Princess of Alderaan (Star Wars - The Last Jedi Leia

I want to start by saying Claudia Gray does a fine job writing Princess Leia. She truly is a bright point in the new canon, and it is worth reading any novel she writes.

Leia does a wonderful job of giving us a glimpse into the princesses home world. It makes the scene from A New Hope more gut wrenching especially considering how so nonchalantly Tarkington is able to give the order.

That said. I think my only mild gripe I might have with the book is the portrayal of Bail Organa. In my minds eye, he had always been the leader, but this book paints somewhat of a different picture.

This doesn't in any way distract from the story. I understand the thought behind it, but you know how it is when someone starts messing with your childhood thoughts.

At any rate, give Leia a chance if she was a character you were fond of. I look forward to Claudia's next work in this universe.

It's been more then forty years since George Lucas created one of cinema's greatest icons in Princess Leia Organs. Since that time, dozens of authors have brought to life their own version of the Princess in Legends; however, nobody quite "gets" her like Claudia Gray.

'Leia, Princess of Alderaan' is Gray's second book focusing on Princess Leia in the Star Wars canon. While 'Bloodlines' saw Leia dealing with the rebuilding of the fledgling New Republic, this time Gray tackles Leia at age 16, she knocks it out of the park.

Leia is, as you'd expect, an incredibly ambitious young woman in the galactic apprentice senate. The journey that she goes on in dealing with her young Senate colleagues, finding her first love, and discovering that her parents are leading a rebellion against the Galactic Empire feels real. You feel her anguish and frustration at times when things aren't as clear as they need to be to a sixteen-year-old girl. You can see how these events helped shape her into the woman that we see her as in A New Hope and so on.

If you love Princess Leia, you will love this book.

Claudia Gray is the best writer of young adult Star Wars books since Disney took over the franchise. Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens Lost Stars was the best, but Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Leia, Princess of Alderaan (Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi) comes in a solid second. The Leia that Gray portrays is a believable younger version of what we know from the screen--a girl coming into her own. What was it like to be a princess? How did she become senator? How did she get dragged into the war? I read and learned, and unlike some other recent additions to the universe, I accept the answers as canon. Good job, Claudia Gray.

I want to start by saying Claudia Gray does a fine job writing Princess Leia. She truly is a bright point in the new canon, and it is worth reading any novel she writes.

Leia does a wonderful job of giving us a glimpse into the princesses home world. It makes the scene from A New Hope more gut wrenching especially considering how so nonchalantly Tarkington is able to give the order.

That said. I think my only mild gripe I might have with the book is the portrayal of Bail Organa. In my minds eye, he had always been the leader, but this book paints somewhat of a different picture.

This doesn't in any way distract from the story. I understand the thought behind it, but you know how it is when someone starts messing with your childhood thoughts.

At any rate, give Leia a chance if she was a character you were fond of. I look forward to Claudia's next work in this universe.

It's been more then forty years since George Lucas created one of cinema's greatest icons in Princess Leia Organs. Since that time, dozens of authors have brought to life their own version of the Princess in Legends; however, nobody quite "gets" her like Claudia Gray.

'Leia, Princess of Alderaan' is Gray's second book focusing on Princess Leia in the Star Wars canon. While 'Bloodlines' saw Leia dealing with the rebuilding of the fledgling New Republic, this time Gray tackles Leia at age 16, she knocks it out of the park.

Leia is, as you'd expect, an incredibly ambitious young woman in the galactic apprentice senate. The journey that she goes on in dealing with her young Senate colleagues, finding her first love, and discovering that her parents are leading a rebellion against the Galactic Empire feels real. You feel her anguish and frustration at times when things aren't as clear as they need to be to a sixteen-year-old girl. You can see how these events helped shape her into the woman that we see her as in A New Hope and so on.

If you love Princess Leia, you will love this book.

Claudia Gray is the best writer of young adult Star Wars books since Disney took over the franchise. Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens Lost Stars was the best, but Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Leia, Princess of Alderaan (Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi) comes in a solid second. The Leia that Gray portrays is a believable younger version of what we know from the screen--a girl coming into her own. What was it like to be a princess? How did she become senator? How did she get dragged into the war? I read and learned, and unlike some other recent additions to the universe, I accept the answers as canon. Good job, Claudia Gray.

This book really is a must read to filling in some of the gaps that took place just a few years before episode 4 and the start of the rebellion. I finished half the book this afternoon, i couldnt put it down

Grey writes Star Wars beautifully, but there just isn’t much to this story. No SPOILERS, but unless The Last Jedi greatly surprises me with ties to this book, there are only two things that will come into play: one character and one place. Will these things play big roles in the movie? Undoubtedly. But will their appearance in this book enhance the viewing of The Last Jedi that much? Unlikely. I was hoping that reading Catalyst before Rogue One would enhance my viewing and was let down. It only left me wanting more of the characters based on the time I spent with them in the novel. I have a feeling this will be more of the same; a better understanding of a person and place, but probably not enough to make a significant difference in regard to my movie experience.

If you love Leia and want to read more of her character, this is a great read. If you are looking for clues to The Last Jedi, this isn’t the book you are looking for.

Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome Awesome
Great and wonderful and well written. Good job!

Another great "Star Wars" novel by Claudia Gray, giving us a look at how Leia began to become the woman we meet in Episode IV. After her three books so far, I think Gray is by far the best new addition to the ranks of "Star Wars" authors with the revamped canon. Can't wait for what she gets to do next.

Another amazing novel by Claudia Gray. This book gives so much more development into Leia's character. I love how Gray ties in elements from other books and the movies. The last two paragraphs of the book...fantastic. Definitely a must read for Princess Leia/Carrie Fisher fans!

I really enjoyed this book, especially the tie-ins to the movies.It was great backstory for Leia.
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for example, Krennic is in for a tiny bit, (not named) and Padmés bodyguard Panaka is also in, and shows how he's going. Saw gerrera is mentioned too.
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All in all, a great book!

"Great evil can only be fought by the strong. People need spiritual fuel as much as they need food, water, and air. Happiness, love, joy, hope—these are the emotions that give us the strength to do what we need to do."

After my disappointment with "Lost Stars," I am so happy to proclaim that I absolutely loved this novel! This book beautifully explores the struggles Leia and her family faced as the Rebellion took flight. Claudia Gray digs deep into the heart of emotions and explores the many consequences that could arise from even the most noble of actions.

Leia's fierce determination and big heart comes across as empathetic strengths for the developing teenager. The plot moves steadily along as we discover secrets both within the Empire and the Rebellion. We also get added depth to familiar characters like Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, discover old/unexplored characters like Breha Organa, and meet a "The Last Jedi" character, Amilyn Holdo. Gray balances these dynamics well and gives excellent insight into the feelings and experiences these characters went through.

