Last of Her Name is a thrilling chase through space as Stacia Androva learns who she is and what the universe has in store for her…literally…. the universe.

There were so many things I loved about this book, that it’s a little hard to know where to start.  Let’s start with setting.  The book is set in outer space.  If you’re a can of Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. then you are going to love this.  The various planets and moons were quite well done.  Descriptions and background were enough to keep you informed and leave you on solid footing to understand surroundings but weren’t overly complex and difficult to form mental pictures or conceptualize.

This novel has a well-rounded cast of characters.  There are humans and non-humans with races being varied enough to add color and depth, but not so many or so overly complex as to make it confusing.  You have your standard good-guys, bad-guys, and not-sure guys with some team switchers and surprises that will leave you guessing to the very end.  Overall, the descriptions and character development were excellent, and I felt like I was right in the mix of things throughout the story.

I loved the Romanoff-ish of this book.  Even down to giving Stacia’s family Russian sounding names.  Given how the plot line of the book develops, it was absolute perfection.  The book does a masterful job of weaving themes of justice, fairness, forgiveness and courage throughout, although the themes at times are so subtle readers might not catch the morals.

This novel is a fantastic read and pages fly by quickly.  I recommend grabbing a copy and getting lost in space as quickly as possible.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic Press (A Scholastic Imprint)

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 3 mild obscenities.

Violence/Gore:  Fall from tree with minimal injuries; multiple instances of verbal threats with weapons or guns being held to heads with threats; recall of family execution with moderate detail; 3-page massacre with graphic blood and death; punches to wall under fist bloody; multiple instances of hand to hand combat ranging 2-3 pages each; multiple instances of people or structures being moved, detained or crushed by ability to affect gravity; various minor cuts/scrapes/bruises/bloody noses; lethal dose of drugs given; recall of suicide by poison; destruction of planet and its inhabitants (minimal detail); implant placed in brain with bloody wound; two instances of electric collar shocking prisoner; multiple instances of individuals or groups shot to death with laser type weapons and traditional guns; 4-page space battle with destruction of ships and death.

Sex/Nudity:  Three instances of hand-holding; two instances of kissing with one intense one-page scene; male is bare-chested twice; hand on male’s bare chest during ceremony.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, suicide, revolution/war, racial conflict, stealing, treason, ethics, murder, mental illness, abandonment.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Various ages drink wine.