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Struck #1
Struck
Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.
Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.
Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.
Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.
373 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2012
129 people are currently reading
20k people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Bosworth
9books628followersAuthor and screenwriter, Jennifer Bosworth, grew up in a small town where there was nothing to do but read and get into trouble. She did plenty of both, which led her to a career writing about people who get into trouble. Jennifer and her husband recently escaped from Los Angeles and are now hiding out in Portland, Oregon with a couple of long-legged dogs. In her spare time she can be found watching horror movies and dreaming of starting her own hippie commune, where there will be many goats. Learn more about her and view her short films at jenniferbosworth.com or just Google her and see what happens.
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April 3, 2011Yes, I surely did read my own book, only about a thousand times. And I still love it, so that must mean it's pretty good. Of course, I'm a little biased. ;)
December 4, 2013
Presenting in several simple and cliche-ridden steps:
1) Heroine lands herself in trouble.
2) The new boy comes rushing to heroine's rescue. He apparently looks like "a European underwear model" with "tortured blue eyes".
If you google "tortured blue eyes", this is what you get...
Something tells me that this isn't what the author had in mind.
3) Heroine and new boy are inexplicably drawn to one another. Heroine also inexplicably feels like she should avoid the bad guys... oh, this one's a real genius.
4) New boy has super secret knowledge about why Los Angeles is being plagued by storms and earthquakes, he knows it has something to do with the heroine. He knows that our heroine may be the only hope for humanity... so, obviously, he tells her what she should do, right? RIGHT?! No... fucking WRONG.
5) Heroine is "not ready to hear it yet". WHAT THE HELL??? Withholding information because a character is supposedly not ready to deal with it is up there with "I love you, but I'm wrong for you" on the list of the most annoying, cliche lines of all time.
And that's about where I gave up any hope of enjoying this book.
It actually starts fairly well. Mia Price is a lightning addict - I didn't really get this but points for originality - and she is in the middle of not-quite-post-apocalyptic Calfornia. Something very strange is going on, LA has just experienced one of the most devastating earthquakes in world history, storms are raging, people are left homeless and starving... and amongst this rises a man who calls himself "Prophet" and those who follow him, who are aptly named "Followers". He brings a message reportedly from God that this is the end of the world the way the bible predicts it, that judgement day is approaching. Does this Prophet really have divine knowledge? Or are his motives more sinister? And what of the other group - The Seekers - who are they and just what exactly do they seek?
Despite it being a tad more biblical than I usually like, I originally saw a lot of promise in the first few opening chapters. It's very easy to read, I seemed to get through 100 pages in no time at all and I had a lot of curiosity for the story - if nothing else. But I began to see the same old familiar pattern when Mia is thinking about how much she'd like to have a boyfriend to care about, and then she turns into her classroom and sees new boy - gorgeous, smart, perfect... and there's just something about him. Well, of course there is.
There's a whole bunch of readers who I'm sure will eat this kind of novel up and come running back for more. Unfortunately, I stopped being that kind of reader a good few years ago. But, in case this sounds a little too snarky and negative, I will leave you with a guy who really does have the sexiest eyes ever:
December 4, 2013
My name is Mia Price, and I'm a human lightning rod.
After an incredibly promising start and a lot of excitement on my part, the second half of Struck really fell flat and completely failed to impress me.
On the surface, Struck is pretty original: a girl who gets hit by lightning over and over again is doing her best to keep her family alive and sane after a huge natural disaster, while being pulled in two different directions by religious fanatics and their opposers. Both groups are convinced that the Armageddon is coming in just a few days and that they desperately need Mia’s special abilities, therefore they’re ready to do just about anything to force Mia to join their side. To make matters worse, her family is also divided: her mother has been completely brainwashed by the powerful televangelist, Prophet, while her brother wants nothing more than to join the other group, Seekers. Sounds very interesting, right? And it is, for the most part, just be aware that you’ll find the same story we’ve seen a million times before if you look just a little deeper beneath the surface.
I felt that the thing that drew me to this novel initially, Mia’s ability to attract lightening, wasn’t explored nearly enough. That’s what I wanted to read about the most. After the delicious statement at the beginning of the book (“My name is Mia Price and I’m a lightning addict.�), I was expecting the author to take this much, much farther than she actually did. Instead she chose to go down a well-worn path: Mia running blindly into danger to save her mother or her brother, the beautiful, mysterious boy that simply refuses to tell her what his deal is, Mia being stupid, Mia being stupid, Mia being incredibly stupid� well, you get the picture.
For me, there comes a point in the book where I get so irritated by the main character’s choices that I stop caring for the plot altogether. I think what bothered me the most was that a lot of Mia’s problems could have been avoided with one or two serious conversations. She kept making stupid choices to keep her brother out of trouble, when all she really had to do was sit down and explain a few things to him. Same goes for Jeremy: he insisted on being vague while warning Mia to stay away from the Waste and the Seekers, when the whole truth would have been much more effective.
Still, I suppose if you’re in the mood for paranormal YA, you could do much, much worse than Struck. I have no objections whatsoever to Bosworth’s writing style, the beginning is very compelling, it pulls you right in so you don’t have to go through that torturous period of getting into the story. I just wish she maintained the same level of originality till the very end, instead of hiding behind tropes and clichés.
For this review and more, please visit
After an incredibly promising start and a lot of excitement on my part, the second half of Struck really fell flat and completely failed to impress me.
On the surface, Struck is pretty original: a girl who gets hit by lightning over and over again is doing her best to keep her family alive and sane after a huge natural disaster, while being pulled in two different directions by religious fanatics and their opposers. Both groups are convinced that the Armageddon is coming in just a few days and that they desperately need Mia’s special abilities, therefore they’re ready to do just about anything to force Mia to join their side. To make matters worse, her family is also divided: her mother has been completely brainwashed by the powerful televangelist, Prophet, while her brother wants nothing more than to join the other group, Seekers. Sounds very interesting, right? And it is, for the most part, just be aware that you’ll find the same story we’ve seen a million times before if you look just a little deeper beneath the surface.
I felt that the thing that drew me to this novel initially, Mia’s ability to attract lightening, wasn’t explored nearly enough. That’s what I wanted to read about the most. After the delicious statement at the beginning of the book (“My name is Mia Price and I’m a lightning addict.�), I was expecting the author to take this much, much farther than she actually did. Instead she chose to go down a well-worn path: Mia running blindly into danger to save her mother or her brother, the beautiful, mysterious boy that simply refuses to tell her what his deal is, Mia being stupid, Mia being stupid, Mia being incredibly stupid� well, you get the picture.
For me, there comes a point in the book where I get so irritated by the main character’s choices that I stop caring for the plot altogether. I think what bothered me the most was that a lot of Mia’s problems could have been avoided with one or two serious conversations. She kept making stupid choices to keep her brother out of trouble, when all she really had to do was sit down and explain a few things to him. Same goes for Jeremy: he insisted on being vague while warning Mia to stay away from the Waste and the Seekers, when the whole truth would have been much more effective.
Still, I suppose if you’re in the mood for paranormal YA, you could do much, much worse than Struck. I have no objections whatsoever to Bosworth’s writing style, the beginning is very compelling, it pulls you right in so you don’t have to go through that torturous period of getting into the story. I just wish she maintained the same level of originality till the very end, instead of hiding behind tropes and clichés.
For this review and more, please visit
May 11, 2012
The short version of this review would go something like this:
Such a fabulous premise wasted on clichéd writing, a daft story and stupid insta-love romance.
Here’s the long version:
Mia is addicted to lightning. She’s survived countless strikes, her entire body (apart from her face, obviously) is covered in veiny scars and despite the danger and the fact that she has (unintentionally) hurt people because of it, she still craves lightning more than anything. Living in LA � a place where lightning rarely strikes � was supposed to cull her addiction but wouldn’t you know, not only a lightning has caused a 8.6 magnitude earthquake that has DEVASTATED the city but prophecies � from religious cults, tarot cards and the Book of Revelations � predict that MOARS lightning are coming. And they will precede the end of the WORLD. Or at the very least the end of Los Angeles. And Mia and her lightning addiction, as per the prophecies, will be at the centre of it which make her a very sought after person by the aforementioned cults.
There are good things about Struck. The premise of someone being addicted to lightning is cool in itself and strikingly visual � not only when lightning strikes Mia but also in terms of the effects it has on her: her veiny scars, loss of hair, her insomnia. I also thought that the description of a devastated, post-earthquake Los Angeles � with the widespread destruction, poverty and social divide that ensued � to be, if not exactly original, at least gripping. I am not certain if this is a parallel world to ours or if this LA is a futurist one but there are hints that other parts of the world and of the USA are in dire straits as well which presumably explains how the people of LA are isolated and left to fend for themselves. I also liked the fact that Mia would do anything to help her family to survive especially her PTSD-suffering mother (after being under rubble for three days after the earthquake). In terms of character, Mia’s mother is possibly the better developed one with her trauma and the need to find answers and hope leading her to join a religious cult.
Those good things � the cool Sci Fi premise, the potential of a pre-apocalyptic world and its social problems that will in itself help the actual apocalypse to take place � are however, squandered away by focusing the story on the warring cults. One of the Cults is called the Seekers and they think Mia will be the key to STOP the apocalypse as per the Book of Revelations and the visions and Tarot readings of their gipsy ancestors. They are not supposed to be religious but they talk about and mention the Bible so…yeah, I don’t know how that mix works either. The other is called the Followers who well, follow a guy who calls himself simply Prophet and it’s a religious cult of brainwashed people who believe that the apocalypse is near and we all need to repent. To this faction, Mia is the key to BRING on the apocalypse. And everybody can do stuff with or via lightning.
