The Bursting Bookshelf

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 a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.(

Review:
After reading and loving Starcrossed, I was dying to read Dreamless. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of it, and I dove into as soon as I went on vacation and read it within a day. Unfortunately, I did not care for this one nearly as much as I did the first one, for a multitude of reasons.

Dreamless's cover followed the same theme as Starcrossed's. It had a cover model in a flowing dress, but you couldn't see her face again, making sure the reader thought about how Helen looked and didn't get an idea from the cover. Also on Dreamless's cover, 'hot colors' were featured (orange and purple with dark shadows) rather than the 'cool colors' that were on the cover of Starcrossed. The 'hot colors' symbolized the growing tension, suspense and danger featured in the sequel versus the 'cool colors' representing the lighter themes of Starcrossed. The font of the title was the same as with Starcrossed.

When it came to characters in Dreamless, I didn't enjoy many of them. To begin with the main characters, Helen didn't always think things through for the greater good, she also got very closed minded when it came to her romantic relationships, never thinking things through straight and only seeing when option when there were multiple. Lucas had the same flaws; he didn't know when to let a relationship go and to help with the greater good. He simply didn't seem to be the same character that was in Starcrossed, and I really didn't care for him in Dreamless. My favorite character of the book was the new one; Orion. He was brave and intelligent and willing to help Helen even when she was clearly obsessing over someone else.

The best part of this book was the plot and writing. The writing features a ton of detail and truly shows the emotions of the narrator as well as the feelings of those around them. It also helped carry the story, which was one of the redeeming factors of the book. The plot moved at a fairly fast rate and did accomplish a lot in terms of moving the story ahead. There were a few slow points, but for the most part it kept a fairly steady pace. The ending was one to remember, and I will return to finish the series to find out what happens in the end.

Whether or not I read the last book, I do know that I would recommend that people who have read the first book give Dreamless a go. Altogether I give Dreamless a 3/5 for being a sequel that just didn't live up to the it's predecessor due to multiple factors.

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:
After hearing all the hype that was being built up around Starcrossed and seeing all the great reviews it was getting, I knew that I would be picking it up the day it came out. Lucky enough for me, my local bookstore (best bookstore EVER!) got it in a few days early and I dove into it and devoured it. Wow, was it ever good. I loved how Helen and Lucas had such amazing chemistry all the time, even when they wanted to kill each other, literally. The writing was fairly descriptive and smooth, making the reader feel immersed and a part of Helen's world. I really enjoyed that other points of view were involved, but not too frequently that it became all about those other characters. The story itself was my favorite part of this book. Just the fact that I have never read anything like this was a huge part of it for me. When all was said and done, Starcrossed was a hugely lovable story that puts a twist on mythology, earning it a 5/5.

Hello everyone! Today I have a special treat for you all! I recently got in contact and interviewed Josephine Angelini, author of Starcrossed (May 31, 2011 from HarperTeen). She was super sweet and fun to email with! Without further ado, the interview with Josephine Angelini:


So far my favorite part has been reaching out to people who want to read my book.  The enthusiasm and the energy I've been encountering have been really touching.  And I love giving ARCs away.  It's so much fun for me to sign them and put them in the mail, whether it's for fans in the, US, UK, Germany, the Philippines it's just such a great feeling!

2) I know that Helen has some of your traits, but if you could inherit a trait of Starcrossed's main character Helen, what would it be?

Flying.  Hands down I want to be able to fly.  I dream about it all the time, and that's the main reason I put it in the book.  I love flying dreams!
3) Do you look up to other authors? If so, who?


4) As an author, name three things you can't live without.

5) Have you always had an interest in Gods and Demigods?

I've always been fascinated by Greek mythology.  But then again, I've always loved fantasy and sci-fi, and myths are just really, really old fantasy stories when you get down to brass tacks.  I studied ancient Greek theatre in college, too, and the epic scope of these stories always moved me.  Gods and monsters, family quarrels and honor killings it's just so romantic.

6) Random question: Who is your favorite music artist?

Radiohead or Billie Holiday, it just depends on my mood.

7) I absolutely adore the US cover for Starcrossed! What do you think of it?  Did you get much say in the creation of the cover?

I love the cover too!!  And yes, my editor (Laura Arnold) listened to me about everything I wanted.  She even fought for me when I insisted that Helen's face shouldn't be on the cover b/c I wanted 'The Face' to be a mystery.  But even though I got a lot of say, I can't lay claim to how gorgeous the US cover turned out.  That was all due to the brilliance of the art department at Harper Collins and the impeccable taste of my editor.

8) When you began to write Starcrossed, did you know what the ending would be or did it change and evolve as you wrote the book?

I always know where I'm going before I start writing.  My process starts with extensive character bios, long and involved outlines, and then before I write 'Chapter One' I do what are called beats.  This means I have a list of all the action of the book. A step-by-step Helen wakes up.  Goes downstairs.  Jerry is already cooking breakfast. My timelines and my plotting are very precise.  I never get behind the wheel unless I know exactly where I'm going and how to get there.  And then I still discover stuff, and have to re-do my beats!  Frustrating, but worth the work.

9) Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your book?

I'm just enjoying the whole process right now.  I couldn't be happier with the way my book is being received.  It's thrilling and humbling at the same time. I feel very grateful.

Thank you so much to Josephine Angelini for joining me for this interview! I had a blast and loved her answers!