**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review, sorry it took me so long to read it but glad I finally got to it!**

Star of the North is an excellent spy-political thriller that made me glad not to be born in North Korea. I’m not usually a fan of spy thrillers but this was a great story. It started out a bit slow as we get to know our cast of characters but I love how everything ties together at the end. Ended up being quite a page turner.

I was given an electronic copy of Star of the North via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion was freely given.

I have long been a fan of spy thrillers, so I had high hopes for Star of the North. I actually was not sold on the book at first, as it seemed too fantastical to be believable. After turning to the back and reading the author's note, however, I saw the novel in a whole different light. I wish that portions of that author's note had been in the beginning of the book because knowing certain elements of the novel are based in fact made Star of the North intriguing beyond measure.

Star of the North begins with the disappearance of a young American, leaving her twin sister to mourn the loss. When that sister ends up being given an opportunity by the CIA, will she finally learn the truth about her twin? Intertwined with this plot line are two others: that of a North Korean peasant woman, doing what she must to survive; and a decorated North Korean official, learning the truth about his past and deciding how that will affect his future.

The pacing of Star of the North is on point, as the author moves from character to character easily and without confusion. With some of this novel historical in nature, but with some fictional characters, the author does a good job of weaving the story together in a clear and cohesive manner. The reality of the treatment of prisoners in North Korea is shocking, as are the other elements of fact in the novel. The ending included some unrealistic plot points, which held Star of the North back from being a five star book. Overall, this spy thriller was well written, with a great plot and characterization.

This is a very compelling thriller that provides an eye-opening and very personal view of the atrocities, horrible choices, and paranoid way of life in North Korea due the the Kim regime. We see people at both high and low ends of the supposedly egalitarian culture -- and how portraits, thought police, brutality, and other factors brainwash people to enable the oppression to continue.
Particularly useful was the piece at the end where the author explained the sources and research that led to the vivid depictions of underground markets, prison camps, and other aspects of North Korean life. That adds weight to the magnitude of inhumanity there, unless the real life defectors who wrote those accounts are part of an infiltration campaign even more nefarious than the Seed-Bearing program that Jenna's sister is forced to join in the book.
But back to the plot -- twin Jenna is haunted by her sister's disappearance with her boyfriend from a South Korean island, and many years later is an expert on North Korea but a wreck in all other aspects of her life. She is recruited by the CIA because of her expertise and originality, and becomes a field agent/analyst a la Jack Ryan. This opens the door for her to take part in trade negotiations and bond with Cho, an elite in the North Korean government -- at least until his and his brother's unknown parentage is investigated.
This has some great plot twists and wonderful focus on Jenna and Cho, though some other aspects kept coming to mind, like what happened with the intelligence they received or other things beyond their stories.
Very fun, and valuable to give people perspective on what is going on in North Korea and how life can be some different from what we take for granted.

Star of the North by D.B. John follows the stories of an American, Jenna and two North Koreans, Cho and Mrs. Moon. Jenna is plagued by the disappearance of her twin sister. She is an expert on North Korea, as much as any American can be, and because of this is recruited by the CIA. Mrs. Moon is a peasant in North Korea trying to survive the lack of food and basic supplies. Cho is a high ranking North Korean official who having grown up among the more privileged wonders if his family’s past will taint his status. Though each so different their stories become intertwined.

A large part of the story takes place in North Korea. I knew only very basic facts about North Korea and so as I was reading this book I kept doing more research about North Korea to see how much was fiction and totally made up and how much could actually be based on factual information. Needless to say I learned a lot about North Korea and how the people there live. So much was heartbreaking and I t would have been very difficult to read about had the plot not moved so quickly. I was pulled into the story of these 3 characters so quickly and it was a difficult book to put down. But while I was anxiously reading to see what happens to Jenna, Cho and Mrs. Moon I was also thinking of the government and the sorrows that the common people face in North Korea. I find it fascinating how people can justify the way they treat other humans. It is always so difficult to read about the way humans treat other humans. But among the atrocities there were also little gems of human kindness.

I enjoyed John’s writing style and thought the book often read like a movie. I could picture the scenes he was describing and it played out in my mind the way a movie would.

This was a fun read. The ending was a surprise and a bit over the top but I still really enjoyed it.

In view of the actions of North Korea lately (and, of course, in the past), this book gives a good idea of what it is like to live in North Korea. As a sister searches for her long lost twin sister, she finds that all her skills are necessary to survive in this brutal country.

This is such a timely read! I have never read a novel about North Korea before, probably because there aren't many due to the limited information that the outside world has about life on the inside. It was strange to finish the book, turn on the news and see some of the same events unfolding. I LOVED THIS BOOK. It follows 3 characters and their experiences as they try to walk the thin line of staying in the good graces of the violent and unstable North Korean regime.

