4.5 stars rounded up

If you ever wished for a Romeo and Juliet story that was queer and a bit less tragic, you have come to the right place! Teach the Torches to Burn is a fantastic remix of Romeo and Juliet where Romeo is secretly gay and developing feelings for Mercutio's younger brother. Meanwhile Juliet is asexual and looking for a way out of a forced marriage she doesn't want. This has all the drama, the romance, the tension, and some of the tragedy of the original, but remixed in the best possible way. The writing is lovely and the entire story is told from Romeo's perspective. This retelling managed to hit all of the plot beats you want while delivering a fresh and satisfying spin on a classic. Definitely worth a read and the audio narration is great too! I received an audio review copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I’m really just bummed that this is a DNF for me. Romeo and Juliet was one of my favorite plays when I was younger but this just isn’t working for me. I’m only at 20% but I’m just so bored.

I really liked the twist that Roehrig did with Teach the Torches to Burn, but I felt like I wasn't ever super connected to the characters. They felt a little flat to me, and I was just hoping for something more — especially more social commentary. Overall, I did really enjoy this remix, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice twist on a classic!

with each iteration of these remixed classic, my inner queer teen soul heals a bit more.

queer stories, let alone queer classics, were not really what they are today. it was sparing to see them published and awarded so highly as we can see nowadays. nothing beyond the subtext. my high school experience really truly isn’t all that long ago if you think about it. my freshman year was only 10 years ago. so seeing classics, such as romeo and juliet, ones i was forced to read in my english literature classes, be re-interpreted so openly and canonically queer. i have no other words than saying that it warms my soul.

and unlike many of the classics that were thrust upon us, i actually truly enjoyed the original r&j story. it’s easily one of my favorite types of retellings to pick up, and especially when they’re queer. like this one so fantastically was. of course, we have romeo and valentine (mercutio’s newly added brother to the tale). but additionally, we have juliet who i coded as so obviously aroace, and friar laurence, who also falls on the ace spectrum in some fashion. now, i was not expecting that to be so. and i was delightfully surprised to see our titular girl have this role. and the way she explains her identity, somewhat like a flame that is just unlit in her. wow. i genuinely feel like that was one of the best ways i think i’ve ever seen it explained in literature. of course, it was flourished and flowery, but this is a shakespeare retelling after all. the core of her explanation to romeo. incredible. and i cannot and do not to it justice in my paraphrasing.

not only do i hold it dear to my heart that roehrig made juliet aroace, is that like with every good r&j retelling, she received her agency back. unlike in the original story, we see juliet’s wit, her ability to think on her feet and make the most of a bad situation. she’s the one who took charge in the plan for during final act for romeo. she’s the one who was able to get their enemies to back down once and for all. she is an icon. and i strive to have a 10th of her intelligence.

and god, of course we have to talk about romeo and valentine. they were so damn gentle with one another. despite all the chaos and ruin happening around them, they still found away to love each other with a bright fire. their ability to be soft with one another, despite all their worries and all the problems facing them. they have a love like no other. and as a wise man says in the story. this is a happiness they deserve. a happiness they would not have received in their original classic. and that’s what makes me absolutely adore this retelling series. it gives our characters, queer characters, the happy ending they deserve. it shows a queer reader that this is something they can have. something they deserve to have.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm such a huge fan of this Remixed Classics series (classics, but make them diverse, and more often than not, gay? Yes, please), and I've previously read one of Caleb Roehrig's works and loved it (Death Prefers Blondes - highly recommend if you like heists, drag queens, and drag queens doing heists), so I was very much looking forward to this book, even if Romeo and Juliet isn't exactly my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. The spin Roehrig puts on it, though, is so fun and so rewarding. There are ace/aro characters - yes, characterS with an S, as in multiple characters share that identity. Juliet actually has some agency and personality! People actually communicate with each other! There's still fighting, and bloodshed, and many of the same plot beats you would expect from a Romeo & Juliet retelling, of course, but it never feels stale. And the romance? So good. I mean, just look at them on that cover. I live! This is definitely going down as one of my favorite entries in the Remixed Classics series.

This book gave me a lot of emotions and it was fantastic and I loved every moment of it. Romeo was a bit of a disaster, but I loved him for it and Valentine is just so sweet. Juliet is honestly so relatable for me too.

One of the most important things I loved was that on top of our main character and love interest being gay we are also given some good asexual and aromantic representation! There was also a great discussion with Romeo and Juliet about how even though Romeo is limited by his lot in life, Juliet is even more limited as a woman with little to no agency in their society and it forces Romeo to consider from someone else's perspective.