I would have liked a little more differentiation with references. For instance, everyone seems to drink tea, but what kind of tea? The constant being-served-tea scenes got a bit bland because (as a tea snob myself) there is so much variety in tea that could give subtle hints at people's characters. This was underutilized. Also, there was one Alderaanian plant that kept being referenced by Leia. Finally, a few terms were a bit too Earthy to be super believable in the Star Wars world, like "spit spot."

Things I loved, though, were the inklings of the Force that Leia felt during moments of intense struggle and fear, which enhances the original movies and beyond. Reading about Leia's force use in a canon novel is so satisfying since "The Force Awakens" disappointed me in this aspect. I also loved Gray fleshing out Alderaan culture. I'm a history nerd, much like Kier, and really enjoyed these details. Gray also carefully weaves in familiar lines, sometimes with a slight twist, that comes across as enhancing the novel instead of being overt, annoying nods that can sometimes happen with poorly-placed references. Kudos, Ms. Gray!

Unlike the books preceding "The Force Awakens," I could really feel the movies alive in this book. There are planets you'll recognize from the past along with the next movie and characters we expect to see in the future.

This was a well-drawn expanded-universe story that enriches the characters we love, most particularly after the passing of Carrie Fisher. This book could have been Gray's swan song if done wrong, but instead, Gray has delivered a solid and emotional story that does the original characters credit and is strong in the Force.

I really enjoyed this book; it exceeded my expectations. Claudia Gray is proving to be my favorite new cannon Star Wars author. I would rank this above bloodline and on par with Lost Stars; her other SW books. I have read most of the new cannon books and this one gave me more of an emotional punch than any other. Getting to know Leia's adoptive parents, the Organa's, and seeing Leia interact with them and gain insight in how they shaped the rebellion is very special; very well written. In all it really makes the destruction of Alderaan all the more tragic; makes you really take it to heart. I think this book fits excellently with Rouge One and, in a different way of course, does an even better job in giving you the back story to episode 4 - A New Hope! If there was one thing that stood out for me as far as something that seemed off to me would be Leia's utter lack of curiosity regarding the truth behind her birth parents vs her complete obsession with finding out everything her adoptive parents are up too!!

***ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WHAT A NERD GIRL SAYS***

To start off, I’ll say this: I normally don’t tend to like extended canon novels. I usually like my stories the way they are, and if I feel like any extra, I’ll go read some fan fiction. I love fan fiction. I’ve had a hard time with some of the new novels that have come out in this new canon Star Wars universe because it often times feels like I’m reading fan fiction. Now, to be fair, its really GOOD fan fiction, because its written by really great authors but it still just feels weird and I think that’s why I give it four instead of a full five stars.

That being said, I did really enjoy it. This could potentially be because I have an extreme bias when it comes to anything Princess Leia, because she has been my absolute favorite fictional character since I was about five years old. It helps that I am obsessed with the original trilogy and feel more of a connection to the Rebel Alliance (check the tattoo on the back of my neck) than I do to Jedi or Sith or Empire. So getting extra stories and insight on my favorite character and the creation and beginning of the Rebel Alliance was plenty enough to keep me reading from page one until the end.

But again, I did enjoy it! I liked that we got to see so much more of Leia’s character outside of being an integral part of the rebellion. There has always been so much to her character, how smart she is and all of that but to see her actually put that in action was fantastic. I liked seeing all the different ways she had to prove herself worthy of the throne. I liked that it was physical and mental and emotional. I liked that these trials made sense to me, knowing the person that she becomes in the future. I enjoyed watching my favorite character climb mountains, and delve into the issues plaguing the galaxy and make connections. Its a wonderful beginning to the strong and diplomatic character that we know.

I did also like that they gave her a love interest in the novel. Some people may not necessarily agree with that but I loved every bit of that. It makes 100% sense to me. She’s heir to a throne, and a huge plot of the novel is her undertaking the challenges to prove her worth as an heir and of course that is eventually going to include choosing the right person to be her viceroy, her partner in crime for life when she becomes queen. I, of course, love Leia and Han so much. They are my original OTP and all that. But I think it makes their relationship that much better to know that Leia has experienced love prior to that. It just makes everything seem so much more realistic and relatable to me.

Lastly, I really loved that this novel addressed something that we don’t see much when it comes to the Rebel Alliance. This is the very very small beginnings of it (though i think technically this slightly around the same time of Star Wars: Rebels, the animated television show I’ve recently started watching) and I loved how they tackle the tough questions. In the original trilogy, the Rebel Alliance is painted very much as the good guys but let’s be real, there was a lot of bloodshed in order to make the rebellion a reality. They weren’t completely innocent and they had blood on their own hands. They had to, to make change happen. I like that we see the characters in this novel come face to face with that. They’re at the very beginning and they sometimes can be idealistic but they realize they’re never going to make any change if they don’t make those sacrifices and I thought it was really to see that brought up.

All in all, a totally enjoyable book. If you’re not a Star Wars fan, at all, you most likely won’t enjoy it much but I think if you are a fan, and you’re interested in learning more of the backstory and more about the history of Leia and her parents, its a definite must read. Claudia Gray is a great storyteller and I think she does an excellent job with Leia.

LEIA is a stunningly beautiful book that actually does justice to the most beautiful woman in the galaxy like no work of fiction before it. At the start, Leia is a much loved but very spoilt little girl standing quite innocently on the steps of adulthood. By book's end, her heart is broken, yours will be too, but she is clearly the uber determined Rebellion Leader we all fell in love with back in Episode IV. Her feel and awareness of the force grows chapter by chapter in many respects. This book is the perfect encpsulation of everything that YA books are meant to achieve. It makes the reader think about whats important in life, it gives strong directon, it demotes bullies, hatred, discrimination, it hints at how politics can be a mightier weapon than direct violence.

It also introduces new characters to your imagination that are so gorgeously presented that they will never leave. SPOILERS prevent me from explaining myself too much here. We also learn more about existing characters, and their troubled past, as well as finding ourselves gifted with cameos from much loved super stars of the franchise. Big Bad Darth fails to get a mention, but every appearance of Tarkin simply electrifies the book and helps to lift the reading experience even higher into the atmosphere of greatness. I recommend that you purchase the hard cover, because this is one book you will DEFINITELY want to read over and over again. Bring some tissues with you though, the book is emotional on several levels.

In summary... LEIA is Claudia Grays finest hour. Its also Disneys finest hour, as it feels like their own literary tribute to the genius of the creation of Star Wars in the first place by George Lucas. The book shines above the universe of SW novels already in print just like the spirit of Carrie Fisher shines above us all. So read on, people, read on. Fall in love with the Princess again, why dont you. Read this book, and you wont be able to help yourself. Princess Leia of Alderaan was destined for greatness the moment she was born. And the Empire? Heck, they never stood a chance.

It started well enough and seemed promising... but then goes down hill fast. I must say the writer is skilled and writes well and It's engaging! That being said though, the author, dispite having written many Star Wars books, doesn't seem to know Star Wars very well =\ Leia, Bale, and Mon Mothma are all so tramendiously out of character it's hard to remember that it's them most of the time, the book directly contridicts the actual movies, not to mention Rebels, it overly simplifies the politics of starwars, and makes the rebellion and the empire into into a bit of a joke.

