Starcrossed Week - The Characters

At this point, you've heard me rave over just about everything having to do with Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed trilogy. The story is absolutely amazing and a large part of that amazingness comes from the characters. Because even the really unlikeable characters have some sort of redeeming qualities and the more minor ones feel fully fleshed out. And some of those characters, they are completely underrated.

Hector was one of those characters I wasn't too sure what to make of when I met him in the first book. But the more I learned about him, the more I realized he was just one big teddy bear. Once the Furies let up with the whole Helen hating the Delos and vice versa, Hector became this other person. Every time he appeared in the story, it just put a smile on my face. The way he was with his family just made him that much more endearing. And that was only amplified whenever he was interacting with Helen. As hard as he could be with her, she also brought out this other side of his personality. So Hector is someone I came to love. Anytime something bad happened to him, it just hurt my heart.  And after everything that had happened to him, I just wanted him to have a happy ending. 

Matt was one of those characters that is there but spends a lot of time in the background. He's been one of Helen's best friend for as long as anyone can remember and even through all of the Scion stuff, he sticks by her side, somewhere along the way falling in love with Ariadne. But all of a sudden in Goddess, so much happens to Matt. Right from the start, so many hints were dropped and knowing what I know about the Trojan War, I could see where things were heading. And it was not heading somewhere I liked. But it was inevitable, it was where the story needed to go. Not that it was something I actually accepted. Through it all, my heart was breaking as I saw what was happening and what it was doing to all the other characters. And even after everything, I still loved Matt because there was nothing he could do about the situation he was in.

I feel like all I'm doing is talking about the boys in this trilogy, but there were so many amazing ones. Orion found himself stuck in a love triangle with Helen and Lucas. There wasn't really much eh could do about it. And in spite of everything he knew that he wouldn't come out on the winning side. But for once, a member of a love triangle stood up for himself. Orion realized that he deserved better than what Helen would ever be able to give him. And for that alone, I have so much respect for Orion. But my heart is also breaking for him. Not just because of his "position" in the love triangle, but because of everything I know about his life and how difficult his childhood must have been. I just wanted him to have someone who would be there for him, who would take care of him and who would love him even more than he deserved to be love. Because Orion seriously needed some good in his life.

I've said that even the most unlikeable characters somehow have redeeming qualities and with Daphne, it was hard to find them. For the better part of three books, I wanted nothing more than to punch Daphne and for her to just leave everyone alone because she was causing a lot more harm than good. But despite all that, I could understand where she was coming from. It wasn't a justification for what she did by any stretch of the imagination, but I could understand why did the things she did and why she wanted what she wanted. But then she had this moment of clarity in Goddess. I don't know what finally made her see everything for what they were, but she did. And in that moment, I was able to start to forgive Daphne for some of what she had done. It didn't wipe the slate completely clean, but I could begin to forgive her, all things considered.

I could go on endlessly about each and every one of the characters in this trilogy. Each of them has something that makes them completely unique and memorable. I could talk about how badass Helen is, about how much more there is to Lucas than what I originally thought, to how absolutely selfless Ariadne and Jason are, how surprising Claire can be, and the list just keep going on. If for the characters alone, you should give Josephine Angelini's books a try. And if characters aren't your thing, you can check out all my other posts about the trilogy from this past week.

Starcrossed Week - Why others love Starcrossed

I am not the only person who has read and loved Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed books. As amazing as they are, it shouldn't come as a surprise that others share my feelings. So keep reading to see what others have thought of these wonderful books.

Kathy from A Glass of Wine

As someone who has been lucky enough to read all three novels in Josephine Angelini’s trilogy, I knew immediately what I wanted to talk about when Emilie asked me to contribute a few sentences on this amazing series - the set up involved. Josephine has laid everything out in the first two novels out perfectly. The characters, their importance and the setting all lay waiting like dominoes for Josephine to move that first piece and send everything else falling into place. It’s this set up, and execution that left me awe struck when I closed the last piece. This trilogy ends the way it HAS to because any other ending wouldn't fit the carefully planned structure that cumulates in the stunning finale.

