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Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1)

by Josephine Angelini (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 22,979 ratings · 3,040 reviews

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 we...more

Hardcover, 487 pages

Published May 31st 2011 by HarperTeen (first published April 1st 2011)

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Oct 26, 2011 Kat Kennedy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: just-plain-bad, kat-s-book-reviews, kat-s-rants, ya-pnr-maddness

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Starcrossed is the story of a teenage school girl, Helen, who meets new boy, Lucas, and tries to murder him with her bare hands for no reason. Lucas, also, wishes to kill Helen in a horrifically violent way because they’re both demigods on the opposite side of a war.

corny romantic picture

I really thought this book was going to kill me – either with hypertension or an aneurysm for all the times it had me almost screaming in frustration. For example:

Lucas is violently dragging Helen out of a supermarket. Helen doesn’t...more

244 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2012 Steph Sinclair rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Someone I wish to torture

Recommended to Steph by: That person should run when they see me coming

Shelves: greek-myths, 2012-reads, ahhhhh-my-eyes, all-the-wrong-choices, bound-to-inflict-a-migraine, can-t-believe-i-finished, disappointment, fell-for-the-hype, forbidden-love, glad-it-s-over, hated-it-with-a-firey-passion, heroines-i-want-to-shake, i-blame-twilight, kill-me-now, le-sigh, lots-of-fail-going-on-here, made-me-angry, no-just-no, not-for-me, pretty-covers, ranty-review, rubbish, serve-me-up-insta-love, stop-it-already, where-s-my-chocolate, why-the-hype, why-why-why-did-i-read-it, young-adult, youve-got-to-be-kidding-me, no-stars-for-you

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

304 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2011 Phoebe added it

Shelves: netgalley, greek-mythology, chick-lit, young-adult, paranormal, snark-bait

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I feel like I should start this review with a caveat: this will not be a positive review.

There's always some danger in panning a highly-buzzed book, particularly one where the financials are so well known (if you haven't seen it all over the internet, or the local news, Starcrossed was sold for seven-figures). Critics—especially critics who are members of the great unpublished masses—risk being labeled "haters" (or, worse, "jealous, bitter failures") for raising complaints with the work in quest...more

105 likes · like · see review

Dec 01, 2012 Haleema rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who don't value braincells

Shelves: author-y-u-no-destroyed, brain-cells-went-bye-bye, bull-shawarma, just-begging-for-snark, lame-rip-offs-of-other-works, oh-not-again, half-wit-heroine, snape-disapproves, its-so-stupid-it-hurts, book-coma, cheese-pizza, need-my-nutella, my-vomit-is-nicer, thesaurus-is-its-bff, characters-are-half-troll, what-a-joke, what-the-falafel, thats-not-writing

Beware of spoilers!

I'd have to be pretty insane to give this one a star. I'd like to give it .00000000001 star if I could.

Goodreads, y u no let us give .00000000001 star?

Characters:
So this is where I went ~~slightly~~ balistic. I'm going to talk about the two main freaks of the book.

Helen "Grams" Hamilton:
description

Grams (I call her Grams because she's an old hag. She's not a teen.) was a mixture of Bella Swan and Zoey Redbird.

1. Bella Swan because of her whiny, pessimistic, clumsy attitude.
2. Zoey Redbird b...more

87 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2011 Vinaya rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley, books-i-liked, books-i-ought-to-hate-but-don-t, ya-fantasy

**EDIT: I originally gave this book three stars, simply because it is based on Greek mythology, and I've had a love affair with Greek mythology since I was a kid. However, upon further consideration and a sudden recall of my Homer and Bullfinch, I am forced to concede that the Greek Mythology in this book is about as authentic as cranberry sauce in a can. So, only two stars, and I'm STILL being generous!

Two Twifans are walking down the street to the cinema

Fangirl 1: ZOMG, I h8 steffie meyer! Y h...more

218 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2013 Ash ~ The Book Snob rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: badass, couldn-t-put-it-down, favorite-moments, i-heart, holy-rusted-metal-batman, heartbreaking, mythology, omg, quick-witted, refreshing, sexiest-guy-ever, swoonworthy-characters, will-definitely-be-continuing-this, wow

--->WHAT THE HOLY GRENADE WAS THAT?! <---

A damn good book, that’s what that was. ;)

I am officially a Josephine Angelini fan, that’s for sure. She’s one intelligent, story-choreographic, badass woman! She definitely wrote a book that, from the very first page, has it all:

Romance.
Suspense.
Intrigue.
Action.
Mythology.

And it has Lucas Delos.

*eyebrow waggle*

photo tumblr_mc3hg5VpQP1qcy0p7o1_500-1.gif

____________________________________________

♦ Helen ♦

photo 32918a3482ffcc6eb4b1eeb86da9d935.jpg

Helen Hamilton has always been different.

