Leia, Princess of Alderaan

After reading Claudia Gray's Lost Stars, I was impressed. In my opinion, Lost Stars is one of the best books in the new Star Wars canon. With Leia, Princess of Alderaan, I'm happy to report that Gray brings the same amazing qualities that made Lost Stars so successful and applies them to Leia. This book is filled with wonderful characterizations and intrigue. Gray is also very talented at describing the Star Wars universe. What makes this book however is Leia’s characterization. Claudia Gray has a knack for this character’s voice. You really feel like you understand Leia much better after reading this novel.

This is a YA novel detailing Leia’s rise as a rebel and leader. In Leia, we are introduced to a very different Princess than show more the senator and general in Gray's Bloodline (and who we see in TFA and TLJ). The Leia Organa here is sixteen, and different than the polished and hardened politico we’ve become accustomed to in the recent films. She’s different, even, than the Leia seen in the novelizations set between the original trilogy films or immediately afterwards. This is our exposure to Leia, pre-Alderaan destruction—a devastating loss that will color her narrative and character development in all subsequent books and films. This Leia is close to her parents, already weighed with the burden of responsibility for her people and her planet, but also as a humanitarian and leader for the entire galaxy.

In short,this book is beautiful (loved the descriptions of Alderaan), clever, heartbreaking (Leia learns about lost and sacrifice at such a young age), and revelatory.

If you're a Star Wars fan, you'll most likely enjoy this book.

I hope Disney and Claudia Gray will team up for one more Leia book: A book explaining her last days and her death (as we all know the next film will most likely be set at least a few years after TLJ). This would be the perfect entry point to give us background information going into the next J.J. Abrams Star Wars adventure. show less

Claudia Gray's Leia, Princess of Alderaan beings with Leia Organa's Day of Demand, when she asserts her claim as heir to the throne of Alderaan. Following this, she begins developing the skills that will lead her to become the Rebellion leader we meet in Star Wars: A New Hope. She joins the apprentice legislature to take an active role in galactic politics, takes survival courses to develop her physical strength and confidence in her abilities, and undertakes charitable missions to help those in need. Alongside this, Leia learns of her parents' role in the nascent Rebellion and negotiates her desire to help fight against Palpatine's oppression with her parents' goal of protecting her from the coming fight.
Gray successfully blends show more elements from the original and prequel trilogies in this story. At one point, Leia undertakes a charitable mission to one of Naboo's moons, where she meets with the local moff, Quarsh Panaka, who served Queen Amidala in The Phantom Menace. When he sees Leia, he stops short, "eyes wide with shock" (pg. 156). He suspects her parentage, but an attack from Saw Gerrera's partisans prevents him from following up on his suspicions. This recalls the scene in Marvel Comics' "Princess Leia, Part II." In foreshadowing later events, Leia's mother, Queen Breha, offers the dating advice, "Sometimes it does a girl good to fall for a bit of a scoundrel, now and then" (pg. 217). Later, when Leia has to save a classmate in the pathfinding program, she makes a leap reminiscent of that on the Death Star while possibly drawing upon the Force (pg. 260). She and one fellow apprentice legislator Amilyn Holdo also discover a senator selling quadanium to an imperial known as Director, likely Orson Krennic from Rogue One (pg. 320-321). In tying this novel to the forthcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Gray makes the planet Crait a major plot point as an early Rebel base and Leia becomes good friends with Holdo, who will be a grand admiral in the eighth film. Gray writes that they become "friends for a lifetime" (pg. 394).
This is Gray's third Star Wars novel and each is amazing. She previously wrote Star Wars: Bloodline, which focused on Leia following the events of Return of the Jedi. Being able to go back to Leia's early years allows Gray to explore the development of those characteristics she focused on in her previous novel. Though Gray writes for a young adult audience, she never panders and tackles some serious issues about ethics and morality in a way that will keep even the oldest Star Wars fan riveted. show less

Claudia Gray has made a name for herself as one of the strongest writers contributing to the new Star Wars canon. Lost Stars, Gray’s first foray into the Star Wars universe, tops most “Best of” lists, and Bloodline, set six years prior to the events of The Force Awakens, continues to receive high praise for Gray’s skillful portrayal of the former princess, now general. In Leia, Princess of Alderaan, set three years before A New Hope, Gray travels back many decades to the formation of the Rebel Alliance, witnessed through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Leia.

While much of the plot revolves around Leia’s ascension to the throne, which requires the completion of three challenges (heart, mind, and body), the Rebellion plays an show more integral role in Leia’s maturation from willful teenager to selfless heir. Two of the strongest scenes in the novel revolve around the imminent dangers of participating in any act of disobedience against the Empire. Since secrecy is tantamount to the fledgling Rebellion’s success, Bail and Breha Organa must proceed with caution, particularly as the leaders of a peaceful planet. Throughout most of the novel, Leia struggles to understand why her parents keep her in the dark, so she sets out on a series of dangerous missions to prove herself.

