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    Juliet Immortal
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    Juliet Immortal
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    Juliet Immortal
    Audiobook9 hours

    Juliet Immortal

    Written by Stacey Jay

    Narrated by Justine Eyre

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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


    From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateAug 9, 2011
    ISBN9780307942609
    Unavailable
    Juliet Immortal

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    Reviews for Juliet Immortal

    3.5/5

    168 ratings39 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

      In all honesty, I really didn't expect to like this. Romeo and Juliet was not my favorite play to begin with, and, because of its ubiquitousness, I've grown rather to loathe it. While I general hunt down retellings like Jaws hunts down the people of Amity, I make an exception for Romeo and Juliet most of the time. To my pleasant surprise though, I really, really was impressed with Juliet Immortal and am thrilled that I have a copy of the sequel Romeo Redeemed ready to go.

      Stacey Jay made Romeo and Juliet palatable characters by completely changing things up. In this version, it turns out Romeo is totally willing to turn homicidal on Juliet in exchange for eternal life, given him by forces of evil known as the Mercenaries. Juliet, thanks to last minute intervention from Nurse, gets eternal life as well, signing on to work for the Ambassadors, the forces of light. I acknowledge that this all sounds patently ridiculous, but it's fantasy, so just take my word for it that, by and large, this paranormal plot line worked quite well for me.

      Most of the narration (minus three chapters/intermezzos) is Juliet's first person perspective. Her work for the Ambassadors entails taking over another person's body, chosen seemingly at random. From this vantage point, her goal is to find a pair of lovers and make sure they reach true love, rather than one of them being recruited into the evil/eternal life scheme as happened with Romeo. While in another person's body, Juliet must avoid changing their life over much, but does try to improve things, which reminded me rather strongly of Mercy by Rebecca Lim.

      This time, Juliet manifests in the body of a deeply depressed, lonely girl named April. Unfortunately, Romeo, who takes over dead bodies, restoring them to life and not the zombie-looking kind, appears in the same car with her, since April and Dylan had just been in a major car crash. Basically, Dylan had a bet that he could sleep with April, she found out, he tried to force her, and she crashed the car, killing him. In other words, Dylan sucks. Guess what, though! Romeo's WAY creepier. Call me morbid, but I got serious enjoyment out of watching the 'true lovers' end up such a hot mess.

      Jay's writing and concept were phenomenal, and I was never bored. However, I did have some problems with the book. The main one is Juliet's gullibility. She's depicted as this strong, determined character, who has wised up from all of the horrible things Romeo has put her through. Though she supposedly works in pursuit of true love, she doesn't really believe in it anymore, and really just hopes for a chance to revenge herself on Romeo. All of that = fantastic.

      Unfortunately, Juliet, it seems, hasn't learned much of anything. She immediately instaloves with someone else, Ben, the guy who saves her from Romeo that first night. Good lord, girl! Didn't you learn the first time that it doesn't hurt to take some time and not rush into things? It's hard to believe she's got her emotional walls up, if she instaloves so easily. She doesn't even fight it very hard. Heck, the true lovers she's sent to help fight their love more than she does, for all her wordy protestations.

      I just wish she had been that way in all of her life, been a bit more questioning of love the second time around. That's just not who she is, though, I guess. On an unrelated note, can we stop with the whole "I'm writing a retelling of this play set in high school, so I'll totally have the school perform this play!" thing. Yes, that was once a clever gambit, but that ship has sailed, dear authors. It has been done enough; try something new. Note: SHS doesn't actually perform Romeo and Juliet; they perform West Side Story, which is almost worse.