She’s workin’ her way up to being 5’11...more

46 likes · like · see review

Dec 11, 2011 Cait rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: annoying-ending

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Alright, I know that I originally rated this book 2.5 stars and, back then, I honestly thought that it deserved that much; I really did. However, a little over a month ago I was given an assignment for my AP class (we were reading the Iliad at the time) to cover the "apology of Helen" as was told in the Odyssey and really her whole life; especially the time when she was in Paris and how she effected the Trojan war. At first I was kind of moaning about it (my GR friends can attest to that) but, t...more

67 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2011 Ashleigh Paige rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, h-y-p-e-project, i-screamed-at-it, ladies-can-t-fucking-swear-my-ass, worst-books-i-ve-ever-read, take-your-sexism-and-get-out

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Also appears on The YA Kitten. Read and reviewed for the H.Y.P.E. Project (details here).

"She was hunkered down on her knees, her face covered by her filthy hair, moaning names and saying "blood for blood" as she hit her forehead repeatedly against the wall."

This is a quote from Starcrossed (the page can't be cited due to reading it as an ebook) about one of the Furies, but this is also an accurate description of me once I finished reading this book.

For sixteen years, Helen has lived on the cal...more

43 likes · like · see review

Jul 26, 2011 Kelly Leigh rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fantasy, young-adult, magic-abound

About a month ago, in a moment of weakness, I agreed to chaperone my niece’s slumber birthday party. Around o’dark-thirty, after umpteen knocks on my bedroom door with teary-eyed ten-year-old girls on the other side, whimpering that so and so is mean, so and so did this, I couldn’t take it anymore and stomped out bed, blew the proverbial camp councilor whistle, and commanded the ten hyped-up kids to gather around because it was story time. I proceeded to spin a horrorific yarn combining all urba...more

20 likes · like · see review

May 25, 2011 Krys rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, mythology, third-person-narrative, read-in-2011, need-to-finish-did-not-finish, medium-length-book, urban-dark-fantasy-paranormal, series

I hate to say this but I am going to be tearing this one apart. I think I'm the first person to write a negative review for Starcrossed by Joesphine Angelini on the entirety of the internets... but that said, here goes nothing.

This book did nothing for me. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And here's why..

Starcrossed is set on Nantucket island and features the shy, willowy Helen as she gears up for the first day of her junior year of high school. She and her father live alone and she has a job and a...more I hate to say this but I am going to be tearing this one apart. I think I'm the first person to write a negative review for Starcrossed by Joesphine Angelini on the entirety of the internets... but that said, here goes nothing.

This book did nothing for me. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And here's why..

Starcrossed is set on Nantucket island and features the shy, willowy Helen as she gears up for the first day of her junior year of high school. She and her father live alone and she has a job and a best friend, but something is coming... something that will change Helen forever. Before she can even realize it the island is abuzz with news of the Delos family moving to the island. Helen begins to develop feelings of rage and unrest as she hears more about them. She begins to see visions of three women demanding blood. And, worse of all, the minute she meets the gorgeous Lucas Delos she tries attacks him.

Is Helen going insane? And what does all of it mean? And, why oh why, should I care?

I heard about this book over a year ago... all the book world has been waiting for it... "It's Percy Jackson for high school girls! It's the new Twilight series!" ...blah... blah... blather... I was as excited as everyone else, but I'm over it. This book did so little for me.

Part of the problem is in the writing itself. This is a debut novel and it shows. Angelini's writing is less of a fluid storytelling style and more of a disjointed spewing of every thought Helen (or rather Angelini) has as she goes along. I watched as paragraphs of random thoughts congealed together to form what is supposed to be a narrative... and I wondered why the character was so ADD. Then it hit me... Percy was ADD... and this book is trying to be that. I can't help but feel that Angelini decided to smash two popular things together to try to make something new and failed miserably.

I see that she loves Meyers. It shows. The writing is so similar. The problem is that no matter how much I (and everyone) loved Twilight (and the subsequent books) upon the initial reading there seems to be a universally agreed upon fact. Meyers, for all her success, is not a good writer. She's great at character development and in capturing the essence of Bella's spirit... but not a great writer. We follow Bella because we identify so hard with her. Helen is no Bella. She's drippy and annoying and easy to disconnect from. I found nothing engaging about her.

To mimic something in tone, and do it worse than Meyers, is a crime. To try to tailor it after something that is so universally loved is also a bad move. It's going to get weighed against and slaughtered if it fails. I didn't even make it through 100 pages and I was tossing this down in annoyance. I didn't like the voice of the main character, the smashed together plot line (which I feel I've read before) and the direction it was going. It felt overly contrived, and I was not amused by it. The only thing I enjoyed about it was the setting.

I'm not even the hardest core Meyers fan and I feel bad for her. In this case imitation is not flattery. The formula is way too similiar. I feel even worse for Rick Riordan who shares a very like idea... This is an example of how his books could have been done if they were done. Very. Badly.

I wish I had more reviews up to compare it with. I know others are going to love this, and it will sell a ton... However, I did not love it. I did not like it. I couldn't go on, and that is always a bad sign.

1 out of 5 stars.

- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkk.net (less)

55 likes · like · see review

Jun 02, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc, books-i-own, signed-arcs

Greek Mythology! YAY!

