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A review by novel_sarahndipity
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Times Read: 3
This was my third time reading this book. It's been about 4 years since the last time I read it. I must mention that I'm much more of a critical reader than I used to be. I've been a book reviewer for about 5 years now and I now look for and something without meaning to see problems within a book I wouldn't have seen before I became a book reviewer. But alas! I still loved this book!
If you love Greek Mythology, you may or may not like this book. I think liking something doesn't automatically mean you'll love a book. If you're obsessed with a subject and you need your fiction books to match every aspect of the subject at hand, in this case Greek Myths, then you may not like the book. Angelini takes Greek Mythology as a starting point, inspiration, so expecting all the information within the book to be 'accurate' probably isn't the way you want to go in.
But if you go in knowing that she took inspiration <i>and</i> and facts into account, I think you'll enjoy what you read, at least in this sense.
Characters. I didn't always like our main, but for the most part loved all the others! I feel like in this first book you see just a layer of the characters. There's a lot hinted for each of their pasts and experiences that haven't come to light yet. And this makes going into the next book really exciting. There's growth potential for each and every one and you can't help but be interested.
This book follows 'the face'. The face that launched the Trojan War. So we have Helen, and what becomes a forbidden romance. This romance is fated to start yet another war. So if you don't like messy, lovers who can't be together, romances... this book may not be for you. It's a lot of back and forth. Instant love with "we can't do this", and a whole lot of back and forth. So brace yourself!
What I noticed about this reread was that I didn't like some of the descriptions or language. I think the one that made me cringe the most what when Helen talked about getting a sex change in hopes that her advances towards the love interest would then be accepted. This book is quite old, so this language though maybe not a big deal to 'most' when it was published, is just something I can't really appreciate in the year 2022. Not the worst I've read but something I definitely look out for when reading now and feel I must point out when reviewing a book.
I love Angelini's stories. They're captivating and I adore her characters. This isn't my favorite series by her but it I've always been captivated by this series as well. I'm excited to complete my reread of the next two books and really appreciate the new books coming out related to this main trilogy. Follow Angelini on Goodreads for updates for her coming books, ESPECIALLY if you like this trilogy!
This was my third time reading this book. It's been about 4 years since the last time I read it. I must mention that I'm much more of a critical reader than I used to be. I've been a book reviewer for about 5 years now and I now look for and something without meaning to see problems within a book I wouldn't have seen before I became a book reviewer. But alas! I still loved this book!
If you love Greek Mythology, you may or may not like this book. I think liking something doesn't automatically mean you'll love a book. If you're obsessed with a subject and you need your fiction books to match every aspect of the subject at hand, in this case Greek Myths, then you may not like the book. Angelini takes Greek Mythology as a starting point, inspiration, so expecting all the information within the book to be 'accurate' probably isn't the way you want to go in.
But if you go in knowing that she took inspiration <i>and</i> and facts into account, I think you'll enjoy what you read, at least in this sense.
Characters. I didn't always like our main, but for the most part loved all the others! I feel like in this first book you see just a layer of the characters. There's a lot hinted for each of their pasts and experiences that haven't come to light yet. And this makes going into the next book really exciting. There's growth potential for each and every one and you can't help but be interested.
This book follows 'the face'. The face that launched the Trojan War. So we have Helen, and what becomes a forbidden romance. This romance is fated to start yet another war. So if you don't like messy, lovers who can't be together, romances... this book may not be for you. It's a lot of back and forth. Instant love with "we can't do this", and a whole lot of back and forth. So brace yourself!
What I noticed about this reread was that I didn't like some of the descriptions or language. I think the one that made me cringe the most what when Helen talked about getting a sex change in hopes that her advances towards the love interest would then be accepted. This book is quite old, so this language though maybe not a big deal to 'most' when it was published, is just something I can't really appreciate in the year 2022. Not the worst I've read but something I definitely look out for when reading now and feel I must point out when reviewing a book.
I love Angelini's stories. They're captivating and I adore her characters. This isn't my favorite series by her but it I've always been captivated by this series as well. I'm excited to complete my reread of the next two books and really appreciate the new books coming out related to this main trilogy. Follow Angelini on Goodreads for updates for her coming books, ESPECIALLY if you like this trilogy!