Review: Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed

Author: Josephine Anglini

Series: 1st in Starcrossed

Pages: 496

Published: Available now from Harper Teen

ISBN: 9780062011992

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

  

Description:  How do you defy destiny? 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.

I Give This ...

  

Wow this story was intense.  It literally makes you feel every emotion like it's dripping from the pages.  And there's a lot to feel from anger, hate, betrayal, and even love.  I wasn't expecting that from the opening pages.  

The beginning felt a little flat to me.  I couldn't get a grasp on Helen's character at first.  She seemed awkward and unsure of herself, which I couldn't figure out if it was something she felt about herself or if she was a social outcast.  I finally figured out that it was a little bit of both.  She's beautiful and doesn't know it.  Therefore there's a lot of jealousy and snubbing from others.  Which of course leaves her feeling like an outcast.  This made me like her all the more.   I LOVED that when she first sees Lucas it isn't instant connections and sparks flying.  Well maybe sparks if you consider the fact that they both have unnatural hate for each other.  I enjoyed the fact that their first few interactions were basically trying to keep themselves from killing each other.

I enjoyed the whole Delos family.  While we get the most face time with Lucas, I felt like we got to know most of the gang.  I did feel that Lucas and Helen's relationship came on a little fast.  But, it had that whole Romeo and Juliet feel to it.  And, as we learn who and what they really are, it began to make a lot of sense to me.  Especially when we learn that all demigods take the faces of those who fought in the original Trojan war.  It didn't take me long to figure out who they are suppose to represent.

I liked how the story took Greek mythology and twisted it.  It takes the idea of demigods to a whole new level.  I liked how they all have special talents.  I enjoyed the idea of how the lost city of Atlantis is woven into the story.  There's so much that Helen doesn't know about herself and the world she belongs too.  I loved learning about it all along with her.  

I ended up totally engrossed in this book and now eagerly waiting for the next one!