There is a certain immediacy and localised aspect to this story that just didn’t work. If the whole world is going through shit, why is this plot so concentrated in LA? WHY LA as the apocalyptic centre of the world? Is it only because Mia is there? WHY is she so important? Is it only because of how she can take on more lightning than anybody else? BUT WHY? Why is lightning so important to this story? I never bought the premise or understood it beyond: “that’s how it is written in the book so suck it up�. Not to mention that the story is simply not developed enough for me to believe that LA is completely cut off from the world just like that. Everything is just so vague and then we have this entire build up to the end of the world � the whole book takes place within the 3 days preceding it � and then the story is wrapped up easily and inconsequently within a couple of pages.
But to be honest this is only the beginning of my problems with the book:
1) Although I appreciated how it is shown that a charismatic leader that speaks to the fear and hopelessness inside people and can give them a measure of comfort and control at a time of need, this complexity is completely and utterly undermined by the fact that the leader of said cult has in fact, actual brainwashing powers (brought to you by lightning. No, don’t ask. I don’t know either).
2) The book opens with someone trying to kill our heroine. Which she conveniently forgets soon after by thinking it is only a dream. Of course, this is only because the guy who tried to kill her turns out to be the Romantic Interest who looks like a “European underwear model� with “tortured blue eyes�. Despite the fact that he has indeed been following her, and tried to KILL HER, she doesn’t think he could be a stalker because and I quote:
"A guy like Jeremy didn’t need to stalk."
Take note people: apparently only bad-looking guys could possibly be stalkers.
3) Their relationship has no development whatsoever. They fall for each other basically instantly, she forgets he tried to kill her very easily because he looks good and I quote:
"I let my eyes linger on Jeremy, studying him, trying to decide if I could see past the knife incident to trust him. But the only thing I could think about when I stared at him was how I wanted to keep staring, never take my eyes away."
Someone tries to kill you and that is an incident? Ok then.
But of course, their relationship wouldn’t be complete without SOME angst. Which comes from Jeremy having visions of the future. The visions happened every time he touched Mia and when that happens she passes out. BUT that ONLY happens if he touches her with his hands so they can do everything as long as he doesn’t touch her with his hands and somehow this is still an impediment because he can’t control himself, therefore a reason for EXTRA angst and my brain went into overdrive with GLOVES!!!!!!!!!!! HOW ABOUT GLOVES, IF IT IS ONLY THE HANDS HOW ABOUT GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES!!!!
Ahem. Not to mention the fact that Jeremy KNEW what was happening, knew loads of secrets and still he did not tell Mia (for her protection) even though they only had THREE DAYS to stop the end of the world. Oh Lord of the Books, please save me from contrived conflict.
4) The pseudo-science behind the causes of the earthquake:
"There was a geological survey going on at the time—which, ironically, had something to do with earthquakes—and a crew had opened up a hole in the ground that went way down into the earth, supposedly for miles, all the way to the Puente Hills Fault that runs right beneath downtown. Lightning struck straight into the hole, and immediately afterward there was an 8.6 magnitude earthquake that lasted over three minutes. The top seismologists in the world had formulated a theory that, hypothetically, the friction along the Puente Hills fault line might have acted like a beacon for lightning. When the fault was struck, it increased the pressure on the fault exponentially, setting off the earthquake like a nuke buried miles underground."
Let me get this straight: there is an ACTUAL FAULT beneath LA that is due to cause a massive earthquake soon and yet this story needed lightning to set it off?
Not to mention: lightning causing earthquakes? Hummm, how about NO?
Sorry, but the whole thing is just daft.
Oh well: NEXT.
Such a fabulous premise wasted on clichéd writing, a daft story and stupid insta-love romance.
Here’s the long version:
Mia is addicted to lightning. She’s survived countless strikes, her entire body (apart from her face, obviously) is covered in veiny scars and despite the danger and the fact that she has (unintentionally) hurt people because of it, she still craves lightning more than anything. Living in LA � a place where lightning rarely strikes � was supposed to cull her addiction but wouldn’t you know, not only a lightning has caused a 8.6 magnitude earthquake that has DEVASTATED the city but prophecies � from religious cults, tarot cards and the Book of Revelations � predict that MOARS lightning are coming. And they will precede the end of the WORLD. Or at the very least the end of Los Angeles. And Mia and her lightning addiction, as per the prophecies, will be at the centre of it which make her a very sought after person by the aforementioned cults.
There are good things about Struck. The premise of someone being addicted to lightning is cool in itself and strikingly visual � not only when lightning strikes Mia but also in terms of the effects it has on her: her veiny scars, loss of hair, her insomnia. I also thought that the description of a devastated, post-earthquake Los Angeles � with the widespread destruction, poverty and social divide that ensued � to be, if not exactly original, at least gripping. I am not certain if this is a parallel world to ours or if this LA is a futurist one but there are hints that other parts of the world and of the USA are in dire straits as well which presumably explains how the people of LA are isolated and left to fend for themselves. I also liked the fact that Mia would do anything to help her family to survive especially her PTSD-suffering mother (after being under rubble for three days after the earthquake). In terms of character, Mia’s mother is possibly the better developed one with her trauma and the need to find answers and hope leading her to join a religious cult.
Those good things � the cool Sci Fi premise, the potential of a pre-apocalyptic world and its social problems that will in itself help the actual apocalypse to take place � are however, squandered away by focusing the story on the warring cults. One of the Cults is called the Seekers and they think Mia will be the key to STOP the apocalypse as per the Book of Revelations and the visions and Tarot readings of their gipsy ancestors. They are not supposed to be religious but they talk about and mention the Bible so…yeah, I don’t know how that mix works either. The other is called the Followers who well, follow a guy who calls himself simply Prophet and it’s a religious cult of brainwashed people who believe that the apocalypse is near and we all need to repent. To this faction, Mia is the key to BRING on the apocalypse. And everybody can do stuff with or via lightning.
There is a certain immediacy and localised aspect to this story that just didn’t work. If the whole world is going through shit, why is this plot so concentrated in LA? WHY LA as the apocalyptic centre of the world? Is it only because Mia is there? WHY is she so important? Is it only because of how she can take on more lightning than anybody else? BUT WHY? Why is lightning so important to this story? I never bought the premise or understood it beyond: “that’s how it is written in the book so suck it up�. Not to mention that the story is simply not developed enough for me to believe that LA is completely cut off from the world just like that. Everything is just so vague and then we have this entire build up to the end of the world � the whole book takes place within the 3 days preceding it � and then the story is wrapped up easily and inconsequently within a couple of pages.
But to be honest this is only the beginning of my problems with the book:
1) Although I appreciated how it is shown that a charismatic leader that speaks to the fear and hopelessness inside people and can give them a measure of comfort and control at a time of need, this complexity is completely and utterly undermined by the fact that the leader of said cult has in fact, actual brainwashing powers (brought to you by lightning. No, don’t ask. I don’t know either).
2) The book opens with someone trying to kill our heroine. Which she conveniently forgets soon after by thinking it is only a dream. Of course, this is only because the guy who tried to kill her turns out to be the Romantic Interest who looks like a “European underwear model� with “tortured blue eyes�. Despite the fact that he has indeed been following her, and tried to KILL HER, she doesn’t think he could be a stalker because and I quote:
"A guy like Jeremy didn’t need to stalk."
Take note people: apparently only bad-looking guys could possibly be stalkers.
3) Their relationship has no development whatsoever. They fall for each other basically instantly, she forgets he tried to kill her very easily because he looks good and I quote:
"I let my eyes linger on Jeremy, studying him, trying to decide if I could see past the knife incident to trust him. But the only thing I could think about when I stared at him was how I wanted to keep staring, never take my eyes away."
Someone tries to kill you and that is an incident? Ok then.
But of course, their relationship wouldn’t be complete without SOME angst. Which comes from Jeremy having visions of the future. The visions happened every time he touched Mia and when that happens she passes out. BUT that ONLY happens if he touches her with his hands so they can do everything as long as he doesn’t touch her with his hands and somehow this is still an impediment because he can’t control himself, therefore a reason for EXTRA angst and my brain went into overdrive with GLOVES!!!!!!!!!!! HOW ABOUT GLOVES, IF IT IS ONLY THE HANDS HOW ABOUT GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES!!!!
Ahem. Not to mention the fact that Jeremy KNEW what was happening, knew loads of secrets and still he did not tell Mia (for her protection) even though they only had THREE DAYS to stop the end of the world. Oh Lord of the Books, please save me from contrived conflict.
4) The pseudo-science behind the causes of the earthquake:
"There was a geological survey going on at the time—which, ironically, had something to do with earthquakes—and a crew had opened up a hole in the ground that went way down into the earth, supposedly for miles, all the way to the Puente Hills Fault that runs right beneath downtown. Lightning struck straight into the hole, and immediately afterward there was an 8.6 magnitude earthquake that lasted over three minutes. The top seismologists in the world had formulated a theory that, hypothetically, the friction along the Puente Hills fault line might have acted like a beacon for lightning. When the fault was struck, it increased the pressure on the fault exponentially, setting off the earthquake like a nuke buried miles underground."
Let me get this straight: there is an ACTUAL FAULT beneath LA that is due to cause a massive earthquake soon and yet this story needed lightning to set it off?
Not to mention: lightning causing earthquakes? Hummm, how about NO?
Sorry, but the whole thing is just daft.
Oh well: NEXT.
December 4, 2013
This month I am giving a Shout-Out to Jennifer Bosworth, a former Maui Writers School graduate, who has an exciting YA book called STRUCK coming out from Farrar Straus Giroux this coming May. I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy. The premise is wonderful. Mia Price is a teen girl who has been struck by lightning - repeatedly. Enough so that she is addicted to the experience. Even her body has been altered as a result. She lives in an LA in which a combination of earthquakes and storms have ravaged the city and most of the population is homeless. She is pursued by the Followers and their leader Prophet and the Seekers and their leader, a high school teacher named Kale. But she doesn't know why, at first. This story has a solid build up and a terrific ending. Give it a try when it comes out next spring.
March 31, 2012
Well, there sure was a lot more fire and brimstone than I expected. Review to come.
