Published by: NAL, February 4th 2014
Genre: YA, Historical, Retelling
Pages: 368
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook
Source: Purchased
A thrilling retelling of the star-crossed tale of Romeo and Juliet, from the New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series.
In the Houses of Montague and Capulet, there is only one goal: power. The boys are born to fight and die for honor and—if they survive—marry for influence and money, not love. The girls are assets, to be spent wisely. Their wishes are of no import. Their fates are written on the day they are born.
Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, knows all this. He expects to die for his cousin, for his house, but a spark of rebellion still lives inside him. At night, he is the Prince of Shadows, the greatest thief in Verona—and he risks all as he steals from House Capulet. In doing so, he sets eyes on convent-bound Rosaline, and a terrible curse begins that will claim the lives of many in Verona…
…And will rewrite all their fates, forever.
Ughhhhhhhhhhh. This book is perfect, truly, seriously perfect. The best Shakespeare retelling I have probably ever read. Prince of Shadows is written in the most beautiful way, both simple and with the complex language nods to the original play of Romeo and Juliet. Even precious quotes are worked in without sounding out of place or pretentious.
My favourite thing about this book is how the narrator, Benvolio (my love!), could clearly see the sheer madness of the 'love' between Romeo and Juliet. It was a wanted change to have a main character who was partly removed from the craziness, who was as aware of the situation as the reader is.
There are countless retellings of this story that interpret it as a love story, that fail to understand what the play really was. They romanticise all the death and the violence and the original message Shakespeare was trying to say in favour of a love that killed many and lasted days. I'm so happy and grateful for this book, which knows what the true tale of R+J is, which knows how supremely messed up it was and doesn't try to play it in a hazy, rose-tinted light. This book makes me so happy and emotional, just for existing.
For the story, I loved the romance between level headed Benvolio and solemn, smart Rosaline. They grabbed my heart in a way those two title morons never did and I was so so desperate for them to get a H.E.A. Which they did! Also, the historical setting and atmosphere, even down to the details, was to my knowledge spot on. It conjured perfect images of that time in my mind, at least. And Mercutio's curse was treated with aching hurt and understandable fury. Nothing is bad about this book. I'm literally only marking it down a half star because it took me a while to get into it - that's it. I LOVE a R+J retelling and I can't even believe it myself.
Perfect self-aware retelling, perfect characters, perfect love, perfect curse. Bless you Rachel Caine.
My favourite thing about this book is how the narrator, Benvolio (my love!), could clearly see the sheer madness of the 'love' between Romeo and Juliet. It was a wanted change to have a main character who was partly removed from the craziness, who was as aware of the situation as the reader is.
There are countless retellings of this story that interpret it as a love story, that fail to understand what the play really was. They romanticise all the death and the violence and the original message Shakespeare was trying to say in favour of a love that killed many and lasted days. I'm so happy and grateful for this book, which knows what the true tale of R+J is, which knows how supremely messed up it was and doesn't try to play it in a hazy, rose-tinted light. This book makes me so happy and emotional, just for existing.
For the story, I loved the romance between level headed Benvolio and solemn, smart Rosaline. They grabbed my heart in a way those two title morons never did and I was so so desperate for them to get a H.E.A. Which they did! Also, the historical setting and atmosphere, even down to the details, was to my knowledge spot on. It conjured perfect images of that time in my mind, at least. And Mercutio's curse was treated with aching hurt and understandable fury. Nothing is bad about this book. I'm literally only marking it down a half star because it took me a while to get into it - that's it. I LOVE a R+J retelling and I can't even believe it myself.
Perfect self-aware retelling, perfect characters, perfect love, perfect curse. Bless you Rachel Caine.
Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world building ★★★★☆
Writing Style ★★★★☆
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"The devil can stoke a fire as well as ever God could."
"It was madness, and magic, and in that moment I understood with fatal clarity how my cousin could have thrown away his life, and all our lives, for love. If this was sorcery, then I had learnt to love it."
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