Queen’s Peril Review - please note that I am not featuring this review on my blog until the day of release (with appropriate spoiler tags). I did, however, write this review early so I could submit it to you so you would have record of it (before I forget to submit later, too). I will probably run this review on both chriswerms.wordpress.com and mynockmanor.com.

In the past few years, Padmé has been the subject of quite a renaissance. After not appearing in much material for quite a while, Padmé started showing up in adult novels, comics, and even became the subject of a new series, of sorts, from Disney Press. In the first novel, Queen’s Shadow, we learned about Padmé’s transition from Queen of Naboo to Senator for Naboo. In the sequel-prequel book, Queen’s Peril, we follow Padmé as she is elected Queen of Naboo, works to solve a particular problem, and deal with an invasion of her planet by the Trade Federation. Unfortunately, this book should have probably been named Queen’s Shadow, as this book lives in the shadow of much better works that put roadblocks in front of this book’s success.

I’ll first talk about the characters, since they were one of the strengths of the novel, but also hampered pretty heavily by future works. Padmé was a very warm character in the novel, and I appreciated reading about her growth toward the monarchy. The bits where she and Sabé practiced “the Queen’s voice”, the voice modulation which hides their identities, really stood out in the entire novel. Unfortunately, even these felt repetitive after reading Queen’s Shadow, where the handmaiden switch-gimmick was explored with a lot more fun contexts and a lot higher stakes. I can’t say that I would forego a book about Padmé entirely, but I wish we could read about her in a new context than the one that came before. (But I guess I should also blame the movies for doing this, as well!)

The rest of the cast is rounded out by Padmé ‘s handmaidens. The book gives each handmaiden time to shine, showing why they were hired, and what skills they specifically bring to the table. Especially rife for conflict and storytelling is how they come together as a team, which comes with some conflict, even with Padmé herself. In The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Padmé’s handmaidens were featured heavily, but few had speaking lines outside of Sabé and Cordé. One of the strengths of these novels is that they are given much more room to speak and grow as characters. Unfortunately, none could grow past The Phantom Menace, and a lot of the handmaidens made significant character growth in Queen’s Shadow, so every character felt like they were shadows of their future selves - the selves I have already read and grown to appreciate. In light of this, I felt as if every handmaiden was a bit blurry, and had trouble remembering who was who at some points until the second half. The second half, during the Invasion, some of the handmaidens are given a lot more to do, and the young handmaidens show incredible bravery in the face of one of the biggest threats to the planet ever. I just wish some of these defining moments came sooner.

Moving from the characters to the plot, I had one major issue with Queen’s Shadow: the plot felt light when compared to other books. I couldn’t tell you what the main plot was in a traditional sense. Instead, the emotional core, and the trajectory of the book, was more of a character study, watching Padmé develop into a Senator, with a handful of events sprinkled throughout the book. Queen’s Shadow works similarly - rather than having a central conflict, we again follow Padmé and her handmaidens as they transition from regular life on Naboo to royalty (or being a bodyguard for royalty.) Roughly, the book can be grouped in two portions: the first, Padmé’s transition to royalty and a possible food shortage on Naboo, and the second, the Crisis on Naboo (also known as the events of The Phantom Menace.) Unfortunately, the two events are not drawn together as strongly as I would have liked, with the second seemingly coming out of left field, with the first shuffled to the side as the novel corresponded with the film. This may not be an issue for a lot of readers, those who prefer to read about characters than events.

Yet, I still can’t feel like the second half, the half that corresponds with The Phantom Menace really worked too well for me. The events of the movie are skipped over in the novel, which makes the book jump from the end of one portion to the next without situated itself in the movie too well. I was jarred by the transition at times, and I had to do quite a bit of work to position the portions within the events of the film. I think the novel would’ve been served well by including more from the film itself in order to prevent these gaps from feeling too large.

I also wish that the novel would have gone more in depth with the events of the Trade Federation’s blockade of Naboo. Instead, the novel speaks hazily about failed bills and new bills and vaguely about Darth Sidious’s plan. As far as the book is concerned, the Blockade of Naboo is a coincidence, conveniently timed with the election of Padmé. It would have been really cool to see why the Trade Federation targeted Naboo specifically, and maybe feature more explanation to the opening crawl of The Phantom Menace. Of course, the novel is not aiming to be the canon version of James Luceno’s pre-TPM works, but it would have brought a lot more cohesion and substance to the novel.

The first part of the story, the unique to the novel portion about the possible food shortage and Padmé’s attempts to unify the Chrommel sector were far more interesting to me than these were. The first half of the story might be stronger simply because it was all original material, letting Johnson work in freedom with her own story, rather than being forced to work around others.

