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albatrossonhalfpointe's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don't think I liked this one as much as I liked Juliet Immortal, but I might have liked it more if I'd read it sooner after that one so the ties were stronger in my mind. As it was, I enjoyed it.
steph01924's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this better than the first book, Juliet Immortal. Not having to listen to Juliet's constant anger was quite refreshing. It was still heavy on certain aspects being repeated and beaten like a dead horse, and it had the typical happy ending I'd hoped for. I enjoyed seeing everything from Romeo's point of view, though he basically got a free pass because when he was working for the bad guys he wasn't in control of himself.
So I don't know. Not the most impressive book I've read, but it did keep me entertained for four hours when I couldn't fall asleep a few nights ago.
So I don't know. Not the most impressive book I've read, but it did keep me entertained for four hours when I couldn't fall asleep a few nights ago.
sandygx260's review against another edition
4.0
When this book first started, I wasn't sure I'd like it. Due to the library's allure, I have this dreadful habit of reading books by the same author too close together. I call the habit dreadful because soooooometimes the author's voice becomes too intrusive, too familiar.
It seemed like the case here. I plunged in and found myself shaking my head in "oh no, here we go again" annoyance.
But Jay is a an agile writer. Just when you fear the story is sinking into the mud, Jay performs a magical back flip and saves the story. She lands on her words and sprints toward the finish line. Let's go with another cliche; she pulls her ass out of the mud! Wait, is that a cliche?
No matter, "Romeo Redeemed" is charming and, I hope, the end to Jay's Romeo and Juliet remake. She tied off the loose ends. Explanations are performed, and the main characters receive happy endings.
A third book in the series would be nonsensical and unnecessary. In fact, to me the two books read like Jay wrote them as one huge book before she broke them into two books.
Again, no matter. Nice job, Stacey Jay.
It seemed like the case here. I plunged in and found myself shaking my head in "oh no, here we go again" annoyance.
But Jay is a an agile writer. Just when you fear the story is sinking into the mud, Jay performs a magical back flip and saves the story. She lands on her words and sprints toward the finish line. Let's go with another cliche; she pulls her ass out of the mud! Wait, is that a cliche?
No matter, "Romeo Redeemed" is charming and, I hope, the end to Jay's Romeo and Juliet remake. She tied off the loose ends. Explanations are performed, and the main characters receive happy endings.
A third book in the series would be nonsensical and unnecessary. In fact, to me the two books read like Jay wrote them as one huge book before she broke them into two books.
Again, no matter. Nice job, Stacey Jay.
bogbodyanon's review against another edition
2.0
This book was wild. I couldn't follow what was going on 90% of the time. I feel like the writing style of this one was completely different than the first one
bookishvice's review against another edition
5.0
Romeo truly believed he was doing Juliet a kindness when he decided to trick her into killing herself. He chose to grant her death instead of letting her live in poverty, shame, and exile with him. His actions, though wrong and evil, were born out of desperation, and he believed the friar’s lies that when Juliet died she would live a happy life in heaven. Romeo never thought Juliet’s soul would be tainted by so much anger and rage that she would never be at peace. Juliet’s pain and hate were the only feelings that reached Romeo when he couldn’t feel anymore. This is why he relished their encounters.
Now Romeo has been given a second chance at life, and maybe at love, in an alternate reality. His task is to save Ariel (the real Ariel not Juliet) from the Mercenaries. He has to do this by turning her from her dark side and making her fall in love, and he has exactly three days to do it! But this is no easy feat, as Ariel doesn’t buy his sudden change of attitude. Remember Dylan had made that bet to sleep with her? Yeah. Romeo has a lot to make up for what Dylan did, and for his own miserable soul. It also seems most of his evilness came from being a Mercenary, and now that he isn’t one his true self is revealed. New feelings surface and he doesn’t trust himself not to still be the monster he was. As flawed as he is I couldn’t help falling in love with him.
And the real Ariel couldn’t help but love him too! She starts out a bit emo and suicidal, but turns out to be a really tough chick whose a bit scary at times. Seriously. She can match Romeo’s wicked streak, and in turn the romance between them is sizzling! Romeo really is redeemed in this second book. He’s sweet, caring, loving…I mean the boy invites Ariel shopping for prom! Now that is love (lol). On a side note, I still hated Gemma with all my heart.
