When Padmé Naberrie, “Queen Amidala” of Naboo, steps down from her position, she is asked by the newly-elected queen to become Naboo’s representative in the Galactic Senate. Padmé is unsure about taking on the new role, but cannot turn down the request to serve her people. Together with her most loyal handmaidens, Padmé must figure out how to navigate the treacherous waters of politics and forge a new identity beyond the queen’s shadow.

Every so often, I’ll have someone reach out to me on Bookstagram and ask me where I think a good place to start reading Star Wars books is. And while I’m certainly not an expert, I feel like I can point folks in a direction that will at least make sense, and hopefully they’ll find something they love.

I really liked Queen’s Shadow, but I think this is one that doesn’t quite have the broad appeal that some Star Wars books may have. I think in order to truly appreciate what this book does, you need to:

a. Really love Padmé as a character

b. Enjoy the prequels

Like for real, if you’re one of the Star Wars fans that loathes Episodes 1-3, this book is probably not going to do a thing for you. Queen’s Shadow is really a character study more than anything, and a good one at that. E.K. Johnston clearly put a lot of love into this book, and I think she did a great job providing more insight into a character that, at least in the movies, would have benefited from it.

So Queen’s Shadow chronicles the period in Padmé’s life where she is no longer queen, and is about to begin her career as a Galactic Senator. We spend quite a bit of time with Padmé & her handmaidens on Naboo, and to me, this is sort of the heart & soul of the book.

It’s clear that Padmé’s relationship with each of the handmaidens is deeply special to her, and this book goes a long way towards explaining what goes on behind the scenes. Or even in plain sight, as they all have non-verbal ways of communicating with one another, for when the need for secrecy arises. There’s an incredible trust between Padmé and the handmaidens, specifically with Sabé, and this book highlights that nicely.

I really liked the way Johnston tackles “Amidala” as almost a concept at this point. The subtle changes that Padmé (or one of the others, who may be standing in for her) makes to her conversational style, voice, or posture, to sort of “become” Amidala. And having that sort of rigid persona is what helps the other handmaidens slide into that role effortlessly.

You don’t even have to be a costume geek to appreciate the different looks Padmé rocks in the movies…I mean, fucking hell, those are some amazing costumes! The book absolutely stresses the importance of some of her different looks, and also gets into the origin & (surprising) functionality of some of the things Padmé wears. I definitely nerded out over that aspect, for sure!

Here’s a thing that’s worth mentioning, and could be a deal-breaker for some: there are basically no action sequences in Queen’s Shadow. Without counting, I think I’ve read in the neighborhood of 50 Star Wars novels, and this is by far the lightest on action. There’s one minor spaceship-in-peril sequence, and that’s it. This didn’t bother me, given the book’s other strengths, but it did surprise me a little. What I’m saying is, if you’re looking for a shooty-spacey-laser sword adventure book, this is not that book.

All told, I enjoyed this one. My appreciation for Padmé grew significantly after watching The Clone Wars, and Queen’s Shadow adds even more to her story arc. I would definitely consider this almost a niche Star Wars novel, one that may not appeal to all fans. But for Padmé fans, this book is a gem, and long overdue.

May the Force be with you!