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bachi_04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
pauline_frdrch's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? N/A
4.0
dayamarie's review
5.0
This book took me by surprise. I saw it recommended but didn’t know much about it before I started reading it. Such a fun twist on Greek Mythology set in modern time. I couldn’t put it down once I got into it. I think I will skip the second book as it seems much darker and in the depth of hell.
roxnn2000's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting and strange read.
When Helen meets new boy, Lucas, for the first time at school she had this overwhelming urge to kill him while also acknowledging that he is the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. Despite this urge to murder one another they both cannot help be drawn to the other. Sometimes love is stronger than hate, but not even the gods could stop what was coming next.
I went back and forth a few times when reading this story. At times I thought it was intriguing and I wanted to know more, at others I was lost and almost found myself rolling my eyes at what was happening.
We spend the first few chapters getting to know Helen and how her life is. She has a best friend, Claire, her other good friend, Matt, and lives with her single dad, Jerry, who runs a store alongside another woman, Kate. These characters are all set in their roles and other than a few moments where things make no sense, it works.
After we meet Lucas, we are also introduced to his family as well. Lucas lives with his father, Caster; mother, Noel; Uncle Pallas; Aunt Pandora; sister, Cassandra; and his cousins, including Hector. Again, each plays a role and is good in it.
I found that most of the story was fine, but there being so many characters that at times I was confused at who was who. I had to remind myself that Claire wasn't part of Lucas' family and just how they were all related to each other. Despite the fact that many of them played a role in some way or another I just couldn't keep up with them at times, except for a Lucas, Cassandra and Hector.
Something that really bothered me was finding out that Claire suspected that something was up with Helen all along despite the fact that up until she learned the truth she kept asking her what was wrong and why was she being weird. It was a small thing, but it just threw me for a loop.
Another thing was near the end when Daphne shows up she reveals a major secret about Helen's father that turned everything on it's head. While I like the idea of the twist about that and everything, what bothered me was that a chapter or two later we, the reader, find out that it wasn't true at all. The point was to keep Lucas and Helen apart, but it is not explained why as it is made clear by Daphne's relationship with Ajax that two Scions from different houses could be together. It just confused me completely and I didn't get it. What was the point? If it had been kept a secret through at least a majority of the next book from everyone, including the reader, then it would have been a major surprise later on. Now, when Helen learns the truth its going to seem like old news to the reader who's known since the first book. Kind of looses it's impact at that point.
Overall, despite the weirdness and everything, I enjoyed the story and wanted to read more. I hope to find and read the 2nd book in the series real soon.
When Helen meets new boy, Lucas, for the first time at school she had this overwhelming urge to kill him while also acknowledging that he is the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. Despite this urge to murder one another they both cannot help be drawn to the other. Sometimes love is stronger than hate, but not even the gods could stop what was coming next.
I went back and forth a few times when reading this story. At times I thought it was intriguing and I wanted to know more, at others I was lost and almost found myself rolling my eyes at what was happening.
We spend the first few chapters getting to know Helen and how her life is. She has a best friend, Claire, her other good friend, Matt, and lives with her single dad, Jerry, who runs a store alongside another woman, Kate. These characters are all set in their roles and other than a few moments where things make no sense, it works.
After we meet Lucas, we are also introduced to his family as well. Lucas lives with his father, Caster; mother, Noel; Uncle Pallas; Aunt Pandora; sister, Cassandra; and his cousins, including Hector. Again, each plays a role and is good in it.
I found that most of the story was fine, but there being so many characters that at times I was confused at who was who. I had to remind myself that Claire wasn't part of Lucas' family and just how they were all related to each other. Despite the fact that many of them played a role in some way or another I just couldn't keep up with them at times, except for a Lucas, Cassandra and Hector.
Something that really bothered me was finding out that Claire suspected that something was up with Helen all along despite the fact that up until she learned the truth she kept asking her what was wrong and why was she being weird. It was a small thing, but it just threw me for a loop.
Another thing was near the end when Daphne shows up she reveals a major secret about Helen's father that turned everything on it's head. While I like the idea of the twist about that and everything, what bothered me was that a chapter or two later we, the reader, find out that it wasn't true at all. The point was to keep Lucas and Helen apart, but it is not explained why as it is made clear by Daphne's relationship with Ajax that two Scions from different houses could be together. It just confused me completely and I didn't get it. What was the point? If it had been kept a secret through at least a majority of the next book from everyone, including the reader, then it would have been a major surprise later on. Now, when Helen learns the truth its going to seem like old news to the reader who's known since the first book. Kind of looses it's impact at that point.