I was really looking forward to this book, but I was disappointed. It was not what I thought it'd be. Let's jump into details.
I really feel like Leia just didn't act like Leia. I get that she was younger in this book, sixteen years old, but she just seemed different. I mean, Leia was herself sometimes, such as when she was helping people and having an attitude, but it was just really hard for me to connect that.

The romance between Leia and Kier was just weird. I think I heard somewhere that George Lucas let the actors/actresses "create backstories" for the characters they portrayed and Carrie Fisher made a remark that Han was the first crush that Leia had. In general, the book just seemed like it was a teenage-romance book.

Now, my main issue is about Amilyn. You know, the purple hair lady from Star Wars: The Last Jedi?
Anyways, in this book, it made her seem like she was lesbian. I don't support the LGBTQ community, but I don't hate anyone who is a part of it. Anyways, check out the lines straight from the book below:

"A pair of pretty dark eyes." Then Amilyn thought about that for a moment. "Or more than a pair, if you're into Grans. Or Aqualish, or Talz. Or even - "
"That's all right!" Leia said through laughter. "It's just humanoid males for me."
"Really? That feels so limiting."
"Thank goodness it's a big galaxy."

I got the vibe that this was indicating she was lesbian because of the way it was worded, but this is the only time there was anything about that and wasn't forcing it on people unlike other books I have attempted reading before, which is one of the reasons I'm rating it three stars. After finishing most of this book, I checked out the book on Goodreads and saw a friend had mentioned that there was a lesbian character. If I had known about this, I probably wouldn't have read Leia of Alderaan.

Next time, I'll pay more attention and research the newer Star Wars books.

I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised with this story. It was a great coming of age story for Leia and helps the biggest of Star Wars fan understand how Leia got to her place as a Senator by the time she was 19. It was fun to see how Leia has to come to terms with the state of the galaxy and what an important role her parents played in the rebellion against the Empire. I enjoyed seeing some of the cameos from other characters (including Tarkin, Mon Mothma, and Captain Panaka), and how there was more connective tissue developed between the Prequels and the Original Trilogy. Also, it's my understanding that we'll see some of the other characters in Ep VIII, but I don't want to spoil that for anyone.

I would recommend this book to all ages of readers. People from my generation (Gen X) will enjoy this story to get a little more history on Leia and her family prior to the destruction of Alderann. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that women from my generation will enjoy sharing this story with their daughters and use it as a way to teach valuable lessons that are needed today. There was one subplot where Leia has the best of intentions to do something right but by not communicating to her parents and acting without thought, actually creates a bigger problem. Parents can easily smile at this subplot while kids can learn that it pays to be thoughtful in their actions and discuss bigger decisions with those close to them.

All in all, I think the story was well written and continues to move the broader Star Wars story along, leading up to the original trilogy. I think the character of Leia was well written and felt that the author did a good job bringing her to life in this book. It's a story that any die-hard fan can enjoy and I'd strongly recommend it. Considering how bad some of the recent Star Wars books have been, this was a refreshing change and I hope the publisher stays on track with stories like this.

(Big spoilers ahead!!!)

This is a remarkable YA story about our favorite sci-fi princess in her youth.

We not only get a glimpse of luxurious life on Alderaan, the doomed planet - especially when it is lived by a privileged young member of royalty growing up in a great ancient palace; the adolescent version of Princess Leia Organa also goes through some daring adventures in attempts to prove herself and her well-meaning intentions to her rather stern but still loving adoptive parents. And that happened like, a couple of years before the pivotal events of 'A New Hope", BTW.

Ironically, plucky young Leia is NOT allowed to get involved in the growing resistance against the evil galactic emperor...even though she is being put on activities so dangerous it had actually cost HALF her mother's internal organs in her girlhood, when she herself went through the same tests! (A special kind of machine called "pulmonodes" had to be installed into her still-young body so she can survive and it makes her chest glow like E.T.'s, too.)

Leia also experiences her very first romance ever by getting all touchy-feely with an attractive-looking young boy from her own planet (uh - take it easy, girl...Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Jr. are not yet ready to pop out into the world at THAT point in your life!) Too bad Leia's promising new boyfriend eventually meets his untimely end, so she would have to end up producing - yikes! - KYLO REN! with a rakish space criminal like Han Solo, who had PRESSURED the poor princess into liking him in the first place.

Good plot that forewarns of the great tension gathering among the many planets in the Star Wars universe - which would lead to ANOTHER colossal space war - this time involving the dreadful Darth Vader as well as many characters/scenes/incidents from other movies/TV shows/books.

Oh, and Leia's best friend, Amilyn Holdo (that purple-haired lady played by Laura Dern in "The Last Jedi", FYI) is portrayed as such a colorful young character in this book that would put a kooky girl like Luna Lovegood to shame! :)

Star Wars: Leia - Princess of Alderaan

Star Wars: Leia - Princess of Alderaan was written by New Your Times Bestselling Author, Claudia Gray. This young adult novel is part of the Journey to The Last Jedi marketing. Claudia Gray also wrote Lost Stars another YA novel and Bloodline.

SUMMARY: Princess Leia begins her trials to be recognized as the official heir to the throne of Alderaan. The 16 year old Princess must test herself, so that one day, she will be named the Queen of Alderaan. In this book of self-discovery and the unintentional discovery of political unrest as she uncovers her parents secrets. With this knowledge, Leia must be extra careful and play it cool around her peers. The secret of the rebellion is a heavy burden. 

Leia and other youth around the galaxy attend the Apprentice Legislature, a program designed to shape future government officials. The program allows the youth to mingle, to get to know each other and learn more about the Empire and Galactic Senate.

We learn a lot about Leia's rise to power. She's got the best intentions, but it seems no matter what she does, she's always at the wrong place at the wrong time. Leia's efforts definitely didn't go unnoticed by the Empire... or the rebel alliance.

CHARACTERS: As always, there will be a mention of a few characters. I will mention two that we already know, but explore further in this book. One surprise character from The Last Jedi

Leia: She is brave, honorable, and daring. She feels distant from her parents lately. The feeling comes as she prepares for the royalty trials of Alderaan, to be recognized as the proper heir to the throne. Leia is a smart young lady. She loves her parents and is saddened by the distance between them. She's able to reveal these feelings after finding trouble on a humanitarian effort, meddling in business.

Bail: The adoptive father of Leia and viceroy of Alderaan. We know him from the prequel trilogy. He's an original member/founder of the rebel alliance. He is stern and confident. For a long time, he has been building up a rebellion against the tyranny of the Empire. Bail wants the best for his daughter, wanting her to remain ignorant of the plans to overthrow the Empire, to remain innocent. However, when Leia starts putting pieces together, he does have a bit of a temper.

