Goddess

Starcrossed #3

by Josephine Angelini

The third and final book in the internationally bestselling Starcrossed series

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Young Adult, Romance, Greek Mythology, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

437 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by my Goodreads page. I only check in on it occasionally, so if you’d like to send me a message please use the contact form on my website: http://josephineangelini.com.

I can also be found on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, and I love connecting with readers. Check out the Linktree url above for more info.

I am a #1 international bestselling author, a Massachusetts native, and the youngest of eight siblings. I graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in theater with a focus on the classics and now live in Los Angeles with my husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Rimsha Salam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out my blogs for more reviews and book stuff: http://ramblingsofabookworm3.blogspot...
http://ramblings-of-a-bookworm.tumblr...



It is over :'(
It was so beautiful!!! :')

Me just after reading Dreamless:

"I so can't wait for it" !!!

Me fan girling:


Me waiting for Goddess:


Still waiting:


And waiting:


Me freaking out after so much waiting:




Why oh why do you keep me waiting Josephine!!!

Edit:

the cover, the cover, THE COVER !!!!!


Best one yet! amazing Loooooooooove it!!! <3

[shre ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*UPDATE** OH YAH KNOW, IT ONLY TOOK ME LIKE FOREVER TO READ THIS. *sighs* Review to come btw cause I looooooved it :D


I WONDER WHY THIS BOOK WAS NAMED AFTER ME? O_O

HMMMMMMMM.....



JOSIE...I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU........



CAUSE IT'S PERFECTLY ALRIGHT IF YOU WERE................

*OMG O_O GUYS!!! LOOK AT IT!!! LOOK AT GORGEOUS COVER!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! IT'S SO FUDGIN AMAZING O_O*

[Beverly C.]

EDITED YET AGAIN:

HOLY MOTHER FORKER.
MAY 2013???????



EDITED AGAIN:

OK, first off, I would like to thank all the likes. I got like 20 so far. Yay! Lol. And I would like to say sorry for all the editing on this review. Lastly, I would just like to say, I didn't mean to offend anyone by this review, it's just my opinion, and please respect it, since I will respect yours. Now, commenting on this review is ok; I am actually glad someone would comment. Just please don't flame me with your opinions, stating I'm wrong or whatever, I don't like that. Just state your opinions nicely, and have an open mind. Don't hate me just because I like Orion better than Lucas. Ok. Enough said. Have a nice day~ c:

EDITED:

