Title: Juliet Immortal
Author: Stacey Jay
Genre: YA fantasy
Format: Paperback and Ebook
Publisher: Delacorte Books for young readers, August 2011
Synopsis (courtest of GoodReads)
The most tragic love story in history . . .
Juliet Capulet didn’t take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn’t anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she’s fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she’s forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.
“These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume.”
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
My review (courtesy of me!)
I was so thrilled to finally sit down and read this book. Juliet Immortal has been on my lTo-read list for a long time and finally I bought the Ebook and got to reading.
I love this book. It was everything I hoped it would be. The cover is gorgeous and it fit the book so well. Stacey Jay knows how to write. Her descriptions, her sentences, the way she described the characters thoughts and feelings was beautiful. She is very poetic and I think that her style fit the theme of the book so well. I was drawn into this book from the minute I began until the very last page.
This was quite a take on Romeo and Juliet. The plot is unique and page turning. Juliet works for the Ambassadors, helping true loves come together. Romeo is on the opposite side, trying to turn true love away from each other… promising power and eternal life.
Both characters carry demons from their past, regrets and pain. Juliet is a strong character that I really admired. She is also a bit jaded and filled with rage over what happened to her. When she finds herself unexpectedly falling in love she has a lot to learn about herself and the others around her. Romeo is damaged, I think regretful and power hungry. I don’t think he quite knew what he was in for all those years ago… and now he is tired and just wants out. It is hard to see him in a good light in this book, yet it also hard to dislike him. The saying “you do the best with what you are given” comes to mind because I think that is what Romeo and Juliet do… they do what they think is best in the circumstances they find themselves in.
I was a little surprised at the twists and turns in the plot but I wasn’t sure what to expect for the plot to begin with but they were all good surprised. I will also say that I was a little surprised at the violence in this book… please don’t take that the wrong way, this book wasn’t really violent but towards the end there were a few scenes that I was a little taken aback by.
I don’t want to say much more because I think you should just read the book for yourself, experience Romeo and Juliet in a new way. I don’t want to give anything away.
But, this book will has a good ending. You will like it and I cannot wait to read Romeo Redeemed to find out if in fact Romeo can be redeemed.
I recommend this book to all fantasy/paranormal readers.
So there you have it. My opinion.
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