First Reactions to the Raging Clone War are on Full Display

E. K. Johnston wraps up Padmé’s trilogy with Queen’s Hope and shows readers glimpses into the bond that Anakin and Padmé share. About a week after the fallout on Geonosis, we find Padmé wrestling with her decision to have a secret marriage with a Jedi as she sets off on a secret mission while Sabé is on Coruscant pretending to be Senator Amidala, which is essentially the story for this installment. Due to the Clone War, the political games are beginning and we get a closer look at Palpatine beginning to sew the seeds of dismay that will unravel the Republic from the inside.

Despite wanting more spotlight shone on the handmaidens, their stories have closure and may be satisfying for readers who have come to love these characters. Furthermore, Johnston discusses deeper themes through Padmé pondering the ethicality of war, more specifically the quandaries of using clones as soldiers, which sets up her arc that is spread across Season 3 of The Clone Wars (Heroes on Both Sides and Pursuit of Peace) and Season 1 (Senate Murders) pertaining to the Republic Military Enhancement bill. Conversely, Queen’s Hope set up interesting story paths, such as when Padmé leaves the core to have Sabé step in as her double, and this never gets resolved but rather is teased under the pretense that there are additional stories to come which is very disappointing. However, one of the good things to come from this is we get a side story that provides little backstory for some legacy characters which is a treat for Clone Wars fans and readers since Padmé and Sabé hardly get character development throughout the narrative.

Final Thoughts: The Queen trilogy mediocrely develops Padmé’s character and hardly provides superb Padmé content for her fans. I wish more attention was brought to this character is a better light, and despite Queen’s Hope providing reactions to the Clone War and being the first content in this period, I would only suggest die-hard Padmé fans read this trilogy but even that is being generous.

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