#Review - Crimson Climb by E.K. Johnston #YA #SyFy #Movie

Series: Star Wars Disney Cannon
Format: Kindle, 288 pages
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction / Space Opera

New York Times bestselling author E. K. Johnston, author of the Queens series starring Padmé Amidala, brings fans an untold story about Qi'ra, portrayed by Emilia Clarke in Star Wars: A Solo Story.

Not everyone gets to be the hero.

Qi’ra listened to the dreams and promises of a boy with a reckless smile, only to be torn away from him and returned to the White Worms gang while Han made his way to freedom. Now freedom seems like a luxury she can’t afford while she concentrates on survival and despairs of ever leaving Corellia. But her fortunes seem to turn when a representative of the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn plucks Qi’ra from captivity and brings her to the syndicate’s leader, the mysterious and mercurial Dryden Vos. Vos offers Qi’ra an opportunity she’s never had before: the chance to build something resembling a comfortable life if she can prove her worth to his organization. With failure meaning certain death, Qi’ra knows she must immerse herself in the merciless, murderous world of Crimson Dawn. What she doesn’t know is just who she will be if she survives. . .

E.K. Johnson's Crimson Climb is a book in the Star Wars Disney Cannon series. This story focuses on Qi’ra who has become an important character in Marvel Comics’ Star Wars, appearing in the flagship Star Wars title as well as the smash hit comics miniseries War of the Bounty Hunters, and is currently headlining Crimson Dawn. This has revived interest in the character and fans have expressed a desire for her to have her own novel. This is the story about how Qi'Ra came to rise up so quickly in the ranks of the Crimson Dawn, and how she ended up with Dryden Vos.

Qi’ra listened to the dreams and promises of a boy with a reckless smile (Han Solo), only to be torn away from him and returned to the White Worms gang controlled by Proxima while Han made his way to freedom vowing to return which he eventually did, but that's another story. Now freedom seems like a luxury she can’t afford while she concentrates on survival and despairs of ever leaving Corellia. While Qi'ra holds good memories of Han, including his dice, she once more has to prove herself to Proxima and the other children who Proxima uses to build her power base.

Qi'ra lived an even more difficult life after being captured again by Proxima's gang. The blistered Proxima was displeased of her actions, opting to sell Qi'ra away when a representative of the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn plucks Qi’ra from captivity and brings her to the syndicate’s leader, the mysterious and mercurial Dryden Vos. Vos offers Qi’ra an opportunity she’s never had before: the chance to build something resembling a comfortable life if she can prove her worth to his organization. With failure meaning certain death, Qi’ra knows she must immerse herself in the merciless, murderous world of Crimson Dawn. 

What she doesn’t know is just who she will be if she survives, she will later learn who actually controls Crimson Dawn. A man called Darth Maul who faced Obi Wan and was left for dead. This novel perfectly picks up the pieces of Qi'ra's story to give a full and grand look into her ascension within the underworld to the eventual leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate to when she later becomes known as The Lady. Qi’ra’s story features touch points and connections to various other Star Wars storytelling, including Clone Wars & Solo, making it feel an integral part of the greater whole. 

*Thoughts* As reference, Qi'ra first appeared in the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story portrayed by English actress Emilia Clarke who people know from Game of Thrones. Dryden Vos is the main antagonist of the 2018 sci-fi film Solo: A Star Wars Story. He and Qi'ra worked under Maul's (Darth Maul, the red, horned, Dathomirian Sith lord from The Phantom Menace) directive to grow Crimson Dawn into the most powerful of the Five Crime Syndicates.

I have been almost a faithful fan of the Star Wars movies and even some of the books since the very first movie was made, and then remade. I was shocked when Lucas sold the franchise to Disney which turned it upside down, and pretty much destroyed what I hoped would be a continuation of story lines that made the franchise so popular. One of the things this story is not about is a Jedi knight or those fighting against the Empire or Imperial Stormtroopers. This is a story about a teenaged girl who quickly rises up through the ranks of a criminal empire who was helping the Galactic Empire who for reason that eludes me, still found a way to help Han out when things were looking bad for him.

