As the final entry for this week's Saturday Pages I have the first book of a trilogy that I had been eyeing for a while and that I added to my 2014 Series Challenge before I knew that the final book for the trilogy had been pushed till next year! Still, I hope it'll count!
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Name of The Star has been in my list of books to read for a while, but after seeing a tweet from Maureen Johnson about a prequel novella, buying and reading (and loving) it, I decided I needed to start the series right away!
As always, I will try to keep my review as spoiler free as possible but I might make some references to the novella, so be warned about that.
I was so intrigued by the Jack the Ripper mention on the synopsis, and though the very beginning started with Rory arriving from the US to be taken to her private school, soon enough we start hearing about how the school is smack in the middle of Jack's old hunting grounds.
Rory was a character I simply adored, she was funny and quirky and didn't mind being different and when she might have been targeted, she didn't cower and she started making fun of herself by being over the top, which worked great for her. She was brave and a little reckless but not stupidly so.
I really liked her friendship with Jazza, and although I was never too sold on the romance bit with Jerome, it seems like they were good for each other if the connection never felt as nothing too special. Which I feel is good, since at high school time you don't necessarily have to find the love of your life right away.
The book does a great job at mixing every day school happenings and a normal life for a teenager that is still quite confused about some of the Englishness of London with the mysterious Jack The Ripper copycat that starts murdering people in the same places and dates that the old one did.
The tension and creepiness that the book manages to add, before and after the more paranormal element is revealed is great. Having read the novella before, I was wondering when we'll be introduced to said element and other characters, but even so the pacing never bored me.
I really liked some of the new characters introduced on the second half of the book, even if it took me a while to warm up to them, even to this different Stephen (since I already liked him a lot from the novella).
A very solid start for a series, well deserving of 4 stars!
View all my reviews
The Name of the Star by Maureen JohnsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Name of The Star has been in my list of books to read for a while, but after seeing a tweet from Maureen Johnson about a prequel novella, buying and reading (and loving) it, I decided I needed to start the series right away!
As always, I will try to keep my review as spoiler free as possible but I might make some references to the novella, so be warned about that.
I was so intrigued by the Jack the Ripper mention on the synopsis, and though the very beginning started with Rory arriving from the US to be taken to her private school, soon enough we start hearing about how the school is smack in the middle of Jack's old hunting grounds.
Rory was a character I simply adored, she was funny and quirky and didn't mind being different and when she might have been targeted, she didn't cower and she started making fun of herself by being over the top, which worked great for her. She was brave and a little reckless but not stupidly so.
I really liked her friendship with Jazza, and although I was never too sold on the romance bit with Jerome, it seems like they were good for each other if the connection never felt as nothing too special. Which I feel is good, since at high school time you don't necessarily have to find the love of your life right away.
The book does a great job at mixing every day school happenings and a normal life for a teenager that is still quite confused about some of the Englishness of London with the mysterious Jack The Ripper copycat that starts murdering people in the same places and dates that the old one did.
The tension and creepiness that the book manages to add, before and after the more paranormal element is revealed is great. Having read the novella before, I was wondering when we'll be introduced to said element and other characters, but even so the pacing never bored me.
I really liked some of the new characters introduced on the second half of the book, even if it took me a while to warm up to them, even to this different Stephen (since I already liked him a lot from the novella).
A very solid start for a series, well deserving of 4 stars!
View all my reviews
I've been wanting to read this series for a while but haven't read many reviews on it, sounds like it's a solid read Pili! thanks for your review.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very cool different take on ghosts and I really recommend it, Jeann!
DeleteI have had the first book in this series on my TBR ever since it came out way back in 2012. I have yet to pick it up!
ReplyDeleteI am really glad you liked this one. The Jack the Ripper thing did it for me back then so I hopefully I will pick it up soon! :)
Thanks for sharing! xxx
Alex @ The Shelf Diaries
This is a very cool book! With ghosts and Jack the Ripper, very interesting! Hope you'll like it, Alex!
DeleteI have to admit i've had this series on my radar for a while but have been hesitant to read it but now i'm sure i most likely will :) Great review!
ReplyDeleteLily @ Lilysbookblog
Glad to hear my review helped you, Lily!
DeleteI really really want to read this series! It sounds so good!!
ReplyDeleteI love these kind of books and this one sounds great.
Great review!
Thank you, Lis!
DeleteThis was a lot of fun and with enough creepiness!
I really enjoyed the writing of this book. The setting and mood were very London-ish and the book was well researched. I loved Rory and her crazy family back in Louisiana, and I enjoyed getting to know some of the supporting cast, which I won't go into as to not spoil any readers.
ReplyDeleteJasmine
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