"The Name of a Star" (a dashing Lexi review)

To our amazing and awesome readers,

Hello, again! It's been soooo long.

Okay, so I read an awesome book and thought today (Friday) was Thursday, so now I'm postponing this until Saturday. Then, you'll have a fun bunch of randomness on Sunday!

So this novel is The Name of a Star by Maureen Johnson, and it's the first book of "The Shades of London" trilogy. The first two are out, and the third will be coming in 2014. If you can't deal with a bit of blood and such, please do not read, as this novel mentions murder and Jack the Ripper and such.

First, look at this cover!!! Actually, there have been three, so I'll let you see them all!!!

  

All so pretty, huh? Okay, so read the summary before I decide to flip out and babble on about how flipping awesome this novel is!!!

Summary: "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...  And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target?" (YAY FOR GOODREADS!!! YAAAAAAY!!!!!)

So right off the bat, I love the main character. She sounds like me and my inner thought process. The author honestly portrayed the characters as they would really speak. She doesn't go for useless slang, but instead had the character just as somebody would today. I know that this novel involves murders and such, but please understand that there's plenty of humor! Humor that's done very well.

Then there are the rest of the characters, who were all well-rounded. You got a chance of experiencing and seeing each character's true colors and lives. Each character is unique and is shown (and a little told, of course) to be a very realistic person that you could meet on the street.

Every happening in the novel seem so realistic. From going away to school in London to the Ripper coming back, there was not one ounce of fake; I could picture it all. Johnson totally took my mind into the novel, the story, the settings, that I absolutely saw it all as real. The plot is wonderful, and very unique. I loved the idea of Jack the Ripper coming back, and if anybody other than Maureen Johnson wrote it, it would not have been this amazing and flawless.

Little Bit of Dialogue from the Novel:

"You told him I have period fever," I replied. "There's no such thing as period fever."
...
"No, there is really no such thing as period fever. There's a difference between being a guy and being an idiot."


In Conclusion: Unless you can't stand any amount of gore, read this. Heck, if you do, skip the gore and go for it! This is one of my favorite novels now, and I'm so glad that I chose to read this novel next! It's going to be difficult to find a read as great as this to read next.

Rating:



7/5 Heart Cutters (Get it!?! Cutters??? Like the Ripper!!! Bahaha!)



Till Tomorrow (Sunday),

Lexi, she who is braving the storm

"The Season" (A Lexi Review)

Aloha Hoalohas, ("Hello, my friend," in Hawaiian, cuz "Lilo and Stitch" is on!!!)

So what are y'all up to on this gorgeous day? Obviously looking at this book review, eh?

Okay, today's novel is The Season by Sarah MacLean.

The title and cover were enough to draw me in, but then you read this summary:

"Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued — in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!" (Goody goody Goodreads!)

This novel was so much fun! Not only are these girls strong, they're also hilarious. They have attitudes when it's not acceptable, don't try hard during the season, and prefer adventure and near-death instead of waltzing around the room with potential suitors.

The fun and adventure in this novel is almost ever-present. I love that they act like Ash and I would in the same situation. The characters were very well-rounded, and every word and detail was needed and used properly. I love that you just get so sucked into the novel. I also love that I literally laughed out loud at parts, which I never do with a book. I felt a connection to this book, and I just love it.

For anybody who ever wanted to know what being a deb must have been like, go read this novel!

Rating:

5/5 London women during the London Season


Love,

Lexi

"The Friday Society" (A "HIIIIYA!" Review by Lexi)

Hey!

I know that one should never judge a book by its cover, but I have to admit that the cover is what drew me to this book in the first place. Three girls that look like they're ready to kill you, with a steampunk look, and awesome outfits. I had to read it! "It" being The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress.

"An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns –and the heroines who use them all 

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.
Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures." (Again, credit goes to Goodreads)

So three girls who meet in an unfortunate way team up to kick butt. On accident, these three young women meet. Then they each have their own reason to be up in arms, and they all feel responsible to help find the guy who committed the crimes.

I do want to say that this novel is very action-packed and quick-paced, which is perfect for this novel and this story. The characters all were developed very nicely, and the story was interesting. It just yanks you in from the first lines, and keeps you in its grasp for the rest of the book. The twists and turns that happen are well-thought out, and so is the plot.

I just love these three girls' strength, and their determination. They seem like the kind of people that Ash and I would hang out with. On top of this, you can relate to one of these girls, if not all three in some way or another.

If you've ever wondered what it'd be like to act as a real-life superhero, you'll love this novel. Read it!


Rating:

5/5 katanas