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celjla212's review against another edition
3.0
Mia Price is trying to keep her family afloat after an earthquake destroyed Los Angeles, where she lives with her younger brother and mom. Her mother has been struggling with severe PTSD and is basically checked out from their lives. If this is not stressful enough, Mia has been struck by lightning so many times that she is addicted to it...her body craves it and she can feel the heat and electricity burning inside of her.
So Mia and her brother go back to school for the first time since the quake, if only because going to school means getting fed. But when they get there, things start happening quickly. Mia meets both an enigmatic girl named Katrina and a gorgeous guy named Jeremy, who both give her warnings about her future. When Mia's mom becomes brainwashed by the televangelist and self proclaimed Prophet Rance, she comes to learn that the warnings were right...and now she must choose a side in the battle for the lives of everyone she loves.
This is one instance where I wish I could give half stars, because this book was exactly 3 1/2 stars for me.
The story has a fascinating, semi-dystopian premise. I can almost tell where the author got her story idea. Ripped from the headlines...a prophet claiming he knows when the world will end and all sinners should repent now? Sounds very familiar, no?
Mia was alright for me as a main character. She made some stupid decisions and was sort of flighty, but how much of that is from the catastrophic event that just changed her life? I don't know. In any event, I was a bit dismayed when she first laid eyes on Jeremy and fell in instant lust with him. SIGH.
The action of the plot itself was very enjoyable, I just had some problems with the pacing. One event would happen where I couldn't turn the pages to read it quick enough, then after that I'd find myself skimming over some paragraphs.
I will say though, that the twist with Jeremy completely threw me for a loop--I didn't see it coming at all. I thought most of my questions got answered, but towards the end I still found myself asking, why did Jeremy do this, or what was the point of that?
I'm still kind of meh about the ending. Things seemed wrapped up a bit too nicely...so nicely in fact, that I have no idea where a second book in this series could go, but I see that this is the first book in a planned series. I'm not sure if I'd read the next. I'd have to see what the premise was, and hope the author comes to use fewer tired cliches than she did in Struck.
So Mia and her brother go back to school for the first time since the quake, if only because going to school means getting fed. But when they get there, things start happening quickly. Mia meets both an enigmatic girl named Katrina and a gorgeous guy named Jeremy, who both give her warnings about her future. When Mia's mom becomes brainwashed by the televangelist and self proclaimed Prophet Rance, she comes to learn that the warnings were right...and now she must choose a side in the battle for the lives of everyone she loves.
This is one instance where I wish I could give half stars, because this book was exactly 3 1/2 stars for me.
The story has a fascinating, semi-dystopian premise. I can almost tell where the author got her story idea. Ripped from the headlines...a prophet claiming he knows when the world will end and all sinners should repent now? Sounds very familiar, no?
Mia was alright for me as a main character. She made some stupid decisions and was sort of flighty, but how much of that is from the catastrophic event that just changed her life? I don't know. In any event, I was a bit dismayed when she first laid eyes on Jeremy and fell in instant lust with him. SIGH.
The action of the plot itself was very enjoyable, I just had some problems with the pacing. One event would happen where I couldn't turn the pages to read it quick enough, then after that I'd find myself skimming over some paragraphs.
I will say though, that the twist with Jeremy completely threw me for a loop--I didn't see it coming at all. I thought most of my questions got answered, but towards the end I still found myself asking, why did Jeremy do this, or what was the point of that?
I'm still kind of meh about the ending. Things seemed wrapped up a bit too nicely...so nicely in fact, that I have no idea where a second book in this series could go, but I see that this is the first book in a planned series. I'm not sure if I'd read the next. I'd have to see what the premise was, and hope the author comes to use fewer tired cliches than she did in Struck.
kavonna's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it.loved it.The whole four days one story was a cool factor to me when I started reading this novel.Jennifer Bosworth puts good detail in the book.
books4susie's review against another edition
5.0
“It never rains in California
But girl, don’t they warn ya
It pours, man, it pours”
Albert Hammond
Mia Price describes herself as a human lightning rod. She will tell you she is a lightning addict, craving its Strike. Her need is the reason her family moved to Los Angeles, a place where it rarely rains and lightning strikes are virtually nonexistent. Mia trades lightning for earthquakes and her life forever. The day the worst natural disaster to occur in the U.S., it pours down rain.
