Julieta imortal

De Stacey Jay

Julieta Capuleto não tirou a própria vida. Ela foi assassinada pela pessoa em quem mais confiava, seu marido, Romeu Montecchio, que fez o sacrifício para assegurar sua imortalidade. Mas Romeu não imaginou que Julieta também teria vida eterna e se tornaria uma agente dos Embaixadores da Luz.
Por setecentos anos, Julieta lutou para preservar o amor e a vida de inocentes, enquanto Romeu tinha por fim destruir o coração humano.
Mas agora que Julieta encontrou seu amor proibido, Romeu fará tudo que estiver ao seu alcance para destruir a felicidade dela.
Segredos, mistérios e surpresas envolvem este poderoso romance em que o casal mais famoso da literatura mundial tem a chance de contar sua verdadeira história.

• Idioma: Português
• Editora: Editora Novo Conceito
• Data de lançamento: 2 de ago. de 2012
• ISBN: 9788581630939

Pré-visualização do livro

Publicado sob acordo com Delacorte Press, um selo de Random House

Título original: Juliet Immortal

Copyright © 2011 by Stacey Iglesias-Fedele

Copyright © 2011 Editora Novo Conceito

Todos os direitos reservados.

Esta é uma obra de ficção. Os nomes, personagens, lugares e acontecimentos descritos são produtos da imaginação do autor. Qualquer semelhança com nomes, datas e acontecimentos reais é mera coincidência.

Versão Digital - 2012

Produção Editorial

Equipe Novo Conceito

Tradução: Patrícia Dias Reis Frisene

Preparação de Texto: Fabrícia Carpinelli Romaniv

Revisão de Texto: Denise Cristina Morgado, Ana Caroline de A. A. Carrara e Tárcia Garcia Leal

Diagramação: Priscila Zenari e Hey Bro

Capa: Jacket art e Equipe Novo Conceito

Foto da capa: Yolande De Kort e Trevillion Images

Diagramação ePUB: Brendon Wiermann

Este livro segue as regras da Nova Ortografia da Língua Portuguesa

Dados Internacionais de Catalogação na Publicação (CIP)

(Câmara Brasileira do Livro, SP, Brasil)

Jay, Stacey

Julieta Imortal / um romance de Stacey Jay;

tradução Patrícia Dias Reis Frinese. --

Ribeirão Preto, SP : Editora Novo Conceito,

2011.

Título original : Juliet Immortal

ISBN 978-85-63219-57-2

eISBN 978-85-8163-093-9

1. Romance norte-americano I. Título.

11-08850 CDD-813

Índice para catálogo sistemático

1. Ficção : Literatura norte-americana 813

Rua Dr. Hugo Fortes, 1885 — Parque Industrial Lagoinha

14095-260 — Ribeirão Preto — SP

www.editoranovoconceito.com.br

Para Julie Linkers,

que sempre acreditou em Julieta

Ela lutará pela luz, e ele pela escuridão.

Lutando por séculos pela doce centelha do amor.

Sempre que duas almas se amarem de verdade, vocês os encontrarão.

A corajosa Julieta, e Romeu, o desertor.

— Cântico italiano medieval, autor desconhecido

1

VERONA, ITÁLIA, 1304

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À noite, poderia entrar pela porta. O castelo está silencioso, os empregados adormecidos, e a Ama o deixaria entrar. Mas ele escolhe a janela, subindo pelos ramos das flores noturnas, carregando as pétalas em suas vestes.

Uma pedra se solta e cai ao chão. Ouço seus gemidos ao correr em seu auxílio.

É romântico, um sonhador, e não tem medo de se entregar. É valente e corajoso, e eu o amo por isso. Desesperadamente. O amor que sinto me deixa sem ar. É como se morresse e renascesse sempre que olho em seus olhos ou passo meus dedos trêmulos por seus cabelos.

Eu o amo quando caminha por entre as pedras escorregadias, suas pernas fortes flexionadas debaixo das calças, como se não houvesse motivo para preocupação, como se não estivéssemos infringindo nenhuma regra e não fôssemos castigados ao chegar à única casa que conhecemos. Amo quando procura minhas mãos e as coloca em seu rosto macio, inspirando minha pele como a mais doce pétala presa em seu casaco. Amo quando sussurra meu nome, Julieta, como uma prece pela entrega, uma promessa de prazer, um voto de que toda essa doçura será eterna.

Para todo o sempre.

Apesar de nossos pais, e de nosso príncipe, e do sangue derramado em praça pública. Apesar de termos pouco dinheiro e raros amigos e de nosso futuro supostamente brilhante tornar-se escuro e nebuloso.

— Diga-me que o amanhã não chegará.

Ele me deita ao seu lado, tomando-me nos braços. Suas mãos passam por meu corpo, como nunca havia sentido antes. Os dedos emanam um calor que atravessa meu corpo, lembrando-me de que logo serei sua esposa. Cada toque é sagrado. Tudo que faremos esta noite deveria acontecer, a celebração dos votos que fizemos e do amor que nos consome.

Entrego meus lábios aos seus. A felicidade passa de sua boca para a minha e minto ao dizer que nada de mau acontecerá.

— Diga-me que sempre estarei aqui neste quarto. Sozinha com você. E que sempre serei a garota mais bonita do mundo — suas mãos se encontram detrás do meu vestido, leves e pacientes, retirando cada botão de suas casas com um toque de seus dedos.

No escuro, nenhum movimento brusco e violento entre nós. Ele está calmo e confiante. As velas brilham intensamente e revelam a ternura em seus olhos, comprovando, a cada momento, que não se trata de um caso passageiro da juventude. É amor. Verdadeiro. Intenso. Eterno.

— É para sempre — sussurro, envolvida por um sentimento de devoção. Uma parte de mim sente que amar é um sacrilégio, mas não me importo. Não há nada no mundo como Romeu. Pelo resto da minha vida, ele será o único deus em cujos pés me ajoelharei.

Seu rosto junto ao meu, sua respiração em meu ouvido faz a minha inspiração acelerar também.

— Julieta... você é...

Eu sou sua deusa. Sinto que ele estremece quando meus dedos alcançam os botões do seu casaco e o desabotoam, um a um, revelando o fino tecido de sua camisa.

— Você é tudo — diz ele com os olhos brilhantes. — Tudo.

— E eu sei que sou. Sou sua lua e sua estrela luminosa. Sou sua vida, seu coração. Sou tudo isso e a resposta para cada pergunta não feita. O conforto para cada sofrimento. Serei a pessoa que caminhará ao seu lado até o fim de nossas vidas, que revelará o prazer de cada momento que passaremos juntos e exalará a beleza por ter o privilégio de viver ao seu lado.

Meu amor, meu amor, meu amor. Poderia ouvir essas palavras centenas de vezes que nunca me cansaria. Nunca.

— Para sempre — murmuro em sua nuca, suspirando, enquanto deixo cair a última peça de roupa que cobre meu corpo.

2

Cidade de Solvang, Califórnia, dias atuais

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Morrer é fácil. Voltar é muito mais doloroso.

— Oh... — coloco as mãos na testa e percebo um líquido viscoso que escorre de um corte acima da sobrancelha.

Havia muito sangue dessa vez. O sangue em minhas mãos manchava o painel, pingava em minha calça jeans e deixava manchas escuras que podia ver através da luz da lua que iluminava o teto solar do carro. Era feio, assustador, mas, surpreendentemente, o acidente não a matou. Matou a mim.

Eu, agora. Ela, às vezes, dependendo de quanto tempo levo para garantir a segurança do casal de almas gêmeas que devo proteger. Ou de quanto tempo Romeu leva para convencer uma pessoa apaixonada a sacrificar a outra pelo privilégio da vida eterna.

Não deve demorar. Ele é bem-sucedido em tudo o que faz.

De qualquer forma, Ariel Dragland usará essa aparência novamente. Até que isso aconteça, ela esperará na esfera em que passei a maior parte da eternidade, em meio ao esquecimento, em um lugar deslocado do tempo e permanentemente cinza.

Meu contato com os Embaixadores da Luz avisou-me de que havia lugares piores; esferas de tormento em que o garoto que trocou nosso amor pela imortalidade sofrerá algum dia. A Enfermeira nunca usa a palavra inferno, mas gosto de imaginar que Romeu está entre os habitantes de lá. É claro, ela nunca menciona paraíso, tampouco se eu irei para lá quando terminar minha missão... se conseguir terminá-la.