Starcrossed is completely addicting.... I read these 400 some pages in one afternoon, because I simply could not stop.

I don't know it if was because I found the story so addicting or if it was because I was enchanted by the cast of characters. Either way Starcrossed was an unforgettable read. Helen is a normal teenager, well as normal as a teenage demigod is. I like that Helen knew she was different, but didn't exactly know what that meant. This wasn't a story where the cha...more

27 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2013 Alesia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-bookchallenge, favorites, love-the-plot

Okay! So, I'm pretty stoked! I literally had a heart-attack in this book - well it felt like it!

So, this book was frustrating, intense, fun, fast, enchanting, romantic and MYSTERIOUS! I can easily say that I was addicted. I read it on a planeride from Charles De Gaulle in Paris to JFK and I was so surprised to find that the who-knows-how-many-hours planeride literally felt like a minute! Stoked!

This book was captivating from the very first chapter - no kidding! And I really loved how all the cha...more Okay! So, I'm pretty stoked! I literally had a heart-attack in this book - well it felt like it!

So, this book was frustrating, intense, fun, fast, enchanting, romantic and MYSTERIOUS! I can easily say that I was addicted. I read it on a planeride from Charles De Gaulle in Paris to JFK and I was so surprised to find that the who-knows-how-many-hours planeride literally felt like a minute! Stoked!

This book was captivating from the very first chapter - no kidding! And I really loved how all the characters were so diffrent. They all had their own personality and their own minds - which there's serious lack of in YA fantasy now a days!
I loved that Helen knew she was diffrent. Well obviously she couldn't know that she was an offspring of gods, but she took it kinda well. Just like I would've taken it - "Allrighty, I'm an offspring of some ancient greek gods. That's why I'm such a weirdo...That makes sense." Also that she didn't know her full potential or how strong she was. And I still think that there's a LOT more to her than we know of, so I'm hoping for more character development in the next book (Which would probably shock you to hear that I am really, really, really craving!)

And it would also shock you to hear (Well I was kinda shocked myself) that I actually didn't care for the romance - Can't believe I'm saying this! Not that I didn't LOVE the romance, no, I cheered for them! But the plot and storyline was so interesting that it kinda 'overshadowed' the romance.
Anyways. Their first meeting was definitely NOT how I expected it to be! In fact, their first meeting was so not-expected that I started cracking! It was literally one of my favorite moments in the book... Hilarious. haha!
But the plot was so mysterious that I was losing my mind of frustrasion! I was seriously DYING to know what she was and why she was so important! So even thought a lot of those questions got answered - Yaahhh - there are still a lot of things hanging in the air, and I can't wait to read more! I'm so psyched!!!! :)

(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2011 Brodie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, aussie-swap

If you've been unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of my book-raving, then you'll know I have been lusting after this book for AGES. I absolutely loved the idea of Greek Gods in YA - the plot and breathtaking cover totally sold me on this novel. So you can imagine my excitement when I received an ARC in the mail! Sadly though, the actual content didn't quite live up to expectations.

Painfully shy Helen Hamilton and her best friend Claire are about to begin their new year of school on th...more If you've been unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of my book-raving, then you'll know I have been lusting after this book for AGES. I absolutely loved the idea of Greek Gods in YA - the plot and breathtaking cover totally sold me on this novel. So you can imagine my excitement when I received an ARC in the mail! Sadly though, the actual content didn't quite live up to expectations.

Painfully shy Helen Hamilton and her best friend Claire are about to begin their new year of school on the island of Nantucket. And so are the gorgeous kids of the new rich Delos family who've just moved to the island. They're all anyone can talk about and it's driving the usually calm, mild-mannered Helen insane. For some reason the mere mention of the Delos family drives her into a rage. And when she and Lucas Delos lay eyes on each other for the very first time, the phrase 'if looks could kill' comes to mind, because that's exactly what Helen tries to do. Kill Lucas with her bare hands in the middle of the crowded school corridor.

She can't understand where this mind-consuming hatred is coming from and why she sees the image of three sobbing sisters (who she soon learns are The Furies) whenever a member of the Delos family is nearby. After a few more attempts at murdering one another and hate glares, Helen discovers that she and the Delos family are part of an ancient blood-feud and The Furies want payment. Hence the impulse to repay that by killing each other. I don't think it's a spoiler by saying they manage to find a way around this, since it would be a little hard developing a 'love' story when you want to murder your love interest.

The growing feelings... which grew kinda fast, as in, Helen felt the urge to kiss him mere hours after the hatred subsided and involved a lot of constant hand holding in the beginning, but after that it developed at a more comfortable pace. They want to be with each other, they both show signs of it, but then Lucas keeps pulling away before anything romantic happens. I can understand the reasons why they were compelled to one another, but for some reason I just wasn't really invested in the romance. And something concerning the romance at the end of the book is totally going to remind people of another popular YA series, while not exactly the same, it's the same in essence. Cryptic much? LOL.

