Review Detail

What worked: Empowering, feminist take on some of Shakespeare's tragic figures. The novel is told in free verse and broken up into three acts. The women in the story include Juliet; Ophelia; Cordelia; and Lavinia. Each of these characters suffered loss through trauma and more. The story begins in the trap room where the women are no longer relegated to silence. It's here where they share their own stories. These women's stories are often brushed off as just an example of tragic figures.

At the beginning of the book, the author reminds readers which Shakespeare novels these characters are from. There's also mention of the trauma that happened to them.

What I loved is this retelling where the women take center stage and tell their stories. What is empowering is for these so-called tragic characters to take back their voices and even tell how they would have written their stories.

The free verse style is fast-paced and engaging. Each character brings her own distinct voice to this powerful story. Readers hear the women's take on what often had been silenced in a male-dominated society.

Juliet from Romeo and Juliet shares what happened in the infamous 'love story' and how she would have taken the tale to a less tragic ending.

Ophelia's take reveals the pain she must have felt to be betrayed by the prince she loved.

All the while Lavinia watches on the sidelines, broken, bruised, and mutilated into silence. Her story is very traumatic and tragic.

Compelling retelling of Shakespeare's most tragic women heroines that inspire strength and hope.