Star Wars: Queen's Shadow

Star Wars: Queen's Shadow is a YA Novel written by E.K. Johnston. It was published by Disney-Lucasfilm Press.SUMMARY: The time has come for Padme to step down as Queen of Naboo. As she walks away from the throne, she discovers other opportunities in which she can still serve her home planet. Serving as a Republic Senator, Padme can be a representative for Naboo, and attempt to better the galaxy in the political ring.CHARACTER: A lot of us tend to paint Padme as a strong female character… but is she? Or is she just paranoid, relying on those around her to bail her out? The conclusion I’ve come to, is both. We know from The Phantom Menace that during the skirmish of Naboo with the Trade Federation, Queen Amadala has hand maidens, a body double, an altered voice for “Royalty’s sake and body double disguise.” This book pretty much shows us that she has always been paranoid, before the Trade Federation conflict.When Amadala makes her transition from Queen to Senator, it’s a bit tough for her make the adjustment. Padme uses the name Amadala as a stage name… an alias. When Padme is with her handmaidens behind closed doors, they talk about Amadala like she’s another person. It’s weird.Even as Senator, Padme has handmaidens, a body double, a security team, and even has someone tapping into the newsfeeds on Coruscant.OVERALL THOUGHTS: The book leads to a dead end. There is no climax. There is no real resolve. Some issues are tackled with the story… but overall, as a whole… the story leads to nothing. I don’t know if it’s supposed to tie into Clone Wars or if a second book is to be release… but the epilogue suggests that’s not going to happen. As I’m making my way through Clone Wars season one. I can’t recall any names that have been dropped in this book. I finished reading this book unsatisfied, underwhelmed, and a little confused.RATING: I give this book an F. I expected a powerful YA novel about Padme. I wanted to close this book and feel that she was a truly powerful and in control character. Yet, I close the book feeling that she was just paranoid, relying on others to help her gain success.I can’t recommend you read this book... But as a Star Wars diehard, it's best to go ahead and complete your library. And hey, you may like this book, everyone's taste is different.

For girls who grew up with the original films, Princess Leia was the woman many aspired to be. We are seeing a new generation of young girls watch the Skywalker lightsaber fly straight into Rey’s hand and fine their inner strength through her journey. And for those of us who came of age with the prequel films, we had Padmé. A young queen who stood her ground and fought for what she believed in (in both a political arena and a literal one on Geonosis). Surrounded by her loyal friends and bodyguards, Padmé and her Handmaidens meant the world to those of us who saw ourselves in her strength and resolve.Queen’s Shadow embraces this Padmé and answers the question of what you do after you’ve ruled an entire planet. We see her enter a new arena of the Galactic Senate and must learn to navigate this new battlefield.Just like the films, she is never alone. This book belongs to her decoy Sabé just as much as it belongs to Padmé. It is truly a love letter to these amazing, often forgotten women of the Star Wars universe.

This book is a trap. The immoral messages are clear in this book. Please do not have your teen daughter read this book. It is sad that those who are interested in Star Wars are lured into this book that is more about smut than Star Wars. Be warned! I wish I could have given it ZERO stars!

E.K. Johnston’s “Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow” is the first of Disney’s new canon of “Star Wars” novels to take place prior to the Clone Wars. The story focuses on Padmé Amidala’s transition from Queen of Naboo to Galactic Senator. Discussing the change, Johnston writes, “Who was she, after all, when she was not Queen of Naboo? She had entered politics so early and with such zeal that she had no other identity” (pg. 16). The question of identity runs through the novel, with Padmé and her handmaidens adopting different personas, tones of voice, and poses depending on their audience or the situation as well as Padmé’s own identity change from leader of a planet to a single part of a much larger bureaucracy.Building upon the events of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” Johnston portrays Padmé working to free the enslaved people on Tatooine through Sabé as her agent, in particular trying to find Shmi Skywalker (pg. 115), though, unknown to her, Shmi is already with Cliegg at this time. Other links between the events of “The Phantom Menace” and “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” include Padmé enlisting R2-D2 to help her based on his bravery when she previously fled Naboo (pg. 122), building a coalition with Mon Mothma and Bail Organa (pg. 150), and sending Sabé to gather information at Dex’s Diner (pg. 161). Padmé also begins to experience the strains in her relationships with Rush Clovis and Mina Bonteri that will play a role in “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (pgs. 178, 192). Johnston works to link this with other novels in the new canon through a scene in which Padmé visits Alderaan at the behest of Queen Breha, drawing upon material from Claudia Gray’s “Leia: Princess of Alderaan” (pg. 223-226).Much as Padmé Amidala’s comments regarding the death of democracy in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” appeared prescient against the political backdrop of 2005, Johnston’s scene of Senators Organa and Amidala discussing democracy is equally apt in 2019:“‘Loyalty to the Republic is paramount,’ Organa said. He managed not to make it sound patronizing, which Padmé appreciated. ‘Loyalty to democracy.’“‘And what if democracy does not return the favor?’ Padmé asked.“‘Then you must work to restore the democratic process,’ Organa said” (pgs. 191-192).The overall effect of “Queen’s Shadow” is one of the strongest character studies in the current “Star Wars” canon of novels. Like Johnston’s previous book and the work of Claudia Gray, these books demonstrate that the young adult novels often have more to offer than the works marketed to adult readers in their detailed examinations of the characters.