Overall, despite the weirdness and everything, I enjoyed the story and wanted to read more. I hope to find and read the 2nd book in the series real soon.
outoftheblue14's review
5.0
I waited a while before picking up this book. I knew it was the first one in a paranormal romance trilogy, which I'm sometimes not too fond of. However, now the book and its sequel have been translated into Italian, and are displayed prominently in my local bookshop. So I picked up Starcrossed, I read the first chapter, and wanted to keep on reading.
Helen Hamilton grew up on the island of Nantucket, raised by her single father. She's tall, blond, strong, fast, and beautiful, but also shy and sort of awkward - she feels stomach cramps every time she's at the centre of attention. Now she's a junior in high school and runs track, hoping to win a college scholarship that will get her off the island.
On the first days of school, she meets new student Lucas Delos. His extended family has just moved on the island after many years spent in Spain. He's incredibly handsome, yet Helen feels murderous rage against him and tries to kill him with her bare hands. Every time she meets him, she sees three creepy, dishevelled women in a toga who prompt her to assault. During the nights, Helen has mightmares of being thirsty and walking on dry land, only to find her sheets bloody and dirty in the mornings.
It turns out that Helen, just like the members of the Delos family, is a supernatural being cursed with reenacting the tragedy of the Trojan War. She's like Helen of Troy, destined to fall for Paris, even though their love threatens to bring the whole world apart. For this reason it is essential that Helen and Lucas, while in love, not get together. Throw in an extranged mother, a multitude of cousins in a bloodthirsty cult, the search for immortality, Atlantis, and the Oracle of Delphi, and you have a fascinating story.
Josephine Angelini uses mythological references to weave her own, original version of the Trojan war and how the struggle between gods and demigods went. The result is something new, gripping and unpredictable. I'm glad I could find a YA book in which I can't tell how things will turn out in the end after just a few chapters.
There are a couple Twiloght similarities - heroine living with her single dad, rich large family moving into small town, a group of astonishingly beautiful siblings/relatives with supernatural abilities, one with the ability to detect lies (similar to mind reading), one who can predict the future. But this is done so much better than Twilight that the similiarities end there.
I liked this book very much. I'm biting my nails to find out who Helen's father really is - Jerry, Ajax, the mysterious Daedalus who's mentioned just once, or someone else entirely? And if Daphne is lying, why can't Lucas notice? I will definitely be picking up the sequel soon.
Read this book if you're interested in mythology and an original, paranormal love story.
Cover attraction: beautiful. While not exactly original, the dress and the water bank actually refer to the real story (what bothers me in the conventional girl-in-beautiful-dress YA cover, is that is usually has nothing to do with the real story, so much that covers could be interchangeable). It's shiny and very pretty in real life. A winner.
Helen Hamilton grew up on the island of Nantucket, raised by her single father. She's tall, blond, strong, fast, and beautiful, but also shy and sort of awkward - she feels stomach cramps every time she's at the centre of attention. Now she's a junior in high school and runs track, hoping to win a college scholarship that will get her off the island.
On the first days of school, she meets new student Lucas Delos. His extended family has just moved on the island after many years spent in Spain. He's incredibly handsome, yet Helen feels murderous rage against him and tries to kill him with her bare hands. Every time she meets him, she sees three creepy, dishevelled women in a toga who prompt her to assault. During the nights, Helen has mightmares of being thirsty and walking on dry land, only to find her sheets bloody and dirty in the mornings.
It turns out that Helen, just like the members of the Delos family, is a supernatural being cursed with reenacting the tragedy of the Trojan War. She's like Helen of Troy, destined to fall for Paris, even though their love threatens to bring the whole world apart. For this reason it is essential that Helen and Lucas, while in love, not get together. Throw in an extranged mother, a multitude of cousins in a bloodthirsty cult, the search for immortality, Atlantis, and the Oracle of Delphi, and you have a fascinating story.
Josephine Angelini uses mythological references to weave her own, original version of the Trojan war and how the struggle between gods and demigods went. The result is something new, gripping and unpredictable. I'm glad I could find a YA book in which I can't tell how things will turn out in the end after just a few chapters.
There are a couple Twiloght similarities - heroine living with her single dad, rich large family moving into small town, a group of astonishingly beautiful siblings/relatives with supernatural abilities, one with the ability to detect lies (similar to mind reading), one who can predict the future. But this is done so much better than Twilight that the similiarities end there.
I liked this book very much. I'm biting my nails to find out who Helen's father really is - Jerry, Ajax, the mysterious Daedalus who's mentioned just once, or someone else entirely? And if Daphne is lying, why can't Lucas notice? I will definitely be picking up the sequel soon.
Read this book if you're interested in mythology and an original, paranormal love story.
