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A review by monitaroymohan
Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston
5.0
What a book. I absolutely loved it. This was a riveting look at how Queen Amidala created her band of handmaidens/bodyguards.
Set prior to the events of The Phantom Menace, we meet the newly elected queen as she plans out how to govern and protect herself. I love her squabbles with Captain Panaka and the introduction of each new handmaiden.
What sets this book apart was how it dealt with the fact that these characters are young teenage girls, but the author doesn’t try to infantilise them.
Far too often, young girls and their behaviour are mocked but that’s because men don’t try and understand anyone who isn’t like them.
While the average teenage girl may not have the burden of a planet on their shoulders, they definitely have much more gravitas than they’re given credit for.
Somehow Padme and the others don’t come across as precocious—which makes most young people in popular culture insufferable to put up with. These young children knew their limitations but also what was needed for governance and they went ahead and did it.
I was so caught up with Padme and her handmaidens that every time the story broke off to tie in characters from the films it felt like an intrusion.
I would say that the only drawback to the book is that it introduces TPM far too soon. Granted, the invasion by the Trade Federation only takes place 70% into the book, but I feel like we needed at least one other significant win for Padme and her team before they were faced with the gruelling invasion.
That aside I just can’t get enough of this book. We’re able to step into the shoes of all these characters and understand the motives behind their actions.
I also feel like the author’s writing was much more fluid in this book, almost as if the burden of expectation had been lifted.
Having read these two Amidala books, I can’t wait for more. We could do with as many books as possible on this great Naboo Queen.
Set prior to the events of The Phantom Menace, we meet the newly elected queen as she plans out how to govern and protect herself. I love her squabbles with Captain Panaka and the introduction of each new handmaiden.
What sets this book apart was how it dealt with the fact that these characters are young teenage girls, but the author doesn’t try to infantilise them.
Far too often, young girls and their behaviour are mocked but that’s because men don’t try and understand anyone who isn’t like them.
While the average teenage girl may not have the burden of a planet on their shoulders, they definitely have much more gravitas than they’re given credit for.
Somehow Padme and the others don’t come across as precocious—which makes most young people in popular culture insufferable to put up with. These young children knew their limitations but also what was needed for governance and they went ahead and did it.
I was so caught up with Padme and her handmaidens that every time the story broke off to tie in characters from the films it felt like an intrusion.
I would say that the only drawback to the book is that it introduces TPM far too soon. Granted, the invasion by the Trade Federation only takes place 70% into the book, but I feel like we needed at least one other significant win for Padme and her team before they were faced with the gruelling invasion.
That aside I just can’t get enough of this book. We’re able to step into the shoes of all these characters and understand the motives behind their actions.
I also feel like the author’s writing was much more fluid in this book, almost as if the burden of expectation had been lifted.
Having read these two Amidala books, I can’t wait for more. We could do with as many books as possible on this great Naboo Queen.