Há muitas coisas que a Enfermeira prefere não mencionar. Inclusive a extensão exata da mágica que sempre me tira das sombras, mais do que trinta vezes em sete séculos até agora. Tudo o que sei é que a vida começa de repente. Em um momento estou adormecida e sem forma e, em outro, estou assumindo outro corpo, outra vida. A última, desagradável fantasia.

Estremeço ao me lembrar dos últimos momentos que Ariel passou comigo. Vejo-a tomando o volante das mãos do motorista antes da curva fatal na estrada e da forte arrancada para a direita, esperando que a queda no barranco matasse os dois, ela e o garoto que a machucou. Meus olhos percorrem o banco do motorista. O garoto, Dylan, é jogado para a frente. A inclinação do carro faz seu corpo girar em torno do volante. Ele está imóvel, nenhum suspiro escapa de seus lábios entreabertos.

Parece que metade do desejo de Ariel se realizou.

Fico abalada novamente, mas não posso dizer que estou arrependida. Sei o que ele fez, posso sentir o ódio e a vergonha de Ariel dentro de mim enquanto o resto da sua vida transcorre para preencher os espaços vazios da minha mente.

No fundo dos meus olhos passam as imagens de seus 18 anos. Presto atenção a cada detalhe, registrando suas memórias como se fossem minhas.

"Na ponta dos pés, ponta dos pés, sempre na ponta dos pés. Subo as escadas, atravesso a cozinha, passo pelo corredor que termina no quarto onde ficam os lápis e, enfim, posso respirar. Onde ela não está vendo. Minha mãe, com seus tristes olhos.

Sete, dez, quinze, dezoito anos e ainda não há nada mais do que uma folha de papel em branco, a promessa de que o mundo pode ser do jeito que quero. Um lugar mágico, emocionante, possível. As borrachas apagam os erros. Outra camada de tinta para cobrir tudo. Preto e vermelho e roxo e azul. Sempre azul.

Minha mãe compreende o azul. Ela vê as cicatrizes que fez. Eu tinha 6 anos. Ela vê Gema, minha única amiga, como um engano, não como minha tábua de salvação. Sabe das horas que passo sozinha e sente-se mais poderosa a cada momento perdido. Eu sou o desperdício, o que devorou sua juventude ainda viva. Não quis me livrar dos ossos.

Às vezes, parece que tudo que tenho são ossos, fragmentos, uma moldura vazia. Em certos momentos, detesto-a por isso, outras vezes me aborreço ou tenho antipatia por todos e por tudo. Imagino o mundo derretendo da mesma forma que o óleo desfez a minha pele.

Pele e ossos. Eu e minha mãe somos muito magras. Os abraços machucam, mas não há muitos. Por muitos anos. Há cirurgias, dor e luzes fortes. Depois disso, são dias presa em casa com as cortinas fechadas, para a nossa vergonha. Há escuridão lá dentro, aquela intrusa maldosa que chega quando eu ouso acreditar que um dia poderia ser inteira.

Há a escola e a tristeza de ser uma pessoa invisível, a inveja por não poder ser selvagem e bonita como Gema, por ser sempre a espectadora e nunca a jogadora. Existe a frustração das palavras que não saem da minha boca independente do quanto eu me esforce. Nota D em habilidade para falar em público. O único passo para o palco é uma escalada impossível. Everest. Mais alto. Detesto o professor Stark por seus suspiros frustrados, odeio a classe por suas risadas abafadas. Quero machucá-los, mostrar como é ter sua intimidade transformada em nós que não podem ser desatados.

Gema não se importa, diz que tenho de superar essas coisas. Deixa de compartilhar suas aventuras, fecha a janela para o seu mundo vibrante, esquece de me levar à escola pelo menos duas vezes por semana. Estou perdendo tudo. Minha única amiga, minha média escolar, minha mente. Quanto tempo mais posso viver desse jeito? Poderei viver mais quatro anos dormindo naquela sala, indo para a faculdade de enfermagem de Santa Bárbara, aprendendo a viver com mais enfermidade e dor, quando tudo que eu quero é escapar?

Mas então... ele aparece. Seu sorriso, sua voz, em um cantar alto, atravessa as cortinas onde escondo minhas tintas, entra em meus ouvidos, remexendo os sonhos que quero realizar.

Eles não acreditam.

É uma piada.

Estamos nos beijando, lentamente, beijos tão perfeitos que fazem meu coração disparar, quando escuto alguém perguntar se já havia tirado a virgindade da Esquisita. Ele tenta esconder o telefone, mas percebo. Começo a chorar, embora não esteja triste. Estou com raiva, ódio. Ele me oferece 50 dólares, uma parte da aposta, para que eu o deixasse completar a tarefa. Sinto-me explodir. Tento sair do carro, mas ele agarra as minhas mãos, com força, enquanto volta para a estrada. Diz para eu relaxar, pois tem a promessa de me levar a um lugar melhor.

Mas não há um lugar melhor. Sei disso agora. Há apenas espelhos que refletem frustrações, repelindo-as em milhares de direções, preenchendo o mundo até que não haja um caminho de volta. Sempre será assim. Sempre, mesmo quando eu finalmente deixar a casa na estrada El Camino.

A estrada, a estrada é... impossível. Não o deixarei dirigir por mais nenhum minuto. Não permitirei que ele entre no buraco da montanha ao descer para a praia, onde um oceano frio e escuro nos espera como um pesadelo. Não permitirei.

Não agora. Não de novo."

Meus olhos oscilam. Meu corpo treme por conta da adrenalina, mergulhado no medo, na dor e no desespero que Ariel sentia enquanto o carro chocava-se violentamente contra as grades de proteção e voava em direção ao barranco.

Sentiram-se imensamente consumidos pelo tempo em um impulso terrível. Ela quase não teve a chance de gritar antes que o carro tocasse o solo novamente e sua cabeça fosse lançada contra o vidro do passageiro com força, arrancando a pele da sua testa e deixando-a inconsciente, mas ainda viva.

Apesar dos ferimentos, ela sobreviverá... no fim. Queira ou não.

— Você resistirá. Você vai ver — disse em voz alta, embora soubesse que ela não poderia me ouvir.

Farei alguma coisa para melhorar sua vida antes do seu retorno. Irei torná-la mais suportável, já que não pode ser bonita. Os Embaixadores incentivam seus agregados a espalhar o amor e a luz, mas, mesmo que não o fizessem, não resistiria a Ariel. Ela é tão... triste. Quero ajudá-la, protegê-la da escuridão, dos Mercenários que se aproveitam de pessoas como ela.

Especialmente um Mercenário, que faz de tudo para tornar minhas vidas emprestadas tão dolorosas quanto a original.

Em algum lugar, na noite fresca de primavera, ele também está procurando um corpo, munido da mesma energia que me tirou das sombras. Em algum cemitério abandonado, Romeu está escolhendo um cadáver que seja velho o bastante para não ser reconhecido nessa cidadezinha, um lugar para esconder sua alma. Os Mercenários do Apocalipse habitam os mortos, recuperando a carne apodrecida enquanto se ocultam dentro dela.

Por um momento, tenho vontade de saber como será a nova aparência de Romeu, mas logo vejo que não vale a pena. Velho ou jovem, gordo ou magro, preto, branco ou verde: o inimigo é sempre o inimigo.

— Hum, ah — geme o garoto ao meu lado, que dirigia o carro.

Torço o nariz, desapontada por ele ainda estar vivo, o que me deixa com um gosto ruim na boca. Como uma Embaixadora da Luz, devo estar acima desses sentimentos. Mas não estou, nunca estive, nem quando era mortal, muito menos agora que sou uma guerreira imortal do amor.

O amor. Às vezes, só de pensar nele também sinto um gosto ruim na boca.

Ainda acho que foi melhor assim. Será mais fácil evitar as investigações policiais se nós dois sairmos vivos desse carro. E embora eu ache que o mundo seria um lugar mais tranquilo sem o Dylan, os Embaixadores não devem matar seres humanos... ou qualquer outra coisa. O assassinato alimenta a causa dos Mercenários. Não tenho permissão para tirar uma vida, mesmo se tiver todas as razões para isso.