August 31, 2012
Spoilers
Lightening addict Mia has been holding her family together since the earthquake that hit LA. Food, medicine and help are scarce, many people have become homeless and have resorted to stealing to get by. With little help from the rest of the world, two factions - the Followers led by a man calling himself the Prophet and the Seekers have taken over LA and they both want Mia and the power she yields.
-Mia was the typical YA heroine - she was a loner, nobody understood her, she had a rubbish family, no friends and *rolls eyes* she'd also never had a boyfriend before.
-Mia was an idiot. In the first chapter she talks about how she never sleeps but when she sees a boy with a knife watching her in bed she stupidly thinks she's dreaming even when the boy drops his knife and runs away when he realises she's seen him...WTF?! How can she think she was dreaming when she claims she never sleeps?! And then she acts even more dumb when she notices a mark on the floor where the boy dropped his knife and she just brushes off - she doesn't even connect the mark on the floor to the guy with the knife - it was beyond stupid. On top of that her mum later tells her that she's seen a boy hanging around watching the house - does she finally put 2 and 2 together? Does she fuck.
-There were so many things that were glaringly obvious but Mia was unable to figure anything out without being told point blank what was what. Mia eventually finds out that she wasn't dreaming about the guy with the knife. Instead of being scared and on guard around the guy, she's instantly attracted to him!! He was in her room and he admitted that he was going to kill her but she gets over it pretty quickly all because he has tortured eyes...give me a break. If he was ugly I wonder whether she would feel the same way - probably not. Also according to Mia good looking people can't be stalkers, only ugly people can be. In YA land if a guy's attractive they can get away with all sorts of psychotic behaviour and they'll still have fangirls and fictional female characters squealing over them..ugh.
-Mia kept going on and on about how there was no food at home, how she and her mum and brother hadn't eaten properly for weeks yet when she finally got free lunch at school she didn't even eat it because apparently she lost her appetite?! Her brother also threw away food and there were a few times where Mia didn't even bother to get the food that was being handed out at school.. WTF?! Why would anyone that's gone hungry for weeks give up their only chance of getting free food - it was so irritating reading about Mia's supposed hunger only to have her turn away food for no good reason.
-The earthquake only hit LA - what happened to the rest of the world? Why were they just leaving people in LA to fend for themselves? Where's the army and volunteers that want to help the people of LA? It's all brushed under the carpet with a quick mention of no people being available to help. I doubt the rest of America would let a bunch of cults take over LA.
-I thought it was a bit convenient that every part of Mia's body was covered in scars except for her face.
-The romance was rubbish. Jeremy was a typical love interest - tall, the handsomest of all the handsomes, mysterious blah blah blah. He was a flat character and he had no chemistry with Mia.
-Mia's family was annoying. Her brother was naive and stupid. Her mum was a self pitying mess. Mia was a doormat when it came to her family.
I didn't enjoy this at all - mainly due to the dumb heroine, boring plot and rubbish romance.
Lightening addict Mia has been holding her family together since the earthquake that hit LA. Food, medicine and help are scarce, many people have become homeless and have resorted to stealing to get by. With little help from the rest of the world, two factions - the Followers led by a man calling himself the Prophet and the Seekers have taken over LA and they both want Mia and the power she yields.
-Mia was the typical YA heroine - she was a loner, nobody understood her, she had a rubbish family, no friends and *rolls eyes* she'd also never had a boyfriend before.
-Mia was an idiot. In the first chapter she talks about how she never sleeps but when she sees a boy with a knife watching her in bed she stupidly thinks she's dreaming even when the boy drops his knife and runs away when he realises she's seen him...WTF?! How can she think she was dreaming when she claims she never sleeps?! And then she acts even more dumb when she notices a mark on the floor where the boy dropped his knife and she just brushes off - she doesn't even connect the mark on the floor to the guy with the knife - it was beyond stupid. On top of that her mum later tells her that she's seen a boy hanging around watching the house - does she finally put 2 and 2 together? Does she fuck.
-There were so many things that were glaringly obvious but Mia was unable to figure anything out without being told point blank what was what. Mia eventually finds out that she wasn't dreaming about the guy with the knife. Instead of being scared and on guard around the guy, she's instantly attracted to him!! He was in her room and he admitted that he was going to kill her but she gets over it pretty quickly all because he has tortured eyes...give me a break. If he was ugly I wonder whether she would feel the same way - probably not. Also according to Mia good looking people can't be stalkers, only ugly people can be. In YA land if a guy's attractive they can get away with all sorts of psychotic behaviour and they'll still have fangirls and fictional female characters squealing over them..ugh.
-Mia kept going on and on about how there was no food at home, how she and her mum and brother hadn't eaten properly for weeks yet when she finally got free lunch at school she didn't even eat it because apparently she lost her appetite?! Her brother also threw away food and there were a few times where Mia didn't even bother to get the food that was being handed out at school.. WTF?! Why would anyone that's gone hungry for weeks give up their only chance of getting free food - it was so irritating reading about Mia's supposed hunger only to have her turn away food for no good reason.
-The earthquake only hit LA - what happened to the rest of the world? Why were they just leaving people in LA to fend for themselves? Where's the army and volunteers that want to help the people of LA? It's all brushed under the carpet with a quick mention of no people being available to help. I doubt the rest of America would let a bunch of cults take over LA.
-I thought it was a bit convenient that every part of Mia's body was covered in scars except for her face.
-The romance was rubbish. Jeremy was a typical love interest - tall, the handsomest of all the handsomes, mysterious blah blah blah. He was a flat character and he had no chemistry with Mia.
-Mia's family was annoying. Her brother was naive and stupid. Her mum was a self pitying mess. Mia was a doormat when it came to her family.
I didn't enjoy this at all - mainly due to the dumb heroine, boring plot and rubbish romance.
January 17, 2012
Sigh. With all of the author vs reviewer drama lately, I do not like the idea of being the first person to have anything remotely negative to say about a book, but I guess someone has to be the first, right? Here goes.
Pros: World-building, lack of typical YA love triangle, unique premise, insightful.
Cons: Insta-love, semi-weak character development.
Going in to Struck, I had some concerns that the religious aspect would be too much for me. Coming from a non-believer, I’m not sure how someone of extreme faith would perceive Struck. I guess time will tell. I personally thought the religious aspect was brilliant, and reflected humanity accurately.
Everything about Struck is unique. I think the originality is enough to grab any reader, at least momentarily, whether the rest of the story works for them or not. The concept of a girl being addicted to being struck by lightning is certainly nothing I have ever encountered before. It was interesting getting inside of Mia’s head and seeing what made her crave such an off the wall thing. Without the fantasy aspect, none of it would be believable, and I think the fantasy was done in a subtle way that wasn’t too much, or too little. The world in which Struck takes place is definitely fascinating.
Unfortunately, the world-building is really the only aspect of this novel that worked for me well enough to say I really liked it. I thought the characterization was lacking a bit (with the exception of a few convincing secondary characters), and the romance didn’t have much development. Not only was it instant, but it doesn’t really come up until well into the story, which made it that much more frustrating. (I would have been fine with this, had their relationship not played such a crucial role in the outcome of the story.) Jeremy was a character that I didn’t feel I really got to know, so it was difficult to care about their relationship at all, let alone root for them.
Overall, Struck is a compelling and unique debut. I’ll be looking out for whatever Bosworth comes up with next.
Pros: World-building, lack of typical YA love triangle, unique premise, insightful.
Cons: Insta-love, semi-weak character development.
Going in to Struck, I had some concerns that the religious aspect would be too much for me. Coming from a non-believer, I’m not sure how someone of extreme faith would perceive Struck. I guess time will tell. I personally thought the religious aspect was brilliant, and reflected humanity accurately.
Everything about Struck is unique. I think the originality is enough to grab any reader, at least momentarily, whether the rest of the story works for them or not. The concept of a girl being addicted to being struck by lightning is certainly nothing I have ever encountered before. It was interesting getting inside of Mia’s head and seeing what made her crave such an off the wall thing. Without the fantasy aspect, none of it would be believable, and I think the fantasy was done in a subtle way that wasn’t too much, or too little. The world in which Struck takes place is definitely fascinating.
Unfortunately, the world-building is really the only aspect of this novel that worked for me well enough to say I really liked it. I thought the characterization was lacking a bit (with the exception of a few convincing secondary characters), and the romance didn’t have much development. Not only was it instant, but it doesn’t really come up until well into the story, which made it that much more frustrating. (I would have been fine with this, had their relationship not played such a crucial role in the outcome of the story.) Jeremy was a character that I didn’t feel I really got to know, so it was difficult to care about their relationship at all, let alone root for them.
Overall, Struck is a compelling and unique debut. I’ll be looking out for whatever Bosworth comes up with next.
July 26, 2019
I really do expect that this book was all about just lightning stuff the first time I saw it and since I didn't read the blurb again. However, as usual, I am wrong because there are elements of apocalypse, cults, beliefs and the like in this book which intrigued and interested me at the same time.
I found it original being the main character, Mia Price, is a lightning addict and it wasn't always that I encounter books with peculiar addiction.
The apocalypse concept, though overrated, occupied my attention since there is a Prophet who suddenly appeared in their view after a destructive earthquake, that predicted it. And by apocalypse, I mean the Judgement Day through a very strong storm that will trigger a very destructive earthquake and will end them all.
And this Prophet, mind you, has a lot of followers who believed him that he was a really a prophet, a genuine one. Then again, there is other group, the Seekers, who opposed what Prophet said and did.
There is an uneasiness in me while reading the book, a sign that I was engrossed, figuring who I will believe in and who is really on the right side. And which group our main character will choose since both groups really need her being a lightning addict for some sort of hidden agenda.
I was really enthralled even there are minimum traces of sudden love affair which was become an integral part of the story. And even Mia, sometimes, did annoy me and so as Jeremy fucking-full-of-secrets.
I found it original being the main character, Mia Price, is a lightning addict and it wasn't always that I encounter books with peculiar addiction.
