Crystal Anne With An E involves us from a sunny clime, although she is an indoor cat that prefers to stay pale. She is an autism guide by day, and just lately accomplished a level in data science, principally as a result of she might and it was enjoyable.
She likes to learn (clearly), watch TV whereas cross-stitching one thing geeky, play video video games, beg her vegetation to not die within the hell warmth of summer time, and stroll whereas listening to podcasts that doubtless contain some type of homicide.
…
So we all know how I do love a Star Wars story, and lo, the SW gods, and Beth Revis, have blessed us with a guide that leans into the romance of all of it. I took one take a look at the duvet artwork of The Princess and the Scoundrel and was like
Click on for me
Take a look at this cowl artwork. Sit with it. Let it get into your mind.
The comfortable watercolors. The EMBRACE. The loving expressions on their faces. The flowers in her hair. This, youngsters, is a romance cowl. I submit it could make a worthy entry into the Cowl Awe canon.
The guide opens instantly after the autumn of the Empire. And by instantly, I imply you’re nonetheless having to often dodge items of raining Demise Star. Leia is trying on the aftermath of the rager thrown on the finish of Return of the Jedi and questioning about what sorts of individuals had been carrying the stormtrooper helmets that had been just lately getting used as a drum set.
That is the start of a theme that may proceed all through the guide: the truth that Leia is aware of the human price of struggle. She wonders concerning the folks that had been in these helmets in a means that nobody is contemplating as they drum on them, whether or not they had been indoctrinated, whether or not they even had any selection of their service to the Empire. She cares, at the same time as others are dancing jubilantly round them.
This consciousness can be what contributes to the truth that Leia, all through the guide, has huge issue taking the time for herself and her new husband that she has actually earned. Whilst she needs to spend time with him (and doing enjoyable sexytime issues with him, these two are VERY sizzling for one another), she’s always fearful about useful resource negotiations and allocations, establishing commerce and navy alliances earlier than the remnants of the Empire can achieve this, and placing on the great present for the individuals.
The connection between Han and Leia could be very attention-grabbing, as a result of these individuals each know one another very effectively in some methods and in others, not effectively in any respect. They’re nice at studying one another’s cues and physique language, however they aren’t at all times nice at utilizing their phrases. As well as, they’ve spent no time collectively that wasn’t concerned in intergalactic civil struggle, and Han was frozen in carbonite for a couple of yr of that point. There’s a scene the place Leia is affectionately addressing Chewbacca, and it happens to Han that they’ve a complete relationship now that he is aware of nothing about, as a result of he wasn’t there when it developed. Sure, these two are younger, sizzling, and in love, however they know little or no about who they’re after they’re not attempting to not-die.
One factor I have a tendency to actually take pleasure in in fiction is what occurs after the fast fall of an empire, wherein the individuals doing the rebelling mainly must go “Oh, shit, we’re in cost now, aren’t we?” Sure, youngsters, you broke it, you got it. It’s considered one of my most interesting types of catnip.
There’s a ton of that on this guide, and since Leia is without doubt one of the most public faces of the Riot and the brand new authorities, every thing she does, together with her honeymoon, is a part of the method. Within the case of the honeymoon, it signifies that Mon Mothma lassoes her right into a luxurious cruise on a Starcruiser referred to as the Halcyon, which had beforehand been pressed into Imperial service as a battleship.
If this sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of the Halcyon is the expertise being given to these fortunate of us that may afford the very expensive Star Wars lodge and all its trappings.
So, sure, her honeymoon is a publicity stunt, and perhaps she’s redirecting the ship’s path to an ice planet to speak to the prime minister about becoming a member of the brand new authorities. Leia will not be nice at taking off the princess politician hat and simply spending time along with her new husband, one thing that causes Han no small quantity of frustration. There was little dialogue about what sort of function he could be taking over because the husband of a outstanding politician, and he spends a lot of the guide questioning if he’s actually minimize out for that type of life.
