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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Still Star-Crossed is the story of what happens after the ending of Romeo and Juliet. We follow our heroine Rosaline, Romeo's first love, as she fights for her independence and survival in the midst of increasing tensions between the Montagues and the Capulets. She also has to deal with being a pawn in the Prince of Verona's scheme to unite the feuding families. She, as the highest ranking Capulet maiden, is to marry Benvolio Montague, Romeo's cousin and best friend. There is no love lost between these two. Especially when Rosaline is in love with the Prince himself.
I thoroughly enjoyed Melinda Taub's fun and enticing version of Shakespeare's famous play. She breathed such wit and spunk into Rosaline, it was hard not to like her. Her tumultuous relationship with Benvolio reminded me of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. A romance that started with the lead characters despising each other without really knowing who the other truly was.
This was such a fun and quick read. Probably one of the better YA novels that I've read in a long time.
I thoroughly enjoyed Melinda Taub's fun and enticing version of Shakespeare's famous play. She breathed such wit and spunk into Rosaline, it was hard not to like her. Her tumultuous relationship with Benvolio reminded me of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. A romance that started with the lead characters despising each other without really knowing who the other truly was.
This was such a fun and quick read. Probably one of the better YA novels that I've read in a long time.
I've always love Romeo & Juliet's retellings and spin-offs. (Not the original one, though. Hate it.)
And this book is one of the best out of what I've read, the other being "Juliet" by Anne Fortier.
Great characters. Rosaline is smart and heroic. One of the best heroine I've ever read. The spin-off is also real good. Fast paced and quite charming that I found myself not able to put it down before finishing. The conversation written with old english, although a bit confusing since i'm not really familiar with Shakespearean language, is another perk from this book.
Seriously, for a debut book, the author really did a marvelous job. Well done!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And this book is one of the best out of what I've read, the other being "Juliet" by Anne Fortier.
Great characters. Rosaline is smart and heroic. One of the best heroine I've ever read. The spin-off is also real good. Fast paced and quite charming that I found myself not able to put it down before finishing. The conversation written with old english, although a bit confusing since i'm not really familiar with Shakespearean language, is another perk from this book.
Seriously, for a debut book, the author really did a marvelous job. Well done!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Shakespeare (don’t give me a weird look). Most of all, out of all his plays, I love Romeo and Juliet. A lot of young people like me aren’t really interested in Shakespeare or his works, which has always saddened me as I have no friends to share in the joy of The Bard’s writings. This post is a Shakespeare themed post. Mainly I am reviewing Still Star-Crossed, which is based on Romeo and Juliet. It wasn’t written by Shakespeare and has nothing to do with the man himself except the fact that it continues his story in Verona. It features Romeo’s first love, Rosaline, and other characters from the original play. However, this post isn’t just that… You’ll see!
Title: Still Star-Crossed
Author: Melinda Taub
Age Group: Middle schoolers and up (I think adults especially would be into the story)
My Rating: 4/4 stars
Synopsis: “Despite the “glooming peace” that has settled on Verona following Romeo’s and Juliet’s tragic deaths, the ancient grudge between the Montagues and Capulets refuses to die: the two houses are brawling in the streets again within a fortnight. Faced anew with “hate’s proceedings,” Prince Escalus concludes that the only way to marry the fortunes of these two families is to literally marry a Montague to a Capulet. But the couple he selects is uninterested in matrimony, for the most eligible Montague bachelor is Benvolio, still anguished by the loss of his friends, and the chosen Capulet maid is Rosaline, whose rejection of Romeo paved the way for bloodshed. In contrast to their late cousins, there’s no love lost between these two, and so they find a common purpose: resolving the city’s strife in a way that doesn’t end with them at the altar. But like Romeo and Juliet before them, Rosaline, Benvolio, and the prince find that the path to peace is tortuous, and that in Verona, true love lies where it’s least expected. This fast-paced and insightful Shakespearean homage, filled with clandestine meetings, romantic encounters, and duels over family honor, will delight and captivate readers.”
As I mentioned, most characters were originally derived from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but the plot is completely new and original. After reading the first part (there are five total) I thought I was done for since I already had a prediction for the entire story plot. Much to my relief, I was completely wrong and was surprised with the many twists and turns. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. If you like Shakespeare and/or Romeo and Juliet, then you totally need to read this.
To read the rest of this post or read more reviews, visit my blog libraryinmymind.com
Title: Still Star-Crossed
Author: Melinda Taub
Age Group: Middle schoolers and up (I think adults especially would be into the story)
My Rating: 4/4 stars
Synopsis: “Despite the “glooming peace” that has settled on Verona following Romeo’s and Juliet’s tragic deaths, the ancient grudge between the Montagues and Capulets refuses to die: the two houses are brawling in the streets again within a fortnight. Faced anew with “hate’s proceedings,” Prince Escalus concludes that the only way to marry the fortunes of these two families is to literally marry a Montague to a Capulet. But the couple he selects is uninterested in matrimony, for the most eligible Montague bachelor is Benvolio, still anguished by the loss of his friends, and the chosen Capulet maid is Rosaline, whose rejection of Romeo paved the way for bloodshed. In contrast to their late cousins, there’s no love lost between these two, and so they find a common purpose: resolving the city’s strife in a way that doesn’t end with them at the altar. But like Romeo and Juliet before them, Rosaline, Benvolio, and the prince find that the path to peace is tortuous, and that in Verona, true love lies where it’s least expected. This fast-paced and insightful Shakespearean homage, filled with clandestine meetings, romantic encounters, and duels over family honor, will delight and captivate readers.”