The apocalypse concept, though overrated, occupied my attention since there is a Prophet who suddenly appeared in their view after a destructive earthquake, that predicted it. And by apocalypse, I mean the Judgement Day through a very strong storm that will trigger a very destructive earthquake and will end them all.
And this Prophet, mind you, has a lot of followers who believed him that he was a really a prophet, a genuine one. Then again, there is other group, the Seekers, who opposed what Prophet said and did.
There is an uneasiness in me while reading the book, a sign that I was engrossed, figuring who I will believe in and who is really on the right side. And which group our main character will choose since both groups really need her being a lightning addict for some sort of hidden agenda.
I was really enthralled even there are minimum traces of sudden love affair which was become an integral part of the story. And even Mia, sometimes, did annoy me and so as Jeremy fucking-full-of-secrets.
January 7, 2013
I thought this book had a pretty cool concept, and the story had potential. But I didn't really care for it, and I can't really put my finger on why. I really struggled to get through it and had a hard time focusing because it was kind of dull.
And I was left with so many, many questions. I still don't really understand what the REAL significance with the spark is and of those who have or had it. And I don't really understand why Jeremy wanted Mia to stay away from the Seekers . And lot of the book didn't make sense, and I'm left disappointed there wasn't more of an explanation.
Also, I thought everything ended TOO conveniently well. It was too much of a good ending for an end-of-days type of book.
I'm a huge dystopian fan, but I just don't think this book was interesting enough or had the right compenents to be for me.
And I was left with so many, many questions. I still don't really understand what the REAL significance with the spark is and of those who have or had it. And I don't really understand why Jeremy wanted Mia to stay away from the Seekers . And lot of the book didn't make sense, and I'm left disappointed there wasn't more of an explanation.
Also, I thought everything ended TOO conveniently well. It was too much of a good ending for an end-of-days type of book.
I'm a huge dystopian fan, but I just don't think this book was interesting enough or had the right compenents to be for me.
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August 30, 2015
This may not be your book, but it's everyone else's book, so give it a try.
It may not seem like much at the begining but... like it happened to me, it must be true for you too. I felt like i couldn't possibly read the book at first, (maybe it was the motion of the car) who knows. But i just could not. But i had no other book to read, and believe me, there is nothing worse than no book at all. So i kept on reading. Boy, am i glad! Thankfully i've got excuisite taste in books, and gave it a try. Thanks Spark!!
Thankfully I don' live in LA.
It may not seem like much at the begining but... like it happened to me, it must be true for you too. I felt like i couldn't possibly read the book at first, (maybe it was the motion of the car) who knows. But i just could not. But i had no other book to read, and believe me, there is nothing worse than no book at all. So i kept on reading. Boy, am i glad! Thankfully i've got excuisite taste in books, and gave it a try. Thanks Spark!!
Thankfully I don' live in LA.
August 24, 2016
(a similar version of this review can be found here at Into the Hall of Books: )
My initial reaction when I finished this book was WHOA. I sat down on my bed to start Struck and stayed right there until I finished it. Interested initially in the cover, of course, I quickly found that the concept of the story was just something that I had never read before. Jennifer Bosworth gets points for an original, interesting, odd, and fascinating story.
1. The Characters.
**Mia Price. An insanely interesting girl. Struck by lightning countless times and has the scars to prove it. Can sense when storms are coming and is drawn to them in a weird way, like she feels them pulling at her. A loner, Mia spend her time taking care of her family - her brother and her mother.
It would be awful of me not to mention The Prophet, who is basically a radicalreligious man cult leader who dresses in white and surrounds himself with his followers children, who also dress in white and act really strange. He claims to know when the world will end and that if you follow him, you'll find the salvation offered through God. He broadcasts himself on TV three times per day, everyday, preaching his good news to the world. Now folks...in real life, we've heard stories on the news about people like this before. The Prophet was just like those people we have seen on TV. Brilliantly written and completely creepy. This guy was an amazing villain.
2. The Scene. Post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, after a huge earthquake has destroyed the city...which caused riots and looting...which caused militiamen to come out in hordes. Also somehow connected to this storm: droughts and fires in the midwestern US, killing millions of acres of farmland, creating a food shortage everywhere. Off-season hurricanes have swept the Gulf of Mexico-region of the US, killing thousands of people and crippling the fishing industry. There have been raging tornadoes in random states. Because the US is currently fighting wars on multiple fronts, there is not enough of a military presence within the US to assist with these disasters because they are all deployed overseas. As if that weren't enough, famine and pandemic conditions across the world have humanitarian organizations occupied, so the US cannot rely on them.
Oh, yeah, the mayor of LA was killed in the first earthquake along with many others, so the city's organizational structure and emergency plans have failed. As there is no structure to the city, regulation of everything is left up to makeshift neighborhood militia units that have formed. AND...there is an outbreak of Earthquake Fever...which is a nasty little problem people were left with after toxins in the earth were released from underground. It overworks the immune system and causes the body to attack itself, causing crusty sores to break out across the body. Medications for everything, and I mean everything, are being sold only on the black market for unaffordable prices. The whole place has fallen apart.
Basically, the US is in way over its head and there's another storm on the horizon. OH HOW I LOVE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND REMARKABLE WORLD-BUILDING!
3. The Cults. Struck is heavy on religious themes, which is something that will be a problem for some readers. Word of this is making its way around the blogosphere and readers are starting to hear about it and wonder...personally, I am a Believer - firm in my faith - and I was not bothered by the use of religious themes/cults in this book at all. I thought it was written well without being preachy or judgmental, and I never felt convicted in my faith while reading. That being said...
There are two groups that are seeking out Mia to join them: The Followers and The Seekers. Both feel like Mia is necessary to their cause, and both groups will go to fantastic lengths to convince her to join them. Both groups are strange, odd, and creepy. Both have cult-like behavior, at least in my opinion. These groups are C-R-A-Z-Y crazy.
4. Post-apocalyptic/paranormal/science-fiction/fantasy. Yes to all of these! There is basically a little bit of almost everything in here, and it works. I love it when there is a mash-up of genres and it takes us somewhere new and exciting. Friends, if this one isn't exciting, I don't even know what that word means...
5. The Structure. When the story opens, there has already been a devastating storm to destroy the city. But the story progresses in a countdown of-sorts until the bigger storm that has already been predicted by The Prophet. Y'all, as the days are counted down, and as Mia begins to feel the storm coming, the pages turned faster. I think the story actually felt electric. I HAD to find out what was going to happen. I literally could not put the book down. Very interesting story structure and very smartly done, because it certainly hooked me in!
6. The Cover. Very very cool.
I'm not really sure what to make of the very slight romance aspect of Struck. I mean, it is clear that there are romantic feelings between Mia and Jeremy (not a spoiler) but the romance never really felt explored to any degree of major depth. That is certainly okay, but I think that calling this book any type of YA romance would be to take away from the bigger and more explosive parts of the story. The upside is that there is no love triangle, so yay for that, right?!
If I haven't convinced you guys that I really liked Struck, I don't know what else will. I found it a thrilling story and wildly fascinating. My heart pounded from about halfway through until the ending. I think I was even a little bit tired after I finished reading it...
I had no clue what to expect in terms of the ending and WOW - it was just crazy. You guys, this book wraps up so nicely with a pretty bow, all there for you like a standalone should. I mean, it COULD be taken further if the author felt like she wanted to (in my opinion) but as far as I know there are no plans for that. Standalone lovers, this one is for you!
I think this book will appeal to pretty much everyone except those who are opposed to reading books with religious themes or undertones. While the religious themes make it a bit more mature in subject, it is definitely age appropriate in terms of everything else. There are certainly no inappropriate scenes for the younger readers to the best of my recollection.
*I borrowed this book as part of Around The World Book Tours in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. I received no compensation for my review.
"My name is Mia Price, and I am a lightning addict." p. 2, ARC
My initial reaction when I finished this book was WHOA. I sat down on my bed to start Struck and stayed right there until I finished it. Interested initially in the cover, of course, I quickly found that the concept of the story was just something that I had never read before. Jennifer Bosworth gets points for an original, interesting, odd, and fascinating story.
Let me tell you what I thought about Struck:
1. The Characters.
**Mia Price. An insanely interesting girl. Struck by lightning countless times and has the scars to prove it. Can sense when storms are coming and is drawn to them in a weird way, like she feels them pulling at her. A loner, Mia spend her time taking care of her family - her brother and her mother.
**Jeremy. Mia's crush/friend/romantic interest. She notices him lurking around in the beginning and is instantly attracted to him, although she doesn't really know why. Their relationship develops over the course of the book and progresses to a bit of a romance at the end. Jeremy's character is full of mystery and he never stopped surprising me the entire way through the book. A great many of my WHOA moments are scenes involving this guy!
**Secondary cast. Great characterization among the secondary cast and the extras. There is Parker, Mia's brother, who struggles with where his allegiances should lie when the world supposedly ends. There is Mia's Mom who struggles with the mental after-effects of being trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building for an extended amount of time after the first big storm - Mom is unable to cope with reality and therefore can't really function on her own; she relies on Mia and Parker to take care of her. There is Katrina, a Seeker - they believe they will save LA/the world from the Followers and the false teachings of the Prophet. I felt a connection with each of these characters and loved what they added to the story.
It would be awful of me not to mention The Prophet, who is basically a radical
2. The Scene. Post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, after a huge earthquake has destroyed the city...which caused riots and looting...which caused militiamen to come out in hordes. Also somehow connected to this storm: droughts and fires in the midwestern US, killing millions of acres of farmland, creating a food shortage everywhere. Off-season hurricanes have swept the Gulf of Mexico-region of the US, killing thousands of people and crippling the fishing industry. There have been raging tornadoes in random states. Because the US is currently fighting wars on multiple fronts, there is not enough of a military presence within the US to assist with these disasters because they are all deployed overseas. As if that weren't enough, famine and pandemic conditions across the world have humanitarian organizations occupied, so the US cannot rely on them.
