Juliet Immortal

By: Stacey Jay

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

©2011 Stacey Jay (P)2011 Listening Library

I'm pretty impressed!!

I have to say, I'm very impressed! I've always been a big fan of the whole "Romeo and Juliet" love story. I've read about every version, seen about every movie, and I have to say... this story completely captivated me. I fell in love with it.
It's so different from the original and that is definitely not a bad thing. I couldn't stop listening to it. I enjoyed the narrator. I loved the story line. I loved the characters, and Juliet is so much stronger in this story than she's normally portrayed in the regular Romeo and Juliet stories. I'd love to read the sequel just to see if it compares but so far, this book has won a special place in my heart. I'd definitely recommend it.

Lots to like in this book

My Summary:

That story Shakespeare wrote about that tragic young couple may not of been exactly accurate. Romeo and Juliet didn't end in that tomb so long ago, no they are both here now fighting against each other in an eternal struggle for/against love. Juliet died at the hand of her beloved Romeo but was granted immortality and joined the Ambassadors of Light to help protect the same tragic outcome from happening to other soul mates. Romeo is trying to find her and kill her for good this time. Or is he? What could have caused Romeo to do such a thing in the first place? And after 700 years of this battle, are both of them tired of the fight?


My Thoughts:

3 1/2 stars - Lots to like in this one

So I'm starting with the narrator for this book since I listened to it. I've listened to this narrator before. She's not my favorite. Narrators are such a personal thing that I always recommend you listen to the sample before you buy the book. Of course I never follow that rule myself. If I had, I probably would have read the book instead. Not that she's a bad narrator, I just don't care for her voice.

Now the book. I'm totally torn between 3 and 4 stars which means it's a solid 3 1/2! Let me explain why I'm torn. First, I loved the idea of this story. While Shakespeare has always intrigued me, I just couldn't get into the tragedy thing. I'm more of a happily ever after or at least most people are still alive kind of girl. But using that tragedy with a little paranormal thrown in the mix is an epic idea! I may have struggled with Romeo doing what he did in this version to get them where they are but I guess I can sorta of understand why he did it.

I loved some of the characters a lot. Especially Ben. Adorable and totally misunderstood as a bad boy, Ben is the perfect guy to step in and help Juliet (playing Ariel). Totally cute, Ben is Hispanic and he sometimes throws in some Spanish which I loved. He is protective and loyal to his friends and the stranger on the side of the road who's in trouble. Love that about him.

The story has some twists and turns that make it interesting and had my total attention. I figured out a few things, which is normal for me. The ending was a little bit of a surprise. Really wasn't expecting that's how it would end. I like the ending.

Now, there was one thing that kept this book from being a 4 star book for me. Juliet's internal banter with herself over the state of love in the world, or love in her life , or love from her mom, or love with Romeo, or love with Ben got a little old for me. If I could have edited some of that out, this book would have rocked for me. I choose to overlook it as much as I could and just keep going because I loved the story itself.

If you enjoy YA paranormal romance, then this book is a good one to pick up.

Great twist

Any additional comments?

This was a great twist on the normal Romeo and Juliet story. I think I would have enjoyed it in written format more than audio, though. I liked the story, but the narration was just over the top with sighing and mooning by the main character, Juliet/Aerial. I'd recommend getting it on Kindle or Nook and skip the listening on this one.

Just Meh.....Wait....what year is this.....

An different twist to the Romeo/Juliet story....but just meh.....
This story had interesting parts but was a little too all over the place. It was time travel and supernatural good vs evil and all the while attached to the Romeo & Juliet...what year is this....what body am I in.....wait....who are you?
I did finish this but not the greatest use of a credit.
sigh......