Queen's Peril

May 15, 2020
Fourteen-year-old Padm� Naberrie becomes Naboo's latest elected monarch, and Capt. Quarsh Panaka of the Royal Security Forces prepares for a peaceful transition of power. Much work awaits the young leader, who hopes to guide her homeworld beyond the isolationist policy of her predecessor. But first, Padm� and Panaka must assemble the queen's handmaidens, a group of five girls who will act as advisers, guards, and decoys for the queen. Against Panaka's wishes, Padm� tightens the bonds between herself and her handmaidens, particularly with her dearest Sach�, to craft a cunning, bold group loyal to Queen Amidala, Padm�'s regal alter ego. As Queen Amidala navigates Naboo's political sphere, she organizes a summit with neighboring planets to foster and restore alliances. Meanwhile, the villainous Darth Sidious hastens his plans to acquire more power, inciting a brutal invasion of Naboo by the Trade Federation. A prequel to the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I--The Phantom Menace as well as Johnston's Queen's Shadow (2019), this look into Padm�'s ascent both honors its source material and colors in its scope. Johnston builds Padm� into an icon worthy of her reputation while underscoring her strong camaraderie with the handmaidens. Remarkably, readers receive a glimpse of Naboo's politics as the narrative inevitably unfolds into the events chronicled in the film, though here there are glimpses of the more urgent struggles lurking beneath the latter's grand heroics. There is diversity in race and sexual orientation. Solid and intriguing. (Science fiction. 12-18)

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August 14, 2020

Gr 6-10-This prequel to Johnston's Queen's Shadow chronicles Padm� Naberrie's first year as Queen Amidala of Naboo, including the events from Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace. Padm� is just 14 when she is elected to the highest position in Naboo's government. Quarsh Panaka, the brown-skinned head of her security team, recruits five young handmaidens who are all near doppelg�ngers of the fair-skinned Queen. They are also prodigies that come with an array of artistic achievements and skills, and they master the art of working as a team to act as the Queen's decoys-an art that comes in handy after the planet is invaded by the ruthless Trade Federation. The story starts out promisingly, with an in-depth exploration of Naboo culture and politics, and a strong focus on the development of Padm�'s close relationship with her loyal handmaidens. However, the story quickly spirals into a rushed recap of the film, relying on readers to fill the gaps in the story. Fans of Queen's Shadow will be disappointed that much of the backstory remains undramatized. For instance, Panaka's combat training for the handmaidens is only mentioned in passing. Also, Padm� does not exchange any words with Qui-Gon Jinn, even though the Queen contemplates their interactions during his funeral at the end. However, if readers enjoyed the earlier book, they will most likely be okay with the rushed conclusion of this story. VERDICT A secondary purchase for teen collections where Star Wars books are popular.-Erica Ruscio, Ventress Memorial Lib., Marshfield, MA

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