"Fans of Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush will relish this intense paranormal love story featuring Romeo and Juliet, literary history's most tragic couple, who meet again, not as true lovers, but truly as enemies.
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"
Well, for once, I really like Juliet and Romeo thanks to this retelling. It is the oldest tale of two lovers who took their own lives. The message at the end of the book is very powerful, but it doesn't happen here. Juliet Immortal blends true love with paranormal spirits and powers. Magic may exist, but it is only implied. All I know is that there are spirits, good, and evil. And yes, Romeo is evil. To a bunch of sixteen year old girls in love with the idea of love, that isn't very pleasant. To them, Romeo seems to ultimate object that represents love.
But we aren't here to talk about obsessions. We are here to talk about the book. I need to get myself together and stop talking about Romeo, Romeo, Romeo.
The cover for Juliet Immortal is gorgeous! I just have to mention it. I really love all that. The ocean, the red dress, the rock, the expressions in that girl's shoulder. It is all very beautiful and expressive. Sorry, I get caught by this wonderful cover art.
Juliet stands for light. Romeo, for darkness. Now, everything may seem black and white, but as you slowly go through the book, you see that nothing is as it seems. There are many gray areas, and you realize that the Nurse (Juliet's Nurse) is in on it too. I wonder about the Friar, but that is not the point of this paragraph.
Juliet is a bit darker than you think. She may stand for light, but she has every desire to kill Romeo, because he "killed her." Now, notice those quotation marks. They are very important. Just like how the main character isn't always the good guy. (And I can't name any books when the bad guy is the main character. It is a bit strange, but good always wins in books). She is all about saving true love, but she is indeed darker than that. And I can't believe I'm repeating myself over and over again. It gets a bit annoying. Even I will admit that.
And Romeo is disgustingly insane. He is not all like what Shakespeare says. His sonnets aren't exactly the kindest, and he always laughs at weird things. Insane, like I said before. He is a bit sarcastic, sometimes using Shakespeare's words to annoy Juliet out of her mind. But in a strange and creepy way, he still loves her and always will. Isn't that strange? Well, I guess the insane people always find some things sane and normal.
Rating: Four out of Five
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