BOOK REVIEW - STARCROSSED by JOSEPHINE ANGELINI

By : Josephine Angelini
Published By : HarperTeen
Release Date : May 31st 2011
Details : Netgalley Ebook , 310 Pages

RATING : 4.5 LUCAS STARS!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

How do you defy destiny?


Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.


As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

BOOK REVIEW:


I simply loooovvvved this book. Josephine Angelini has given great attention to detail with her Greek Gods Mythology , Trojan War, The Three Fates, demigods aka Scions. I thought this was a very clever and original book . Josephine really wove the Greek Mythology into her story of starcrossed lovers, really well. She does a lot of world building in this book, it’s not overwhelming, it’s at a good steady pace.


Visually in my mind there were some great scenes in this book. For a debut author , Josephine has written a stunning book.


I loved Lucas’s character, his strength, passion and loyalty to the ones he loves. His self control would be hard on any hot blooded teenager. Lucas has a wheelbarrow full of struggles that he must try to overcome, if the Fates will allow it. The thing is the Fates have a theory, ‘blood for blood’, this doesn’t bode well for Lucas.


Helen, the socially awkward nearly 17 yr old teenager who wanted nothing more than to blend into the scenery, to be Claire’s bff and she was happy enough with that. Her whole world, which in her case is the Island of Nantucket, is completely rocked with the Delos family moving onto the island, from her wanting to kill Lucas, to wanting nothing more than to be free to love him. Will the Fates  allow this?

Her mother left her father Jerry, to raise Helen, disappearing leaving no proof of her existence, apart from Helen. The Helen at the start of the book is very different to the Helen at the end of the book. Her character is forced to grow and discover the Helen she should be.


Claire aka Giggles , I really loved her honesty, loyalty and her willing to never give up on Helen, no matter what secrets Helen kept from her . Claire is one smart, intuitive cookie. I did laugh out loud several times at Claire’s recollection of her childhood with Helen.


Hector, he comes across as the grouchy, ready to battle cousin, but I feel a love there for Helen. Not necessarily the love triangle type love, but a growing respect for her. Hector is a protector and throws himself into keeping his family safe . I think his pet name of ‘Princess’ finally stopped when Helen earned his respect. He doesn’t hold back, even if you are a girl when he trains , he will pound you unless you fight back. He will show you humility if you need to be shown. I really loved Hector’s character.


The healing twins Ariadne and Jason , Lucas’s cousins, I really liked. Ariadne seemed the most relaxed out of the families. The sister type character to Helen. Jason was always available to step up and protect or defend his family when they are in need.


Cassandra, the youngest , only 13 years old, yet years ahead of her time was the most serious. She has a great burden to carry at such a young age.


‘Starcrossed’ , carried me away from start to finish. Every page words were not wasted. The story has depth and the characters are solid. I love a good twist as I am reading, thinking I am a smarty pants and know where the story is going, then curve ball, away we go in a surprising twist, then ....curve ball...away we go again.


Josephine keeps adding to her story, keeping the reader entertained. I liked the ending as this is a series of books, well you need the story to go somewhere for book # 2 titled ‘Dreamless’ and , she sure did that. Another struggle for the Delos family and Helen is about to unfold in ‘Dreamless’. A terrible heart wrenching lie has been told to Helen, I can’t wait to see how she handles it.

A big thankyou to Netgalley and HarperTeen for this arc read.


FAVE QUOTE:


“Is that how tall you are without those ridiculous shoes? “ he said derisively. “I think I was born bigger than that.”


“I bet you were. Five feet of fat head and two inches of ass,” Claire muttered, standing up.

Michelle