Book 2: Starcrossed - Myth Connections

Like the Percy Jackson series, Starcrossed features descendants of the Greek gods. Unlike that series, though, the characters in this book are multiple generations away from their god ancestor rather than the child of the god. Angelini provides another option for the possibility of the manifestation of the mythology in modern society. Unlike in Percy’s adventures, the characters of Starcrossed never directly interact with the gods. The closest they get is when they see the Furies, as well as the presence of the Oracle in Cassandra.
Unlike the Percy Jackson series, though, Starcrossed features the starcrossed-lovers motif. More than that, though, Angelini also includes influences of the Trojan War. First, Helen is descended from Helen of Troy. Second, she shares her ancestor’s name, and Lucas should have been named Paris. Third, for the majority of the novel they are under the belief that if they get together they will actually restart the Trojan War. The Trojan War was constantly in the back of my mind once I started picking up the allusions to it, and definitely plays a major role in the novel. It is almost as important as the presence of the gods.