Siobhan from Conversations of a Reading Addict

The Starcrossed series has, over the years, become one of my favourites, and this is for a number of reasons. One of them being the subject matter. I am a huge fan of greek mythology and I especially like it when it is retold in novel form. The Helen of Troy myth has been done before but not like this. Set in modern times and add in superpowers and you have one supercharged series. An amazing love story doesn't hurt either. I mean the sexual tension and the forbidden aspect drives this story forward in ways you cannot even imagine. The characters and the plot line are unique and extremely well written. This is one series you should not miss, it is a must read for sure. 

Meaghan from Feeling a Little Bookish

I read Starcrossed a few years ago for review and I really enjoy reading it.  One of the things that I really enjoyed about this novel is that while it is a novel with some Greek mythology elements to it, it is not overt and in your face. Angelini doesn't bog down her story with too much background on greek mythology. She added this into her story in a way that flowed really well. I also love that Helen finds out that her life may not quite be what she has been told and she doesn't automatically change her entire life and not question things.  She does want to rebel a bit but she doesn't completely change who she is. She continues to hold her relationships dear and she makes an effort to try to fit into her new lifestyle.  Starcrossed is a great novel and if you haven't started this series yet you need to go out and pick it up ASAP.  

Ciara from Lost at Midnight Reviews

I think two of the best things in Starcrossed were the reimagined mythology and the family dynamics. I loved the way Josephine Angelini recreated these classic myths while still keeping the tradition strong. I was fascinated by the plot line and the way the Greek mythology was woven into the story. It was fresh and interesting and made me want to learn more! I also adored the Delos family! Coming from a big extended family, I could totally relate to the chaos in the house and the hilarious interactions. The clear bond the family shared warmed my heart and made for a fantastic book! I mean really, mythology and awesome characters? How could you not love it!

So there you have it: more reasons to read the Starcrossed trilogy. And if you missed it yesterday, be sure to check out all the giveaways I have to celebrate these awesome books!

Starcrosssed Week - Giveaways!

To celebrate Starcrossed Week, I have the pleasure of hosting 3 fantastic giveaways. So keep reading to find out more!

Giveaway One - Canada Only

Thanks to the wonderful folks at HarperCollins Canada, I am giving paperback copies both Starcrossed & Dreamless, the first and second books in Josephine Angelini's trilogy. Since the publisher will be sending out the books, the giveaway is open to people with CANADIAN mailing addresses only. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Two - US & Canada Only

If you haven't yet started the books and are looking for a full set, check out this giveaway! I am giving away a full, hardcover set of the trilogy. Since I will be sending out the books myself and 3 hardcovers can be kinda heavy, this giveaway is open to people with US & CANADIAN mailing addresses only. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Three - International

Thanks to the awesome Renée from Rad Graphic, I am giving away a "Team Fate" tote bag and "Hamilton" t-shirt. I have some stuff from Renée myself, and let me just say it is awesome. So even if you don't win, be sure to check her out on Facebook. And since this is light and easy to ship, this giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck to everyone!

Starcrossed Week - Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Title: Goddess (Starcrossed #3)

Author: Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Chapters

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count. 

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas's life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini's compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that's been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

When it comes to my most anticipated books of 2013, Goddess was easily at the top of that list. After everything that happened in the first two books, I couldn't wait to see how Josephine Angelini would bring everything together in this final instalment. I'll admit that I was a little afraid, but I shouldn't have been because, with Goddess, Josephine Angelini wrote a stunning finale. 

Now that the four houses have been accidentally united, there is nothing left to hold the gods on Olympus. So with gods on the loose, free to do as they please in the human world, Helen and the other Scions need to find a way to stop them. But the last time this happened, the gods were imprisoned only after a devastating war. But that's the least of Helen's problems. Between the Oracle's prophecies about the Tyrant, her confused feelings about Lucas and Orion and the rising tensions between everyone, there is a lot to deal with. Everyone will have some difficult decisions to make. With war looming on the horizon, everyone is ready to prepare for the worse.

There are so many things I can and want to say about Goddess. So I will apologize in advance if this turns into me simply gushing about everything I loved about this story. But here's the thing, I know just how much the first two books affected me so I was very much afraid of what Goddess would do to my poor heart. And this was a perfectly legitimate fear. Throughout the book, there were many moments where I wasn't sure I would be able to take much more. Every time another piece of the puzzle fell into place, I became increasingly afraid of what it would mean for the big picture. But that didn't stop me from loving this story. Because there wasn't a singly moment where I wasn't loving it. This story is so layered and complex. There is so much happening, but at the same time it's all connected. Just seeing how everything fit together, those little moments from previous books that all of a sudden took on a whole new meaning, was amazing. Even just thinking about how each of the characters had their Greek or Trojan equivalent must have required a lot of planning on Josephine Angelini's part. And that's another thing, even though I knew it, Goddess reinforced what an amazing writer Josephine Angelini is. Because Goddess is an absolutely stunning finale to this series I love. And it was the kind of conclusion that didn't leave me wanting. Everything ended the way it should have. Though there were some disappointments along the way, I don't think this story could have ended any other way. And the way it ended was just what I wanted.