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#Review - Queen's Peril by E.K. Johnston #YA #SyFy

Series: Star Wars Disney Canon Novel
Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Release Date: June 2, 2020
Publisher: Disney Lucas film Press
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction

When fourteen-year-old Padmé Naberrie wins the election for Queen of Naboo, she adopts the name Amidala and leaves her family to the rule from the royal palace. To keep her safe and secure, she’ll need a group of skilled handmaidens who can be her assistants, confidantes, defenders, and decoys. Each girl is selected for her particular talents, but it will be up to Padmé to unite them as a group. When Naboo is invaded by forces of the Trade Federation, Queen Amidala and her handmaidens will face the greatest test—of themselves, and of each other.

E.K. Johnston's first Star Wars young adult novel, Ahsoka, hit #1 on the New York Times best-seller list, and the companion to this book, Queen's Shadow, debuted at #4 on the New York Times best-seller list in March 2019. Queen's Peril is the prequel to the novel Queen's Shadow, further exploring the life of the iconic Padmé Naberrie Amidala. To put it in further perspective, the events in this novel take place after Master and Apprentice and includes parts of the film, The Phantom Menace. 


Even though most people were annoyed with Jar Jar Binks for his over the top theatrics, it was characters like Queen Amidala, Qarsh Panaka, Senator Palpatine, Qui-Gon, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobhi that won me over. It was the villainous Darth Sidious and his apprentice Darth Maul. It was the little boy who would grow up to become Anakin Skywalker as well as his mother Shmi. But, now, readers get an inside look into Padmés hand picked handmaidens Eirtama, Suyan, Sasheh, Rabene, and Hiyon. 


Captain Panaka finds a group of girls each with different personalities. Amidala’s handmaidens were each chosen due to their abilities and the book goes through each of them to explain how and why they were picked. Padmes' intentions with her handmaidens are to have them protect her with there identities rather than using a blaster. The first handmaiden was Tsabin (Sabé). The Queen and Sabé reached a strong bond between the two sharing everything to understand each other. In fact, the two are near images of the other.


Four more girls had joined the Queen; Rabene (Rabé) Tonsort, a gifted artist and actress, Eirtama (Eirtaé) Ballory, a scientist and engineer, Sayan (Yané) Higin, a seamstress and maker, and Sashah (Saché) Adova the smallest one in the group. Each girl is as distinct as the skills she brings to the group. Their relationships are complicated and real. Captain Panaka is tossed into the deep end when it comes to dealing with a group of teenage girls; when he thinks he’s in control, he’s usually not. 


The Phantom Menace is rehashed in the final 25% of the book but from a different prospective which I think most readers will find enlightening. Do you need to watch The Phantom Menace first? I think it's a good idea since much of the movie doesn't fit into this story. Especially the invasion of Naboo, Qui-Gon, and Obi-Wan fight with Darth Maul, and the final fight between Amidala's new allies and the Trade Federation.
 

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#Thursday Review - Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston #YA #Science Fiction @ek_johnston

Series: Star Wars Disney Canon
Format: Hardcover, 353 pages
Release Date: October 11th 2016
Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press

Source: Library
Genre: YA, Science Fiction

Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka after she left the Jedi Order near the end of the Clone Wars, and before she re-appeared as the mysterious Rebel operative Fulcrum in Rebels. Finally, her story will begin to be told. Following her experiences with the Jedi and the devastation of Order 66, Ahsoka is unsure she can be part of a larger whole ever again. But her desire to fight the evils of the Empire and protect those who need it will lead her right to Bail Organa, and the Rebel Alliance 

Author E.K. Johnston jumps feet first into the world of Star Wars with the release of Ahsoka, and delivers an action packed thriller sure to delight hardcore fans. As one of those who saw the original Star Wars in 1977, and every single movie since then, I was eager to read this in-between novel about a character who was a tertiary character in the movies, but later showed up in Disney's Star Wars Rebels animated series. Let me clear up a point: I have not watched the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars. Apparently, the animated series takes place between Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.

Ahsoka Tano was Padawan to one Anakin Skywalker, better known as Darth Vader. Ahsoka is a Togruta, and a survivor of the Order 66 which saw the end of the Jedi order. After walking away from the Jedi Order, Ahsoka made her way to the outer rim where she started working as a mechanic. It has been a year since she walked away, but she still has some regrets. When the Empire, and its Storm-troopers arrive on the planet of Thabeska for Empire Day, she knows it's time to leave. Stealing a ship, she makes her way to an out of the way moon called Raada. On Raada, Ashla aka Ahsoka, finds herself among a small farming community.