The Puente Hills earthquake has struck LA and some people believe it was caused by lightning. Ten square miles, including downtown LA, were destroyed and the city government is on the verge of collapse. The federal government is of no help with too many problems of its own. The Midwest has been battered by drought and wildfires causing food shortages and unseasonal; hurricanes along the Gulf Coast wiped out the fishing industry. Tornadoes have destroyed communities where they don’t normally happen and the US is involved in more conflicts than ever. Humanitarian organizations are stretched too thin with famine in Africa and plague in India. Los Angeles and its residents are left to fend for themselves.
Life has been in constant disruption since the Puente Hills earthquake four weeks prior. For Mia and her younger brother parker, their mother is no help. She was trapped for three days before rescue workers pulled her free, the only survivor. Not badly injured, she was quickly released from the hospital to make room for more life threatening injuries. With no psychiatric care, she spends her days in her darkened bedroom watching Rance Ridley Prophet on television proclaiming that the end of the world is upon us. Suffering from Acute Stress Disorder, Mia has been treating her mother with medications bought off the black market. Parker is distraught over the fact that he cannot fix her, but in order to get free lunch, extra food rations and priority aid, both must start attending school again. This means that their mother will be left alone.
Back at Skyline High School, Mia immediately notices that the Prophet’s student followers are now numerous. She sees white everywhere. While trying to pull herself together in the bathroom, a girl by the name of Rachel Jackson comes in. Before the quake, Rachel was a Goth. Now she is one of Prophet’s followers and tries to convince Mia to join them. Suddenly, a refined girl that Moa doesn’t recognize comes in and tells Rachel to leave Mia alone. Skyline is Seeker territory. Rachel eventually relents and leaves. Katrina introduces herself and goes to shake Mia’s hand. Mia notices a reddish, circular scar on the palm of Katrina’s right hand. They shake and Katrina pulls back quickly. She tells Mia that she has the Spark. Mia is a little unnerved and she doesn’t know what Katrina is talking about. Katrina then pulls out a deck of antique tarot cards and asks Mia to draw one, an invitation of sorts. Mia ends up pulling the Tower card. The Tower was the only building in downtown LA to survive the quake. Katrina grabs the card, reshuffles the deck and has Mia draw again. Once more, Mia pulls the Tower card. Katrina tells her to keep it and to meet her after school in room 317. Mia refuses but Katrina tells her she will see her then.
Mia goes to lunch but doesn’t see Parker. The softball team tries to cut in line but is stopped by a small group of random kids who normally wouldn’t hang out together. Mia recognizes one of them as a friend of Parker’s, Quentin. He tells them to go to the back of the line with the authority of an adult. They obey. Mia also sees that Quentin has the circular scar in the palm of his hand. He tells Mia it is good to see her and goes to shake her hand. She refuses and he briefly grabs her wrist and reacts the same way that Katrina did. Mia leaves the cafeteria to go in search of Parker. She finds him in the hallway were missing person and memorial posters are on display. Parker is depressed that all of his close friends have left the area when he shows Mia earthquake survivors’ group meeting sign that is held in the evenings in room 317. They discuss whether they could get their mother to attend when Mia spies another sign for a lightning strike survivors’ group to meet after the earthquake group in room 317.
Mia’s last class of the day is English lit with Mr. Kale in room 317. She arrives late and Mr. Kale immediately draws her into the discussion on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and how it relates to the Greek myth of Prometheus. Mia gives him a blank stare when a male voice gives the answer. Mia is immediately attracted to him but realizes that something is off about him, just like Katrina. She finds out that his name is Jeremy Parish. In class, Mia keeps looking at Jeremy and he notices. Mr. Kale asks who Prometheus was and Jeremy answers again without being called on. Mr. Kale chastises him and turns the discussion to lightning. Several students bring up the theory that a lightning strike triggered the earthquake. When class ends, Mia is in a hurry to leave before Katrina arrives, but she fails. Katrina joins Mr. Kale and Jeremy comes over to Mia’s desk.
Several things happen at once. Jeremy tells Mia that he needs to talk to her. She tells him to wait as she realizes she senses a storm off in the distance, even though there are no clouds in the sky. Mr. Kale and Katrina are watching the exchanger when Quentin enters the classroom. Jeremy tells Mia that they need to leave and to trust no one. Mia blacks out and dreams of being on the Tower in downtown during a lightning storm where the lightning is red, not white in color. She awakens to find Parker leaning over her and Jeremy gone. Katrina wants to know what he said to her but Mia doesn’t respond. Katrina tells her not to trust him. Mia wants to leave but Parker is willing to them out. Five minutes tops responses Mia and Mr. Kale explains that they are members of the circle of Seekers and are looking for people like Mia. Katrina tells her that they are going to save LA from the Prophet and his followers and then save the world. And Mia is the one to help them.