Woah, ten likes?! Thank you everyone! Lol. xD;;
Even though I am confuse as why you would like this review since it's so unprofessional and simple. orz


~~~~~~~

God. I just bought Dreamless like yesterday night, and I just finished reading it like 5 minutes ago. I swear, I am so dying for this book right now. 2013? Seriously?! I mean, I hope it's like January 2013 or something, because if it's any longer, I'm scared I will forget what Dreamless was all about! If that happens I have to read Dreamless again, which I'm totally ok with, but still. And I really want Helen to end up with Orion and not Lucas. Just this once, why can't a good book series like this doesn't have the story ending with the main female character with the main male character. Is that really too much to ask? Or maybe she can be the Queen/Goddess of Dreams; lol, that's like totally not gonna happen, I know, but hey, I can hope right? ;D

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne better tell helen and lucas the truth this time cuz this is TORTURE!

[Anniebananie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gut gemeinte 3 Sterne für den Abschluss dieser Trilogie.
Denn obwohl es meiner Meinung nach der beste Band der Reihe war, war er verglichen mit anderen Büchern dieses Genre trotzdem sehr platt, simpel und einfach gestrickt. Der Schreibstil konnte mich auch bis zum Schluss nicht wirklich begeistern, er ist einfach sehr schlicht, selbst für ein Jugendbuch. Positiv hervorzuheben an diesem Teil ist, dass mir Helen nicht mehr so kolossal auf die Nerven ging und die Action in den ersten beiden Dritteln hat mir auch gut gefallen. Allerdings ging es mir im letzten Drittel alles etwas zu hoch her und auch zu schnell. Das Ende war keine große Überraschung und wie ich finde recht simpel gelöst. Das Liebesdreieck-Drama, durch welches wir uns allen ernstes bis zum Ende durchquälen mussten (obwohl wir doch alle seit dem ersten Band wissen wie das ausgehen wird, oder?!) hat bei mir wie immer einen faden Beigeschmack hinterlassen. Das hätte das Buch gar nicht gebraucht. Außerdem fand ich es in diesem Band ehrlich gesagt ab einem gewissen Punkt etwas verwirrend, wer wer ist oder war und wer mit wem was hatte und/oder verwandt oder verschwippschwägert ist 😂🤷🏼‍♀️

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! Finally I have it in my hands!



After reading:
This book was EPIC! And I am so not overestimating it!

The Gods are unleashed, the war is coming closer, the Tyrant is amoung the friends and Helen discovers more and more skills she shouldn't have.
Trust? No.
Fear? Yes.
Giving up? Never.
There is not much time left for Helen and neither does she have many people to support her and give her useful advices. She finds help where she does not expect it. She finds out things that shock her and that hurt her and those who surround her. Still, Helen is determined to fight.

For Helen this book was the hardest one and the one with the most cruel challenges and revelations. Firstly, she was not sure about Orion and Lucas. Secondly, her skills scared her and the advices did not make it any better.
Still, she fought everything and she overthought things and analysed them until she figured out what she needed.
I worshipped her. After Juliet from the Shatter me series she is the strongest protagonist I ever read about.
She was kick-ass, she was determined and strong and she had some serious aggression issues. Nevertheless, she remained a trustworthy and lovable character.
She was a real Goddess in this book!
Lucas was a freaking genius during the whole book. Mastermind. A charming and adorable mastermind, to be precise. I loved his way of thinking and acting. I loved him in the previous books and I loved him even more in this one.



Coming to the other characters. Orions story was finally revealed and it was heart-breaking. This guy deserved so much more!
Hector together with Andy saved the day. Jk, but he saved or at least helped Helen and the others a lot. He changed in this book and it made him even more swoon-worthy! He was a true hero.
Some other remarkable characters were doubtlessly Matt and Daphne. Seriously, thanks to these two there were some really unexpected turning points that killed me.



Let me say it this way: Daphne was the key and the answer to many questions.
Each and every character had a special past and a particular role, even the Gods that were, by the way, much closer to the Greek mythology than e.g. the Gods from Percy Jackson. The Greek Gods were exactly how I pictured them.
Bloodthirsty. Cruel. Dastardly. Selfish.

The author managed to combine the breathtaking plot progression with the remarkable character development and the result was WOW. Just wow.
The past was connected with the present and shown from a completely new and interesting point of view what made the book even more enjoyable.
The write style was as fluent as in the previous books but now more locations were added. Every character was shown and every action was explained and authentic.
The war was epic, the duels were epic and bloody and Helen's new skills were nothing but epic.
I did not enjoy war scenes so much for quite a while. They were bloody and brutal, but they were just like a real war of ancient heroes should be. Everyone went to the war and it had a mind-blowing end.

This was an arresting finale and it contained everything that a book about Greek Gods and heroes needed. It contained true heroes and this book was alive.

[Annie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's over. It's all over. I can't believe it's over. What an incredible end to an amazing series full of surprises, twists, intensity, pain, love and all things mythology. It was superb!!! I'm satisfied and happy and so so so so sad it's over.

Where to start...
Let me say, that I had some issues with book 2, Dreamless because of the whole Orion-Lucas-Helen fiasco, so going into this book I was worried. I didn't know what to expect from the last book of the series, which is not fun when you've invested so much love and time into these characters and the world that is surrounding them.

Helen is a demigod, and she's got mad powers, dangerous powers that she discovers more of in this final installment. The Gods are all preparing for war, they want to beat the children. Gods vs their kids. But this time, things are different. Sides are chosen, secrets are revealed, lives are at stake..big time. And it's up to Helen to stop this once and for all or the Gods win and the world as they know it is over. Can Helen defeat Zeus and save all that she loves and the rest of mankind? Or is she too weak and unknowledgeable to understand her powers and what her role in this life is? It's all up to her and she must find a way to not let history repeat itself.