Amilyn Holdo: She's from the planet, Gatalenta. She serves in the Apprentice Legislature alongside Leia. She is super weird, most of time she annoys everyone with her strange behavior. Her view on life is abstract, she approaches situations differently. She gets quite a few eye rolls from Leia. She's highly fashionable in the strangest sense, donning bright colors and extreme hair colors.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: I'm convinced Claudia Gray is the supreme writer of the new canon. She's 3 for 3 when it comes to superior storytelling in Star Wars. Her books are deep, the characters well fleshed out, and her books are laced together in subtle ways.

While this story wasn't action packed, it was political and entertaining. There are a few nuggets referencing the film The Last Jedi such as Amilyn Holdo and the planet, Crait. I've complained in the past about writers handling Leia wrong, Gray understands the character and does a fantastic job.

As I like to remain as spoiler free as possible, I will say that I was pleased with the new planet, Crait. It's used a rebel base, from The Last Jedi footage we've seen as the time of this review, looks like either snow or sand... it’s actually salt.

I couldn't help but smile at the tie in to Lost Stars and the link to Bloodline. I mentioned there wasn't much action, which is perfect. Why does every Star Wars book have to have loads of action? This story focuses on Leia at the age of 16 and her introduction to galactic politics. As for the climax... there really wasn't one, but the story wraps up nice with some tragedy.

Do I recommend you read Star Wars: Leia - Princess of Alderaan? Absolutely yes!

RATING: I will give this book a 5 out of 5.

January 5, 2018 – Finished Reading
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Review Let me start out by saying that this is my first Star Wars book and I am a little embarrassed because I am a huge SW fan. But, hey, everyone has to start out somewhere.

This book follows Princess Leia who, at sixteen, has to complete three challenges to delare her claim to the throne of Alderaan. The Challenge of the Mind, Body and Heart. This is all set before the events of A New Hope.

I love this because we get to see how strong Leia is and how she became that way. She sits in on Senate meetings, makes allies in her peers and experiences her first love and bout of grief. This sets her hope for the actions she takes in obtaining the plans for the Death Star. There are even clues in there of the rebellion of Saw Gerrarra who you see in Rogue One.

If you're looking hard enough, you can even spot R2-D2 :D

It was a little bittersweet to read, knowing what happens to Alderaan, but it was cool to see the relationship between Bail and Breha who adopted Leia. I kept finding myself hoping for some hints as to her lineage and we do see some, but you have read between the lines.

Basically, this is the setup for how bad-ass Leia becomes. Claudia Grey paints a picture of a determined, courageous young girl who will soon grow to lead a rebellion.

All in all, this is a typical YA novel, with a little romance and some puzzle solving for our protagonist. Even if you aren't a big SW fan, you may even enjoy this. For myself, I am ordering all of Claudia's other books in the SW realm and wondering why in Hell my TBR pile grew to the ceiling.

Leia, Princess of Alderaan, is Claudia Gray’s third entry into the world of Star Wars novels. It traces Leia’s first steps into the political world, as she moves from being the daughter of Bail and Breha Organa to being the rightful princess of Alderaan. The story is emotionally impactful, and raises difficult questions about morality, loyalty, and family that are both challenging and presented in a way that’s approachable for younger readers. Of particular interest is Gray’s characterization of Leia – the girl we meet here is not the battle hardened leader we see in Episode IV, but we can clearly see it sprouting. Whether you’re interested in the character of Leia, or the broader events of the Star Wars Universe, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the portrayal of complex relationships. This is particularly well done in the relationship between Leia, Bail, and Breha. Rather than writing them off as either smotheringly supportive or chronically distant, Gray shows a family that is at once both loving and strained. We see them vacillate between periods of great cohesion and moments of great doubt. Leia’s portrayal as intellectually sure of her relationship but emotionally uncertain is an insightful and important writing of the experience of youth as they move through adolescence, particularly when a history of adoption is involved. Moreover, Gray captures family dynamics well – boundaries, hierarchies, triangulation, and alliances are all well illustrated. We also see anger and disappointment handled in a safe and supportive way in a family system in this book, which is something that I feel is very underrepresented in current YA fiction.

Second to Leia’s family relationships, her interpersonal relationships really shine. We get to see Leia experimenting with how to trust others, what intimacy can look like, and balancing the responsibilities of the crown with her own personal values and need for independence. The result is relationships that feel authentic and messy. Conflict isn’t typecast here; there are no “bad guys” so much as people with whom Leia experiences disagreements and personality conflict. As an extra treat, we get to see Leia experiment with her first real romantic relationship. This is handled with Gray’s expert finesse – Leia is never lost to her romantic feelings, her story is never subsumed by the romantic plot, and the relationship feels caring and developmentally appropriate. Even Leia’s most peripheral relationships, such as the Chal Hudda, are presented with surprising depth ad meaning.

Character work is really the foundation of this novel. Gray brings us a truly diverse group of characters – from interesting new alien species (Sssamm) to characters who reflect viewpoints that aren’t well reflected in existing canon (Amilyn). I could write at length about Amilyn as a new character, and how her inclusion is representative of both progress for the SW universe and challenges many assumptions we have about the attitudes that are required for meaningful action (she’s an interesting foil to Saw in my mind), but instead I want to comment on her as a representation of character maturation. When she’s first introduced in the book, Amilyn is a sort of colorful airhead, who presents with almost a “magical pixie girl” characterization. It’s easy to be dismissive of her early on. As the story progresses, we begin to see that this outward appearance is less a one dimensional trope, and begin to have greater insight into how Amilyn is struggling to find herself when caught between planetary traditions, imperial oppression, and peer conflicts. The result is a character who many readers will connect to deeply.

The overall plot is solid, with lots of extra nods to both past SW media and the upcoming films. We learn more about the cultures of the galaxy, the birth of the political side of the rebellion, and get our first glimpse of worlds that we’ll be spending time on in the future. The plot is relentlessly engaging, and readers will not be disappointed. I did find Leia’s visit to Naboo somewhat odd; while there are always nods to the reader and easter eggs in the story, this visit felt like it was more for the reader than for Leia’s own development. This isn’t a bad thing – in fact, I felt it was a touching homage to the heroes of the prequels. It’s just very different. The exploration of the galaxy reminds me a lot of the writing in A New Dawn and Ahsoka; the evil we see here is not the Dark Lord of the Sith but worker exploitation, artificial resource restriction, and casual abuse of power for personal gain. This more banal evil, which embodies the weight of imperial oppression, is explored from a more systemic lens than in other books, which makes sense given Leia’s political aspirations.

Ultimately, Leia: Princess of Alderaan does great justice to a character who is beloved around the world. It shows us new sides of a character we know personally, and takes us on an adventure that bridges into new territory for SW media while respecting existing canon. The novel is a great addition to the SW canon, and a story that’s worth sharing.

This prequel novel depicts sixteen-year-old Princess Leia coming of age alongside the fledgling rebellion against the corrupt empire that rules her world. Like author Claudia Gray's earlier novel Lost Stars, it's a great character-driven drama that asks some smart questions about reform and revolution while also delivering the daring space thrills that you would expect from this series.

