sunfairest 's review for:

Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston

3.0

adventurous lighthearted

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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padmé was always, and still is, a complicated character for me. the strength and sharpness she shows when we first meet her seem to slowly dissolve as the main story unfolds. picking this up, i wanted to find the version of her that exists beyond anakin skywalker—and i think i did, in a way. 

this book feels almost domestic in tone—though it still has a touch of the usual star wars shenanigans. at its core, it’s a political story, centered on padmé as she begins to understand herself beyond her role as queen. the importance of her relationships with other women in this journey was by far my favorite part. 

i did have a few issues. first, the sabé-on-tatooine subplot goes nowhere and seems included mostly to make padmé more sympathetic. second, sabé’s heterosexual romance felt forced, especially when it’s so clear she’s in love with padmé. and finally, the loose ends—i still believe a book should stand on its own, and there are better ways to encourage a reader to pick up the sequel. 

all that said, it was a pleasant, if not particularly memorable, read. i might continue the series someday.