      The ending, too, seemed a bit overly convenient. I didn't really feel like everyone could emerge from this tale quite so happily. Of course, there's always the next book, which might be slightly different. I am eminently curious to see what angle Jay takes in the next book.
    • 4/5
      I found this a really interesting concept. Juliet keeps going into bodies to help two soul mates to find each other. She has been doing it for 700 years. Romeo is on the other side and tries to take one of the soul mates to the dark side. This story is dark and creepy. I will say that Juliet drove me crazy at times. I read where several people hated the ending. I didn't mind it. I thought it made sense and set the story up for the second book. I think either you really like this story or you don't. You will have to decide.
    • 4/5
      Honestly, I REALLY enjoyed this book. From the beginning to end it was fun. I love the characters they made Romeo and Juilet become. And the characters they introduced you to. I couldn't put it down. I don't normally read any kind of romance novels, but this was such a twist on the classic story that I fell for it. I recommend this book if you love fun. I wasn't disappointed with it at all.
    • 3/5
      This was another loaner from my co-worker who also likes YA books. Jay takes the idea of how creepy the story of Romeo and Juliet is and spins it out into this crazy supernatural good vs. evil battle between cranky Juliet and repulsive Romeo, inhabiting bodies, living and dead and going to high school in wine country California. It's ridiculous, but fun and didn't go quite as I expected, which is always nice. Also - I wish that publishers didn't skimp so much on the editing. There were a few sentences that didn't make much sense.
    • 2/5
      I usually enjoy the retelling of old classics and I liked the premise of "Juliet Immortal" giving Shakespeare's story of the two star-crossed lovers a completely new twist. The story begins back in Verona, Italy, where the reader discovers that Romeo has sacrificed Juliet for his own immortality then quickly moves to modern-day California where Juliet has inhabited the body of a seventeen-year old girl so she can save true love against Romeo who is trying to destroy the human heart.This book didn't really engage me. I felt that Juliet and Ben were just too good to be totally believable and I didn't like how their connection was practically instantaneous. Nor did I like how the author portrayed Romeo - a manipulative murderer who would do anything to get his own way. I also did not fully understand the role of the Mercenaries and Ambassadors throughout the story and at times found myself skimming through large parts of the book. Overall, I would have to say "Juliet Immortal" was quite ho hum!
    • 4/5
      This book is a wonderful take on the old Romeo and Juliet story with a great paranormal/supernatural twist.

      The story takes place in modern times, and while I was thinking maybe it would be a knock off of R & J, I soon realized that it really wasn't. Romeo and Juliet are both in the story in modern times and while it technically isn't them it is their souls and it makes for a wonderful read. I was a little confused at first and would love more of a look at the Mercenaries and the Ambassador's, but everything was pretty cut and dry in the explanation of both entities.
      I wasn't too happy with the ending of the book and would love to see this made into a series, as I would love to go a little farther with Juliet's ending and I NEED to know what goes on with Romeo...
      All in all this is a book I am happy to keep on my e-reader and read again.
    • 5/5
      eerrrr meerrr geerd my heart! I love this book!! I wish the author would make another book about Romeo and Ariel story. I love Ben and Juliet love love love!!!! okay im done. must re-read.
    • 5/5
      I have read this book at least 3 times!!! Love!!!!
    • 4/5
      In the YA romance, Juliet Immortal, the story of Romeo and Juliet takes a surprising and wildly inventive turn. Just a brief synopsis was enough to get me on board with this paranormal love story. Romeo is a bad guy?! Yep, and he'll do anything to stay immortal, even if it means destroying Juliet. I can't wait to read Romeo Redeemed.
    • 4/5
      For seven hundred years the souls of Romeo and Juliet have repeatedly inhabited the bodies of newly deceased people to battle to the death as sworn enemies, until they meet for the last time as two Southern California high school students.
    • 1/5
      This book had a bad beginning, went uphill a little bit, then back down that hill. I could barely get through the end of it and pretty much skipped the whole last chapter. I couldn't connect with the characters and the plot was silly.
    • 4/5
      So basically, this is another redux of Romeo and Juliet, with a twist. What if Romeo went over to the dark side, seeking immortality, and used Juliet's life/soul/blood as the ticket to get there? And what if they're mixed up in a crazy cycle of rematches over the centuries, Romeo on the against-true-love team, and Juliet fighting for the true-lovers?Clever, decently written, only distracted me a couple of times by language that was where it shouldn't have been, i.e there's no way the word "okay" was used in 14th century Italy.) Characters had enough depth to them (at least Juliet, and a couple of side ones) to keep it interesting. Nice touch that the school play the modern day high school was doing was "West Side Story."There apparently is a sequel. If I stumble on it, I'll give it a read.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely adored this book! It was a great afternoon read, that had enough drama and excitement to keep me reading.