Let me now say that Helen is a total badass. I've known all along that Helen was a strong and that she wouldn't let very much get in her way. But in Goddess, Helen more than rises up to the occasion. My the end of the book, she had my complete respect and admiration. The way she handles everything that is thrown her way, I don't know how she comes out of it all standing. Because anyone else would be curled up in a ball, crying in a corner somewhere…or at least I would be. So this book just made me love Helen even more. And the title of the book being Goddess is fully appropriate. Like I've already said, there is so much going on with all the characters in this story. Everyone of them is so complex. And I loved seeing the parallels between the different players in the Trojan War. And admittedly that parallel allowed me to predict some parts of the story which at times made me a little angry. But as much as there was some heartbreak involved, everything that happened to the characters happened for a reason. I might be repeating myself, but I couldn't really have asked for a more fitting ending for the story and for these characters. Sure, it might not have been happy for everyone, but it was the only possible outcome.

Over the course of three books, I have come to love this story and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. With Goddess, Josephine Angelini confirmed that she is a fantastic writer because this was an absolutely stunning finale. I will say this again, but if you haven't yet read this series, I strongly recommend it because I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Starcrossed Week - Why I Love this Trilogy

Every so often you will pick this book for whatever reason. It could be that it has a pretty cover, the synopsis sounds interesting, you've heard other people talk about it. Whatever the motivating factor, you end up grabbing the book off the shelf and start reading. And the more you read, the more you find yourself liking the story, eventually getting to the point where you love the story. And if you're me, that might happen with a fair amount of books. But then, there is that one book that just seem to rise about the others. It's not really something I can explain, but once in a while there is that one book or that series that just seems to capture your attention in a way that no other book has. And over the last two years, Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed trilogy did just that for me.

I have always had a fascination with Greek history and mythology. For as long as I remember, it's a subject that has always fascinated me and often results in me picking up any book even remotely related to this topic. So that's why I first picked up Starcrossed when it came out two years ago. Well, that and the cover was stunning. And though I bought the book right when it came out, I waited until a few months later to actually start reading it. And once I did, I couldn't seem to do anything else. Josephine Angelini managed to take me out of my world and into the one she has created for this story. And there wasn't one minute while I was reading that I wasn't fully captivated by everything that was happening in Starcrossed. 

But now here's the thing. I often find that the second book in series just aren't quite as good as the first one and so as much as I was looking forward to Dreamless, I was still also a little apprehensive because I didn't want it to disappoint me. But I really shouldn't have worried. If anything, Dreamless made me love this series even more. And by the time I was finished, I couldn't believe I would have to wait a year to find out who everything would all come together. After having now read, Goddess, I can say that this series has become so much more than I thought it would be when I picked up that first book two years ago and that alone is reason enough for me to love this series as much as I do.

The thing about the story Josephine Angelini wrote is that there are so many dimensions and layers to it, to the point that everything is perfectly laid out. Things you see in the first book that you don't really make much of later come back and all of a sudden are the missing puzzle piece to make everything fit together. Goddess, the third and final book, made me realize just how much thinking and planning must have gone into writing this story the way it was. There were so many pieces to fit together, and by the end, they fit perfectly in a way that made sense and left me with very little questions. And that, more than anything is why I simply adore the Starcrossed trilogy. Over the course of three books, there is so much happening, but there is a reason for it all. And the way it all plays out, will simply amaze you and make you realize what a fantastic writer Josephine Angelini is. 

So this is my (long) explanation of why this series deserves attention. This is the kind of story that will keep you engaged, with characters you can't help be get attached to. You don't even need to know about mythology or even have a particular liking of it to be able to enjoy this story. All you have to do to enjoy and maybe fall in love with this story is be looking to read a complex, layered and captivating story. 