They’re additionally coping with the truth that regardless that the Empire is defeated, that doesn’t imply that everybody is aware of or accepts that. Rumors persist all through the galaxy that Palpatine remains to be alive, and there are Imperial loyalists which are actively and overtly hostile towards Leia and Han, whether or not they blame them for the demise of a relative that labored on the Demise Star or they’re now broke as a result of all of their navy contracts had been canceled. It’s at all times enjoyable to observe particularly Leia navigate these sorts of shark-infested waters. She’s a superb particular person, however she’s additionally sneaky and in a position to assess benefits after which use these benefits.
One other attention-grabbing piece to the character work on this guide was the truth that Han and Leia are each processing large trauma all through the guide, and it completely informs a lot of what they do. In Leia’s case, she has solely just lately discovered of her lineage because the organic daughter of Darth Vader. This information is very traumatic for her attributable to the truth that Leia was mentally and bodily tortured by Vader, and it’s extremely troublesome for her to reconcile the truth that the person that inflicted that ache upon her was her personal father.
It additionally presents her with a specific amount of battle over the concept of studying find out how to use the Pressure, since she strongly associates its use with Vader. Her lineage can be a lot of the explanation that she is so decided to perform as a lot as she will be able to whereas she will be able to, as she is working below the idea that when her parentage turns into public data, she’ll by no means be capable of work in public service once more (and sadly, she’s fully right, as this very state of affairs involves go years later through the occasions of Bloodline).
In the meantime, so far as Han goes, it is a man that has solely been out of carbonite for a matter of some weeks, and remains to be aware of it in his physique. He feels very out of step, as he missed a lot through the yr he was frozen. As well as, he nonetheless remembers vividly the sensation of being frozen, in the dead of night and chilly, however nonetheless aware. There may be one scene the place he has to go diving in very chilly water, and is initially shocked by how severely and immediately he’s reminded of his expertise.
Han and Leia are instrumental in serving to one another deal with their trauma. As he initially goes inflexible with the sensory reminiscence of his freezing, his spouse takes his hand and helps him to middle himself. When Leia confesses her fears about utilizing the Pressure due to what Vader was, it’s Han that factors out that Luke’s not Vader, and he or she’s not Luke, and that her use of the Pressure, ought to she select it, was simply that, her use and nobody else’s.
Like most Star Wars properties, this guide is carrying round tons of plot, principally revolving round attempting to help and save an Imperially-oppressed planet that they go to throughout their honeymoon, and can most likely enchantment most to somebody who has learn among the different books that function Leia, together with Claudia Grey’s Princess of Alderaan (which is immediately referenced) and Bloodline, and Rebecca Roanhorse’s Resistance Reborn. I consider there are some pretty direct references to a few of Han’s tales as effectively, however since I hadn’t learn the tales in query, my understanding was a bit cursory.
Now, the massive query (drumroll please), is that this a Star Wars romance novel?
Present Spoiler
You needed to know I used to be going to discover a approach to drop Attractive Obi-Wan in right here.
Properly….in case you’re going at it from the concept of a romance novel having the HFN ending, certain. They finish this guide as a contented couple, originally of constructing a life collectively. However as a HEA, I noticed the flicks. I do know that they are going to construct that life, they are going to have a baby, and ultimately, that life will crack aside and set them on totally different paths by the point of The Pressure Awakens. They may love one another till their dying days, however they gained’t be collectively. Nevertheless, their romance is central to this explicit story, so if that’s why you’re right here, you’ll take pleasure in it.
I might be remiss in saying that in case you loved this story, Princess of Alderaan and Bloodline by Claudia Grey are additionally nice Leia tales, and Beth Revis has written a narrative about Jyn Erso from Rogue One referred to as Insurgent Rising, which, whereas I haven’t learn it, I loved this story sufficient that I’m prone to go monitor it down.
There’s additionally a well-liked and well-regarded alternate tackle Han and Leia’s story from the Legends canon (the story universe that was thrown out after they determined it was time to take us again to a galaxy far, distant), The Courtship of Princess Leia by David Wolverton.
So all in all, good strong B+ for many plot, sizzling couple, and Ewok ragers.
Present Spoiler
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