Queen's Shadow [part 2/4]

[colls]

Welcome to our second of four check-in and discussion posts for our Book of the Month.

This month’s book is Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston
The halfway mark on my eBook just as Chapter 14 begins. Spoilers up to that point in the post and comments below.

Queen’s Shadow: Part 2 of 4

1. How does the imagery from the book (ie. Naboo wardrobe, Senate chamber, etc.) compare with the imagery you might expect from the movies and/or animated series?

2. What are your thoughts on Sabé and Tonra? Was their mission to Tatooine a narrative distraction to have them arrive later than the others or will it come up again later?

3. The impact holonets/media has gotten some more traction as the story goes along. Do you think any of the named Senators are influencing them? (ie. Organa, Mon Mothma, Farr)

4. How are you liking the book so far? Any other thoughts? Predictions?



FYI - There's no need to answer all (or any) of the questions above - they're just talking points to get us started. Informal chatter is more than welcome! In-person book clubs often veer off topic, it's okay if we do as well. :)
All I ask is that you try to avoid spoilers for things past the first half of the book.

Comments

[colls]

Oh... yes. Very good points about the four years between her deposing the previous Chancellor and now when she's a new Senator.
I always got the sense the Palpatine manipulated more than we saw, especially when it came to Padmé (we obviously saw the result of his claws in Anakin).

The whole storyline with Shmi makes me sad. The separating children from families is bad enough, but leaving her as a slave was just cruel. I never understood how more people weren't outraged when the prequel movies first came out. On one hand, I'm glad it's being brought up at least, and that Padmé is at least trying to do something - even if it's vicariously through Sabé. I hope it's a setup for something more to happen on Tatooine.

I didn't realize Tonra was a character outside this book (I REALLY have prequel gaps in my SW knowledge). Maybe I'll look him up after we finish. Yes, they're holding hands and she's flirting with the journalist - which makes me hopeful for a bi-character, even if neither relationship goes anywhere.

I am with you and fully onboard for more switcher spy shenanigans!! :)

(not at all! you are so very far from bashing for the sake of bashing - criticism is absolutely part of responding to any book)

[justanorthernlight]

Oh, Tonra isn't in any of the other novels I've read, I was more talking about, hmm, patterns in YA romance. I read another Star Wars YA novel a couple of years ago because people told me it contained f/f romance, and lets just say Sabé/Tonra is already much more explicit than that one ever got.

I would love for Sabé to be bi as well.

[colls]

Ah... I understand. It sounds like one of those romances people see in subtext but isn't really satisfying in the source.

[justanorthernlight]

Pretty much, it was a little bit better than subtext, more like a one-sided crush with a single hug at the end of the novel. The author acknowledged the relationship as canon, though.