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rebecca_dt's review
4.0
It added an interesting twist to the classic "Trojan War" story and did not use the typical "children of the gods" trope most young adult books use. However, like most books written for teens, it had a supernatural romance at its core which is getting a little tiring.
tween2teenbookreviews's review
4.0
I actually read Starcrossed ages ago. I've been rereading it ever since. Seriously, I've reread the book more times than I can count. And you can totally tell by how worn the copy is. The book is amazing. Like, seriously amazing. As in, my favorite book of ALL time! It has been my favorite for a while now. I've probably read it so many times, I could recite most of it, that's how awesome it is. It's plot is intricate, and it's impossible to see the end coming. There are some predictable things, but what book doesn't have something predictable? Josephine Angelini kept me on my toes the entire time!
The main character is Helen Hamilton. She is strong inside, but is so self-concious about how much she sticks out, she doesn't notice. Anyone who sees her, including the reader, can tell she's meant for great and wonderful things, she just doesn't see it at first. But as the book progresses, and even more in the sequel, Helen grows stronger and more self-assured. She is a heroin anyone can admire. I know I do. She has problems in front of her, and tasks not many could complete, and yet she comes out stronger. I don't know how Josephine Angelini does it, but Helen is one of the best portrayed characters I've seen.
The plot of this book is great. As I said before, I was kept on my toes the entire time. Once you've read the second book, Dreamless, you can reread Starcrossed and catch a lot of foreshadowing. I severely enjoyed the book. I've read the book again and again, along with loaned it to anyone who will read it, and every one of them has loved the book. For more info on the book and series go to Josie's website and Facebook page. I give these books are hearty five stars.
The main character is Helen Hamilton. She is strong inside, but is so self-concious about how much she sticks out, she doesn't notice. Anyone who sees her, including the reader, can tell she's meant for great and wonderful things, she just doesn't see it at first. But as the book progresses, and even more in the sequel, Helen grows stronger and more self-assured. She is a heroin anyone can admire. I know I do. She has problems in front of her, and tasks not many could complete, and yet she comes out stronger. I don't know how Josephine Angelini does it, but Helen is one of the best portrayed characters I've seen.
The plot of this book is great. As I said before, I was kept on my toes the entire time. Once you've read the second book, Dreamless, you can reread Starcrossed and catch a lot of foreshadowing. I severely enjoyed the book. I've read the book again and again, along with loaned it to anyone who will read it, and every one of them has loved the book. For more info on the book and series go to Josie's website and Facebook page. I give these books are hearty five stars.
bookgoonie's review
3.0
Greek mythology wasn’t my favorite in school, but it sure can provide for a lot of drama in a YA novel. Meet Helen…The World History teacher goes to what famous Greek Helen? Yes, Helen of Troy…oh so tragic. Well this Helen is a teenage girl being raised by her single dad on the island of Nantucket. Her mother disappeared when she was too young to even remember her. Helen feels like a freak. She is too fast and too strong for a normal girl. She is trying to fly under the radar. But she has the spunkist 5’2″ friend, Claire. Claire will not go quietly into the night….love her. Her word choice is epic. She even weaves in a Monty Python reference to the “holy hand grenade.” lol. If this is a Greek tragedy, we need way more drama…
,,,Then Helen saw Lucas for the first time.
The sky outside finally exhaled all of the winds that it had been holding for two days. Gusts of stale, hot air pushed through every open window into the sweltering school. It caught loose sheets of paper, skirt hems, unbound hair, stray wrappers, and other odds and ends, and tossed them all toward the ceiling like hats on graduation day. For a moment it seemed to Helen that everything stayed up there, frozen at the top of an arc, as weightless as space.
Lucas was standing in front of his locker about twenty feet away, staring back at Helen while the world waited for gravity to switch back on. He was tall, over six feet at least, and powerfully built, although his muscles were long and lean instead of bulky. He had short, black hair and dark end-of-summer tan that brought out his white smile and his swimming-pool blue eyes.
Meeting his eyes was an awakening. For the first time in Helen’s life she knew what pure, heart-poisoning hatred was.