What happened to Mia’s mother when she was trapped by the earthquake? How did Rance Ridley Prophet correctly protect the earthquake and are his predictions for the end of the world accurate? Was the quake caused by a lightning strike? Who are the Seekers and why do they need Mia? What happened in Arizona that caused Mia’s family to flee to Los Angeles? Why is Mia so addicted to lightning strikes? Who is the mysterious Jeremy? And who can Mia trust when there is a storm brewing on the horizon?
But girl, don’t they warn ya
It pours, man, it pours”
Albert Hammond
Mia Price describes herself as a human lightning rod. She will tell you she is a lightning addict, craving its Strike. Her need is the reason her family moved to Los Angeles, a place where it rarely rains and lightning strikes are virtually nonexistent. Mia trades lightning for earthquakes and her life forever. The day the worst natural disaster to occur in the U.S., it pours down rain.
The Puente Hills earthquake has struck LA and some people believe it was caused by lightning. Ten square miles, including downtown LA, were destroyed and the city government is on the verge of collapse. The federal government is of no help with too many problems of its own. The Midwest has been battered by drought and wildfires causing food shortages and unseasonal; hurricanes along the Gulf Coast wiped out the fishing industry. Tornadoes have destroyed communities where they don’t normally happen and the US is involved in more conflicts than ever. Humanitarian organizations are stretched too thin with famine in Africa and plague in India. Los Angeles and its residents are left to fend for themselves.
Life has been in constant disruption since the Puente Hills earthquake four weeks prior. For Mia and her younger brother parker, their mother is no help. She was trapped for three days before rescue workers pulled her free, the only survivor. Not badly injured, she was quickly released from the hospital to make room for more life threatening injuries. With no psychiatric care, she spends her days in her darkened bedroom watching Rance Ridley Prophet on television proclaiming that the end of the world is upon us. Suffering from Acute Stress Disorder, Mia has been treating her mother with medications bought off the black market. Parker is distraught over the fact that he cannot fix her, but in order to get free lunch, extra food rations and priority aid, both must start attending school again. This means that their mother will be left alone.
Back at Skyline High School, Mia immediately notices that the Prophet’s student followers are now numerous. She sees white everywhere. While trying to pull herself together in the bathroom, a girl by the name of Rachel Jackson comes in. Before the quake, Rachel was a Goth. Now she is one of Prophet’s followers and tries to convince Mia to join them. Suddenly, a refined girl that Moa doesn’t recognize comes in and tells Rachel to leave Mia alone. Skyline is Seeker territory. Rachel eventually relents and leaves. Katrina introduces herself and goes to shake Mia’s hand. Mia notices a reddish, circular scar on the palm of Katrina’s right hand. They shake and Katrina pulls back quickly. She tells Mia that she has the Spark. Mia is a little unnerved and she doesn’t know what Katrina is talking about. Katrina then pulls out a deck of antique tarot cards and asks Mia to draw one, an invitation of sorts. Mia ends up pulling the Tower card. The Tower was the only building in downtown LA to survive the quake. Katrina grabs the card, reshuffles the deck and has Mia draw again. Once more, Mia pulls the Tower card. Katrina tells her to keep it and to meet her after school in room 317. Mia refuses but Katrina tells her she will see her then.
Mia goes to lunch but doesn’t see Parker. The softball team tries to cut in line but is stopped by a small group of random kids who normally wouldn’t hang out together. Mia recognizes one of them as a friend of Parker’s, Quentin. He tells them to go to the back of the line with the authority of an adult. They obey. Mia also sees that Quentin has the circular scar in the palm of his hand. He tells Mia it is good to see her and goes to shake her hand. She refuses and he briefly grabs her wrist and reacts the same way that Katrina did. Mia leaves the cafeteria to go in search of Parker. She finds him in the hallway were missing person and memorial posters are on display. Parker is depressed that all of his close friends have left the area when he shows Mia earthquake survivors’ group meeting sign that is held in the evenings in room 317. They discuss whether they could get their mother to attend when Mia spies another sign for a lightning strike survivors’ group to meet after the earthquake group in room 317.