As part of Disney's new canon of Star Wars novels, there are some fun tie-ins to the recent movies, like Leia's friendship with a young Amilyn Holdo or a quick visit to the salt planet Crait. I also really appreciate the tense scenes that Gray has written between Princess Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin, which add nice depth to their meeting in the first Star Wars movie three years after these events. It's not quite an essential read, but Star Wars fans will find a lot to love here.

Excellently done. Once again, Claudia Gray wove a tale so powerful I had to sit down in the airport baggage pickup and finish it before attempting to drive home. I had to know how it ended! Only the best writers can do that, and she's one of the best. Highly recommend!

Claudia Gray does it again! With Leia: Princess of Alderaan, she proves once again that she's the best author working for the new canon. She GETS how to portray Leia perfectly, and manages to develop an interesting, surprisingly profound and entertaining story. She even manages to include Amylin Holdo, one of the most controversial characters from The Last Jedi, and develop her as a quirky, funny and charismatic young girl! There's really nothing particularly negative I can say about this novel; the way it shows us the early days of Leia as a rebel is compelling and constantly engaging, and helps to enrich the mythology surrounding one of the most popular characters of the franchise. Star Wars needs more Claudia Gray!

This book is such a fantastic read! If you love Star Wars and young adult novels, this is a wonderful choice. Even if you don't like young adult normally, give this one a chance! It's the story of Leia at sixteen-years-old as she must go through three challenges to become the official heir to the throne of Alderaan. Leia was so well represented as a fierce, strong, intelligent person, and getting to know this expanded universe story full of adventure as Leia starts to take part into the Rebellion and learn how to navigate the world of politics and diplomacy. This received a five-star rating from me and I recommend it highly.

Claudia Gray is easily my favorite author within the new canon expanded Star Wars universe, and of all the new canon books I have read to date ("Catalyst", "Inferno Squad", "Lost Stars", "Bloodline", and "Leia"), this one is the best.

First of all, is all that really the title? You got to be kidding me. It's like a complete sentence. For a moment I wondered if I was reviewing the right book or some Princess Leia "The Last Jedi" companion piece. By far my greatest complaint in the new canon novels is their obsession with cross promotion often in an intrusive, non-fluid manner and/or using them as a crutch to explain away plot holes from previous material instead of creating new, unique stories within the Star Wars EU. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading an ad for an upcoming piece of the Star Wars universe or an apology for sloppy writing from a previous entry.

The title is also pretty misleading. It would be like if I wrote a story called "Journey to the Coffee Maker: CB-88, Tales from the Bathroom". The connection is surface level at best, intellectually dishonest at worst. Thankfully, that is where my complaints for this book ends, the title, and a general grumpiness about the comercialization of the brand sometimes at the expense of the stories being told, but that is not the writers' fault nor a problem in this story.

If you would forgive a stodgy old Star Wars fan's passing musing, sometimes I wonder if we will look back at the purchase of LucasFilm by Disney in the same way the citizens of the The Old Republic greeted the birth of the Empire. At first viewed as a period of new found unity, growth, and prosperity, but as the veneer of optimism and hope for a new era wears off, we may come to miss the creative freedoms the EU once enjoyed under George, perhaps even coming to resent the amount of control and brand management over the creative forces of the EU. I'm not saying mistakes were not made and there weren't some awful misses in the old era, but I can't escape the feeling of control and directed management being more important than creativity and expanding the universe rather than just supplementing it in this new order. I honestly can't imagine them green lighting something like "Knights of the Old Republic" now simply because it would be out of sync with the rest of their marketing push across their other brand platforms. Time will tell I guess.

The above is not an issue in this great novel, but perhaps its limited presence is what crystalized my concern with the new EU. This book would have been equally at home in the wild west of the old EU. It made me a bit nostalgic for what used to be, and I'm glad to see its legacy carry on.

Having said all that, the book I will be referring to simply as "Leia" is by far the most stand alone story I have read in the new canon to date. It stands on its own merits as a great story, and it is a wonderful addition to the Star Wars universe.

As with all of Claudia Gray's novels, characters are well developed and the story arc is compelling. Everything feels like it fits in the Star Wars universe. I initially had little interest in "Leia" and went in rather skeptical. In fact I wouldn't have bought this book at all had it not been for "Lost Stars" another unfortunately labeled "YA" book by Claudia Gray which belies the complexity of the characters and story telling skill of the author. Following Leia's development from a naive young girl to the determined young lady we first meet in "A New Hope" I found to be an interesting and unique story that has been rarely addressed in the Star Wars universe where many of the protaganists are either male and/or adults. I'd say it's a testament to Claudia Gray's skill as a writer to be able to engage a middle aged male in a coming of age story of a teenage girl.

Sure, there's a few connections to "The Last Jedi" but none are intrusive or impede the story, the characters and settings added could have easily been substituted for another location or person but their inclusion serves to organically connect the story to the rest of the Star Wars universe without it feeling mashed together. There is even an unexpected prequel cameo which resolves itself in a surprising and interesting manner.

It is Claudia Gray's little nods to the lore of the expanded Star Wars universe that makes her such a great writer for the new EU. She goes to great lengths to subtley include old "Legends" material and enshrine them in the new permanent canon as best she can. Things such as species and planets included in passing secure their existence in the new EU, and planets such as Alderaan which had never been explored in depth in official canon she respected the vision of the old EU writers and designers preserving the legacy of what came before even though she had the ability to change it completely if she desired. The reader can tell that she understands and respects the Star Wars sand box she is playing in while adding her own stories and personality to the mosaic that is the expanded Star Wars universe. As a result, her novels have a tone that is immediately familiar to any Star Wars fan while telling stories that are both unique and engaging.

"Leia" is one of those books that I was sad when I reached the end because I wanted to keep on reading. Thinking back on the book now, I couldn't really find much I could take issue with. Perhaps I found the love story a bit sappier than the one in "Lost Stars", then again I am a middle aged man and not a teenaged girl :) Perspective.

"Leia" is a great read for any fiction reader, but I believe that fans of the Star Wars expanded universe will generally get more out of the book due to all the little nods to the rest of the continuity. In fact Claudia Gray has even begun to make her own little expanded Claudia Gray universe in a sense. She includes references and connections to all of her other Star Wars novels that a reader would only catch if they had read her other titles. Fortunately most of these connections are satisfying no matter the sequence the books are read in, another testament to the skill of the author, but perhaps all the little connections that make the novel so satisfying to long time fans of the EU may make it not the greatest entry point for newer fans. The story is good regardless, but I believe that Claudia Gray's other fantastic novel "Lost Stars" is a better entry point for new fans to the grander Star Wars galaxy.

A great Star Wars story, and I hope there are many more entries into Star Wars canon from Claudia Gray to come!

