Dreamless by Josephine Angelini: Review

Publisher: HarperTEEN (May 29, 2012)
ARC: 487 Pages
Series: Starcrossed # 2
Genre: YA Fantasy/Mythology
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From 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 by Jess
DREAMLESS by Josephine Angelini is the second installment to the mythological Starcrossed novels and with it's action packed & romance filled pages this one did not disappoint. The reader continues though Helen's trials and is able to see her grow as a character. As in STARCROSSED, Angelini leaves you wanting more!

I was super excited to read the second Starcrossed novel so I dove right into it. But in the very beginning I did find it hard to get really into it. After about fifty pages though I couldn't stop turning the pages. Helen captures your attention with her adventures, or misadventures really. I found that the large amount of action in this book was great! There was the perfect balance of romance/gushy stuff and violence/action.

Helen really grew a lot through this book. I really did like her in the first but I felt like she was almost naive but in DREAMLESS she really takes control (literally) and opens up to her feelings and acknowledges that for something to happen, she herself must bring herself to declare what she needs and wants. I felt like I got to know a more mature Helen which was really great. Though traveling to the Underworld may have been killing her, it really seemed to mature her a lot.

I think the addition of Orion to the story was genius! I was really excited to see a new face. I love the Delos family, don't get me wrong but a new Scion was a great way to keep my attention going! I hate that Helen is so conflicted between Lucas and Orion because a love triangle was not what I was expecting but the two boys compliment each other in the story so well. It was frustrating that when we had Helen's mothers POV she revealed something so pivotal but the information was kind of dropped after revealed to the reader.

Overall, I was incredibly impressed with this novel and the development of all of the characters, not just Helen. Angelini's writing is spectacular and makes reading the story flow so well. It ended wonderfully but left me wanting more. I am incredibly excited to see how the next novel turns out and see what becomes of Helen, Orion and the Delos'. Well done Angelini! I am dying for more!