Queen’s Hope - Book Review

“For one of the very few times in her life, Padmé Amidala had no idea what to do. She kept secrets all the time, but this one was different.”

Every politician in the Galactic Senate has an agenda, as does E. K. Johnston in Queen’s Hope, the third installment of the Padmé trilogy. The world in which we live is every bit as diverse as the Star Wars universe, despite inhabiting only one planet as opposed to countless in the galaxy far, far away. Johnston’s work has always been exceptional in that her novels exemplify the inclusivity and diversity that makes Star Wars appeal to a wide array of audiences. However, there is a fine line between diversifying and incorporating characters to reflect the world around us and shifting the original narrative. This line becomes blurred in Queen’s Hope, which may bring conflicting views towards the character of Padmé Amidala. While the relationship surrounding Padmé and Anakin has always been scandalous in nature, most authors have approached their relationship in a generally positive light; channeling the theme of starstruck young lovers. Johnston’s latest novel certainly incorporates and explores an alternative element and dynamic to their relationship.

Despite the potentially controversial nature of some elements in Queen’s Hope, the theme of devotion and duty within the senate and Padmé’s cohort remains the same. The Padmé trilogy focuses heavily on the friendships and alliances that exist between Padmé and her carefully selected handmaidens who have followed her from the courts of Naboo to the Galactic senate on Coruscant. In many ways, the novels follow Padmé’s decoys every bit as much as they follow the elusive and mysterious senator. In Queen’s Hope the developing war may be at the forefront of the plot, but the individual story lines that follow the original handmaidens are often anything but violent and provide heartwarming and satisfactory closure for the young women and girls that readers have come to love.

As with most Star Wars novels that connect to the film trilogies, only small fragments of information and easter eggs are presented to dedicated fans. While this remains true for Johnston’s novel, the glimpses into the developing Clone Wars, as well as the developing relationship between Padmé and her soon to be fallen lover, Anakin, will excite and engage even the most reluctant reader. As someone who has eagerly consumed any Star Wars content that provides a deeper look and understanding of Padmé and Anakin’s bond, Queen’s Hope was an absolute literary treat.

Queen’s Hope is certain to please readers of all ages and interests. Whether you are a The Clone Wars enthusiast or Padmé devotee, Johnston’s novel provides a near perfect balance of action and emotion that will leave readers yearning for more pages to turn. If you are an audiobook enthusiast, then make sure to check out the book’s preview below, narrated by none other than Catherine Taber.