Book Review: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Goodreads Synopsis

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

My Review:

Let me just say this was a wonderful book! I read Romeo and Juliet for the first time a year ago and I have always been very skeptical when it comes to retakes on classics. But Juliet Immortal eased my fears immediately! It was an amazing read and I'm glad that my first classic retake was this one. I felt the book was very easy to read, not overly descriptive, it had just enough!

We start out in Verona, Italy in 1304; with Juliet and Romeo in their passionate love scene, where they are pledging "forever" to one another. Then we move on to present day in Slovang, California.  Ariel has had a car accident with a boy named Dylan. (sexy name right?) Juliet has came and taken over Ariel's body for her (since she hasn't died) to give her a second chance, make things right in her life. Juliet is now in this ravine struggling to understand Ariel's memories. Ariel remembers that she was having this little romantic scene with Dylan until she she sees a text he has gotten asking him if he has taken Ariel's virginity yet. She starts to cry and tries to run from the car but he promises to take her somewhere better. Ariel doesn't think anyplace is better. As they're driving down the road Ariel decides that Dylan is never going to do this again and steers them into the ravine. THEY CRASH!

While Juliet is having these flashbacks of Ariel's memories she notices that Dylan starts to move and talk. He asks her if she is okay. And then Dylan says "But soft,what light through yonder window breaks?" No. It can't be. We've never- He's never--"Did you miss me love?" Dylan has died! And Romeo has found a corpse. It's my last thought before his hands are around my throat. And its ON!!

Let's talk characters!

I really liked all the characters. All of them were very likable. They had their flaws, quirks, ticks, and tocks.

Juliet is an Ambassador of Light (basically the good guys) We find out that Nurse is also an Ambassador. Juliet is a great judgement character. Her judgement overall in the story was amazing! (You know some characters are ditzs! But Juliet wasn't she had a good head on her shoulders) She is very concerned about her job and feels like there is no second chance for her but for others. She tries her hardest despite her feeling to do what she thinks she was sent to do. She had a lot of emotions that she handled very well. (If  I was her I would have jumped all over Romeo every chance I got, but shes much more reserved) Juliet has this aching for love that she feels she will never have again. And she holds Romeo accountable for taking that love away from her.

Romeo is apart of The Mercenaries of the Apocalypse. (the bad guys) Romeo was a quirky, sexy and total smart-ass! Usually smart-ass characters turn girls off, but Romeo had just enough balance of sexual puns and ego that made him the total bad boy that most girls love. Romeo is basically the character you love to hate and hate to love. From my understanding of Romeo he starts to miss Juliet. (of course between the attack, and trying to kill her..) We learn from a few small chapters, from Romeo's POV, of the troubles and hell he has to go through with being a Mercenary. We understand that he wants Juliet to both love him again but also fear him. (Even some male characters are confusing! Just like real boys!) 

Ariel is a very important character in my eyes. She gives Juliet a body and a reason to be where she is. Ariel lives with her mom and she loves to draw. She and her mom have had several falling outs but their relationship is steadily growing. Ariel also has a problem with her skin that makes her look "weird" and her hair is somewhat of a white. So she is an outcast. Except for her one friend, Gemma. Ariel's talent with drawing and painting is amazing and ,while in her body, Juliet explores this talent and translates to us the beauty of Ariel's work.

Dylan is your basic douche character. You know, make a little harassing joke towards a girl to make your buddies laugh. Place a bet to see if you can lay that girl. That sort of character. But through Romeo's eyes we see just how sad Dylan's life is. With a drunk for a father and bruises on his body from getting hit. Can we really hate his character? He is one of those characters you want to fix. You know? Just jump in the book and make his life better for him.

Ben is a great character! I can't say much without spoiling the book for you, but I will tell you about his character somewhat. He is a, not so much as sexy, but a charming and caring character. We know that Juliet is supposed to match him up with Gemma, but Ben won't hear of it. He thinks he is supposed to be with Ariel. So Juliet has a problem here. How is she supposed to make love when her one of her love doves is after a Red Bird?

Gemma was one of the characters we in life dub as a "stuck-up bitch". She is a wealthy girl and she talks very down to Ariel sometimes and I doubt that she notices it. But the things she says registers with us (and I'm just sitting here like did she actually just say that!?) Gemma is often only happy when something is done for her. Hence the dub I gave her character. Gemma had some irritating flaws as a character, but for the most part she was a great character to show how much Ariel needed a friend even though it was a toxic friendship.

The Plot!

The plot was steady and slow paced, but also fast. (If that makes any sense) I don't want the words "slow paced" being associated with boring. This book was anything but boring! I loved the slow pacing, because the book was filled with back story and really heart warming and interesting and honest lines that I think are quotable. This books was also very mystery driven. What do Romeo's comments mean? And who is Ben? And why does he seem so familiar? Why does this shift seem to be "off"? It really added to the plot and the urge to keep turning the page. Also the action scenes in the book are well written and very very compelling!

The world making in the book was one I have seen somewhat before but never with a classic such as Romeo and Juliet twisted on. Romeo killed Juliet for immortality (basically sold his soul) and Juliet was granted a second chance to better the world. Juliet is "shifted" into some one's living body to live as them and  make things right. Whereas Romeo shifts into people who have died. He can't feel, smell, or taste. (that has to be some sort of hell man!) Romeo is much stronger, durable and heals faster because he is a Mercenary. Whereas Juliet is somewhat weaker and I believe she has the strength of a normal human being. This was some great twist and turns on the characters we all know and love!

So with all this being said I give Juliet Immortal...... 5 STARS!!

ARE YOU READY FOR ROMEO REDEEMED!? I KNOW I AM!! IS THIS NOT ONE OF THE MOST ROMANTIC AND STEAMY COVERS YOU HAVE SEEN!?

Goodreads Synopsis

All will be revealed for fans who have breathlessly awaited the sizzling sequel to Juliet Immortal. This time Romeo takes center stage and gets one chance, and one chance only, to redeem himself.

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.

I KNOW I'M READY FOR THIS!! IF THIS DOESN'T TIP YOUR FANCY I DON'T THINK ANYTHING WILL!!

Are you ready lemme know in the comments below!! Thanks for reading! Follow my blog!! Byee