I really enjoyed the ideas Josephine used from greek mythology, the overall plot and the blood-feuds and history with Scions intrigued me. And what many Scions are currently trying to... achieve, which I think is a cool idea and totally a spoiler. So moving on, the Scions are descendants of the Gods - not directly, years and years down the family line, but they still possess incredible powers. In fact, many of the recent generations of Scions are more powerful than their parents. The Scions are divided in four Houses which represent the four different bloodlines. The Furies set the Houses against each other way back during the Trojan War, a curse they still carry to this very day, making it impossible for any of the Houses to unite. But on the rare occasion when members from the opposing Houses find a way to rid of The Furies, like Helen and Lucas, it brings on a whole other problem that could potentially start the Trojan War again if they were to be together in the way they want.

I don't really want to say too much more without giving away spoilers, but Helen begins to train and learn more about her abilities, mainly because of a threat that's come to the island. Someone is after her and she and the Delos family are trying to figure out who and do their best to ensure Helen is kept safe at all times. Something about the novel just felt lackluster to me. There was plenty of stuff happening, but I couldn't connect enough with Helen and the story to feel emotionally tied to any of it. I enjoyed the history and the ideas behind the plot and mythology that Josephine created, but as the story unfolded I just kept reading to finish it, rather than read to see what happened next.

This review probably sucks because I'm not so great at writing about books I didn't love. I'm more of a gushy person and "OMG I'll drain your body of fluids if you don't read this book' type, so I have difficulty writing about books I wasn't so invested in. I still think a lot of people will love this book - it has the right elements and plenty of characters to keep most people entertained, but I guess it just depends on the individual. You'll either love, kinda like it, or hate it. Me? I'm in the kinda like it group.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 18, 2011 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, arc-s, netgalley

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

*This ebook was provided to me at no cost by the publisher*

Gah! I just finished this book and I don’t know if I want to scream or cry! I was so frustrated by the ending and revelations of this book. I don’t remember being this upset since the famous Clary-and-Jace-are-siblings revelation of The Mortal Instruments series. And just knowing the truth and what it all means just makes me madder. I was devastated by what we learned and was told---there’s no other way to describe it and I wanted to cry...more

34 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Zoë Marriott rated it 5 of 5 stars

THE BLURB:

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...more

23 likes · like · see review

May 18, 2013 Ellie (a.k.a. QE3) rated it 1 of 5 stars

2.5

Okay, the book. One point that I was extremely grateful for was the third person POV. Not to say I don't like first person, but it's really popping up all over the place, and as this was really the first YA novel I've read for a while in first person it was quite refreshing. So, to the review!
*Ech-hem* Helen Hamilton is a normal 16-year old living on Nantucket Island. Um...and...well....
I'm really not good at writing book reviews. I either end up going on and on and on (like I am now) or trai...more 2.5

Okay, the book. One point that I was extremely grateful for was the third person POV. Not to say I don't like first person, but it's really popping up all over the place, and as this was really the first YA novel I've read for a while in first person it was quite refreshing. So, to the review!
*Ech-hem* Helen Hamilton is a normal 16-year old living on Nantucket Island. Um...and...well....
I'm really not good at writing book reviews. I either end up going on and on and on (like I am now) or trailing off in the middle of a sentence and going, NEVER MIND!!! Suffice it to say that she meets this guy named Lucas Delos, who just moved into a large house on the island with his large family, and after starting to hate each other at first sight (which I enjoyed WAY more than the parts where they were all over each other....sometimes, literally, all over each other), they manage to save each other's life, and, because of that their burning hatred disappears (this will be better explained in the book) and they grow to love each other.

Of course, it didn't feel like real LOVE. It was more like, when Lucas and Helen had their hatred for each other out of their way they started to take in the others incredibly good looks, and their "relationship" increased much faster because of that. Eye candy. "Relationship" is in quotation marks, because IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A REAL RELATIONSHIP. Relationships, to me, are a guy and a girl meeting, getting to know each other, and developing like/love for each other because of their personalities and actually having gotten to know the other person. (My ideal one would be the connection between the two characters in Unearthly, which is a really good book.) There's this scene in the book, where Lucas and Helen sort of save each other from plummeting to their death (I didn't really understand that part very well) and they're all paralyzed and waiting for their miraculous demigod (Oh, did I not mention that they're demigods?) healing powers to kick in. Helen's lying on top of Lucas (because they're paralyzed) and they realize that they actually DON'T hate each other anymore. And from then their "love" for each other develops like going downhill on your little toy scooter, when you start slowly and pick up speed and gather more speed until you're practically having your face ripped off you by the wind. Doesn't....make....sense.

Anyway, to wind down (finally), the writing wasn't all THAT great. (Like my travesty of a review here.) Helen was a (mostly) believable character, besides that whole relationship issue with Lucas, who was also all right. Helen was a bit whiny sometimes. And her friend Claire was hilarious. Also the rest of the Delos family was fairly real, especially the kids. (Children, youths, whatevs.) Sometimes Angelini's way of writing, e.g. using "The Furies had him" right after using it to describe someone else just a few sentences before, make me want to scream and rip the book to shreds. Which would not have been advisable in any case. Because even if I hadn't have woken up my parents and my kid brother, it was still a library book. And I don't think they accept shreds in the drop off box. Okay, getting off track again.......The real reason I enjoyed the book was because of the dialogue, as the narrative wasn't all that well written. (She overuses "pleaded" and "begged." Like, overuses them BIG-TIME.) It--the dialogue--was funny, sometimes, and entertaining.

