Waiting on Wednesday - Trial by Fire (The Worldwalker Trilogy) by Josephine Angelini

  

Hi everyone!! thank-you so much for stopping by today.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My WoW for this week is Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini  which is the first book in the Worldwalker trilogy.

 Author: Josephine Angelini

Series:  The Worldwalker trilogy

Genre: Young adult

Amazon pre-order

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Release date: 2^nd September 2014

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Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

What are most anticipating this week?

Waiting on Wednesday - Trial by Fire (Worldwalker Trilogy) by Josephine Angelini

 

Hi everyone!! thank-you so much for stopping by today.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My WoW for this week is Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini, As a HUGE fan of the Starcrossed series; I’m super excited for this book and I'm loving the cover.

Author: Josephine Angelini

Series: Worldwalker Trilogy

Genre: Young adult

Amazon pre-order

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Release date: 2^nd September 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?

What are most anticipating this week?

ARC Review: Goddess (Starcrossed #3) by Josephine Angelini

Goddess (6^th June 2013)

Author: Josephine Angelini

Series: Starcrossed

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 480

Publisher: Macmillan Childrens Books

Puchase: Amazon – TBD

Australian release date: 1st June 2013

Song I associate with Goddess – Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

She must rise, or they will fall ...Helen's powers are increasing--and so is the distance between her and her mortal friends. To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a dangerous traitor is lurking among them, and all fingers point to Orion. Still unsure whether she loves him or Lucas, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, or risk all-out war. The final book in this heart-stopping trilogy.

Reviews: 5 out 5 Stars

I literally did a happy dance when I received a copy of Goddess in the post from Pan Macmillan Australia. When I first read Starcrossed, I completely fell in love with the characters and the mythology, Dreamless broke my heart on so many levels but my adoration for the series just grew and Goddess just blew me away and threw the series onto my favourites list, it was perfection.

After the events of Dreamless, the gods have been unleashed and want to start a war so are causing havoc as a result but Helen is not only having to deal with them, the furies have spoken through the Oracle telling them there is a tyrant amongst them but working out who it could be is proving difficult although all fingers are pointing to Orion.

Helen is made of pure awesome! I adore her strength, determination and selflessness, she has progressed so much since Starcrossed and her devotion to those she is closest to is unwavering. She makes mistakes along the way but she faces her responsibilities and takes ownership of the role she should be playing. In Goddess, we see her gain new powers but with it comes a slip in her control and she does begin to falter causing those closest to her to question her restraint and purpose.

I don’t want to reveal too much about this book but it was epically amazing! It is a complex plot filled with action, betrayal, deceit and mythology that would have to hands down be the best I have read. It was fast-paced and kept me flipping the pages needing to know what was going to happen next and war doesn’t come without loss so this aspect was especially edge of the seat, heart-pounding, knee wobbling tension! There were twists and turns aplenty that left me gaping.

The world-building has evolved and I am glad we got to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to see the part and the purpose each of the characters played. I was glad to see snippets of the past through Helen to see why things happened as they did, slowly bit by bit the history of the original war was revealed and why it was being re-enacted all over again.

Despite not enjoying love-triangles, the romance is written well; Ms. Angelini knows how to write smexy boys and both Lucas and Orion were equally appealing, it was almost impossible to decide who she should be with because they both had such remarkable qualities. I was heart-broken in the previous books by the fact we all knew the truth about Lucas and Helen’s relationship but they were left in the dark under the false pretence they were cousins, I was anxiously awaiting to find out how it would all be revealed; I had picked a side early on and had my fingers tightly crossed that they would get a HEA.

The characters have endured so much together but they remain strong despite the many obstacles thrown their way. The gods are also written beautifully and are depicted just the way I imagine each of them. I especially loved the role Hector played, he has always been a favourite character of mine and Daphne surprised me, the ongoing presence of the Delos family and the roles they each play has been wonderful. In this book we see loyalties divided but the overall resolution was satisfying.

Josephine Angelini’s detailed writing, Nantucket Island and underworld setting, wonderfully crafted characters and amazing storyline is creative, unique and brilliant. I find her storytelling mesmerising and I am definitely eager to read more books written by her – I can definitely see the possibility of a spin-off series.

Overall, a fabulous, breathtaking conclusion to the Starcrossed series, I am saddened to see it come it an end but I’m satisfied with how it all played out.

Thank-you kindly to Pan Macmillan Australia for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Goddess.

About the author: 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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My Starcrossed Review

My Dreamless Review

REVIEW: Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

 

Author: Josephine Angelini

Series: Starcrossed

Pages: 487

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: HarperTeen

Amazon: Dreamless

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Can true love be forgotten?

As the only Scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on.

Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies’ cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen’s sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding as an unforgettable love triangle emerges and the eternal cycle of revenge intensifies. Eagerly awaited, this sequel to the internationally bestselling STARCROSSED delivers a gritty, action-packed love story that exceeds expectation.