Oh, yeah, the mayor of LA was killed in the first earthquake along with many others, so the city's organizational structure and emergency plans have failed. As there is no structure to the city, regulation of everything is left up to makeshift neighborhood militia units that have formed. AND...there is an outbreak of Earthquake Fever...which is a nasty little problem people were left with after toxins in the earth were released from underground. It overworks the immune system and causes the body to attack itself, causing crusty sores to break out across the body. Medications for everything, and I mean everything, are being sold only on the black market for unaffordable prices. The whole place has fallen apart.
Basically, the US is in way over its head and there's another storm on the horizon. OH HOW I LOVE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND REMARKABLE WORLD-BUILDING!
3. The Cults. Struck is heavy on religious themes, which is something that will be a problem for some readers. Word of this is making its way around the blogosphere and readers are starting to hear about it and wonder...personally, I am a Believer - firm in my faith - and I was not bothered by the use of religious themes/cults in this book at all. I thought it was written well without being preachy or judgmental, and I never felt convicted in my faith while reading. That being said...
There are two groups that are seeking out Mia to join them: The Followers and The Seekers. Both feel like Mia is necessary to their cause, and both groups will go to fantastic lengths to convince her to join them. Both groups are strange, odd, and creepy. Both have cult-like behavior, at least in my opinion. These groups are C-R-A-Z-Y crazy.
4. Post-apocalyptic/paranormal/science-fiction/fantasy. Yes to all of these! There is basically a little bit of almost everything in here, and it works. I love it when there is a mash-up of genres and it takes us somewhere new and exciting. Friends, if this one isn't exciting, I don't even know what that word means...
5. The Structure. When the story opens, there has already been a devastating storm to destroy the city. But the story progresses in a countdown of-sorts until the bigger storm that has already been predicted by The Prophet. Y'all, as the days are counted down, and as Mia begins to feel the storm coming, the pages turned faster. I think the story actually felt electric. I HAD to find out what was going to happen. I literally could not put the book down. Very interesting story structure and very smartly done, because it certainly hooked me in!
6. The Cover. Very very cool.
I'm not really sure what to make of the very slight romance aspect of Struck. I mean, it is clear that there are romantic feelings between Mia and Jeremy (not a spoiler) but the romance never really felt explored to any degree of major depth. That is certainly okay, but I think that calling this book any type of YA romance would be to take away from the bigger and more explosive parts of the story. The upside is that there is no love triangle, so yay for that, right?!
If I haven't convinced you guys that I really liked Struck, I don't know what else will. I found it a thrilling story and wildly fascinating. My heart pounded from about halfway through until the ending. I think I was even a little bit tired after I finished reading it...
I had no clue what to expect in terms of the ending and WOW - it was just crazy. You guys, this book wraps up so nicely with a pretty bow, all there for you like a standalone should. I mean, it COULD be taken further if the author felt like she wanted to (in my opinion) but as far as I know there are no plans for that. Standalone lovers, this one is for you!
I think this book will appeal to pretty much everyone except those who are opposed to reading books with religious themes or undertones. While the religious themes make it a bit more mature in subject, it is definitely age appropriate in terms of everything else. There are certainly no inappropriate scenes for the younger readers to the best of my recollection.
Struck will appeal to fans of:
Post-apocalyptic genre
Amazing world-building
Strong characterization (including awesome secondary characters!)
Action-driven stories
No love triangle
Standalones!
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth will be released on May 8, 2012.
*I borrowed this book as part of Around The World Book Tours in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. I received no compensation for my review.
July 2, 2012
4 stars
I'm still going with my initial analysis: Mia Price, you a bad bitch.
I am relieved to have come across Mia Price. There need to be more Mia Price's in the world of YA. What I liked most about her was that her pessimistic, sarcastic personality was constant through the entire book, she didn't change for the love interest and that was refreshing.
In the face of imminent death (and she basically knew from word "go" she was a goner) she never shrivled into a sobbing wad of typical YA dribble, she took that bull by horns and rocked its damn world! I loved it!
Mia Price is my daughters. Strong. Responsible. Confident. A Fighter. Allow me to say it again: Mia Price is a bad bitch.
I loved that although she took a liking to the hot kid it did not override all rational reasoning. As stated in my update, when she put together that Jeremy was Nightmare Boy she fled. She did not allow his dark hair, troubled blue eyes or even those dead sexy Clark Kent shades send her running back into his arms while ditching all sense of self-peservation. When she decided to trust him she never forgot.
For that, I am proud of you Ms. Bosworth.
The storyline itself was not what I expected. It was really quite interesting. You can definitely color me intrigued.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
I'm still going with my initial analysis: Mia Price, you a bad bitch.
I am relieved to have come across Mia Price. There need to be more Mia Price's in the world of YA. What I liked most about her was that her pessimistic, sarcastic personality was constant through the entire book, she didn't change for the love interest and that was refreshing.
In the face of imminent death (and she basically knew from word "go" she was a goner) she never shrivled into a sobbing wad of typical YA dribble, she took that bull by horns and rocked its damn world! I loved it!
Mia Price is my daughters. Strong. Responsible. Confident. A Fighter. Allow me to say it again: Mia Price is a bad bitch.
I loved that although she took a liking to the hot kid it did not override all rational reasoning. As stated in my update, when she put together that Jeremy was Nightmare Boy she fled. She did not allow his dark hair, troubled blue eyes or even those dead sexy Clark Kent shades send her running back into his arms while ditching all sense of self-peservation. When she decided to trust him she never forgot.
For that, I am proud of you Ms. Bosworth.
The storyline itself was not what I expected. It was really quite interesting. You can definitely color me intrigued.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Read
August 10, 2012I'm fascinated, but freaked-out by cult stuff. So, naturally I was fascinated and freaked-out while reading STRUCK. But on top of that it has a very cool and unique sic-fi element that puts it over the top. Jay Asher's blurb calls this "Cinematic" and he's right. I could definitely see this as a movie. Lots of action and vivid characters. A fun read!
February 14, 2023
I liked this book, I really wanted to love it though. The premise is so bizarre I was instantly pulled in, and yet there's so much here that is hardly explained, not explored, or just plain nonsensical.
For starters, all of LA is destroyed in an earthquake and all the kids still have to go to school. What?
I do love that it's not a series though. It's a standalone with an optional prequel.
For starters, all of LA is destroyed in an earthquake and all the kids still have to go to school. What?
I do love that it's not a series though. It's a standalone with an optional prequel.
Read
April 29, 2020What a creepy villain! This guy really gave me the heebie-jeebies. I really wasn't sure what group to root for. They all had their own agenda. I think I would have struck out on my own. It would have been hard to trust anyone, I think. This was a fun read.
March 8, 2015
This book just did not ever click with me in a positive way. I guess I'll just write a list of things that bugged me. It will be good to vent about it before I have to write an official, less annoyed review.
1. The writing. Sometimes, good writing can push a mediocre book over the edge to a five star review for me. If the writing is un-noticeable, I am not mad that it isn't better written. THIS book -- I was reading the plethora of cliche, boring similes out loud to my co-workers in the break room so we could laugh at them. Sigh. Once I noticed them, I couldn't stop.
2. The pacing. This book basically takes place over the course of three days. This means that (since it was nearly 400 pages long) EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF EVERY SINGLE MOMENT is described. In detail. And with similes. I think that maybe if the book had been half as long, with the same events, I might have actually enjoyed it.
3. The characters. SO BORING. I never once cared about (what was her name? Oh man, I finished this book yesterday and I can't remember the main character's name. I think that's all I need to say).
4. The subject matter. I like post-apocalyptic dystopian worlds. I like creepy cults. I like thinking about big ideas like religion and fate and love. It is a testament to this book's awful-ness that this book had ALL THOSE THINGS and I still just...viscerally didn't like it. I can't even describe why. I was just...bored.
5. The love story. I am sorry, but a love that grows out of a dude sneaking into a girl's house and brandishing a knife at her is just destined to be messed up. And thought this might be the rare teen dystopian novel that doesn't need a love story, and Jennifer just suddenly sunk herself into the trap of love story. THIS BOOK DIDN'T EVEN NEED A LOVE STORY. Much less a love story between a girl with lightning rage and a potentially murderous psychopath.
OK I should stop. I think there are some teens who will like this book, but I hope that they are reading similar, better books too.
1. The writing. Sometimes, good writing can push a mediocre book over the edge to a five star review for me. If the writing is un-noticeable, I am not mad that it isn't better written. THIS book -- I was reading the plethora of cliche, boring similes out loud to my co-workers in the break room so we could laugh at them. Sigh. Once I noticed them, I couldn't stop.
2. The pacing. This book basically takes place over the course of three days. This means that (since it was nearly 400 pages long) EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF EVERY SINGLE MOMENT is described. In detail. And with similes. I think that maybe if the book had been half as long, with the same events, I might have actually enjoyed it.
3. The characters. SO BORING. I never once cared about (what was her name? Oh man, I finished this book yesterday and I can't remember the main character's name. I think that's all I need to say).
4. The subject matter. I like post-apocalyptic dystopian worlds. I like creepy cults. I like thinking about big ideas like religion and fate and love. It is a testament to this book's awful-ness that this book had ALL THOSE THINGS and I still just...viscerally didn't like it. I can't even describe why. I was just...bored.
5. The love story. I am sorry, but a love that grows out of a dude sneaking into a girl's house and brandishing a knife at her is just destined to be messed up. And thought this might be the rare teen dystopian novel that doesn't need a love story, and Jennifer just suddenly sunk herself into the trap of love story. THIS BOOK DIDN'T EVEN NEED A LOVE STORY. Much less a love story between a girl with lightning rage and a potentially murderous psychopath.
OK I should stop. I think there are some teens who will like this book, but I hope that they are reading similar, better books too.
October 24, 2011
Toe-curling, adrenaline-pumping, non-stop action. Bosworth has created a novel that will indeed make you ache to be STRUCK
August 6, 2021
I actually enjoyed this one!
