Review of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 496 pages
Author Website: http://www.JosephineAngelini.com
Genre: Paranormal, Greek Mythology
Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: ARC for the Publisher through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary: 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.

Review:  I love Greek mythology and Starcrossed has everything a fantastic story about Greek gods should have: big, feuding families; untrustworthy family members; forbidden love; gorgeous, powerful demigods; eminent war; chilling prophesy and potent curses.

When we meet Helen, we read that she is tall and beautiful, but also intensely socially awkward. She tries to go around unnoticed and underachieves in everything – academically, athletically and socially – so she can fly under everyone’s radar.  That was the most frustrating part of the book for me but there are very good reasons why she is like this and her character does grows and mature significantly as the book progresses.  

For you romance lovers out there, Starcrossed has you covered. I love the relationship between Helen and Lucas and even though they are tied by fate and destiny (like characters in all good Greek myths are), it’s not an instant relationship; their feelings for one another grow over time.

The Delos family dynamic was awesome! I loved how the cousins fought, but were still faithful and supported each other. Even though Helen and Lucas are the main characters in the story, I just loved Hector and want to see more of him in upcoming sequels.

The book’s plot is so multilayered and complex.  I love how Ms. Angelini has taken the Iliad and built a fascinating world around it. I am so ready for more of the characters’ back stories and how it all relates to the Iliad and other Greek myths.

This is a fantastic debut that is worth owning. Even though I read it through a galley, I will be buying Starcrossed and adding it to my To Be Read Again list.

Content: Characters talk about sex and make out, language and some violence