Struck

by Jennifer Bosworth

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.

• ISBN13: 9780857530950
• Publish Date: 26 April 2012 (first published 1 January 1998)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 31 July 2015
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
• Imprint: Doubleday Children's Books
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[reveriesociety_]

The blurb was promising. And I was super excited  about this especially, because I'd just finished reading Red Queen. But sadly, I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

First of all, lightning girls rock.



An earthquake has just turned upside down Mia Price's life and she now has to basically take care of her mother, and her brother. Everything goes pretty fine, considering most of the city is destroyed.

And I'm not sure of how much sense it makes for them to resume school. I mean WTF? I like to believe they were just trying to gain some semblance of normal again, resuming classes, but, how can anyone focus on anything school-related when it's practically the end of the world?



Also, while I LOVED the cult that rose from the recent disaster, because it shows how people will believe anything, as long as it gives them a sense of security. (I'd like to think I wouldn't and keep myself sane, but one never knows) It's realistic, and... about the only aspect apart from Mia's peculiarity that stood out to me until halfway I gave up.

Mia's and Jeremy's relationship was like this:

Jeremy: *stares intently*

Mia: *squirms* Hey, those people over there think I'm special.

Jeremy: Don't trust them. Trust me. I'm hot.

Mia: *hesitates and ponders for a few days until...* Okay! Stay over tonight!

Jeremy: I so nailed this.

Mia: Oh my god, I think I love him. I want him, I want him, I want him.

I kid you not with the I want you part.



I think it dragged too much and I felt more and more disconnected by the second because, while a story has to withhold certain information to keep the reader turning pages, I feel this one was withholding too much, and I was constantly confused about what was being tried to accomplish. I suppose it must be somewhat explained in the end, but it didn't hold my attention enough for me to get to that part. :/

[journalingirl]

Please tell me there isn't a second one. It was good bit I can't handle another. I don't like the supporting characters enough to enjoy a second one.

[kimbacaffeinate]

I was drawn to both the cover and concept of Struck. I love post-apocalyptic dystopian worlds and I'm fascinated by lightening. In author Jennifer Bosworth’s world Los Angeles and other areas of the world have been struck with natural disasters. Experts are worried there will be more events, and religious zealots are crying end of times.

We are introduced to Mia Price in the first line of the novel.”My name is Mia Price, and I am a human lightening rod.” She resides in LA with her mother and little brother. Mia and her family are lucky their home is still intact after a massive earthquake takes out large areas of LA. Everyone is hungry, people are homeless and Mia’s mother has had a breakdown. Her Mom sits in front of the TV watching an evangelist known as the Prophet. In order to get rations, she and her brother must return to school. Once there she is pressed by two groups of students to join their cult. Both groups believe Mia is the key to a cataclysmic event which is yet to come. Bosworth tale was unique and captivating.

Mia is a lightening addict or maybe lightening is addicted to her. Either way, she has the scars to prove it. She has survived countless strikes, and is drawn to storms, like bees to honey. Her family moved to LA, after a horrific lightening event. The recent disasters have left atmospheric hints of a storm to come. Mia can sense it and feels drawn to it. I easily connected with Mia and wanted to know more about her. Since the earthquake, she has really had to hold it together and I was impressed by her stiff upper lip. She is brave and protective. She doesn’t seek out conflict, but will fight when necessary. At times, I was annoyed with the character's inability to communicate…since a lot of crap could have been avoided with a straightforward conversation. Jeremy appears in one of Mia's classes. She has never met him, but is immediately aware of his presence and feels as if she knows him. She finds him to be gorgeous and mysterious. Oddly he makes her feel calm. He doesn’t appear to belong to either cult and tries to warn her. Jeremy’s true identity wasn’t revealed until almost the end. Bosworth did leave clues throughout the novel and I managed to figure it out but I was never really sure if he was helping her or had a secret agenda. All of which made this tale suspenseful. The romance between them was sweet and downright complicated. The energy I felt when the two of them were together made me swoon. Other characters added to the suspense and mystery. I loved some of them and loathed others.

Bosworth’s world-building enthralled me. She did a wonderful job of depicting the city and its people after the quake. Her descriptions of the city of tents, the chaos and fear made the world very real. The Prophet and his followers were believable. He has predicted the end is near and urges people to join him and repent. Throughout the novel you get a sense that he is evil. The Seekers are an old and secret society. They appear to be trying to stop a cataclysmic event from occurring. It has been foretold and they are looking for others to make their psychic connections stronger. Bosworth’s tale of their origin and purposes was fascinating. She weaves tarot cards and paranormal ability into the tale creating mystery. Mia is the catalyst for an event yet to come and is sought by both sides. Not knowing the true purpose of each cult and why they wanted Mia made the ride suspenseful. The tale was fast-paced and Bosworth’s writing style brought the story to life. While the tale was good I wanted more depth and would have like more about the lightening aspect.

Struck will interest fans of post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels. This was an an easy read. It didn't deliver everything I hoped for but I will check out book two. There is a novella, called Prophet (Struck 0.5) which is currently available.

[Angie]

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 Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.