Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Violence'
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
13 reviews
james_orion's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed this, Juliet was fantastic and a really well done version of the character, her storyline of claiming agency in her story was lovely and I really enjoyed it.
The romance between Romeo and valentine was very sweet and rang very true to me as a queer person. Romeo figuring himself out in a world that has his entire life planned out for him was very compelling and well done. the coming out scenes to his friends and loved ones really worked for me and felt realistic and grounded.
While always feeling like the characters would succeed, I think this story did a great job building tension and having stakes, and the happy ending they got really felt earned after many trials they endured to get there.
Aside from a slow start, once I got into it I really enjoyed this story and really loved the main cast of characters, they all felt dynamic and real and I was rooting for them the whole time.
The romance between Romeo and valentine was very sweet and rang very true to me as a queer person. Romeo figuring himself out in a world that has his entire life planned out for him was very compelling and well done. the coming out scenes to his friends and loved ones really worked for me and felt realistic and grounded.
Aside from a slow start, once I got into it I really enjoyed this story and really loved the main cast of characters, they all felt dynamic and real and I was rooting for them the whole time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Violence, and Death
Minor: Homophobia
mirandyli's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Murder, Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Violence
lou_loo's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I've never read the original Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare and decided to pick this remix up by impulse and I'll say, I didn't expect much.
I was very pleasantly surprised when I found myself going through it pretty fast. The characters were great, well written, we could see their personality, and how each acted in different situations ; the remixed plot was gripping and I found myself enjoying the writing style.
This one was a very fun read and I'm glad I found it. I would recommend to anyone wanting a fun and easy read that gets you hooked pretty fast with a very cute LGBT romance and an amazing Juliet!
I was very pleasantly surprised when I found myself going through it pretty fast. The characters were great, well written, we could see their personality, and how each acted in different situations ; the remixed plot was gripping and I found myself enjoying the writing style.
This one was a very fun read and I'm glad I found it. I would recommend to anyone wanting a fun and easy read that gets you hooked pretty fast with a very cute LGBT romance and an amazing Juliet!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexism and Domestic abuse
domestic abuse is a very brief mention and is only hypothetical, it does not in fact happen:kstacy91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
jess_always_reading's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This was a great story! A queer remix of Romeo and Juliet, it still deviates enough from the story to be unexpected and intriguing. I absolutely loved many of the characters and it featured a slightly rose-tinted depiction of acceptance and love which is really nice to read as a queer person (it can't all be angst and blatant homophobia). Also, I feel that Roehrig did a great job of writing characters who are both teenagers and adultified because of the historical context in which they live.
This book is perfect for when you want to just curl up and enjoy a story without needing to put too much thought into it.
This book is perfect for when you want to just curl up and enjoy a story without needing to put too much thought into it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Classism, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Homophobia
wellgonomorearoving's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Teach the Torches to Burn is a queer/gay/achillean re-telling of what is probably Shakespeare’s most re-interpreted work: Romeo and Juliet. Pop culture is littered with Romeo and Juliet retellings. It’s a classic love story (it’s not) so, why shouldn’t it be gay too?
I love this Remixed Classics Series idea, because I think every story should be at least a lil gay, and I adore retaking things/making them ours. I would have been flat out obsessed with this story as a teen, and it’s the kind of representation I’m so glad the next generation will have.
The story capitalizes on the undeniable chemistry between Romeo and Mercutio (you can’t tell me that’s not there), but actually pairs Romeo with a new character: Mercutio’s little brother, Valentine. Their relationship is adorable and swoon worthy, caught up in the classic teen issues of feeling trapped in your hometown and smothered by your family’s expectations. Those stakes are raised by the classic feud and ensuing politics, and this time the lovers are star crossed because they are gay in a fourteenth century world. There’s enough of the original story to retain its shape and flavor, but fresh takes and additions make this well known story new and interesting.
It also has TWO ace characters! They’re side characters, but they’re well fleshed out and integral to the story/plot. The whole cast is incredibly entertaining and the dialogue flows well, and it’s genuinely amusing when the teens are all talking. I also adored how it treated Juliet’s character. In a story that makes Romeo gay, it would have been really easy to fall into the trap of just setting Juliet aside. But it’s well acknowledged how horrible her arranged marriage to Paris is, and the situation that puts her in. She’s also witty, intelligent, and way more bad ass than Romeo.
Overall, this is probably my second favorite interpretation of the story (I once saw a drunk Romeo pretend he was in the X-Men and use his super powers to bring Juliet back to life, and you really can’t top that). I love that this story exists, and it makes me smile thinking of all the queer youth out there who will be reading this for their English classes instead of the OG.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Blood and Death
kayladaila's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity, Acephobia/Arophobia, Violence, and Homophobia
brooke_city's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Very melodramatic, like a CW drama. But as expected for YA, and Shakespeare.
I like the changes. The romantic development was written beautifully. Tragic, since we know what's coming.
Juliet being Ace, and independent, with dreams of her own, was refreshing. She was cunning, not a damsel in distress. She would've been formidable against Tybalt, had she been born male. But patriarchy.
Audiobook narrator was good.
I like the changes. The romantic development was written beautifully. Tragic, since we know what's coming.
Audiobook narrator was good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
ariqua's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley for an audio Arc!
Holy moly this book. I took with with me on a road trip and I wished my 10 hour drive was 2 hours longer so I could have finished it in one go.
It's exactly as it says. A super duper queer retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It's cute and funny and heart breaking and just absolutely amazing in every way. But mainly, there is a HEA or I might not have survived (emotionally speaking).
Some of my favorite aspects of this was two aspec characters (probably both aro/ace) that were very important to the storyline.
Juliet is a side character, but very well developed and a super strong female character. I loved her very much. We love a girl who breaks down gender roles and heteronormativity and the patriarchy.
But basically that's what this book is. Just destroy all the cultural norms and run with it. It was amazing.
Holy moly this book. I took with with me on a road trip and I wished my 10 hour drive was 2 hours longer so I could have finished it in one go.
It's exactly as it says. A super duper queer retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It's cute and funny and heart breaking and just absolutely amazing in every way. But mainly, there is a HEA or I might not have survived (emotionally speaking).
Some of my favorite aspects of this was two aspec characters (probably both aro/ace) that were very important to the storyline.
Juliet is a side character, but very well developed and a super strong female character. I loved her very much. We love a girl who breaks down gender roles and heteronormativity and the patriarchy.
But basically that's what this book is. Just destroy all the cultural norms and run with it. It was amazing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
readingwithkaitlyn's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol and Blood
Minor: Grief, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Animal death, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Excrement, Sexual content, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Vomit