Prince of Shadows: A Novel of Romeo and Juliet

I’m a long-time fan of Rachel Caine, but when this book came out because I struggled with it. I had last looked at Romeo and Juliet in junior high school decades ago. In Prince of Shadows, the story is told through Romeo’s kinsman Benvolio, a very secondary character and Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin who doesn’t have a line in Shakespeare. Romeo and, especially, Juliet are fairly minor characters. So the first time around, I struggled badly with keeping plot and character straight and put the book aside. Then this semester I took a Shakespeare class that included Romeo and Juliet. When I opened Prince of Shadow again, I got it. In some ways, Caine’s telling captures the futility and hatred of the feud between the families better than the play by showing us the anguish of those caught up in it. The body count of Prince of Shadows is even higher than in Romeo and Juliet. Some of the dead were evil, some innocent, but many just people caught in tragedy. The book generally follows Shakespeare‘s story. There’s a tragic homosexual love that, while it feels real, also feels too modern for Verona. There’s a curse that I thought took away from Shakespeare’s question of whether the lovers were doomed by fate or by generations of hate. The book ends somewhat more happily than the play (though Romeo and Juliet still do die). But I was left with the same feeling of a powerful story full of love, sadness and futility as I left with the play. I’ve read Rachel Caine thinks this is one of her favorite books even though it wasn’t a commercial success. It is indeed absolutely one of her best pieces of characterization, setting and use of language, and I’ve read just about everything she’s written. Just make sure you’re well familiar with the play before you read it.

I thought about 5 stars for this one, because it had all the elements of a book that usually really works for me. It was well written, it had interesting, multi-layered characters, it had a compelling plot that was a different take on an old classic, I love Shakespeare, etc. But I ended up on 4 stars. I think that it got a bit repetitive what with all the tragic pining and all. Nevertheless, I recommend it. It's a retelling of Romeo and Juliet told from Benvolio, Romeo's cousin's point-of-view. It fleshed out some of the well known characters from the play such as Mercutio as well as defined its own story. I felt myself wishing there was a bit more of Romeo and Juliet and the lines from that beloved play. As it is, I think we're only afforded a glimpse of Juliet. Really the story centers around Mercutio and Benvolio, and Romeo and Juliet's tale is but a sub-plot. I also thought it brave to keep the important religious and cultural contexts; I thought for sure that Rosaline would be made out to have modern-day sensibilities which might have been satisfying but is ultimately false and therefore annoying to me. Women of this era were oppressed. They were cloistered away for their own "protection" but really were often abused and neglected at the hands of their relatives. They were often forced into ignorance by withheld education, and were often used as pawns to gain wealth or prestige. I'm not a fan of revisionist history. Bound to repeat it and all that. So, to sum up-- Likes: Benvolio is a likable character. The thief/Prince of Shadows aspect of his character was interesting and entertaining. I liked Mercutio and thought the whole idea of his homosexuality and the cultural response to it as an explanation for his going off the deep end interesting. I liked Rosaline and was pulling for her and Benvolio to have a happy ending after all the tragedy. Didn't work as well for me: I was hoping for more of Romeo and Juliet, as well as the Shakespearian language that makes the play it's based on so beautiful and powerful. At times it was almost melodramatic, though I realize it is a tragedy. Still a great book and recommended.

Wow! I have to confess I didn't expect much from the writer of the Morganville Vampires series, but this book exceeded all my expectations and then some. Beautifully drawing the complicated web of familial politics ensnaring the main characters growing up in Verona, Caine has written a romantic, witty, thrilling kind of book in which the famous play is made clear in relevant and current ways. The twist? It is told from Benvolio Montague's point of view. Highly recommended reading, especially if you are attending Romeo and Juliet this summer. And ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for getting your tween or teen ready to read, see or act in that play!

