Reviews

Outcasts is beautiful. It has such depth, something needed to wrap up this prequel duology before the main trilogy. I think it’s absolutely perfect for those new to the series as a whole, and those who have adored the series for forever.

For us fans of Starcrossed and the later two books(soon to be four), this was a duology that answered so many questions. We have more history, explanations, love, and even hate. But with all of this, there was still a sense of urgency, mystery, and let's all be honest, dread. After reading the main trilogy, we know the ending, we just aren’t sure how it takes place and to what degree it will impact us and our main characters. This keeps the reader on the edge of their seat for the entire book.

For fans new to the series, I think they get a really unique experience of reading these books in historical order. Learning about Daphe and her tragic love before being thrust into Helons’. There’s so much foreshadowing the reader won’t catch until they continue on with Starcrossed, but I’d imagine it’d be so much fun catching those twists as they come, in a way that we who are familiar with the series will never be able to experience.

This book has you thinking ‘dread’ from the first few chapters. It’s like playing with Fate ourselves. We mirror the characters. They know they are in a losing battle with Fate, as the reader, we are also just along for the ride, completely powerless to change what we know is coming, Fate itself.

The characters we don’t get as much information, history, back story, etc. on in the original books, are in this prequel duology and we get a whole lot of them. I fell more and more in love with some of the characters I liked in Starcrossed, and became to loath characters I didn’t even like(cough Tantulous) to begin with. Josie writes her characters with such emotion, there’s so much depth to each one. This is something that Josie excels at in all her books and writing, but it’s so much fun having the chance to explore characters she’s introduced previously, even more.

This book really does have the reader experiencing every emotion possible. Hope being one, desperation, love, happiness, and absolute heartbreak being another. The craft it took to write a book like this, a second books to a prequel duolgoy, to a very solid trilogy, that still has the reader experiencing their own feelings in such a profound way… is impressive. I can’t recommend Scions and Outcasts enough, it makes me second guess or see the original trilogy on such a new level that it ‘almost’ feels like a whole new series.

bookishlynerdy's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved Outcasts. Y’all i cried so hard at this its not even funny.

Like the deaths, I knew they were going to devastate me. But the way that Josephine wrote these deaths so matter-of- fact, I think hurt more than if it had been some big production.

I’m still not over it.

Daphne, while I would argue was not the main character, was instrumental in it all and the character growth and change that we see in her as the book progresses was profound. I felt her anxiety and her despair.

Also mild Timeless spoilers, it was beyond creepy how similar the thoughts of Helen and Daphne were. I mean it makes some sort of Sense they were in similar situations but still, Helen was seemingly completely different, raised differently and their thoughts, up until now , had been different.

Ajax, in my opinion, was the main character in this book and the way that Josephine wrote it , all but confirms it. Outcasts was devastating, trippy and amazing. Another one out of the park. I’m honestly so nervous for Endless. Especially cause that’s going to be the Legitimate End. I hope it’s thick. I need massive closure.

morgan_grice's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

lpcoolgirl's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh, loved reading this book, it was a hard story knowing how things would end, and now I really need book 7!

flygirl_01's review

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5.0

4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this novel. Receiving the eARC did not affect my thoughts, as they are my own. Please check the content warning section at the beginning of the book. Thank you Josephine Angelini and Sungrazer Publishing!

This book was like an emotional roller coaster! Daphne and Ajax notice that Ajax seems to have been through an inordinate number of accidents since the events of Scions. To figure out a way to help Ajax, they both go back to New York. New York City is where the majority of the events of the book take place.

I loved learning more about the world of the Scions! We know bits and pieces from the rest of the Starcrossed series, but we get to know about the motivations, feelings, justifications, and heart of each and every major character! One of the things I love most about Josie's writing is that she makes you care for almost of her characters, even the morally grey ones. The ones that you don't care about are the truly vile ones.

There are multiple POVs within the book, and I think that Josie does a superb job giving each character their own distinctive voice. The first-person perspective allows us readers to learn about the minds and hearts of the characters. This perspective also allows us to understand why some characters make the decisions they do, either in Outcasts or in the rest of the Starcrossed series.

The heart of this story is Daphne, a very controversial character. Here, we get to continue seeing her in a sympathetic light, and we also learn why she makes some of the decisions she does in the future. I think that both Scions and Outcasts have made me a huge Daphne fan, as you will feel for her, especially when certain events come to pass.

I wish that the book had been a little longer, as I would've liked to see more of Daphne and Ajax, but learning about the other characters and overall Scions culture more than made up for this! I also love the question of being able to escape fate presented throughout Outcasts. Overall, I am in awe of this book, all of the events in it, and the inherent tragedy yet hope present.

musingsbynitika's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Instant 5 stars!! I had a major book hangover after I finished reading Outcasts. I re-read the last couple of chapters again, and it took me several days to gather my thoughts. While Starcrossed will always hold a special place in my heart, Outcasts is my new favourite book in the series. Big call – I know, but I said it.

If you ever wanted a prequel or two to help understand the characters and their personal history on a much deeper level, Josephine Angelini has got your back! Outcasts is the sequel to the prequel, Scions, and continues in the early 90s. This book is just brilliant and showcases Josie’s expertise in storytelling and character building at another level.

It really impresses me how Josie cleverly crafted all these villains and anti-heroes in the original Starcrossed trilogy and then got us to understand, sympathise and fall in love with (some of) them in the prequels in the most beautiful way. In the wise words of Taylor Swift, Daphne Atreus comes back stronger than a 90s trend.

I really couldn’t recommend the Starcrossed series more! If you love a romantacy with badass characters, vivid imagery, and excellent world building, then get your hands on the Starcrossed series – now! Warning: You will need tissues, but it’s so worth it.

Thank you, Josephine Angelini and Sungrazer Publishing, for sending me an ARC of Outcasts.

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