REVIEW: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

Book: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Format: ARC
Genre: Young Adult / Urban Fantasy
Series: Shades of London, #1
Obtained: Book trade
Rating: (5 Zombies)

This is the first book I've read by Maureen Johnson, though I've been following her on Twitter for quite some time and I have copies of a few of her books, and I'm happy to say that I really loved it. Although it was nothing like what I imagined after stalking the author on Twitter, it was a pleasant surprise.

Rory was a pretty badass character, and I couldn't help but love her, as well as the cast of secondary characters surrounding her.

My favorite aspect of the book, though, was the spookiness. It's hard to write a book that can scare me without making me dislike it, but this one did it better than any I can think of at the moment :)

I'm also a huge fan of anything to do with Jack the Ripper. Seriously.

So, you should all totally read this book. The end.

REVIEW: My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them. Until something does. Demons breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked. And so is someone else . . .

Book: My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Format: Paperback
Genre: Young Adult / Urban Fantasy
Series: Soul Screamers, #3
Obtained: Received in exchange for an honest review
Rating: (4 Zombies)

I know I'm reviewing this series out of order, but I've read several of them as part of a book tour, and so those got priority. So, I think this one is two or three books behind the last that I reviewed. Oh, well.

I don't know how many ways there are to say that this is one of the best series out there, but it pretty much is. Like evar. So, if you haven't read it yet, then do. /endpitch

Kaylee is as awesome as ever in this book, but I'm starting to dislike Nash a looooot. In fact, I kind of hate him. So, yeah. But I still love Tod. I feel like these are really short paragraphs, too. Haha.

So, now for another short paragraph. This is it.

I love how the series has progressed so far. I think stuff actually happens that permanently affects the characters and the world around them, which is pretty much awesome. I'm really having trouble saying anything non-spoilery about this book, though, so I'm just going to end this here.

TTFN.

Reading Update

 

Reading Update

Last week in books:

• I finally finished The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, which was a reread and sucked just as much this time as it did the first :/
• Still working on On the Road by Jack Kerouac, but not because I don't like it. I think what's taking me so long is that I mostly read in my breaks between classes, which can be pretty short :'(

This week in books:

• Finish On the Road. I think I have less than 50 pages left, so no problems there.
• Start Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Wishful thinking:

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Chbosky. Still.
• Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.

That's all for this week. What are you planning on reading? Any good books you've read lately?