Book Reviews

review; starcrossed

Starcrossed-cover

Starcrossed
by Josephine Angelini

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.

Review:

I will admit, the first few pages of the story seemed to be a little too fluffy, a little childish. There was something in the writing that did not quite rub me the right way. But I could also tell that pieces were being put into place – the burnt smell Helen felt, the pain she would undergo when she was the centre of attention – so I kept reading.

Once the chessboard was set though, nothing could keep me from finishing the book in one day. Helen is an endearingly strong character, though one that does not see her strengths. She sees her flaws though, she knows that sometimes she is selfish, sometimes she is proud, and that makes her all the more likeable.

Lucas is interesting too. I would like more from his point of view, I will admit, because at the moment he does not seem as developed as Helen. Then again, majority of the story is from Helen’s point of view so I can understand that. I adore the relationship between Lucas and his family, and I love how they are all extremely close despite obviously being so different. Every individual has their flaws, and their strengths, and they work together all the better for it.

Most times I do not enjoy star-crossed lovers, but Helen and Lucas? There is something there that pulls me in. I think it’s the fact that they know they are doomed, they do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. They are actively trying to be better than the stories they have been told. They heed the warnings, and it hurts them, but they know there is more to life than just the both of them.

Helen’s friends? Are amazing. I want friends like Claire and Matt. (Also, totally called Claire/Jason from the beginning. I need stories from their point of view. So bad. Also Matt/Ariadne? I like. I like a lot.) And her dad! I feel like even though she may have missed her real mom, because the way she left sucked? She had Kate. She had a mom, she just has not realised it yet.

Do not trust Daphne at all. Super pissed about her being the cause of Pandora’s death, though I understand she did not mean it. Can’t say I’m not glad Creon’s dead. He creeped me out.

I can’t wait to read the next book. This was great, not too long and full of suspense and development. I’m sure the next one will be equally as good.

I’m Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.

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