This was so unexpectedly good! Engaging story, very well written and I wasn’t expecting it to be one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Leia always been one of my favourite characters in not only Star Wars but across fiction in general. I feel like I would “know” Leia, and I totally felt like the author captured her spirit and it was a beautiful and elegantly written backstory for one of my most beloved characters.

First of all, this hardcover is gorgeous—I love the cover and when you remove the jacket it’s a beautiful matte red with a glossy Rebel Alliance logo on it.

What a beautiful and heartbreaking book. Get your tissues out for this one folks. If reading anything Leia-related after Carrie Fisher's death doesn't get you crying, finding out just how great Alderaan was will.

One of the things that really got me to read this book right away was some hype on Twitter that mentioned that this was going to have healthy amounts Bail and Breha and it sure did.

I have been waiting for years for Breha stories and I’m so happy. Her and Bail are such a loving and supportive couple. I was very glad to see that she played just as big of a role in the starting of the Rebellion as he did, just in different ways--like diverting funds to rebel activities while she did royal Alderaan accounting or throwing elaborate dinner parties that were secretly meetings. I also love the choice to have her mirror Vader and have cybernetic components. Her heart and lung replacements are described as warm--literally emitting a soft glow, in contrast to his cold, dark, faceless suit.

I have less to say about Bail, except that I cried in probably 80% of his scenes with Leia? He went through some stuff in this book and it was beautiful and I have a lot of feelings.

This story is about both Leia and the Rebellion growing up, and that means a lot of changes for the Organa family. There is a lot of tension between Leia and her parents--and even between her parents themselves about how to navigate all of their places in the growing resistance. But there is so much love you know things will turn out okay between them and cry. And then you remember What Happens in A New Hope and cry more. What a beautiful little space family on a beautiful space planet. (Also sometimes I forget that Star Wars is an adoption story and then they bring it up and it gets me right in the feels.) (I cried a lot in this book okay.)

It stupidly took me a long time to connect that Amilyn Holdo is the character Laura Dern is playing in The Last Jedi. She is our own space Luna Lovegood with ever-changing hair and I love her already. I'm oh so curious to see what she’ll be like by the time we see her in TLJ. Holodo, and Leia’s visit to Crait are (I assume) nice setup for TLJ.

Mon Mothma and Tarkin fans will not be disappointed by their appearances in this book. I’m getting a bit sick of Tarkin popping up in so many new canon properties, but I do think establishing his and Leia’s past was important.

I thought exploring Leia’s first love was a good idea but I found Kiers pretty bland to be honest. The way that plotline wrapped up in this book was one of the few problems I had. It felt convoluted to me.

My main complaint about this book is Leia herself. Her actions and choices are on point, but her voice felt a little off to me? She read young for 16 and her dialogue just didn’t quite feel like Leia.

Someone at Lucasfilm has been reading my mental wishlists of things I want (and didn’t know I wanted) in a Star War. I don’t want to spoil things, but there is a beautiful nod to Leia’s birth mother and some great Prequels-related moments that I both squee-ed and cried over. Also bonus points for having a character who did Clone Wars reenactments #homeschooled and space aerial silks.

Overall a very timely book about resistance, the choices we make when we stand up to injustice and the consequences of those choices.

The book was amazing. It told the story of one of the most important individuals. It largely explained why the Princess was there, and why the entire ideas behind the first film ,most of saw would happen. Above all it told what was the driving Force behind the Princess and what would prompt this remarkable lady to follow her father into politics. Oh and the hints for the new film are obvious, if the reader knows what to look for.

I loved learning more about the Alderaanian culture and Leia's backstory. We got to see a lot more of her adoptive parents, Bail and Breha Organa, and their connection to the Rebellion. There are also some excellent Easter eggs that refer to the other canon novels that Claudia Gray has written that were fun to discover. It also does a good job giving us some history for the new characters and planets we'll encounter in The Last Jedi, like Crait and Amilyn Holdo.

If you love Star Wars and character driven stories you'll love this book.
I read it after seeing The Last Jedi. The movie became so much better since I had Leia and Amilyn Holdo's back stories. It also goes into detail providing the backstory of Crait.
This story broke my heart while giving me hope for the rebellion. The tension between keeping Alderaan safe and keeping the galaxy safe plays throughout the story and adds depth to Leia's actions up through the time the planet is destroyed in A New Hope.

A really good book, and part of Mx. Gray's new canon about Leia. I've really enjoyed her interweaving of both her own stories and the movie canon, and her deft handling of relationships... Leia's relationship with her parents, her friends, and her paramour all feel very real, with complex motivations for everyone involved. Well-written and with good voice acting, Gray is now a name I look for.

Best Star Wars book I've read. Such an in-depth treatment for one of the best characters in the Star Wars universe, adding a wealth of characterization fully in line with the character from the film. The supporting characters are amazingly well-written as well. Almost every line makes something from the films more enjoyable, which is my main reason for reading Star Wars novels. I will definitely be reading more from Claudia Gray.

This is great for fans of Star Wars and YA alike. I bought this for my classroom library and could NOT put it down. Students are eager to get thier hands on it since I finished. LOVED this story. The downside is....I want MORE of Princess Leia and her parents!!!!

Claudia Gray is easily my favorite author within the new canon expanded Star Wars universe, and of all the new canon books I have read to date ("Catalyst", "Inferno Squad", "Lost Stars", "Bloodline", and "Leia"), this one is the best.

First of all, is all that really the title? You got to be kidding me. It's like a complete sentence. For a moment I wondered if I was reviewing the right book or some Princess Leia "The Last Jedi" companion piece. By far my greatest complaint in the new canon novels is their obsession with cross promotion often in an intrusive, non-fluid manner and/or using them as a crutch to explain away plot holes from previous material instead of creating new, unique stories within the Star Wars EU. Sometimes I feel like I'm reading an ad for an upcoming piece of the Star Wars universe or an apology for sloppy writing from a previous entry.

The title is also pretty misleading. It would be like if I wrote a story called "Journey to the Coffee Maker: CB-88, Tales from the Bathroom". The connection is surface level at best, intellectually dishonest at worst. Thankfully, that is where my complaints for this book ends, the title, and a general grumpiness about the comercialization of the brand sometimes at the expense of the stories being told, but that is not the writers' fault nor a problem in this story.

If you would forgive a stodgy old Star Wars fan's passing musing, sometimes I wonder if we will look back at the purchase of LucasFilm by Disney in the same way the citizens of the The Old Republic greeted the birth of the Empire. At first viewed as a period of new found unity, growth, and prosperity, but as the veneer of optimism and hope for a new era wears off, we may come to miss the creative freedoms the EU once enjoyed under George, perhaps even coming to resent the amount of control and brand management over the creative forces of the EU. I'm not saying mistakes were not made and there weren't some awful misses in the old era, but I can't escape the feeling of control and directed management being more important than creativity and expanding the universe rather than just supplementing it in this new order. I honestly can't imagine them green lighting something like "Knights of the Old Republic" now simply because it would be out of sync with the rest of their marketing push across their other brand platforms. Time will tell I guess.

