Queen Mab: A Tale Entwined with William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet Paperback – 11 May 2013

Even if you did not know (and who does not know?) the story of Romeo & Juliet this story would capture your attention. However in the knowing of Shakespeare's tale you can appreciate and enjoy this wonderfully imagined story of the power game of the Demi-gods that drives the human pawns to their tragic fates, all the more. The power of dreams and love . . . Great for all ages who enjoy a good tale of of betrayal, intrigue and love.

This author takes a tragedy most people know and wraps it up with hope to bring joy

Not for me

Absolutely brilliant! The premise of this book appealed to me, and the book did not disappoint. It gives a lot of background and story for Queen Mab, and gives a different view on the classic Romeo and Juliet tale, while still staying perfectly true to the original (in my opinion). I really liked the way the story played out, and am very glad I got and read this. It is a lovely read and is quite un-put-downable! Well worth your time if you like R&J.

I really enjoyed this book, having seen Romeo and Juliet. I am a fan of Shakespeare, I love his work.

Interesting premise, but it became quite difficult to read and have any empathy with the characters. I may try again, but am not too hopeful. Some lyrical descriptions.

I enjoyed 'the woodcutter' so much that I looked for this one; it didn't disappoint. Just my kind of fantasy

Good idea flawed result

I love, love, love Kate Danley's works! Queen Mab is a beautifully written book that completely immerses the reader in her world. Seriously, there is no reason not to read this. It seamlessly entwines the misunderstood Queen Mab into the world of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I'm not sure why you're still reading this review. Go and read the book. Right now.

I am a HUGE Shakespeare fan and I LOVED this book (and truth be told, R & J is not one of my favorites). It's not so much "Romeo and Juliet...but WITH A TWIST! (*wink-wink, gag-gag*)" as it is "Romeo and Juliet's dark secret that we had to wait 400+ years to learn." It was actually really fun and interesting to see the text of Romeo and Juliet told from a different perspective (much like "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead" does with "Hamlet"). Mab, even at her worst, is sympathetic throughout the story (at least she was to me) and Faunus is an absolute love-to-hate villain. You can't help but sigh sadly as the other characters enter and exit the pages since you know what's coming. That said, this story is compelling and surprising and has an ending that is wholly satisfactory. I could nit-pick here and there, but I really don't feel the need, because even if the writing gets a little too quick (like the speed at which the scene of Juno admonishing Faunus goes) or something, the *story* is always there. I have quickly become a fan of Kate Danley's and her penchant for the fantastical (which is normally not my genre, so that shows you the pull of her storytelling), and I can't wait to see what she has next. I highly recommend this book and basically anything else she's written.

Kate Danley reinterprets Romeo and Juliet with great style and originality. In this version the houses of Montague and Capulet are the playthings of demigods Queen Mab and her former lover (and now enemy) Faunus and some of the relatively minor characters of the original e.g. Mercutio have a much greater role here. Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay to Kate Danley is that I put the book aside while I re-read the original as I couldn’t tell which bits were Shakespeare’s and which were hers. While much is her own, the fact that when she does incorporate the Bard’s words into her text - as in Mercutio’s description of Queen Mab - they fit in seamlessly is a great tribute to her writing. And the ending? Discover it for yourself ;-)

One of the many books I've discovered thanks to OHFB, I was intrigued by the idea that the events of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet were orchestrated by something otherwordly. The author was able to create another dimension to the world that Shakespeare created in his work. Therefore, the reader was provided another view of the tragedy which occurred. Though the two works shared the same setting and much of the same cast, this book expounded on the history and lessons put forth in Shakespeare's novel. The mixture of opposites, including love, loss, trust and betrayal, gave the various political manueverings a deeper level of impact during the course of the book.Much of the novel centered around Queen Mab and the consequences of her actions. She wasn't the only demi-god that meddled with the lives of the people who went went about their normal lives in Verona. Faunus, the pipe-playing demi-god with cloven feet, sought win Mab's realm by coercing her into a wager. Each would chose a champion from either the House Capulet or House Montague. This champion determined which of the houses would fall and by proxy, which demi-god would win. Familiar characters from the original work danced through the novel to their intended ends. Romeo and Juliet, Mercurito and Tybalt - all of them followed the trajectory of the original, but the author of this book gave all the characters an emotional depth. With the primary focus on someone other than the couple, it allowed the secondary characters to come alive in a way that differed from the original.It took a little while for me to become hooked by the story, but within a few chapters, I kept wanting to read more than the time I allotted myself. Because Queen Mab was a demi-god and ruled the world of dreams, she affected the lives of the people for centuries. Once the first betrayal revealed the players, the game was afoot. Wheels of time began turning at a quicker pace when Romeo met Juliet during the masked ball thrown by her father. The multi-layered designs that both Mab and Faunus put into play rushed the downfall of both houses and ushered in the rebirth of said houses with a deeper emotional connection. For me, the book's pace became steady the moment that Faunus stole something from Mab and lasted until the very last word.Overall, I found this book quite entertaining and an interesting way to look at a work that I first read in middle school. It presented the tragic love story in such a way that the reader experienced the full gamut of emotions. From anger, lust and betrayal to love, acceptance and empathy - all these made an appearance at some point in the book. By using a feud between two demi-gods, the author explored more of the cause and effect of decisions made in haste. I enjoyed the transformation of Mab as she learned the lessons through experiencing some of these same emotions herself. It made the story more intimate in a way that I enjoyed. If you're looking for a fresh take on a beloved classic or need a dose of political intrigue among supernatural beings, then this is the book you should be reading!

This book is an intricate weaving of Shakespeares Rmeo and Juliet with the authors tale of the fairies and gods surrounding the domain of the Capulets and Montagues. It is a bit too intricate. I found the book a heavy go. I just couldnt seem to get into the story at all, and I thought I would love this book. Kate Danely is an excellent author and I have devoured many of her other books. Unfortunately this one did not work for me....and I really wanted it too....I tried, I really tried hard but, I guess, you shouldnt have to be trying hard to get encompassed by a book and its story and characters.Unfortunately I have to pass on this one.