Published: June 2nd, 2020 (US); June 3rd, 2020 (UK)
Author: E.K. Johnston
Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press
Cover Artist: Tara Phillips
Formats: Hardback (288 pages), eBook (204 pages), Audiobook (370 minutes)
Timeline: 32 BBY
The synopsis;
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.
The review;
Another story all about Padmé and yet another absolutely beautiful cover by Tara Phillips. The portrait for Queen’s Peril features Padmé wearing her foreign residence robe which she wore on the journey to Coruscant, and is dark in colour to represent her sadness at being away from Naboo. It would look perfect next to Queen’s Shadow on any bookshelf.
Fourteen-year-old Padmé Naberrie has just been elected Queen of Naboo. To take the throne she must give up her family, her freedom and even her name in service to her home-planet. Padmé must become Queen Amidala. However, she won’t be doing it alone, as in keeping with tradition, Amidala is given a group of handmaidens chosen for their unique skills that will help the new Queen navigate this sea of politics. With two years in office Amidala hopes to achieve much – but first can she balance being a friend and a ruler to her handmaidens?
Star Wars as its name suggests usually includes a lot of action and daring dogfights. For Queen’s Peril Johnston has deliberately shied away from this and the story is all about politics and character. There are no fight scenes and the only arguments are between politicians. It’s therefore a very different read in the modern canon, but extremely interesting as it adds so much more depth to certain parts of The Phantom Menace. Queen’s Peril is also perfect for fans who enjoyed the political machinations of the previous book or Bloodline by Claudia Gray.
Johnston has written Padmé so well, as a teenager who has to struggle with two sides of herself. She has to deal with the feelings of isolation, self-doubt and the huge weight of responsibility that come with being Queen. Then at the same time Padmé is a teenage girl who wants to express herself and experience new things. Padmé cannot be two people at once, so must always hide one side of herself, and she’s not always successful. Although set in a galaxy far, far away, Johnston’s writing is so relatable as a lot of these problems could be faced by real-world teenagers reading the actual book.
Queen’s Peril might be about Padmé, but the handmaidens are still vital to the story, and this time it’s the original five – those fearless flame-robed girls from The Phantom Menace. Seeing how they were recruited into Padmé’s retinue, and the different abilities each possesses is fantastic. Even better is how Johnston writes their relationships with Padmé, and how they develop over time. It wasn’t as simple as being blindly loyal from the beginning; Padmé must forge bonds with each handmaiden who has given up their individuality to serve the crown. One particularly moving moment is when each girl chooses a name in honour of Padmé’s own – to become Eritaé, Sabé, Saché, Rabé, and Yané.
Another key element for Padmé is her wardrobe. All of those ostentatious dresses and headpieces from the film are described in glorious detail, right down to the exact colour of the velvet or silk. The book also develops a lot of the hidden meanings behind Amidala’s costumes, such as the bright red gem that often finishes the Queen’s hairstyle, which is actually called the Jewel of Zenda.
Reading Queen’s Peril not only explores a younger Padmé, it also provides information about the events around the invasion of Naboo that fans don’t get to see on screen during Episode I. Fans can learn what was happening to the citizens whilst Padmé was away trying to get aid, and the reason things deteriorated on the planet so quickly. Some of the lines from the film are even given greater significance due to the fact that they were code-words shared between Padmé and her handmaidens. Altogether it’s very clever writing and fans won’t watch The Phantom Menace in the same way again after reading Queen’s Peril.
Availability;
Queen’s Peril was published June 2, 2020 in the US and June 3rd in the UK. It is available in hardback, eBook and audiobook formats from all good bookstores, online retailers including Amazon UK and US for an RRP of £14.99.