— Mas nunca é certo fazer algo errado — sussurro, mesmo quando desejo silenciosamente que Dylan quebre alguns ossos ou, pelo menos, sofra bastante. Posso não ter permissão para a minha vingança, mas pelo menos Ariel pode sentir o gosto da sua.

— Ai... — resmunga Dylan novamente, chamando minha atenção para o seu rosto, com lábios carnudos, cílios escuros e cabelos castanhos levemente ondulados sobre a testa. Seu cabelo cobre um lado do rosto e do outro fica aparente um ferimento repugnante. Mas não há como negar que Dylan é belo. E maldoso.

Há algo cruel em seus traços, mesmo desmaiado, mas não posso culpar Ariel por não ter conseguido enxergar além das aparências. Não faz tanto tempo que eu era assim, jovem e ingênua, pronta para acreditar em garotos bonitos e no amor eterno.

Mas aprendi a lição. Para mim, apenas a vingança é eterna.

A necessidade de punir sua traição me faz continuar a luta. Estou do lado do bem, trabalhando para evitar que os Mercenários do Apocalipse destruam a beleza e a bondade que ainda restam na humanidade. De todos os deveres de um Embaixador, proteger almas gêmeas e preservar o futuro do amor romântico é o que mais respeito e aprecio. Mas destruir a sua existência, sabendo que ele voltará para os seus líderes sem nenhuma alma para mostrar seu trabalho, é melhor. Muito melhor.

Isso me ajuda a ignorar a dor enquanto encontro uma forma de sair do carro. Infelizmente, não será fácil escapar. A parte da frente está destruída. A porta do passageiro está presa, os botões que abrem os vidros das janelas fazem um zunido quando pressionados.

Botões. São parecidos com aqueles que utilizei em meu último corpo em... 1998? 1999? Os anos se misturam, contudo os botões e a aparência relativamente nova do interior do carro me ajudam a identificar o ano em que me encontro. Fecho os olhos, percorrendo as memórias de Ariel.

Passaram-se menos de quinze anos desde a minha última encarnação. Tormenta...

Raramente volto à Terra mais do que uma vez a cada cinquenta anos. Apesar das inúmeras canções de amor que a humanidade reproduz, não encontramos um amor verdadeiro todos os dias. Enquanto os Mercenários cumprem seu papel, com a destruição da esperança, sem compaixão, incitando a violência e a guerra, almas gêmeas estão se tornando uma espécie em extinção.

O amor verdadeiro não pode competir com a queda. É uma escalada pela face rochosa da montanha, um trabalho árduo, e a maioria das pessoas é egoísta ou tem medo de tentar. Em seus relacionamentos, poucas chegam ao ponto de chamar a atenção da luz e da escuridão, de comprometer-se com o amor apesar dos obstáculos, ou tentações, que surgem no caminho.

E há outros, iguais a mim e Romeu, duas metades separadas em lados opostos. Os outros alternam seus turnos, suponho, embora nunca os tenha encontrado na Terra ou em outros lugares fora do tempo. Desconheço as outras almas que se encontram nas sombras. Há apenas um eterno nevoeiro cinza e lapsos de memória, dos quais não posso fugir.

Romeu, entretanto, pode permanecer na Terra, habitando os corpos dos mortos. A Enfermeira insiste em dizer que esse processo é desagradável, mas pelo menos ele tem uma forma de vida.

Estou sempre sozinha, fingindo ser outra pessoa ou perdida em um imenso vazio. Sinto falta da vida, das conversas, gargalhadas. Tenho saudades das alegrias e das dores compartilhadas, bem como da dança e da pintura. Queria acordar sem temer algum mal ou, pelo menos, sem que possa vê-lo. Acima de tudo, sinto falta da inocência, da minha fé em encontrar a felicidade. Cumpro o meu papel sendo boa, mas, na realidade, sou amarga demais para ser uma grande Embaixadora, muito jovem para me sentir tão descrente.

Séculos passaram por mim, mas morri quando tinha 14 anos e passei menos do que vinte anos consciente na Terra. Ele, por outro lado, continua a viver e a aprender, afastando a loucura com ouvidos atentos e observando os olhos humanos. Ele tem 700 anos de experiência e habilidade, e isso o ajuda cada vez que tenta me destruir.

Talvez agora. Há alguma coisa... diferente nesta encarnação. Não é apenas por ela ter acontecido tão rápido. É... outra coisa... algo que arrepia os pelos dourados do meu braço esquerdo.

— Ai... droga... — Dylan tenta abrir os olhos.

Mesmo com a luz da lua iluminando o teto do carro, eles parecem escuros, peculiares. Há algo estranho nesse garoto, algo dentro dele. Não estou surpresa por ter sido tão cruel com Ariel, mas estou curiosa para ver o que ele fará depois. Como lidará com o fato de que ela quase os matou?

— Ariel? — pergunta ele com a voz abafada. — Você está bem?

— Si-sim, acho que sim — talvez ele não se lembre do que aconteceu antes do acidente. Caso isso ocorra, não irei ajudá-lo. Continuo indiferente. — Você está bem?

— Acho que estou. Acho que... devo estar... — suas palavras somem enquanto se aproxima. Ele está me olhando. Posso sentir, embora seu queixo esteja voltado pra baixo, criando espaços que a luz da lua não pode alcançar.

O teto! Olho para cima e uma expressão de alívio escapa de meus lábios. É feito de vidro! Obrigada, meu Deus. Sair do carro parece ser a melhor ideia a cada segundo que passa. Se Dylan é perturbado dessa maneira aos 18 anos, quando chegar aos 20, será um assassino em série.

— Ficaremos bem. Só precisamos sair daqui — ergo meus dedos cobertos de sangue para alcançar a trava, ignorando que Dylan se aproxima.

O teto solar do carro é operado manualmente. Percebo que o painel de vidro se mexe, mas o mecanismo me dá um pouco de trabalho. Mesmo assim, vou abri-lo e haverá espaço suficiente para nós dois passarmos. Eu vou primeiro, claro.

— Desculpe-me, posso — ele expira, sinto sua respiração quente em meu pescoço. Luto para não estremecer. — Eu poderia lhe perguntar uma coisa?

Ele quer falar. Que amável.

Suspiro. — Claro — puxo a trava, depois percebo que devo empurrá-la e suspiro novamente.

— Alguém já lhe disse que seu cabelo parece prateado com o reflexo da luz da lua?

Olho pelo espelho retrovisor. Meu novo cabelo realmente parece ser prateado, como se tivesse saído de um conto de fadas. E o resto que posso ver de mim também é assustador, de verdade.

Por que Ariel se acha tão repugnante? Enormes olhos azuis destacam-se em meu novo rosto, amenizando o nariz pequeno e meus lábios finos. As cicatrizes em minha face são visíveis, mas não são tão terríveis como pensa Ariel. O rosto que me olha é atraente, constrangedor. Há algo nele que nos faz querer olhar novamente.

E é o que faço, mirando-o por mais tempo, entregando-me.

Dylan sorri, seus lábios rapidamente se aproximam dos meus. — Mas espera, que luz passa por essa longínqua janela?

Não. Não pode ser. Nós nunca. Ele nunca...

— Sentiu minha falta, amor? — ele me beija no rosto, um beijo ríspido e jocoso que deixa para trás um pouco de umidade.

Dylan finalmente morreu. E Romeu encontrou um corpo. É meu último pensamento antes de suas mãos agarrarem meu pescoço.

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Tento respirar enquanto ele me empurra contra a porta.

Minha cabeça bate na janela, com força. Sinto pontadas de dor no fundo dos meus olhos. Logo ele está em cima de mim, suas pernas em volta da minha cintura, prensando-me contra o banco. Levo minhas mãos até o pescoço, tentando afastar seus dedos, mas não é fácil, não tão fácil como deveria ser, como seria se eu tivesse tempo para curar todos os danos de uma vida e me conectar à minha nova forma.

Nas primeiras horas após o término de uma encarnação, antes de recuperar meus poderes sobrenaturais, geralmente fico fraca. Mas isso nunca me preocupou. Mesmo com sua estranha habilidade para me achar, nunca encontrei Romeu antes de estar habitando um novo corpo por, pelo menos, um dia. Leva algum tempo para eu descobrir quais são as almas que devo proteger, para entrar em contato com a Enfermeira em um suave reflexo no espelho e receber minhas instruções dos Embaixadores.

