Review of "Struck"

"The end of the world is at hand."

     In Jennifer Bosworth's Struck, the apocalypse has already devastated Los Angeles, California. At least, that is what Rance Ridley Prophet, cult leader and televangelist, proclaims on his daily report. According to Prophet, the earthquake that has devastated LA is only the beginning of the actual Biblical apocalypse. Seventeen-year-old Mia Price knows better, though her mother doesn't. The earthquake that destroyed Mia's home and left her mother mentally unstable was nothing more than a natural disaster, the same way her unnatural addiction to lightning strikes is a result of bad luck. When a rival cult tries to recruit Mia for an upcoming war against Prophet, she runs into an even bigger problem: all those lightning strikes she's endured have come with a price. And Prophet wants to collect.

     Struck walks a dangerous line, striking a balance between focusing on Mia's mysterious addiction to being struck by lightning, a romance with a boy with ulterior motives, and the cults who want her on their side--or dead. For the most part, this is done well, though there are times when Prophet's claims go a little over the top. Interestingly enough, while Prophet isn't actually the man of God he claims to be, he does have power, and he plans to use it for terrible deeds. But those opposing him may not be as good as they claim, either, which leaves Mia with a difficult choice and no chance to back out.

     This version of Los Angeles, or what is left of it, is extraordinarily detailed in a bare-bones way. We are told the way things are, the way they look and feel, without a great deal of description on Mia's part. Somehow, this manages to form a clear, cohesive image of what her world is like. Similarly, the plot is fast-paced and sleek, every subplot important to the overarching structure, with no extraneous characters or truly unimportant scenes. Overall, this makes for an interesting read that is certain to hold attention well.

     Swearing isn't a big problem in Struck. While there is a bit scattered throughout, it is generally low-level--aside from a single use of the F-bomb. Violence, on the other hand, poses a bit of an issue at times. Gore is generally kept to a minimum, if it is present at all, but there are still plenty of fights throughout the novel. Readers should keep in mind that Mia has an affinity for electricity, the effects of which are not all that pretty. Aside from Prophet's twisted version of Christianity, religion is not brought up. The romance is limited to heartfelt kisses, though more is suggested as a possibility once all the trouble with Prophet is through. At one point, an older gentleman tries to take advantage of a teenage girl, with less success than he'd like.

     I would recommend this book to slightly older readers interested in a world where a lightning addict is the only thing standing between a false evangelist and the real apocalypse. The villain is evil, the plot well-paced, and the characters intriguing. While not the most gripping of reads, Jennifer Bosworth's Struck is well-written and holds onto a reader's attention well, earning it four out of five stars.