The whole thing about different realities, and souls traveling time and dimensions, was once again mind scrambling. For a minute things didn’t make sense like at all, but once the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together I was amazed by Stacey Jay’s work. She really has gone way beyond any simple re-telling of Romeo and Juliet. This is a dark and complicated romance that will tug at your heartstrings and take you on a spin across time and space as Romeo finds the real meaning of forgiveness in true love. Romeo Redeemed is wicked fun and sexy! This one gets the full five.
*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*
Now Romeo has been given a second chance at life, and maybe at love, in an alternate reality. His task is to save Ariel (the real Ariel not Juliet) from the Mercenaries. He has to do this by turning her from her dark side and making her fall in love, and he has exactly three days to do it! But this is no easy feat, as Ariel doesn’t buy his sudden change of attitude. Remember Dylan had made that bet to sleep with her? Yeah. Romeo has a lot to make up for what Dylan did, and for his own miserable soul. It also seems most of his evilness came from being a Mercenary, and now that he isn’t one his true self is revealed. New feelings surface and he doesn’t trust himself not to still be the monster he was. As flawed as he is I couldn’t help falling in love with him.
And the real Ariel couldn’t help but love him too! She starts out a bit emo and suicidal, but turns out to be a really tough chick whose a bit scary at times. Seriously. She can match Romeo’s wicked streak, and in turn the romance between them is sizzling! Romeo really is redeemed in this second book. He’s sweet, caring, loving…I mean the boy invites Ariel shopping for prom! Now that is love (lol). On a side note, I still hated Gemma with all my heart.
The whole thing about different realities, and souls traveling time and dimensions, was once again mind scrambling. For a minute things didn’t make sense like at all, but once the pieces of the puzzle started to fit together I was amazed by Stacey Jay’s work. She really has gone way beyond any simple re-telling of Romeo and Juliet. This is a dark and complicated romance that will tug at your heartstrings and take you on a spin across time and space as Romeo finds the real meaning of forgiveness in true love. Romeo Redeemed is wicked fun and sexy! This one gets the full five.
*Arc copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley*
marmar_16's review against another edition
3.0
This series was okay. It was definitely a cool retelling idea though.
duckyn's review against another edition
2.0
It's better than the first book, but that isn't saying much
heather4994's review against another edition
5.0
WAIT!!! Don't read the book Summary! It tells too much! Read mine instead! And don't read any of it if you haven't read Juliet Immortal because you won't understand anything! Don't read the book Summary!!!
For 700 years Romeo has been a bad dude. He kills true lovers ruthlessly turning them into agents for the Mercenaries who are immortal and otherworldly strong. He hasn't felt, tasted or touched anything since the night he tricked Juliet into killing herself. But he saved her from the hands of the Mercenaries and now he's a shriveled skeletal thing just waiting to become a lost soul. But the Ambassadors of the Light want to give him a chance to redeem himself. He's got one shot. With a girl he's already killed. And who wants to kill him. But this is Romeo, no one can resist his charms. Or can they?
Now that's not the whole story, a romance, there is a lot more involved and if you haven't read Juliet Immortal just stop right here and go read that first because none of this will make any sense. This is one of those tricky novels. You have to think. It's got parallel universes and alternate realities and you have to reconcile what's happening in this one to what happened in Juliet Immortal. I think I got it. I did a pretty good job though things got a bit hairy for a little bit. This book is complicated. But it is so great to read.
As I wrote above, Romeo has been a bad, bad boy for centuries battling true loves coming up against Juliet many times. But he takes his shot at redemption, not exactly believing he has any shot at salvation after all the many things he's done. But it's a really incredible twisty turny plot and if you think you can predict it then you are a better reader than I. Romeo, after living 700 centuries has seen it all so doing whatever it takes to get Ariel to fall in love with him is not a problem. However, he's in a tough situation at the very beginning when he enters the body of the boy she's with and he realizes the boy has made a major blow to her ego and self esteem. She is so furious she's willing to drive them over a cliff and she yanks on the steering wheel. He's able to actually salvage this date. Romeo's got skills!
