Review: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Title: Juliet Immortal 
Author: Stacey Jay
Series: Book One of Two in the Juliet Immortal Series
Published By: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (Aug. 9, 2011)
Genre: YA Paranormal
My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 "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.

My Review:
 

I have always loved the story of Romeo and his Juliet. Way before I had to read it in high school, way before the movie with Claire Danes and Leonardo Di Caprio came out. It is just one of those star crossed love stories that any hopeless romantic like myself has to love, tragic ending and all.

So when I saw this book with its amazingly gorgeous cover and completing captivating synopsis with a twist of the old tale of star crossed lovers, I knew it was made just for me. Okay, so maybe Stacey Jay didn't write this for me, heck I am sure she has no idea I exist but this is my review, I can pretend what I want to. ;)

The first chapter of this book completely pulled me in and left me wanting more. I mean it had everything the famous love story is suppose to have. No tragic endings here, just a pure real love....or so you are lead to believe.

Then we get into the second chapter, which was just as captivating and every bit as hard to not fly through as I soaked up the words off the pages.

We are brought from 1304 Vienna with a love story in the making to modern day California with Juliet as heart broken and bitter as ever. For the love story wasn't a love story after all. Oh yes, there was love at some point in time and yes there was the tragic ending, but this ending is not something Shakespeare made up. Oh no, this is a tale of betrayal and suicide and yes, even murder.

Romeo betrayed his Juliet.

Juliet is transported into the teenage body of Ariel, a girl much like Juliet.

But something feels off with this new mission. She shouldn't be here so soon after her last one and Romeo? Well Romeo is just around the corner. In fact he woke up right next to her. Something that has never happened so quickly before.

And as always he woke up with a vengeance.

As Juliet in the body of Ariel tries to flee from Romeo she meets Ben and instantly feels a connection with him. A connection she hasn't felt for more than 700 years.

I have to say, I loved Ben right away. He was so kind and caring to Ariel and just seemed genuinely nice. I was a little heartbroken when we find out that Ben is the one Juliet was sent there to protect. The one that he is destined to be with, is not Ariel but with Gemma, Ariel's best friend who is less than, well lets just say her attitude is less than nice at times.

How can she protect them and make sure they are together when she has feelings for Ben? Someone she is forbidden to love. And how can she love at all after what happened the first time she fell in love?

This story actually alternates between Juliet and Romeo's (well we only get glimpses of Romeo's view) point of view and I am glad that it does because you learn that things maybe aren't quite how Juliet sees them. That maybe there is more to the love story that ended so darkly.

That maybe there is more to Romeo and his deal than she is lead to believe and more than she was ever told by Nurse and the Ambassadors.

I really loved this story. It was just beautifully written. It felt like reading prose at times and I felt myself get swept away in the story and genuinely caring about Juliet.

I loved all the twists and turns that happened throughout the story, they were so well done. I just love how this ended and I truly can't wait to read the next book. I want more of Romeo's tale and I do want him to be able to redeem himself. I think there is way more to his story than what we were given in this book and I can't wait to read about it!