Well shit, this book had me all over the place. Half the time I was fuming because I knew the truth of certain fates and God, I was getting pissed that a certain someone was so selfish and keeping it hush hush. I loved being back with The Delos clan though. All the characters brought such an exciting part to the story, all of them. And I loved it. I was constantly wondering and worried how things were gonna go down. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking or dreaming of this book and my friends. I always want everyone to have their HEA. Unfortunately, that's not always life. And it sucks.

Hector. He was awesome as usual. I always had a soft spot for him, though in the beginning I was skeptical of him. But he turned out to be badass. His loyalty to his family and helping Helen discover her powers and how to use them was amazing. He would do anything for those he loved. And God, I gotta say I lost it at one point. Some things happened and well I won't spoil it but he scared me. I was so happy to be in his presence.

Jason. He was awesomesauce. He's a lot like Lucas and such an amazing character. He has the ability to heal and he never failed to help those out in need. I loved him since the beginning. His affection for his sister and cousins was so fun to witness, not to mention his sarcasm and wit. I truly enjoyed him.

Ari. Well, I love this girl. She truly grew so much in this book. Her willingness to help her friends and family and her personality shined right through. My heart broke for her, and I wish I was able to take her pain away. I loved this girl like she was my friend.

Cassie. I loved her too, though not at first. It took me a while to warm up to her, but by the end of the first book, she convinced me that she was a great person and loved her family like everyone else. She had a huge part in this war and always took her role seriously. Though things didn't always go her way and I felt bad for her that she had to go through some difficult times and I wanted to hug her and help her. But she made it out unscathed, thanks to her family.


Daphne. I don't know what to say except, I'm sorry. I didn't expect to feel anything but hatred for her. But in the end, all I felt was pity. Once shit was laid out, I kind of understood, though it was no excuse for why she withheld important information for so long. But it helped to not want to hold a grudge against her forever. I just hope she learned her lesson.


Orion. Okay, so I didn't always like you, I think it was more resentment because of you trying to steal Helen from my Lucas and it made me mad. This love triangle was crazy and it made me bitter towards you. You as a character was actually really great and essential to the story. I was happy with how things worked out in the end. Like really happy. And I'm glad I was able to quell my hard feelings for you. You really did a great job in protecting Helen when shit got out of hand. But not only that, it amazed me how much you protected Lucas and his family too. You were such a caring being and I realized how ridiculous and quick to judge I was acting. So it all turned out the way it was supposed to. Awesome. Thanks for proving me wrong.

Helen. What can I say? I almost wanted to hate you for the decisions you made and the way you dragged Lucas and Orion in your love-fest. I wanted to jump in the book and strangle you. But damn, you kicked ass. I wasn't sure how you'd handle all that power and if you'd make the right decisions. Of course my heart broke for you many times. It was hard being responsible for so much, having such a heavy burden to carry. I guess I could only say how proud I was in the end. You really came through and grew into what you were meant to be and you did it well, better than I would've I'm sure. But I'm pretty envious of you too. Either way, I loved your story and was so happy I cried happy bittersweet tears because I hated to end this journey that I've enjoyed being a part of. Thanks for a great ride on your crazy-as-shit rollercoaster. Man, I didn't want to get off.

Lucas. Luke. Babe. Sigh. I've enjoyed being in your presence since you set foot on Nantucket 3 years ago. I always thought you were a cocky bastard but I fell in love with you anyway. I knew there was more to you than met the eye. I was a goner. Dammit, this book killed me. My heart was broken over and over for you and I wanted the pain to stop. Seriously, I felt sick every time you hurt. I get attached to my book boyfriends too easily and well, you really did me in. Thank you for being so awesome and protective and sexy and swoony and just all around perfect with your flaws and amazingness. I'm so sad to see this, your story end. But I can always revisit you and the rest of the gang in Nantucket any time I want. I love you, you sexy thang, you.

Okay, well that was weird. I wasn't in control of my hands. I guess I was writing to them as if I was sitting there talking to them. Ha. Anyway, I loved Lucas, Helen and Orion and was glad to see the conclusion as it was. It was EPIC. I mean, not everyone had a happy ending, and yeah technically a few of my favorites didn't but unless Josephine writes a book far into the future, all we can base it on is this book. And the way it was left, I'd say most everyone got what they needed.

I did forget a few characters. Noel. Castor. Kate. Jerry. Andy. Claire. Matt. All of you had important roles in the story too and even though there were heart attack worthy moments, and even toss the book at the wall and scream bloody murder moments, I might add. They still made me smile and cry and thank the heavens certain things turned out differently from where it was headed. That Josephine Angelini sure did make my heart palpitate many times. But I guess it was better than if I felt nothing. I figure the more emotions pulled out of me during the journey, the better the journey in the end. And what an end it was....bittersweet and too soon.

I loved loved loved loved the Mythology in this book. We got to see Helen of Troy, Lancelot, Guinevere, Paris, Zeus, Hades, Aphrodite....all the Gods that I can't remember and it was freaking incredible. The descriptions of the places we got to visit were fun and I could see pretty clear what was happening when it was happening. I was on the edge of my seat the whole last half. While the first part was a little slow (which I still enjoyed, when I wasn't freaking out and cursing),the last half was non-stop action and suspense. I never knew what was going to happen and when shit got real, it got REAL. But I felt every damn emotion while reading it, so it was awesome! I highly recommend this series if you enjoy Mythology. There's enough suspense, action, mystery, romance, it has it all. Plus a SUPERB cast of characters that I'll miss dearly.