The above is not an issue in this great novel, but perhaps its limited presence is what crystalized my concern with the new EU. This book would have been equally at home in the wild west of the old EU. It made me a bit nostalgic for what used to be, and I'm glad to see its legacy carry on.

Having said all that, the book I will be referring to simply as "Leia" is by far the most stand alone story I have read in the new canon to date. It stands on its own merits as a great story, and it is a wonderful addition to the Star Wars universe.

As with all of Claudia Gray's novels, characters are well developed and the story arc is compelling. Everything feels like it fits in the Star Wars universe. I initially had little interest in "Leia" and went in rather skeptical. In fact I wouldn't have bought this book at all had it not been for "Lost Stars" another unfortunately labeled "YA" book by Claudia Gray which belies the complexity of the characters and story telling skill of the author. Following Leia's development from a naive young girl to the determined young lady we first meet in "A New Hope" I found to be an interesting and unique story that has been rarely addressed in the Star Wars universe where many of the protaganists are either male and/or adults. I'd say it's a testament to Claudia Gray's skill as a writer to be able to engage a middle aged male in a coming of age story of a teenage girl.

Sure, there's a few connections to "The Last Jedi" but none are intrusive or impede the story, the characters and settings added could have easily been substituted for another location or person but their inclusion serves to organically connect the story to the rest of the Star Wars universe without it feeling mashed together. There is even an unexpected prequel cameo which resolves itself in a surprising and interesting manner.

It is Claudia Gray's little nods to the lore of the expanded Star Wars universe that makes her such a great writer for the new EU. She goes to great lengths to subtley include old "Legends" material and enshrine them in the new permanent canon as best she can. Things such as species and planets included in passing secure their existence in the new EU, and planets such as Alderaan which had never been explored in depth in official canon she respected the vision of the old EU writers and designers preserving the legacy of what came before even though she had the ability to change it completely if she desired. The reader can tell that she understands and respects the Star Wars sand box she is playing in while adding her own stories and personality to the mosaic that is the expanded Star Wars universe. As a result, her novels have a tone that is immediately familiar to any Star Wars fan while telling stories that are both unique and engaging.

"Leia" is one of those books that I was sad when I reached the end because I wanted to keep on reading. Thinking back on the book now, I couldn't really find much I could take issue with. Perhaps I found the love story a bit sappier than the one in "Lost Stars", then again I am a middle aged man and not a teenaged girl :) Perspective.

"Leia" is a great read for any fiction reader, but I believe that fans of the Star Wars expanded universe will generally get more out of the book due to all the little nods to the rest of the continuity. In fact Claudia Gray has even begun to make her own little expanded Claudia Gray universe in a sense. She includes references and connections to all of her other Star Wars novels that a reader would only catch if they had read her other titles. Fortunately most of these connections are satisfying no matter the sequence the books are read in, another testament to the skill of the author, but perhaps all the little connections that make the novel so satisfying to long time fans of the EU may make it not the greatest entry point for newer fans. The story is good regardless, but I believe that Claudia Gray's other fantastic novel "Lost Stars" is a better entry point for new fans to the grander Star Wars galaxy.

A great Star Wars story, and I hope there are many more entries into Star Wars canon from Claudia Gray to come!

This was so unexpectedly good! Engaging story, very well written and I wasn’t expecting it to be one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Leia always been one of my favourite characters in not only Star Wars but across fiction in general. I feel like I would “know” Leia, and I totally felt like the author captured her spirit and it was a beautiful and elegantly written backstory for one of my most beloved characters.

First of all, this hardcover is gorgeous—I love the cover and when you remove the jacket it’s a beautiful matte red with a glossy Rebel Alliance logo on it.

What a beautiful and heartbreaking book. Get your tissues out for this one folks. If reading anything Leia-related after Carrie Fisher's death doesn't get you crying, finding out just how great Alderaan was will.

One of the things that really got me to read this book right away was some hype on Twitter that mentioned that this was going to have healthy amounts Bail and Breha and it sure did.

I have been waiting for years for Breha stories and I’m so happy. Her and Bail are such a loving and supportive couple. I was very glad to see that she played just as big of a role in the starting of the Rebellion as he did, just in different ways--like diverting funds to rebel activities while she did royal Alderaan accounting or throwing elaborate dinner parties that were secretly meetings. I also love the choice to have her mirror Vader and have cybernetic components. Her heart and lung replacements are described as warm--literally emitting a soft glow, in contrast to his cold, dark, faceless suit.

I have less to say about Bail, except that I cried in probably 80% of his scenes with Leia? He went through some stuff in this book and it was beautiful and I have a lot of feelings.

This story is about both Leia and the Rebellion growing up, and that means a lot of changes for the Organa family. There is a lot of tension between Leia and her parents--and even between her parents themselves about how to navigate all of their places in the growing resistance. But there is so much love you know things will turn out okay between them and cry. And then you remember What Happens in A New Hope and cry more. What a beautiful little space family on a beautiful space planet. (Also sometimes I forget that Star Wars is an adoption story and then they bring it up and it gets me right in the feels.) (I cried a lot in this book okay.)

It stupidly took me a long time to connect that Amilyn Holdo is the character Laura Dern is playing in The Last Jedi. She is our own space Luna Lovegood with ever-changing hair and I love her already. I'm oh so curious to see what she’ll be like by the time we see her in TLJ. Holodo, and Leia’s visit to Crait are (I assume) nice setup for TLJ.

Mon Mothma and Tarkin fans will not be disappointed by their appearances in this book. I’m getting a bit sick of Tarkin popping up in so many new canon properties, but I do think establishing his and Leia’s past was important.

I thought exploring Leia’s first love was a good idea but I found Kiers pretty bland to be honest. The way that plotline wrapped up in this book was one of the few problems I had. It felt convoluted to me.

My main complaint about this book is Leia herself. Her actions and choices are on point, but her voice felt a little off to me? She read young for 16 and her dialogue just didn’t quite feel like Leia.

Someone at Lucasfilm has been reading my mental wishlists of things I want (and didn’t know I wanted) in a Star War. I don’t want to spoil things, but there is a beautiful nod to Leia’s birth mother and some great Prequels-related moments that I both squee-ed and cried over. Also bonus points for having a character who did Clone Wars reenactments #homeschooled and space aerial silks.

Overall a very timely book about resistance, the choices we make when we stand up to injustice and the consequences of those choices.

Heart renching ending. We follow Leia's journey through her claim to the throne and how she becomes involved in the reble alliance. It was easy to read and an interesting story. Loved learning more about Alderaan and the introduction of Amilyn. I read this before The Last Jedi came out and I was super excited to see how she was in the movie - alas I was disappointed. Overall an enjoyable book but not quite as good as Lost Stars. Then again that's hard to beat.