      Juliet Immortal is a spin on the original Romeo & Juliet tale by Shakespeare. This one however, won't leave your brain hurting!
    • 4/5
      I love writers who are confident enough to use Shakespeare’s characters in a new piece of fiction. The premise for this novel was completely unexpected. Not to give too much away, the forces of good and evil have enrolled Romeo and Juliet in an eternal battle of opposites. They are able to inhabit the bodies of others in order to fulfill their missions. Juliet is challenged with ensuring the full bloom of true love which brings a young couple under the protection of the Ambassadors of Light. In addition to destroying lovers before they reach full commitment, Romeo is determined to kill Juliet or turn her to the dark side.Stacy Jay cleverly creates opposing forces that are complex with murky motivations. As the novel progresses, the reader is unsure if even Juliet is on the right side.Because Romeo and Juliet have lived through many lives, they speak in a combination of Elizabethan wordage and the vernacular of today’s teens. This can be a bit jarring at times but does suit the story line.Romeo is an over-the-top villain but, once his complete experiences and motivations are revealed, it seems clear that he is a tortured soul, uncertain of the choices he has made, and quite likely insane. Juliet has not come to terms with her own death and her foolish life ending behavior. After dying so young and inhabiting the bodies and minds of other girls, she not only is unsure of who she is but seems to be suffering from posttraumatic stress syndrome.The story and the characters are complex and challenging. The reader must pay close attention to each reveal as the plot progresses.Jay blends suspense, romance, terror, and humor effectively. I enjoyed this book and would definitely read something by this author again.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. To be honest, while probably an affront to some that Romeo is a jerk who turned evil while Juliet was a naive girl tricked into being immortal and helping soul mates.

      I found that characterization interesting, as well as some of the plots, so even with its lulls, I enjoyed the concept. Interesting re-telling, if odd.
    • 4/5
      DEAD ON THE DELTA was one of my few five-star reads last year and I’ve thought, since then, that I should try JULIET IMMORTAL, but – confession time – I’ve never really liked Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET. Not the overwrought adolescent love, not the tragic suicides at the end. If only I’d realized sooner that JULIET IMMORTAL is a book written specifically for people like me – people so disgusted with the original that they will jump with glee when the first chapter reveals Romeo (Oh, Romeo) as the villain of the piece. The villain! YES!

      After the first scene, when Romeo tries to choke the life out of Juliet and Juliet runs for her life, I was totally on board. And for the most part, the novel is excellent. The writing is wonderful, beautiful and visceral without ever getting in the way of the story. The book’s premise puts Juliet in the body of another girl, Ariel, equipped with her memories. Juliet lives this girl's life while seeing it with the clarity and a compassion of a stranger. It’s an arresting perspective.

      The plot is pretty complex. Basically, Juliet’s immortal job is to bring star-crossed lovers (like she and Romeo once were) together. Romeo’s job is to drive those lovers apart. Things start to go wrong for Juliet when she falls for one half of the star-crossed pair that she’s been sent to earth to unite. She's in love with him…and she has to push him into someone else’s arms.