So if you haven't read this series, pick it up!

[Marya]

LLLLUUUUCCCAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!
ooohhh mmyyy goooshh! I think i am gonna lose it! why does this silly orion guy have to come along? (no offense to any team orion people out there but im just really dont like him) Cant you just see that lucas and helen are MEANT to be together. if daphne doesnt spill the beans that theyre not related i might just scream the house down with frustration!! do i really have to wait nearly a whole year for goddess to come out? *sigh*

[Kelly Oram]

Wow. I felt like this book was all over the place. I didn't even finish it. I'm so sad right now. I suppose it could have been my mood. I'll try it again some other time and hopefully I'll enjoy it more.


I seriously am going to die. Especially because I'm sure I'm on the wrong team. I'm in love with Orion! But I love Lucas too! Maybe I should let Helen keep Lucas and steal Orion for myself. *Considers writing fan fiction wherein I steal Orion*

[Nasty Lady MJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

To see full review click here.

Disclaimer: Obviously, I am not an Olympian. If I was do you really think I'd be bothered to read YA fiction-Well, maybe. I would have eternity....but I'd honestly probably be doing something better with my time like touring Antarctica or at least eating some Greek yogurt with John Stamos.

Cue to The Mt. Olympus Book Club: A sound of something exploding is heard. Frame onto a very annoyed looking Athena.

Athena: Did you really have to break that Grecian urn, it was a gift from...it's been so long I've forgotten who made it.

Zeus: Then it is useless, daughter.

Athena: It's an artifact. It's hardly useless.

Apollo: Isn't it my job to care about the arts?

Athena: Goddess of wisdom here. History and all that jazz, remember? Besides we're getting off topic. We're suppose to discuss Goddess our book club selection for the month.

Apollo: I still can't believe I've stepped down so low to become a member of a book club.

Athena: Shut up. And really, what are you going to do with your time? Turn another girl into a tree?

Apollo: It was just that one....

Athena: God, you're almost as bad as Hades. Scratch that, he's probably a little bit more sane than you because he only took one girl.

Apollo: She was Zeus's daughter, our sister/his niece, and he took the Underworld.

Hades: I married her and she's happy for the six months of the year she doesn't have to spend with that battle axe.

Athena: She's your sister and you're off topic again. So let's talk about the book. It's obvious that Angelini wants to be with us and has created an ultra super duper Mary Sue. Really, I don't know who is more super duper than Helen. Even Powergirl isn't as powerful as her and she's immune to Kryptonite.

Hades: What about Batman?

Athena: Well, obviously not. He's Batman.

(The gods nod their heads because everyone knows there's no one more powerful than Batman even though he's just a regular man with no superpowers).

Apollo: Well, Batman aside, I really was annoyed with how powerful this girl was and how we're portrayed. I'm not a creepy murderer/rapist. I'm the god of the sun. And seriously, I don't kill girls I just turn them into plants.

Hades: Obviously.

Athena: Oh, don't look smug, uncle. Even though you were the only one of us spared from being portrayed as a complete jack ass, you and I both know you would've just thrown Helen into the River Styx and laughed about it.

Hades: Oh, the River Styx is way too good for her. I'd probably make her watch Disney's Hercules for an eternity.

Athena: Not everyone hates that movie, you know.

Hades: I'm not a bad guy.

Zeus: Exactly the point I've been trying to make here (throws thunderbolt and destroys another artifact).

Athena: Father, please. You're ruining history.

Zeus: I'm immortal. History doesn't matter. And I don't like the fact that the king of the gods is portrayed as the villain. I might have my moments, but I'm NOT a villain. I leave that to my wife.

Hera: I'm not a villain either, dear hubby. I just have to put up with your shit. Quite frankly, I found the fact that you were portrayed as the bad guy for once refreshing. Especially after that YA series where I was portrayed as wanting a married Hades. Seriously, I don't go for married men. I am the goddess of marriage. And besides why would I want to be queen of the underworld? Can you saw, ew?

Athena: This isn't about you, Hera.

Hera: I read the book though and I'm an Olympian. Can't I talk about the book?

Athena: No. Because you weren't in it. Oddly. I mean, everyone even minor gods, the fates, those stupid Trojans, even King Arthur....

Apollo: God damn it, I never understood how King Arthur was in this book? Anyone care to share?

Athena: Is your reading comprehension that low, brother?

Apollo: It's four hundred pages, how am I supposed to pay attention for that long?

Athena: Touche. Here's the gist Helen was Guinevere in a past life and the romance to Guinevere and Lancelot was akin to Helen and Paris. And forget about Guinevere ever having feelings for dear old Arthur.

Apollo: That makes no sense whatsoever. I know Guinevere cheated on Arthur, but the fact she loved both men was one of the saddest parts about the whole triangle. Besides the fact that she became a nun at the end of the movie.


(Athena rolls eyes that her brother only watched the film version of the Arthurian legend, but in America public school's this is how most people learn about the Arthurian legend.)

Zeus: Can we get back to how I was bastardize? I mean, seriously, the king of gods gets defeated by a sixteen year old girl that's obsessed with pumpkins, sandwiches, and is willing to get a sex change for a boy. That is pathetic. Who would come up with such a thing?

Athena: Josephine Angelini, apparently. But we already discussed that.

Zeus: But not how stupid the whole climax was. Seriously, I'm defeated by a teenage girl.

Athena: And I bowed down to that ignoramus. Not to mention that Apollo was depicted as a murderer/rapist, Hades was depicted as a Helen fan girl, the vast majority of Olympians are not even mentioned. The only ones who were depicted as being reasonably decent were Helen of Troy, Paris, and freaking Aphrodite.

Aphrodite: Did someone call my name?

Athena: Oh God, Aphrodite, this is book club. You don't know how to read.

Aphrodite: I do too. I know I'm not the goddess of wisdom, Athena, but I'm not stupid.

(Athena sighs and is about to say something, but as the goddess of wisdom she has enough common sense to shut her trap).

Athena: I know you know how to read, sister, but isn't there a sale at Prada or something you'd rather be going to?