This would definitely be a book for pre-teen to teenage GIRLS. I really couldn't picture my dad reading it. Well, he doesn't like fantasy, but....Geez. Any male, really. Unlike Percy Jackson, which is also a "demigods" series, which is pretty much for both genders.

Oh, and did anyone think that the picture of Angelini looked a bit like Taylor Swift? No?
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

May 25, 2012 Glass rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, paranormal-romance, love-the-cover, mythology

***NOTE! Review posted on ja čitam, a ti?

Starcrossed, alongside with Until I Die by Amy Plum, was one of the books with pretty covers I wanted badly to read last year. And then it was published, I read few negative reviews and I already was disappointed with Until I Die, so I gave up. Other than that, I was sceptical about novels based on Greek mythology.Maybe it was good that I waited this long - I had to read some bad books first so I could appreciate what Josephine Angelini had done in Starc...more

8 likes · like · see review

Apr 14, 2011 Kristi-The Book Faery rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone!

Shelves: debut-author-2011, ya-arc-for-2011, ya-pub-date-may-11, ya-mythology, one-sit-reads, ya-reviewed, ya-series

Starcrossed is not your typical girl meets boy they fall in love and defeat the bad guy together. No, it’s much much MORE. I absolutely adored this book! I was left thinking about it long after I finished this enthralling story that entwines Greek mythology and modern day times so flawlessly and with such vivid accuracy I almost question if Ms. Angelini had witnessed the Gods-and all that that entails-herself.

Helen has lived her entire life on Nantucket Island, she’s always known she was differe...more Starcrossed is not your typical girl meets boy they fall in love and defeat the bad guy together. No, it’s much much MORE. I absolutely adored this book! I was left thinking about it long after I finished this enthralling story that entwines Greek mythology and modern day times so flawlessly and with such vivid accuracy I almost question if Ms. Angelini had witnessed the Gods-and all that that entails-herself.

Helen has lived her entire life on Nantucket Island, she’s always known she was different so she tries very hard to ‘fly under the radar’. This means never drawing attention to her unusual strength, speed or intelligence. Then the dreams come-acrid dry desert dreams that are so realistic she’s actually parched when she wakes; when the dreams become even more realistic, Helen realizes that whatever is happening is real and out of her control.

It’s only when the very large Delos family moves in to Nantucket’s largest most expensive home that Helen realizes why she’s different. The entire Delos family is a mystery to Helen; at first she hates the very sound of their name, it’s only when she sees Lucas Delos the first time and tries to kill him that she begins to come to terms with who or what she is. Danger now seems to lurk around every corner, if not from Helen herself then from others who want to capture or kill her. With the help of the Delos family, especially that of the gorgeous Lucas, Helen comes to terms with what she’s capable of. For the first time, Helen is comfortable with who she is and who she loves. She knows true happiness for awhile, despite the danger lurking but with the arrival of a family member that has been missing from Helen’s life for years, the danger increases and Helen’s left with chaotic feelings that tear her apart. Will Helen make the right choices to protect those she loves or will she choose a different path altogether?

This is such a complex story but to thoroughly review it would be to spoil it for the reader. What I can say is that I feel certain that this book will appeal to audiences of all ages and many genres. The brilliant weaving of Greek mythology with current times was dazzling-it was what I like to call -A One Sit Read- which is the highest of honors given by this reviewer. (less)

23 likes · like · see review

Mar 09, 2011 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Very very good. I was unsure when I started it, having received a proof to read before publication, but a few chapters in and I was hooked!
Angelini's use of Greek mythology adds a new spin to the relatively saturated 'Supernatural Romance' Genre that has suddenly exploded in teenage fiction. Helen and Lucas' cursed love story is touching and worth the read.

14 likes · like · see review

Mar 11, 2011 Amy Plum added it

WOW!!! I really loved this book. Just finished it a few hours ago, and my mind keeps dragging me back to go over one detail or another. I love characters whose personalities aren't clear-cut black or white - ones who are motivated by both good and evil. And Josie's addition of the Furies makes this possible.

I love the fact that she takes ideas from ancient literature and molds them into something that works well in a contemporary story. Placing the story on the island of Nantucket is pure geniu...more

24 likes · like · see review

Sep 03, 2012 Zemira Warner rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: mythology, paranormal-romance, bound-to-inflict-a-migrane, glad-its-over, get-to-the-point-already, i-blame-twilight, just-kill-me-now, those-poor-poor-trees, umm-no, yawn

Glass,sorry but I didn't like this book. I had to made myself to finish it. It was so boring. I skimmed pretty much the last 20%.