Por isso, tenho apenas de esperar e ficar alerta. Romeu sempre faz uma aparição. Invariavelmente, ele é enviado ao mesmo lugar que estou para tentar vencer as mesmas almas com seus argumentos sombrios. Fará de tudo para convencer um dos amantes a sacrificar seu verdadeiro amor pelos poderes do ódio, da destruição e do caos e se tornar um Mercenário imortal — da mesma forma que ele fez na noite seguinte à consumação de nossos votos matrimoniais.

Ainda me pergunto o que eles lhe ofereceram. Quais argumentos utilizaram e quanto tempo ele levou para perceber que foi enganado, que o fizeram cravar uma faca em meu peito por nada. Sei que não recebeu o que foi prometido. Vi o sinal de arrependimento em seu olhar.

Nossos novos olhos se encontram e, por um momento, acho que vejo o mesmo sinal, antes que seu rosto encontre meus lábios e sinta a sua respiração. — Seu hálito tem sempre o mesmo aroma. Tão doce.

— Afaste-se de mim — aviso, sentindo um pouco de náusea. É impossível acreditar que um dia sonhei em passar o resto da minha vida venerando esse monstro.

Agora sonho em matá-lo, para que nunca mais sinta nada.

— Não acredito. Acho melhor ficar onde estou. Esse novo corpo é... delicioso — dá um sorriso enquanto tenta manter os dedos em volta do meu pescoço, sufocando a vida de Ariel. Se a matar, nos matará também, sabe disso. Mas não se importa com os efeitos colaterais. Para ele, um assassinato duplo será um prazer especial. — Sinto vergonha em acabar com você tão rápido.

— Você não vai acabar comigo.

Não vai mesmo. Isso não pode acabar assim. Quero vê-lo falhar novamente, outras 100 vezes. Sinto a adrenalina subir pelas veias, fazendo meu coração disparar, dando-me a força de que preciso para afastar seus dedos e acertar seu rosto com a palma da mão.

— Ai — resmunga enquanto acerto o seu estômago, mas sem machucar. Não muito, pelo menos. Estamos muito próximos para que eu possa fazer movimentos mais bruscos, mesmo se estivesse na minha melhor forma.

Tenho de ir embora.

Enquanto o empurro para o lado, procuro a trava do teto, mas ele agarra

Avaliações de Julieta imortal

[a_reader_of_fictions · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

In all honesty, I really didn't expect to like this. Romeo and Juliet was not my favorite play to begin with, and, because of its ubiquitousness, I've grown rather to loathe it. While I general hunt down retellings like Jaws hunts down the people of Amity, I make an exception for Romeo and Juliet most of the time. To my pleasant surprise though, I really, really was impressed with Juliet Immortal and am thrilled that I have a copy of the sequel Romeo Redeemed ready to go.

Stacey Jay made Romeo and Juliet palatable characters by completely changing things up. In this version, it turns out Romeo is totally willing to turn homicidal on Juliet in exchange for eternal life, given him by forces of evil known as the Mercenaries. Juliet, thanks to last minute intervention from Nurse, gets eternal life as well, signing on to work for the Ambassadors, the forces of light. I acknowledge that this all sounds patently ridiculous, but it's fantasy, so just take my word for it that, by and large, this paranormal plot line worked quite well for me.

Most of the narration (minus three chapters/intermezzos) is Juliet's first person perspective. Her work for the Ambassadors entails taking over another person's body, chosen seemingly at random. From this vantage point, her goal is to find a pair of lovers and make sure they reach true love, rather than one of them being recruited into the evil/eternal life scheme as happened with Romeo. While in another person's body, Juliet must avoid changing their life over much, but does try to improve things, which reminded me rather strongly of Mercy by Rebecca Lim.

This time, Juliet manifests in the body of a deeply depressed, lonely girl named April. Unfortunately, Romeo, who takes over dead bodies, restoring them to life and not the zombie-looking kind, appears in the same car with her, since April and Dylan had just been in a major car crash. Basically, Dylan had a bet that he could sleep with April, she found out, he tried to force her, and she crashed the car, killing him. In other words, Dylan sucks. Guess what, though! Romeo's WAY creepier. Call me morbid, but I got serious enjoyment out of watching the 'true lovers' end up such a hot mess.

Jay's writing and concept were phenomenal, and I was never bored. However, I did have some problems with the book. The main one is Juliet's gullibility. She's depicted as this strong, determined character, who has wised up from all of the horrible things Romeo has put her through. Though she supposedly works in pursuit of true love, she doesn't really believe in it anymore, and really just hopes for a chance to revenge herself on Romeo. All of that = fantastic.

Unfortunately, Juliet, it seems, hasn't learned much of anything. She immediately instaloves with someone else, Ben, the guy who saves her from Romeo that first night. Good lord, girl! Didn't you learn the first time that it doesn't hurt to take some time and not rush into things? It's hard to believe she's got her emotional walls up, if she instaloves so easily. She doesn't even fight it very hard. Heck, the true lovers she's sent to help fight their love more than she does, for all her wordy protestations.

I just wish she had been that way in all of her life, been a bit more questioning of love the second time around. That's just not who she is, though, I guess. On an unrelated note, can we stop with the whole "I'm writing a retelling of this play set in high school, so I'll totally have the school perform this play!" thing. Yes, that was once a clever gambit, but that ship has sailed, dear authors. It has been done enough; try something new. Note: SHS doesn't actually perform Romeo and Juliet; they perform West Side Story, which is almost worse.

The ending, too, seemed a bit overly convenient. I didn't really feel like everyone could emerge from this tale quite so happily. Of course, there's always the next book, which might be slightly different. I am eminently curious to see what angle Jay takes in the next book.

[mhanover10 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

I found this a really interesting concept. Juliet keeps going into bodies to help two soul mates to find each other. She has been doing it for 700 years. Romeo is on the other side and tries to take one of the soul mates to the dark side. This story is dark and creepy. I will say that Juliet drove me crazy at times. I read where several people hated the ending. I didn't mind it. I thought it made sense and set the story up for the second book. I think either you really like this story or you don't. You will have to decide.

[misstamaradawn · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

Honestly, I REALLY enjoyed this book. From the beginning to end it was fun. I love the characters they made Romeo and Juilet become. And the characters they introduced you to. I couldn't put it down. I don't normally read any kind of romance novels, but this was such a twist on the classic story that I fell for it. I recommend this book if you love fun. I wasn't disappointed with it at all.

[cindywho-1 · Nota: 3 de 5 estrelas]

This was another loaner from my co-worker who also likes YA books. Jay takes the idea of how creepy the story of Romeo and Juliet is and spins it out into this crazy supernatural good vs. evil battle between cranky Juliet and repulsive Romeo, inhabiting bodies, living and dead and going to high school in wine country California. It's ridiculous, but fun and didn't go quite as I expected, which is always nice. Also - I wish that publishers didn't skimp so much on the editing. There were a few sentences that didn't make much sense.

[heatherlinc · Nota: 2 de 5 estrelas]

I usually enjoy the retelling of old classics and I liked the premise of "Juliet Immortal" giving Shakespeare's story of the two star-crossed lovers a completely new twist. The story begins back in Verona, Italy, where the reader discovers that Romeo has sacrificed Juliet for his own immortality then quickly moves to modern-day California where Juliet has inhabited the body of a seventeen-year old girl so she can save true love against Romeo who is trying to destroy the human heart.This book didn't really engage me. I felt that Juliet and Ben were just too good to be totally believable and I didn't like how their connection was practically instantaneous. Nor did I like how the author portrayed Romeo - a manipulative murderer who would do anything to get his own way. I also did not fully understand the role of the Mercenaries and Ambassadors throughout the story and at times found myself skimming through large parts of the book. Overall, I would have to say "Juliet Immortal" was quite ho hum!

[chaoticbooklover · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

This book is a wonderful take on the old Romeo and Juliet story with a great paranormal/supernatural twist.

The story takes place in modern times, and while I was thinking maybe it would be a knock off of R & J, I soon realized that it really wasn't. Romeo and Juliet are both in the story in modern times and while it technically isn't them it is their souls and it makes for a wonderful read. I was a little confused at first and would love more of a look at the Mercenaries and the Ambassador's, but everything was pretty cut and dry in the explanation of both entities.
I wasn't too happy with the ending of the book and would love to see this made into a series, as I would love to go a little farther with Juliet's ending and I NEED to know what goes on with Romeo...
All in all this is a book I am happy to keep on my e-reader and read again.