Mia’s last class of the day is English lit with Mr. Kale in room 317. She arrives late and Mr. Kale immediately draws her into the discussion on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and how it relates to the Greek myth of Prometheus. Mia gives him a blank stare when a male voice gives the answer. Mia is immediately attracted to him but realizes that something is off about him, just like Katrina. She finds out that his name is Jeremy Parish. In class, Mia keeps looking at Jeremy and he notices. Mr. Kale asks who Prometheus was and Jeremy answers again without being called on. Mr. Kale chastises him and turns the discussion to lightning. Several students bring up the theory that a lightning strike triggered the earthquake. When class ends, Mia is in a hurry to leave before Katrina arrives, but she fails. Katrina joins Mr. Kale and Jeremy comes over to Mia’s desk.
Several things happen at once. Jeremy tells Mia that he needs to talk to her. She tells him to wait as she realizes she senses a storm off in the distance, even though there are no clouds in the sky. Mr. Kale and Katrina are watching the exchanger when Quentin enters the classroom. Jeremy tells Mia that they need to leave and to trust no one. Mia blacks out and dreams of being on the Tower in downtown during a lightning storm where the lightning is red, not white in color. She awakens to find Parker leaning over her and Jeremy gone. Katrina wants to know what he said to her but Mia doesn’t respond. Katrina tells her not to trust him. Mia wants to leave but Parker is willing to them out. Five minutes tops responses Mia and Mr. Kale explains that they are members of the circle of Seekers and are looking for people like Mia. Katrina tells her that they are going to save LA from the Prophet and his followers and then save the world. And Mia is the one to help them.
What happened to Mia’s mother when she was trapped by the earthquake? How did Rance Ridley Prophet correctly protect the earthquake and are his predictions for the end of the world accurate? Was the quake caused by a lightning strike? Who are the Seekers and why do they need Mia? What happened in Arizona that caused Mia’s family to flee to Los Angeles? Why is Mia so addicted to lightning strikes? Who is the mysterious Jeremy? And who can Mia trust when there is a storm brewing on the horizon?
chasa's review against another edition
1.0
I really tried but life is too short for books you don't like.
kimlynn77's review against another edition
5.0
Interesting concept. I will look forward to future books from this author.
squirrelsohno's review against another edition
3.0
Review will go live at http://book-brats.com on May 8th, 2012.
I had my eyes on STRUCK for a number of months. When it became available for review via NetGalley, I pounced like a hungry leopard and forced myself to find the time to read it. The plot is wonderful, unique, strange and unusual. But the synopsis only barely touches one thing about this novel, and that’s a really, really important thing that might turn off a number of readers who jump into it…
STRUCK is the story of Mia Price, a girl who has a rather dangerous addiction to being struck by lightning. She’s been struck a number of times, and her mother moved her and her brother to Los Angeles right in time for a massive earthquake that destroyed downtown LA (but mysteriously left water and electricity on in Santa Monica – that’s about 15 miles, and therein lies a plot hole). LA is left in ruins and the US government is too busy overseas to care about the problems at home. A televangelist prophet has predicted an earthquake that will destroy the world, caused by a storm, and Mia is the key to their plans, along with the opposing side’s plans to stop them. And Mia objects to this, of course.
Mia Price is a fairly independent main character, belied by her occasional stupidity rushing into danger without thinking first. I really did connect with her on a certain level, drawn in by her snarky voice and her memories of a time when there wasn’t pain and crazy spreading like the flu. She’s had to deal with her mother for a year after the Quake, during which time her mother was trapped under the ruins of a building for days and left with PTSD. Her brother Parker is a headstrong young boy who wants nothing more than to take the role that Mia shuns, throwing himself into danger wanting to save the world when he doesn’t have the necessary skills. Then there is Jeremy, the designated love interest of this story, and also the creepy stalker that follows Mia around, sneaks into her bedroom, and basically made the romance not very believable. Once again, we have a relationship built on “He’s so hot” instead of “I can see myself living the rest of my life with this strong, kind man.”
But I should probably get to that little issue I mentioned earlier. This book is REALLY religious. As in both sides in the fight have a biblical background, and this apocalypse? Yep, it’s the End of Days mentioned in the Bible down to a T. The Sixth Seal, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the righteous being saved – all that is mentioned, and not just by the Followers of the Prophet and the Church of Light. The “good guys”, the Seekers, are also biblically-focused, following the world of a seeress from 200 years ago who predicted the End of Days and Mia as a martyr for mankind. I am not a religious person, I’ll admit it, so all of this was hard to read. It ranged from being preachy to not, but I really am not a fan of religious fiction, and this seemed like it would have been better off with a Christian publisher versus a mainstream YA one. Just saying.
