The Boy in the Smoke: A Review

Short Prequel to the Shades of London Series: By Maureen Johnson

This is a short review for a short book. This novella provides a great little taste of the Shades of London world to tide fans over till the next book comes out in 2015. It is set at least 10 years prior to The Name of the Star and walks us through Stephen Dene’s adolescence and the journey that lead him to working for MI6 as a ghost hunter.

The voice of Stephen sounds surprisingly similar to Ender Wiggin from Orson Scott Cards’ Ender’s Game, to me. I know that is a strange comparison but its the first thing that came to mind once I started reading. The voice of Stephen is calm, level and cool, and he has a willingness to please all those in authority around him, just like Ender.

Unlike Ender, Stephens sister dies, changing his life forever. Because of her death, he is lead into the choices he makes, ultimately making him a happier person and easing the painful distance between him and his unloving parents. A huge weight is lifted off his shoulders when he is able to leave school and begin working for a purpose and a cause that he believes in.

Even being a sad story, it has a happy ending.