ARC Review: Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Struck
Author: Jennifer Bosworth
Publication: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (May 8, 2012)


Description: 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.

My Thoughts: Strong characters and a fast moving plot make this story a real page-turner. Mia is a lightning addict who has been struck by lightning many times. She moves to LA with her mother and younger brother to get away from lightning and away from a town that fears her. She arrives just in time for a massive earthquake to devastate the city.


Mia's mother was buried under a collapsed building for three days and is suffering from stress. Mia has to step up and care for her family in a city that is devolving into chaos. There are rival groups competing for her attention. The Followers are followers of a self-proclaimed religious prophet named Rance Ridley Prophet who is a televangelist preaching the end of the world. The Seekers are opposed to Prophet's organization and are preaching hope. Both groups want to use Mia because of the power the lightning has given her.

There is also a mysterious boy who has visions that have been centering around Mia. Mia doesn't know if she can trust him. After all, the first time she saw him he was standing over her bed with a knife in his hand.

I liked Mia and thought she was an interesting character. I liked the world that was created by the author in this one. I liked the combination of dystopia and paranormal. And, while I knew pretty early who Jeremy was, I still liked the growing relationship between Mia and Jeremy.

I recommend this one to both fans of dystopias and fans of paranormal romances.


Favorite Quote:

"Those are the rules," she said, her tone somber.

My laughter tapered off. "I hate to break it to you, but I only play by one set of rules."

"Let me guess. Yours?"

"Pretty much."

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.