With her skills, she quickly fits in as the person to see when something needs fixing. Ashla truly believes that Raada is a safe place, and thus begins making friends with Kaeden, Miara, and fellow Togruta, Selda. But, we all know where hope leads. Hope leads to trouble in this world. The Empire always has nefarious reasons for arriving on a planet. Ashla choose to take a stand and reveals her true identity to those she's made friend with. 

Even though she is not a Jedi Knight like Anakin, or Obi-Wan, or even Luke for that matter, her training, her moral code, her desire to not allow anyone else fall by the way side kicks in. Thus begins some wild and heart breaking action scenes that will eventually lead Ahsoka to a meeting with Bail Organa, aka Princess Leia's adopted father. This story shows that Ash still has a lot of room to grow, and the pain from walking away from the Jedi Order still hurts.

The fact that she might be the only remaining trained Jedi also wears heavily on her psyche. Her protective nature kicks in when she discovers others who are force sensitive like her. Force sensitives who can be brain washed like Anakin was when he fell under the influence of Darth Sidious. Even though she thought she wouldn't have to fight against the Empire, her code tells her it is the right thing to do. 

I appreciated the back story that the author provides, especially about Mandalore, Rex, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and the first appearance of what will be called the

Inquisitors. This Ahsoka has the ability to know when crystals are around. Knows how to put together light sabers, and has the ability to wield two at a time. When all is said and done, Ahsoka will soon become the Rebel named Fulcrum, and that's where I pick up with Star Wars Rebels series. Go forth and read this book my fellow padawan's. You won't be sorry you did! 

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#Tuesday Review - Spindle by E.K. Johnston #YALit #Fantasy @ek_johnston @DisneyHyperion

Series: A Thousand Nights # 2
Format: E-Galley, 368 pages
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: NetGalley
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retellings

The world is made safe by a woman...but it is a very big world.

It has been generations since the Storyteller Queen drove the demon out of her husband and saved her country from fire and blood. Her family has prospered beyond the borders of their village, and two new kingdoms have sprouted on either side of the mountains where the demons are kept prisoner by bright iron, and by the creatures the Storyteller Queen made to keep them contained.

But the prison is crumbling. Through years of careful manipulation, a demon has regained her power. She has made one kingdom strong and brought the other to its knees, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When a princess is born, the demon is ready with the final blow: a curse that will cost the princess her very soul, or force her to destroy her own people to save her life.
The threads of magic are tightly spun, binding princess and exiled spinners into a desperate plot to break the curse before the demon can become a queen of men. But the web of power is dangerously tangled--and they may not see the true pattern until it is unspooled.

Spindle, by author E.K. Johnston, is the second installment, or companion novel to A Thousand Nights. This is a story that takes place 1500 years after A Thousand Nights. The heroine from Nights, now called The Storyteller Queen, made her kingdom safe by banishing the demon holding her husband hostage. In doing so, The Storyteller Queen also created magical creatures to protect the land from further demon intrusion. She also created a mountain range that divides two separate kingdoms of Qamih and Kharuf. 

Kharuf is where most a large part of the story takes place. It is a kingdom that has been devastated by a curse placed on the princess called Zahrah, or Little Rose and a King Maker who desires to see it destroyed. When Zahrah was 5, a demon interrupted her birthday party, and in so doing, sent away almost all of the fashionable spinners who are no longer welcome in the Kingdom. Spinners found themselves the target of the curse. The more they spun, the sicker they got. One of those spinners was Yashaa's mother, who along with others, found themselves wandering for several years.

Spindles where tossed out, those who relied on their work, left for other places. It is now 12 years later, and Yashaa is still very bitter towards Little Rose. He's lost his home, watched his friends Arwa and Tariq's lose their families, and now his mother is sick and may be the next victim of the curse. He is bitter because he believes that the King and Queen should have done more to protect the spinners who were absolute in their love and loyalty for the King and Queen. When Yashaa and his friends are sent to beg the King Maker for help, Yasha decides to travel to his former home in hopes of getting an answer to slaying the demon curse.

Meanwhile, back in Kharuf, Little Rose sits high in the castle kept under lock and key to ensure that she will marry the prince from Qamih and thus unite the Kingdom's under one rule. She is not allowed to make anything. She lives in squalor, and if she finds one piece of material out of place, it is quickly removed. Little does she know that Yashaa will show up at her window and spirit her away, and later become the only hope she and her kingdom have of riding themselves of the curse and the demon who wants Little Rose. Yashaa soon realizes that Little Rose isn't his enemy, nor is she the reason for the curse. She is a victim just like he is.

