Starcrossed by Josephine Angelinipublisher: HarperTeen
release date: May 31, 2011
hardcover, 496 pages
intended audience: Young adult
rating:
source: from author for honest review/book tour
description:
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: Here's a sign of a really good book: going about my day feeling like I can't wait to get back to it, feeling like I'm missing the characters that I've become so invested in that I can't wait to see what they'll do next---and then suddenly remembering that I finished the book and feeling sad, missing them all the more like long lost family.
Here's another sign of a really good book: Ultimate. Emotional. Roller Coaster.
Josephine Angelini is am amazing storyteller. I loved the characters she created. Her casual and descriptive writing style sinks you right into the middle of their world. It made me want to sit and joke with Helen and Claire (especially loved tiny, spunky Claire!). And sit down for dinner with the great big Delos Family and eat something yummy and home-cooked by the amazing, loving Noel (Lucas's mother). After getting to know them all, I was emotionally sucked in to this story and stuck there! It had me all over the place---laughing, angry, frustrated, worried, awestruck...and heartbroken. The love story is such a great one...how can it not be when it starts off with them inexplicably trying to kill each other? They have so much to overcome and so many uncontrollable factors working against them...I literally felt that empty hole in my chest that I vividly remember from my own teen years, when you think you love someone and start to feel it slipping away.
All gushing aside, I did have a two little cons: I admit that once or twice, I felt my attention dip---in nearly 500 pages, it's bound to happen---whether it was from a bit too much detailed description or a rehashed situation, it really didn't take much away from my love for this book. Also (and this is 100% my own personal quirk and possible reading inadequacy :D), I tend to have a little awkwardness when reading about people flying. Especially when they don't have wings...it somehow doesn't translate into my mind's eye without coming off as a little superman-style cheesy. Again, that's my own personal quirk---I'm sure not all readers are as weird about that as me!
An amazing debut, and totally lived up to the hype for me. I can't wait for the sequel!! I'll be missing these characters until then!
Visit Josephine Angelini's site here.
Purchase Starcrossed at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound
Trailer:
Okay so the good hugely outweighed the bad. Sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review! I've heard mixed reviews about this one, but I'm definitely going to give it a fair go now. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
ReplyDeleteBooks of Amber
I love that trailer.. OOoo... want to read now!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one too, although I found it to be a little less AMAZING than everyone is saying it is. I had difficulty in warming to the character of Helen too. I found her irritating at times.
ReplyDeleteYay I'm glad this one was so good because I have already pre-ordered a copy so that I have it in time for the Dark Days of Summer signing tour. Thanks for the great review :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Though I had my own tiny complaints when reading this book, I really, really enjoyed it! There are so many things to love about it!<3
ReplyDeleteOh, and about the flying thing... it made me think of Claire and her bf from Heroes - the TV Show. Not bad though.:P
xoxo
I am currently reading this and there were times that I felt frustrated with the story but I'm glad I kept going because I'm really getting into the story now. Fantastic review!
ReplyDeleteGreat review.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing good things about this title, but for some reason I keep skipping passed it! I hate the sign of a good book, it's so depressing. Especially when it's a stand alone book!
Great review! I really liked this book as well! Can't believe it's the author's debut novel, her writing is so impressive
ReplyDeleteLOL! I agree with you about flying sans wings. I never know how to picture that in my head without making it look silly. Even with wings, I don't know, what should they be doing with their arms and legs? Surely not striking a Superman pose, which is what I can't help but default to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the characters, too. I kept thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it and now that it's over I'm still thinking about them. I can't wait to dive back into their story. Come on 2012!