This very timely book is a must read. It is a ripped from the head-lines story. Very atmospheric, and Highly recommended.

STAR OF THE NORTH

Good story. Star of the North is about mixed race Korean twins Jenna and Soo-min who were separated through the abduction of Soo-min while she was visiting South Korea as a teenager. The book focuses on Jenna's attempt to see if she is still alive and find her.

What I found extremely interesting about Star of the North was the information I learned about life in North Korea, including details of their social and political systems, the extreme forced devotion to their leader Kim Jung il, and the work camps and gulags. Programs for the development of intelligent operatives, including abducting Japanese and South Korean citizens, and the "Seed Bearing Program" were informative.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the humanity that was displayed by the characters, the citizens of North Korea, in how they supported each other in living within this repressive regime. Many times this was done surreptitiously and stealthily. It was fascinating.

I thought that the various story lines tied together nicely. As with a lot of action/adventure stories, suspension of believe is helpful if not essential. But this was very entertaining to read and the author's research was evident throughout the book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, D.B. John, and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Star of the North started strong with the kidnapping of a Korean American teenager and her boyfriend from a South Korean Beach. The reader will know that they have been kidnapped, their families do not. The year was 1998 and their families have been led to believe that the pair has either drowned or run away. Either way, they never returned home (their bodies were never found), and their families were left heartbroken and with questions that could not be answered.

Jenna, the twin sister of the missing girl has always wanted answers concerning her sister's disappearance. Twelve years after her sister’s disappearance, she is recruited by the CIA and ultimately decides to take the opportunity to travel to North Korea on a mission. She has learned some disturbing news that North Korean has kidnapped individuals from beaches, could this have been the fate of her sister? Could her sister still be alive? Will she ever see her again? Will Jenna ever get answers?

Through the course of this book, two other interesting characters with their own story-lines come into play. Mrs. Moon quickly became my favorite character, lives in a penal colony and is quite the rebel! She is smart, crafty, bold, and willing to take risks that others would not. One day she finds an international air balloon containing goods which she decides to hide and use to start her own business. Mrs. Moon is always thinking and always has something up her sleeve!

Lastly, there is Cho who is a North Korean high ranking official. There is some question about his family history which is not only concerning to him but to the North Korean government as well. He is a little stiff, cold and aloof in the beginning of the book. He has a job which he takes seriously and he seems to really believe in what he does for a living until.....

I loved how the story-lines of the three characters came together. The merging of story-lines occurred seamlessly. Although Mrs. Moon stole the show for me, I grew to admire and respect Cho for his inner strength and growth toward the end of the book. Each of the characters change and grow as the book progresses. Each one will have his/her tests and must cope with being in a country with rigid rules which could change on a dime and result in his/her death. All the characters in this book take risks which prove for some tense and suspenseful scenes.

This well written book shows oppression, suffering and a glimpse into the lives of those living in constant fear. I couldn't help but appreciate to live where I live while reading this book. I'm sure other readers will as well. Although there is suffering and oppression in this book, there is also strength, hope compassion and humanity. This is a perfect book for book clubs as there is a lot to discuss in this book!

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This propulsive thriller is sure to please everyone looking for a good read that is also informative about North Korea. Three separative story lines converge in a heart stopping last half to the book. Star of the North is a step up from the typical summer espionage read.

5 big stars to Star of the North! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Where do I even start with this one. Yowza. So stinkin’ good. Thanks to my friend, Fran, for another stellar recommendation.

A thriller set in North and South Korea- talk about original! And timely! It is 1999 when a Korean American teenager is kidnapped from a beach in South Korea and taken to North Korea. Twelve years later, her twin, Jenna, is certain her sister is still alive and wants desperately to find answers.

There are other stories within this stories, and I know some are hesitant about that. Here, it is brilliantly done because it sheds light on all aspects of the story at a deeper level. One of the additional stories is about a peasant woman living and working in North Korea. I felt like I had my eyes literally on the ground in North Korea, that forbidden place we never get to truly see. The second story is about a high ranking North Korean official who finds out he may be related to a traitor of the state, which is punishable by death.

I was literally spellbound by this book. It was steeped in culture, one I know little about, while also being one of most edge-of-your-seat, gripping and original thrillers I’ve read in a while. Smart, explosive, revealing, and masterful, D.B. John’s Star of the North is an exceptional, phenomenal, and insert every single other adjective to gush about this wondrous thriller.

Thank you to D.B. John, Crown Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC. Star of the North will be released on May 22, 2018.

A very timely (even if set several years ago) novel that is an honestly good thriller. Jenna has devoted her life to the study of North Korea after the disappearance of her twin twelve years ago. Now an expert courted by the USG and later hired by CIA, she's determined to find her. This blends the stories of Colonel Cho (wonderful!), Jenna, and Mrs. Moon. Cho and Mrs. Moon must deal with the multitude of horrors that come from living in North Korea. John did an especially good job with his research. Some of this, especially toward the end, might seem implausible but go with it. There's a triumph of the human spirit and determination that pervades this. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this and recommend to those looking for a topical international sleigh ride of a novel.

