Waiting On Wednesday - Goddess by Josephine Angelini

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 

 

 

Title: Goddess

Author: Josephine Angelini

 

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.  To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.  In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched. 

 

 

I've actually really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series.   So, this one was a no brainer to add to my to read list.  I'm not sure if this is the last in the series, but I'm looking forward to it! 

 

 

 

Review - Dreamless (Starcrossed, #2) by Josephine Angelini

Title: Deamless

Author: Josephine Angelini

Pages: 487

Series: 2nd (Starcrossed)

Published: May 29th 2012 by HarperTeen 

ISBN:  9780062012012

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: Can true love be forgotten?  As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.  Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.  As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

I Give This ...

It seems the first book was either a love it or hate it kind of thing.  Since, I liked it a lot I was eagerly awaiting the next installment.  I kept my hopes in check because that second novel can be brutal.   While it had it's downfall moments, for the most part I really enjoyed this book.

Helen is a really unique lead character for this book.  And it's no wonder because she travels literally into Hell every night.  Would you be a bundle of joy the next day?  Add to it that she no longer has Lucas by her side.  I sometimes wondered if the story was going to follow this pit of despair storyline for the entire book, and if I could take it.  But, Helen is resilient and determined.  She may wander Hell every night, but she's also got some help to get her on the right path.

Lucas...he's trying so hard to do what everyone is telling him and fight his feelings for Helen.  It's obviously not working.  His actions are in hopes that Helen will hate him and that it's turning him into something else.  Even when he caves and finds a way to help Helen in Hell, it's too late to reverse the damage done to him.  I do admire him for going to any length to help Helene despite what others are telling him.  I have a hard time with the idea that they can't be together.  I get that they're cousins, and from different houses.  But, it's Helen and Paris and that's got to count for something.

I liked the introduction of Orion.  At first, I really wasn't sure if we could trust him.  He just pops in out of nowhere.  No one knows anything about him.  I couldn't help but think that he might get Helen in a situation she didn't want to be in.  I was happy to be proven wrong on all accounts.  He helps her figure out what she needs to do and pushed her to get it done.

I think my favorite part of of this book is the story development.  I loved how Hell is laid out for us.  By Helen wandering so much, we get a great view of how it works.  I liked how the Fates needed to drink from one of the rivers.  I loved how Persephone was persuaded to help.  I liked the brief meeting we get with Hades.  I liked the dream god (I can't remember his name).  I really loved how the minor gods get a little bit of action in this story.  I was wondering why everyone was acting so crazy, turns out gods have a major play in that.  Especially when Chaos and Terror show up.

It's long, and it does drag on in a few parts.  But, I really enjoyed this installment in the series.  I'll eagerly await the next one. 

 

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!