The romance in this was also hard to believe, with the stalker boy going from stalker to hot makeout sessions in two days? Jeremy seemed like a nice enough guy, but we barely get to know him, leaving me feeling that this relationship was nothing more than a needed plot element. Especially since he stalks her. And about 70% of the way in, after we are really introduced to the stakes and the players involved, things start getting REALLY ridiculous. I almost stopped reading, but after I trudged through about 50 pages of weird randomness, the story picks back up and you’re back into the thick of it.
Other than that, and a few plot devices that I took issue with but won’t mention, the book is really good. Characterization is great for the Price family, the writing is clean and nuanced with occasional appearances of something more lyrical. I really did enjoy the plot and the pacing was spot on. These aren’t the problems with the story, but maybe I just took fault in this novel because I am not a person that is big on religious fiction. Yes, maybe this is how society will end up, but having both sides – good and evil – be carriers of religious banners just made me feel somewhat squicky. Also, when the “God is love” guy showed up, I laughed. The male version of my mother right there.
Jennifer Bosworth in her debut shows great promise for the future and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next. I just secretly hope it is a little more secular than STRUCK ended up being.
VERDICT: Belied with a strangely religious focus, STRUCK is an interesting, provocative debut from an author to watch in the future.
I had my eyes on STRUCK for a number of months. When it became available for review via NetGalley, I pounced like a hungry leopard and forced myself to find the time to read it. The plot is wonderful, unique, strange and unusual. But the synopsis only barely touches one thing about this novel, and that’s a really, really important thing that might turn off a number of readers who jump into it…
STRUCK is the story of Mia Price, a girl who has a rather dangerous addiction to being struck by lightning. She’s been struck a number of times, and her mother moved her and her brother to Los Angeles right in time for a massive earthquake that destroyed downtown LA (but mysteriously left water and electricity on in Santa Monica – that’s about 15 miles, and therein lies a plot hole). LA is left in ruins and the US government is too busy overseas to care about the problems at home. A televangelist prophet has predicted an earthquake that will destroy the world, caused by a storm, and Mia is the key to their plans, along with the opposing side’s plans to stop them. And Mia objects to this, of course.
Mia Price is a fairly independent main character, belied by her occasional stupidity rushing into danger without thinking first. I really did connect with her on a certain level, drawn in by her snarky voice and her memories of a time when there wasn’t pain and crazy spreading like the flu. She’s had to deal with her mother for a year after the Quake, during which time her mother was trapped under the ruins of a building for days and left with PTSD. Her brother Parker is a headstrong young boy who wants nothing more than to take the role that Mia shuns, throwing himself into danger wanting to save the world when he doesn’t have the necessary skills. Then there is Jeremy, the designated love interest of this story, and also the creepy stalker that follows Mia around, sneaks into her bedroom, and basically made the romance not very believable. Once again, we have a relationship built on “He’s so hot” instead of “I can see myself living the rest of my life with this strong, kind man.”
But I should probably get to that little issue I mentioned earlier. This book is REALLY religious. As in both sides in the fight have a biblical background, and this apocalypse? Yep, it’s the End of Days mentioned in the Bible down to a T. The Sixth Seal, the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the righteous being saved – all that is mentioned, and not just by the Followers of the Prophet and the Church of Light. The “good guys”, the Seekers, are also biblically-focused, following the world of a seeress from 200 years ago who predicted the End of Days and Mia as a martyr for mankind. I am not a religious person, I’ll admit it, so all of this was hard to read. It ranged from being preachy to not, but I really am not a fan of religious fiction, and this seemed like it would have been better off with a Christian publisher versus a mainstream YA one. Just saying.
The romance in this was also hard to believe, with the stalker boy going from stalker to hot makeout sessions in two days? Jeremy seemed like a nice enough guy, but we barely get to know him, leaving me feeling that this relationship was nothing more than a needed plot element. Especially since he stalks her. And about 70% of the way in, after we are really introduced to the stakes and the players involved, things start getting REALLY ridiculous. I almost stopped reading, but after I trudged through about 50 pages of weird randomness, the story picks back up and you’re back into the thick of it.
