Dreamless by Josephine Angelini Review

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Title: Dreamless
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publish Date: May 29, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Mythology
Pages: 487
Source: Publisher
Helen needs to get through hell in two ways: by night they reflected the underworld, even worse torments her day that Lucas and they may possibly love. In the underworld, Helen meets Orion. The more time they spend together, the closer they come to. Then something totally unexpected happens, the forces calculated for holding and Lucas Orion: The four houses are combined and Scion, a new Trojan war seems inevitable!
Helen’s destiny cannot be fought. The ancient prophecy that states she can and must free the Scions from blood debts owed to the Furies now rests solely on her shoulders, and her task is arduous, her journey long and the road is rough. She is the Descender, and every night she must cross into the Underworld to find and defeat the Furies’ quest for vengeance, which makes the Scions kill one another. Night after night, she follows her duties alone until she meets another Scion – one she’s never met before – who might just have to save her from dire circumstances. But Descending takes its toll, and Helen’s losing her faith, losing her sight on what’s real and she might just be losing her mind. Can Helen fulfill the ancient prophecy before it’s too late?

I didn’t review book one on my blog simply because I couldn’t put into words how much I loved it. So, naturally, my adoration of the writing style and fluid plot led me to be concerned (at best) for the fate of Dreamless. I shouldn’t have worried though. Veteran author, Josephine Angelini, continues in her proven vein of master-storytelling, crafting a story so rich and vivid that, at times, you might just feel as though you’re in Helen’s shoes. With a soft and steady gait, the plot overtakes you in its alluring web, trapping you in the midst of the characters’ fights for their lives and an epic battle that feels more real than surreal. The words leap from the pages, breathing new life into a tired genre and prove that sophomore installations can meet and surpass their predecessors.

The characters truly soar in Dreamless, allowing the readers to reach new heights of the story by giving us truly unlimited access to their psyches. We get to see what makes Helen tick in this installment, more than ever before, and her quiet subtleties in both her actions and inactions are incredibly telling. We watch as Lucas evolves slowly, as well, and we meet Orion, as well as other new characters, who twist the plot to their personalities, making the storyline evolve throughout. There are touches of romance in Dreamless, but it’s not the end-all, be-all of the book. Rather, they serve to bolster the plot and move it along, changing and manipulating the story as it goes. However, the true strength of the novel lies within the action of the novel. The storytelling is superb, and the pace is flawless throughout. The continuous twists and turns are emphasized with careful detail, description and melodious words. The settings are phenomenal, and more than once I wished I could visit these lands that Helen journeyed to.

I’m a tough critic, but I really loved Dreamless. I thought it was a fantastic sequel, and I’m extremely excited for the next installment. I give it a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal and mythology.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

13 comments:

  1. YEAH MELISSA!!! So glad you're as big a fan of this series as I am:) I really loved the addition of Orion in this one even though I was worried about a possible love triangle - I thought Josie handled everything perfectly. I need book 3 like I need air to breathe:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. YESS I'm so glad you liked it! You're so lucky you got the chance to read it before the release date! I loved Starcrossed, and I agree, it is a bit difficult to put that love into words. I can't wait to get my hands on Dreamless!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have heard so many good things about Starcrossed. Glad to see the next book is good too. I just got Starcrossed for my kindle. Thanks for following my blog, Melissa. You're on my blogroll as well :D - Erika @ One A Day Y.A.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Josie is a fantastic writer! I swear this is one of the most solid sophomore novels I've ever read. I'm on a great book binge because of it!!! :)))

    ReplyDelete
  5. I might just have to put this one up for grabs then ;) it was AMAZING! You're going to love it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Erika! This one is a fantastic sequel, and it's totally worthy of all the praise it gets! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oooh I really enjoyed Starcrossed - I love hearing that Dreamless might be even better! Great review - you have a wonderful way with words :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I enjoyed Starcrossed when I first read it but I haven't been anxiously awaiting this second book. Having read your review, I'm a lot more excited now! Can't wait to grab a copy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Okay, I basically skipped your review but wanted to leave this comment and say: 1) I just bought the first book like a day or two ago. 2) I LOVE MYTHOLOGY SO MUCH. 3) 5/5!!!!! YAY!!! That makes me happy because I trust your opinions so much! 

    The covers of these books are so pretty too.  

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for the review! I was hesitant to read Starcrossed because I had read some bad reviews for it, but I think I'll have to start it up now! I'm a huge, huge fan of mythology so I can't wait to start this series :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, I'm a new follower:) 
    I was literally blown away by Starcrossed so if Dreamless is any better than that one, then I'm in! 

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi, I'm a new follower:) 
    I was literally blown away by Starcrossed so if Dreamless is any better than that one, then I'm in! 

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think you'll just LOVE it! Thanks so much for following!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I always do my very best to return the favour :)

Please note that this blog is an award-free zone!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Pin It button on image hover