Ariel is complicated. Friendless except for Gemma who disappeared two weeks ago she's known as the Freak. She was burned in an accident as a child and not only does she have scars, but when she gets really angry, she hears voices, sees ghosts, monsters, they take over her body and she passes out and loses control of her bodily functions. Yeah, that doesn't make you popular. And we all know kids can be cruel.
So she has a major dose of "I don't believe a word you're saying" and mistrust and doubt when the school bad boy shows interest in her. Then he pulls the stunt and she is livid. But as I said, Romeo's got skills!
Of course, Romeo has a time limit with which he has to work with, three days to make Ariel fall in love with him. Yes, now I know what you're going to say, insta love, but just read it. It sure doesn't feel like three days. And it really is well written. No wasted words, yet some real beautiful phrases.
Here were some of my favorites:
This is Romeo- "Her laughter dances through the night, making the stars shine brighter. The happiness in it surprises me. I think it surprises her as well. She pulls in a breath swallowing the sound. The absence of her amusement makes the quiet seem...emptier than it was before. " (p.47)
I liked the irony in this. Again this is Romeo-"I stopped reading books a while back" (he told Ariel) Like, two hundred years back, when my ability to empathize with man's condition deteriorated to the point where I couldn't understand why the characters were making the choices they did, or why I should care if they lived or died or found their happy ending." (p 126-127)
And lastly, from Ariel-"I'm afraid," she whispers, and I know she isn't talking to Romeo anymore. And that's the only thing you have to lose, I say softly. There's no need to shout. The truth is as loud at a whisper as at a scream." (p.337).
There is a lot that goes on in this novel and you have to pay attention but none of it will make sense if you haven't read Juliet Immortal which I highly recommend. I read it last year, but didn't review it except a very short review on Goodreads. It was a really great book. I'm definitely going to get the hardback of Romeo Redeemed to have with my copy of Juliet Immortal. They are both spectacular spins on the Bard's tale of Romeo and Juliet.
I read the E-ARC of this through NetGalley from the publisher Delacorte Books for Young Readers. The review is my honest opinion and was in no way influenced by this. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.
For 700 years Romeo has been a bad dude. He kills true lovers ruthlessly turning them into agents for the Mercenaries who are immortal and otherworldly strong. He hasn't felt, tasted or touched anything since the night he tricked Juliet into killing herself. But he saved her from the hands of the Mercenaries and now he's a shriveled skeletal thing just waiting to become a lost soul. But the Ambassadors of the Light want to give him a chance to redeem himself. He's got one shot. With a girl he's already killed. And who wants to kill him. But this is Romeo, no one can resist his charms. Or can they?
Now that's not the whole story, a romance, there is a lot more involved and if you haven't read Juliet Immortal just stop right here and go read that first because none of this will make any sense. This is one of those tricky novels. You have to think. It's got parallel universes and alternate realities and you have to reconcile what's happening in this one to what happened in Juliet Immortal. I think I got it. I did a pretty good job though things got a bit hairy for a little bit. This book is complicated. But it is so great to read.
As I wrote above, Romeo has been a bad, bad boy for centuries battling true loves coming up against Juliet many times. But he takes his shot at redemption, not exactly believing he has any shot at salvation after all the many things he's done. But it's a really incredible twisty turny plot and if you think you can predict it then you are a better reader than I. Romeo, after living 700 centuries has seen it all so doing whatever it takes to get Ariel to fall in love with him is not a problem. However, he's in a tough situation at the very beginning when he enters the body of the boy she's with and he realizes the boy has made a major blow to her ego and self esteem. She is so furious she's willing to drive them over a cliff and she yanks on the steering wheel. He's able to actually salvage this date. Romeo's got skills!
Ariel is complicated. Friendless except for Gemma who disappeared two weeks ago she's known as the Freak. She was burned in an accident as a child and not only does she have scars, but when she gets really angry, she hears voices, sees ghosts, monsters, they take over her body and she passes out and loses control of her bodily functions. Yeah, that doesn't make you popular. And we all know kids can be cruel.
