I have been loving the new trend of YA star wars novels - and this one is no exception. I love reading about Padme. 4.5 stars

Star Wars Queen's Peril follows Padme as she becomes Queen of Naboo and the early struggles of her term. It introduces her handmaidens and several other characters, including Jedi. The book shows the invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation, but instead of following Padme and the Jedi, we follow the handmaidens and see the invasion from a new point of view.

This was such a good book! It was so interesting to see a young Padme as she's learning to be Queen. I also really liked her different handmaidens and how they all interacted and grew. It was cool to see so many different points of view, especially with the invasion scenes. It gave more depth to the battle and what was going on behind the scenes. It was also interesting to read this and know what was going to happen later on to some of the characters.

I adore this series for finally fleshing out Padme and her handmaidens, who always had so much story potential. Queen’s Peril in particular brought the characters to life as smart, relatable young adults who used their combined strengths to tackle issues others would consider too much for them. I found so much happiness and comfort in watching these girls treated as full, fleshed-out individuals with their own adventures.

The only thing I did not like is how tied in the ending was with the events of Phantom Menace, which undermined the smooth progression of the rest of the story as it had to cut between already well-known scenes, and I would have loved the book more if it stood alone from the movie. However, the ending, while supporting a similar tie-in, was a perfect note of emotion after this story.

This novel picks up where The Queen’s Shadow left off. It was really interesting to read about Padme’s handmaidens and they are the stars in the novel! The author did an excellent job in giving these girls a backstory, and it made look at the queen’s handmaids in a different light! The novel is very well-written and made the world come alive! The best part about Queen’s Peril is that it showed Padme as a strong and capable queen rather than just being Anakin Skywalker’s love interest! This is a must read for any Star Wars fan!

Padme Naberrie is newly elected as the queen of Naboo. She leaves her family behind and travels to the palace to begin her reign. But she will not be alone--she will live alongside a group of talented young women who will protect, advise, and assist her. When Naboo is invaded by the Trade Federation, the Queen and her handmaidens will have to work together like never before to survive the invasion and restore freedom to their planet.

Many of us watched The Phantom Menace and wished for more time with the brilliant, beautifully dressed, Queen Amidala of Naboo without interference from a certain whiny boy Jedi. E.K. Johnston has given us that chance with her fantastic trilogy (the third book will be out in April 2022). In Queen's Peril, Johnston expands what we saw in that first movie and shows readers that the greatest relationship in Padme's life was the bond between the queen and the handmaidens who would do anything for her. The book has some moments that readers may find difficult--as it turns out, the queen and her court have a fair amount of boring business to take care of and they are also teenage girls with an endless wardrobe at their disposal, so there is a lot of discussion of clothing. But Johnston excels at giving us a fuller understand of who Padme was and just how young she was when she was sent to rule an entire planet and ultimately, play a pivotal role in the future of the galaxy.

Queen's Peril
By E.K. Johnston
Disney Lucasfilm Press June 2020
288 pages
Read via Netgalley

Anybody who knows me knows that Padme Amidala is my favorite star wars characters across all movies and other media. Ever since I was a small child going to see Episode I in theaters with my father, I have always resonated with her and the Amidala trilogy that Johnston has been putting out has just made me so, so happy. Queen's Peril in particular has been my favorite of the two books published so far mostly due to the fact that it covers the background of her loyal handmaidens.

In Episode I: The Phantom Menace we get to see the succinct style and grace of Amidala's handmaidens in action on the screen, but we don't get to experience the background to their story. Why are they there? What do they do? How were they chosen? Why do they do what they do? Queen's Peril answers all of those questions and more, and it has absolutely delighted me to read through this.

I am eagerly awaiting Queen's Hope release this November and highly recommend Queens Peril (and Queen's Shadow for that matter!) to any fan of the Star Wars prequel era stories- particularly those who love high intrigue, learning the background of Amidala's incredible handmaidens, and those who just love Star Wars!

DNF - did not finish. I decided not to finish this title. It was not for me. Thank you, publisher, and NetGalley for the early copy.

A surprisingly fantastic series and a worthy follow-up to one of my favorite Star Wars novels in the modern era of Sar Wars writing. Creating a story for Padme, the often ignored character creates a feminist story that helps build upon the legacy of her daughter and the legacy she should have been given in the movies. The cast of characters are great and create such a rich web of relationships that are truly heartbreaking with the awareness of the future of Padme and the planet.