This is the second book I've read in the Remixed Classics series (A Clash of Steel was the first) and I cannot wait to read more of them. Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa will be next!

Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

This was another one of those books that I was so hyped to get my hands on, and I am so delighted I had the chance to get an early preview of it. Teach the Torches to Burn is everything that I hoped it would be and more, taking the tragic story that we're all so familiar with and turning it into something beautiful and queer and hopeful.

Romeo Montague would love nothing more than to live a peaceful life as an artist, left to make his own choices and away from the drama and bustle of Verona. But he is the heir of the family, and as such he is expected to give up such "womanly" pursuits in favor of marrying a woman his parents approve of and continuing on the centuries-old feud with the Capulets. Yet with every woman his cousin and friend introduce him to, he has to acknowledge that he is only attracted to men. It all comes to a head when he sneaks into a Capulet party, falls madly, deeply in love with Valentine (best friend Mercutio's younger brother) and manages to terribly offend Tybalt all in one evening. Suddenly Romeo and Valentine are trying to find time to kindle their tender new romance, while the feud between the Montagues and Capulets spirals out of control.

I was so curious going into this story how the general all of it was going to be handled, admittedly. Valentine being an outsider compared to the original tale left me with my doubts originally, but I was so genuinely delighted by how author Caleb Roehrig brought him into the story (as Mercutio's younger brother returned from a foster-sort of situation in the country) and how it made the entire feud between the two families all the more ridiculous. Valentine is perfect; ride-or-die material, really. Romeo is so so SO precious in this, too. He's humanized from the original tale and given interests and hopes and dreams outside of his romantic explorations, and I felt for him the entire time.

"Sometimes I feel as though I am being crushed alive, but it's happening so slowly, no one believes me when I tell them. Sometimes it feels like the most important parts of me are the ones I can't share with the people who are the most important to me."

I also really want to appreciate the care that was taken to make sure that Juliet was still given her due in the book. It would have been easy to only focus on Romeo and Valentine, but Juliet was still put center stage and allowed to take the lead on so many points. Without her, this story could not be told, and it is acknowledged repeatedly throughout the book that whatever Romeo is going through, it is much worse for Juliet just because of her status as a woman in the world. We love an aro-ace icon.
And then, of course, Benvolio and Mercutio. Best bros and allies.

I could babble about this one forever, but it's really just such a GOOD read and I am so excited for everyone to get their hands on it and to have a copy for my classroom shelves - especially for all of my students who have to read Romeo & Juliet in class.

4 stars!

the Remixed Classics series has been such a consistent delight. rewiring Romeo & Juliet so there's room for queerness, found family, and self-discovery nestled in among the classic love story everybody knows was simply wonderful.

as one might expect, we set the scene in fair Verona. our protagonist is Romeo Montague, currently languishing under his family's crushing expectations for his future and just wanting to sit somewhere quiet and draw flowers. he sneaks out one night to speak to his monk friend slash confidant and when he sneaks back in his cousin Benvolio is lounging on his bed. Benvolio wants Romeo to come to the city with him for a rousing good time and when Romeo hesitates, being very tired and sleep deprived because of his secret painting and confessing, Ben mentions that Mercutio will be coming.

Romeo definitely has a crush on Mercutio here, which I respect because... valid as hell. he drags his feet a bit but eventually agrees and off the pair of them go.
"You definitely got me," I concede at last, mustering my cool with an arched brow. "Now if only you could manage to get a girl, I might be impressed."
Ben hoots with laughter while Mercutio's eyes widen in shock; and then, he begins to laugh as well. Yanking me close, he thumps a happy fist on my chest. "I'm glad you decided to come, old friend! And not only because the ladies here will find me twice as attractive in comparison."
"Oh, so you plan to keep your mask on, then?" Benvolio interjects gleefully, and Mercutio gives him a thump as well.
Romeo and Benvolio have a fantastic and often hilarious relationship and are very close, but lately Romeo's queerness has been driving a wedge between them. he feels like it isn't something he can share with Ben, that Ben will find him disgusting or out him to his parents or anything else. unfortunately this also means that Ben is actively trying to get Romeo a girl, as he assumes his cousin is simply shy and painfully bad at courting them.

to throw Benvolio off his trail Romeo has been loudly waxing poetic over Rosaline. this charade is a filthy lie; Rosaline is fine, but Romeo is not particularly interested in her. what does interest him is her publicly announced vow of chastity, a built-in excuse for why he can't move forward in courting her.