      I did end up having some pretty serious problems with JULIET IMMORTAL. Because this initial purpose that I’ve described – Juliet has an immortal job, she’s sure about which lovers she’s supposed to bring together, sure that Romeo is there to stop her, as usual – is thrown for a loop at about the 75% point. I’m going to try to explain this without spoilers, so…let’s just say that this loop Juliet has to deal with turns into an extended barrel roll. Juliet gets revelation after revelation in such quick succession that I’d hardly assimilated the one before the next came crashing along.

      I didn’t have a problem with the pacing of JULIET IMMORTAL until I got to this rushed, overwhelming conclusion. I wanted Jay to deal with these insane curveballs more thoroughly, and I wished they’d been lobbed at the reader earlier in the book. As a result, even though I liked the place where Jay ended the novel for both Romeo and Juliet, it wasn’t as satisfying as it might have been otherwise. I had some kind of literary whiplash.
    • 4/5
      The book was an interesting take on the concept of the Romeo and Juliet storyline. I loved the idea of fighting for love and soul mates and good versus evil throughout the book.Juliet was a surprising character for me. In her own way she seemed a little selfish but at the same time was lovable and just wanted what was best for everyone around her. Even though Romeo was portrayed as the bad guy, his redeeming characteristics shined through. Ben of course was the most lovable; his character seemed to scream too good to actually be true. Ben did not really have any bad qualities about him, he was slightly flawed but everything ‘bad’ that he did was explained by something a thousand times to the opposite. Gemma was my least favorite character out of everyone, I did not see the redeeming qualities coming out of her nor did I fully understand her motives.I am extremely excited to read the second book in the series.
    • 2/5
      What if Shakespeare got it all wrong? Juliet, a fighter for the light, must face off against Romeo, the boy who killed her in a battle to save the souls of a pair of soul mates. Cute, but full of teen angst.
    • 5/5
      All I can say is that this book blew me away!
    • 3/5
      Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (#1)Pages: 307Release Date: August 9th, 2011Date Read: 2012, January 17th-21stReceived: Borrowed from LibraryRating: 3/5 starsRecommended to: 14+SUMMARY -Juliet Capulet, the figure of tragic love all over the world, has a mission - Find Romeo and prevent him from breaking up true lovers, and gathering Mercenaries for the enemy. But this time something's different. There's a change in the air - both of the doomed lovers can feel it - and the victim may not be who they think. And with Juliet seeing apparitions and fighting a love that can never come to pass, the mission - to save true love - might be more more deadly than anyone could have guessed.MY THOUGHTS -Let's start with what I didn't like - the last quarter of the book. What even was that? Kinda creepy, but not well explained. There were a lot of holes that had me shaking my head with confusing. It lost its believability , to, like a quick-fix ending.BUT. I did really really enjoy the beginning. It startled me, how intense it was. I loved the dynamics between characters and how the story elements brought them together. Ben is by far my favorite character. So sweet, loving and sacrificial. GAH! These scenes with him - all of them - were so great!But again. The end. It stumped me and I didn't really get to enjoy finishing it.Since I got the second book for review, I'll read it, and let you guys know what I think. Hopefully it'll be better?This book reminds me of...Red dresses (The cover...I cheated)The cliffs of California that overlook the oceanHills of flowersGhostly apparitionsSelf-struggles and fearsThe burning flame of loveHow much I love the name BenjaminRetellingsFor the Parents -I don't remember there being much - a few passionate kisses, some language, maybe a few crude references. Recommended 14+
    • 4/5