Whatcha talking about Zeus? Well apparently the Furies want Helen to kill this druelilicious demigod of Apollo. Bummer. Well there is some romantic moments–the hand holding is even good–and more Greek tragedy.
It’s almost as if we don’t need to live our lives or feel our feelings at all, because someone already told us what the ending was going to be,”…
Will these charcters be able to escape their fate and write their own story OR are they doomed to repeat thousands of years of history again?
What I liked…the characters. Helen is definitely one of those girls you know that is always trying not to stand out or fully show her talent. You can sympathize with her never really having a boyfriend before, strong connection with her father and best friend and good old high school anxiety. Dare I do this? I am going to make some cross book comparisons. The dialog between Helen and Claire reminds me of Max from Maximum Ride. The demigod situation is similar to Percy Jackson. The love that shouldn’t be and Lucas’ family and how they interact reminds me of Twilight. There is a City of Bones aspect that I won’t elaborate or allude to.
What I wasn’t sure of…Greek mythology can be confusing. YIKES!!! Now it isn’t necessary to follow every tidbit to follow the story, but I felt a little off. Somethings or event may seem a little rushed or convoluted. But again, I just kept on reading. Lucas is beyond understanding and sensitive–kind of Edwardesque. Now that didn’t stop me from reading all of that series, but wanted to give you the heads up.
,,,Then Helen saw Lucas for the first time.
The sky outside finally exhaled all of the winds that it had been holding for two days. Gusts of stale, hot air pushed through every open window into the sweltering school. It caught loose sheets of paper, skirt hems, unbound hair, stray wrappers, and other odds and ends, and tossed them all toward the ceiling like hats on graduation day. For a moment it seemed to Helen that everything stayed up there, frozen at the top of an arc, as weightless as space.
Lucas was standing in front of his locker about twenty feet away, staring back at Helen while the world waited for gravity to switch back on. He was tall, over six feet at least, and powerfully built, although his muscles were long and lean instead of bulky. He had short, black hair and dark end-of-summer tan that brought out his white smile and his swimming-pool blue eyes.
Meeting his eyes was an awakening. For the first time in Helen’s life she knew what pure, heart-poisoning hatred was.
Whatcha talking about Zeus? Well apparently the Furies want Helen to kill this druelilicious demigod of Apollo. Bummer. Well there is some romantic moments–the hand holding is even good–and more Greek tragedy.
It’s almost as if we don’t need to live our lives or feel our feelings at all, because someone already told us what the ending was going to be,”…
Will these charcters be able to escape their fate and write their own story OR are they doomed to repeat thousands of years of history again?
What I liked…the characters. Helen is definitely one of those girls you know that is always trying not to stand out or fully show her talent. You can sympathize with her never really having a boyfriend before, strong connection with her father and best friend and good old high school anxiety. Dare I do this? I am going to make some cross book comparisons. The dialog between Helen and Claire reminds me of Max from Maximum Ride. The demigod situation is similar to Percy Jackson. The love that shouldn’t be and Lucas’ family and how they interact reminds me of Twilight. There is a City of Bones aspect that I won’t elaborate or allude to.
What I wasn’t sure of…Greek mythology can be confusing. YIKES!!! Now it isn’t necessary to follow every tidbit to follow the story, but I felt a little off. Somethings or event may seem a little rushed or convoluted. But again, I just kept on reading. Lucas is beyond understanding and sensitive–kind of Edwardesque. Now that didn’t stop me from reading all of that series, but wanted to give you the heads up.
nexusgoblin's review
2.0
This is such an awkward book to review, mainly because I'm really confused on how I feel about it. I like it but I really don't. It's frustrating.
The premise is one that I, as I've said before , really enjoy. I love Greek mythology and I've come to love seeing authors intertwine their ideas in with the myths of old. This is an interesting concept and that's the part I really like. I love the idea of their being different Houses and that the Fates take such a direct approach to seeing things through. I like that it's a sort of weird retelling of old myths. But then there is all the things I didn't like...and they are many. I really didn't like Helen...or Lucas, they were really see through and as soon as they started on their trip down the inevitable 'love' road I knew exactly how things were going to play out. It's so frustrating to read about a relationship that they tell you is 'destined' but then they keep flip flopping all over the place. I also couldn't get a read on how Helen looked, in the first parts of the book she comes off as this awkward tall girl who is pretty...and then later on she's drop dead gorgeous. So in the end all I couldn't picture her at all. The personalities didn't come off as real either. Helen has no sense of curiosity the entire time people are clearly explaining things half way, and then she wants to be angry when she finds out something later. Apparently the concept of asking questions is one that doesn't apply to a fictional world. She's also incredibly selfish and has her "Bella" moments when it comes to Lucus.