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 30, 2011 Demonic Circus Princess rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: are-you-kidding-me, cardboard-characters-syndrome, chosen-by-my-amazing-intuition, damn-comformists, one-or-two-redeeming-characters, pathetic-excuse-for-a-villain, wanted-to-slap-the-heroine

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This thing made me want to spit nails. Or throw a car. Something violent.

Helen's the fastest, strongest, prettiest girl at her school. She's always been a bit different. Girls at school are jealous, boys drool over her, her dad's proud of her. Yeah. All that fancy chiz.

Oh, and she can fly and shoot lightning out of her hands sometimes. But that's normal, right?

Right.

Not like that's suspicious or anything, but her mother Beth left when Helen was little, erasing all evidence that she ever existed...more

26 likes · like · see review

Jan 20, 2013 Merary rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, greek-mythology, paranormal, mary-sues, stalkers-creep-me-out, strangle-them-with-a-chain-please, that-s-why-i-hate-boys, the-worst-i-d-ever-read, where-s-the-fucking-conflict, why-the-hell-is-this-book-popular, you-are-an-idiot, insults-my-feminist-self, bored-me-to-death, boring-bland-main-characters, abusive-relationships, activate-insta-love, most-anticipated, incest, why-are-you-a-love-interest, left-me-with-a-passionate-fury

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazing-loved-it, obsessed, book-with-gorgeous-boy, reviewed, i-own, demigods-and-super-powers, all-time-favourites, brilliant-series

Read more of my reviews at Falling Books!

Starcrossed is a book full of fun and action. It's an emotional rollercoaster. It will make you laugh, smile, cry and all the other complicated emotions that I can't explain. Josephine Angelini has created an exciting and dangerous world full of demigods and forbidden love that you can't get enough of.

Are you tired of reading about Vampires, Wolves, Fairies, Witches and Angels? Then Starcrossed is for you! If you think you know all the paranormal beings...more Read more of my reviews at Falling Books!

Starcrossed is a book full of fun and action. It's an emotional rollercoaster. It will make you laugh, smile, cry and all the other complicated emotions that I can't explain. Josephine Angelini has created an exciting and dangerous world full of demigods and forbidden love that you can't get enough of.

Are you tired of reading about Vampires, Wolves, Fairies, Witches and Angels? Then Starcrossed is for you! If you think you know all the paranormal beings out there then you are wrong! I can promise you that there is no other Demigod book that could satisfy you more that this one. You will fall in love with all the characters in minutes after being introuduced to them. You will become addicted to the world where the sky is the limit when it comes down to unusual powers. Not once will you think, "This is boring." Starcrossed will keep you hooked until the very last word.

Our main character, Helen, is a beautiful young girl who lives with her dad on a tiny island called Nantucket. She is a perfectly ordinary girl, at least she thinks she is. Until the gorgeous Delos family turn up. Helen is drawn to Lucas Delos, but has a terrifying urge to kill aswell. When she first sets eyes on him in her school hall, she thinks he is the hottest boy she has ever seen, but there's nothing like getting a little killing out the way first. Soon, Helen is sucked into the world of Demigods and mysterious powers that have been with her all her life. Helen's attraction to Lucas is becoming more and more visible to everyone, and too soon, they fall in love. But it isn't allowed. For Lucas is in the House of Thebes and Helen is not, if they are together....The gods will fall and declare war on them all.

Sounds pretty amazing right? I know some of you are thinking, "Demigods? House of Thebes? What are you talking about, Sam?" Yes, yes, I know you want to know more, and I want to tell you. It's just that I want you all to experience the shocks with out me spoiling it for you. So, before I blab too much, GO AND BUY STARCROSSED! It's available in most countries.

Overall, Starcrossed is a book that everyone should read and experience. I recommend it to everyone who loves a good complicated romance and greek mythology. Josephine will leave you breathless with this stunning debut that has touched thousands across the world.(less)

11 likes · like · see review

May 29, 2012 Heather (hungrycookiemonster) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, young-adult, reviewed, supernatural

Original review posted on: heathersworldofbooks

Out of all the books I have read, the reason for why Lucas and Helen were unable to have a relationship, was probably the strongest and most complicated. Since this is the case, it annoyed the hell out of me. It was that good of a reason.

I really liked the heroine, Helen, in this novel. She really reminded me a lot of my High School self. I was the super tall girl who hated drawing unnecessary attention to my freakish ways (no I wasn’t a demi god s...more

7 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Brad rated it 4 of 5 stars

I will admit that STARCROSSED is a bit slow at first. But by page 30, I was sucked into this world and I honestly could not put this book down. I actually finished it in under twenty-four hours! Angelini’s writing style is a modern, but also has a haunting feeling to it when our main character, Helen, is around her love interest, Lucas.

Let’s talk about the characters now. I really loved Helen. I thought she was strong and brave and not afraid to face her fears. And Angelini made Helen and Lucas...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 02, 2011 Petra (Safari Poet) added it

Shelves: 2011-debut-author-challenge

I don't know where to start. I'm still trying to get my head around everything that happens – which is a lot. This isn't the type of book that you just enjoy, finish and move on from – it keeps you thinking, analysing everything that happened and anticipating how the story will continue.