E.K. Johnston’s Queen’s Shadow turned out to be one of my favorite new Star Wars novels and Queen’s Peril is the perfect follow up. If you’ve read Queen’s Shadow, you were probably like me – desperately wanting to know more about Padmé Amidala and her handmaidens and the adventures they had before her reign as Queen of Naboo came to an end. As much as I enjoyed the overall story in Queen’s Shadow the best part – really, the most important part – of the book was the relationships between the former queen and her handmaidens and aides.

Strong, capable young women kicking butt and holding their own in the galaxy is everything I need in a Star Wars book. And between Queen’s Shadow and Queen’s Peril we get plenty of it.

The handmaidens are such an underutilized part of The Phantom Menace story and Queen’s Peril really fleshes out the group and gives them the agency they deserve. We know from the first book that the different handmaids played different parts throughout the timeframe spanning the film but we finally get to see those stories play out for ourselves. But don’t think that this book simply retells the film. It does so much more.

At the beginning of the book, Padmé is just taking the throne and Panaka is diligently amassing a group of talented young women to serve not just as handmaids but as advisors and protectors. We learn the girls’ backgrounds, hidden talents, and passions and then see how they bring those to play in service to the queen. But as much as we learn about them as individuals we also learn how they operate as a whole. We learn their little tricks – like swapping one another out as decoys for Padmé – and more. We learn the sacrifices they make to serve in those positions. We can see how Rabé’s unexpected criminal talents or Eirtaé’s technological skills come to the queen’s aid.

Much of Queen’s Peril takes place before the Phantom Menace which really helps readers get invested. We know what’s coming but we don’t have to worry about it too much. E.K. Johnston keeps us aware of what’s going on in the galaxy surrounding them while letting them become the cohesive group you’ll come to love (or love already if you’ve read Queen’s Shadow). The girls learn how to work together, get involved in some very normal teenage hijinks, and pull off some pretty gutsy diplomatic plays.

All the while, they’re leading up to the biggest fight of their lives.

While it’s exciting at times to see familiar faces from The Phantom Menace (Anakin, Jar Jar Binks, Palpatine, and several others all make very brief interlude appearances), Queen’s Peril is at it’s strongest with it focuses on the handmaidens and telling their own part of the story. The moment’s where E.K. Johnston makes The Phantom Menace her own and retells the scenes from a new perspective are the really the most interesting. For example, we see Saché risk everything even though she’s the youngest – still just a child more so than any of the rest – to protect Naboo is far more compelling (as alluded to in the previous book).

If you’re a fan of the prequel era or at least just a Padmé fan you’ll want to read Queen’s Peril. But I highly recommend both books in E.K. Johnston’s Padmé Amidala “duology” and I would encourage people to read them in the order they were published as I think it adds even more to the story. That said, either way you read them is great! Also, much like with Claudia’ Gray’s Lost Stars, readers need to look past their initial hesitation to read something that seems “too young adult” and embrace the stories waiting to be told. (That said, they are definitely perfect for young adult fans, too.)

Don’t miss these books, Star Wars fans!

A REVIEW COPY WAS PROVIDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEW.

I include Johnston's novels in my classroom library and this one will be no different. It isn't as complex as Roanhorse's exploration of Poe Dameron, but the story moves quickly and the characterization is as nuanced was the earlier books in the series.

Have I time traveled back to 1999? Am I a 10 year old girl forever depressed that I can't be a handmaiden because the dimple in my chin would give me away and yet at the same time I spend hours in my bathroom mirror practicing Amidala's makeup?

Because that's what this book felt like.

If you love Star Wars and you love the Phantom Menace and you think it would be fun to read about what it was like for Padmé when she first became queen, you'll probably like this book.

I read it from a total fangirl perspective and thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely had some issues: Padmé didn't quite feel like the Padmé I know and love, and the last third that crosses over with the movie felt superfluous and also makes the book less of a novel on its own, since important events were either skimmed over or not mentioned at all, and if you don't have the plot of the movie fresh in your mind you'll be pretty confused. Honestly I would have preferred the book to end right as the invasion begins.

