Bookanistas Review: Juliet Immortal

Welcome to another Bookanistas Review!

This week I read JULIET IMMORTAL by Stacey Jay and let me just say...WOW. Like, a serious WOW.

"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

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.

My Take

Holy moly is this book ah-maz-ing. I have to say that this is one that kept catching my eye in the bookstore, but I wasn't convinced it'd be my kind of thing. I generally am not a huge fan of retellings (except of the fairy tale variety) and wasn't sold on the whole "making the story of Romeo and Juliet paranormal" thing. 

But here's the power of Twitter...I clicked on a link to a review and the person (I can't remember who now or I'd link, but it might have been a Bookanista) LOVED it. So I thought, hey...a) I'm about to go to Italy, the birthplace of Juliet and b) it's getting some great reviews...so why not? So I went to my local bookstore and picked up a copy.

AWESOME, AWESOME decision by me. :-)

I didn't end up reading it while I was in Italy, but that was probably a good thing. If I had, I wouldn't actually have SEEN much of Italy. This story drew me in from the first page and left me breathless with suspense until the last. 

Juliet's voice is fantastic - lyrical and realistic. I loved the quality and flow of the language, the emotions that come alive on the page. The funny thing is, after I started reading it didn't bother me one bit that this was a retelling, because it wasn't. What Stacey Jay did with these iconic characters...I really don't want to give a thing away, but I have to admit...I loved Stacey's Juliet more than I did Shakespeare's...and I say that as a total W.S. 'shipper. 

JULIET IMMORTAL is just...different. And twisty. And intense. And incredibly romantic. Imaginative...surprising...I could go on. But, really, you should just go out and get a copy for yourself, so you can see what I mean.

Last Thought

From a writer's perspective, my favorite element of the story was the way Stacey Jay threw HUGE, MASSIVE, LIFE OR DEATH obstacles at her characters. I really had no idea how she was going to resolve things. If things could even BE resolved. (I won't tell you if they are.) The reason I was breathless was because the entire book I knew exactly what Juliet - and the other characters - had to lose...and how very high the odds were stacked against them. This is something you hear over and over again as a writer - make it hard for your main character, raise the stakes, etc etc...but let's face it. It's a tough thing to do. Especially in a way that'll earn a payoff at the end (if you're going to make your stakes life or death, you better not have a simple solution at the end and keep everyone living and breathing like there was never any danger at all...ahem). 

So I've gotta give Stacey mad props for that. 

And everything else.

Cuz this book is badass and you should read it. :-)

~~

Check out what else the Bookanistas are excited about this week!

Christine Fonseca  interviews author Denise Grover Swank

Jessi Kirby and Jen Hayley are wowed by WANDERLOVE

Corrine Jackson is mesmerized by MAY B.

Stasia Ward Kehoe  interviews DIES IRAE author Christine Fonseca

Debra Driza is entranced by HEMLOCK

Katy Upperman delves into THE DISENCHANTMENTS

Nikki Katz  celebrates CINDER

Tracy Banghart  marvels at JULIET IMMORTAL

Jessica Love spotlights SHINE

Gennifer Albin gives some trailer love to STARTERS

Comments

[Katy Upperman]

Somehow this book has escaped my notice, so I'm VERY glad you reviewed it! Love the unique concept; it sounds completely amazing! Definitely adding it to my TBR list. Thanks, Tracy!

[Tracy]

Thanks for the comment, Katy! That's been my fave part of being a Bookanista so far...learning about a ton of awesome books I hadn't heard of before. Yay! :-)