Star of the North takes you on a journey through the eyes of several characters separated by almost every imaginable gulf: distance, poverty, privilege, etc. But the further you read, and the more tense things become, you start to see the threads that connect these lives, and the inescapable bonds of hope, fear, and determination that wind through us all.

A suspenseful and realistic exploration of an elusive government allows readers to go "behind the curtain" to glimpse the horrors within.

The fictional story of Jenna Williams is a stark reminder that the REAL North Korea is NOT the one portrayed by NBC during the recent winter Olympics. Read this America, fiction I know but very very accurate of the reality. GREAT WORK!!

An action-packed thriller steeped in the farcical reality of North Korea. I'm a bit of a DPRK info-junkie, and I could immediately tell the author did a fair amount of research for this book. Even the most ludicrous of plot developments (like North Korea's "Seed Bearing Program") are based on actual events. Some of the writing is a little stilted, I never fully warmed to the main character, Jenna. The side characters, however, Mrs. Moon and Cho, were fascinating, and despite any qualms on the art of the prose, it was unquestionably a page-turner. The ending felt somewhat unfinished... perhaps open for a sequel?

The 65th Anniversary of the founding of the Worker's Party in North Korea is at hand. The date: October 10, 2010. Colonel Cho of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is overcome with emotion. People weep, cry, and cheer as Kim Jong-Il waves to the crowd. After all, Kim Jong-Il is their guiding light. North Korean news coverage shows the Dear Leader eating simple meals of potatoes in solidarity, and with understanding, of the people's plight. Author D.B. John, who visited North Korea in 2012, has written a thriller with three distinct voices and experiences navigating the underbelly of North Korea.

June 1998, Soo-min, a U.S. citizen studying music in South Korea, disappears from a beach along with boyfriend, Jae-hoo, a resident of Seoul. It was determined through video footage that the students did not leave Condol Beach by ferry or boat. All personal items were discovered on the beach suggesting drowning although no bodies were recovered. Jee-min (Jenna), Soo-min's identical twin sister could still "feel" her twin's presence even ten years later. Jenna Williams, now a Georgetown University professor, grew up in a dual culture with dual languages. Born to a Korean mother and African-American father, she learned and was fluent in North Korean dialect. She was recruited to work for the CIA.

Mrs. Moon was picked up daily, by open truck, to work in the cornfields. She could be seen washing her face in a ditch at the side of the road. She finds an enemy balloon with an attached plastic sack when it lands between the trees. She hides the contents including two pairs of warm woolen socks and twelve Choco Pies (made in South Korea). Mrs. Moon is determined not to starve or beg for food. She will use the cookies as a bargaining chip at the market.

Colonel Cho is happily married and adores his son nicknamed "Books". He fervently believes in the Dear Leader's message. Cho is being sent to New York to open negotiations with the Americans. If successful, a military promotion will follow. A vetting process for "elite" status includes an investigation to ascertain whether his gene pool carries any ancestral criminality. Cho's adoption at a young age is reason for concern.

The interplay and twists and turns of the story make for a gripping, eye-opening and heart wrenching look at life in North Korea. We experience the life of the upper echelon contrasted with poverty and suffering and the ever present looming shadow of the Bowibu, the state security force. "Star of the North" by D.B. John is a timely portrait of North Korea. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Crown Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Star of the North".

Superb thriller! Great insights into North Korea. Look forward to the next book from this author!

A Georgetown professor becomes a CIA operative specializing in North Korea after her twin sister is abducted when she is eighteen. This well researched story of a US delegation' s visit and vice versa reflects the modern state of North Korea where truth can often be stranger than fiction. Filled with a few unexpected twists before things get pretty incredible towards the end. This novel was read with great interest and has a comprehensive Author's Note with an informative list of further reading.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

D.B. John’s Star of the North is an exceptional thriller about the relationship between The United States and North Korea. Based on actual historical policies within the DPRK, the book follows three plot lines that the reader knows will eventually intersect.
Mrs. Moon has been living on a prison farm for over 20 years, but tries her luck at becoming an entrepreneur in the local marketplace. Cho is a high-ranking official in the regime who attempts to gain power and respect. The main character Jenna is an American college professor whose exchange-student sister had disappeared 12 years prior close to the North Korean border. The CIA use this circumstance to try to woo her into becoming an agent.
While it does take awhile for these threads to come together, it is essential in developing worthwhile characters. There is not one character in the book who lacks roundness and is not fleshed out.
John’s writing is impressively detailed which heightens interest, yet doesn’t bog down the story in minutiae. This is a superior spy thriller which lacks the usual cookie-cutter good/ bad guys of the genre. I fully recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.