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 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. ( )

I really love the insight into what Leia was like as a younger person. I appreciated all of the hints at future characters, places, and events. However, the last line of the book made me cringe because her parents, friends, and world do get taken away by the Empire in the future. Overall, a pretty decent read. ( )

Disclaimer: I liked Lost Stars. I don't mind YA titles, nor the idea of a romantic one. This book though is profoundly frustrating. About halfway through, I gave up hoping to enjoy it and kept going in case any new bits of the canon were fleshed out. They weren't. There's really no good reason to read this book.

Why is it so frustrating? The novel goes out of its way to both point out Leia's privilege and her awareness of it, but it's just so dull to observe Leia learning what we already know about the nascent Rebellion. It's a fatal flaw, as this tack just makes her come across as young Picard in "Rascals" rather than someone we can empathize with. ( )

As I was making my way through the Star Wars books I've gotten my hands on I decided to segue and read all the Claudia Grey books before I was seeing her at a convention in September, and it was absolutely perfect. I loved this book so much.

I love Leia's topsy-turvey learning to balance who she is and who she is becoming as a princess, and who she will become in the war/revolutions/rebellion/resistance. I love every bit of Holdo being a ditzy, heart-true, kid, still figuring herself out through the pages, too. I love the loyalty and love of Bail & Breha and how we finally come into all the parts of the Rebellion/Resistance they've been part of forever, and how much they don't want their daughter, and how much exactly who they are and who they've raised her to make it impossible for her not to care and not to act.

I loved this one so much. It was so believably this time person of Leia's life.


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I’m sssoo looking forward to it. I heard so much about Claudia’s books and writing process this weekend at her panels.

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aaaaaahhh.
I got verklempt just going through ‘The Day of Demand.’

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Those lovely moments when you know what’s up with her parents (because we know what all happens), but it so perfectly showcases how our 16 year old heroine would not.

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“Authority can be given, but leadership must be earned.”

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Baby. You’re so naive and idealistic. I love you and you make me almost tear up.

( )

3.75 ⭐

"Happiness is our moral imperative"
Cool background story, but not very innovative.
This made me like Bail way less (not really an example parent compared to Breha, was he?) and Holdo way more! ( )