I really enjoyed how Josephine Angelini took Greek mythology and turned it into a contemporary story. There is a lot to ancient literature and while I was looking forward to what it could bring, I was afraid I mi...more I don't know where to start. I'm still trying to get my head around everything that happens – which is a lot. This isn't the type of book that you just enjoy, finish and move on from – it keeps you thinking, analysing everything that happened and anticipating how the story will continue.

I really enjoyed how Josephine Angelini took Greek mythology and turned it into a contemporary story. There is a lot to ancient literature and while I was looking forward to what it could bring, I was afraid I might get caught up in remembering all the facts instead of enjoying the story. It couldn't of been easy bringing the modern and ancient together, but it is wonderfully written and made the union seem effortless.

Helen is so sweet, shy, unnaturally strong, fast, intelligence and "turn your head" gorgeous. She hates the attention she gets and just wants to stay under everybody's radar. All you want to do is protect her, which is one of many reason why I love her best friend, Claire. They have know each other since they were babies and Claire isn't afraid to say whatever she thinks and stand up for Helen without ever being asked. Lucas has all the same attributes as Helen except he's very comfortable with who and what he is, but not in an obnoxious way.

I love all the characters and how each of them have clear personalities and important roles in the story that make them stand on there own instead of just existing for the sake of supporting the main characters.

I'll admit that while a lot of people think about the story of Helen and Paris as an epic romance, I thought they were two of the most selfish people in history. So can you explain to me why I'm hoping that despite what will happen if Helen and Lucas end up together, I'm suddenly rooting for them, damning the consequences?

This is a brilliant and captivating adventure with drama, romance and action that keeps you on edge and will leave you greedy for more. I can't believe this is Josephine Angelini's or as I now think of her after reading Starcrossed – Moirae's debut. Where has she been hiding! Probably on an island south of Cape Code, Massachusetts or Olympia.

Moirae: often called The Fates (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos). The goddesses, who controlled the destiny of everyone, by weaving with the thread of life.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, own, young-adult, romance, mythology

Want a book which combines elements of mythology with a sizzling hot romance? Want a book with a stunning plot and fabulous characters? If the answer to both is yes, then look no further than 'Starcrossed' by Josephine Angelini.

The story centres on Helen Hamilton who lives on the small island of Nantucket. She's painfully shy and doesn't have many friends except for her loyal sidekick Claire. For as long as she can remember it's just been her and her father ans she's happy with things that way....more Want a book which combines elements of mythology with a sizzling hot romance? Want a book with a stunning plot and fabulous characters? If the answer to both is yes, then look no further than 'Starcrossed' by Josephine Angelini.

The story centres on Helen Hamilton who lives on the small island of Nantucket. She's painfully shy and doesn't have many friends except for her loyal sidekick Claire. For as long as she can remember it's just been her and her father ans she's happy with things that way. Everything changes when the Delos family arrive on the island and Helen finds herself experiencing overwhelming feelings of hatred towards Lucas Delos; feelings that she can't explain and can't resist. As the two are drawn towards each other Helen eventually discovers the secret surrounding the Delos family and as everyone knows, there's a fine love between love and hate.

I really loved the whole concept of 'Starcrossed'. Angelini has interwoven elements of Greek tragedy into the story which is a spin on the classic tale of Helen (the face that launched a thousand ships) and Paris of Troy. I'm a big fan of the classics and Greek and Roman tragedies so this really appealed to me. There are further similarities with the famous starcrossed lovers of Romeo and Juliet, with Helen and Lucas desperate to be together but afraid of starting a war if they give into their feelings for each other. However, although the book reminded me of elements of other stories, it's also totally unique and unlike anything else I've read in the YA paranormal romance genre. It's incredibly intelligent and clever which means that you do have to follow the plot carefully as there are quite a lot of different plot threads combined and a hefty back story to understand.

Although I found that the story started off a little slow in the first few chapters, it soon picked up the pace, so it's worth persevering if you find it difficult to get into at the start. The ending blew me away and concluded with such a big cliffhanger. Josephine Angelini certainly knows how to leave you in suspense!

This is the first book in a trilogy and I can't wait for more! I have a feeling that I'm going to get absolutely addicted to this series. 'Starcrossed' is going to appeal to a wide-audience of readers as the book contains something for everyone. Action, mystery, romance and an intriguing and gripping plot are all combined to make this one of the hits of the year.
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

May 30, 2011 Hira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-to-read-2011, favorites

OMGods OMGods OMGods! Okay, usually I'm not even a proponent of using the phrase "OMG", let alone starting my review with it but this book calls for exclamations like that. This book was SO good, a part of me wants to put in a request to Goodreads to raise their ratings from 5 stars to at least 10 stars (and they still would not be enough!), just for this book!