May 3, 2012
Review originally posted at
Post Apocalyptic YA certainly seems to be becoming more and more popular and Struck definitely sounded a little bit different, with a synopsis that promised a lightning-addicted protagonist and two religious cults fighting for power, following an earthquake that devastates L.A.
Though nothing about the writing really captured me, Struck is easy-going. It also has, as I’ve mentioned, quite an intriguing concept, so it was a shame that nothing about the actual story stood out for me. It’s a predictable, rather formulaic YA, that had the potential to explore some exciting scenarios, and then� didn’t.
The main problem is the poor character development. Mia is likable enough, but aside from her strange, unexplained, addiction to lightning and her resolve to keep her family safe in a run-down, starving and desperate society, we don’t really know her. All the characters suffer from a lack of personality, but this particularly stands out in Jeremy, a character who, supposedly, comes to mean everything to Mia. He is your standard attractive, slightly mysterious, boy, who knows more than he’s telling. Other than following her around and warning Mia that she’s in danger, there’s very little else his character does. The lack of chemistry between Mia and Jeremy made me feel that any romance was included simply because it was expected. Just once it might be nice in these types of stories for the hero and heroine not to become romantically involved. Bosworth never succeeds in making her characters feel like real people and as such, we have two, potentially very complex, very dangerous, cult leaders, whose motivations, I felt, were never properly understood or explored.
I was particularly excited to read more about Mia’s unusual addiction to lightning. Her entire body (apart from her face), is covered in red lightning veins. She suffers from insomnia, has lost all her hair, has unintentionally hurt people, all because her body attracts, or conducts, lightning. This is the unique selling point of the book and I was disappointed that rather than focusing on this, so much of the novel zeros in on religion instead. Why is Mia drawn to storms? Why is she a magnet for lightening? How does she survive being struck multiple times, despite admitting herself it has killed her more than once? Why is there a (seemingly) general increase in violent weather? None of these questions are answered.
I feel I should warn readers that Struck is quite heavy on the religion, which will put off some people. Mia finds herself trapped between two very different, though equally dangerous, cults, who want to use her power for their own purposes. The Seekers hope to prevent the end of the world, prophesied to take place in three days time, but their motives are questionable. A man who calls himself the Prophet claims to hear the word of God. He and his Followers believe and preach that the coming apocalypse is God’s judgment to cleanse the world of sinners. Bosworth presents some interesting ideas concerning religious cults, but without the strong characters to back it up, Struck was too much of a lightweight novel to examine the questions it raises. If fire and brimstone isn’t really your thing, I would stay clear from this one.
Despite a promising concept, Struck turned out to be a sadly average read. I found it a little lackluster, the plot is fairly easy to figure out and the ending all too neatly wrapped up. Struck was also a bit too religion-heavy for me, as I suspect it will be for a lot of readers. Little things like the random reference to London Bridge having been taken apart by an enthusiast and plonked down in Lake Havasu City at some point (why? Does London no longer exist?), to Mia not remembering significant details from only a few pages previously, bugged me. Saying that, I do think Struck is very readable and easy enough to get into. Those who love the latest YA dystopians may well enjoy this too.
Post Apocalyptic YA certainly seems to be becoming more and more popular and Struck definitely sounded a little bit different, with a synopsis that promised a lightning-addicted protagonist and two religious cults fighting for power, following an earthquake that devastates L.A.
Though nothing about the writing really captured me, Struck is easy-going. It also has, as I’ve mentioned, quite an intriguing concept, so it was a shame that nothing about the actual story stood out for me. It’s a predictable, rather formulaic YA, that had the potential to explore some exciting scenarios, and then� didn’t.
The main problem is the poor character development. Mia is likable enough, but aside from her strange, unexplained, addiction to lightning and her resolve to keep her family safe in a run-down, starving and desperate society, we don’t really know her. All the characters suffer from a lack of personality, but this particularly stands out in Jeremy, a character who, supposedly, comes to mean everything to Mia. He is your standard attractive, slightly mysterious, boy, who knows more than he’s telling. Other than following her around and warning Mia that she’s in danger, there’s very little else his character does. The lack of chemistry between Mia and Jeremy made me feel that any romance was included simply because it was expected. Just once it might be nice in these types of stories for the hero and heroine not to become romantically involved. Bosworth never succeeds in making her characters feel like real people and as such, we have two, potentially very complex, very dangerous, cult leaders, whose motivations, I felt, were never properly understood or explored.
I was particularly excited to read more about Mia’s unusual addiction to lightning. Her entire body (apart from her face), is covered in red lightning veins. She suffers from insomnia, has lost all her hair, has unintentionally hurt people, all because her body attracts, or conducts, lightning. This is the unique selling point of the book and I was disappointed that rather than focusing on this, so much of the novel zeros in on religion instead. Why is Mia drawn to storms? Why is she a magnet for lightening? How does she survive being struck multiple times, despite admitting herself it has killed her more than once? Why is there a (seemingly) general increase in violent weather? None of these questions are answered.
I feel I should warn readers that Struck is quite heavy on the religion, which will put off some people. Mia finds herself trapped between two very different, though equally dangerous, cults, who want to use her power for their own purposes. The Seekers hope to prevent the end of the world, prophesied to take place in three days time, but their motives are questionable. A man who calls himself the Prophet claims to hear the word of God. He and his Followers believe and preach that the coming apocalypse is God’s judgment to cleanse the world of sinners. Bosworth presents some interesting ideas concerning religious cults, but without the strong characters to back it up, Struck was too much of a lightweight novel to examine the questions it raises. If fire and brimstone isn’t really your thing, I would stay clear from this one.
Despite a promising concept, Struck turned out to be a sadly average read. I found it a little lackluster, the plot is fairly easy to figure out and the ending all too neatly wrapped up. Struck was also a bit too religion-heavy for me, as I suspect it will be for a lot of readers. Little things like the random reference to London Bridge having been taken apart by an enthusiast and plonked down in Lake Havasu City at some point (why? Does London no longer exist?), to Mia not remembering significant details from only a few pages previously, bugged me. Saying that, I do think Struck is very readable and easy enough to get into. Those who love the latest YA dystopians may well enjoy this too.
December 4, 2013
Struck wasn't what I expected. Something about that blurb just made me think that this novel was going to head in a different direction than it actually did. While this did bother me somewhat at first, I quickly got over it. Despite my misconceptions, Struck turned out to be a fantastic novel with fast-paced action, a fantastic main character, great writing and a completely engrossing plot that made me desperate for more.
Mia has been struck by lightening hundreds of times in her life -and shes' still alive. In fact, she seems to attract the lightening. Once in Los Angeles, Mia hopes that she's safe from the lightening, only to find that a devastating earthquake devastates the city, and everything is plunged into chaos of end-of-the-world proportions. The city is overrun by strange cults, and isn't not long until Mia finds herself drawn into the strange web of religion, romance, betrayal and the end of the world.
I was most surprised at author Jennifer Bosworth's heavy use of religion in the novel. While I was a little concerned about where it might be going, Bosworth handles the topic brilliantly, and uses it as an effective device to create a fascinating, tight plot with interesting comments about how humanity acts in the face of oblivion. The use of religion and prophets might make some people uncomfortable, but I thought it was intelligently executed without becoming an attack on religion.
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Bosworth's writing style: crisp, clean and strong as well as emotional and descriptive. Not only that, but she does an excellent job of balancing emotion with character development, plot and description to create a unified and well-woven novel that's got all the right elements. And Bosworth doesn't let the reader down -Struck offers endless twists and an action-packed ending of epic awesome that's beyond satisfying.
It's been a long time since I've read a book that was the complete package, and Struck has it all. More intelligent and powerful than the average YA novel, Struck is an electrifying debut that hits all the right buttons.
Mia has been struck by lightening hundreds of times in her life -and shes' still alive. In fact, she seems to attract the lightening. Once in Los Angeles, Mia hopes that she's safe from the lightening, only to find that a devastating earthquake devastates the city, and everything is plunged into chaos of end-of-the-world proportions. The city is overrun by strange cults, and isn't not long until Mia finds herself drawn into the strange web of religion, romance, betrayal and the end of the world.
I was most surprised at author Jennifer Bosworth's heavy use of religion in the novel. While I was a little concerned about where it might be going, Bosworth handles the topic brilliantly, and uses it as an effective device to create a fascinating, tight plot with interesting comments about how humanity acts in the face of oblivion. The use of religion and prophets might make some people uncomfortable, but I thought it was intelligently executed without becoming an attack on religion.
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Bosworth's writing style: crisp, clean and strong as well as emotional and descriptive. Not only that, but she does an excellent job of balancing emotion with character development, plot and description to create a unified and well-woven novel that's got all the right elements. And Bosworth doesn't let the reader down -Struck offers endless twists and an action-packed ending of epic awesome that's beyond satisfying.
It's been a long time since I've read a book that was the complete package, and Struck has it all. More intelligent and powerful than the average YA novel, Struck is an electrifying debut that hits all the right buttons.
December 4, 2013
MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
If you grew up in LA like I did, you fear earthquakes, well, not so much fear them as accept them as a fact of life. You know one is going to hit sometime, you just don't know when. Lightening strikes are much less of a concern since near the beach, the storms are at a minimum. Mia and her family are forced to move from Lake Havasu to Venice Beach when she creates a stir by harming a man during a lightening strike. Her biggest issue is that she craves the strikes like a drug addict and has been struck so many times that her skin is marred to the point she is covered at all times, ashamed to let anyone see. So when the big one hits Los Angeles and unleashes lightening that creates unbelievable energy to the point where no one is sure which happened first, the lightening or the earthquake.
