Author: Stacey Jay
Title: Juliet Immortal
Publisher: Listening Library
Release Date: 9th August 2011
Narration: Justine Eyre
Ratings:
Story: 4.5 Stars (I loved it!!!)
Narration: 5 Stars (Fantastic to listen to!!!)
Publishers Summary:
“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.
From the Hardcover edition.
My Review:
I am an avid reader, reading approximately ten to twenty books a month, but of all the books I have read in recent months, none has affected me as much as my most recent read, “Juliet Immortal” by Stacey Jay. From the opening paragraph, I was hooked, and it isn’t often that I become so invested in characters as I did with the two main protagonists in this epic tale of love, Juliet and Ben, but I was completely enamored of them both.
This modern twist on Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers, was a romantic, action packed ride, that kept me guessing until the end. In this retelling, instead of Juliet killing herself upon finding her new husband Romeo, dead at her side, Romeo in fact murdered Juliet for a chance at immortality. He did not know however that Juliet would also become immortal, and would become his eternal enemy, fighting for true love and for soul mates to live happily ever after. Yet on her latest mission, Juliet finds her self falling for a boy who she is forbidden to love, as she believes he is destined for another, and is the one of the soul mates he has been sent to protect.
I loved this book, however what had me thinking about the story for days after was not the sweet romantic scenes between Juliet and Ben, nor the supernatural elements that in themselves were incredibly clever and thought provoking, but the perplexing and ambiguous ending. As the story involved elements of alternate realities and the butterfly effect (although the writer did not call it that), the ending, could be construed in a number of different ways, which left me wondering what had really had happened to our lovers, and which reality they ultimately ended up in.
I was slightly disappointed at the end, to realise that the main couple will likely not be included in the sequel “Romeo Redeemed,” as the epilogue of “Juliet Immortal” seemed to indicate that the lovers story was over, and that the sequel would switch to Romeo’s tale. This however will not prevent me from picking up “Romeo Redeemed” when it is released in 2012.
As usual Justine Eyre’s narration was flawless.
In conclusion, I highly recommend picking up “Juliet Immortal,” as it is a wonderfully romantic story that will leave you reeling, while still believing that true love really can conquer all