#stephen dene

...we're never getting Shades of London 4, are we

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. Rating: 4.0 stars.

Reread from August 28 to August 29.

It’s getting down to the wire for my second round of the Nostalgia TBR, but I managed to read this in two days. I remember reading this during the last year of college and obsessively waiting for the next books to come out. I think I had trouble enjoying my reread this time because a book hasn’t come out in this series in four years. I know that Maureen is working on the next book now that she’s finished with the last book in the Truly Devious series, but having loved the Shades of London series since the beginning makes me a little angry about the next book being put off.

I still really enjoy the London setting and the Jack the Ripper theme to the murderers. The book feels really atmospheric because of that which has been perfect over the last two days while it’s been storming here in Texas (thank god, that heat was killer). I also love seeing the differences between American Rory and the U.K. students. I especially love the time at the beginning of the novel when it’s just Rory and Jazza and how they mesh.

I also really love the mystery and seeing what having the Sight can do to someone over the long term. I wish there had been more bonding between the Squad and Rory before this epic battle with the Ripper. I think it would have made their choice more heartbreaking.

Rory x Stephen

“There was something about your demeanour that told me you were in love, but obviously not with Jerome. It all made sense once I saw this one. The way you reacted to seeing him only confirmed it. This is the boy you love. “

It clicked that in a lot of fandoms and all I'm in I immediately gravitate towards two major roles: the one painted as misunderstood and a quiet mess that needs protection even if they've killed a man before and the extremely nerdy types that are usually kinda shy but sassy and it's a great mix.

Then because I'm a fan of a million things my mind found a tie between my favorite character in the book series and Logan Sanders. I, personally, was not a huge fan of Logan at first for reasons being he talks a lot, but he grew on me. I wouldn't say he's my favorite side that's Virgil, but he's getting up there. My only reasons to not liking him was that I pictured him (due to fanfics and some fanart- which is still amazing and you keep doing you- and not the actual videos) as emotionless or near emotionless and also he talked too much. But after rewatching Sanders Sides like a month or two ago, I started to realise along with all the appreciation posts saying that he is a sassy boi, and this gay nerd is sassy and really hard at controlling his emotions.

However the book series favorite character is Stephen Dene from The Shades of London. He is a really sassy nerd. I'm not for the sake of anyone that goes to read it going to spoil the books. However, Stephen does a quite a few times sass a lot of people including his family and talks about a lot of nerdy stuff and can ramble. I really love him, but at first I was just like: why dis dude getting any appreciation. I read on and my favorite character ended up being Stephen.

In summary, I have two types in characters I love, and the second type usually starts as a hate relationship before I realise they aren't a horrible character and my original thoughts were wrong. I judge the nerdy characters for whatever reason as someone I won't like, but then I start to realise they are extremely great. When they ramble or rant for what seems like forever, I at first hated it because they won't stop even if it's important, but then I get attached and they are precious and really passionate and AHHHH I love that in characters and people.

In my mind, I am in your arms

I wish someone would take my place

Can't face heaven all heavenfaced

No one's careful all the time

If you lose me, I'm gonna die.”

- “Heavenfaced”, the National

• • •

mentally i am still at the restaurant. and by that, i mean still waiting for book 4 of Shades of London by @maureenjohnsonbooks. here’s some stephen/rory fanart i’ve drawn over the past couple months.