Starcrossed Week

If you have been following me on Twitter, you will know that I have a special event happening over the course of the next week here on the blog. Starting tomorrow and lasting until the end of the week, everything will be about the Starcrossed trilogy and its author, Josephine Angelini. So be sure check back every day this week for special posts, guest posts and a massive giveaway at the end of it all. Want a preview of what that giveaway includes? Check out one of the pictures that I've posted in the last week. 

Enjoy!

Announcing Starcrossed Week!

In honor of the release of Goddess, the third and final book in Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed trilogy, I will be holding a "Starcrossed Week" here on the blog during the week of May 20th. As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of these books and I absolutely adore the story within them. 

What I need from you is simple. If you have read any of the books in the series and have loved them, I would love to hear your thoughts on the books. If you are interested in participating in this weeklong event celebrating this wonderful trilogy, just send me an email at emiliebookworld@gmail.com and I will be happy to give you more detail about what I would need from you!

Lucas Needs Your Votes!!

Today I have the great honor of advocating for Lucas Delos from Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed trilogy over at YA Sisterhood as part of the YA Crush Tourney. You can read my defence below and if you could take a minute to head over to YA Sisterhood to vote for Lucas, that would be great!

First off, and that should be plenty of reason, the Fates strongly suggest you vote for Lucas. Would you really want to invoke the wrath of the Fates on yourself? I didn't really think so.

But if that's not enough for you, just keep reading to find out more about Lucas.

Looks

Lucas is a demigod, so like you would expect he is quite the handsome young man. He is tall, easily over six feet and has a powerful build (again, he's a demigod). But despite that powerful build, he is not bulky, instead his muscles are described as long and lean. To top all of that off, he has short black hair, a deep tan and "swimming pool blue eyes". There's no question about it, Lucas is hot, plain and simple. Want some personal opinions on his looks? Here they come.

Claire - "Lucas, however, is an über-babe. Quite possibly the most beautiful boy I've ever seen." (Starcrossed, p. 27)

Helen - "It wasn't his height or his coloring or his muscles that made him so beautiful, she conclude. It was the way he moved. She had only seen him twice, but she could tell he thought less frequently about his looks than everyone around him did. His eyes, as pretty as they were, looked out, rather than back at himself." (Starcrossed, p. 53)

Still not convinced? Here's one more from Helen.

"The last cobwebs clearing from her eyes, she decided that if Lucas was gay then she was going to get a sex change operation. He would be so worth it." (Starcrossed, p. 185)

But, you tell me, looks aren't everything. Well if those looks aren't enough for you, then you should know that Lucas has an awesome personality to go with them.

Personality

Lucas could quite possibly be the sweetest person in the world. Claire even says so--"He's not going around telling everyone you're monkey-butt crazy, so at least you brutalized a super sweet guy." (Starcrossed, p. 57)

But it's a lot more than Lucas just being the sweetest person to have ever lived. He would also do just about anything for those he loves. He will put everyone's well-being ahead of his own, no matter what that means. Where Helen is concerned, the only thing he wouldn't do for her is destroy thousands of lives--but he will do anything but that. The way he is with Helen is simply amazing, and even when he is told he shouldn't care for her as much as he does, it doesn't stop him. Even when he and Helen were still under the influences of the Furies, he was willing to jump in to her defence when they were supposed to be hating each other.

But he's not just an incredibly thoughtful and caring person. Lucas also has a pretty great sense of humor. One of the best examples is one of my favorite moments in the book. Wondering what I'm talking about? Just read below.

"'Piece of cake,' she said blithely, trying to distract him. 'So what are you doing next Friday night?'

'What have you got in mind?'

'We could try hitting each other with cars,' she suggested cheerfully.

'Did that last weekend with Jase,' he said with mock regret.

'Go to the zoo and throw ourselves to the lions?' she fired back quickly, desperate to keep him focused on her rather than his caved-in chest.

'The Romans sort of wore that one out. Got anything original?'

'I'll think of something,' she warned him."

Even in the most difficult situations, Lucas is there with his sense of humor at the ready.

Need more? Do you like a little superpowers in your boys? Well, Lucas has plenty of those in store.

