Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (Young Adult)


May 2012, Doubleday
384 Pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: dystopian, fanatacism, end of the world preachers, devastation of nature, living on rations, staying at school, deception, muddled choices, family come first, mysterious power, uncertainty, rebels, finding out who you are, grief, spiritualism, moderate teen romance, some violence, lots of action & edge of seat moments


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.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Initially I was a bit unsure how much I loved it. That feeling cropped up a few more times throughout the novel purely because dystopians are genres I try to avoid at the moment. But what kept me from putting the book down for good was the reason I opted to read it: Mia's power.

I'm not fond of thunderstorms. I never forget when I was little and had guinea pigs, as a storm was brewing I hurried out to bring them in from their run on the lawn, crouched down as low was possible, terrified I was going to get hit. I think if I'd been Mia when she's knowledgable about her power, I'dhave put the guinea pigs away, stood up straight up and welcomed in the storm.

Welcome is a concept Mia avoids, gives, and runs to at various points. Her frustration with cslaring for her family when so little can be done probably saves her at the end. I loved how she was very confused which side to turn to. I had my view, and was disappointed Mia didn't go down that road but the end was brilliant and it all made sense in this 8/10 read.

You can find out more on Jennifer's website.

Suggested read

For more awesome powers, check out Maria V Snyder's books which include Storm Glass

2 comments:

Krystianna said...

I'm really looking forward to reading this book! Thanks for the awesome review!

Nayuleska said...

Aw, thank you! You should definitely read it.