So she has a major dose of "I don't believe a word you're saying" and mistrust and doubt when the school bad boy shows interest in her. Then he pulls the stunt and she is livid. But as I said, Romeo's got skills!
Of course, Romeo has a time limit with which he has to work with, three days to make Ariel fall in love with him. Yes, now I know what you're going to say, insta love, but just read it. It sure doesn't feel like three days. And it really is well written. No wasted words, yet some real beautiful phrases.
Here were some of my favorites:
This is Romeo- "Her laughter dances through the night, making the stars shine brighter. The happiness in it surprises me. I think it surprises her as well. She pulls in a breath swallowing the sound. The absence of her amusement makes the quiet seem...emptier than it was before. " (p.47)
I liked the irony in this. Again this is Romeo-"I stopped reading books a while back" (he told Ariel) Like, two hundred years back, when my ability to empathize with man's condition deteriorated to the point where I couldn't understand why the characters were making the choices they did, or why I should care if they lived or died or found their happy ending." (p 126-127)
And lastly, from Ariel-"I'm afraid," she whispers, and I know she isn't talking to Romeo anymore. And that's the only thing you have to lose, I say softly. There's no need to shout. The truth is as loud at a whisper as at a scream." (p.337).
There is a lot that goes on in this novel and you have to pay attention but none of it will make sense if you haven't read Juliet Immortal which I highly recommend. I read it last year, but didn't review it except a very short review on Goodreads. It was a really great book. I'm definitely going to get the hardback of Romeo Redeemed to have with my copy of Juliet Immortal. They are both spectacular spins on the Bard's tale of Romeo and Juliet.
I read the E-ARC of this through NetGalley from the publisher Delacorte Books for Young Readers. The review is my honest opinion and was in no way influenced by this. I did not receive any monetary compensation for my review.
withthebanned's review against another edition
4.0
Originally reviewed on Books Take You Places.
Warning! There will almost definitely be spoilers for Juliet Immortal in this review, be wary as you read! Also, if you haven’t read Juliet Immortal, go ahead and read it because it’s quite lovely.
Romeo is dying. Actually, dying is an understatement because in actuality he is beginning to decay from the inside and it really isn’t pretty. As his body decays, his mind still holds the guilt for every bit of turmoil he realizes he forced Juliet into. You see, back when Romeo and Juliet lived in Verona, back when he tricked her into killing herself, he really thought he was saving her. He trusted The Friar and believed he was helping Juliet escape from a life of shame and exile. The Friar lied to Romeo and told him that Juliet was going to be living free from sin in Heaven. Unfortunately we know this is not what happened and it was through Romeo’s actions that Juliet suffered.
Finally, after Juliet’s (second) demise, Romeo is given a chance at redemption. He must save Ariel, yes the same Ariel whose body Juliet inhabited in Juliet Immortal, and turn her from the darkness she is slowly falling into. The irony and complication in this task is that Romeo is inhabiting Dylan’s body and in order to save her from the darkness, he must make her fall in love with him. Those of you who remember Dylan from book one can grasp the severity of this cause as Dylan is a jerk (to say the least) and Ariel has an extremely hard time trusting him. The worst part? Romeo has three days. Three days to turn Ariel into a trusting individual, Three days to make Ariel love him, and three days to save them both.
I’m going to be honest here, I really love tortured male leads. I love the whole “I am not worthy” and the angsty, long-haired, “I have a serious edge but really I will snuggle your cat when you’re not looking” kind of guy. It’s just my thing. So Romeo? He’s my kind of dude. He is apparently Ariel’s kind of dude as well because it doesn’t take long for her to fall for him too, and let me tell you Ariel was quite the character herself. In fact, one of my favorite things about this novel was the characterization of Ariel. She had some major STUFF going on in her head yet she was still written like a teenage girl filled with “normal” teenage insecurities. There were moments in the story where there was no doubt in my mind that she and Romeo were destined to be together and it was not because of their mutual goodness. Instead, Ariel stood out at times as a perfect match to Romeo’s dark nature, she was quite kick-ass, and at times, a tiny bit scary. I really fell into their romance, they were even more passionate and “meant to be” than Juliet and Ben from book one and I adored the way that one played out.
