Review: ‘Starcrossed’ by Josephine Angelini

“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.”


Starcrossed brings together two of my greatest loves, young adult fiction and Greek mythology.  The world that Angelini creates is unique and fascinating.  I love the idea of demigods in modern times.  Having the characters in positions where they have to break from their fated courses provides incredible drama and intrigue.  And there is plenty of action to keep the plot moving.


The characters are also wonderful!  Helen is beautiful, but incredibly awkward, which makes her endearing.  Oh, and then there is Lucas.  *swoon*  He is completely hot!  But it isn’t just his looks—let’s face it, every male lead in YA novels is the most gorgeous boy ever—Lucas is strong and smart and thoughtful.  The sexual tension between him and Helen practically ignites the pages.  Even when Helen wanted to kill him and later when they found out they couldn’t be together, you just know there has to be a way to make it happen. 


The supporting characters are great too.  Helen’s best friend, Claire, is feisty and smart.  Lucas’s family sort of reminded me of the Cullen’s from Twilight in that there were a bunch of teenagers (three boys and two girls) living together.  But I think there is enough personality in Ariadne, Jason, Hector and Cassandra to differentiate them from the Cullen comparisons. 


I adored this book and can't wait for the next in the series, Dreamless, to release in May 2012.


Overall, I give Starcrossed…


Plot – 5 bookmarks
Character Development – 5 bookmarks
Love Story – 5 bookmarks
World Building – 5 bookmarks
Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I picture while reading) – Dakota Johnson (Helen), Beau Mirchoff (Lucas), Lucas Till (Jason), Elizabeth Olson (Ariadne), Alexander Ludwig (Hector), Jodelle Ferland (Cassandra)