For those that don’t know, I’m a Star Wars fan. When I get into a fandom, I want to know everything about it. I like the movies but I didn’t start loving the Star Wars universe until I started reading the comics and watching the animated series. Star Wars is way more complex than what the movies show and I was right when I watched Clone Wars, Bad Batch, and now I’m on Rebels. Not only did I love the animated series, I further fell in love with Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Padmé. Their stories is a beautiful tragedy. Stories of hope and despair. I wanted to know more.

Besides the comic books I’ve been reading, I wanted to pick up a novel. I recently discovered the trilogy books of Padmé Amidala and read good reviews on it, so I decided to get the first 2 books. Originally I was going to read Queen’s Peril first since it’s the prequel but the main reason that book is good it’s because of the sequel that came out first, Queen’s Shadow. Oh Star Wars, you and your timelines going front and back, I love it.

I personally enjoyed the book. It takes place after episode 1: The Phantom Menace and before episode 2: Attack of the Clones. Padmé’s time as queen of Naboo is done and she’s ready to move on from the political scene. On her main agenda: try to help and free the slaves of Tatoonie. Her plans change when the new Queen of Naboo asked Padmé to take the vacant seat in the senate. As a newbie, she is faced with obstacles and gossip as she tries to set a name for herself and show she’s capable of making her own decisions and not be seen as a puppet which many believe she was when she was queen of Naboo. Her mind is still set on Tatoonie, so while Padmé faces her battles in Coruscant, she sends out her handmaiden Sabé on a secret mission to find out any info and rescue anyone they can from slavery.

In the movie, episode 3, Padme is already a respected senator with a great circle of loyal friends. The book gives you insight on how she came to be introduced to such characters and how her friendships came to grow. Characters like Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Mina Bonteri, and Clovis. Besides Organa, I didn’t know much of the other 3 until I watched Clone Wars so it was great to read about familiar faces. Her handmaidens also get character development. I know about Sabé because of the Darth Vader comics I’ve been reading but I also get to know her attachment and love for Padmé. There are other handmaidens like Cordé, Saché, Yané, and Eirtaé, but Sabé is the main handmaiden that would put everything aside to help Padmé. She’s the one that looks the closest to Padmé which would come in handy whenever they needed to switch roles.

The book is a good read, but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone that’s not into Star Wars. I picked up this book because Senator Padmé Amidala is one of my favorite characters of the Star Wars universe. I love getting to know more about her. I love reading about familiar faces and even though they don’t mention Anakin by name, he is talked about in 2 or 3 occasions. He’s the reason Padmé wants to help free slaves in Tatoonie. Shmi Skywalker, Anakin’s mother, is still a slave in the planet. Sabé arrives too late when she discovers that Shmi has been rescued by the ‘White Suns’, a liberation movement. Nothing else can be done since the trace turns cold, so Sabé travels back to Corusant to support Padmé. The ending was a good happy tone and then the epilogue had me in tears. If you have watched episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, you know what happens.

I was left in tears but I’m excited to start reading Queen’s Peril, the next book of the series and the prequel.