Starcrossed (Starcrossed, #1) in Addicted to YA

Jan 03, 2011 Lauren⁷ 💜 rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-teen-new-adult, fantasy-science-fiction, fantasy-sci-fi-romance-romantasy, romance, library-has-a-copy

I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to stick with this book as Helen annoyed me a fair amount for the first 100 or so pages. But I'm glad I stuck with this book because once Helen learned who and what she was and started to embrace it, she was no longer annoying and this turned out to be quite the tale. I really liked the characters and Angelini's take on Greek mythology. I'm excited to read the next book and she how things play out! ...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Sasha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, drama-romance, fantasy

Review soon. Josephine Angelini’s Starcrossed is a modern-day myth, possessing a breathtaking storytelling quality which paints a rich, sparkling tale for the reader. This book is not a retelling, but rather takes elements of Greek myth and gives its own spin on them, resulting in an altogether much more fun read.

Deep down, Helen knows that she is no ordinary girl. She can run farther and faster than anyone she’s known, she is stronger than most guys her age, and for some reason, whenever any at Review soon. Josephine Angelini’s Starcrossed is a modern-day myth, possessing a breathtaking storytelling quality which paints a rich, sparkling tale for the reader. This book is not a retelling, but rather takes elements of Greek myth and gives its own spin on them, resulting in an altogether much more fun read.

Deep down, Helen knows that she is no ordinary girl. She can run farther and faster than anyone she’s known, she is stronger than most guys her age, and for some reason, whenever any attention is focused on her she gets physically sick. She’s content to fade into the background, but one family changes all that. The Delos family moves to Nantucket, a shroud of mystery in their wake, and the moment Helen sets eyes on Lucas Delos, she knows what she has to do: kill him. It quickly becomes clear that beneath their fiery hatred for each other is something bigger than either of them, something ordained by the gods themselves…

I really liked Lucas and Helen’s relationship. Call me a sucker for love-at-first-fight relationships, but there’s something so satisfying about reading how two people, who previously misjudged the other, realize that they have more in common with each other than they thought. It’s very Pride & Prejudice . Something I actually had problems with was how the book ended re: Lucas and Helen. (view spoiler) I wish that there was some other way for Ms. Angelini to provide obstacles for Helen and Lucas. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the brother-sister pseudo-romance has been done to death! Despite all this, I was really emotionally invested in the Helen/Lucas pairing by the end of the book.

Another thing I found interesting about this book, and which set it apart from other “gods and goddesses” books, is that the gods don’t make an appearance. For some books, having gods directly intervene serves a purpose, but I rather prefer seeing the human struggles that the characters have to go through, without the help from various deities. I really like the powers that Helen develops, as well, even though they are a little too all-powerful, if you ask me. That, combined with her social-outcast-yet-actually-gorgeous fatal flaw, I’d say dear Helen is seriously toeing the Mary Sue line.

Starcrossed is set against the beauty of Nantucket. I really loved how Ms. Angelini portrayed the island and its small-town culture. I’ve never been there myself, but it was quite easy to imagine. Ms. Angelini is a talented storyteller, and Helen’s point of view is told in a voice that is charismatic and endearing, all in a measure. I would have loved to see the perspective of some of the Delos clan, such as Cassandra, or even Hector.

Starcrossed was everything that I could hope for in a book and more. It had a wonderful plot, filled with exciting twists, awesome superpowers, and it had romance of starcrossed proportions. Once you dive into this book, you’ve never want to come back to the surface.
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Dec 12, 2010 Logan rated it it was ok

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult

First impressions: I got hooked into this book pretty quickly. I loved the New England rustic setting and Helen and her best friend were really likable.

Lasting impressions: I'm struggling to find words. Though I didn't outright hate this book, I'm actively trying to forget that I read this one.

Conflicting impressions: I'm going to admit something that for me is really difficult to do: I'm not sure I followed a whole lot of what was going on. I felt like I needed to read the Cliff's Notes on The ...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Kate H rated it it was amazing

Shelves: goodreads-yajuvenile

I really enjoyed this book. Mythology based YA fiction is hot right now and some of what it is out there is simply dreadful. However, I found this book to be fairly well researched and well written with good characterization. It of course has the request romance in the story but I felt that it was well handled and not heavy handed like so often is the case. I think I also enjoyed this book because it took place close to home and even mentions the Nantucket Atheneum Library several times.

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