‘Queen’s Shadow’ is set between ‘The Phantom Menace’ and ‘Attack of the Clones’ and is concerned with Padmé making the transition from Queen of Naboo to the world’s Senator.Unfortunately, this is not the most thrilling of Star Wars topics and the author fails to do much to make it one. This results in a novel that doesn’t seem to have an actual ‘story’. This is exacerbated by the novel taking place during a period where not much is happening in the Star Wars galaxy bar Darth Sidious’ manipulation of things behind the scenes. With no major or pivotal events Padmé spends her time walking around in Senate corridors and going to some rather tedious meetings about such things as permacrete supply lines.Even though this book is supposed to be dealing with how Padmé’s instalment as a member of the Republic Senate affects her and her handmaidens there is, in fact, little effective change to the former queen’s life; the difference between her life as a queen and that of a senator portrayed here as being minimal. There is no worthwhile personal journey or emotional adjustment of any note. There just isn’t any eponymous ‘shadow’ for Padmé to step out from.Most of what adjusting there is revolves around her efforts at finding her ‘place’ in the Senate which has already been shown to a certain degree during various episodes of ‘The Clone Wars’.There isn’t much development for any of the characters. Even Reillata, who is introduced with some vague hints that she might turn out to be a more controversial monarch that might also cause Padmé some problems, ends up being little more than a characterless archetype of a queen of Naboo who plays no worthwhile role in the novel other than asking Padmé to serve as senator.Sabé is the only one of the handmaidens who is of any real interest (and she is probably the best thing about the novel). Unfortunately, though, her subplot could have done with being more developed and far more a part of the story.This is an attempt to provide Padmé with a similar treatment to that received by those such as Thrawn, Tarkin, Plagueis, etc in Star Wars novels that focussed upon them. But Padmé’s rise to power doesn’t possess the same sort of political intrigue, machinations and plots that characterised their backgrounds. In comparison it’s fairly simple and boring, and not, therefore, the subject to form the basis of a whole novel.Without the above aspects being better developed the novel is quite dull and lacking in depth. This is all a bit of shame because the novel exhibits a decent style of writing and some of the characterisation is quite good (although there is often a lack of distinction between the various handmaidens). Disappointing compared to the author’s much better ‘Ahsoka’; but there was actually a story to be told there.

Permcreat. This is the perfect metaphor for this book as far as I am concerned. It fills in the gaps in the Star Wars universe but it is not the most exciting thing.The writing is good but for me the book is way too slow. An example there is not battle or blaster bolts fired till page 320 out of 345.In fairness this book takes place is probably the dullest era of Star Wars. In between the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. Also as the book is mostly from Padme's perspective (who would not have know about Palpatine's background movements). There is not really much actionwise that could have been put into the book.This book is about Padme's transition from Queen to galactic senator. I did like the fact that it was not just a straight transition and Padme needed to prove herself in this new arena as well. Starting from the bottom and working her way up. Making allies with future legends. Also the other politicians being weary of her because of her past in the Senate as a Queen. Changing her tactics and those of her staff.From a filling in the gaps point of view the book is great. However the pace of the story is too slow, and the lack of action was the reason I was disappointed in this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Queens Shadow! I’m a huge fan of the prequels, and in particular Padme’s character.This book picks up Padme’s story a few years after the events of Episode 1 and tells us how she became a senator.If you’re looking for space battles and lots of blasters, then this book may not be for you. But if you’re a fan of the Clone Wars TV show, then I think you’ll love it.A fascinating insight into Padme’s character and her entourage. Great read.

I've read every Star Wars novel to date and I must say this has turned out to be one of, if not the dullest. We all know what to expect from a Star Wars story, be it a film, TV episode, book, or comic, and that is lots of action, excitement, conflict, and drama. This had almost non of those ingredients, until the last couple of chapters. I was reading it and always thinking, so when does things start getting interesting? That's the problem. It never did.There's lots of packing and unpacking of wardrobe, wardrobe choices, hair and makeup descriptions, and meetings or parties. Non of which makes for a good Star Wars story. The book is definitely heavy on the female characters and the few male characters there are get very little attention, for the most part. I definitely got the impression that this book was aimed at a female audience first, and one that isn't interested in the usual Star Wars trappings. So why would they pick it up in the first place?I have enjoyed the author's Asoka novel, so had high hopes for this. It was a very different book all together. Although I generally found the writing style to be fine, the author's use of "off of" several times was inexcusable. It's not correct grammar. I can only assume that her editor wasn't doing their job properly.

Padmé has finally been given her due! Yes, it can be argued that 'Queen's Shadow' central conflict (if there even is one) is a little weak. That it's got very little action, and that there are no ligihtsabres or blasters, as some would expect from a 'Star Wars' novel. But that's precisely what makes the novel so good: it's a character-based story about Padmé Naberrie (or Amidala), as she transitions from Queen of Naboo, to Senator in Coruscant. It's a story about her ambitions and her desires, and the way she wants to do good for the galaxy.But it's also a story about the relationships she forges with her handmaidens and her captains and her guards and even famous characters like Bail Organa. No, it's not a book focused on action, but it's well written enough, that you don't care. I managed to read 'Queen's Shadow' relatively quickly because it was so interesting and dynamic; I was invested in Padmé's journey and even the development of secondary characters like Sabé (her ex double, as portrayed by a young Keira Knightley in 'The Phantom Menace'). We finally know what it feels like to be Padmé, which makes the book's heartbreaking epilogue all the more tragic. It may be a little slow and simple for some readers, but for me, it worked.P.D.: for some reason, the UK edition of the book (which wast the one I read, of course) has Padmé in her Queen attire on the cover.... which makes no sense, because the story takes place after she leaves the monarchy. Weird choice.