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Bookwyrming Thoughts header August 2021

Bookwyrming Thoughts

Musings from bookwyrms

Last of Her Name by Jessica Khoury | Friendships, Family, Space!

February 19, 2019

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Last of Her Name by Jessica Khoury | Friendships, Family, Space!Last of Her Name by Jessica Khoury
Published by Scholastic on February 26, 2019
Age Group & Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: ARC, Physical
Source: Publisher


Sixteen years ago, rebellion swept the galaxy known as the Belt of Jewels. Every member of the royal family was murdered--down to their youngest child, Princess Anya--and the Union government rose in its place. But Stacia doesn't think much about politics. She spends her days half-wild, rambling her father's vineyard with her closest friends, Clio and Pol.

That all changes the day a Union ship appears in town, carrying the leader of the Belt himself, the Direktor Eminent. The Direktor claims that Princess Anya is alive, and that Stacia's sleepy village is a den of empire loyalists, intent on hiding her. When Stacia is identified as the lost princess, her provincial home explodes into a nightmare.

Pol smuggles her away to a hidden escape ship in the chaos, leaving Clio in the hands of the Union. With everything she knows threading away into stars, Stacia sets her heart on a single mission. She will find and rescue Clio, even with the whole galaxy on her trail.


A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.

Last of Her Name hits the ground running.

Khoury’s takes us on an adventure through the Belt of Jewels when the Direktor and the Union shows up on Stacia’s planet and she is accused of being Princess Anya Leonova, a member of the royal family supposedly killed years ago by the Direktor. With the help of Pol, Stacia escapes from the home planet she’s known throughout her life, leaving Clio behind with the others to be taken away.

Friendships!

I love the childhood friendship between Pol, Clio and Stacia told throughout the book with various memories as Stacia makes it her one mission to rescue Clio from the Direktor no matter what it takes among the chaos her life becomes. I enjoyed the backstory and learning more about them, and felt the memories were a great balance with the fast-paced action of the book in addition to being a driving force for Stacia.

While Last of Her Name primarily focuses on the strong friendship already developed in Stacia’s childhood, Stacia and Pol create new friendships on the run as well. The two cross paths with Riyan shortly after escaping, a tensor from a distant planet who is also searching for someone he cares about. Although the three of them have a rough start, they develop a bond throughout the book.

Identity!

Stacia goes about her life normally until the Direktor shows up, forcing her to run away from all she knows. As she and Pol get chased across the galaxy, Stacia is trying to figure out who she really is as a person: is she Anya or is she Stacia? How can she accept a new part of herself without losing the self that she has always known about? In addition to figuring out who she is, Stacia is also battling her growing feelings for Pol, and those two are simply adorable as they circle around their feelings.

This is why I have a soft spot for friends to lovers tropes I’m just saying.

Family and Community!

There’s not much I can say about family and community without giving spoilers away (can’t have that!), but I really appreciated some of the gestures from Stacia’s family and community. But there is so much different family drama, I would have had one too many popcorns if I could just watching the whole story unfold and come together. SO. MUCH. TEA. 🍵 (I loved it, though.)

last of her name jessica khoury
Sophia
Blogger at Bookwyrming Thoughts · Website ·  Read More PostsAbout the Author

Sophia started blogging in February 2012 for the hell of it and is surprisingly still around. She has a GIF for nearly everything, probably listens to too much K-Pop and is generally in an existential crisis of sorts (she's trying her best). More of her bookish reviews and K-Pop Roundups can be found at The Arts STL.

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Categories: BooksTags: 4 stars, book review, Jessica Khoury, science fiction, young adult
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Reader Interactions

16 comments

  1. Greg says

    February 20, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    I’m glad this was good! I’ve liked some of her other books and this is a little different from what she’s done before, so I was really curious!

  2. Lindsay says

    February 20, 2019 at 8:29 pm

    I really wanted an ARC of this one, but now its coming out pretty soon and I’m so excited! I’m glad you liked this one! YA sci-fi is getting better and better now and I am so glad for it!

  3. Haley says

    February 21, 2019 at 9:54 am

    Ahhhhhh I’m so excited about this, your affirmation that it is indeed probably going to be awesome is just making me all the more hyped!!

    Honestly, it really sounds great, and I love that it’s got a strong friendship core to it, that’s always a big thing for me.

    • Sophia says

      March 13, 2019 at 11:20 pm

      Friendship is a big thing for me as well! I hope you get the chance to read this one and enjoy it, Haley.

  4. Sophie says

    February 21, 2019 at 2:38 pm

    I love your review Sophia! It seems that this one has so many good things running on!

    • Sophia says

      March 13, 2019 at 11:23 pm

      Thanks, Sophie, it does! 😀

  5. Kaleena @ Reader Voracious says

    February 21, 2019 at 2:59 pm

    I have been really excited about this one, and I am SO GLAD you enjoyed it! Friends to lovers is legit my trash romance trope and I need more of it in my life (also lovers/friends to enemies because I like watching characters suffer), and I also love books that center on strong friendships.

    Looking forward to reading this one… eventually.

    • Sophia says

      March 13, 2019 at 11:24 pm

      You like watching your friends suffer too, Kal.

  6. Julianna Aislynn d'Merricksson says

    February 23, 2019 at 3:47 am

    Brilliant review! And that cover is awesome.

  7. Tizzy says

    February 24, 2019 at 8:11 am

    I’m so excited to read this one. I love all Khoury’s other books and I’ve always been interested in Anastasia’s story so I think this will be right up my street.

    • Sophia says

      March 13, 2019 at 11:44 pm

      I hope you’ll enjoy! I don’t know much about Anastacia’s story (aside from the historical one), but it’s very very loosely based.

  8. Lauren says

    February 24, 2019 at 12:54 pm

    i ahdnt heard iof this befiore so ty for reviewing bc it does sound like something id enjoy!!

    • Sophia says

      March 14, 2019 at 12:55 am

      Our reading tastes seem to be similar (I could be wrong, haha), so I think you’ll enjoy this, Lauren! 🙂

  9. Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books says

    February 24, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    Ahhh I’m very excited to read this book, even more now after reading your review! I loved The Forbidden Wish by the author and have been craving to read more from her, can’t wait! 🙂

    • Sophia says

      March 14, 2019 at 12:43 am

      I hope you’ll enjoy, Marie! I haven’t read The Forbidden Wish, but after enjoying Last of Her Name, I’m curious about that one.

  10. Sophia says

    March 13, 2019 at 11:03 pm

    OMG Sam I’m never going to think of Pol the same way again. I believe this is a series according to Goodreads, though!

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hannahsophialin book selfieHi! I'm Sophia, an Asian-American who was up to shenanigans as a kid, and sometimes still up to shenanigans as an adult. Probably listening to K-Pop, watching an Asian drama, or exploring cozy and relaxing games.

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