[deweyever · Nota: 2 de 5 estrelas]

What if Shakespeare got it all wrong? Juliet, a fighter for the light, must face off against Romeo, the boy who killed her in a battle to save the souls of a pair of soul mates. Cute, but full of teen angst.

[bookczuk · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

So basically, this is another redux of Romeo and Juliet, with a twist. What if Romeo went over to the dark side, seeking immortality, and used Juliet's life/soul/blood as the ticket to get there? And what if they're mixed up in a crazy cycle of rematches over the centuries, Romeo on the against-true-love team, and Juliet fighting for the true-lovers?Clever, decently written, only distracted me a couple of times by language that was where it shouldn't have been, i.e there's no way the word "okay" was used in 14th century Italy.) Characters had enough depth to them (at least Juliet, and a couple of side ones) to keep it interesting. Nice touch that the school play the modern day high school was doing was "West Side Story."There apparently is a sequel. If I stumble on it, I'll give it a read.

[yearningtoread · Nota: 3 de 5 estrelas]

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (#1)Pages: 307Release Date: August 9th, 2011Date Read: 2012, January 17th-21stReceived: Borrowed from LibraryRating: 3/5 starsRecommended to: 14+SUMMARY -Juliet Capulet, the figure of tragic love all over the world, has a mission - Find Romeo and prevent him from breaking up true lovers, and gathering Mercenaries for the enemy. But this time something's different. There's a change in the air - both of the doomed lovers can feel it - and the victim may not be who they think. And with Juliet seeing apparitions and fighting a love that can never come to pass, the mission - to save true love - might be more more deadly than anyone could have guessed.MY THOUGHTS -Let's start with what I didn't like - the last quarter of the book. What even was that? Kinda creepy, but not well explained. There were a lot of holes that had me shaking my head with confusing. It lost its believability , to, like a quick-fix ending.BUT. I did really really enjoy the beginning. It startled me, how intense it was. I loved the dynamics between characters and how the story elements brought them together. Ben is by far my favorite character. So sweet, loving and sacrificial. GAH! These scenes with him - all of them - were so great!But again. The end. It stumped me and I didn't really get to enjoy finishing it.Since I got the second book for review, I'll read it, and let you guys know what I think. Hopefully it'll be better?This book reminds me of...Red dresses (The cover...I cheated)The cliffs of California that overlook the oceanHills of flowersGhostly apparitionsSelf-struggles and fearsThe burning flame of loveHow much I love the name BenjaminRetellingsFor the Parents -I don't remember there being much - a few passionate kisses, some language, maybe a few crude references. Recommended 14+

[girlsonfire · Nota: 5 de 5 estrelas]

All I can say is that this book blew me away!

[wolfangel87 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

The book was an interesting take on the concept of the Romeo and Juliet storyline. I loved the idea of fighting for love and soul mates and good versus evil throughout the book.Juliet was a surprising character for me. In her own way she seemed a little selfish but at the same time was lovable and just wanted what was best for everyone around her. Even though Romeo was portrayed as the bad guy, his redeeming characteristics shined through. Ben of course was the most lovable; his character seemed to scream too good to actually be true. Ben did not really have any bad qualities about him, he was slightly flawed but everything ‘bad’ that he did was explained by something a thousand times to the opposite. Gemma was my least favorite character out of everyone, I did not see the redeeming qualities coming out of her nor did I fully understand her motives.I am extremely excited to read the second book in the series.

[mlleehreen · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

DEAD ON THE DELTA was one of my few five-star reads last year and I’ve thought, since then, that I should try JULIET IMMORTAL, but – confession time – I’ve never really liked Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET. Not the overwrought adolescent love, not the tragic suicides at the end. If only I’d realized sooner that JULIET IMMORTAL is a book written specifically for people like me – people so disgusted with the original that they will jump with glee when the first chapter reveals Romeo (Oh, Romeo) as the villain of the piece. The villain! YES!

After the first scene, when Romeo tries to choke the life out of Juliet and Juliet runs for her life, I was totally on board. And for the most part, the novel is excellent. The writing is wonderful, beautiful and visceral without ever getting in the way of the story. The book’s premise puts Juliet in the body of another girl, Ariel, equipped with her memories. Juliet lives this girl's life while seeing it with the clarity and a compassion of a stranger. It’s an arresting perspective.

The plot is pretty complex. Basically, Juliet’s immortal job is to bring star-crossed lovers (like she and Romeo once were) together. Romeo’s job is to drive those lovers apart. Things start to go wrong for Juliet when she falls for one half of the star-crossed pair that she’s been sent to earth to unite. She's in love with him…and she has to push him into someone else’s arms.

I did end up having some pretty serious problems with JULIET IMMORTAL. Because this initial purpose that I’ve described – Juliet has an immortal job, she’s sure about which lovers she’s supposed to bring together, sure that Romeo is there to stop her, as usual – is thrown for a loop at about the 75% point. I’m going to try to explain this without spoilers, so…let’s just say that this loop Juliet has to deal with turns into an extended barrel roll. Juliet gets revelation after revelation in such quick succession that I’d hardly assimilated the one before the next came crashing along.

I didn’t have a problem with the pacing of JULIET IMMORTAL until I got to this rushed, overwhelming conclusion. I wanted Jay to deal with these insane curveballs more thoroughly, and I wished they’d been lobbed at the reader earlier in the book. As a result, even though I liked the place where Jay ended the novel for both Romeo and Juliet, it wasn’t as satisfying as it might have been otherwise. I had some kind of literary whiplash.

[cantinera · Nota: 3 de 5 estrelas]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. To be honest, while probably an affront to some that Romeo is a jerk who turned evil while Juliet was a naive girl tricked into being immortal and helping soul mates.

I found that characterization interesting, as well as some of the plots, so even with its lulls, I enjoyed the concept. Interesting re-telling, if odd.

[sarahlewis-1 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

I absolutely adored this book! It was a great afternoon read, that had enough drama and excitement to keep me reading.

Juliet Immortal is a spin on the original Romeo & Juliet tale by Shakespeare. This one however, won't leave your brain hurting!

[kreagsheehan · Nota: 5 de 5 estrelas]

Juliet Immortal, in my eyes could have either failed, or succeeded. luckily, it was the latter of the two! Juliet Immortal was beautifully written, and the story line was amazing. I really felt connected to the characters, and every one of them felt real. The writing was beautiful and emotional and I loved it. My only complaint is about the ending, which seemed to be a bit to... convenient would be the word I guess. But other than that, I am really looking forward to the sequel, Romeo Redeems.

[titania86_1 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

The tale of Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous romantic stories in history and has been retold countless times. The real Juliet is so annoyed because their real story didn't happen like that at all. Everything is correct up until she wakes up and, in reality, Romeo stabs her in order to live forever. While she was dying, her Nurse granted her immortality as well to work for the Ambassadors of Light, who work to save soul mates and allow them to live happily. Romeo is on the opposite side, the Mercenaries, and works to get one to sacrifice the other for eternal life as he did. They have been doing this for centuries, but something is different this time when they appear in modern day California. Juliet inhabits the body of a physically and emotionally scarred girl, who will return to her body when the mission is done. Both Romeo and Juliet's strength is diminished and they can't contact the powers that be in their two factions. Romeo, after initially trying to kill her, tries to convince her to cast a spell with him so they can be human together. Juliet is completely uninterested, but starts to develop feelings for a boy she meets named Ben. Can she still complete her mission? What will happen when she leaves the body and the real girl takes over?I love Juliet Immortal. This isn't your typical retelling story where it's simply transported into the present day. Based on the cover, I was expecting a regular kind of West Side Story retelling with less dancing, snapping, and singing and I was pleasantly surprised when it wasn't. I like the supernatural elements because they are completely unexpected and very different from other paranormal books I've read. The two factions, the Ambassadors of Light and the Mercenaries, aren't present for much of the book, but influence the actions of Romeo and Juliet throughout the novel. Romeo inhabits dead bodies and walks the Earth for eternity in them, discarding old bodies in favor for fresher ones. Juliet, on the other hand, only inhabits living bodies in times of need. Her task also involves improving the life of the person whose body she is borrowing. When she isn't in a body, she is trapped in a cloud of nothingness, not aware of anything. Romeo is more experienced than her and stronger than her, which is usually the case in good vs. evil conflicts. This unique paranormal world made the book an interesting, fun read.Juliet's attitude is the most unexpected aspect of the book. The naive and idealistic Juliet from the past is gone and replaced by a bitter, angry, and jaded being whose only focus is constant vengeance against Romeo. It's completely understandable in her situation. I enjoyed seeing a more confident, self assured Juliet who was willing to keep fighting for what she believes in, even if it makes her miserable. One thing that annoyed me was that she stumbled into the same pitfall as before. She fell in love with a forbidden boy in a relatively short amount of time and could never see herself with anyone else. She seems to think that it's different because it was over more than a couple of days, but it's very similar. It would be nice to see more teen romances feature relationships based on actual friendship and knowledge of the other person instead of love at first sight just based on looks. Romeo's character is kind of muddled. He is evil because he preys on the soul mates, trying to convince them to murder each other and he constantly tries to murder Juliet before she achieves her goal. Throughout the book, it seems like we're supposed to sympathize with him or think he wants to be better, but I was never convinced. He is best when he embraces his evilness and not when he's trying to garner sympathy or acting pathetic. Overall, I really enjoyed Juliet Immortal. The writing is engaging and fluid, but sometimes a little over dramatic. I was never bored and I read the book in only a couple days. I would recommend it to people who enjoyed the original play and fans of paranormal romance.

