I read The Princess and the Scoundrel, a book about Han and Leia’s marriage and honeymoon, and wow. I spent the whole book thinking, I can see why this marriage did not work. I’m surprised it lasted through the book to be honest. It’s kind of depressing. I couldn’t help wonder if that was part of the goal to explain why it didn’t work out but then again it didn’t feel like it. I think I was supposed to find it romantic.
To be fair this book has its moments. It attempted to deal with Han’s PTSD about being frozen in carbonite for a year. And probably dealt more with Leia’s thoughts on Vader and the force- which made me happy. Even though it felt like both were going in circles. I mean trauma doesn’t end in one book.
Also the Ewoks were adorable.
I love the Ewoks always have, always will.
The honeymoon is pretty much forced on Leia by Mon because she (Leia) can’t turn off. Of course said honeymoon is also about public relations while Han just wants to have a good time. I did appreciate they even implied some sexy times even if it stayed very Disney. I mean I do understand what I’m reading.
But as to the public relations things one of the reasons I put off reading this book for so long was it’s use of the Halcyon Starcruiser which is of course the same one at Disney World. The one you pay a lot of money for an experience. It’s not so in your face in the book. But it was something I couldn’t quiet put to the back of my mind when they were talking about the ship.
Honestly I would have rather they stayed on the Falcon. The back and forth about the changes he was making for her was one of their cutest exchanges.
Lastly in all honesty I kind of disliked Leia here. I get the workaholic not wanting to deal with her feelings. But there’s a moment it becomes too much. Here she puts a lot of people in danger by selfishly manipulating the Captain to change course in order to meet with a person whose message to her, even she recognizes, was sketchy. And instead of ever being called out on putting people in actual danger they didn’t need to be the narrative of course lets her off the hook.
She did it for the greater good of the burgeoning republic after all. (I wanted to be like look what that comes to Leia!) For me I obviously couldn’t put the fact about what any of this comes to out of my mind long enough to really enjoy the story.
So anyway The Princess and the Scoundrel is pretty much a Disney+ show. It’s fine. It’s diverting. It made me dislike the legacy characters (except the Ewoks- I would drink with them. Please Yoda don’t let Disney really touch the Ewoks) and I will likely forget I read it by the end of the year.
Recommend: Eh… You know? It’s probably a very good holiday read with summer coming up. Something to just throw in your pack and hit the beach with or read on the plane.
Interesting. I heard about the book, but I try not to accept any extended Star Wars media that Disney claims to be canon. In my mind Han and Leia lived happily ever after.
Agreed!
I enjoyed the book, but you made some really good points here. Leia can be a bit much–geez, lady, you’ve got a hunky husband who loves you more than the galaxy and he always seems to come second. But I guess he knows that about her and has accepted it. He’s supposed to be the “scoundrel” but she’s the one who can be single-minded and stubborn. It’s always interesting with these two!
Okay – I didn’t even know this book was out there. I can’t imagine reading about Han and Leia’s marriage.
I am SO GLAD you read and reviewed this! I’ve seen it out and each time I walk by it at the bookstore I think, “Hmmm…I just don’t know.” I was worried I’d feel a lot of what you seemed to feel (especially in regard to the tie-in with the Disney World experience) with your read. Normally with Star Wars books I’m pretty certain if I want to read it or not. However, with this one I’ve been deliberating. I was worried it’d disappoint me in lots of ways but I kept looking at it because I always enjoyed Dave Wolverton’s ‘The Courtship of Princess Leia’ so much. Yes, it was the old Expanded Universe’s equivalent of a goofy rom com but I loved it as a kid and I still love it now.
So thank you for reading this and I’m sorry it wasn’t that great. But now I can comfortably walk by it the next time I see it in the bookstore and just reread ‘The Courtship of Princess Leia’ again when I want to relive Leia and Han’s marriage :).
I kind of remember The Courtship of Princess Leia! Generally I think the expanded universe were truly better books and not just due to the nostalgia. I did really like Claudia Gray’s Bloodline though.
Yes! Oh my gosh, it’s like we’re the same person XD. I think the Expanded Universe benefitted from Lucas’ oversight (not that he had much narrative influence but I’m sure, at least to a degree, the writers wanted to please him, you know?) and even more so from there not being new Star Wars movies or shows when the EU began. Those authors could build upon the Star Wars universe and flesh it out post-ROTJ on their own, with just the video games and the Dark Horse comics to dialogue with. Disney is putting out so many stories in so many different forms of media it’s hard to keep any of it straight so it often feels a little rudderless or it gets contradicted or both. ‘Bloodline’ is a perfect example. There was so much in that story! Like I’d’ve loved to see more of Casterfo or the idealized version of the Empire people were celebrating that helped lead to the rise of the First Order.
From what I hear even the new Disney stuff is contradictory and not keeping it consistent with their own canon. I can’t say I’m surprised.
Should we submit our resumes? Disney can hire us to keep an eye on all their developing Star Wars and Marvel plotlines for them! We wouldn’t necessarily control creative content (unless we come up with a great idea (which, honestly, we probably would because we’re brilliant)) but we could be sure there aren’t contradictions. We could be like their connected universe editors! And what do you think? Shall we say six figure salaries would be a good starting point? I mean, we’d have to read and watch A LOT and give LOTS of notes so we’d be worth it…