A stunning cover. Rich and descriptive prose. A romance to die for (or not …). What do we want more in a retelling?

Of course, I know Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and their tragic ending. But I’m so happy that there are more and more YA retellings that are different. Chloe Wong’s A Violent Delight is an excellent example, and Teach the Torches to Burn is another.

I didn’t know what to expect from this story. I love to read retellings, but I have to admit that I only started to long for this book when I saw that glorious cover by Julie Dillon. From that moment, the yearning kept growing. So when I found the approval for an ARC in my email, I almost screamed out loud.

First of all, Julie Dillon’s art, Caleb Roehrig’s writing, and one of the most important romances in fictional history suit each other wonderfully. The cover and the writing are lush and vivid and irresistibly romantic.

Caleb stays close to the original story, which means that the romance is insta love, and the events happen in a short period. The sentences and wording are a bit more old-fashioned and dense than usual, but all of this (including the insta love) suits a retelling of Romeo and Juliet really well. The blooming and passionate love between Romeo and Valentine made my heart beat faster, and I rooted for the friendship between Juliet and Romeo. And I treasured Christianity in this story, with Friar Laurence as the highlight. He should be an example for current Christian leaders.