[pacey1927 · Nota: 3 de 5 estrelas]

I wanted to read this book from the time I first heard of it. How awesome to take the well known "Romeo and Juliet" story and flip it on its booty! Well I totally have ended up conflicted. The plot of the story didn't work for me nearly as well as I had assumed by the blurb on Amazon and that on the book. We find out that Romeo betrayed Juliet and both ended up dead but not before they joined opposing sides in a timeless 'war' between the Mercanaries (dark, evil) and the Ambassadors of Light (the 'good' side). Both sides send their members out into the world at various times so to help either nudge true loves together or keep them apart. Romeo and Juliet in their new incarnations are constantly at fighting each other as members of these apposing sides. Honestly a lot of this didn't make sense to me. It didn't engage me and I found myself underwhelmed. I couldn't figure out whether Romeo really was evil or if maybe there was some good to him. Pretty much he is a manipulative unrepentant murderer who kills to keep things going his way. Yet I think the author wanted us to see some redeemable qualities in his character but I just didn't see a single thread of hope in him. He takes some actions toward the end of the book that made it hard for me to think he could ever redeem himself. Juliet, in a borrowed body, is better to deal with. She tries to make things better for the girl who's body she is using. She wants her to come back to her body and find life is a little easier for her. Yet she forgets so often that she isn't really this girl. Juliet falls in love with a boy named Ben who has got to me my favorite character in this book. He is written very well and I enjoyed almost all aspects of his character. Even though the book reads quickly and I never got bored with it, I still felt that it was just pretty flat and I wasn't looking forward to writing its review. Then I reached the last 1/4 of the book and I really liked what the author did with the story. She makes some bold choices with how to end the book and not every reader is going to be happy with this ending. Again I didn't truly understand every reason that things worked out like they did but I was very pleased with the ending. I also liked that final chapter which deals with the Romeo character. It left room for a sequel and I actually feel like I would want to read it. It did take the ending to make me feel that way. From the second chapter or so I felt like this wouldn't be a book I would enjoy. With a little more detail to the backstory and 'world' set up maybe I wouldn't have been so confused. The writing is good quality and I am eager to read Stacey Jay's adult book which is in my TBR stack. "Juliet Immortal" was truly a mixed bag for me and so I am rating it right down the middle. I can see other fans of paranormal YA loving this book so I don't want to discourage anyone from reading it.

[slay621 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

From Random House:"These violent delights have violent endsAnd in their triumph die, like fire and powder,Which as they kiss consume."—Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareThe most tragic love story in history . . .Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.Most people I know tolerated Shakespeare in school. A necessary evil to get a passing grade... Not me, I found a home in his prose. I have a huge, leather bound, gold embossed, lovely tome of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (a long ago birthday present from Bel & my brother). This book is sacred to me, one of my most prized possessions. Naturally, I generally hate it when people bastardize Shakespeare (I cannot even fathom watching the Leonardo DiCaprio version of Romeo & Juliet). Given this, I shocked myself and Nat by picking up Juliet Immortal. Admittedly, I never thought I would finish the book. I figured my curiosity would leave me a chapter or two into the book. I was wrong. I went from a premise I was sure I would hate, to a book I could not put down.Evil Romeo? An epic battle of good and evil between Romeo & Juliet? Unfathomable, and yet it caught my attention and forced me to become immersed in this book. Juliet, as a force of light, fighting for love and protecting soul mates, despite having been so cruelly denied her own happy ending, could have been a complete cliche, begging for someone to reach into the book and beat her up, yet I found that the author tempered Juliet's anger and bitterness with true concern for others and a desire to do good in the world. She also possessed an inner strength that made her not only tolerable, but likable. Juliet is fueled by righteous anger and a need for revenge by blocking Romeo's attempts to destroy soul mates. Juliet's current assignment requires her to face her past and examine who and what she has become. It also requires Juliet to search her own soul to see if she can find forgiveness and love for someone that she has hated for centuries to avoid a fate worse than hell. Romeo for his part was wickedly evil and charming at times. His cruelty is tempered by moments, just glimpses of the man he was, before. This passage from Shakespeare's play kept popping into my mind as I read, especially the portions from Romeo's point of view."Love is a smoke rais'dwith the fume of sighs;Being purg'd, a fire spark-ling in lovers' eyes;Being vex'd, a seanourish'd with lovers' tears.What is it else? A madnessmost discreet,A choking gall, and a preserving sweet."Romeo & Juliet, William ShakespeareI had no idea where Stacey Jay would take this tale, even right up to the end I could not figure it out. Juliet Immortal is fast, action-packed, fun with heart. There's humor, intrigue and murder - just the way Shakespeare liked it. I give Juliet Immortal 4 stars for keeping me thoroughly entertained and desperate to get to the end. ~ Shel

[lifeafterjane · Nota: 5 de 5 estrelas]

For never was a story of more woe Than this of... Ariel and her... Ben?The synopsis was probably all it took to get you hooked and aching for this book. A retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a wicked paranormal twist? I was sold. Ambassadors of light? OK. I can admit I anticipated a little bit of cheese there and honestly didn't know what to expect out of the story. I read the first sentence and knew instantly that Jay's writing wasn't going to be anything to smirk at. It took one sentence for me to be addicted and one chapter for me to abandon every thing else I had planned for the day and devour this book.My inner fan-girl is OMGing at that first chapter. It's a beautiful, beautiful love scene between Romeo and Juliet that draws you right back into the classic story that so tugged at your heart, followed by Jay's unique twist that breaks it far more than the original death scene did.Juliet hates Romeo. He traded his soul mate for immortality, became a sick, murderous agent of evil and spends the next 700 years trying to rip true love pairs apart. The Dread Pirate Roberts said "Death can not stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while." No Wesley, death can give you a 700 year opportunity to kick the shit out of it.Every so often, a true soul mate pairing will occur and with it, an agent of each faction. Juliet, of the Light, attempts to fully unite the pair, securing true love and win a point for the good side. Once her task is complete she fades away until the next pair appears. Romeo, an agent of the dark, also appears with each soul mate pair. His job is to convince one of the lovers to kill their lover in exchange for immortality. Accomplishing this wins a point for the bad guys and Romeo gets to stay on Earth, inhabiting a body until it's time for the next assignment. There's poor Juliet, pretty much dead until she's useful again, and Assholeo gets to play for Team Zombie (can I get a woot for anything Zombie!). Juliet enters the body of a girl named Ariel who has just deliberately crashed her date's (Dylan) car, almost killing him and leaving Ariel in limbo until Juliet leaves her body. It usually takes a day or two for Romeo to show up, giving Juliet time to settle into the life of the person she is inhabiting, but as Dylan begins to come to, there is something in his eyes that has Juliet instantly afraid."No. It can't be. We've never- He's never-"Did you miss me, love?" he kisses me on the cheek, a rough, playful kiss that leaves a bit of wet behind.Dylan has died after all. And Romeo has found a corpse. It's my last thought before his hands are around my throat."Enter hero stage right: We meet a young man named Ben who, for reasons unknown, is startlingly familiar to Juliet. There's something reassuring about his presence- something that makes her feel safe with him. Something that makes her want him. It is not Juliet's place to feel an attraction to a mortal. She is not Juliet, she is Ariel and must preserve Ariel's life as best she can while fulfilling her duty to unite two destined lovers. It's been so very long since Juliet felt anything for anyone,other than the hate she has for Romeo, that this new emotion is something she craves more of. But she isn't really alive and she can never have him.Are you squealing yet? Yes, it is over the top schmaltzy romance and I could smell a love triangle coming but I DIDN'T CARE. Jay's writing is gorgeous and the story is so wild and intense that I loved it, loved it! A highly imaginative twist on one of the most memorable and powerful love stories. It will have you running away screaming when you hear the name Romeo and yet, somehow it still manages to preserve the intense hope that true love can really exist.