But it was total nostalgia to go back to Naboo and revisit everything. I loved getting to know the individual handmaidens more and read about the evolution of them as bodyguards and doubles (I've always assumed this was standard practice for the Queen, and to be honest I'm still skeptical that they came up with the whole elaborate plan themselves, but whatever, this book is just for fun and not part of my canon).

I haven't read any of EK Johnston's other Star Wars novels, but I just might have to check them out now!

My dad is a huge starwars fan so I grew up surrounded by starwars everything. This book was a fun read and I loved getting to look into the life of padme. Her role as queen was great and she was a powerful female lead. Loved reading about her and learning a bit more about her story.

I enjoyed this inside-look into the time leading up to the events of the THE PHANTOM MENACE, especially the detailed description of how Padmé became Queen Amidala and how she assembled her handmaidens. I loved the little insights into other favorite Star Wars characters and how they might come into play in later episodes.

I had a hard time with the book skipping around so much, especially once we started to cover events that take place during THE PHANTOM MENACE. I actually would have preferred to experience the movie events within the text of the book. While we got to see different perspectives not followed in the movies, I would have liked to see more of Padmé and even Obi-Wan's internal struggles in the text.

4/5 stars.

Queen's Peril recalls the events that shaped one of the major Star Wars eras, but suffers from the problems that characterize other Johnson's books. A title is satisfactory for fans of The Phantom Menace and adolescent teenage girls can be a bit boring for an older reader.

Queen’s Peril follows Padme as she becomes queen and chooses her handmaidens. It covers events all the way through Episode I, often from the perspective of the handmaidens.

This book took me by surprise in many ways. Padme is arguably my favorite Star Wars character so I always knew I would enjoy this story. But I loved the focus on her handmaidens as well. They became such interesting characters and such an important part of the story. And I adored how this novel told the story of Episode I but from different locations and perspectives. Some of the handmaidens remained on Naboo when Padme left at the beginning of Episode I and some of them remained on the ship when Padme left to visit the town on Tatooine. I loved hearing the story told through their experiences. Honestly this was a really great book. The best Star Wars book I have read in a while and my favorite one E. K. Johnston has written.

Star Wars: Queen's Peril is a prequel to E.K. Johnston's other novel about Padme Amidala, Queen's Shadow. However, I think this novel works better because it's an origin story for Padme's handmaidens. Where Queen's Shadow seemed to assume we were already invested in the handmaidens, Queen's Peril shows how and why they came to serve the queen - and therefore make me feel more invested.

I appreciate how Johnston gives each handmaiden a distinct personality and, for the most part, a distinct character arc throughout the book. Some of my favorite scenes contain no action, no political intrigue - just the handmaidens talking with each other and Padme. I was surprised at how well a glorified girls' slumber party worked in a Star Wars novel.

Queen's Peril also provides some in-depth world-building. We learn more about the Naboo government and other planets in the Chommell Sector. The book devotes quite a bit of attention to the intricacies of Naboo court etiquette and role of the queen. It's clear Johnston had spent quite a bit of time to developing the world and I could easily read a whole book just about Naboo history.

Unfortunately, like a lot of books in the Star Wars canon, Queen's Peril struggles with plotting and fulfilling character arcs. The the last quarter of the book seems tacked on to a story about Padme and the handmaidens. The book starts to overlap with the events of The Phantom Menace, which gives us a chance to see what the handmaidens were doing during the events of the film. But it also meant that their character arcs became subordinated to retelling scenes from a movie that came out two decades ago.

Ultimately, I enjoyed seeing the handmaidens operate as a team and getting to know them as individuals. This book isn't for everyone, but if you're dying to learn more about Naboo and the queen's handmaidens then Queen's Peril will provide.

STAR WARS: QUEEN'S PERIL is the perfect addition to any Star Wars fan's collection.

EK Johnston blew me away with her first Padme novel, STAR WARS: QUEEN'S SHADOW, and this follow-up -- which is actually a sequel to the aforementioned title -- is just as great!

The story opens with Padme Naberrie hoping, praying, WISHING to become Queen, while expressing how great a job she'll do in the position.... and the story takes off from there.