Related, the novel featured a few interludes that brought us scenes with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, and more. These scenes were nice snippets of the lives of these characters before the events of The Phantom Menace, but I’m not sure they added much to the characters or the novel. In fact, most of the interludes could be removed from the novel and I’m not sure any of the characters, or the novel, would be impacted much. In my opinion, they felt like overly prepared scenes to set up exact moments in the film that I’m not sure required that much set up. I would explain more, but I want to avoid spoilers on this review. (If you have read it, I’m thinking about the second scene featuring Darth Maul.)

So, in short, as much as I appreciate a new Padmé novel, I wish I could give this one a higher score. Unfortunately, this novel hands its hands tied too often, and isn’t given a lot of space to grow on its own. Paired with Queen’s Shadow, right after, might make a strong pair, but I’m not sure either stands completely on its own.

Wow! This book was great! I loved the way Padme was portrayed before we meet her in The Phantom Menace, and how once those two timelines intersect, it continues to show us a different side and tells us a new story than that we have known.

Two little-known facts about me: 1) I love Star Wars lore and 2) I think Padme Amidala is vastly underrated.

And so obviously, I had to read this prequel about Padmé's first days as the Queen of Naboo. It follows the selection of and growing bonds among Padmé and her handmaidens up through the events of The Phantom Menace (the last 25% of the book rehashes the film in a new light). The main downside for me, aside from the appearance of Jar Jar Binks towards the end, was that the more I came to love Padmé and her fierce brilliance, the more annoyed I got knowing where her life is headed.

This was a light read, but it still included nice elements of lore and interplanetary politics. Personally, I found the background of Naboo's culture and government most fascinating. I think this story would appeal to Star Wars fans of all intensities. However, if you're looking for something really in-depth, it might not be the book for you.

Queen’s Peril is E.K. Johnston’s second novel about Padmé Amidala and her handmaidens and, in true Star Wars fashion, it takes place chronologically before her previous book, Queen’s Shadow. I guess that makes Queen’s Peril the prequel to a prequel era novel.

(I’m having too much fun with this.)

Anyway, back on target, Queen’s Peril takes place when Padmé is elected Queen of Naboo and follows her reign up through the events of TPM. In Queen’s Shadow we got to see how Padmé and her handmaidens operated like a well-oiled machine, but Queen’s Peril shows the work these young girls put into developing their roles and relationships in the group, and not everything is smooth sailing. I loved seeing how each of the girls were recruited by Panaka and the people they were behind the unified front of handmaidens.

There are many POVs throughout the story besides Padmé and handmaidens (Palpatine, Panaka, Maul, Shmi, etc.) and each show a different aspect of the events leading up to and during TPM. I have mixed feelings about how the story was told concurrently with TPM. I do like that we get to see the events from different perspectives, but this part of the novel cannot stand on its own without a knowledge of the movie. Although I don’t want all of TPM retold to me, the style of vignettes meant that at one point you’re reading about Padmé the night before Anakin’s pod race, and the next moment she’s already called to replace Chancellor Valorum. It’s possible that it won’t bother me whenever I read the novel again, but I found it jarring and disappointing on first impression. That being said, the events aligned with TPM are only about one-quarter of the total book.

Johnston delivers another great installment in the adventures of Padmé and her handmaidens. I would love to see another novel before the events of ROTS or even one with just Sabé after ROTS. I also want to mention that Johnston writes the most beautiful beginnings and endings to her Padmé novels. I was in tears with a smile on my face. If you loved Queen’s Shadow then you’re going to enjoy Queen’s Peril as well. If you haven’t read Queen’s Shadow, then you get to decide between chronological order and release order—that should be a familiar decision at this point.

EK Johnston artfully crafts a story from popular culture. This is just the kind of book that would have captured my attention as a young reader -- and I continue to enjoy books like this as an adult reader. Perfect for fans of this series and readers who enjoy science fiction.

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<p>I've always been a fan of the handmaidens of Naboo. A group of kick-ass teenage girls charged with protecting the young queen of a sovereign nation will <em>always </em>be one of my favorite tropes to read, and I had high hopes for my first venture into the Disney <em>Star Wars</em> extended universe. Ultimately, while I wish certain plot threads could've been changed from the original Lucas films, this was still an enjoyable introduction to Star Wars novelizations, and I'm looking forward to reading more of E.K. Johnston's work in this universe.</p>
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<p>The highlight of the story is, of course, the relationship between Padmé and her handmaidens. While some of the girls blurred together due to the lack of time spent developing their personalities, I found that the most essential relationship between Padmé and Sabé, her chief decoy, was compelling and thoughtful. I wish we could've spent more time developing their bond, but I suppose, due to the shortness of this novel and the constraints placed on Johnston by the original canon, I can't expect too much in the way of worldbuilding. That being said, I did like that we got more of a glimpse into the goings-on of the palace, even if it did mean that some of the events felt rote and dull compared to what could've been a much more intrigue-filled look at the goings-on of the Naboo court.</p>
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<p>In the end, this is a fun book. Is it one of my favorites, or one I'll be returning to? No. But I don't think every book needs to be the best book I've ever read to be enjoyable on its own merit. I'd recommend this one to any other Padmé Amidala stans out there, or anyone looking for a fun and light-hearted adventure in our favorite galaxy far, far away.</p>
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Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of E.K. Johnston and Queen's Shadow, however this one missed the mark a little. It had some very strong moments but there was definitely some weak points.