I think this may have been said before but to me this book comes off as a weird mash up of Percy Jackson and Twilight. I would lay out a huge comparison for you but that would involve a lot of spoilers. Some however are obvious. For the Percy Jackson aspect you have the different Houses, you have the demi-gods, you have the abilities and some minor characteristics that match up.The main similarity between Twilight and this is the writing. It's super simple and the quality of writing is low, but unlike the others it's super slow. It took me weeks to get into this book, and then after awhile I was only reading so I could finish. So I'm at odds with this book and I'm not entirely sure I'll read the next one when it comes out.
I would only recommend this to Twilight fans really since the feel is similar. I know tons of other people have loved this book so make sure to look at other reviews before making a decision.
The premise is one that I, as I've said before , really enjoy. I love Greek mythology and I've come to love seeing authors intertwine their ideas in with the myths of old. This is an interesting concept and that's the part I really like. I love the idea of their being different Houses and that the Fates take such a direct approach to seeing things through. I like that it's a sort of weird retelling of old myths. But then there is all the things I didn't like...and they are many. I really didn't like Helen...or Lucas, they were really see through and as soon as they started on their trip down the inevitable 'love' road I knew exactly how things were going to play out. It's so frustrating to read about a relationship that they tell you is 'destined' but then they keep flip flopping all over the place. I also couldn't get a read on how Helen looked, in the first parts of the book she comes off as this awkward tall girl who is pretty...and then later on she's drop dead gorgeous. So in the end all I couldn't picture her at all. The personalities didn't come off as real either. Helen has no sense of curiosity the entire time people are clearly explaining things half way, and then she wants to be angry when she finds out something later. Apparently the concept of asking questions is one that doesn't apply to a fictional world. She's also incredibly selfish and has her "Bella" moments when it comes to Lucus.
I think this may have been said before but to me this book comes off as a weird mash up of Percy Jackson and Twilight. I would lay out a huge comparison for you but that would involve a lot of spoilers. Some however are obvious. For the Percy Jackson aspect you have the different Houses, you have the demi-gods, you have the abilities and some minor characteristics that match up.The main similarity between Twilight and this is the writing. It's super simple and the quality of writing is low, but unlike the others it's super slow. It took me weeks to get into this book, and then after awhile I was only reading so I could finish. So I'm at odds with this book and I'm not entirely sure I'll read the next one when it comes out.
I would only recommend this to Twilight fans really since the feel is similar. I know tons of other people have loved this book so make sure to look at other reviews before making a decision.
ohthebooksyoucanread's review
4.0
Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Edition Read: E book
Pages: 487
Date Read: 1/21/17
A normal high school, Helen, has her first day of school. She is the normal teenager. She wants to fit in, but the problem is she dislikes attention. She only has one friend and she only likes one thing and that is track. She wants to get a track scholarship. Her life changes when a family moves into the area. One day she comes across one of the new guys, Luke. She feels anger towards him and attacks. After that the two could not be separated and attracted attention.
She was a new author to me. I enjoyed her writing style, but I thought parts of it were boring and slow paced. I could tell where parts of the story were going. I could not decide in the end what rating to give the book. I liked the book, but I disliked the book. I could relate to the characters and I could relate to the story. I will finish the series to see how the story ends.
Author: Josephine Angelini
Edition Read: E book
Pages: 487
Date Read: 1/21/17
A normal high school, Helen, has her first day of school. She is the normal teenager. She wants to fit in, but the problem is she dislikes attention. She only has one friend and she only likes one thing and that is track. She wants to get a track scholarship. Her life changes when a family moves into the area. One day she comes across one of the new guys, Luke. She feels anger towards him and attacks. After that the two could not be separated and attracted attention.
