking about this girl and her life and surroundings, because I didn’t realize that it had switched to a different character. I went back about 30 seconds and listened to it again, unable to believe what I was hearing. But I listened, and realized that yes, Johnston had gifted us with a little epilogue tying Padmé to her daughter, Leia. I started crying and didn’t stop until it was finished.
Another slam dunk for E.K. Johnston! For any Padmé fan!