[booktwirps · Nota: 3 de 5 estrelas]

We all know the story: Fourteen-year-old Juliet Capulet falls for Romeo Montague. Their love is forbidden because their families are constantly at war with each other. The two are secretly married, Romeo kills Juliet’s cousin and is banished to Mantua. Juliet fakes her death, Romeo comes back for her and believing her dead, kills himself. When Juliet awakens and finds Romeo dead, she plunges a dagger through her heart to join him.In Stacey Jay’s Juliet Immortal, that isn’t exactly how it all ended. Rewind to the moment Romeo finds Juliet in her tomb. Juliet awakens only to be stabbed in the heart by none other than Romeo himself. He has made a pact with a group of immortals who call themselves The Mercenaries. By killing his soul mate, Romeo will be granted immortality, and allowed to join The Mercenaries. He will roam the earth, inhabiting the bodies of dead people and enticing others to kill their soul mate in exchange for their own immortality. What Romeo doesn’t realize is that Juliet was saved by her nurse, a member of another paranormal group called The Ambassadors. As part of this group, Juliet will temporarily assume the body of someone and fight to keep love alive, hopefully preventing them from falling prey to Romeo’s destruction.700 years after she died, Juliet finds herself inhabiting the body of seventeen-year-old Ariel. Not only will she work to restore Ariel’s relationship with her mother and friends while attempting to boost her self-confidence, Juliet must search out and help two soul mates realize their love for one another before Romeo gets to them. She doesn’t expect to fall head over heels in love in the process, something that is strictly forbidden by her elders. With Romeo hot on her heels and her heart on the line, Juliet must put her feelings aside to save not only the soul mates in love, but herself as well.This book was much more violent than I expected, and it had a lot of action which kept me rapidly turning the pages. The story is engaging and has many twists and turns which keep you guessing. In the end, I think it was the number of twists involved that dampened the ending for me. I really enjoyed the story up until about the last six or seven chapters which was when something stopped working for me. It seemed like the twists the story kept taking got to be a little too much, to the point that I just gave up trying to follow everything. The first few chapters of the book are great. Ms. Jay sets up the story with a lot of tension and mystery which I loved. The characters are well-drawn and fit the story (though the character of Gemma grated my last nerve) and the writing is strong. I just had a hard time with the resolution. It isn’t that it was bad, it just felt … off. Part of that may be because my head was spinning so rapidly by the end of the book I had just stopped caring and wanted it to be over.

[bonnie_ferrante · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

I love writers who are confident enough to use Shakespeare’s characters in a new piece of fiction. The premise for this novel was completely unexpected. Not to give too much away, the forces of good and evil have enrolled Romeo and Juliet in an eternal battle of opposites. They are able to inhabit the bodies of others in order to fulfill their missions. Juliet is challenged with ensuring the full bloom of true love which brings a young couple under the protection of the Ambassadors of Light. In addition to destroying lovers before they reach full commitment, Romeo is determined to kill Juliet or turn her to the dark side.Stacy Jay cleverly creates opposing forces that are complex with murky motivations. As the novel progresses, the reader is unsure if even Juliet is on the right side.Because Romeo and Juliet have lived through many lives, they speak in a combination of Elizabethan wordage and the vernacular of today’s teens. This can be a bit jarring at times but does suit the story line.Romeo is an over-the-top villain but, once his complete experiences and motivations are revealed, it seems clear that he is a tortured soul, uncertain of the choices he has made, and quite likely insane. Juliet has not come to terms with her own death and her foolish life ending behavior. After dying so young and inhabiting the bodies and minds of other girls, she not only is unsure of who she is but seems to be suffering from posttraumatic stress syndrome.The story and the characters are complex and challenging. The reader must pay close attention to each reveal as the plot progresses.Jay blends suspense, romance, terror, and humor effectively. I enjoyed this book and would definitely read something by this author again.

[mrsdanaalbasha · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

For seven hundred years the souls of Romeo and Juliet have repeatedly inhabited the bodies of newly deceased people to battle to the death as sworn enemies, until they meet for the last time as two Southern California high school students.

[nsjlh_1 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

I read a review right before I began reading this book and the reader/blogger did not love this book at all. The review indicated this style was not for them, they didn’t care for retold classics. As I began reading, I kept thinking “What if I don’t like this?” Wow, was I wrong. As the summary from GoodReads indicates that it’s for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, which I am a fan of, they were not wrong.The love story(ies) are amazing and heartbreaking. Ariel, Ben, Gemma, Dylan, Mike. I grew to love all the characters and after figuring out the premise of the book, I was completely taken in. It is a Romeo Juliet Love Story Tragedy, but even more. The involvement of all the other characters into the main plot of the story consumed me. As you’re reading, you think “Oh she’s not going to get her man” because of course it’s a tragedy. But don’t think too soon!! The ending is amazing.I was able to snag Romeo Redeemed from Netgalley and can’t wait to read it! Of course, the actual book doesn’t come out until October 2012 and so my review will not follow until about a week or so before.Advice to Readers: Don’t begin reading it and wanting to compare it to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Yes, it does have a basis off that original story, but the premise of this book is amazing. If you want a great love story like Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, read this book.

[thelibraryhag · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

This story of love and revenge is very well written and the concept is intriguing. Romeo and Juliet fighting each other through history, Juliet on the side of love and Romeo on the side of treacery. I have to say that I was drawn into the story but I feel that the end was sort of rushed and the world was just a bit hazy to me. But since the book is Young Adult I feel that I must put on my librarian hat here and make a few comments.What I like. --- The writing, as I said is very good. The dialog is very believeable. I also like that Juliet is trying to improve the life of the person she has temporarily inhabited and not just dealing with the Soul Mates she is sent to help.What I did not like -- Well this whole soul mate thing is a bit disturbing. It sort of reminds me of the reason I object so much to Twilight. The idea of this all powerful love that can drive people to doing stupid things, even to dying for love. I just don't think the message it sends to young people, particularly girls is healthy.I also found the kids in this book and the whole town really disfunctional. I know that realism is important, but I thought the book went just a bit far in validating all the teen angst in the book. In this book, high school really is life or death and I did not like that.As I said, I was absorbed by the story. It was not until I had finished it that I was disturbed. I think it is fine to read as long as some perspective is given to the book. I can also see this book generating some good conversations between parents and kids. And I admit that I will probably be reading the sequel. Well, I have to find out what happens, don't I.

