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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I was not expecting to like this book. My library was doing a thing called blind date with a book, where there was a selection off books wrapped with a short description on the back. I chose this one. When I unwrapped it and read the synopsis, I was irritated. I didn’t even like Romeo and Juliet. Reading this novel, these characters didn’t seem like an extension of the characters from Romeo and Juliet, they were characters the author created. They had their own thoughts and personalities. I genuinely wanted them to be happy. I don’t think I’ve ever had a novel I thought I would hate blow me away like Still Star-Crossed did. This is definitely worth the read. Even if you think you won’t like it, you should still pick it up. 5/5 loved it.
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I honestly loved this book. I went through a lot of books at barnes and nobles and discarded all of them until I found this. Absolutely loved it! I stayed up all night reading it! It has a classy intellectual female protagonist that is often lost in modern romances. In addition I LOVED all the Much Ado About Nothing references! Overall I would read it again.
"God, nothing in Verona was ever simple, was it?"
This is my favorite line from this book. It sums up the book perfectly, in my opinion. I had always known deep down that the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets would never have been easily put down merely by the death of their children, and in fact I believed that it would have fueled it more, with both families blaming each other for their children's misfortunes. This story was much more complex than Shakespeare had originally written. Shakespeare had merely made their feud between two houses, when in reality, life is much more complex than that, and thus the story deserved a much more complex saga post Romeo and Juliet.
I have to admit, I was rooting for Benvolio and Rosaline the entire time. So, when the ending turned out that they were to actually be married, I was happy. Escalus and his love for Rosaline drove me nuts. He waited so long to tell Rosaline how he felt, but always stated that he had Verona's best intentions at heart. From what I understand in studying history, securing a wife for the throne is one of the highest priorities when a man ascends the throne. So the fact that he waited so long was disastrous for both his crown and for his heart. I think it serves him right that Rosaline chose Benvolio instead. Benvolio had sacrificed so much more for her than Escalus did. And by Rosaline choosing Benvolio, she didn't look like a woman who only sought riches, even after the downfall of her family's fortunes. And plus, I loved Benvolio and Rosaline's bickering.
The only thing that had bothered me with this book was that Escalus's true ending was never revealed. I wanted to know how he felt about Rosaline turning him down, and if he still continued to give her gifts.
This is my favorite line from this book. It sums up the book perfectly, in my opinion. I had always known deep down that the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets would never have been easily put down merely by the death of their children, and in fact I believed that it would have fueled it more, with both families blaming each other for their children's misfortunes. This story was much more complex than Shakespeare had originally written. Shakespeare had merely made their feud between two houses, when in reality, life is much more complex than that, and thus the story deserved a much more complex saga post Romeo and Juliet.
I have to admit, I was rooting for Benvolio and Rosaline the entire time. So, when the ending turned out that they were to actually be married, I was happy. Escalus and his love for Rosaline drove me nuts. He waited so long to tell Rosaline how he felt, but always stated that he had Verona's best intentions at heart. From what I understand in studying history, securing a wife for the throne is one of the highest priorities when a man ascends the throne. So the fact that he waited so long was disastrous for both his crown and for his heart. I think it serves him right that Rosaline chose Benvolio instead. Benvolio had sacrificed so much more for her than Escalus did. And by Rosaline choosing Benvolio, she didn't look like a woman who only sought riches, even after the downfall of her family's fortunes. And plus, I loved Benvolio and Rosaline's bickering.
The only thing that had bothered me with this book was that Escalus's true ending was never revealed. I wanted to know how he felt about Rosaline turning him down, and if he still continued to give her gifts.
3.5 stars, but rounding up because I'm feeling generous and I'm in a Romeo and Juliet mood.
I was entertained by this book. The female characters were strong (well, as strong as they could be for the time period) and witty, and the story concept was engaging. The author's choice of making Rosaline a Capulet was interesting, and she was more likable than I expected (if I remember correctly, she was kind of a bitch in Romeo and Juliet, but I haven't read that in years, so I could be wrong). I'm glad it wasn't another retelling of the R&J story, because there are enough of those in the world, and a continuation of a well-known story is a great idea. Some of the "twists" were predictable, but that didn't bother me. I'd recommend it.
