Starcrossed (2011)

Starcrossed is a fantasy paranormal romance novel by American author Josephine Angelini. The story follows a girl named Helen Hamilton, who is gradually revealed to be a modern-day Helen of Troy. After discovering her heritage, Helen learns that a union with the boy she loves may trigger a new Trojan War. The novel was followed by the sequels Dreamless and Goddess, and received praise from critics and fantasy authors amidst its release.

Although originally intended to be a trilogy, Angelini later published further novels in the series. She wrote prequels Outcasts and Scions and then concluded the series with Timeless and Endless which were direct continuations following on after the events of Goddess.

Overview

Starcrossed follows Helen Hamilton, who lives in Nantucket. After having a series of mysterious dreams, along with hallucinations of three girls weeping tears of blood, Helen finds herself romantically drawn to a boy named Lucas. It is eventually revealed that Helen is a modern-day Helen of Troy, and that the women she sees are actually the Furies. She discovers that many of the people she has met recently are actually Archetypes of Greek characters from the Trojan War that are reborn and reincarnated over and over again for unknown reasons. It is also discovered that a union between Lucas and Helen may initiate a new Trojan War. Amidst these revelations, Helen and Lucas seek a way to pursue their blossoming romance without endangering those around them.

Publication

The book was acquired by HarperCollins in early 2010, with foreign deals following at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. The novel was eventually given release dates of April 5, 2011 in Spain, May 15, 2011, in Germany, and May 31, 2011, in the United States. Prior to the novel's release, Angelini revealed that the first sequel of a planned trilogy would be entitled Dreamless.

Main characters

Helen "Lennie" Hamilton—The main protagonist of the novel. Helen is oblivious to her family ancestry due to being abandoned by her mother as a younger child. She lives with her single father on the island of Nantucket which is east of Massachusetts in the Atlantic. Her life was rather peaceful and normal until the Delos family came to town. She has always had a crippling fear of attention and suffers from severe cramp-like symptoms any time she is the recipient of it. It is later revealed to have been caused by a curse her mom placed on her to protect her. Her known abilities include superhuman strength and speed, lightning control-and-manipulation, flying through the air, transforming her physical appearance via shape shifting, and world building (which gives her the ability to descend into the underworld and make her own world). She gains other abilities in the last novel that are central to the plot and conclusion of the story, such as being an Earthshaker a Shadowmaster and a Falsefinder. By the end of the novel she is Lucas's girlfriend.

Lucas Delos—The main romantic love interest, boyfriend, and dearly beloved of Helen, Lucas moves to town after his family disagrees with the practices of their extended relatives. He is the older brother of Cassandra and lives with his parents (Castor and Noel), his aunt (Pandora), his uncle (Pallas) and his three cousins (Hector, Jason and Ariadne). The known abilities he possesses are a hypnotically beautiful, melodious and angelic singing voice, physical fitness and features, superhuman strength, lie detection, superhuman speed, flying, shadow master and lightbending.

Orion Evander- The secondary love interest and friend of Helen and then the boyfriend of Cassandra the oracle and Lucas's sister. He is introduced in the second novel when he is the only other living being that Helen meets in Hell. He has a very traumatic and lonely past, due to his families split allegiances. He is an only child and lives away from his parents and attends a boarding school away from the other characters. His known abilities are being able to sway the hearts of others, sense emotions, open one way portals, super strength and speed, cause earthquakes and being able to breathe underwater.

Hector Delos—The older cousin of Lucas and Cassandra and the older brother of Jason and Ariadne. Hector is the main reason the family moved, as he came close to killing a cousin he disagreed with. Known abilities include superhuman strength, superhuman speed, breathing underwater, water-based combative fighting and hugs really well.

Ariadne Delos—The younger sister of Hector and twin sister of Jason. Known powers include super strength, speed and the ability to heal others.

Jason Delos—The younger brother of Hector and twin brother of Ariadne. Known magical abilities include super strength, speed, the ability to heal others and breathing underwater.

Cassandra "Cassie" Delos—Cassandra is Lucas' younger sister and a prophet of Apollo. She is the Oracle and the fates speak through her. Known powers include foresight.

Creon Delos—The main antagonist of the first novel. Heir to his household and cousin to the Delos children. Known powers are super strength, healing and speed and shadow-bending.