Read the rest of my review here:
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
If you grew up in LA like I did, you fear earthquakes, well, not so much fear them as accept them as a fact of life. You know one is going to hit sometime, you just don't know when. Lightening strikes are much less of a concern since near the beach, the storms are at a minimum. Mia and her family are forced to move from Lake Havasu to Venice Beach when she creates a stir by harming a man during a lightening strike. Her biggest issue is that she craves the strikes like a drug addict and has been struck so many times that her skin is marred to the point she is covered at all times, ashamed to let anyone see. So when the big one hits Los Angeles and unleashes lightening that creates unbelievable energy to the point where no one is sure which happened first, the lightening or the earthquake.
Read the rest of my review here:
August 26, 2016
4.5 en realidad.
Menuda novela tan trepidante. En la línea de Divergente en la que no paran de ocurrir cosas, sin duda. Te mantiene en vilo desde el principio y el final no decepciona. La protagonista es increíble y se tratan temas de un modo más 'suelto' de lo habitual, como el sexo o la violencia. Con el tono irónico de Mia se hace una crítica a la fe de las personas y a las religiones y sectas. Muy buena lectura de la que no te puedes despegar.
Menuda novela tan trepidante. En la línea de Divergente en la que no paran de ocurrir cosas, sin duda. Te mantiene en vilo desde el principio y el final no decepciona. La protagonista es increíble y se tratan temas de un modo más 'suelto' de lo habitual, como el sexo o la violencia. Con el tono irónico de Mia se hace una crítica a la fe de las personas y a las religiones y sectas. Muy buena lectura de la que no te puedes despegar.
April 17, 2017
Read review .
Letter to my Future Self:
Dear Patricia,
you seldomly like Young Adult novels because the protagonists are boring and annoying. This is why I loved Struck. The heroine was so not annoying or boring. She was brilliant, and she made the novel shine.
I am not sure about the rating. It wasn't the plot or romance that I loved so much after all, even though both weren't bad or anything like that, but the protagonist. It was that the first few pages made me absolutely excited about the rest of the book:
Mia is introduced and we get to know that her mother has many issues, that the world is messed up, and that Mia feels very responsible. But she is realistic, and not annoyingly so. She isn't brave because that's her personality. She is, because she has to be. She isn't too stupid to live, but able to pick her fights, and that makes her perfect.
Next to that comes the worldbuilding. When I tried to tag this book with the genre, I didn't really know what to do. Is it post apocalyptic? Maybe. I would have liked to know how everything that's happened affected the rest of the world, but it's possible that it has been said and I simply missed it in my reading-mania.
The romance was nice. Ithink there will be some people who focus on the fact that the love interest had some not so cool plans in the beginning, but as far as I’m concerned it makes him anicer character. Plus, there well probably be much more people who will love the fact that he already knew Mia. He was complex enough, but didn't get enough pages to show off as much as I would have liked him to show off. *grin*
I also didn't really care about the actual plotline. I mean, I cared lots about what happened to Mia and her brother, but only because I loved them as characters. It was as if the narrating and writing style made up for the fact that I wasn't too engaged with the real plot. (Thinking about it.. The whole novel felt "short". Fast-paced, yeah, but also just really short.)
Future Self, whatI’m trying to say is that Ididn’t expect to love this novel as much as Idid. I want you to buy this copy as soon as you're not broke as I am right now anymore and put Bosworth on your watch out list!
Sincerely,
Patricia
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
First Thoughts:
Letter to my Future Self:
Dear Patricia,
you seldomly like Young Adult novels because the protagonists are boring and annoying. This is why I loved Struck. The heroine was so not annoying or boring. She was brilliant, and she made the novel shine.
I am not sure about the rating. It wasn't the plot or romance that I loved so much after all, even though both weren't bad or anything like that, but the protagonist. It was that the first few pages made me absolutely excited about the rest of the book:
When he was gone, Iwent to Mom. Iwanted to hug her, too, even though Iknew she would be as rigid and unresponsive as atwist of wood. But more than that, Iwanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her and demand she come back to us. We needed her.
I should have been the glue holding us together, but apparently Iwasn’t sticky enough.
Mia is introduced and we get to know that her mother has many issues, that the world is messed up, and that Mia feels very responsible. But she is realistic, and not annoyingly so. She isn't brave because that's her personality. She is, because she has to be. She isn't too stupid to live, but able to pick her fights, and that makes her perfect.
A group of boys with mean, feral eyes and dirty skin and clothes sorrounded amuch smaller, weaker-looking kid. Oneo fthe feral boys bent the smaller kid’s arm behind his back, and another jabbed afist into his kidney. The kid cried outagain. [..]
The feral boys released the kid and shoved him away. He staggered and grabbed the flagpoke to stabilize himself. Tears leaked from his eyes and he wiped at them angrily with his sleeve.
Parker [her younger brother]‘s paralysis broke, and he started toward the attackers. Igrabbed himback.
“No,� Itold him firmly.
Parker’s eyes were livid. “They can’t get away withit.�
“They already did.� [..]
Parker wrenched away from me, and for asecond Ithought he would go after the pack. But he had acted too late. They were already gone.
My brother rounded on me. “I could have done something.�
“You could have gotten your ass kicked.�
“Better than standing here watching!� His voice was rising, so Iforced myself to sound calm even though Ifelt like Iwas boiling on the inside.
“What do you think would happen if you came home from school battered and bruised? Mom would go into free fall. Think about it, Parker. Think abouther.�
Parker glared at me. “Mom’s not the only one in the world who needshelp.�
Next to that comes the worldbuilding. When I tried to tag this book with the genre, I didn't really know what to do. Is it post apocalyptic? Maybe. I would have liked to know how everything that's happened affected the rest of the world, but it's possible that it has been said and I simply missed it in my reading-mania.
The romance was nice. Ithink there will be some people who focus on the fact that the love interest had some not so cool plans in the beginning, but as far as I’m concerned it makes him anicer character. Plus, there well probably be much more people who will love the fact that he already knew Mia. He was complex enough, but didn't get enough pages to show off as much as I would have liked him to show off. *grin*
I also didn't really care about the actual plotline. I mean, I cared lots about what happened to Mia and her brother, but only because I loved them as characters. It was as if the narrating and writing style made up for the fact that I wasn't too engaged with the real plot. (Thinking about it.. The whole novel felt "short". Fast-paced, yeah, but also just really short.)
Future Self, whatI’m trying to say is that Ididn’t expect to love this novel as much as Idid. I want you to buy this copy as soon as you're not broke as I am right now anymore and put Bosworth on your watch out list!
Sincerely,
Patricia
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
First Thoughts:
December 16, 2014
I received a free digital copy through Net Galley.
I was completely amazed by and in love with Struck from page one! I was first intrigued by Mia and her self-proclaimed addiction to being struck by lightning. That's crazy, but I had to know more about her! Then the setting completely captivated me. It's Los Angeles 4 weeks after the next major earthquake. The city is in ruin, there's looting, tons of homeless people, not enough food, water or medicine to go around. But most interesting of all is the emergence of an extreme religious group led by Rance Ridley Prophet. He apparently predicted the earthquake, which left so many dead and injured, right down to the minute, so his following has grown exponentially! It's amazing what people will believe and cling to in desperate times! As a Californian who knows all about the impending "Big One," I couldn't help but be drawn into this possible future.
There are so many things about this book that I loved! The setting, which I've already mentioned, was perfect! It's horrible, but that's what happens after a natural disaster. It makes me nervous for when that earthquake actually hits. Mia's home life was directly effected by the quake, because she must now take care of her mother who is struggling mentally after being trapped beneath a collapsed building for three days. Their relationship is strained, and it was really sad watching how things developed between them throughout the book.
Rance Ridley Prophet, or Prophet as he's called, was a super interesting, and disturbing character. He's somehow managed to get hundreds of Followers, who believe he is a conduit for the word of God. But I suppose, it would be hard to deny someone who can predict a devastating earthquake and heal those who were injured. I had a theory about him, which is probably obvious, but I was happy to learn I was right. I wanted to know more about what had happened to him and what he was up to by collecting Followers.
In opposition to Prophet and his Followers are the Seekers, another kind of cult. They want Mia to join them, because she has "the Spark." This is where the supernatural elements really come in. I loved the idea of the prophecy, even though I wasn't 100% clear what it was all about. Lightning plays a pivotal role in their beliefs, but are they trustworthy? Or are they just trying to take advantage of Mia? According to Jeremy, she should stay far away. Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. There's always gushing over the love interest in YA romances, but in most cases I haven't seen the appeal. They just haven't been my type until Jeremy. He wears Clark Kent glasses. That's ALL I needed to know. Seriously. That's how you draw me into a guy; slap some nerdy glasses on him. BUT he was also completely intriguing if also completely evasive and frustrating, until we really get to know him.
I can go on and on about what I loved about this book from the ruined LA, to the possible true prophet, to human lightning rods and apocalyptic prophesies, to roving parties and supernatural abilities. Struck really has it all! This was a fantastically unique debut novel and I can't wait for more from this author! I was never bored for a moment of this. It moves fairly fast, since it covers a span of only 4 days. A lot can happen in 4 days. I am a little bummed that this a series; I thought the ending was absolutely perfect.
As much as I loved this book, I still had some nagging questions: Where did Mia get the $10 for the fortune teller if all of her cash was burned up? How are people getting gas if trucks can't make it into the city? What is Mia's family's real last name? Did the earthquake damage extend to Anaheim and is Disneyland still operable?
Read more of my reviews at .
I was completely amazed by and in love with Struck from page one! I was first intrigued by Mia and her self-proclaimed addiction to being struck by lightning. That's crazy, but I had to know more about her! Then the setting completely captivated me. It's Los Angeles 4 weeks after the next major earthquake. The city is in ruin, there's looting, tons of homeless people, not enough food, water or medicine to go around. But most interesting of all is the emergence of an extreme religious group led by Rance Ridley Prophet. He apparently predicted the earthquake, which left so many dead and injured, right down to the minute, so his following has grown exponentially! It's amazing what people will believe and cling to in desperate times! As a Californian who knows all about the impending "Big One," I couldn't help but be drawn into this possible future.