(Aphrodite frowns)

Aphrodite: Um, no. I've actually been reading a lot lately. I have found some really good books in the PNR YA section. Some of them have been really inspiring like that series about a teenage vampire with everyone in the world in love with her and that angel who finds true love with a human boy...

Athena: No, wait, you didn't.

Zeus: She didn't what?

Athena: Father, use your head. I know you can, you created me after all.

(It dawns on Zeus what Athena is talking about and a lightening bolt forms from his hand as he turns and glares at Aphrodite).

Aphrodite: Father, why are you pointing that thing towards me. Do I really have to get out the power of love?

Zeus: If you power of love me, daughter, you will regret it. Besides, that shit doesn't work when you're married to Hera. Now tell me...did you impersonate a human again?

Aphrodite: What are you talking about?

Apollo: Yeah, can someone fill in some blanks? I'm a bit confused myself.

Athena: Seriously, am I the only one with a brain. Dear brother, who was the only one of us to not get a dissed on in the books?

Apollo: Um, Hades.

Hades: Um, no I was turend into a Helen fangirl, remember?

Apollo: Oh, yeah. So I guess, Aphrodite.

Athena: Exactly. Whose face does Helen have?

Apollo: Aphrodite.

Athena: What is Helen?

Apollo: A Mary Sue who wouldn't make a good shrubbery.


Athena: Good you're starting to catch on. Now, what is a Mary Sue.

Apollo: A self insert...no....no. You didn't.

Aphrodite: Did what? All I did was wrote a book series about what should've happened in Troy? Wrote about a love that was more epic that Jack and Rose, Romeo and Juliet, and Bethany and Xavier. And you can't defeat me because I have the power of love. Mwhahahahahahahahhaha!

Athena: Father, she does have a point...the power of love....

Zeus: I'm not resigning to the power of love. As I said before, I'm married to Hera. I don't believe in the power of love. There has to be one time where it didn't win out.

Aphrodite: Oh, but that's where you're wrong father. The power of love wins nothing can destroy it. It wins in the end.

Zeus: That's true. But I can always usurp your power of love. I summon.....Bella Swan.

Aphrodite: No, not Bella Swan!

Zeus: You left me no choice daughter, I have to make sure you do not usurp me. Bella Swan and Forks, Washington are your eternity forever. Now can we please read something decent for next month's book club?

[Sara Bow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trilogie hat mich leider enttäuscht - eher etwas für jüngere Leser...

[Nikoleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Το Νέοι Θεοί είναι ένα βιβλίο με γρήγορη πλοκή και πολλά πολλά γεγονότα. Το μυαλό του αναγνώστη δεν προλαβαίνει να συλλάβει τις εξελίξεις και κάποια στιγμή απλώς αρχίζει να τις περνάει στο ντούκου. Η ταχύτητα και το εύρος των γεγονότων είναι λοιπόν, ίσως υπερβολικά για ένα έργο 350 σελίδων, αλλά είναι τόσο καλογραμμένο που απλά ο αναγνώστης δεν πολυσκοτίζεται.
Τώρα, όσον αφορά το σύνολο του έργου της σειράς. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι με γοήτευσε. Η συγγραφέας έχει πλάσει έναν κόσμο, χρησιμοποιώντας ως κύρια έμπνευση της τον Όμηρο, τον Βιργίλιο, τους αρχαίους τραγικούς ποιητές και όλη την αρχαία ελληνική μυθολογία. Ναι, τα ανακάτευσε ολίγον τι, αλλά πραγματικά πιστεύω ότι έκανε αρκετά καλή δουλειά.
Ένα μικρό θεματάκι είχα με τους χαρακτήρες, οι οποίοι ήταν συμπαθητικότατοι, δεν λέω, αλλά όπως είπα και για το προηγούμενο βιβλίο, η συγγραφέας τους είχε προσδώσει αρκετή αφέλεια στην συμπεριφορά και αυτό δεν αφορά μόνο τους ανήλικους της ιστορίας αλλά και τους ενηλίκους.
Συμπερασματικά, μία ανάλαφρη και περιπετειώδη σειρά, που με έκανε να περάσω πολύ ωραία. Ότι πρέπει για ξεκούραση εγκεφάλου και ανάταση διάθεσης.

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 Update: What can I say, a perfect trilogy.

I can't wait until this comes out!


*2013 Update*
IT WAS AMAZING!!
I feel like in trilogy's the last book is usually a let down compared to the other books, but "Goddess" totally lived up to my expectations!! At some points I was a bit confused when it switched POV's but I still loved it! I've always been a big fan of Lucas and liked him better than Orion, but I stilled loved Orion also!!!!! I also like the ending. Usually in a love triangle, but I loved how in this one both guys were winners. Thank you so much Josephine Angelini for an amazing ending to the trilogy!

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

She must rise. . .


Goddess is the third and final book in the Starcrossed Trilogy by Josephine Angelini.

After reading Dreamless, I want this so badly!



Both the U.S. cover (above) and the U.K. cover (below) look amazing. The U.S. cover has a nice turquoise colour with a shade of purple, with a girl in a dance-looking pose. The U.K. cover is a bright purple, with Lucas looking up at Helen, while she looks down at him.




. . .or they will fall. . .


(Originally read July 14th - 16th 2013)

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FINAL RATING: 4.75 STARS*****

CATCHALL
Goddess was a stunning and beautiful conclusion to the Star-crossed series. With plenty of romance and action, it balanced everything perfectly. This book breaks your heart and puts it back together again, and I mean that in the best way I can. This book was absolutely stunning, with a brilliant cast of characters who complete the novel.

THE HEROINE
HELEN
Sometimes I wanted to jump into the book and slap Helen for the decisions she made, but in if she messed up sometimes, she was a strong, sure of herself heroine who knew what she had to do. She often made mistakes and regretted her decisions, but she didn’t let that stand in the way of her moving forward. Helen handled her power with ease and though she wasn’t always sure of her heart, it was in the right place.

THE LOVE INTERESTS
LUCAS
Lucas is a strong character who genuinely cares about Helen but isn’t defined by that. He has a strong mind and really was the most vital piece of the operation. He really saved the day. Lucas is a genius who is just learning to find confidence in himself. He really comes into himself in this book and is a hero in his own right, no longer standing in Helen’s shadow.
ORION
Orion’s story broke my heart for him, but I still didn’t like him as a choice for Helen. He’s sweet and everything, he just didn’t really seem like the best choice for her. Even so, he’s a really interesting character and coming back from what he did was really difficult for him and yet still he did it.

THE PLOT
This book was fast-paced and impossible to put down. I constantly felt the need to know what happened next and I couldn’t stop until I was done.