As I mentioned, most characters were originally derived from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but the plot is completely new and original. After reading the first part (there are five total) I thought I was done for since I already had a prediction for the entire story plot. Much to my relief, I was completely wrong and was surprised with the many twists and turns. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. If you like Shakespeare and/or Romeo and Juliet, then you totally need to read this.
To read the rest of this post or read more reviews, visit my blog libraryinmymind.com
Very captivating (the book cover is in desperate need of a re-design though). It's kind of like a sequel to Romeo and Juliet. Taub has her characters use Shakespearian language (partially anyway) for authenticity.
It begins in Verona a few weeks after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. I like Benvolio (a Montague) and Rosaline (a Capulet), they're much more level-headed than R+J. They do loathe one another at the start but have been forced together in betrothal by Prince Escalus who desperately wants peace. Then they end up coming together to investigate who is sabotaging peace for their families and hopefully end their betrothal. It's an engaging adventure with lots of twists, mystery, romance, sword fighting, and revenge.
I like how Taub weaved in a few characters from 'Much Ado About Nothing', though they don't actually get any screen time. The love triangle she brought in at a late point in the book was awkward though. It seemed like it was just there to make the ending unpredictable. Nonetheless, it was a great ending.
"Grief is a foe, but she welcomes it like the dearest of friends, and will keep company with none other."
"No cousin of mine are you. You sully the name of Montague, you craven dog-hearted foot-licker!"
"Oh, my lady. What has befallen thee? Why art thou so wildly attired?"
It begins in Verona a few weeks after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. I like Benvolio (a Montague) and Rosaline (a Capulet), they're much more level-headed than R+J. They do loathe one another at the start but have been forced together in betrothal by Prince Escalus who desperately wants peace. Then they end up coming together to investigate who is sabotaging peace for their families and hopefully end their betrothal. It's an engaging adventure with lots of twists, mystery, romance, sword fighting, and revenge.
I like how Taub weaved in a few characters from 'Much Ado About Nothing', though they don't actually get any screen time. The love triangle she brought in at a late point in the book was awkward though. It seemed like it was just there to make the ending unpredictable. Nonetheless, it was a great ending.
"Grief is a foe, but she welcomes it like the dearest of friends, and will keep company with none other."
"No cousin of mine are you. You sully the name of Montague, you craven dog-hearted foot-licker!"
"Oh, my lady. What has befallen thee? Why art thou so wildly attired?"
Enjoyed this tale of “what happened next” after the story of Romeo and Juliet. Loved the inclusion of Don Pedro, Benedict and Claudio. Benvolio and Rosaline were perfect.
I picked this up thinking that it was just another Romeo and Juliet story where they managed not to be stupid and live (I do love the play, but I'm sure that we can all agree that they definitely could have handled that situation in a less fatal manner), but it wasn't. So, instead of putting it down, I opened it up and started reading. And, once I started, I couldn't stop! This book was wonderful and one of my new favorites! I knew that I loved Benvolio best when I read the play and now I know why! Rosaline isn't anything to sneeze at either; I like her more than Juliet!
Suka banget lah pokoknya. Gaya tulisan, jalannya cerita dan dua karakter utamanya, Ugh, ngantongin satu lagi bookboyfriend of the year: Benvolio Montague (Still Star-Crossed version, of course, because I knew so little of Benvolio from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet)
The taciturn peace that the double suicide of Romeo and Juliet imposed on the citizens of Verona is tentative at the best of times as the tension generated by the long-standing feud between the Montagues and the Capulets continues to permeate the atmosphere - seeping into to everyone’s bones and tainting all that it contacts. Burdened by the responsibility of leadership and desperate to save his city, the young Prince Escalus concludes that the only way to truly squelch this nonsense is to SUCCESSFULLY marry a Montague to a Capulet. Unfortunately, the betrothed – Benvolio and Rosaline – are not the paragon of peace that he had hoped for. However, in banding together to undermine the fate they loathe, the couple not only broker peace and save the city but also discover that they are far more willing than either would have anticipated. This lovely blend of romance and mystery adheres to the spirit of Shakespeare’s writing, if not the letter. Taub breathes new life into the well-traversed world of thirteenth-century Verona as the Bard depicted it by developing the characters of Rosaline and Benvolio and contextualizing them in a setting where the characters of both Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing came of age at approximately the same time thereby allowing her to borrow Don Pedro of Arragon (and his plight) for a clever Deus ex machina. Taub’s tale truly offers something for everyone: for those who have become disillusioned with the original tragedy, it is reinvigorating; for those who have previously found Shakespeare’s writing oblique and impenetrable, it is quite accessible; and for those who fell in love with the original star-crossed lovers as they fell in love with each other, it is heavily laced with allusions that cheekily pay homage.
Wonderful
I’ve been dying to read this book since the show got cancelled and I finally got the chance! I absolutely loved this story! Rosaline is my hero! I love her wit and her bravery. I loved how stood by Benvolio’s side even in the face of danger and Prince Escalus’ hurt.
I’ve been dying to read this book since the show got cancelled and I finally got the chance! I absolutely loved this story! Rosaline is my hero! I love her wit and her bravery. I loved how stood by Benvolio’s side even in the face of danger and Prince Escalus’ hurt.