Talents

Lucas is a Scion (demigod) so he has plenty of talents. For starters he has supernatural strength and is a natural fighter. And then he can fly. Yes, fly. He can just take off and go anywhere he wants to go anytime he wants. Along with flying, he can play around with how gravity affects his body--he can go from being light as a feather to being as heavy as a large boulder. But that's still not all. Because he's part of the House of Apollo, he can bend the light around him as he pleases, which makes for some pretty neat special effects on demand. Apollo is not only the god of light but also the god of music. So you guessed it, Lucas is also a pretty amazing singer. Just picture him singing to you. Are your insides melting yet? Lucas still has one more talent that's pretty rare. He's a Falsefinder. What does that mean, you ask? Well, Lucas can tell whenever someone around him isn't telling the truth. Could come in pretty handy if you ask me.

Best Quality

I've already talked about it, but Lucas' best quality is how sweet, caring and thoughtful he is. You'll be hard pressed to find another boy like him in those departments. What's even better is that he is all those things without becoming controlling, and that is more than enough to make my heart melt. What girl wouldn't want an amazingly sweet guy who will put her ahead of everything else but will still let her do what she wants? I thought, so.

If you're still not sure, here's a little recap. If you like your boys tall dark and handsome with piercing blue eyes than Lucas is the boy for you. Want more than just good looks? Lucas is the the sweetest and most caring person with a great sense of humor thrown into the mix. Don't want just a regular guy? Lucas is a Scion, a demigod or whatever you want to call it so he has plenty superpowers to show off. 

Lucas is clearly the way to go, but I can't control what you do. Just know that you won't regret voting for Lucas Delos.

So if that convinced you, be sure to head over to YA Sisterhood to vote for Lucas, he needs our help! And be sure to tweet about the match using the hashtags #TeamLucasDelos and #YACrushTourney to show your support and help get Lucas more votes.

YA Crush Tournament - Lucas' Advocate

As some of you may have seen on YA Sisterhood, I'm taking part in this year's YA Crush Tournament where I will be advocating for Lucas Delos from Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed books. My first match will be on July 23rd so I'm looking to get some support. This match will be against Peeta from the Hunger Games, so Lucas will need all the help he can get. What I'm looking for is some people to help me spread the word about Lucas before and on the day of the match since I won't be able to do it all on my own. If you're interested in helping me out, just leave me a comment below or contact me via e-mail (emiliebookworld@gmail.com) or on Twitter @emiliebookworld.

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Title: Dreamless (Starcrossed #2)

Author: Josephine Angelini

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: May 29, 2012

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

***SPOILERS FOR STARCROSSED BELOW***

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she's running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini's compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied--and longing for more.

I absolutely adored Starcrossed when I read it last year. Josephine Angelini had written an incredible story so I was very much looking forward to reading more. Dreamless was even better than I thought it was going to be and I loved every single page of it. 

Now that she has discovered that she is the Descender, Helen is pending all her nights in the Underworld trying to find a way to defeat the Furies. Because defeating the Furies means reuniting her family. But on top of this she also has to deal with the fact that she ca't be with Lucas anymore. And that may prove harder than defeating the Furies. During her time in the Underworld, Helen also meets Orion, another Scion who can travel to the Underworld and knows Helen's elusive mother. With Orion's help, Helen may be able to reach her goals in the Underworld. But she will have to do so before chaos breaks out on the surface, putting everyone she loves in danger.

After reading Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed last year, I was hooks and just couldn't be able to read more of this story. And so I had very high expectations for Dreamless and I can now say that they were all more than surpassed. In Dreamless the action started right from the first page and it didn't let up until the last page. There was always something happening and there was never a dull moment. I would find it extremely difficult to put the book down. I just wanted to know what would happen next all the time. Josephine Angelini seriously wrote an awesome story in Dreamless, and I liked it even more than Starcrossed. I didn't think that would be possible.

If I liked Helen after reading Starcrossed, it's nothing compared to how much I like her after reading Dreamless. She just has these endearing qualities that make it so you just can't help but like her. I also loved seeing more of the Delos family. They are a very interesting bunch to say the least. And this time around I could feel their pain where Hector was concerned and I wanted everything to work out for them. And I wanted Lucas to find his way back to himself, and I knew that wasn't going to be easy. And of course I really liked the addition of Orion. He was a really great addition to the story and I loved seeing him and Helen. He was really great with her and I can only hope there is more Orion to come in the future.

Dreamless was an absolutely fantastic sequel. Josephine Angelini really wrote an amazing story that I absolutely loved. I can't wait to see how it will all come together. Though waiting for the next book may prove to be difficult.