Cover attraction: beautiful. While not exactly original, the dress and the water bank actually refer to the real story (what bothers me in the conventional girl-in-beautiful-dress YA cover, is that is usually has nothing to do with the real story, so much that covers could be interchangeable). It's shiny and very pretty in real life. A winner.
nebelkrahe's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
milllie's review against another edition
3.0
Also Helen finde ich so okay, sie ist halt irgendwie dumm. Das sie so von Lucas "abhängig" ist mag ich nicht, und dass sie sich immer wegen ihrer Schnelligkeit und Stärke gefürchtet hat versteh ich nicht, ich fände das soo cool. Helen stellt irgendwie auch immer die falschen Fragen und scheint auch ein bisschen naiv. Sie ist eine miserable Freundin, zu Claire und auch zu Matt. Die beiden mag ich aber sehr, beides sind echt tolle Freunde. Wie die das alles einfach irgendwie akzeptiert haben und helfen, wo sie nur können, ist so süß. Vor allem Claire, wie sie schon immer Sachen über Helen wusste, die sie nicht mal selbst wusste (z.B. das Fliegen). Lucas find ich irgendwie auch dumm, krieg dich doch mal ein Junge. Deren Liebesgeschichte war am Anfang irgendwie süß, aber jetzt wo die denken, sie wären Cousins find ichs blöd. Ich vertshe auch gar nicht, was Daphne davon hat. Denkt sie, sie könnte Helen so besser kontrollieren?
Den Großteil der Familie Delos mag ich wirklich sehr. Cassandra tut mir so leid, und sie ist so tapfer, wie sie das alles durchsteht. Adriane mag ich auch sehr gerne, sie ist so nett und lieb. Ich hoffe sie kommt mit Matt zusammen. Jason finde ich auch toll, es war so nett, wie er Claire schützen wollte und ich hoffe, die beiden haben ein Happy End zusammen. Hektor finde ich auch super. Er gibt sein bestes und würde alles für seine Familie tun, er tut mir so, so leid, dass er da jetzt quasi ausgestoßen ist. Ich hoffe, die besiegen die Furien irgendwie, damit er zurück kann. Castor und Pallas mag ich auch sehr gerne, und Noel ist ja sowieso richtig toll. Pandora mochte ich auch voll, irgendwie ist es ja voll verständlich, dass sie Daphne am Ende "verraten" hat, ich meine bei der ist ja auch irgendwas faul, das war so mies, wie sie für Pandoras Tod gesorgt hat. Und jetzt manipuliert sie alle anderen, ich hoffe das geht alles gut. ich vertseh auch nicht, warum sie ihre Tochter, von der sie wusste, dass sie aussehen wird wie Helena von Troja, Helen genannt hat, sie weiß doch, dass das ein Name für Verräter ist. Aber Jerry und Kate sind wirklich toll, ich wünsche mir nur, dass Helen zumindest ihren Vater einweiht, weil das hier ist ja auch keine Lösung.
Die Handlung fand ich am Anfang eigentlich ganz cool, ich fands irgendwie lustig, dass die sich so ohne Grund gehasst haben. Aber irgendwann wurde es ein bisschen wirr und irgendwie auch willkürlich. Das ganze ist auch wirklich nur sehr locker an der griechischen Mythologie inspiriert, aber das ist okay. Ich finds interessant, dass es nur diese vier Häuser gibt, warum nicht noch andere Gottheiten? Und die Kräfteverteilung ist irgendwie auch wahllos. Die "Bösewichte", also die Hundert Cousins (dämlicher Name) sind ganz okay, aber der ganze Plan mit Atlantis ist irgendwie absurd. Es gibt aber auf jeden Fall viele unrealistische Sachen und irgendwie Dinge, die nicht so ganz Sinn ergeben. Zum Beispiel, was ist jetzt eigentlich mit Zach ist. Weiß der etwas oder so? Naja, ich bin tatsächlich schon gespannt, was jetzt noch passieren wird.
20. Mai 2024
yukarin's review against another edition
2.0
This book began good but went wrong pretty fast. The female main character Helen is described as shy but I don't see her as being so. Her actions are naive, stupid and illogical. Most of the times I couldn't understand why she handles certain situations the way she does. So, Helen annoyed me very much!
The male counterpart is a quiet and nice guy. But nothing more. There is no real character due to the lack of character description.
I also wasn't surprised by the obvious plottwists that happened.
In the future, I will try to read the second book to see if it will become better.
The male counterpart is a quiet and nice guy. But nothing more. There is no real character due to the lack of character description.
I also wasn't surprised by the obvious plottwists that happened.
In the future, I will try to read the second book to see if it will become better.