I was entertained by this book. The female characters were strong (well, as strong as they could be for the time period) and witty, and the story concept was engaging. The author's choice of making Rosaline a Capulet was interesting, and she was more likable than I expected (if I remember correctly, she was kind of a bitch in Romeo and Juliet, but I haven't read that in years, so I could be wrong). I'm glad it wasn't another retelling of the R&J story, because there are enough of those in the world, and a continuation of a well-known story is a great idea. Some of the "twists" were predictable, but that didn't bother me. I'd recommend it.
Still Star-Crossed begins about 2 1/2 weeks after Romeo and Juliet's tragic deaths. The city of Verona is in tense turmoil even though Lords Capulet and Montague have sworn a shaky truce. Hoping to put a forever end to the feud Price Escalus decides to marry a Capulet maid to a Montague male. He chooses his childhood friend, Roseline, the young woman who's refusal of Romeo was the catalyst of the fateful events to marry the heir of House Montague, Romeo's cousin Benvolio.
Both balk at the idea of their marriage even as a force works within Verona to reignite the feud between their two families. A masked swordsman kills 3 youths of both houses and tries to implicate Benvolio as the murderer. Roseline and Benvolio flee the city to find Friar Lawrence in the hope that he can shed some light on the truth of who is behind the murders.
When they find out the truth about who's behind everything they try to make their way back to Verona only to be captured by the very person they aim to warn the city about. Back in Verona Prince Escalus believes that Roseline, who he has recently realized he loves, has been kidnapped and killed by Benvolio. He wants Benvolio to be caught so he may execute him before the entire city.
Will everything come to light in time to save Benvolio's life? And will Roseline and Benvolio be able to part as friends in the end or will they realize that they have fallen in love with each other?
Still Star-Crossed is beautifully written. It gives a happy ending that Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' never got to have. The reader will feel happy at the end of this book. I love how the author managed to stay as close to the period dialogue as possible. I really loved this book, it was one of the best I've read in the past few months.
Both balk at the idea of their marriage even as a force works within Verona to reignite the feud between their two families. A masked swordsman kills 3 youths of both houses and tries to implicate Benvolio as the murderer. Roseline and Benvolio flee the city to find Friar Lawrence in the hope that he can shed some light on the truth of who is behind the murders.
When they find out the truth about who's behind everything they try to make their way back to Verona only to be captured by the very person they aim to warn the city about. Back in Verona Prince Escalus believes that Roseline, who he has recently realized he loves, has been kidnapped and killed by Benvolio. He wants Benvolio to be caught so he may execute him before the entire city.
Will everything come to light in time to save Benvolio's life? And will Roseline and Benvolio be able to part as friends in the end or will they realize that they have fallen in love with each other?
Still Star-Crossed is beautifully written. It gives a happy ending that Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' never got to have. The reader will feel happy at the end of this book. I love how the author managed to stay as close to the period dialogue as possible. I really loved this book, it was one of the best I've read in the past few months.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
woah. "...will have readers pining for a star-crossed love of their very own." so I'm supposed to feel suicidal after this, oh. dear. god.
I'm still reading, but I'm suspecting this is going to become a DNF. in the meantime, 2 stars. it's decent though, and I'm curious how the writer's going to work this.
I saw the TV show before I got this book, so the whiteness was blinding.
Escalus is blond & Benvolio is dark-haired
I tend to like darker haired men, more than blond men, but stylings can affect it greatly... tall and stuff, k I can get that aesthetic.
I'm still reading, but I'm suspecting this is going to become a DNF. in the meantime, 2 stars. it's decent though, and I'm curious how the writer's going to work this.
I saw the TV show before I got this book, so the whiteness was blinding.
Escalus is blond & Benvolio is dark-haired
I tend to like darker haired men, more than blond men, but stylings can affect it greatly... tall and stuff, k I can get that aesthetic.