Other than that, and a few plot devices that I took issue with but won’t mention, the book is really good. Characterization is great for the Price family, the writing is clean and nuanced with occasional appearances of something more lyrical. I really did enjoy the plot and the pacing was spot on. These aren’t the problems with the story, but maybe I just took fault in this novel because I am not a person that is big on religious fiction. Yes, maybe this is how society will end up, but having both sides – good and evil – be carriers of religious banners just made me feel somewhat squicky. Also, when the “God is love” guy showed up, I laughed. The male version of my mother right there.
Jennifer Bosworth in her debut shows great promise for the future and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next. I just secretly hope it is a little more secular than STRUCK ended up being.
VERDICT: Belied with a strangely religious focus, STRUCK is an interesting, provocative debut from an author to watch in the future.
eyreguide's review against another edition
4.0
The story starts just after a major, catastrophic earthquake struck Los Angeles and for someone who lives in L.A. that was a real downer. I have to say - with no negative reflection on the quality of the book - it was a little difficult starting this read because it all hit too close to home. Thankfully, because it takes place after the quake, the book largely deals with the recovery. And this rehabilitating city that the author creates is very well-thought out and realistic. The idea of religious fanaticism taking such a stronghold on weak, scared individuals makes sense. And very smartly there is a counter to that sensibility - wild partying and living in the moment. I feel like the world-building is so vivid and real that it made the dangers for the main characters equally so.
Mia Price is a great strong protagonist - she must take on all the responsibility in her family after the devastation, and in addition to feeling like a freak because of her attraction to lightning, she has a rather large chip on her shoulder and doesn't find it easy to trust or be compassionate. Her romantic feelings for Jeremy (which is disappointingly immediate) is a little jarring because she so quickly rearranges her priorities to be with him, and although Jeremy is a great, mysterious character, I didn't really feel invested in their romance. It was a little too superficial for me. There is a great twist to Jeremy's character however that I really enjoyed.
With the second big storm coming, the story is framed by a countdown to this storm that works excellently to keep a fast pace, and a great sense of foreboding. Because Jeremy has visions of the future and we are continually told what is going to happen, I loved how things were turned around in the end, and how expectations were twisted around with context. Mia's family also goes through a great arc of emotions that I felt was very touching. Overall, I think this is a great read, for the strong protagonist and the new interesting world-building of the lighting struck, that isn't wholly explained in my mind but leaves room for more in the series.
Mia Price is a great strong protagonist - she must take on all the responsibility in her family after the devastation, and in addition to feeling like a freak because of her attraction to lightning, she has a rather large chip on her shoulder and doesn't find it easy to trust or be compassionate. Her romantic feelings for Jeremy (which is disappointingly immediate) is a little jarring because she so quickly rearranges her priorities to be with him, and although Jeremy is a great, mysterious character, I didn't really feel invested in their romance. It was a little too superficial for me. There is a great twist to Jeremy's character however that I really enjoyed.
With the second big storm coming, the story is framed by a countdown to this storm that works excellently to keep a fast pace, and a great sense of foreboding. Because Jeremy has visions of the future and we are continually told what is going to happen, I loved how things were turned around in the end, and how expectations were twisted around with context. Mia's family also goes through a great arc of emotions that I felt was very touching. Overall, I think this is a great read, for the strong protagonist and the new interesting world-building of the lighting struck, that isn't wholly explained in my mind but leaves room for more in the series.
michalice's review against another edition
2.0
Struck begins with an introduction from Mia giving us a brief description about her and her attraction to lightening. The book then begins with chapter 1, days before the storm then slowly builds up to the worst storm in history.
A recent earthquake has shattered everyone's existence. People are sick and dying, some have homes on the brink of collapsing or no home at all to call their own, The Displaced. Others have taken up residence along the beach in tents, Tentville. Desperate people have turned to The Prophet, who predicted the earthquake moments before it happened and predicts another will happen soon.
Mia lives with her brother Parker and their Mum, their house lucky enough to withstand the earthquake but their Mum suffering from Aucte Stress Disorder. We follow Mia as she copes with her sick Mum, making sure Parker is OK, school and the constant symptoms from her numerous lightening strikes.
I really enjoyed Struck. I love anything that remotely focuses on lightening, storms, earthquakes, and Struck was the perfect read to satisfy me with a lightening fix. I loved the opposing groups, The Seekers and The Followers and really liked how all goodness and light were not necessary the right side to choose. I did feel sorry for Mia, being thrown into it without really knowing what she was meant to be doing, and although I disliked Katrina at first, especially for being deceitful, I did eventually warm up to her, mainly after she was attacked by The Followers. If it would have been me I would have hid in a room somewhere but she came back fighting and I do admire her for that.
