Book Review: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Title: Juliet Immortal

Author: Stacey Jay

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication date: August, 2011

Hardcover: 320 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Series--this is the first in a series.

How I got this book: Bought


Why I chose this book: I've got to hand it to Jay.  This book sounds truly interesting--and original (even though it does involve Romeo and Juliet). 

Synopsis:

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.

Review:

     I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.  Not only because I am in love with Romeo and Juliet's tragic love story (that actually hindered my like for the novel), but because of it's true originality.  Who would have thought that Juliet was murdered by Romeo.  That she afterwards became immortal, forever forced to bring together other lovers, after her love went so tragically wrong.
     The first chapter of the book is a scene between Romeo and Juliet, when they were there true selves.  It really inspires in the reader the love story Shakespeare created around Romeo and Juliet, and almost places a dark quality around the rest of the story.  Throughout the rest of the novel all I could think is how I didn't want it to be true!  I wanted Romeo and Juliet back together, because what he did couldn't be real.
     Other than this factor, Juliet Immortal is marvelous.  I couldn't put it down.  The characters pop out of the pages, inspiring either love or hate for them.  The setting in mordern day makes it easy for the reader to follow--even when we are shown scenes from a past time it is easy to follow.  The writing style is magnificent and addicting.  I give Juliet Immortal 4 stars (out of 5).