The book was amazing. It told the story of one of the most important individuals. It largely explained why the Princess was there, and why the entire ideas behind the first film ,most of saw would happen. Above all it told what was the driving Force behind the Princess and what would prompt this remarkable lady to follow her father into politics. Oh and the hints for the new film are obvious, if the reader knows what to look for.

I loved learning more about the Alderaanian culture and Leia's backstory. We got to see a lot more of her adoptive parents, Bail and Breha Organa, and their connection to the Rebellion. There are also some excellent Easter eggs that refer to the other canon novels that Claudia Gray has written that were fun to discover. It also does a good job giving us some history for the new characters and planets we'll encounter in The Last Jedi, like Crait and Amilyn Holdo.

If you love Star Wars and character driven stories you'll love this book.
I read it after seeing The Last Jedi. The movie became so much better since I had Leia and Amilyn Holdo's back stories. It also goes into detail providing the backstory of Crait.
This story broke my heart while giving me hope for the rebellion. The tension between keeping Alderaan safe and keeping the galaxy safe plays throughout the story and adds depth to Leia's actions up through the time the planet is destroyed in A New Hope.

Excellently done. Once again, Claudia Gray wove a tale so powerful I had to sit down in the airport baggage pickup and finish it before attempting to drive home. I had to know how it ended! Only the best writers can do that, and she's one of the best. Highly recommend!

A really good book, and part of Mx. Gray's new canon about Leia. I've really enjoyed her interweaving of both her own stories and the movie canon, and her deft handling of relationships... Leia's relationship with her parents, her friends, and her paramour all feel very real, with complex motivations for everyone involved. Well-written and with good voice acting, Gray is now a name I look for.

Best Star Wars book I've read. Such an in-depth treatment for one of the best characters in the Star Wars universe, adding a wealth of characterization fully in line with the character from the film. The supporting characters are amazingly well-written as well. Almost every line makes something from the films more enjoyable, which is my main reason for reading Star Wars novels. I will definitely be reading more from Claudia Gray.

This is great for fans of Star Wars and YA alike. I bought this for my classroom library and could NOT put it down. Students are eager to get thier hands on it since I finished. LOVED this story. The downside is....I want MORE of Princess Leia and her parents!!!!

This was a really fun read! However, it felt more like fanfiction than canon. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had involved original characters, rather than being about Star Wars characters I know and love. To me, Leia didn’t seem like Leia, and Amilyn Holdo seemed more like Luna Lovegood than the admiral she would become.

All in all it was ok. Very teen novel. The story wasn't very impressive or interesting, but most YA novels aren't either.
There also some elements that sounded like social justice stuff from our current culture which is absolutely not why anyone reads star wars.

What's with these new slew of terrible Star Wars books? Her story is about...love...ug. There is one good thing about the rebellion, but the majority of this book can be skipped without fear of missing out on important Star Wars events.

I walked into this expecting something of equal (or close to equal) quality to Bloodline, also about Leia and by Gray. My expectations were...disappointed. It's a decent novel, but it doesn't do much to break itself out of the YA mold.

This. This is what people are raving about?! Seriously?

(I have to say this before I start my review)
Um, you all know that Princess Leia already has a backstory that's been around for 40 years, right? And this isn't it.

George Lucas actually let his actors create their own characters and sketch their backstories (with his help and input of course.) Carrie came up with her own story and motivations for Leia: She's known as the Ice Princess. She's so bound by her duties as Princess, by her obligations as a 17 year old Senator (the youngest ever elected to the Imperial Senate), and so determined by her secret involvement in the Rebellion, she's never had the time or inclination for her own personal life. Carrie would often refer to Han as Leia's first boyfriend, and this is reflected by certain phrases in the OT canon books.

That's Leia's story and the OT is where Luke, Leia, and Han come of age, change, grow, learn certain lessons. Not here, a mere 3 years earlier (can we say 'unnecessary redundancy' anyone? Oh, and how about 'cliche'?) Falling in love with Han was the first time she allowed herself something for herself, something personal.

Carrie was Leia, but Leia WAS NOT Carrie, and nobody knew that better than Carrie herself. It's too bad 'Claudia Gray' doesn't know that
And it's disrespectful to Carrie Fisher to disregard her story and her MO for Leia as she was performed, by the person who knew her best.
'Claudia Gray' really should research her subjects and SW history (and other history) before Disney allows her to write something else that is wrong and contradictory to canon and to the person who already created a story for her own character. 40 years ago.

That's better. Let me start again:
This?! This is what people are raving about?! Seriously?!

I don’t get it. When they say it’s a young adult novel, they aren’t kidding. It’s like a cross between Sweet Valley High and The Babysitters Club.

I’m. Not. Kidding.

SPOILERS

Leia is supposed to be 16, but because of the writing, comes off as 12. Her (I can’t even call it a romance) with Kier is like something out of the seventh grade. I fully expected her to pass him notes during class. That would have at least been interesting. He’s like a boiled potato – there’s just nothing there. The author didn’t convey why Leia would like him in the first place because he isn’t really described very well, just as serious, and when they talk it’s not about anything personal like they’re getting to know each other, just dialogue about classes or lint or whatever. And it’s funny, because I just read a professional review of the book that called him Leia’s first love, described how much she really loved him, called him ‘her love’ and I’m astonished because never does she say it or even think it. She likes him and thinks about him, but love? (Laughing) No. No, it has all the emotion of a junior high school dance. That’s not love. And I’m actually embarrassed for the reviewer now.

A friend of mine and some girls I chat with about all things Star Wars got me into a snit about a scene in the book where Leia is upset about learning a secret from her Mother about the Rebellion. She goes to a dance with Kiers and decides she’s tired of the duty, tired of being upset, that tonight she just wants to be Leia. So they run off into the gardens to be alone. There’s a subtle implication that I wouldn’t have even caught if they hadn’t pointed it out: did she, or didn’t she? The author says that’s up to you. After reading it, honestly, the only thing I can imagine (and I have quite and imagination) is a game of checkers. (Laughing again.) I was in a snit over that? Just, no.

Moving on, I’m honestly shocked at the quality of the writing. There’s no depth of character, very little description and it’s very simplistic. I wasn’t expecting that at all from the reviews.

For real, 'Claudia', do some research before you start making stuff up about such iconic, legendary characters.

Oh, and as a bonus, Luke's backstory is pretty simple. But Harrison Ford created Han's (with GL): Han was abandoned at 5 and lived on the streets like Oliver Twist, doing anything and just trying to survive. Later, he was an Officer in the Imperial Navy, but was kicked out when he protested the treatment of Wookiee slaves and saved Chewie's life. That's how they met and why there's a life-delbt. This isn't in any of the books or movies either, but it's well-known, just as Leia's is.

Another great one from Claudia Gray. She really seems to know Leia's voice. I love the relationship that is developed between Haldo and Leia. Gives a great balance between giving us things that we can recognize from the prequels and the original trilogy, while also giving us a couple of things to look forward to in The Last Jedi. Another place where Gray shines is in fleshing out Leia's parents and the beginnings of the rebellion.