Stories Unfolded

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE: Queen’s Peril

AUTHOR: E.K. Johnston

PUBLISHER: Disney Lucasfilm Press

RELEASE DATE: June 2, 2020

GENRE: Science Fiction; Young Adult

BUY LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

When fourteen-year-old Padmé Naberrie wins the election for Queen of Naboo, she adopts the name Amidala and leaves her family to the rule from the royal palace. To keep her safe and secure, she’ll need a group of skilled handmaidens who can be her assistants, confidantes, defenders, and decoys. Each girl is selected for her particular talents, but it will be up to Padmé to unite them as a group. When Naboo is invaded by forces of the Trade Federation, Queen Amidala and her handmaidens will face the greatest test—of themselves, and of each other. (Description from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

(***Please note that this review may contain spoilers***)

Queen’s Peril takes place when Padme Amidala becomes Queen of Naboo and how (and why) she built her team of handmaids we see in the movie Phantom Menace. Towards the end of the book it actually overlaps with the events that took place during the movie.

The book delve into the process Naboo takes in voting for and getting a new Queen up to speed and Amidala was determined to make a difference for her people. She was only 14 years old. She was also coming into power during an uncertain time which is why the head of her security team suggested handmaids who looked very similar to her. The idea grew from there and she had a team of handmaids, each with their own skills. Each one taught Amidala and the rest of the handmaids their skills. It got to the point where several of the girls could fill in for Amidala if needed.

The climactic point in the book was when it overlaps with Phantom Menace and Naboo is being occupied by Vicroy.

What I wanted to know more about is why Naboo elected Queens when they are teenagers. I got the sense that it was a long standing tradition on their planet, but I did want to know why teenagers were elected into such high profile roles and for such short time frames (2 year terms).

I highly recommend Queen’s Peril if you’re a Star Wars fan and want to know more about Padme when she got elected as Queen of Naboo and the beginning of her reign.

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | TWITTER

E.K. Johnston had several jobs and one vocation before she became a published writer. If she’s learned anything, it’s that things turn out weird sometimes, and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Well, that and how to muscle through awkward fanfic because it’s about a pairing she likes. (Bio from Goodreads)

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BOOK REVIEW

TITLE: Master & Apprentice

AUTHOR: Claudia Gray

PUBLISHER: Del Rey Publishing

RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2019

GENRE: Science Fiction

BUY LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

An unexpected offer threatens the bond between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as the two Jedi navigate a dangerous new planet and an uncertain future.

A Jedi must be a fearless warrior, a guardian of justice, and a scholar in the ways of the Force. But perhaps a Jedi’s most essential duty is to pass on what they have learned. Master Yoda trained Dooku; Dooku trained Qui-Gon Jinn; and now Qui-Gon has a Padawan of his own. But while Qui-Gon has faced all manner of threats and danger as a Jedi, nothing has ever scared him like the thought of failing his apprentice.

Obi-Wan Kenobi has deep respect for his Master, but struggles to understand him. Why must Qui-Gon so often disregard the laws that bind the Jedi? Why is Qui-Gon drawn to ancient Jedi prophecies instead of more practical concerns? And why wasn’t Obi-Wan told that Qui-Gon is considering an invitation to join the Jedi Council—knowing it would mean the end of their partnership? The simple answer scares him: Obi-Wan has failed his Master.

When Jedi Rael Averross, another former student of Dooku, requests their assistance with a political dispute, Jinn and Kenobi travel to the royal court of Pijal for what may be their final mission together. What should be a simple assignment quickly becomes clouded by deceit, and by visions of violent disaster that take hold in Qui-Gon’s mind. As Qui-Gon’s faith in prophecy grows, Obi-Wan’s faith in him is tested—just as a threat surfaces that will demand that Master and apprentice come together as never before, or be divided forever. (Description from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

(***Please note that this review may contain spoilers***)

To continue my journey to reading all the Star Wars Canon books I read Master & Apprentice that takes place before The Phantom Menace. I wanted to see what Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s relationship and adventures were like before they encountered Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine.

While on a mission to help discover the truth behind terrorist attacks on the planet of Pijal, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan must also navigate their strained relationship. Prior to the mission, it was revealed to Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon was asked to consider joining the Jedi Council which, if accepted, would mean that Obi-Wan would be assigned to a new Master. Qui-Gon had intended to tell Obi-Wan himself, but was having trouble doing so. This was added to what was already proving to be a difficult relationship to begin with. Qui-Gon at times needed to follow his path and heart, while Obi-Wan was set on following the Jedi rules to the T.

But they had a mission they needed to achieve. Uncover the terrorist group and protect the process of a treaty being signed with Pijal that would ultimately help the completion of a hyperspace corridor. The treaty would also abolish the monarch on the planet and open to an assembly process. However, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan soon discover that the treaty is severely flawed and would give permanent power to the private company, the Czerka Corporation, which was very corrupt. The treaty would essentially keep Pijal from being able to cancel any Czerka contracts in the future and give them power to determine punishments, which they regularly came with enslavement. All if this would be signed during the coronation ceremony of young Princess Fanry.

Qui-Gon had voiced his concerns about the coronation taking place after he had a vision of the future where the princess would be attacked during the ceremony. He pleaded with the Jedi Council and the people in the palace to delay it. Not just to protect the princess, but also do rectify the flaws within the treaty itself. To Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s surprise, they found the the terrorist group was actually being led by Princess Fanry herself, but turns out she wanted to keep her absolute monarch power and wasn’t really fighting for the people.

