Queen’s Shadow is one of those books where everything that has been said about it (both positive and negative) is true. Is it an amazing book that us Star Wars fangirls have been waiting for forever? YES. Is it a slow-moving book with a barely visible plot? YES. Whether or not you’re going to like this book relies entirely on if you enjoy character-driven stories and/or if you love Padmé Amidala and her handmaidens.

I loved this book. I loved all the details about the strategic decisions behind political Naboo fashion. I loved the chance to focus on the handmaidens who are always in the background of Padmé’s story. And, last but not least, I loved getting to know Padmé more. This book takes place between TPM and AotC when Naboo’s newly elected queen requests that Padmé take a seat in the senate. As Queen of Naboo, Padmé created a specific persona with her handmaidens both for protection so that it could be easily copied and for political strategy. Now that she’s no longer Queen, Padmé has to discover who she really is and what she wants from her life. The description of how Padmé compartmentalized her life in order to be queen (and later senator) adds a layer of dysfunction that makes her crazy decision to secretly marry Anakin make more sense.

There are multiple perspectives in this novel, but Padmé’s and Sabé’s appear most frequently. Sabé—portrayed by Kiera Knightley in TPM—is a badass Hufflepuff and her loyalty to Padmé means that she is always a part of whatever mission Padmé has taken up. This story belongs to both of them and their friendship is beautiful.

This novel shines a light on the amazing Padmé Amidala and her handmaidens and adds beautiful color and pattern to the fabric of their stories. The details Johnston brings to the SW universe make this a book a treasure and adds to enjoyment of the films. I can’t wait to read more adventures of Padmé and her handmaidens. ( )

I for sure enjoyed Queen's Peril more than this one, but it was still good. It was cool getting to see the characters from The Clone Wars take a little more center stage in this one. ( )

I love reading about Padme. This covers the time between Revenge of the Sith and the Clone Wars and provides an excellent look into the beginning of her senate run, including the development of her relationships with Mon Mothma and Organa. ( )

This was excellent. Excellent in a way to understand the politics of the Senate. How relationships were built, and who undermined the plans of letting certain bills pass.

This is an amazing addition to the Star Wars universe. Padmè was a strong character - I liked her ideas and saw her growth. I loved how she had visited Alderaan (some gaps make sense now).

I am thrilled and scared to read the last book in the trilogy. . . so here we go. ( )

Spring 2019 - Book/Kindle/Audiobook,

I waited twenty years for this book to exist and it did not disappoint. This tale is set at the end of Padme's reign as queen through the first year of her being a Senator, and I am in love with everything about it.

I love the careful attention given to the handmaidens everywhere in this book. I love the absolute heartbreak choice of how she started chapter one and mirrored it the start of the epilogue (which I will leave that vague so as not to spoiler anyone who hasn't read/doesn't know the reference yet). I love how she's made to pay politically the hard game of fixing the fact the Senate has no reason to trust anything she says after he absolute rejection of them at 14. I love how slow she figures out what she's good at and how the relationships with Bal and Monmothma actually come about (with slow, canny wariness).

Read it. Read all of it. Tell your friends. Especially all your girl-friends. ( )