Queen Mab

I'm complete rubbish for Shakespeare retellings, so of course I gobbled up this one, which casts the Montague/Capulet feud as a battle between rival demigods. I enjoyed that aspect, as well as the choice to make Mercutio such a central character, and the plot twist at the very end. Ultimately, however, I found the plot to be somewhat confusing, and the number of lines lifted directly from Shakespeare just made me wish I was watching the real play. - This is, of course, the perennial problem with Shakespeare retellings: if you rewrite the dialogue completely it risks being disappointing, but if you lift it, your own additional material risks falling flat by comparison. Danley does quite a lot of creative world-juggling of her own in this book, which started out feeling quite impressive but eventually left me feeling a bit bogged down in verbiage. I found myself skimming (unusual for me), but otherwise this was a quick read that left me feeling nostalgic about Shakespeare.

One of the many books I've discovered thanks to OHFB, I was intrigued by the idea that the events of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet were orchestrated by something otherwordly. The author was able to create another dimension to the world that Shakespeare created in his work. Therefore, the reader was provided another view of the tragedy which occurred. Though the two works shared the same setting and much of the same cast, this book expounded on the history and lessons put forth in Shakespeare's novel. The mixture of opposites, including love, loss, trust and betrayal, gave the various political manueverings a deeper level of impact during the course of the book.Much of the novel centered around Queen Mab and the consequences of her actions. She wasn't the only demi-god that meddled with the lives of the people who went went about their normal lives in Verona. Faunus, the pipe-playing demi-god with cloven feet, sought win Mab's realm by coercing her into a wager. Each would chose a champion from either the House Capulet or House Montague. This champion determined which of the houses would fall and by proxy, which demi-god would win. Familiar characters from the original work danced through the novel to their intended ends. Romeo and Juliet, Mercurito and Tybalt - all of them followed the trajectory of the original, but the author of this book gave all the characters an emotional depth. With the primary focus on someone other than the couple, it allowed the secondary characters to come alive in a way that differed from the original.It took a little while for me to become hooked by the story, but within a few chapters, I kept wanting to read more than the time I allotted myself. Because Queen Mab was a demi-god and ruled the world of dreams, she affected the lives of the people for centuries. Once the first betrayal revealed the players, the game was afoot. Wheels of time began turning at a quicker pace when Romeo met Juliet during the masked ball thrown by her father. The multi-layered designs that both Mab and Faunus put into play rushed the downfall of both houses and ushered in the rebirth of said houses with a deeper emotional connection. For me, the book's pace became steady the moment that Faunus stole something from Mab and lasted until the very last word.Overall, I found this book quite entertaining and an interesting way to look at a work that I first read in middle school. It presented the tragic love story in such a way that the reader experienced the full gamut of emotions. From anger, lust and betrayal to love, acceptance and empathy - all these made an appearance at some point in the book. By using a feud between two demi-gods, the author explored more of the cause and effect of decisions made in haste. I enjoyed the transformation of Mab as she learned the lessons through experiencing some of these same emotions herself. It made the story more intimate in a way that I enjoyed. If you're looking for a fresh take on a beloved classic or need a dose of political intrigue among supernatural beings, then this is the book you should be reading!

Students of ROMEO AND JULIET are familiar with Queen Mab from the famous speech of Mercutio. Indeed, scholars have long suspected that Shakespeare had to "kill off" Mercutio, because up to that point in the drama he appears far more interesting than Romeo -- and to at least some extent this is because of the "Queen Mab" passage.Kate Danley's vision is most imaginative. She sets the Montague-Capulet feud amidst a struggle behind the scenes between Mab and Faunus, a satyr. The tale takes some interesting twists, yet along the way Mercutio is inevitably killed by Tybalt, who is in turn slain by Romeo, and once again the best-laid plans of Friar Laurence prove insufficient for the challenges at hand. Or are they? Where is the dream, and can this immortal tragedy nevertheless resolve with a happy ending?I enjoyed Danley's re-creation of the story, and I am happy to recommend it. The narrative holds the reader's interest, and the treatment is certainly original. I might append a few reservations, notably with the language and focus, but these would merely echo commentary already posted by others. Moreover, they did not significantly diminish my enjoyment of the unfolding drama. All told, this is an enjoyable read!

This is a rewrite of Romeo and Juliet where demigods and gods are influencing the actions of the players. The conversations are in shakespearean style English which I found difficult to read. I did finish the book but I never got greatly interested in it, mainly due to the language style.It needs to be proof read as there are some errors in it though not as many as in some kindle books.

Wow, Where Do I Start? A Wonderous Retelling Of Shakespeare's Most Famous Writing, Romeo And Juliet! Follow Through Queen Mab's World Of Dreams As She Finds True Compassion For Another's Heart And True Worth In Herself While Protecting The House Of Capulet In A Game Of Fates Against Faunus, A Cruel Pan Like Satir Who's Determined To Banish Mab And Rule The Realms Of Night As Well As The Day. The Author Takes You Back To Shakespearean Verona Where The Son Of Montague And The Daughter Of Capulet, Sworn Enemies, Meet At A Mask And Pledge Love And Death For Each Other. These Lovers Are Unknowingly Both Pawns In A Deadly Game Of Chance Started By The Rivalry Of Two Stubborn And Wicked Demi-Gods Bent On Destroying Each Other Rather Than Sharing The Night. Full Of Magic And Passion, This Book Will Have You Reading Well Into The Wee Hours Before Putting It Down. Bravo Kate Danley! The Bard Himself Would Be Proud.... 👏

Even if you did not know (and who does not know?) the story of Romeo & Juliet this story would capture your attention. However in the knowing of Shakespeare's tale you can appreciate and enjoy this wonderfully imagined story of the power game of the Demi-gods that drives the human pawns to their tragic fates, all the more. The power of dreams and love . . . Great for all ages who enjoy a good tale of of betrayal, intrigue and love.

Absolutely brilliant! The premise of this book appealed to me, and the book did not disappoint. It gives a lot of background and story for Queen Mab, and gives a different view on the classic Romeo and Juliet tale, while still staying perfectly true to the original (in my opinion). I really liked the way the story played out, and am very glad I got and read this. It is a lovely read and is quite un-put-downable! Well worth your time if you like R&J.

I really enjoyed this book, having seen Romeo and Juliet. I am a fan of Shakespeare, I love his work.

This author takes a tragedy most people know and wraps it up with hope to bring joy

Interesting premise, but it became quite difficult to read and have any empathy with the characters. I may try again, but am not too hopeful. Some lyrical descriptions.