[annakay21 · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

Everything that you've ever been told about Juliet and Romeo was wrong. They were in love in medieval Italy, but Romeo sacrificed Juliet for eternal life through a faction of evildoers, the Mercenaries, who spend eternity separating couples who are made for true love by getting one to sacrifice the other. Juliet was taken into the service of the Ambassadors, rivals of the Mercenaries who fight for the survival of true love, trying to make it into an unshakable bond. Juliet and Romeo have been rivals for over half a millenia but now it might be coming to an end. Juliet suddenly finds herself in the body of Ariel Dragland, a seriously miserable teenage girl who has led a fairly painful life with her single Mom, scarred and unable to find the beauty in herself. She is plagued by a popular boy name Dylan who acted like a creep on their first date, before crashing the car. This is when Juliet posessed Ariel and Romeo posessed Dylan, attempting to kill Juliet. Thankfully, a great guy named Ben comes to her rescue. Before long Ariel finds herself falling in love with Ben, but thinks that it's doomed and he's meant to be with Ariel's best friend Gemma, because they both show the glow of someone who's found their soulmate. Romeo is meanwhile trying to win Juliet back because he thinks she's his only hope of escaping the service of the Mercenaries and still living forever. It turns out that Ben and Gemma aren't soulmates - they are each meant for someone else. We learn more of the politics of the Ambassadors and Mercenaries (Juliet's Nurse was an Ambassador in disguise). The ending is really shocking, has two parts to it (one for Juliet and one for Romeo) and it involves alternate universes. I really loved Juliet's alternate universe ending, I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Romeo's left me feeling creeped out and semi-cheated, especially after the tragedy that led to the necessity of alternate universes. This entire book was sort of a conundrum - beautiful and twisted at the same time. I can see why there are so many mixed reviews out there, but my love for the beauty of the way the story was told outweighs my disgust for Romeo's behavior and subsequent ending. It definitely is not for everyone but I'd recommend trying to read it if you're hardcore for Shakespeare and literature in general. VERDICT: 3.75/5 Stars (Yes that's right, I said 3.75!!!)*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*

[bookswithbite · Nota: 5 de 5 estrelas]

can not believe it took me so long to read this book! It totally blew me off my feet! I read this book fast. Not only was it so simple to get into but very action packed from the very first page.I have read lost of renditions of Romeo and Juliet. And I admit this one is my favorite. I love that Ms. Jay took a classic tale putting a very unique fresh spin on the story. It was captivating and such a page turner. The plot is so amazing. I loved each twist of the story. It gave the reader so much more to look forward to as the reader continues diving deep into the story.What caught me off guard about this book is the great feelings. I loved feeling the emotion of Juliet. Watching her struggle, fight, and come to terms with certain situations made me feel if I was in the story right by her side. I rooted for her to make it through and to no t give up. The love interest totally surprised me. Here I thought I knew exactly who she love and BAM! Ms. Jay kept her readers on their toes and never let them down. With such amazing characters in the book, you never know what is going to happen.Juliet Immortal is deeply entertaining book. The rousing re-retelling of star-crossed lovers strikes a good balance of love and lost. Juliet Immortal is ultimately beautiful and very satisfying.

[mimi8vee · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

I actually love all things Shakespeare, so I was really excited to read this book. And it was completely original in every way!Juliet Immortal was nothing like I thought it would be, but that wasn't a bad thing! Although a little confusing at first, Stacey Jay quickly sucked you into Juliet's world where Romeo was to be hated, her very existence was for saving other soul mates, and falling in love with the super-awesome new boy (Ben) was impossible.I just adored everything about Juliet. She was sweet, caring, incredibly intelligent, yet she had a fire in her that was hard not to admire. And I expected to hate Romeo way more than I did, but I just couldn't dislike a boy who was obviously suffering from his past decisions every single day.Overall, I really enjoyed Juliet Immortal! I felt that some things were simply breathtaking while others were a little unbelievable, but that didn't lessen the enjoyment factor one bit. Even if you haven't read Romeo and Juliet before, you should still pick up this book! :)BUY or BORROW?: Definitely a book for any Shakespeare-lover's bookshelf!

[theepicrat · Nota: 3 de 5 estrelas]

Juliet Immortal takes on this iconic romantic couple and pits them against each other in a wholly imaginative way. Juliet is not the naïve, lovesick girl of years past and instead proves herself a force that I want on my side of a fight. There were times when I had trouble with the storyline, especially in regards to Romeo’s intentions. Every once in a while, Romeo gets his own pagetime – and it is both disturbing and confusing. It seems obvious that much larger forces were influencing Juliet and Romeo, but it was hard to discern who pulled the strings and why. A sequel would be nice to figure this out, but I doubt it will come since the ending for Juliet was more than perfect and conclusive. On the other hand, Romeo does excel in doing the unexpected. Juliet Immortal definitely felt a lot darker and more serious than Stacey Jay’s UNDEAD series. This book may appeal to those who enjoyed mercy or RIPPLE.

[alaiel4kreuz · Nota: 5 de 5 estrelas]

Well, this book had the most original twist I've read in... I don't know, years! Because, all the girls (and I'm sure all the guys) know about Romeo and Juliet, I mean, who doesn't?! Sure, tragic story, sad ending but the reason we all love that book is because love is everything for both characters. And they can't live without it. That's why they are the ultimate romantic couple ever, right?Wrong. It all was a big fat lie. Poor Shakespeare get it all wrong which, by the way, was Romeo's fault.Let me tell you what really happened:Sweet Juliet, completely in love with Romeo, knows he is the love of her life, the only man she will ever love and, in her own words, worship.Sadly turns out Romeo decided that it was way better to gain immortal life in exchange of one little, simple, tiny thing: Juliet's life.And, obviously, we know he does it. How do we know it? Because of the title, of course!Since I don't want to spoil anything I'm just going to say that poor Juliet is saved in exchange of hard work. What is her work, you ask? Well, since killing her granted Romeo eternal life now she can have eternal life too in order to protect the life of true lovers like she and Romeo were supposed to be. Why does she have to do it? She doesn't really understand that.What happens if she fails? Well, first one of the lovers would die in hands of his/her "true love" who has been convinced by Romeo to do so.Why would they kill the love of their life? Because Romeo would promise them something in exchange.What do Romeo gets by doing that? No spoilers, sorry!And they have being doing this for quite a long time but in this "reincarnation" something is different. No one is watching them, not the good guys nor the bad guys, so for the first time in centuries they are alone. And Romeo wants something from Juliet, something that might stop this eternal war between them for ever.But Juliet, of course, doesn't want to hear a word. Can you really blame her?! I mean, he killed her! And not in a very nice way, you know? So, she does the only thing they always do when no mortals are around: they try to kill each other. But... something is wrong... there's no extra powers, no super strength... and they knew that somehow they were stuck in their bodies' hosts...Nevermind that, Juliet won't let Romeo win and only has one thing in her mind: Save the lovers! Which is very mature of her because she is scared and all but that doesn't make her loose her way. And she truly tries to save them until she realizes that somehow, along this whole thing happening, she fell in love with Ben, one of the lovers she is supposed to save. And looks like he is in love with her too... Which drives Romeo crazy (more crazy than he already is) but, he killed her, why is he so upset?!Confusing review? I honestly hope not because this book was good good GOOD! Buy it, burrow it, steal it, I don't care, just read it! (I'm joking, BTW. About the stealing part, I mean).And, while I was reading this book I found out that there's a sequel coming out next year BUT this book is auto-conclusive so don't worry about that.But believe me, you will want to read the next book too :D

[dasuzuki · Nota: 4 de 5 estrelas]

I'll openly admit it was the cover of this book that really grabbed me because it is just absolutely stunning. Then the idea of the Romeo and Juliet romance being a sham caught my imagination despite contemporary YA stories not being my main area of interest. Juliet is sent into the body of a teenage girl, Ariel, and finds herself having to protect Ariel's best friend, Gemma, from Romeo who also returns in the body of another teenager on a mission to tear Gemma and her soulmate apart. Both Romeo and Juliet quickly realize everything is different this time around. There appear to be no others of their kind around, their powers are muted and Juliet falls herself falling for the boy that she suspects of being Gemma's soulmate. Then to just make things even more complicated Gemma turns out to be a real b*tch and probably a bit crazy and Romeo is convinced that if Juliet falls for him again they can both get their original bodies back and carry on with an actual life.The cast of characters ranged the wide spectrum from Romeo who I actually felt bad for. Yes he was despicable and was playing for the dark side but I loved his cockiness and the fact that despite all he actually did have a heart. When the ending is revealed and we find out why he did what he did I felt even worse for him and I did want to kind of slap Juliet around. Juliet was more of one of those characters I didn't feel very strongly about one way or another. I felt bad that her life was cut short and now she was doomed to spend eternity battling Romeo for souls of soul mates but I never really came to "like" her. Then there was Gemma who was beyond horrid. She was supposed to be Ariel's best friend but treated her like crap, she was unbalanced and even though supposedly she did truly care about Ariel I found that hard to believe. Instead she just comes across as a total whack job and it is hard to believe she was supposed to be the one one who ends up with happily ever after.The story itself moved along at a great clip and I was eagerly flipping through the pages waiting to find out what would happen in the end. Then the story comes to a screeching halt as one random act after another happens and I felt my head spinning by time the story was over. I still am not sure how the ending really came about. It was just too pat and didn't make sense how we got there. So I felt totally deflated upon finishing what started out as a great book and the only upside was it looks like we will get to see more Romeo in future books!