Queen's Peril

An inside look at how Padme picked and formed her handmaids/body guards right before the events of The Phantom Menace. Definitely a YA novel but good nonetheless.

Much better than Queens Shadow also by E.K. Johnston.
In this book we get to know Padmés handmaidens better and get to know where they're from. We also get to see their friendship form with ups and downs and then it ties into The Phantom Menace.

Once again, I am pleasantly surprised by the Padmé novel. While not a necessary read, it does give some interesting insights into Padmé, her handmaidens, Naboo, and expands a bit upon The Phantom Menace. Just from the movies, that wouldn't really interest me at all, but this duology succeeds in giving it more insight, and makes me view her character and role in a new light.