There are so many things about this book that I loved! The setting, which I've already mentioned, was perfect! It's horrible, but that's what happens after a natural disaster. It makes me nervous for when that earthquake actually hits. Mia's home life was directly effected by the quake, because she must now take care of her mother who is struggling mentally after being trapped beneath a collapsed building for three days. Their relationship is strained, and it was really sad watching how things developed between them throughout the book.
Rance Ridley Prophet, or Prophet as he's called, was a super interesting, and disturbing character. He's somehow managed to get hundreds of Followers, who believe he is a conduit for the word of God. But I suppose, it would be hard to deny someone who can predict a devastating earthquake and heal those who were injured. I had a theory about him, which is probably obvious, but I was happy to learn I was right. I wanted to know more about what had happened to him and what he was up to by collecting Followers.
In opposition to Prophet and his Followers are the Seekers, another kind of cult. They want Mia to join them, because she has "the Spark." This is where the supernatural elements really come in. I loved the idea of the prophecy, even though I wasn't 100% clear what it was all about. Lightning plays a pivotal role in their beliefs, but are they trustworthy? Or are they just trying to take advantage of Mia? According to Jeremy, she should stay far away. Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. There's always gushing over the love interest in YA romances, but in most cases I haven't seen the appeal. They just haven't been my type until Jeremy. He wears Clark Kent glasses. That's ALL I needed to know. Seriously. That's how you draw me into a guy; slap some nerdy glasses on him. BUT he was also completely intriguing if also completely evasive and frustrating, until we really get to know him.
I can go on and on about what I loved about this book from the ruined LA, to the possible true prophet, to human lightning rods and apocalyptic prophesies, to roving parties and supernatural abilities. Struck really has it all! This was a fantastically unique debut novel and I can't wait for more from this author! I was never bored for a moment of this. It moves fairly fast, since it covers a span of only 4 days. A lot can happen in 4 days. I am a little bummed that this a series; I thought the ending was absolutely perfect.
As much as I loved this book, I still had some nagging questions: Where did Mia get the $10 for the fortune teller if all of her cash was burned up? How are people getting gas if trucks can't make it into the city? What is Mia's family's real last name? Did the earthquake damage extend to Anaheim and is Disneyland still operable?
Read more of my reviews at .
May 3, 2012
Stuck is an intriguingly unique tale, focusing on a post-disaster Los Angeles as people with dark aspirations of power take advantage of chaos and vulnerability and use them as the stepping stones in their ascension to greatness. Based on that premise alone we’re immediately ready to throw our weight behind anyone who opposes the man who proclaims himself the voice of God, and luckily for us, we’re given a heroine who’s beyond strong on levels both human and superhuman and who stands her ground in a way we’d like to think we’d be capable of were we in her shoes. Ms. Bosworth does a beautiful job of combining the horrors humanity is capable of inflicting on itself with the damage both natural and supernatural are able to wreak on the physical landscape, allowing the world to feel real and tangible despite the addition of some rather fascinating individual abilities.
As mentioned above Mia is a young woman who exudes strength and competency, seeming utterly in control of herself despite her tumultuous family life and the absolute unpredictability of the gifts bestowed upon her through multiple lightning strikes. She adores her mother and brother and would do anything for them, including putting herself repeatedly at risk to ensure their safety while asking nothing in return, all the while standing tall against an onslaught of conflicting fanatical groups who wish to use her to their own questionable ends. When control slips from her grasp she neither flounders nor sits idly by tormenting herself with questions of why and what-if, instead she takes comfort in action (most of the time to her detriment), constantly seeking to spare those she loves pain by bearing the burden or taking the hit herself.
Mia’s romantic relationship with Jeremy, while plagued by the spark of an electric current when they touch skin to skin–a fairly common physical precursor to the dreaded instant and all-consuming love–proceeds to move forward at the perfect pace. The electric current in this case makes sense given Mia’s power, and the level head she uses when she acts in defense of her family blissfully extends to her reactions to Jeremy. She’s attracted to him without being so overwhelmed by her feelings that she finds herself inexplicably in his thrall, and they have both sustained just enough damage mentally and emotionally in the past to mold them into oddly-shaped pieces that seem to fit with nothing and no one save one another, forming a perfectly imperfect connection that keeps things interesting.
The only wish some readers might have for this story is more of a history on the Seekers, a motley group not without their share of supernatural talents who vehemently oppose the teachings of the False Prophet. We’re not sure if they’re a group we can trust or if they are simply the lesser of two evils in a city overrun with those positively ravenous for power, and while that adds to our anxiety in a good way while reading, by the time we reach the end we can’t help but want a few more chapters to help us know them better. Overall, Struck is a fresh story with a solid group of characters, and Ms. Bosworth is an author who has more than caught my attention.
Rating: 4/5
As mentioned above Mia is a young woman who exudes strength and competency, seeming utterly in control of herself despite her tumultuous family life and the absolute unpredictability of the gifts bestowed upon her through multiple lightning strikes. She adores her mother and brother and would do anything for them, including putting herself repeatedly at risk to ensure their safety while asking nothing in return, all the while standing tall against an onslaught of conflicting fanatical groups who wish to use her to their own questionable ends. When control slips from her grasp she neither flounders nor sits idly by tormenting herself with questions of why and what-if, instead she takes comfort in action (most of the time to her detriment), constantly seeking to spare those she loves pain by bearing the burden or taking the hit herself.
Mia’s romantic relationship with Jeremy, while plagued by the spark of an electric current when they touch skin to skin–a fairly common physical precursor to the dreaded instant and all-consuming love–proceeds to move forward at the perfect pace. The electric current in this case makes sense given Mia’s power, and the level head she uses when she acts in defense of her family blissfully extends to her reactions to Jeremy. She’s attracted to him without being so overwhelmed by her feelings that she finds herself inexplicably in his thrall, and they have both sustained just enough damage mentally and emotionally in the past to mold them into oddly-shaped pieces that seem to fit with nothing and no one save one another, forming a perfectly imperfect connection that keeps things interesting.
The only wish some readers might have for this story is more of a history on the Seekers, a motley group not without their share of supernatural talents who vehemently oppose the teachings of the False Prophet. We’re not sure if they’re a group we can trust or if they are simply the lesser of two evils in a city overrun with those positively ravenous for power, and while that adds to our anxiety in a good way while reading, by the time we reach the end we can’t help but want a few more chapters to help us know them better. Overall, Struck is a fresh story with a solid group of characters, and Ms. Bosworth is an author who has more than caught my attention.
Rating: 4/5
April 26, 2012
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.
July 2, 2012
Well this was something new. I loved the twist on a post apocalyptic world because technically its only L.A that is experiencing the kind of dramatic life changing event that starts off the novel. Mia Price has been struck by lighting…multiple times. And its changed her in many ways. Without giving away too much I will tell you that Mia has emotions and energy rumbling around inside of her that she isn’t always able to control. And when she finally realizes that her and her brother need to go back to school to get daily rations (with their mother being completely out of control) things change. People want her on their side, and one boy wants her away from all of it. But everyone hides secrets, and Mia is hiding some she doesn’t even know she has.
Good:
Mia: a cool chick who doesn’t really know how to handle her life but refuses to stop trying. All she wants is normal.
Jeremy: They had me at Clark Kent glasses. Anyone that they describe as filling the mould of Clark Kent (with Dark hair and blue eyes behind those wonderfully famous glasses) has me shaking at my knees. What can I say…I love the farm boy turned superhero and Jeremy even hold some Clark Kent traits. Yummy.
Bad:
There was a lot to take in for such a smaller book. I felt like there was a lot of ‘initiation� and other things. I’m not sure how it could improve, but I just know that it felt like there was a lot more behind everything and I felt like I was missing out on some stuff.
Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):
Overall I didn’t have an issue with the writing. The style flowed, although there wasn’t much humour, but I guess if something like that really happened then you probably wouldn’t be laughing either. There was the feeling that this should have been a trilogy or something, again just because it felt like I was missing out. Otherwise I liked the new take on dystopian society, occult, and in general just the whole lightning thing was awesome.
View more of my review and others at my blog:
Good:
Mia: a cool chick who doesn’t really know how to handle her life but refuses to stop trying. All she wants is normal.
Jeremy: They had me at Clark Kent glasses. Anyone that they describe as filling the mould of Clark Kent (with Dark hair and blue eyes behind those wonderfully famous glasses) has me shaking at my knees. What can I say…I love the farm boy turned superhero and Jeremy even hold some Clark Kent traits. Yummy.
Bad:
There was a lot to take in for such a smaller book. I felt like there was a lot of ‘initiation� and other things. I’m not sure how it could improve, but I just know that it felt like there was a lot more behind everything and I felt like I was missing out on some stuff.
Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):
Overall I didn’t have an issue with the writing. The style flowed, although there wasn’t much humour, but I guess if something like that really happened then you probably wouldn’t be laughing either. There was the feeling that this should have been a trilogy or something, again just because it felt like I was missing out. Otherwise I liked the new take on dystopian society, occult, and in general just the whole lightning thing was awesome.
View more of my review and others at my blog:
May 1, 2012
A spectacular book!!! Loved the characters, the plot, the not-your-typical romance, and the ending. When I started STRUCK, I was looking for something different....and I got it. Though this is Bosworth's debut book, it reads like she's been doing this for decades. Give this one a try; you won't be disappointed!
PS - I have to give a shout out in regards to the tarot cards. Such a cool inclusion. Also, feel like I need to run out and buy a deck immediately. :)
PS - I have to give a shout out in regards to the tarot cards. Such a cool inclusion. Also, feel like I need to run out and buy a deck immediately. :)
July 25, 2015
The opening of this book was a mixture of religious fanatics chanting hell and damnation everywhere, something I really don't enjoy in books, and a bunch of stroppy immature kids being forced to go to school in the middle of some kind of apocalypse. It wasn't a great start and I struggled to connect with the characters or care what happened to them. I just struggled with this from page one and gave up a few chapters in.
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