Jeremy I was constantly in two minds over until the very end. I liked him for how he was with Mia wanting to keep her safe, but I disliked him for hiding a huge part of him away from her, which ended up nearly costing Mia her life.
Overall I think Struck is a great read, my only problem was the slow build up to this cataclysmic event, but then I felt the actual event went by too fast for my liking.
I did have a quote that I really liked and also found an amazing trailer for the book.
"I should have been the glue holding us together, but apparently I wasn't sticky enough."
A recent earthquake has shattered everyone's existence. People are sick and dying, some have homes on the brink of collapsing or no home at all to call their own, The Displaced. Others have taken up residence along the beach in tents, Tentville. Desperate people have turned to The Prophet, who predicted the earthquake moments before it happened and predicts another will happen soon.
Mia lives with her brother Parker and their Mum, their house lucky enough to withstand the earthquake but their Mum suffering from Aucte Stress Disorder. We follow Mia as she copes with her sick Mum, making sure Parker is OK, school and the constant symptoms from her numerous lightening strikes.
I really enjoyed Struck. I love anything that remotely focuses on lightening, storms, earthquakes, and Struck was the perfect read to satisfy me with a lightening fix. I loved the opposing groups, The Seekers and The Followers and really liked how all goodness and light were not necessary the right side to choose. I did feel sorry for Mia, being thrown into it without really knowing what she was meant to be doing, and although I disliked Katrina at first, especially for being deceitful, I did eventually warm up to her, mainly after she was attacked by The Followers. If it would have been me I would have hid in a room somewhere but she came back fighting and I do admire her for that.
Jeremy I was constantly in two minds over until the very end. I liked him for how he was with Mia wanting to keep her safe, but I disliked him for hiding a huge part of him away from her, which ended up nearly costing Mia her life.
Overall I think Struck is a great read, my only problem was the slow build up to this cataclysmic event, but then I felt the actual event went by too fast for my liking.
I did have a quote that I really liked and also found an amazing trailer for the book.
"I should have been the glue holding us together, but apparently I wasn't sticky enough."
rikerandom's review against another edition
2.0
Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele
Rezensionsexemplar, zur Verfügung gestellt vom Verlag im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension ♥
Dieses Buch bekommt so ungefähr 2,5 Sterne, denke ich. Ich weiß es nicht genau, weil mich die Lektüre dieses Buches doch sehr zwiegespalten zurück gelassen hat.
Das eine Element, dass dieses Buch so besonders macht, war gleichzeitig auch das Element, was mich am meisten gestört hat: Mias Fähigkeit Blitze anzuziehen. Einerseits ist dieses Konzept wirklich faszinierend und genau das, was dieses Buch von so vielen anderen Jugendbüchern im Dystopie-Bereich abhebt, andererseits wurde die Idee für meinen Geschmack einfach nicht genug ausgearbeitet und blieb wahnsinnig oberflächlich.
Dazu kam der starke religiöse Kontext. Einerseits war der ausgesprochen gut ausgearbeitet, denn hier zeigt sich sehr gut, wie aus einer ehemals anscheinend klaren Trennung zwischen schwarz und weiß plötzlich ein allgemeines dunkelgraues Mischmasch werden kann. Andererseits finde ich starke religiöse Aspekte einfach nervig, eine meiner persönlichen Abneigungen, was Thematiken in phantastischen Jugendbüchern angeht.
Außerdem waren viele der Charaktere einfach dumm. 90% der Handlung bauen auf offensichtlich idiotischen Entscheidungen der Protagonistin und anderer Charaktere auf und die Dialoge… Naja, die entbehrten so ziemlich jedes Sinns und waren herrlich unerfrischend und einfallslos. Bis auf einige wenige Highlights war das Buch in dieser Hinsicht ziemlich mau.
Und auch sonst war das Buch an vielen Stellen eher mau als sonst irgendwas und für meinen Geschmack einfach zu unausgereift, trotz der teilweise wirklich guten Ideen.
Rezensionsexemplar, zur Verfügung gestellt vom Verlag im Austausch für eine ehrliche Rezension ♥
Dieses Buch bekommt so ungefähr 2,5 Sterne, denke ich. Ich weiß es nicht genau, weil mich die Lektüre dieses Buches doch sehr zwiegespalten zurück gelassen hat.