I loved watching Helen and her friends prepare to fight the final battle together. For once, everyone was working together, sharing a common goal, and it made them stronger.

Everything happens for a reason, or so they say, and in the book that was certainly true. Betrayals, heartbreak, everything happened for a reason. When one door closed, somewhere, a window opened. I’m spewing clichés, but that really is how it happened. Sometimes I thought something so awful happened they would never be able to come back from it and yet they did, stronger than ever.

I didn’t like everything about the final battle. For one thing, I thought it was a little too pretty. Everything seemed to fall exactly into place, and it didn’t feel very realistic. Still, despite this, I felt that it was absolutely worth reading. Just because it wrapped up a little too nicely I didn’t think any less of the book.

THE ROMANCE
I’m not a big fan of this particular love triangle, but honestly, it seemed obvious from its first conception who Helen was really going to end up with. That aside, the romance was written tastefully. Helen’s heart is torn, and so is Orion’s—the only person who knows his own heart is Lucas. I really like Helen and Lucas together—they make each other stronger, which is everything a romance should be. Orion feels like a cheap replacement for Lucas.

THE WRITING
Josephine has the most beautiful writing. It just flows off the page. It’s gorgeous and heartrending, and I wanted to lose myself in it and the flow of it. The world-building is excellent as always. We can really visualize the monsters and gods she’s created, and for someone who has never been to Helen’s home, I can picture it perfectly. The descriptive imagery is peerless.

THE ENDING
The end was perfect. Everything about it was just perfect. There was a good dose of heartbreak and tragedy, and not everything turned out the ideal way, but that only makes it more heartachingly real. The book truly draws everything to magnificent crescendo, and yet it’s not disappointing at all when it drops to something more bittersweet and softer.

WRAPUP
Goddess was a brilliant conclusion to a stellar series, and I’ll definitely be reading everything Josephine puts out in the future. I’d definitely recommend this series to fans of mythology and paranormal alike, and to anyone who loves a lot of romance that doesn’t interfere with the story, but is a part of it.

FINE.

Find more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!

[Seena Seena]

What patience I have left is being severely tested these months.

[Georgia Robson]

I NEED THIS BOOK NOW!!! And when i say now i mean now, i can't wait for the 3rd, i had to wait 2 weeks for the second and i tried to read star-crossed again but i memorised every word. And I swear Lucas and Helen better get together. Please reply if u guys think they will or they won't. I have 2 say I think they will but by the way the 1st and 2nd went, i just can't be sure.

[Emilia Rosen]

I just finished Dreamless and if she doesn't pick Lucas.... Grrr......

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

*This review contains spoilers. Consider yourself warned*

In the beginning of the book, Hades and Helen talk in the Underworld. At one point he says this:

"...Helen. You lack understanding.”

Honestly, he could as well have been talking to me.

There are so many unsolved and unexplained subjects in this book I barely know where to start. But I'll start anyway so I can get it off my chest.

1. The being cousins issue.
First I'll start with my biggest issue that has been standing in the back of my head and shaken its head at me through the last two books. The math. I don't know what this says about the characters in this book because I honestly don't want to think about it, but how is it that no one could do the math between Ajax's death and Helen's birth? This is after all the big reason why Helen and Lucas can't be together because they believe they are cousins up until the last parts of Godless. How hard can it be for anyone, and I mean anyone, to add the time together and see Ajax couldn't possibly be Helen's father? This ticked me off since I made the math myself pretty much as soon as they mentioned that Ajax was Helen's father. So I'd like an EXPLANATION to why no one else managed to do the math.

Maybe I could've overlooked this little piece of information and blame it on the characters being stuck in other situations more demanding. But then comes my next issue. At one point in the series Helen is ready to go against the Gods so she can be with Lucas. Until she finds out he is her cousin. Now, for someone ready to go these lengths to be with the one she loves, why does she let something as simple as them being cousins being the main reason for her restraint of giving in and be with the one she loves? Sure, they are cousins but in Massachusetts it is legal to be married to your cousin! After going against the Gods, this seems like a very minor issue in comparison. Again, I'd like an EXPLANATION to why Helen thinks this to be such a huge issue. Source 1, Source 2.

If anyone in the book had thought of these points, a lot of drama and events could have been avoided.

2. The withholding of important information.
Then again, if Hades told Helen a lot of things earlier, more drama could've been avoided. As the whole misinterpretation of the prophecy and Atlantis. This little detail makes all the killing between the Houses that's been going on for years, unnecessary. Why did he choose to tell Helen after all these pages I've read this time? Could I get an EXPLANATION to why Hades tells anyone this now and not earlier?

Then we have Helen adding up drama when she hides information from everyone else. Due to drinking in a river in the Underworld in the second book, (I don't remember the name of it exactly) she can see memories of the earlier "Helens". She gets to see memories of Helen of Troy and a few others who has had the "Face" before. In these visions Helen sees "the other" Hector, Lucas, Cassandra and so on. Now, these glimpses Helen holds to herself for no apparent reason. At least none that I could go as an EXPLANATION.

Because Helen keeps the most important information from her meetings with Hades and her flashbacks a secret from everyone else. Why? I still have no idea. Because once again, I never got an EXPLANATION for this. Since history is repeating itself over and over in Cycles, these pieces of information is extremely important. But apparently Helen missed that part.

3. Helen's superpowers.