I enjoyed the writing style. The language and descriptions were immersive is a medieval/rennassiance era story coated by impending doom. I also liked Benvolio's pov. It was interesting seeing his more practical nature paired up against the chaotic characters and events of the story. While I don't think the thief aspect or supernatural aspects were needed for my enjoyment, they did contribute to the overall atmosphere. Spoilers Speaking of the supernatural, I generally find the concept that human hatred resulted in the desperate destruction of young love is more compelling than a literal curse. I think this story could have benefited from a more nebulous curse without ghosts, unburnt flesh, and being compelled by intimate fire. This could have left the cause more up to the reader, while showing Benvolio's conviction that outside forces had to be at play. As for other characters, I thought Romeo was interesting as the younger, exasperating friend and cousin. Mercutio I often like, but this version was too dark for me. He engaged in illicit activities - in semi-public places - then hurt various innocents after he was caught. Tybalt seemed a one note villain - seeing more depth in his relationship with Rosaline could have been helpful for both characters. Speaking of whom... Rosaline was a character I expected (and wanted) to see more. I liked almost every scene she was in, and I thought the parallel of her relationship with Benvolio compared to Romeo's was well done. That said, her escapade dressed as a boy and the random boar hunt discussion felt out of place and could have been handled in a much more believable fashion.

This book was so true to the original Romeo and Juliet plot. It was really fun to read the same story from the perspective of Romeo's cousin Benvolio. This book is also an easy read that is hard to put down, so plan your reading time accordingly. This book would be a great supplemental reading for high schoolers during a Shakespeare unit!

Originally reviews for Vampire Book Club 3.5 Stars Everyone knows the story of Juliet and her Romeo. Rachel Caine explores further into the world of Montagues and Capulets with Romeo’s cousin Benvolio taking up the story from his POV. And what of fair Rosaline, the love that Romeo seemingly overthrew for that of Juliet? Well, she piques the interest of Benvolio, our Prince of Shadows, and together they must try to stop the doom that has labeled both families as victims before everyone, including themselves, suffers. Benvolio, a seemingly Robin Hood-type character stealing from those whom he deems have done wrong, has been told his entire life that he is the ‘extra’ Montague. His job is basically to watch after Romeo, the true heir to Montague. It was an interesting choice I believe for Caine to basically call out how often dimwitted and impulsive Romeo could be from the eyes of his (one year senior) more mature older cousin. There are many people who romanticize the love story of Romeo and Juliet when in truth they were two almost-children. The same can be said for Rosaline being Juliet’s more serious mature cousin, sister of the Prince of Cats Tybalt. Ben and Rosaline seem to take up the voice of reason where the warring families are concerned. Both ultimately want peace after seeing so much death and deception already between the houses. What Caine did really well with this story is she fleshed out some of the characters, such as Mercutio, who already commanded attention in the original play, but we find him here a troubled and haunted young man who seeks revenge upon those responsible for his lover’s death. This also gives background to Mercutio’s famous “a plague on both your houses” quote. We get to fully understand the buildup of that moment, where this curse stems from and the magical belief that gives the curse its life. It’s really interesting thinking back to the original story with this new perspective in mind. Prince of Shadoes does mix in some more memorable quotes and scenes from the original play (“Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?”). I found this delightful and it gave a viewpoint as to where we were in conjunction with the original story, of which I oftentimes found Prince of Shadows to drag a little in places. Where it falters is that her words don’t always necessarily match up in phrase and use to that of the great Bard. So at times the writing seems to flow very well and eloquently and other times it shows signs of the modern era in which it was written. Knowing the story of Romeo and Juliet, Prince of Shadows cannot help but have moroseness hanging over it. Yet while reading, you keep holding on to hope that maybe Caine would change the ending. Regardless of what happens you are still left with a lot of senseless death and destruction, but it’s kind of the lesson of the story right? See these senseless acts and mourn them, but learn from them and grow and make things better. We, at least, are left with that last bit of hope for the future.

OMG! This book is wonderful. A retelling of the Romeo and Juliet saga but from the POV for Romeo's cousin Benvolio. Usually I am not a huge fan of books told from a male POV, but here I loved it, Benvolio has such a tortured and honest voice. The prose is lush and atmospheric/moody. A few examples: "I had kissed her before, but lightly, gently, and this was no gentle thing.." "Rosalind Capulet tasted like all I had ever wanted in my life, and now I knew that for truth" " Then I kissed her, and I tasted tears, and flowers, fear and hope, dread and dreams. Her lips were soft and warm like the petals of a sun heated rose.." What a lovely homage to Shakespeare. Please read this book- Benvolio and Rosaline' s story has a HEA and you will love it!