Das eine Element, dass dieses Buch so besonders macht, war gleichzeitig auch das Element, was mich am meisten gestört hat: Mias Fähigkeit Blitze anzuziehen. Einerseits ist dieses Konzept wirklich faszinierend und genau das, was dieses Buch von so vielen anderen Jugendbüchern im Dystopie-Bereich abhebt, andererseits wurde die Idee für meinen Geschmack einfach nicht genug ausgearbeitet und blieb wahnsinnig oberflächlich.
Dazu kam der starke religiöse Kontext. Einerseits war der ausgesprochen gut ausgearbeitet, denn hier zeigt sich sehr gut, wie aus einer ehemals anscheinend klaren Trennung zwischen schwarz und weiß plötzlich ein allgemeines dunkelgraues Mischmasch werden kann. Andererseits finde ich starke religiöse Aspekte einfach nervig, eine meiner persönlichen Abneigungen, was Thematiken in phantastischen Jugendbüchern angeht.
Außerdem waren viele der Charaktere einfach dumm. 90% der Handlung bauen auf offensichtlich idiotischen Entscheidungen der Protagonistin und anderer Charaktere auf und die Dialoge… Naja, die entbehrten so ziemlich jedes Sinns und waren herrlich unerfrischend und einfallslos. Bis auf einige wenige Highlights war das Buch in dieser Hinsicht ziemlich mau.
Und auch sonst war das Buch an vielen Stellen eher mau als sonst irgendwas und für meinen Geschmack einfach zu unausgereift, trotz der teilweise wirklich guten Ideen.
audreychamaine's review against another edition
4.0
Struck surpassed my expectations of what this book would be. Instead of merely being yet another YA paranormal romance, I found myself pleasantly intrigued by the lightning addiction, post-mega natural disaster Los Angeles, and the cult theme. Plus, Bosworth has given us another strong female character who takes control of her situation instead of acting passively. Combined with fast-paced storytelling and the high stakes of needing to save the world, this adds up to a really strong debut novel.
I used to live in Los Angeles. I love L.A., as the song goes. And so I was delighted to see Los Angeles presented in the aftermath of a giant destructive earthquake. Californians are always expecting the “big one,” and Struck takes place after such an earthquake has hit. The details of how L.A.’s destruction has affected everyday life, and how people are struggling to continue with life even though aid is slow coming was touching and seemed truthful.
Mia is a pretty rad main character. She has Lichtenberg figures decorating most of her body: branch-like darkening of her skin where lightning has struck and spread. Google it. Mia attracts lightning, but also craves it. Lightning has burned her clothes off, and has made her heart stop on multiple occasions. While this makes her totally cool, it also sets her apart from those around her.
The villain of the story is a cult leader named The Prophet. He interprets the disaster as a precursor to the Second Coming, and uses a television show to gain support. In fact, his numbers have swelled because he was able to predict the time of the earthquake, causing many to believe that he is the real deal. I love books with cults, so the inclusion of this made me really happy.
The only downside for me in Struck is that it has yet another insta-romance, which I’m pretty much over. However, that wasn’t the central point of the story, and there was enough going on that I didn’t actually mind too much. I think Struck was one of the stronger YA paranormal books of the year I’ve read so far, and definitely fun enough to garner a read by somebody who is casually interested.
I used to live in Los Angeles. I love L.A., as the song goes. And so I was delighted to see Los Angeles presented in the aftermath of a giant destructive earthquake. Californians are always expecting the “big one,” and Struck takes place after such an earthquake has hit. The details of how L.A.’s destruction has affected everyday life, and how people are struggling to continue with life even though aid is slow coming was touching and seemed truthful.
Mia is a pretty rad main character. She has Lichtenberg figures decorating most of her body: branch-like darkening of her skin where lightning has struck and spread. Google it. Mia attracts lightning, but also craves it. Lightning has burned her clothes off, and has made her heart stop on multiple occasions. While this makes her totally cool, it also sets her apart from those around her.
The villain of the story is a cult leader named The Prophet. He interprets the disaster as a precursor to the Second Coming, and uses a television show to gain support. In fact, his numbers have swelled because he was able to predict the time of the earthquake, causing many to believe that he is the real deal. I love books with cults, so the inclusion of this made me really happy.
The only downside for me in Struck is that it has yet another insta-romance, which I’m pretty much over. However, that wasn’t the central point of the story, and there was enough going on that I didn’t actually mind too much. I think Struck was one of the stronger YA paranormal books of the year I’ve read so far, and definitely fun enough to garner a read by somebody who is casually interested.