“Set me as a seal on your heart,” I whisper against her lips. “For love is as stong as death.”
Juliet Immortal was full of some plot twists, most of which I saw coming. The glorious difference in Romeo Redeemed was that I really didn’t see the twists in plot, and character, coming. I was happily surprised at how things progressed and I really loved the way the novel concluded. The ending in this novel was in no way a rushed epilogue but things progressed a little slower and unfolded in a really wonderful way.
It is often that I enjoy sequels more than book one in a series. In the case of Romeo Redeemed I can’t say that I enjoyed the sequel more simply because for me the novel worked as a wonderful compliment to Juliet Immortal, not so much a continuation of story but more of a necessary companion. The duality between book one and two was apparent and in retrospect I really can’t see reading one without the other. Romeo Redeemed was a delicious read, it was equal parts of romance and intrigue and I highly recommend you give it a chance.
Warning! There will almost definitely be spoilers for Juliet Immortal in this review, be wary as you read! Also, if you haven’t read Juliet Immortal, go ahead and read it because it’s quite lovely.
Romeo is dying. Actually, dying is an understatement because in actuality he is beginning to decay from the inside and it really isn’t pretty. As his body decays, his mind still holds the guilt for every bit of turmoil he realizes he forced Juliet into. You see, back when Romeo and Juliet lived in Verona, back when he tricked her into killing herself, he really thought he was saving her. He trusted The Friar and believed he was helping Juliet escape from a life of shame and exile. The Friar lied to Romeo and told him that Juliet was going to be living free from sin in Heaven. Unfortunately we know this is not what happened and it was through Romeo’s actions that Juliet suffered.
Finally, after Juliet’s (second) demise, Romeo is given a chance at redemption. He must save Ariel, yes the same Ariel whose body Juliet inhabited in Juliet Immortal, and turn her from the darkness she is slowly falling into. The irony and complication in this task is that Romeo is inhabiting Dylan’s body and in order to save her from the darkness, he must make her fall in love with him. Those of you who remember Dylan from book one can grasp the severity of this cause as Dylan is a jerk (to say the least) and Ariel has an extremely hard time trusting him. The worst part? Romeo has three days. Three days to turn Ariel into a trusting individual, Three days to make Ariel love him, and three days to save them both.
I’m going to be honest here, I really love tortured male leads. I love the whole “I am not worthy” and the angsty, long-haired, “I have a serious edge but really I will snuggle your cat when you’re not looking” kind of guy. It’s just my thing. So Romeo? He’s my kind of dude. He is apparently Ariel’s kind of dude as well because it doesn’t take long for her to fall for him too, and let me tell you Ariel was quite the character herself. In fact, one of my favorite things about this novel was the characterization of Ariel. She had some major STUFF going on in her head yet she was still written like a teenage girl filled with “normal” teenage insecurities. There were moments in the story where there was no doubt in my mind that she and Romeo were destined to be together and it was not because of their mutual goodness. Instead, Ariel stood out at times as a perfect match to Romeo’s dark nature, she was quite kick-ass, and at times, a tiny bit scary. I really fell into their romance, they were even more passionate and “meant to be” than Juliet and Ben from book one and I adored the way that one played out.
“Set me as a seal on your heart,” I whisper against her lips. “For love is as stong as death.”
Juliet Immortal was full of some plot twists, most of which I saw coming. The glorious difference in Romeo Redeemed was that I really didn’t see the twists in plot, and character, coming. I was happily surprised at how things progressed and I really loved the way the novel concluded. The ending in this novel was in no way a rushed epilogue but things progressed a little slower and unfolded in a really wonderful way.
It is often that I enjoy sequels more than book one in a series. In the case of Romeo Redeemed I can’t say that I enjoyed the sequel more simply because for me the novel worked as a wonderful compliment to Juliet Immortal, not so much a continuation of story but more of a necessary companion. The duality between book one and two was apparent and in retrospect I really can’t see reading one without the other. Romeo Redeemed was a delicious read, it was equal parts of romance and intrigue and I highly recommend you give it a chance.