Bright Smoke, Cold Fire audiobook

An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.Unlike a lot of people, Romeo & Juliet has never been my favorite of Shakespeare's plays. (I go more for the brutal, cunning Macbeth.) I just don't get how overly romanticized R&J is when Romeo was infatuated with the fair Rosaline one day, only to find himself in love with Juliet the next. Fickle I may be at times, but that just rubbed me the wrong way. However, I am a Rosamund Hodge fangirl for life, and I will read anything and everything she writes.And now that I've read Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, I'm not really sure what to do with myself. I've gotten so used to Hodge's stand-alone fantasies that it's rather shocking to be done with this book and not know how everything turns out. It's a planned duology, and I would very much like to have the next book in my hands now, but regardless of that fact, I'm still quite sure I loved this dark, bloody little novel. I absolutely love how Hodge turns the original tale of Romeo & Juliet on its head and basically makes me love her version better than Shakespeare's.Gone are the romantic notions that Romeo and Juliet could end up happily ever after. This retelling opens on the eve of the end of Romeo and Juliet's tale and it's clear that this story is every bit the tragedy that the original play was. Especially since there are evil necromancers lurking in plain sight, wreaking their own brand of havoc while the city - the last in existence - is already plagued by revenants and reapers. And anyone who passes and is not burned upon death reawakens to become the living dead. Creepy. Imagine what this might mean, then, for our tortured lovers, if you will.That being said, this is not a zombie book. There are no walking dead, shambling about in search of brains. Not yet, anyway. There are those who are being reanimated to do the necromancers bidding, though, and that's bad enough. And this is where our key players come in, because at the heart of the story is each of their desire to save the city from itself.Romeo is still a besotted fool, but Paris has a much bigger role in this version. Rather than being Juliet's intended, he is her protector. Because Juliet is not just a girl. She is THE Juliet, a weapon in her own right. Even Rosaline has a starring role in this tale, though as the [mostly] unfeeling Runajo who will sacrifice herself in her determination to save Viyara. After a chain of events that none of them could have predicted, and on opposite sides of the city, these enemies from rival families form some rather reluctant alliances and it is exquisite.I found the world-building in this book to be rather intense but phenomenal, though it may be rather dense for some readers. Everyone trapped within the walls of the city for their own safety. The lower market. The underground library. Magic and blood and blood magic. All of it was so easy to imagine with Hodge's vivid descriptions. And I loved seeing the parallels to the original tale of woe while reading a completely different - albeit still lovely and tragic - story. Obviously, there was that whole ordeal with Romeo and Juliet, but then there are the warring families, the apothecary...the duel with Tybalt that leaves Romeo a wanted man. I loved every detail Hodge kept from the original story, and I loved them even more as they morphed into something evil and dark and altogether awful.Unlike her other novels, though, this one is not remotely romantic. Okay, maybe a teensy bit. In flashbacks. But I think the story is all the better for the absence of romance. At least in this first book. There's still so much for the characters to learn and understand, and a city to save, so it makes sense for any romance to take a backseat to the pivotal struggle at hand.Suffice it to say, I am thoroughly impressed with this novel. That's not surprising, though, considering how much I enjoyed her previous retellings. I very much look forward to the conclusion to this Romeo & Juliet retelling, especially as I wonder if the lovers will face the same fate as in the original tale... GIF it to me straight:

What we've all come to love, trust, and even respect about Hodge's writing is her ability to weave a familiar tale, put a beautifully dark twist on it and make it all her own and her latest release is no exception to her brilliance.Wonderfully told with twists around ever bend including the very fact that this tale is not told from Juliet and her Romeo's point of view but instead from Paris and Runajo, our hero and heroine of the story. Don't get me wrong, Juliet and Romeo play a very big part in this story, but this story isn't all about them nor their star crossed love. After all, if it was, how ordinary would that be? And if Hodge has taught us anything over the years, it is that her writing is anything bur ordinary.Rich is detail, imaginative, creative, and wonderfully dark, this tale will leave your imagination running wild, your expectations high and most of all by the end, leave you longing for the rest of the story. *ARC copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5What a crazy unique book! Rosamund Hodge is a must-read author for me. She always writes twisted and imaginative stories! Bright Smoke, Cold Fire is inspired by Romeo and Juliet, but it is definitely its own thing.I would say this is Hodge’s darkest book yet, and I’m totally okay with that. In fact, that’s something I love about it. I mean, c’mon, there’s necromancers, magic, human sacrifices, and vengeance! Swoon.Seriously, though, it can be pretty brutal in this world. I found the whole mythology dealing with Death and the dead really interesting. I love how it’s told mostly from Paris and Runajo’s perspective, leaving Romeo and Juliet as vital secondary characters. The twists on these characters is really creative. This is one Juliet not to be trifled with.There were some parts that felt a little slow, but the action, suspense, and dash of humor totally made up for it. I have to say, I wasn’t expecting the cliffhanger, though. I assumed it would be a standalone like the rest of her books, but it seems it will be a duology. Wha-wha.Overall, I enjoyed this twisted dark tale, and look forward to what’s coming next.