So in the beginning of the third book, Helen already has a whole list of superpowers and is stronger and better than most of the other Scions. Well, throughout Goddess, this list grows. For example she gets powers from Orion and Lucas because of the Blood Brother thing they did in the second book. For example, from Orion she gets the power to make earthquakes. This I can also handle. It's not too farfetched to find this believable. But since neither Lucas or Orion got any new powers this didn't suit well with me. I want an EXPLANATION for why they don't get powers when Helen does.

Okay. What's next... yes. While Helen has all these amazing powers, she has the nerve to whine about it. Yes, I can understand it's frustrating to get new powers all the time and never get enough time to practice them. I'm okay with this, okay with her whining over it. But then she hears that some can shape shift into animals that represent the Gods. For example a horse or a dolphin. After whining about getting many powers and so on, she says this:

“This is so unfair. I get all the miserable talents like descending and having freaky dreams, and you get to turn into a dolphin.” Helen pouted, throwing a pillow at Jason.

I'd say going into the Underworld is a pretty good superpower. She can go talk to the dead and the dream is a lot more helpful than being able to turn into a horse. Not to mention that they tell her shapeshifting isn't very useful.

Next, I'm pretty amazed by the fact that no one suspected Helen to be the Tyrant. After all, she's the one getting stronger each day, being stronger than any other Scion ever existed. They say the Tyrant will be strong enough to overthrow the Gods, which Helen does with Ares in the second book. So, why does nobody suspect her to be the Tyrant? Give me an EXPLANATION for this!

4. The worldbuilding.
One of Helen's powers is that she can create new worlds such as Olympus, the Underworld and the dreamworld. At this point I simply gave up trying to understand the logic och realism in who gets what power but it seemed Helen got all of them. Yes, I know this is fantasy and anything is possible, but there can still be some realistic bits in it. Even in Harry Potter the magic had limits. They couldn't just make food magically appear out of nothing. So yes, there can be realistic rules to what is and isn't possible to do. And frankly, I found this part a bit too much and over the top.

But hey, I went along with it. Honestly did. What made me more or less give up was that Helen doesn't train to create a new world from scratch. She says Hades trained her when she went to the Underworld. In the Underworld she learned how to alter and change an already existing world. She didn't create a whole new one.

When Lucas needs help then, she immediately can create a whole new world where he can heal and she can give him new powers. (These powers I might add, he gets to keep when he returns to the "normal" world. This little detail they figure out before neither of them return to the normal world again but I'll come to that in a second. How did they know this before trying it? EXPLANATION, please!) Again, I want an EXPLANATION to how Helen knew exactly how to create a whole new world from scratch without ever trying it before. I mean, I understand how she can alter the world she gets into, but I want to know how she could create a whole new dimension, or is it even an dimension or just a place in the universe? How many worlds can she create? How does it work? GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION!

5. The Gods.
So, the book takes off right after the second. This means the Gods are capable of starting the war right away in the book, right? But they don't. Instead they sit around doing nothing from what I got out of the book. What they should have done, as someone (Jason or Hector or someone of them) points out, now should be the right time for the Gods to attack while the Scions are shattered. It's common knowledge it's easier to take down a shattered army than one organized. But do the Gods to this? Of course not. (There is a rule saying they can't simply kill mortals. They have to do it by curses, well pretty much just indirect. What I don't understand is why they don't create a storm killing everyone or make a huge tidal wave doing it.) Why do the Gods not do this? Well, if you can give me an EXPLANATION, I'd be most thankful because I don't understand.

6. Helen's need to have a child.
Because of the curse Aphrodite put on the people thousands of years ago, Helen must breed a child to make her line continue. This child is one more reason for Lucas and her not to be together. You know, except for the imaginary reasons I mentioned in the beginning. For the sake of the argument, let's say they can be together but Helen must breed a heir to her line. Helen and Lucas can't have a child because their child would possibly be the Tyrant. Okay, this is acceptable to me. But come on! We live in a modern world, people can have children using donators and other medical support. This way the child wouldn't be Lucas but Helen would get a child. Everyone wins. No Tyrant and Helen gets Lucas. Everybody happy.

*Deep Breath*

So after all these issues, you'd think there would happen a lot in the book. Sorry to tell you, but no. The first two thirds of the book, I was utterly bored. Not much happened except everyone sitting around waiting. They rescue some girl which I had issues with as well since they practically just walked her out of a hospital and no one said a word about it. Then they sit around some more while Helen gets information and flashbacks she doesn't share with the rest.

It's not until the last third of the book things starts to happen. At this point, not even the twist kept me interested. Mostly because so many of them had I foreseen earlier. So the pacing kept me putting the book away more than once. Or twice. Heck, I put it away after just a few pages. To sum it up, this is a part where we read about Matt, I felt the exact same way:

Matt’s head turned, and he looked at Claire blankly. She had just said something about Helen, but he wasn’t sure what.
He was distracted.

Then in the end, I had so many questions left unanswered. As, what will happen with Helen and Lucas when he takes over after Hades? (He made a deal with him in order to save Hector which left him the heir of the Underworld.) Then the part where Helen now owes Hecate three favors to do as Hecate please. What will this do to the world, considering Helen now is the most powerful thing in the world? Will the Gods really behave after losing the battle? What happens with the rest of the characters in the end?

So I'm sorry if I might have upset anyone by this review, but these are my honest thoughts. I need more reasons and EXPLANATIONS for events and decisions in a book. This simply didn't give me enough answers. Fans of this series will probably love this book, but I can't.