What I like most about this book is that you got to see where Obi-Wan began and why he was such a great Jedi Knight in the movies. I also liked that I didn’t see the Princess Fanry twist coming. I actually thought Rael Averross was behind it all along with the head of military Captain Deren.

Overall, I really liked this book, not as much as others, but its a great read for my Star Wars Reading Challenge. I would recommend this book if you really enjoy the characters Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. That way you can understand the characters more and what they’ve been through together that made them stronger as a Master and Padawan.

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | TWITTER

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn’t choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn’t), because I’d always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven’t) or even because I’m hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I’ve been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing. (Bio from Goodreads)

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BOOK REVIEW

TITLE: Ahsoka

AUTHOR: E.K. Johnston

PUBLISHER: Disney Lucasfilm Press

RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2016

GENRE: Science Fiction; Young Adult

BUY LINKS: Amazon | B&N 

Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka after she left the Jedi Order near the end of the Clone Wars, and before she re-appeared as the mysterious Rebel operative Fulcrum in Rebels. Finally, her story will begin to be told. Following her experiences with the Jedi and the devastation of Order 66, Ahsoka is unsure she can be part of a larger whole ever again. But her desire to fight the evils of the Empire and protect those who need it will lead her right to Bail Organa, and the Rebel Alliance. (Description from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

(***Please note that this review may contain spoilers***)

I started reading Ahsoka because she has become one of my favorite Star Wars characters. I watched The Clone Wars series with my husband (during quarantine) and was hooked. Ahsoka is a strong female character and I truly enjoyed watching her story unfold and was devastated when she left the Jedi Order.

To start my Star Wars Canon Reading Challenge I wanted to find out more about her story after Order 66. I wanted to know where she ended up, what she was doing, and was she still using the force. This book didn’t disappoint and I saw much of the Ahsoka I came to know watching The Clone Wars, but she had new struggles to deal with and unfortunately, was dealing with it on her own. There were no other Jedi she could lean on anymore.

Ahsoka was looking for a planet with a small population; somewhere where she wouldn’t be recognized and can lay low. Raada was exactly what she was looking for at first. Most of the book is centered around what happens on Raada, but also focuses on Ahsoka’s struggle with keeping her Jedi powers a secret. She wants to protect those around her, but she also wants to protect herself and any fellow Jedi that may have survived after Order 66. So she blocked herself from the force. 

At some point the Empire decides to take over the agricultural moon to use their soil and their labor for their own agriculture project. They forced the town to plant and harvest something that the Imperials could consume in low gravity environments. I think the food source was intended to be used for those working on the Death Star project, but that’s just my theory and what it made me think of.

Ahsoka teams up with several of the locals and comes up with a plan to sabotage the Imperial walkers, but they were doing it in a way that would make it seem like they got destroyed due to the elements of Raada. Their plan would have worked if it hadn’t been for a few other locals having their own plan to attack the Imperial base. Their plan went wrong and Ahsoka had to try and save those that were a part of this secret plan. Some ended up dying and Ahsoka finally had to reveal her powers to save as many others as she could.

She eventually had to leave Raada to protect everyone else because now that she revealed she was a Jedi the Empire would be looking for her again. She was right. This is when the inquisitors are introduced that we end up seeing in the Star Wars Rebels series. The inquisitor is tasked with finding this Jedi and destroying them.

Once Ahsoka is off Raada she goes back to the planet where the book started and she had to flee from. She gets her old job back with the Fardi family and continues fixing things for them. She ends up gaining their trust to make deliveries in their ships. While making these deliveries she takes on some of her own missions to help others. The missions aren’t planned, she just helps those when she comes across them so that she doesn’t get the attention of the Empire.

Her good deeds don’t go unnoticed by Bail Organa of Alderaan. He could tell these are the acts of a Jedi and he tasks a few of his pilots to find them. He doesn’t know who it is yet, but needs to see if this Jedi can be persuaded to join the rebellion he’s building in secret.

Eventually Ahsoka and Bail meet again and she’ll help his rebellion with one favor. She needs help saving the people of Raada. So Ahsoka ends up going back to Raada and fighting this inquisitor. She wins of course, but ends up getting her new kyber crystals for her lightsabers in the most unlikely place (I don’t want to give this away). She saves the people of Raada with Bail Organa’s assistance.

I tried not to get too deep into details when writing this review, but I needed to get across that no matter where or what Ahsoka does she’s going to be pulled back into the war and fighting the Empire. She’s a good person and doesn’t want to see anyone suffer, so she risks her own life (revealing her Jedi powers) to save others. She is heroic and strong. I feel that even though she closed herself from the force for so long she became even stronger than before after deciding not to hide it anymore. Stronger than when she was in the Clone Wars.

I really enjoyed reading this book because I had just finished watching Star Wars Rebels so it was nice to put a a few other pieces together on how Ahsoka and Bail Organa teamed up again and how Fulcrum started.

I highly recommend the book Ahsoka if you’re a Star Wars fan and want to know more about this character or the storyline leading up to the Star Wars Rebels series.

OVERALL RATING

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | TWITTER

E.K. Johnston had several jobs and one vocation before she became a published writer. If she’s learned anything, it’s that things turn out weird sometimes, and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Well, that and how to muscle through awkward fanfic because it’s about a pairing she likes. (Bio from Goodreads)

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