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Book Review: The Name of the Star – Maureen Johnson

The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
Series: Shades of London #1
Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Romance, Fantasy
Publisher: Speak
My Rating:

Summary:

Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London to start a new life at boarding school just as a series of brutal murders mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper killing spree of more than a century ago has broken out across the city. The police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man believed to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him – the only one who can see him. And now Rory has become his next target…unless she can tap her previously unknown abilities to turn the tables.

 
First Sentence: The eyes of London were watching Claire Jenkins.

My Review:

No no no no. Just no.

The Name of the Star was advertised as a thriller. Did I get a thriller? No.

In fact, I’ve never met any book with Jack the Ripper in it that bored me to death and had me skimming most of the book. Until now.

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with Maureen Johnson’s books. I loved Girl At Sea, but disliked her Little Blue Envelope series. I was hoping that I’ll enjoy reading The Name of the Star as much as I enjoyed reading Girl At Sea since it was about Jack the Ripper, and hello, what could go wrong with that? Answer: A lot apparently.

Unlike Barry Lyga’s I Hunt Killers and the oh-so-famous television show Criminal Minds, The Name of the Star had no suspense whatsoever. No thrill. No real mind-spattering action. Nothing. It was just pages and pages of useless boarding school info mixed with a bit of romance that was poorly done. Basically, Rory is in the background and always in the background, but the book focuses on her.

And the romance. I don’t get Rory and Jerome’s relationship. If you studied it thoroughly, you’ll see that it’s the love at first sight type of romance, also known as insta-love. Rory likes Jerome because what? He’s the only available guy and cute? Their relationship was awkward and proceeded so slow that I couldn’t help but roll my eyes whenever they two started [finally] making out.

The only thing I liked about The Name of the Star are the victim scenes, where there was only sadly two. It was the only action in the book, but those scenes were about three pages and very short lived. If Maureen Johnson wrote the rest of her book like how she wrote those short scenes, then The Name of the Star would be a lot more interesting and engaging.

If you want to read a real thriller that would leave you gasping and guessing the main character’s every move, then I’ll recommend you to read I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. Once you’ve read something as good as that, The Name of the Star would pale greatly in comparison. I think it’s fairly safe for me to say that I would definitely not be reading the next book in Shades of London series. If Jack the Ripper wasn’t mentioned in The Name of the Star, I would definitely not have read the book at all the first place.

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 11-01-12 · 6 Comments
Categories: 2011 book, book review Tagged: 2.5 star

« Waiting On Wednesday [3]
Book Review: Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater »

Speak Your Mind

  1. Ashley Rogers says

    3-13-13 at 10:16 AM

    ): I am really sad to hear this. I really love Jack the Ripper stories. I have been a fan for a long long time. I have never read anything by Maureen Johnson and after reading your review I am not sure if I will. I just had when you go in expecting one thing and end up with something completely different. I love the cover though. It is really nice (: I will def make sure to search for I Hunt Killers next time I am out and about. Sounds really interesting! Thanks for sharing your review.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-08-13 at 6:22 PM

      I Hunt Killers is soo much better than this book Ashley. Maureen Johnson’s books are also not bad, it’s just this one that I didn’t really like. o:
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: The Distance Between Us – Kasie WestMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Samarx says

    6-01-13 at 12:06 PM

    Thanks for the review Kelly! I might read I Hunt Killers instead of The Name of the Star!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      6-01-13 at 7:03 PM

      OMG, DEFINITELY read I Hunt Killers instead of The Name of the Star.
      I Hunt Killers is my most favorite horror book, ever.
      Kelly recently posted…Teen Author Carnival, Book Signings, Very Tired Arms + A GiveawayMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Cali W. says

    8-07-13 at 2:41 PM

    Good honest review! i usually like this author, but this book was kind of a miss for me as well.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      8-08-13 at 6:46 PM

      I’m glad I’m not alone in this. :l
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: The Distance Between Us – Kasie WestMy Profile

      Reply

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