Prince of Shadows

March 24, 2014
Having recently concluded her Morganville Vampires series, Caine heads in a different direction with this evocative and ambitious retelling of Romeo and Juliet, told primarily from the perspective of Romeo's cousin Benvolio Montague. Her Benvolio leads a double life: he's a masked rebel and thief by night, and when he meets Tybalt Capulet's sister, Lady Rosaline, it sparks the potential for another Montague-Capulet love affair. As the families' feud escalates, the plot both follows and expands on that of the original, capturing the families' stifling attempts at matchmaking, fleshing out scenes that take place behind closed doors, and bringing fascinating depth, complexity, and context to the familiar events, including heartbreaking backstory for Mercutio's intemperance and rage, as well as his dying curse. Romeo and Julietâall but marginal characters in this retellingâare far from the only star-crossed lovers whose stories unfold; placing them in the periphery lets Caine focus on the broader ramifications of and machinations behind the violent, revenge-driven culture that plagues the streets of Verona. Ages 18âup. Agent: Lucienne Diver, the Knight Agency.

January 1, 2014
Should a successful author of vampire novels (Black Dawn, 2012, etc.) attempt to write an alternative Shakespeare? Thankfully this one did, as the results are delicious. Choosing Romeo and Juliet as her base, Caine expands the story from the viewpoint of Benvolio, Romeo's Montague cousin. While Shakespeare's plot clearly anchors Caine's, the novel focuses on providing context for the well-known story rather than embellishing it. Beginning with the premise that friend Mercutio is gay and in love with Tomasso, a shy scholar, the book sets up a series of events that will result in Mercutio's famous dying words, "a plague on both your houses." Romeo and Juliet remain somewhat minor characters, their story unfolding in the background, mostly offstage. Benvolio himself has a new talent: He's a cat burglar known as "The Prince of Shadows," using his skills to exact revenge on those who have done him wrong. Benvolio's robberies keep pages and plot moving toward Mercutio's utterance--ambiguous to the characters but not to readers--while the novel remains focused on the overarching theme of love and useless revenge. Most impressive is the author's simulation of Shakespeare's language in her prose. Never too obscure for modern readers, it retains the flavor of Shakespearean dialogue throughout, lending an atmosphere of verisimilitude that's reinforced by the detailed city setting. Simply superb. (Historical fiction. 12 & up)

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March 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-English teachers always try to sell Romeo and Juliet as teen-friendly. Students are not always convinced, but Caine's take on the classic finally makes it true. The events of the play are all here, told from the point of view of Romeo's cousin Benvolio. The city of Verona is mired in the violent gang warfare between the Montagues and Capulets. Romeo still begins the tale pining for Rosaline, until he meets Juliet at a masked ball and falls wildly in love. Mercutio remains a cousin to the city's Prince and friend to the Montagues, as well as a wit and good swordsman. But in this version, Benvolio takes center stage, a young man who amuses himself by stealing from those he deems evil. He meets Romeo's Rosaline and falls for her himself. Caine expertly weaves her story around the play, and she describes the setting and action in more modern tones. Her Mercutio is gay, a change that harms nothing of the original play, provides her story with its driving force, and adds some modern depth and appeal. This novel truly has it all: sword fighting, Benvolio's nighttime adventures as the "Prince of Shadows," intrigue, romance, curses, derring-do, murder, and magic. It should make Shakespeare that much more accessible to teens.-Geri Diorio, Ridgefield Library, CT

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