Queen's Peril takes place at the beginning of the reign of Padme Amidala and in flashbacks, the selection and early life of her handmaidens. These were the strongest chapters- how she crafted her persona, the talents of each of the handmaidens, and the political brilliance of Padme. However it falls a part when it runs into the events of the Phantom Menace. The issue was less the story and more the pacing, it went very quickly from event to event with not a lot of transition and main characters were briefly mentioned. There is a lot of opportunity here - the story told from Padme and her handmaidens perspective is a great idea and when it was given time to develop, it really worked. I think a longer book or one broken up into two books - one before Phantom Menace and one a retelling of Phantom Menace from different perspectives would have been a better choice.


Received copy from NetGalley, Thank you!

**4.5-stars**

Queen's Peril, when it releases on June 2, 2020, will be the newest addition to the Disney Star Wars Canon.

The events in this novel take place after the events of Master and Apprentice and just before the film, The Phantom Menace. In fact, to my surprise, the last quarter of the book runs parallel to The Phantom Menace. It is not a novelization of the events in the movie, it's more of an expansion.

With that bit of timeline info out of the way, let's get into this story, shall we?

At just 14-years old, Padme Naberrie is elected Queen of Naboo. Her parents exposed her early to civic duty and the idea that she could one day be Queen never felt far-fetched to her.

After her election, the Head of Security Forces for Naboo, Quarsh Panaka devises a plan to select special handmaidens for the Queen. These handmaidens will be a lot more than meets they eye. They will actually serve as body doubles and protection. Each one, chosen with care by Panaka himself, brings a different skill to the table. Together they make quite a team.

A large portion of the story is learning about the girls and how they contribute to the function of the Queen's reign. It was interesting to follow as these girls go from being strangers, to companions and ultimately, to friends.

As Naboo becomes threatened by the Trade Federation, maneuverings take place to secure the Queen and gain help for Naboo. Once the events begin to align with those of The Phantom Menace, we get more insights into what was going on behind the scenes during Padme's flight from Naboo.

E.K. Johnston writes with such care and skill within the Star Wars universe. You can tell that she knows the ins-and-outs of this world, complex as it is, and that she is equally passionate about it as we are as readers.

I loved the subtle feel of the narrative. It's a character driven story, although the action does pick up towards the end, and I feel like I learned a lot. Some of the highlights for me were learning about each of the handmaidens, why they were chosen and what their specific skills were. I also liked the little cameos of beloved characters popping up throughout, including Yoda, Anakin, Qui Gon and Jar Jar Binks.

Senator Palpatine is also explored in greater depth here which I loved. The duality of his character is so freaking interesting and the way Johnston wrote from his perspective was perfection!

Overall, this book is a joy to read and for Padme fans, an absolute gift!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Lucasfilm Press and NetGalley, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I had already preordered my copy prior to receiving my ARC and was beyond the moon excited to be able to get my hands on it early!

nless you are a big Star Wars fan, Star Wars: Queen’s Peril probably won’t excite you.

I, unfortunately, was wholly disappointed. After reading and enjoying Queen’s Shadow last week, I had high hopes that the prequel would be even better.

It wasn’t.

Most of the book is slow and uneventful. Captain Panaka’s recruitment of Amidala’s handmaidens peaks some interest, but it is largely addressed in a handful of pages. I was excited to explore rich backstories of, and interactions between, Eirtaé, Saché, Yané, Rabé, Sabé and Padmé, but their introductions are dealt with swiftly and loosely. Instead, the book drones on with mundane political exchanges and a random outing to a night club that adds little to the story’s progression.

The pace does not pick up until well after the halfway point. It then speeds through some of the events of The Phantom Menace with hodge-podge detail and befuddled storytelling. It requires the reader to have clear recall of the invasion of Naboo orchestrated by the Trade Federation and the role and positioning of key characters during that time.

For example, one subsection of a later chapter comprises only of one sentence without any written context: “Anakin Skywalker liked flying.” Another reads: “Anakin Skywalker really liked flying.” Unless you remember specifically what the heck is happening at this point in the film, you won’t be sure where this information came from or what to do with it.