REVIEW: 5 out of 5 stars

This reviews contains spoilers from Starcrossed

Wow! If there was ever a time where I was really anxious to get hold of the next book in a series it would be after reading Dreamless, the second book in the Starcrossed trilogy by the amazing Josephine Angelini.

I was completely devastated at the end of Starcrossed, I adored Helen and Lucas as a couple and to find out they were possibly cousins left me utterly heartbroken.

In Dreamless, Helen Hamilton has been tasked with descending nightly into the underworld to end the cycle of vengeance by defeating the furies and freeing the scions from their influence. It leaves her fatigued and drained but she is determined in her quest.

Orion Evander, Head of the House of Rome, Heir to the House of Athens and also a Rogue Scion is also able to descend into the underworld and becomes more or less Helen’s protector; he was charming, witty and smart but unfortunately he wasn’t the amazingly gorgeous Lucas Delos and I couldn’t fully connect with the growing relationship between him and Helen. He did play an integral role in this story which I appreciated and I think there is a lot more we are yet to find out about him.

Dreamless keeps you on the edge of your seat; there is mystery, drama and ongoing action that has you glued to the pages needing to know what is going to happen next and the twists and turns were aplenty. Helen is learning along the way and is conscious of the decisions and mistakes she is making, she grew as a character and is understanding more about her purpose.

I was heartbroken for poor Lucas, his love for Helen is so strong and evident that he was willing to do anything to protect her; he went through some pretty big changes in this book – not necessarily good but his dedication to Helen never faltered.

I am not a love triangle fan at all, I have in my mind who I want Helen with and I hope Helen’s mother Daphne reveals the truth in the next book but I give kudos to Ms Angelini for writing two amazing love interests and a romance that didn’t take away from the main story, but it certainly enhanced it.

Each of the characters in this series comes to life, villains included. I adore the bond Helen shares with all of them, I was saddened by what Hector and the Delos family were going through, I loved how Claire and Matt played a strong part in helping Helen along in her quest and we also got to find out a lot more about the Gods, demigods, furies and something known as a myrmidon who gave me the creeps.

The plot is absolutely amazing! Dreamless is a well-crafted, intense and gripping read. The vivid detail and the imagery leave you breathless. Ms Angelini’s writing is brilliant and the mythology written to perfection.

The only gripe I have is the wait I now have until the release of the third book in the series, Goddess which has an anticipated 2013 release date. 

REVIEW: Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini

 

Author: Josephine Angelini

Series: Starcrossed

Pages: 496

Genre: YA - Paranormal

Publisher: HarperTeen

AMAZON: Starcrossed

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

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 destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

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: 5 out of 5 stars

Shy and beautiful Helen Hamilton has always known she was different from others. Living on the small island of Nantucket with her father she tries to blend in as much as she possibly can. When she begins to have nightmares about deserts and waking thirsty, dirty and covered in dust and hallucinating at school about three women weeping tears of blood does she begin to think she might actually be losing her mind.

The town of Nantucket are fascinated by the arrival of newcomers, the Delos Family but when Helen first sets eyes on one of the boys, Lucas at school her hatred is fierce and she has a physical urge to kill him, she normally shies away from attention so she is certainly baffled by her reaction and attack on him, and also notices when the Delos family are around so too are the 3 weeping women.

After avoidance and a few run-ins with the Delos family, her true heritage is revealed and she finds out she is a demigod or Scion as are they, and the reason for the strong urge she has to kill them is caused by the presence of the furies – the weeping women. She also finds out details of an ancient blood-feud and a prophecy in which she could possibly play the main role.

I was totally engrossed in Starcrossed, I loved the history and mythology, the characters and most importantly the romance, it wasn’t instantaneous it was slow to develop and really sweet, I really liked Helen and Lucas as a couple, they are joined by destiny and fate and I hope the truth behind the revelation made by her recently returned mother will eventually come to light.

The secondary characters are wonderful and well thought out, I loved the friendship she shared with her best friend Claire, the strong bond she had with her father Jerry as well as the trust she eventually gives to the Delos family; the way they protected, cared and trained her to reach her full potential despite their initial differences was kind and noble, I liked their family dynamic and the banter – I really felt sorry for the youngest family member Cassandra, an Oracle and also Hector who I grew to adore and I look forward to finding out more of what will come of them in future sequels.

I was frustrated by the ending and wished a number of things could have been revealed; There are a few loose ends which I am hoping will be covered in the next book, I just wish there wasn’t a year to wait for Dreamless which has an anticipated May 2012 release date.

A wonderful, engaging and intense debut novel by Ms Angelini, it is beautifully written and vividly detailed with an evenly paced plot that kept me constantly turning the pages and wanting to know more.

Favorite line: Helen, beloved of the goddess of love, went downstairs to crawl into her empty bed as Lucas, the son of the sun, leaned back onto his elbows and watched his father-god brighten the bare wooden planks of her window's walk.