Helen Hamilton lives a life of relative peace and quiet on the serene island of Nantucket. Not much happens on this island where everyon...more OMGods OMGods OMGods! Okay, usually I'm not even a proponent of using the phrase "OMG", let alone starting my review with it but this book calls for exclamations like that. This book was SO good, a part of me wants to put in a request to Goodreads to raise their ratings from 5 stars to at least 10 stars (and they still would not be enough!), just for this book!

Helen Hamilton lives a life of relative peace and quiet on the serene island of Nantucket. Not much happens on this island where everyone knows everyone else, and Helen is happy for it to be that way. Uncomfortable with attention, and physically pained by it, she lives her life like a quiet nobody, living alone with her father, the owner of a general store, since her mother left them both when she was very young. Her best friend is Claire, who being Japanese on the island is automatically different and much more comfortable in the limelight, but who still thinks Helen is bound to stand out, even if it sends her into pangs of physical pain.

Helen's quiet world is torn asunder with the arrival of the Delos family who have moved from Spain. The Delos teens are the talk of the town before Helen has even set eyes on them, and gossip is abound as to how physically attractive they all are. Also, she is shaken by these strange nightmares she has been having, where she finds herself in a barren and desolate land, and upon awakening finds herself covered in dust and incredibly thirsty. And the vision, this hallucination, of three old women who are always urging and crying blood. But when Helen first sets eyes on Lucas, one of the Delos boys, her reaction is one that no one would expect out of her, not even own self, especially not her self. She attacks him. Regardless of how sexually attracted she may be to Lucas, and how intensely drawn to him she may be, her blood also boils at the very sight of him.

Unable to keep herself away for him, and soon realizing that she never will be able to keep herself away from him, she begins to get to know Lucas and his family better and realizes that she learns more about herself through them than she ever would have imagined. Through the Delos clan, including Hector (the hefty, aggressive one who keeps needling her to unleash her aggression), Ariadne and Jason (Twins who are both beautiful, but extremely sweet and understanding) and Cassandra (the youngest, the smallest but with the wisdom and aura of a million sages) and their parents, she is able to come to terms with who she is, what her history is, and what she is truly capable of - that sometimes what you read in the books isn't just a myth, sometimes it is as real as it gets. In the meanwhile, there are dark forces on the hunt for Helen, and she must learn to protect herself from them. In the process of all this, Lucas and Helen are attracted to each other like a moth to the flame. But like the moth's obsession with the flame only results in his demise, Lucas and Helen are not free to follow their desires...there are prophecies that have to be fulfilled, traditions to abide by, Gods to be appeased, and the whole world hangs in the balance of their distance from each other. So will they be able to resist temptation? Will Helen be able to save herself from the dangers that lurk around her? Above all else...will the epic romance between Helen and Lucas be able to bloom, or will it be nipped in the bud? You will have to read the book to find out...

OMGods OMGods OMGods! This book is so absolutely fantastic, I didn't read it, I literally snorted it like crack! The pages kept turning, and I keep getting invested. I laughed out loud, I shed tears...it was an emotional roller coaster. But also, it was so action-packed and fast paced, I felt like I was reading a Marvel comic, rather than a Young Adult fiction novel. I am sure parallels can be, and will be, drawn between Twilight and Starcrossed...but I can safely say that I was far more impressed with the writing and the characterization in Starcrossed than I was by the first book in the Twilight series, and I enjoyed Starcrossed far more. So Stephanie Meyers, you better watch your back, because a new diva is about to take the Young Adult literary genre by storm!!! Also, this book includes a lot of info on Greek Mythology, but author Josephine Angelini has done the subject justice, and the myths and legends are seamlessly incorporated into the storyline. This book was like X-Men meets THOR meets Hercules meets Superman type of stuff, but with a generous helping of romance, friendship, family and plenty of Greek Mythology thrown in there - the PERFECT mix for an extremely riveting read, I must say. There was a seriously cool, award-winning movie going on in my head as I read this book (about that: watch out for a ~Movie Castings~ post on this book on Wednesday of this week). I loved EVERY DARN MINUTE of it. Love, love, loved it, and would recommend it to EVERYONE!

So don't wait another second, Starcrossed hits the bookstores tomorrow - go out and get yourself a copy. I personally promise you, you will not regret it!!!Greek Mythology, teenagers, blood-lust, action-packed sequences, and an epic romance...what's not to LOVE? :)(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2012 Hana❀Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-of-2011, the-best-of-the-best, ridiculously-sexy-guys

Back off. It's guilty pleasure...

(I kidz!)

Honestly, I liked this book much more before I re-read it. After reading it again I found myself annoyed numerous times and the parts I loved before were just a big 'MEH'. But it was fairly enjoyable so I will deem it worthy of three stars..

7 likes · like · see review

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About Josephine Angelini

Josephine Angelini is a Massachusetts native and the youngest of eight siblings. A real-live farmer's daughter, Josie graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in theater, with a focus on the classics. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Starcrossed is her first novel.

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“I don’t care how hard being together is, nothing is worse than being apart.” — 457 people liked it

“She decided that if Lucas was gay then she was going to have to get a sex change operation. He would be so worth it.” — 398 people liked it

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