the trouble-making trio hear about a masquerade Capulet party happening soon and decide to sneak in, as Rosaline is supposed to be in attendance and Benvolio genuinely thinks his cousin is dying to see her. Romeo begrudgingly comes along and ends up escaping the heat and pressure of the party after a couple uncomfortable dances with girls he's not interested in. when he steps aside, he runs into a boy dressed as a faun resting in an interior courtyard. he's revealed to be Valentine, Mercutio's long lost brother, and Romeo's new and intense love interest.
"You might as well get on with it while there's still ample time to be consoled after she turns you down." Ben slaps me on the back. "Remember. Women cannot resist a man who is confident, witty, and handsome. So pick someone who has those traits and pretend to be him."
"You can pretend to be me," Mercutio chimes in. "I won't mind."
Ben nods. "Yes - pretend to be Mercutio, but if he was witty and handsome."
"Piss off!"

rep - achillean mc, achillean love interest, asexual 'main' side character, asexual side character
thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc ✨

I’ve read one other book in the Remixed Classics series, and I absolutely loved it, so my expectations for this one were high … and this did not disappoint. I do not enjoy Shakespeare, in general, and Romeo & Juliet even less, but I wanted to give this one a chance, and I am SO glad I did.

I am blown away by this book - a queer retelling of Romeo & Juliet, that takes all the original characters and reimagines them into a heart-rending, nail-biting, achingly romantic story that actually ends well. Full of everything from the original (Rivalries! Familial expectations! Poison! Stabbings! Teenagers!), but so much better. It was refreshing to see how the different characters dealt with their circumstances, and how much of a badass Juliet was!

I’ve been wanting to read some of these remixed classics for a long time now, and I’m so glad I finally did! What could be better than Romeo and Juliet, you ask? Just make it gay. The representation in this book was incredible. It felt very fresh while still resembling the classic that we all know and love (or hate). I will definitely be picking up more of these remixed classics!

Always a fan of remixed classics and this one did not disappoint. I loved the take on this Romeo and Juliet story and the characters involved.

As someone who isn't really a fan of the classics, I think I could change my mind if Caleb Roehrig just keeps rewriting them.

As the narrator, Romeo was such a refreshing main character to read about. I loved his romance with Valentine. There are a few times Romeo touches on feeling like an outsider because of being gay, and I felt that with my entire soul and being. And same thing with Juliet, who <spoiler>I'm gonna go ahead and guess is an asexual character? At least, that was my interpretation of her here!</spoiler>

I kept guessing at what the ending would be, and I was partially right about it! Knowing how the original play ends, I was just chuckling nervously the closer and closer I got to being finished. This book really is amazing from beginning to end.

Excellent book! In general, I’m a fan of the recent trend towards reinventing the classics but with a gay twist. This book did not disappoint. I truly enjoyed watching the well-known characters from Romeo & Juliet interact and struggle with some of the same issues. The writing was excellent and I look forward to adding this book to my school library. I’m also going to take a good look at the other books by Caleb Roehrig as possibly additions.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Fierce Reads for the arc of this one!

Romeo and Juliet but make it gay!

Okay when I tell you the better you know R&J the better this is!!!! I have read Romeo and Juliet so many times because I'm an English teacher and I loved seeing all the little and big references and how things were twisted!

I think this book did a really good job retelling the original story without it feeling like a copy. The romance between Romeo and Valentine was so good!!!

Also an aroace Friar Lawrence and an aroace Juliet 🫡. I am pleased.

I had so much fun reading this and loved every second of it. This retelling series is always so good and this one is definitely one of my favorites!

CW: homophobia, death, violence, poisoning, emotional abuse

⭐️⭐️

𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨-𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙪𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤 & 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙭 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙜𝙖𝙮.

I haven’t read too many Romo & Juliet retellings, but I was so excited to check this one out!

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. Shakespeare's retellings are so difficult to write, but I had such high hopes for this book - especially with gay characters.

While I loved the diverse characters, I didn’t really care too much for them. There was never a strong enough attachment to them.

While I understand what the author did here, I didn’t really connect with the writing. The way the story was written just didn’t resonate with me, also, I feel like the story itself was way too similar to the original tale. I didn’t feel much of a “retelling”.

