Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library

Summary

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 all expectations.(courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

Do you ever have a book that you really want to read, but you're just not in the mood for? Dreamless was that kind of book. Even though I'd been anticipating it for months, when it finally arrived from the library, it didn't interest me. Still, I figured that I might as well read it and opened up the first page. Less than 24 hours later, I closed the book after 487 pages rearing with exciting and dreading the months wait for the third book. Dreamless was a thrilling ride and kept up with the fascinating plot and great romance of Starcrossed.

Dreamless sticks close to the standard second book plot. Girl gets further involved in the paranormal world (since she knows she is paranormal herself). Girl and boy separate emotionally and physically. Third wheel enters and tempts girl. Eventually, chaos ensues. Plot in a nutshell.

While Dreamless doesn't break any new plot ground, the story still feels fresh and exciting. The action gets going quickly. Helen is on a quest to find the Furies in the Underworld and free herself and others from the curse that makes the different Houses kill each other. She is going to hell and back every night (as the book jokes a few too many times). Things up on Earth aren't that great either. A Myrmidon, an incredibly powerful ant masquerading as a human (which somehow doesn't seem ridiculous while you're reading it) is after Helen and isn't afraid to destroy anyone who gets in his way.

I love how the book is told in third person, from multiple viewpoints. While Helen is the main character, we also get Lucas and Zach's point of view, as well as others. It's fun as a reader to know all sides of the story when the characters don't.

I continue to like Helen. Like most things in this book, Helen isn't a unique personality. She's nice, smart, selfless, loyal to friends and family, and more. She doesn't have a well defined flaw other than stubbornness and a tendency not to adequately follow instructions. Even if she doesn't break any new ground, this personality type is a literary standard for a reason. I continuously rooted for Helen to succeed at her quest and in her love life.

A love triangle is a significant part of this book. I was irritated by this at first, but it makes sense the more I think about it. Our Helen is the Helen of Troy - "The Face." Of course, there would be a multitude of boys falling for her. In Dreamless, we're introduced to Orion, a guy so cool that I don't know which team to root for. Perhaps that's because he's not that distinguishable from Lucas in personality. Both are handsome, confident, funny, smart, and devoted. Lucas has more of an anger problem than Orion. Orion is a bit more humble and haunted, having been on the run for years, than Lucas. Part of me thinks the characters should be better defined, but another part of me is happy to see two awesome guys.

Josephine does a fabulous job at working in elements of Greek mythology and The Iliad into the story. I've never been a fan of Greek mythology, but I was able to pick up on lots of tiny references to myths that I'd learned in school. It adds an extra layer of fun onto the novel - I felt smarter by noticing it - but never drags the story down. Nothing holds this story back, in fact. A combination of bad deeds done to Helen and our heroes as well as human mistakes (which is always important in Greek mythology) leads up to the beginning of a great showdown awaiting us in Book 3. I can hardly wait!

Rating: 4 / 5