      I read a review right before I began reading this book and the reader/blogger did not love this book at all. The review indicated this style was not for them, they didn’t care for retold classics. As I began reading, I kept thinking “What if I don’t like this?” Wow, was I wrong. As the summary from GoodReads indicates that it’s for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, which I am a fan of, they were not wrong.The love story(ies) are amazing and heartbreaking. Ariel, Ben, Gemma, Dylan, Mike. I grew to love all the characters and after figuring out the premise of the book, I was completely taken in. It is a Romeo Juliet Love Story Tragedy, but even more. The involvement of all the other characters into the main plot of the story consumed me. As you’re reading, you think “Oh she’s not going to get her man” because of course it’s a tragedy. But don’t think too soon!! The ending is amazing.I was able to snag Romeo Redeemed from Netgalley and can’t wait to read it! Of course, the actual book doesn’t come out until October 2012 and so my review will not follow until about a week or so before.Advice to Readers: Don’t begin reading it and wanting to compare it to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Yes, it does have a basis off that original story, but the premise of this book is amazing. If you want a great love story like Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, read this book.
    • 2/5
      Shakespeare had it all wrong! Romeo tricked Juliet into committing suicide so that he could ensure his immortal survival. But what Romeo didn’t see coming was that someone would offer Juliet immortality also. Romeo walks the earth trying to get other star-crossed couples to betray each other while Juliet battles him trying to keep him from corrupting others. That is until Juliet meets someone and falls in love…which is forbidden.This was a really different twist on the “greatest love story of all”. You do realize R&J is the one that started all the “love at first sight” stuff don’t you? Well, this version cops to the fact that maybe it was more “lust at first sight”, which was refreshing…that is until Juliet turns around and and falls instantly in love with a guy named Ben. But I digress.This was an interesting take on the Romeo and Juliet…I love that Romeo was responsible for giving the story to Shakespeare…that was funny. I loved that Juliet wanted to make Ariel’s life better…for example the LONG OVERDUE discussion she has with Ariel’s Mom. But while Juliet is doing everything to boost up Ariel, Juliet is whining over her own circumstances which got annoying.Meanwhile…The whole Gemma/Ben thing was ridiculous. Juliet has been doing this star-crossed lovers thing for 700 years and it never dawned on her there could be two sets of “true loves” floating around? This was pretty predictable…save for the ending and the cliffhanger.If you love all things Shakespeare or Romeo & Juliet, then you will likely enjoy this slightly different take. If not, then I’m not sure what to tell you. LOL.
    • 4/5
      It was much better than I thought it would be. The ending was a twist that I never expected. The pace was really well. I didn't want to put it down. Definitely an interesting version of Romeo and Juliet. Can't wait for the sequel.
    • 3/5
      This book disappointed me. I was really looking forward to reading it as the plot was absolutely fascinating; however, I just hated the author's writing style. It was like trying to muddle through quick sand. The author took entirely took long to explain things that could have explained much later in the book or in a much shorter manner. If you can get past that, you might like the book. The plot is still fascinating and the story is quite good.
    • 5/5
      can not believe it took me so long to read this book! It totally blew me off my feet! I read this book fast. Not only was it so simple to get into but very action packed from the very first page.I have read lost of renditions of Romeo and Juliet. And I admit this one is my favorite. I love that Ms. Jay took a classic tale putting a very unique fresh spin on the story. It was captivating and such a page turner. The plot is so amazing. I loved each twist of the story. It gave the reader so much more to look forward to as the reader continues diving deep into the story.What caught me off guard about this book is the great feelings. I loved feeling the emotion of Juliet. Watching her struggle, fight, and come to terms with certain situations made me feel if I was in the story right by her side. I rooted for her to make it through and to no t give up. The love interest totally surprised me. Here I thought I knew exactly who she love and BAM! Ms. Jay kept her readers on their toes and never let them down. With such amazing characters in the book, you never know what is going to happen.Juliet Immortal is deeply entertaining book. The rousing re-retelling of star-crossed lovers strikes a good balance of love and lost. Juliet Immortal is ultimately beautiful and very satisfying.
    • 4/5