Little Rose isn't the whole story. It is the spinners that drive and guide the story from the beginning to its ending. It is Yashaa, along with his best friends Saoud, Arwa, and Tariq who put themselves on the line for Little Rose and are really an amazing group of characters who challenge each other, respect each other, and yes, even love each other. They put aside their hatred for Little Rose, and rise above their past history to attempt to save her. 

Nights is the retelling of Sleeping Beauty with an Arabian twist to it. This book is being called Kingdom of Sleep in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Author calls it linguistic shenanigans. The ending kind of took the wind out of my sails, but otherwise, the story isn't a letdown from the first book. I loved the fact that the romance is so slow, and sweet, that it actually makes sense. This is a story that is definitely character driven. I adore Arwa, and really felt emotional over the things that happen to Saoud and Tariq in this story. 

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#Friday Review - A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Series: Standalone
Format: E-Galley, 336 pages
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Lo-Melkhiin killed three hundred girls before he came to her village, looking for a wife. When she sees the dust cloud on the horizon, she knows he has arrived. She knows he will want the loveliest girl: her sister. She vows she will not let her be next.

And so she is taken in her sister's place, and she believes death will soon follow. Lo-Melkhiin's court is a dangerous palace filled with pretty things: intricate statues with wretched eyes, exquisite threads to weave the most beautiful garments. She sees everything as if for the last time. But the first sun rises and sets, and she is not dead. Night after night, Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and listens to the stories she tells, and day after day she is awoken by the sunrise. Exploring the palace, she begins to unlock years of fear that have tormented and silenced a kingdom. Lo-Melkhiin was not always a cruel ruler. Something went wrong.

Far away, in their village, her sister is mourning. Through her pain, she calls upon the desert winds, conjuring a subtle unseen magic, and something besides death stirs the air.

Back at the palace, the words she speaks to Lo-Melkhiin every night are given a strange life of their own. Little things, at first: a dress from home, a vision of her sister. With each tale she spins, her power grows. Soon she dreams of bigger, more terrible magic: power enough to save a king, if she can put an end to the rule of a monster. 

"You've been fighting a war since you decided to take your sister's place. Only keep fighting it now, and we shall see who stands at the end - demons or smallgods."

A Thousand Nights is the apparent retelling of Arabian Nights (One Thousand and One nights). A story that I have long ago forgotten with age, and the number of books I read every year. This story is bizarre to say the least. The only person in the entire book who has a name is the big bad villain, Lo-Melkhiim who found himself possessed by a dangerous demon and now demands a wife from each village under his control. Everyone else, including the narrator, uses terms like sister, or father of my heart, or mother of my heart to refer to family. In a way, I liked this because it gives the reader a break from keeping track of all the characters that Johnston introduces. And, yes, I do in fact keep track of all characters. 

So, from this point forward, I shall call our narrator Lady Bless to keep things straight. She's the common desert girl who is taken away from her home, voluntarily to protect her sister the most desirable one, and becomes queen. We can call this maneuver the old bait and switch in order to fool the villain into believing he got who he came for. She is the girl who stands up to Lo-Melkhiim and survives somehow. What is interesting about Lady Bless, is that upon meeting her new husband, there is a magical connection and no, it not instant-lust. It is a connection that grows, as well as Lady Blessed powers. It gives her hope, which the previous 300 wives of Lo-Melkhiim never had because they were killed quickly.

Lady Bless is definitely a witty, and brave character. She finds allies, and connections throughout the qasr (desert castle), including those who are skeptics, weavers, and yes, even the mother of Lo-Melkhiim. Even her family doesn't completely give up on her, and fights to get her back. Interestingly enough, the main character's name IS mentioned but not until the final page. Again, this technique is highly unusual, and a reader needs to learn some patience when reading the story itself. I have to say that it takes a whole lot of courage, and determination to stick to ones guns and not name ANY character in this entire story. 

I think one of the more fascinating aspects of this story, is that the author actually researched desert conditions by traveling to Jordan. I love when authors add realism in the middle of a fantasy novel. I love that she doesn't skip over the harshness of the desert living, but accepts that desert dwellers have lived this way since the beginning of time. I do like that Johnston creates a battle between demons and what she calls small gods. I would have loved to learn more about how Lady Bless came into her powers, and how these demons really were. I would have also loved to see her use them to make her people better off. 

**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

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