Johnston has an incredible talent for crafting strong, independent, determined and FIERCE female characters, which is magnified and reflected in QUEEN'S PERIL. In a fandom notorious for crafting strong, action-hero women (see: the badass-and-beautiful Princess Leia in the Original Trilogy, the ambitious Rey in the Sequel Trilogy), Johnston manages to exhibit and exemplify Padme's strengths one-hundred-fold. Padme, like Rey, is brave. Like Leia, she's loyal. She's brilliant, and even a little cunning, and she's SUCH a fun protagonist to follow.

Also, this novel ties right into THE PHANTOM MENACE, giving a glimpse into what's happening off-screen during the film, which made it super interesting to read!

All in all, if you're a Star Wars fan, you absolutely MUST read this novel. Beautifully written and phenomenally engaging, Johnston has done it again!

I love so much what Johnston has done with these two books.

Aside form the fact that I actually kind of liked the prequels - especially the first one - I feel like Johnston has transcended the source material anyway, so if you didn't like the prequels, please don't let that stop you from reading these books. The level of worldbuilding, attention to detail, and inclusion are just mind boggling and as far as I'm concerned set Queen's Shadow and Queen's Peril on the level with any epic SFF book where politics and power take the main stage.

I had actually just watched Hamilton before I sat down to start reading this, and it made a really interesting counterpoint. (Bear with me.) What's always fascinated me about Hamilton is the mythologizing of the relationships between the men in the story - men set at the knife edge of a tumultuous time, men who were both scholars and fighters. And although the Schuyler sisters have a great arc, the whole point of Angelica's is the tragedy of how she's locked out of the stage because she's a woman.

That's not anybody's fault; that's just how the story had to go to make sense in its fictionalized historical context, and hey, at least the injustice of that was pointed out, but when I started Queen's Peril it made me realize why Johnston's Queen books had such a magnetic resonance for me. Johnston is creating the same level of epic, larger than life inter-personal relationships between these young women are whip smart, who are resilient, and brave, and loyal, and who are making a place in history even if all of them, including Padme, are overshadowed by the persona of Amidala.

God, I could read these forever.

Tells how Padme first handled becoming queen and the role she took of her own handmaiden.
I didnt think this book was strong at all. It was kind of boring at first and the second half tied into phantom menace so you didn't really need to see what was happening but I felt like it skipped a lot of parts because you would think you were one place but then you were somewhere else.

E.K. Johnston delivers another exquisite Star Wars novel about Naboo’s Queen, Amidala. While there is so much Star Wars lore and canon available, a story that I’ve often felt was one of the more neglected ones, was the story of Padmé Naberrie (Amidala) and her time as one of the youngest queens in Naboo’s history. As the story focuses on Amidala’s beginnings as queen, there is a lot of history to follow. However, Johnston lays all of the lore out in a way that isn’t daunting and even if you’ve never picked up one of the other Star Wars novels, you’ll be able to keep up easily with Queen’s Peril.

Although it’s unnecessary to read the other books to be able to follow along with Queen’s Peril, it may be beneficial to revisit Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace as the story in Queen’s Peril runs parallel to it. Therefore, it might be a good precursor to the elements found within the book. Regardless, the tale of Amidala’s reign is always been one that’s been fascinating and this is solidified further in Queen’s Peril. Fans of the otherworldly franchise will be thrilled with some of the easter eggs that will be found whilst reading and Johnston’s descriptions of everything from the landscapes and architecture to the art of Naboo and Amidala’s royal fashions are so vivid that you won’t be able to put the book down.

The above said, the book truly flourishes with its character-driven plot. Queen’s Peril gives readers a view into the life of both Padmé and her handmaidens Sabé, Eirtaé, Yané, Rabé and Saché. We see the young girls go from being wary of one another to true friends - even though they didn’t always agree on everything that was set into their paths. It was interesting to see how the group found ways to make sure that everyone felt included and safe, despite their disagreements. It’s rare that you read a YA book that doesn’t end up with too much dramatic brouhaha as it relates to a group of young girls, but Queen’s Peril manages smartly to avoid that.

As a fan of Padmé, I truly enjoyed Queen’s Peril for giving us more time with the Queen after her reign begins and fills in the gaps that weren’t addressed in the films. Fans who are looking to be further entrenched in the prequel series should definitely add this book to their TBR lists.