She was a new author to me. I enjoyed her writing style, but I thought parts of it were boring and slow paced. I could tell where parts of the story were going. I could not decide in the end what rating to give the book. I liked the book, but I disliked the book. I could relate to the characters and I could relate to the story. I will finish the series to see how the story ends.
mutantreptile's review
2.0
What bugged me the most about this book was that it seemed to have 500 climaxes. Also, the amount of rules Helen and Lucas had to follow was ridiculous, and I found after a while that I didn't care to keep up with them anymore. I liked the book more when they were trying to kill each other.
kselwyn's review
2.0
It was fine! An enjoyable romp for those who love Greek mythology and Massachusetts (using "wicked" as an adjective even features during an emotionally central scene!!!!!). As I fall squarely into those two boxes, I found myself enjoying even the clunky narration — anything for a glimpse of a true Nantucket noreaster 😉
melinda's review
1.0
Ok I didn't read all of this book. But I read like 5 chapters and then had to google it because it was oddly exactly like twilight. Lo and behold fanfic off if twilight very thinly veiled. Glad this was a library loan for me.
take_me_awayyy's review
2.0
Wow, ok I really don't know what to say... Besides the fact that I'm disappointed. I was expecting much more out of this book. I waited forever to buy it because I was on the fence due to all the mixed reviews, but then I went ahead and said to h*ll with it and this was my reactions to different parts of the story: BEGINNING- Ok, I like the Greek mythology mix in. MIDDLE- ZZZZZzzzzzz. (I even started reading another book in the middle of it... Which was a bad idea because it was Mara Dyer... It was wayyy better than this...) Anyways, the END- Geez, I'm not finished yet?!
I have to admit though, I kinda did like the ending, but I couldn't really enjoy it because I was too busy thinking about the middle and just trying to get to the last page. It took entirely too long to "get good".... I understand you're shooting for a series, but Gah lee lol And because I felt like the story was being drug out, the explanation of everything was taking too long as well. It was like the same things were happening over and over. (Ex: Helen and Lucas fight, Helen trains, Helen eats heartily).
But there was some things I liked about the book. The powers Helen had and the necklace was cool. Maybe I was just spoiled about the way Greek mythology should be mixed in a story from Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson series... (And yes I KNOW they're for two different age groups...)
Lastly, I want to talk about Helen. Sooo I'm not sure if its just me, but I felt like she was a little spineless. She was willing to let herself be vulnerable to her attacker because she couldn't be around a boy... Maybe that had to do with the Fates, but it kind of got to the point where I was wondering if she had ANY kind of backbone. Now to Claire... She annoyed the crap out of me. How do you magically know everything that's been going on already but never said anything. Best friend, kid, or not, they would've freaked out. I guarantee someone would've had some kind of questions. Maybe I'm being too realistic about this fictional situation, but Angelini could've at least made her a little more believable...
But enough of my ranting... due to my love for Greek mythology, I was able to finish the book.
I have to admit though, I kinda did like the ending, but I couldn't really enjoy it because I was too busy thinking about the middle and just trying to get to the last page. It took entirely too long to "get good".... I understand you're shooting for a series, but Gah lee lol And because I felt like the story was being drug out, the explanation of everything was taking too long as well. It was like the same things were happening over and over. (Ex: Helen and Lucas fight, Helen trains, Helen eats heartily).
But there was some things I liked about the book. The powers Helen had and the necklace was cool. Maybe I was just spoiled about the way Greek mythology should be mixed in a story from Rick Riordan and his Percy Jackson series... (And yes I KNOW they're for two different age groups...)
Lastly, I want to talk about Helen. Sooo I'm not sure if its just me, but I felt like she was a little spineless. She was willing to let herself be vulnerable to her attacker because she couldn't be around a boy... Maybe that had to do with the Fates, but it kind of got to the point where I was wondering if she had ANY kind of backbone. Now to Claire... She annoyed the crap out of me. How do you magically know everything that's been going on already but never said anything. Best friend, kid, or not, they would've freaked out. I guarantee someone would've had some kind of questions. Maybe I'm being too realistic about this fictional situation, but Angelini could've at least made her a little more believable...
But enough of my ranting... due to my love for Greek mythology, I was able to finish the book.