Kept my interest. Easy reading. Would recommend this book to anyone who likes Romeo and Juliet! That's all folks...good reading

I really enjoyed this book. I love stories basing on Romeo and Juliet as I have a huge interest in all the side characters. So I loved every part of this story, especially all scenes involving Mercutio. In my opinion, his story was the most heartbreaking one and it left me in tears.

This is a really clever re-telling of the story of Romeo and Juliet. It is narrated mostly by Benvolio - his status in the play is uncertain other than he's a friend of Romeo, but Caine makes him Romeo's cousin and therefore very committed to the Montague cause. There are diary extracts or letters from some of the other characters, but mostly the events that occur during Shakespeare's play are observed by, explained by and take place via Benvolio's narration. Caine sticks absolutely to the events in Shakespeare's play and even uses or alludes to some of the dialogue but she's careful not to over-do it. Benvolio, as Romeo's older cousin, is charged with keeping him out of trouble by their mutual grandmother (a terrifying figure!) but Romeo is just determined to entangle himself in as much trouble as possible it seems and he starts by writing poems to a Capulet girl, Rosaline. I don't know if this book would be as enjoyable if the reader didn't know the basic plot of Romeo and Juliet but I imagine it still would be a very good read - coming at it from a knowledge of the play, however, really doubles the enjoyment. Benvolio has a semi-secret night-time existence as the mysterious 'Prince of Shadows', a masked thief who does a bit of a Robin Hood on the inhabitants of Verona - he steals from those who can more than afford it, or from those who need taking down a peg or two. His first foray into the Capulet household in search of something to steal from Tybalt brings him in contact with Rosaline, Tybalt's sister. Rosaline is an extra cousin in the Capulet household; all the family's hopes rest on Juliet's marriage with an eligible bachelor and Rosaline is intending to enter a nunnery, at least partly to escape her abusive brother. Rosaline realises who this masked stranger is, but doesn't call the guards or give him away - and the stage is set for all the tragedy that follows. Caine gives very plausible reasons for Mercutio's madness - in the play he's a semi-feral figure, wild and unpredictable - some screen versions have put him on drugs, but I think Caine's idea is a much cleverer one. Her explanation of the apparent madness that over-takes Romeo and Juliet when they meet is also very convincing and clever. And so the tragedy that engulfs the Montagues and Capulets is set in motion by Mercutio and then compounded when Romeo meets Juliet at the Capulets' party - from that moment on, no matter what Benvolio does, the tragedy plays out until the stage is littered with corpses. The ending is also very cleverly managed with reconciliation between the two houses achieved in the way Shakespeare indicated but with a twist of her own too - I am really very impressed by this book and would recommend it unreservedly to any fans of the Bard and anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Really enjoyed going back and reading the story from a different perspective. Loved it ! The whole thing from start to finish :)

An interesting read that fleshed out the backstory behind a very famous tale. The lead character was well written and interesting and the background well drawn. My only criticism was that it felt a little rushed. There were some lovely concepts touched on that were never developed. This was a book that could have stood to be a series, starting long before the fatal end game. A worthy use of a few hours though

I absolutely loved this book. I had it recommended to me after a discussion about Shakespeare and interpretations of Shakespeare by a good friend. It is a re-working of Romeo and Juliet, its focus is not on the star-crossed lovers but instead on Benvolio Montague. Romeo and Juliet do of course play their part, and Mercutio’s storyline is significant, but it is Benvolio who takes centre stage. I wasn’t sure initially how interesting I would find another take on Romeo and Juliet but the shift in focus works really well, and whilst there are elements of the story that are familiar much of it feels new and fresh. There is comedy and tragedy a-plenty, I shed more than a few tears whilst reading this on public transport! My only criticism of the book has to go to the cover, I’m afraid I don’t like it at all and think that the book deserves far better – it definitely wouldn’t entice me to pick the book up and what a shame it would have been to have missed out on it.