Starcrossed Review.

• Book - Starcrossed.
• Author - Josephine Angelini.
• Rating - Five stars.
• Theme Song - "Where Do I belong" - DemiGoddess.
• Synopsis - How do you defy destiny? 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.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.

I had a lot of hope built up around this book. I heard so much about it nonstop and by simply reading the synopsis, I felt instantly intrigued. The beginning of the book introduced Helen as a somewhat reserved, young high school student who simply wanted to get by without attracting too much attention. She would slouch because she was insecure about being so tall and she ran on her Cross Country team but never fully put 100% into it. All her life Helen knew that she was somehow different but she always considered it a bad thing. Helen lived alone with her father, her mother having abandoned the two of them long ago. Her best friend, Claire kept Helen sane most of the time. Claire was bubbly, full of personality and spark. She provided so much humor, loyalty and displays of true friendship throughout the story.


It all started when Helen began seeing these awful looking creatures that appeared to be women, but small, dirty and hysterical women. Helen continues to be visited by them without knowledge of what they are for what felt like an eternity. She also began having strange dreams that were more like the definition of a nightmare if there ever was one. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, waiting for her to figure out what was happening. The answers came to Helen in the form of a handsome young man named Lucas Delos.


Helen had never in her life laid eyes on him the day they collided. When Helen attacked Lucas she felt so far from herself and without any knowledge of why she was doing what she was doing. She found herself with this passionate and almost lustful hate for Lucas and his entire family. After the carnage, Helen did what research she could manage on the things she was experiencing. After a long and frustrating online search she dug up information on something called "The Furies." Helen then realized, without a shadow of a doubt that she was dealing with something out of Greek Mythology. But why?


After that initial moment and sense of realization occurred the book began to spin and twist in ways I never expected. I became so consumed in the storyline that I couldn't put the book down without still thinking about it, analyzing it and going over situations in my head. I became somewhat infatuated with the characters long enough to not want the story to ever end. The dynamics represented in this book are phenomenal. I absolutely loved the Delos's family structure and how they welcomed Helen. I love the fact that at times you got to read different point of views throughout the story. I also loved the fact that the Delos family was as protective of one another as they were, it's something I always love to see within a story. The Delos family was unlike any other family Helen had ever come across, and without even knowing them they all shared a lifetime's worth of history with one another. I can't delve completely into the storyline without giving too much away, but when all is said and done, my mind was blown. The ending was completely unexpected, exciting and surreal. I was most captivated by the love between Helen and Lucas.

It's obvious in the beginning that there's a reason the two of them can't be together, but no one ever lets on to that reason until quite a ways through the book. I liked the way it was written and the format it took because it allowed us readers to make our own assumptions, but to still also know the absolute truth in the end. I was so frustrated with Lucas at times for being so absolutely wonderful while knowing he couldn't fully commit to Helen. Although, I love the fact that Lucas didn't bow out when it came to their appointed prophecy. Lucas loved Helen and refused to be told that they couldn't be together. The way Lucas fought for Helen and for their love made my heart ache. At the same time, Helen seemed to be as confused as ever on more than one occasion by always getting the information last. She knew in her heart there was a reason Lucas held back when it came to their relationship, but she didn't want to face that reason because what she felt for him was unlike anything she ever felt before. The fact that they tried to be apart from one another for the greater good was honorable, I suppose, but in the end it just made them realize how much more they needed one another and couldn't be apart. The very last twist in the book that took place between Helen and Lucas was incomprehensible to me. I'm so very grateful that this book ended with that twist still fully in tact but with us readers nothing the truth. I mean, I do have to sleep at night, people.

If what Daphne claimed was true, I don't know how I could have handled it because Helen and Lucas are meant to be together and it's incredibly gut wrenching when they're not.


On another note, the rest of the characters in the book were some I also found fascinating. The twins were a complete show all on their own and Hector was a constant source of intensity for everyone, but especially Helen. While, do trust me that there were a ton of interesting characters, good and bad, I couldn't possibly begin to name them all. The villains, of course were just that, villainous and horrifying, The structure that was built between each character was fantastic. I can't say that I've read many books that have made me genuinely care about each positive character. They go through all of these things together and they never turn their back on one another. Once Helen started training, I knew her and Hector were going to butt heads because that's just how Hector is, but I didn't realize beforehand how much of a sweetheart he also is.

In the end, Helen battled The Fates, fought with others and her own piece of mind, and impressed everyone with her powers including herself. She became stronger, more aware and more focused overall. Her character development was brilliant. Helen reacted in ways I found incredibly realistic. She went through hallucinations, nightmares where she would literally awake caked in dust, dirt and blood without ever completely breaking. She was determined to meet her destiny head on and proves to be an impressive heroine. The love between Helen and Lucas cannot be altered, no matter who tries to keep them apart and I hope those people come to realize that sooner rather than later. The ending, in all honesty made me feel as if I was saying goodbye to a friend for awhile, a friend that was having a rough time and needed me. That's the best way to feel while reading, it's also the most honest way to feel. Needless to say, "Dreamless" could NOT come ANY sooner. So many things were left open, so many words were left unsaid and I NEED to know the progression. So, without sounding too redundant, I'd recommend this book to anyone. It's highly entertaining, thrilling, and brilliant in ways I never fathomed. Sure, it touches base on things that have already been touched on, but it has it's own flare and its own unique story.

If you're able to look past whatever is holding you back, I believe this book would be thoroughly enjoyable to all. I'm amazed by Josephine Angelini, utterly amazed. Visit her official website.