Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>Cold Fire: Shakespeare's Moon</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

James Hartley weaves a captivating tale in <i>Cold Fire: Shakespeare's Moon</i>. This novel, the second in the Shakespeare's Moon series, masterfully intertwines the timeless themes of Shakespeare's works with a modern-day setting.

<h4>The Details</h4>

The story revolves around a mysterious boarding school where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur. Hartley's writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, drawing readers into a world where Shakespearean motifs come alive in unexpected ways.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own struggles and secrets. The protagonist's journey is particularly compelling, as they navigate the complexities of friendship, love, and identity.

Hartley's ability to blend classic literature with contemporary issues makes this book a standout. While the pacing may feel slow at times, the rich narrative and intricate plot twists more than make up for it.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>Cold Fire: Shakespeare's Moon</i> is a must-read for fans of Shakespeare and fantasy alike. Hartley's storytelling prowess and deep understanding of Shakespearean themes shine through, making this novel a delightful and memorable read.

Having struggled with the first in the series I thought I would try the second.
Unfortunately it felt very similar to the first to me although with different characters.
Maybe it's just me but I did not enjoy this at all.

Set in the magical boarding school of St Francis', Cold Fire centres around a group of teenagers who become involved in the tale of Romeo and Juliet in this contemporary re-telling of the classic story. Meanwhile, four hundred years earlier, a young teacher from Stratford Upon Avon arrives at the school. His name is Will...

SHAKESPEARE
YES YES YES
this book was so good

Cold Fire is book 2 in Harley's Shakespeare's Moon series. The first had themes and elements of the play Macbeth. This time, Romeo and Juliet is the theme.

I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first. I think because I knew what to expect this time and I found the introduction of Shakespeare himself to be kind of cool.

The main characters, of which there were several, are different from the previous work though Sam and Leana do make an appearance.

This time no one travels into the plot of the play, at least not until later in the series, but we do meet Shakespeare and see the founding of the school, the origin of the book, and how a pair of interlocking trees are formed.

I don't think it's necessary to have read the previous book but I think it will enhance ones enjoyment of this book.

Back to the boarding school of St Francis’. We are given a retelling of Romeo and Juliet as you have never seen before. This is a great story and the shift between the past and the present is done really well, its also good to have the different points of view on this classic tale. If you like Shakespeare you will like this retelling.

A tricky one to review in some ways. As the second in the series, elements around the school and how people travel through time felt formulaic though the story itself was focused on new characters which stopped it feeling too repetitive.
With our focus on Romeo and Juliet this time I think it’s a tricky story to tell for a modern audience who are much more dismissive of the idea of instalove and rapid marriage. I did find it hard to take the modern love story seriously, but we got a little more detail about the school and it’s background.
I’m curious to see how the target audience react to this, but it wasn’t really as appealing as I’d hoped. Thanks, though, to NetGalley for granting me access to the title.

Rating 4/5

This is book 2 of James Hartley's Shakespeare series which can be read as a stand alone novel. This one focused on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Our Juliet is Gillian who falls for a strange boy who appears suddenly on the school's football field absolutely naked (Romeo). He also speaks a different language and when Gillian is sent to talk with him, they end up kissing instead. She is forbidden to stay with him, but forces that intertwined them in their pasts comes back to reunite them now in the present.

This was an enjoyable novel that any one who has read or studied Romeo and Juliet will be able to appreciate as well. It is so well written and weaved seamlessly the aspect of young, forbidden love that even those who have never read Romeo and Juliet will be able to understand and learn to love these characters. It's storyline design of using time travel makes history fun for those of a younger age to learn and read about.