      I actually love all things Shakespeare, so I was really excited to read this book. And it was completely original in every way!Juliet Immortal was nothing like I thought it would be, but that wasn't a bad thing! Although a little confusing at first, Stacey Jay quickly sucked you into Juliet's world where Romeo was to be hated, her very existence was for saving other soul mates, and falling in love with the super-awesome new boy (Ben) was impossible.I just adored everything about Juliet. She was sweet, caring, incredibly intelligent, yet she had a fire in her that was hard not to admire. And I expected to hate Romeo way more than I did, but I just couldn't dislike a boy who was obviously suffering from his past decisions every single day.Overall, I really enjoyed Juliet Immortal! I felt that some things were simply breathtaking while others were a little unbelievable, but that didn't lessen the enjoyment factor one bit. Even if you haven't read Romeo and Juliet before, you should still pick up this book! :)BUY or BORROW?: Definitely a book for any Shakespeare-lover's bookshelf!
    • 4/5
      My first reaction on seeing this book and reading the description was pure curiosity. The cover was beautiful (yes, I can be quite shallow) and the idea of Romeo and Juliet not only surviving but but surviving as immortal enemies fascinated me. I had always disliked the classic play because the characters were so young and foolish and died so pointlessly. It never struck me as being particularly romantic or interesting and has always been one of my least favorite of Shakespeare's plays. This book made it much more interesting.Juliet, now an immortal Ambassador whose task it is to aid mortal lovers overcome any obstacles placed in their path, possesses the body of an emotionally and physically scarred teenage girl named Ariel. Ariel was on an unfortunate date with a cruel young man by the name of Dylan. When their car crashed, Dylan was killed and Juliet took control of Ariel. Romeo, now a Mercenary whose job is to destroy the mortal lovers, takes Dylan's corpse. That should give you an idea of the sort of villain Romeo is. Dark, tormented and downright creepy.While taking possession of a girl's body is kind of freaky, Juliet treats poor Ariel with a great deal of respect and actually endeavors to make her life better, even though her job is to find whatever starcrossed lovers she is supposed to help. I found myself really liking this clever, strong Juliet. But as much as I liked Juliet, my favorite character is Ben Luna, a cute, sensitive Hispanic boy. Juliet finds herself falling in love with him...unfortunately, he is supposed to fall in love with someone else. And she is supposed to help him.The love triangle was brilliant. I was on Team Ben the whole time, Romeo being too much of a bad boy even for me. Yet you couldn't help but wonder if Romeo was really as bad as he seemed. Was he misunderstood...or even worse? The romance was threaded throughout with dark desperation on Romeo's side, and blind hope and optimism on Ben's. Juliet is caught in the middle with Romeo, the Mercenaries and even her own side pulling her away from Ben. Ben was...wonderful. Sweet and kind with a hard edge and a temper that is always directed to helping others.As much as I enjoyed the novel, there were several things that bothered me. The minor characters, save for Ariel's mother Melanie, were bland and their behavior at times incomprehensible. Gemma, the girl Juliet is supposed to convince Ben to fall in love with, switches from mean to nice to strange and back again. Some of this is explained by magical means, but not all. Melanie, the only other minor character who stands out, was as troubled and scarred as her daughter. I have hope for them both.The other flaw was in the plot. There were parts that just didn't make much sense or that I wished had been explained better. On the whole I understood and enjoyed the story, but I was left puzzled at a few points. However, I will give the author a little slack in that department because it is the first book in a series and some of it may be explained later.I loved the ending. Absolutely. Loved it. It left me wanting to read the aftermath from every different character's point of view, even the ones I hadn't previously cared about. Really, I would love to read three different sequels all stemming from that ending but about different people.Overall, I enjoyed this book despite its flaws. The three main characters were great and well written; the story dark and strange and lovely. I would recommend this story to lovers of unique paranormal romance. And unexpected plot twists. I don't want to give anything away, but there are some great plot twists.
    • 3/5
