Juliet Immortal

By: Stacey Jay
Publisher: Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2011
ISBN: 978-0-385-74016-6
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor 
Review Date: August 2011

Edward and Bella are no more. This outstanding book retells the tale of Romeo and Juliet, with a much-needed and amazingly fantastic spin on a very old love story. In fact, Stacey Jay has brought us a completely thrilling story that finally uncovers what really happened that 'suicidal' night in Verona, and announces that the greatest love story ever told, was a complete and utter lie.

Over thirty times in the last seven centuries, Juliet has come back into the world on a mission. Each and every time she’s supposed to bring two soul mates together, BEFORE her own evil love - Romeo - appears once again and rips the two lovers apart. It is so funny to Juliet that the world believes she and her Romeo were so madly in love. At one time, Juliet thought they were. The tale was told correctly up until the ending Shakespeare had written - as if her hero was actually a hero, and not the blood-thirsty killer he’d turned out to be.

Juliet was lied to, and became an Ambassador of Light after her hideous ending. She is the one with the bright light - the good energy - who is allowed out of her "hazy" existence to save another couple. Romeo has stayed on earth. In fact, the way he "goes" into another human being, and where he finds the "husks" that he hides himself in, are truly disgusting. But Juliet knows she only has a short time to complete her mission before her once true love, now a Mercenary of the Apocalypse, comes to kill her once again.

This time, Juliet finds herself in the body of Ariel Dragland. Ariel is a nice girl, but she is deeply disturbed. She has been lied to and used by Dylan - a boy she actually was in love with before finding out what a hideous person he really was. Juliet must save Ariel, and find a way to convince her that her real soul mate is a wonderful young man by the name of Ben. Unfortunately, Ben may just be the soul mate meant for Juliet, herself, and the story erupts in passionate flames. Add to this the fact that Romeo is back, but this timehe is trying to 'change his ways' and get Juliet to become his 'partner' instead of his opponent, and this story goes from great to phenomenal in only pages.

Quill Says: Solvang, California in 2011 is a far cry from Verona in 1304, but this writer has certainly put together one of the best Romeo and Juliet "spins" ever written.