1/5 stars

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah!! Now that's what I'm talking about!!! Josephine Angelini is back and back better than ever, because Goddess is a cracking finale - one full of action, drama, love and an epic past and I absolutely loved it.

It's no secret that how much I loved Starcrossed and it's no secret how much I didn't like Dreamless. So, in all honestly, I was worried what Josephine would do with the final book in this series, but I'm so over the moon she did us readers proud!!! It is one of them books that gives you tingles while reading it, and I was literally a bundle of nerves all the way through. I did have to peak at the ending before I started reading it though - I know, so bad! But I needed to prepare myself. ;)

Helen has really grown through-out this series, she's gone from a normal teenager to a girl who is now one of the strongest with supernatural powers. I believe she’s handled everything well and it’s been great to watch her journey. It was amazing to watch her come into her powers, test them out and then finally start to use them. Her journey has been an emotional one - especially when it comes to Lucas.

Lucas, my boy Lucas! How I do love him. He's amazing and really he's such an open book, you can see everything he feels from his face and I felt so bad for him through-out Dreamless. Imagining loving a girl you can't have, but knowing you won't be able to move on ever? Yep, that's why I felt for him. He's such a loyal person, that it's hard not to love him.

The whole Lucas, Helen, Orion love triangle was one of the main reasons I didn’t love Dreamless. In all honestly, I’m pretty sick of so many authors introducing them. They’re kind of played out now, so I’m glad Josephine didn’t drag it out and that Helen made the right choice in the end. Or should I say, the author made the right choice for Helen. I also adore the connections Helen has to Hector, Orion, Cassandra and James….all of them really. Each one of these characters has something very unique about them and they’re definitely characters I won’t forget in a long time.

In all, I may have had my up's and down's with the Starcrossed trilogy but it's very unforgettable, and hopefully I’ll have time to re-visit this series in the future.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last battle was epic!

Everyone keeps saying Helen made a huge sacrifice, but I don't really see it. She gets the guy (sure he has to keep control of the Underworld soon, but it's not like she can't visit him). So she gets to keep her family and loved ones forever.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished my reread of this series yayyy!!! It was an emotional ride, and I'm happy to report that it's still a 5 star series through and through, younger me knew her tastes well even then.

My heart got broken and put back together several times while rereading and I wouldn't change a thing. Now I can jump into book four and experience even more heartbreak.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insgesamt fand ich die Reihe dieses Mal viel besser als beim ersten Mal.

Der letzte Band war ein guter Abschluss für die Reihe. Es findet alles seinen Abschluss (:
Die Charaktere sind mir alle sehr ans Herz gewachsen und es war traurig sich jetzt von ihnen zu verabschieden.

4 Sterne

[Colleen Houck]

What a stellar conclusion to the series! I love Helen's new powers. They are pretty much amazing. I want her world building power. I could totally rock that one. The ending was so perfect.

[maegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a tough one to review because even though I generally enjoyed the story, some parts dragged a lot, and I ended up needing almost three months to finish it, which for me is a lifetime.

The flashbacks to Helen's past lives were as boring for me as reading how she trecked through the Underworld in the second book. It really slowed down the pace.

Claire, as per usual, really irked me, and her whole treasonous stance was quickly swept under the rug like, "Yeah Lennie I stood by the whole bunch of people who wanted to kill you because you were too powerful, but now that they've lost the war, we're cool and you're still too powerful to walk this Earth :)"

Also the million couples (especially Hector and Andy) were cringe worthy, and don't even get me started over how everyone moved on after what happened to Matt (I won't say any more because spoilers). Ugh, just UGH!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GODDESS.

1. The war is coming so romance isnt the focal point of the plot but I can assure the asdfgjkllowuei moments will made up for it.

2. Speaking of war, casualties are inevitable but don't you fret child It could not be your favorite character but you'll never know. *internally screaming

3. There will be lots of crying,mourning, flinging yourself out of the window because reasons.

4. Chapter 14 is the accurate definition of PAIN. It was like having my heart ripped apart.

5. Josephine Angelini is actually Satan. She will ruined your life and undo button is never an option. She loves to feed on our misery. No lie detected.

[Yiota Misiou · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Ένας άντρας, μία ψηφος" ψιθύρισαν όλοι οι Μυρμιδόνες.
...
αυτό που επαναλάμβαναν όλοι μαζί ήταν η θεμέλια λίθος της ατομικής σκέψης και το κομβικό σημείο της ελληνικής φιλοσοφίας.
Η ιδέα που συνοψιζόταν στη φράση " ένας άντρας, μία ψήφος " ήταν η απαρχή της δημοκρατίας. Φτωχός ή πλούσιος, θεός ή θνητος , κάθε πλάσμα είχε την ίδια αξία. Οι αδύναμοι είχαν το ίδιο δικαίωμα ν' αποφασίζουν για τον εαυτό τους με τους ισχυρούς.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

an iconic, nostalgic 4.75 stars 😭🫶🏼 this series is so whimsical and filled to the brim with tragedy and mythology and folklore that I can’t not devour it every single time I re-read it. Lucas & Helen & Orion & Hector have my heart forever & ever & ever & ever.

this OG trilogy is SO 2012 vibes - so I am incredibly excited to read the most recently published books by ms. Josephine because I cannot wait to see how much her writing has grown over the last 10 years😭

I fear the prequels might internally rip me to shreds because Ajax & Daphne… 😭 but in a good way? idgaf bring it on😈

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need this book like burning.

April 2013:
I definitely turned the last page with a tears in my eyes. As perfect as the ending was I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters :(. Things that I'd wanted to happen since the beginning did, and things I never expected had my jaw on the floor. I love Greek mythology and Josephine Angelini's wins all the awards.

[Gaby]

Team Lucas!!!