The familiar characters, places, and events keep the reader invested from the very beginning. Detailed references to the vast Star Wars universe appear often, which gives the novel a greater sense of meaning. The more you know about what is to come for these characters, the higher the stakes. The strong relationships prove most heartbreaking, for we all know that they will be obliterated in a few short years. Gray beautifully shows, not just tells, that Leia comes of age in a tumultuous period of time, and the sacrifices she must make to fight the Empire will only escalate as the years pass by.

A major theme of the novel is the necessity of taking action, even if the action is violent in nature. Gray gives Mon Mothma, the leader and voice of the movement, many powerful lines, including my personal favorite: “There comes a time when refusing to stop violence can no longer be called nonviolence…At some point, morality must be wedded to action, or else it’s no more than mere…vanity.” Leia’s adopted mother, Breha, who has been virtually silent in the Star Wars universe up to this point, is one of the greatest strengths of the novel. She espouses a bold perspective on love and sacrifice, openly choosing to place her beloved planet at risk for a greater good. Leia will eventually adopt a similar stance, which will one day lead to the destruction of her planet, but also the Empire.

Leia, Princess of Alderaan is one of the first of a series of books leading into Star Wars: The Last Jedi. No major spoilers appear throughout (that I’m aware of), but we do meet a young Amilyn Holdo, a new character who will be played by Laura Dern. Leia also travels to Crait, one of the planets featured in the trailer. If you’re hoping to walk into the movie completely blind, I wouldn’t worry too much, as these spoilers seem minor.

Claudia Gray’s newest addition to the Star Wars canon provides a refreshing and intimate look into Leia’s upbringing, as well as the early years of the Rebellion. Star Wars aficionados will appreciate the nods to the movies, and will most likely consider Gray’s clever additions as welcome contributions to an already rich company of characters and planets. If you’re looking for something to read to prepare yourself for the next theatrical release, Leia, Princess of Alderaan will more than satisfy. show less

"I come to demand my right to the crown."

This is my 5th young adult book in the Star Wars universe and my second novel by Claudia Gray.

Thank you, Claudia Gray, for understanding the universe, for using Star Wars swear words and not words like shit.

I enjoyed this novel. It was a nice addition to Leia's character and how, like her mother Padmè, had to learn how the senate works. How to play the political game.

I felt Claudia understood Leia's character as a whole. Her short temper outbursts and how she had to learn to deal with her anger.

I enjoyed the inside of Alderaan's traditions of the Royal family. I loved Breha and Bail to bits. Their interactions were adorable as hell. This built on Leia's character, her rebellious streak, and show more how her parents had to accept her for who she was.

This is one of the better written young adult novels in the Expanded Universe. I do recommend this for the fans to read. show less

The book opens with sixteen year-old Princess Leia underoing the "Day of Demand" ritual, in which the heir presumptive to the throne of Alderaan publicly demands that her parents recognize her as crown princess. Their response is to require her to undergo the three traditional challenges of Mind, Heart, and Body, to prove her worthiness. Completing these three challenges provides the throughline for this novel and the incidents which slowly but surely bring her into full participation in the Rebellion. The challenges, and what Leia does to prepare for them, also serve to explain how a very young princess and senator came to have the skills which Leia reveals during the original trilogy movies.

As I have written before, I think Claudia show more Gray writes the best version of Princess Leia: a woman of intelligence and vulnerability as well as action-hero courage. As a teenager, this Leia still has a great deal to learn, but is already a person of both passion and substance. Gray also does a good job in capturing the paradox of principled royalty: being born into both extrordinary privilege and extrordinary obligation. show less

Being a longtime Star Wars fangirl, for years, I've wanted more information on the young Princess Leia. Finally, we now have that book. And, wow, does it ever deliver the feels! By the end I was nearly overcome by bittersweet tears.

As the book opens, we follow Leia as she faces her Day of Demand, the biggest ceremony and day of her life thus far. In front of her adoptive parents, Bail and Queen Breha, and the people of Alderaan she declares the tasks she will complete for her challenges of mind, heart, and body. Tasks to prove her worth as future Queen.

Course our adventurous heroine doesn't stay on Alderaan the entire time. She journeys to many planets, both old and new to Star Wars fans. She makes new friends along the way. Falling show more significantly in love for the first time. As well as, making enemies who will eventually destroy her homeworld. Leia grows and accepts the challenges in front of her before the reader's very eyes. Personally, I felt like I was on a trip with a childhood friend.

In short, everything a Princess Leia fan could dream of! show less

I really hope there's going to be some kind of followup set between this and the Original Trilogy that explores Leia becoming more involved in the Rebellion, but between this and Bloodline I am absofuckinglutely never passing up a Leia-centric Claudia Gray novel.