      Juliet Immortal takes on this iconic romantic couple and pits them against each other in a wholly imaginative way. Juliet is not the naïve, lovesick girl of years past and instead proves herself a force that I want on my side of a fight. There were times when I had trouble with the storyline, especially in regards to Romeo’s intentions. Every once in a while, Romeo gets his own pagetime – and it is both disturbing and confusing. It seems obvious that much larger forces were influencing Juliet and Romeo, but it was hard to discern who pulled the strings and why. A sequel would be nice to figure this out, but I doubt it will come since the ending for Juliet was more than perfect and conclusive. On the other hand, Romeo does excel in doing the unexpected. Juliet Immortal definitely felt a lot darker and more serious than Stacey Jay’s UNDEAD series. This book may appeal to those who enjoyed mercy or RIPPLE.
    • 4/5
      This story of love and revenge is very well written and the concept is intriguing. Romeo and Juliet fighting each other through history, Juliet on the side of love and Romeo on the side of treacery. I have to say that I was drawn into the story but I feel that the end was sort of rushed and the world was just a bit hazy to me. But since the book is Young Adult I feel that I must put on my librarian hat here and make a few comments.What I like. --- The writing, as I said is very good. The dialog is very believeable. I also like that Juliet is trying to improve the life of the person she has temporarily inhabited and not just dealing with the Soul Mates she is sent to help.What I did not like -- Well this whole soul mate thing is a bit disturbing. It sort of reminds me of the reason I object so much to Twilight. The idea of this all powerful love that can drive people to doing stupid things, even to dying for love. I just don't think the message it sends to young people, particularly girls is healthy.I also found the kids in this book and the whole town really disfunctional. I know that realism is important, but I thought the book went just a bit far in validating all the teen angst in the book. In this book, high school really is life or death and I did not like that.As I said, I was absorbed by the story. It was not until I had finished it that I was disturbed. I think it is fine to read as long as some perspective is given to the book. I can also see this book generating some good conversations between parents and kids. And I admit that I will probably be reading the sequel. Well, I have to find out what happens, don't I.
    • 4/5
      Everything that you've ever been told about Juliet and Romeo was wrong. They were in love in medieval Italy, but Romeo sacrificed Juliet for eternal life through a faction of evildoers, the Mercenaries, who spend eternity separating couples who are made for true love by getting one to sacrifice the other. Juliet was taken into the service of the Ambassadors, rivals of the Mercenaries who fight for the survival of true love, trying to make it into an unshakable bond. Juliet and Romeo have been rivals for over half a millenia but now it might be coming to an end. Juliet suddenly finds herself in the body of Ariel Dragland, a seriously miserable teenage girl who has led a fairly painful life with her single Mom, scarred and unable to find the beauty in herself. She is plagued by a popular boy name Dylan who acted like a creep on their first date, before crashing the car. This is when Juliet posessed Ariel and Romeo posessed Dylan, attempting to kill Juliet. Thankfully, a great guy named Ben comes to her rescue. Before long Ariel finds herself falling in love with Ben, but thinks that it's doomed and he's meant to be with Ariel's best friend Gemma, because they both show the glow of someone who's found their soulmate. Romeo is meanwhile trying to win Juliet back because he thinks she's his only hope of escaping the service of the Mercenaries and still living forever. It turns out that Ben and Gemma aren't soulmates - they are each meant for someone else. We learn more of the politics of the Ambassadors and Mercenaries (Juliet's Nurse was an Ambassador in disguise). The ending is really shocking, has two parts to it (one for Juliet and one for Romeo) and it involves alternate universes. I really loved Juliet's alternate universe ending, I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Romeo's left me feeling creeped out and semi-cheated, especially after the tragedy that led to the necessity of alternate universes. This entire book was sort of a conundrum - beautiful and twisted at the same time. I can see why there are so many mixed reviews out there, but my love for the beauty of the way the story was told outweighs my disgust for Romeo's behavior and subsequent ending. It definitely is not for everyone but I'd recommend trying to read it if you're hardcore for Shakespeare and literature in general. VERDICT: 3.75/5 Stars (Yes that's right, I said 3.75!!!)*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*