I really feel like there was a great concept behind this book, but I don’t think it was executed that well - at least not for me. I always enjoy a good retelling, but unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

Not only was this my favorite R&J retelling/reimagining, it’s probably one of my all time favorites of any retelling/reimagining. It was the perfect blend of feeling true to the story and these characters while also bringing new life and energy to both. I loved the way every single character was written. I typically prefer Romeo to be portrayed in retellings as a bit of a…well, I’ll just say douchebag, but this Romeo was kind, artistic and brave and it worked so well. Also Mercutio and Benvolio were a HOOT! Their scenes were so funny to read, but also I loved how they really came through for Romeo and Valentine who were just lovely together. My absolute favorites though had to be Juliet and Friar Laurence. I loved how Juliet was not a romantic interest, but an ally and friend to Romeo and his group, especially when she stood up to Tybalt and Paris. This Juliet needs NO rescuing! And Friar Laurence was just an absolute delight. The author’s note at the end really moved me, talking about how R&J is no romance, but a tragedy set by adults who refuse to let their children be who they are and set their own course. My only complaint about this book is that it ended at all. I loved every second of it. I HIGHLY recommend it for readers who love retellings and queer romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This next installment of Macmillan's Remixed Classics collection brings Shakespeare into the mix with a gay Romeo and a Juliet who has no desires to be wed.

I'll be honest, I was nervous about this one since Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers kind of hinges on young teens from two warring families to fall in love and if Romeo wasn't falling for Juliet... I wasn't sure how TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN was going to pull off a remix of ROMEO & JULIET. I had no need to worry though, Roehrig expertly takes the key plot points and themes from Shakespeare's play and weaves them into this version of Romeo and Juliet trying to find their places in a world where parental expectations tell them they cannot be their true selves. I appreciated that Juliet still had a hefty role to play, even if she was no longer the object of Romeo's desire - Roehrig didn't forget her or relegate her to the shadows. Honestly, the only thing I missed was Mercutio's Queen Mab speech, though Roehrig's Mercutio still has the same energy and charisma as Shakespeare's.

Roehrig kept this version within the same time period as the play and while spoken in modern English, much of the dialogue and phrases used are closer to classic literature than of YA literature in 2023. This may deter some readers, but I personally think it makes the plot more effective.

As the tension rises after the fight with Tybalt, and Romeo is frantically trying to find a path forward with Friar Laurence that doesn't include more death, my reader experience was one of intense anxiousness needing to know how Roehrig was going to end this tale and if it was going to stray from the original text. Does it? You'll have to read it yourself to find out. But I will say that I think the meeting between Romeo and Valentine through to the end are well executed and make this a satisfying read.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not always a fan of retellings, but Caleb Roehrig did a great job with "Teach the Torches to Burn".
Romeo is at the age where he should be looking for a wife and settling down to have children and eventually take over the Montague estate, but Romeo has never found any of the same romantic fascination with women that his cousin and best friend have. He makes a deal with Benvolio to sneak into a Capulet party, where he meets a beautiful stranger in the shadows. Enter Valentine: Mercutio’s younger brother who has only recently returned to Verona. Their attraction is instant and intense, and Romeo finally has an answer to why he’s never felt attraction to and of the women his cousin has tried to set him up with. The story held most of the significant plot points of the original Romeo and Juliet: the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, forbidden love, Juliet avoiding marrying Count Paris, Romeo’s banishment in the aftermath of the brawl with Tybalt… and time quickly running out to save the love of his life from a slow acting poison.
Literally, thank god for the word “remix” instead of "retelling". The last quarter of the book had me insanely stressed about the outcome of Romeo and Valentine’s romance. I feared the worst, and I was tempted to throw my kindle if TTTTB ended like the original. Thankfully, Roehrig found the perfect way to skirt the edge of disaster and write an incredible ending where Romeo gets the love he deserves, Valentine lives, and Juliet avoids marrying the awful Count Paris. The ending was well thought out and well written, and it was a huge relief to avoid the massive tragedy.
Although there were no words explicitly used for it, it was nice to see the bit of sexuality representation in a far less modern setting: Romeo and Valentine are gay. Valentine possibly demisexual, as it was insinuated that he’d been romantically interested in Romeo even when they were kids when they played together with Mercutio and Benvolio, and showed no other romantic interest over time. Juliet is aro/ace, with it being clearly stated that she never understood the romantic or physical attraction all her friends seemed to develop towards boys.
Overall, a great job with remixing a classic and making it queer, I loved it!

Teach the Torches to Burn 4.5/5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for this book!

I have so much to say! First of all, this book is beautifully written. The prose is so captivating and magical.

Secondly, I love all the characters! Romeo and Valentine are wonderful. It was beautiful to see their relationship progress from trepidation to care for one another. Juliet is so intelligent and badass. Ben and Mercutio are hilarious.

It made me so happy to see everyone’s growth throughout the book, and most importantly their support of Romeo and Valentine. I can’t wait to read more of the remixed classics.

Overall, I definitely recommend checking this book out when it’s released! 🤍

This was such a beautiful, refreshing queer take on Romeo & Juliet. I loved all the components of the original that came out to play, and was delighted by the characters and their ceaseless chasing of hope.