Queen's Hope

By: E. K. Johnston

Narrated by: Catherine Taber

A peace-loving senator faces a time of war in another thrilling Padmé Amidala adventure from the author of the New York Times best-sellers Queen's Peril and Queen's Shadow!

Padmé is adjusting to being a wartime senator during the Clone Wars. Her secret husband, Anakin Skwyalker, is off fighting the war, and excels at being a wartime Jedi. In contrast, when Padmé gets the opportunity to see the casualties on the war-torn front lines, she is horrified. The stakes have never been higher for the galaxy, or for the newly-married couple.

Meanwhile, with Padmé on a secret mission, her handmaiden Sabé steps into the role of Senator Amidala, something no handmaiden has done for an extended period of time. While in the Senate, Sabé is equally horrified by the machinations that happen there. She comes face to face with a gut-wrenching decision as she realizes that she cannot fight a war this way, not even for Padmé. And Chancellor Palpatine hovers over it all, manipulating the players to his own ends….

©2022 E. K. Johnston (P)2022 Disney Lucasfilm Press

just okay.

these cannon novels lack the detail and description that a lot of EU books had. it was short, a little vague, but still enjoyble. her voice for the book is better than the previous 2 books. there are LGBT and trans messages in the book which disconnected me from the story and seemed out of place.

Great finish to the series!

Padme and her handmaidens are a great story that Im glad was told. It makes watching the movies more fun!

worst of the three

Like all of star wars under disney's thumb, it got worse.The longer it went. Very little in the way of climax, points or rise, and falls in story ark.

Also there were several bits about transgender stuff that We're super annoyingly shoehorned in and completely irrelevant. A clone trooper named sister that was not considered male? a character using nonsensical pronouns that (like in real life) Made it annoying two follow along during the dialogue. ugh.
On top of that, there was an annoying bit that seems to be referencing open border policy, kind of ideology. Which seemed like the author trying to make a subtle point about it. But hey, at least it was one of those planets that consider themselves pacifist, and nobody but a pacifist would be naive enough to support an open border policy.
Either way, those things we're annoying and distracted from the story itself.

Fun, Short, the inclusivity felt forced.

E.K. Johnston brings up gender (or lack there of) an awful lot. But if you listen there's actually also another great story about Padme and Sabe like the ones we've come to love from her last two books. It was a bit short but still a fun story set right after the events of AOTC. I hope to see another book by her maybe set during ROTS

A decent finish to a good trilogy

Despite chronologically taking place at the end of the trilogy, the story just felt more like a midpoint to a larger narrative, making the ending a bit underwhelming. Granted, the larger narrative is solved within the movies, but I feel the Padmé and Sabé plot line wasn’t resolved completely. That might be more of a taste issue than Johnston’s writing. Would still recommend the book and trilogy to any prequel or Padmé fans.

Heartbreakingly beautiful

New stories about Padmè always make me happy and a little sad they’re just a reminder of how tragically underused she was in the films it almost Mae wish we had an anthology film after ROTS and that’s when died The Queen of the Naboo deserves a proper sendoff.

Star Wars Romance Amazingness!!!

This is a great Star Wars story and gives the reader a greater view into the relationship of Padme and Anakin!

Couldn’t get into it

I’m not a fan a female narrators. I just don’t think they do different voices very good. The story itself might have been better read.

Brief Period of Happiness for Padme

This was the conclusion of the Padme trilogy. It begins with the aftermath of the Battle of Geonosis, covers her marriage to Anakin Skywalker and the rest of her handmaidens relationships. It was actually quite good, showing how young women had grown and adjusted to ever changing situations. Johnston did a good job with Anakin as well. The only part of the book that was weak to me was Palpatine/Sidious. He is much too disciplined to use Force lightning that could be discovered by others. I also don't believe that he would call out the decoy swap either. Johnston isn't good at writing Sith. Otherwise it's an nice wrap up to the beginning of the Clone Wars, with hints of sadness only glimpsed. Catherine Tabor, who voices Padme once again narrates. She does a good job with the exception of Yoda. Much better than many of the High Republic YA books that have come out.

Great - not "too woke"

Firstly, I've read several reviews claiming the representation in this book was out of place, which is ridiculous. Representation doesn't have to serve the plot, and if it took you out of the moment, that reflects more on you than it does the author. There is no Disney Gay agenda.

I thought this book was fantastic. I can understand the criticism that there wasn't necessarily a core plot, but as the finale to a trilogy which was about Padmé, those in her life, and her role in the Galaxy, I thought everything worked together really well.

Highlights for me were the early days of her and Anakin's marriage, her friendship with Sabé, and Sabé's character journey, which all felt like a strong payoff to the series. Interludes focusing on Shmi and Breha were also very nice. The subplot about Saché was interesting, and I enjoyed seeing Naboo's immediate response to the war. Finally, I thought the revelation regarding the Neimoidians was affective and served Padmé's character well, as she faced her unconscious bias.

Worth the read.