Juliet

Last night I dreamed of Siena, and here's why:

Everyone knows Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers whose lives end in tragedy. But what people don't know is where the story came from. The novel Juliet, while fiction, incorporates truth. Most people probably don't know that Romeo and Juliet is, somewhat, based on events that happened in the middle ages; family fueds and blood spilt in old Siena (Italy). This addition of the long-ago past adds integrity to the book and a connection to the characters' past as well as introducing non-literary scholars to a different take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

There are two plots in the book: present day and the mid 14th century. I LOVE LOVE LOVE books that alternate between past and present, especially if the authors entwines them perfectly, as Anne Fortier has done in this novel. Fortier also does not add extraordinary events that are nearly humanly impossible but instead has our heroine overcoming obstacles that modern day women can relate to (though unfortunately we are not all modern-day Juliets).

Fortier also develops characters in a smart way; her characters actually develop, instead of changing in an instant overnight. The most dramatic development in the story is of the heroine's sister and the dichotomy of the two sisters develops, as well, with each sister shedding layers and showing her true colors.

All in all, this book was excellent. I read it in two days and still want more. For anyone who loves romance, adventure, and deception surrounded by ancient truths, this book is for you. What's more is that the author uses real places in the setting; places that I intend on visiting when I go to Siena!