Ultimately, Queen’s Peril does not do enough to develop the front end of the story and tries to pepper in too much towards the back end. Sure, we don’t want a retelling of The Phantom Menace, but we do want new perspective.

The story idea behind Queen’s Peril had great potential but this book is unfortunately a half-baked and humdrum read.

I loved this book. It’s from Padmé’s Election Day to the end of The Phantom Menace, my favourite Prequel. And it’s a prequel to Queen’s Shadow. I enjoyed that one but this was several degrees better. I enjoyed getting more insight about Padmé and her handmaidens especially Keira Knightley’s Sabé. It also has some surprising scenes from other characters that blew me away. The Roger Roger B1 droids are actually menacing. I’m looking forward to the audio version by Padmé actress Cat Taber. The end got me teary eyed at 3 in the morning. I couldn’t put it down. I look forward to the possibility of a fourth Star Wars novel from EK Johnston.

What an unexpected surprise!!
This was the book that I was waiting for!!
I wasn’t a huge fan of The Queen’s Shadow. I liked it but it didn’t blow me away- partially because I’m not the biggest fan of Padme.
Saying that, this book has completely changed my mind.
Set just as Padme becomes Queen, this is a thrilling and detailed journey into how Padme got her handmaidens, the first few months of her royal duties, the wonderful bonds she creates with her handmaidens, and takes you right through the battle of Naboo but from the respective of Padme and the people of Naboo.
It’s much faster paced than TQS, with some tasty little morsels of prequel information that helps you tie in your timelines tightly.
I particularly loved the character development of each of the handmaidens, the little reminders that ultimately they were a bunch of teenage girls (albeit with immense responsibility) and I could almost see Panama’s hair going grey..

There were a couple of cameo appearances that I felt weren’t entirely necessary, and didn’t add any real value or weight to the story (the “did you feel something or nothing” scene in particular.


Overall, this book did not disappoint, I really enjoyed it!!

What makes a handmaiden? Queen's Peril sums it up in five words: Strength, Cunning, Distraction, Bravery, and Determination. A prequel to E. K. Johnston's 2019 novel Queen's Shadow, Queen's Peril is one of those rare Star Wars stories without lasers and 'sabers. It's also one of the few Star Wars stories to actually pass the Bechdel test, and it's the first to fully acknowledge and normalize adolescence.

Queen's Peril begins with 14-year-old Padmé's election to become Queen of Naboo. (Yes, Star Wars is Star Wars. Deal with it.) The novel is equal parts "prequel to Queen's Shadow" and "companion to The Phantom Menace," and it features brief moments with characters from the film. Many of these moments are fantastic—I'm particularly amused by one involving Palpatine and some interior decorating—but to some degree, the novel becomes a play-by-play of events we've already seen. Johnston's writing is careful to provide new perspectives, but it's not always successful. Nonetheless, it's still a good read.

All in all, Queen's Peril is a worthwhile, if uneven, coming-of-age story, and it completes Johnston's first Star Wars hat-trick.

(Side note: I always forget that Keira Knightley, Sofia Coppola, and Richard Armitage are in a Star Wars. Super cool stuff.)

I thought most of this book would be about The Phantom Menace and was curious about how that would happen without it being just a repeat of the movie. I was happy to see that most of this book is actually about Padme adjusting to becoming Amidala as well as her interactions with the handmaidens. I especially loved seeing how each handmaiden brought a special skill (that of course could be underestimated because they're teenage girls!) to aid Padme as Amidala. It was upgrading tradition while still being respectful of the core of it, and I loved seeing how Padme had to adjust to a very adult role while still being a teenage girl. That made the book feel very original! There are scenes from The Phantom Menace throughout, but it's not the focus and are more snippets than anything.

This story was just so fun, I could tell that Johnston was having a blast writing about powerful teenage girls. If you are a Padme fan, I definitely recommend this one!

She wants to be queen. She's young and up to the challenge. Soon the election results will be in and quarsh tells her to be ready.the theed conservatory attracks students from all over.tsabin had hated the school. Quarsh of the royal guard appears before tsabin. She is thirteen and amidalas twin,the candidate for queen.quarshs wife mariek works in the palace. I loved all the names

3.5 stars. This is the second EK Johnston story I've read in the Star Wars sandbox, and I've read both because Padme is my favorite character. I was hoping that this one would work more for me than the first, but unfortunately, I just don't know if my perspectives on the SW universe or this character in particular really mesh with hers. She makes some character and story decisions in this one that just feel totally at odds with the Star Wars ethos. Still, Johnston has such a knack for world-building, though, that it's certainly worth a read if you love Star Wars!