The previous book I've read by Rosamund Hodge, Crimson Bound, was a huge disappointment. You can read my crappy review of it HERE. Now, I'm all for second chances which is why I requested this book. I'm so glad that I did.What's funny is that a lot of people seem to have the exact opposite opinion on these books. The ones who absolutely loved Crimson Bound and Cruel Beauty seem to be very disappointed in this one. Maybe that's why I liked it so much!Okay, I have absolutely zero Kindle notes to work with here, which says a lot really. So let me sum up some of the complaints I've come across on Goodreads instead, and counteract them with my own thoughts*:1. "The story is confusing"The world building is very complex and yes, you need to use those brain cells to grasp the whole concept but isn't that what you want from a Fantasy book? This has got to be the most unique world building and storyline I have come across in a while. Complex, but oh so creative and well thought out.The world is dead, except for the city of Viyara which is protected by a magical wall that keeps the poisonous fog out. People still die in the city, but not by the hand of the Ruining (which is what the deadly fog is called). Outside that wall, the world is crawling with revenants, people who died in the fog but came back to life again a.k.a. ZOMBIES! If you die within the wall of Viyara, you will also turn into a zombie, but there's the City Guard who takes care of that issue so there aren't any zombie herd scenarios there. Except within the Sunken Library, an ancient place deep down in the cloister of the Sisters of the Thorn.These Sisters keep the wall functioning by sacrificing blood to it. Their own blood, but also the blood of sacrifices every six months. The magic within the wall is fading, though; human blood isn't enough and sacrifices are being demanded more often.Runajo, one of the Sisters of the Thorn but a bit of a rebellious one, wants to find answers in the Sunken Library in the hope of learning how the magic of the wall really works since most knowledge on that has been lost. Yet, there are the revenants, thousands of them in the Library, which is why no one has set foot in it for a long time. Let alone returned from the trip afterwards...There are three major clans in the city: the Catresou (which I can't help but pronounce in French the whole time), the Mahyanai, and the old Viyarans. The Catresou and the Mahyanai are each other's archnemeses. And because the story is loosely built on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, of course, the Romeo in the story is of the Mahyanai and the Juliet belongs to the Catresou. Which brings me to the second complaint on Goodreads.2. "There's instalove"Yeah, no, not really. There's Romeo, a love fool who lives for love and writing poems, so it's not a big surprise there that he falls for Juliet right away. Juliet is attracted to Romeo but with none of that 'His rock hard abs made me shiver with excitement'/'The twinkle in his eyes made my heart flutter' kind of nonsense. In fact, they're both wearing masks, which makes it kind of hard to see someone's eyes twinkle in the first place.Apart from that, the actual romance aspect is very low key. There are two or three flashbacks maybe with some modest romance in it, but in general, it's more about friendship than anything else. Which I think was GREAT!3. "The story was boring"Ehm, have we even read the same book? I nearly fell out of bed when I was reading a particular zombie scene. And necromancers? And MURDER! Boring...pfft, if anything, this was the most exciting story I've read in a while. 4. "The characters fell flat"Again, have we read the same book?! The Juliet is a power machine infused with magic (heh, anyone ever noticed the words machine and magic look kind of alike?) born to kick the shite out of the unjust! She's dual wielding those revenants like there's no tomorrow.Runajo kicks ass in a different way, by remaining stubborn and showing the High Priestess some serious cojones. Paris and Romeo are adorable (and no, they aren't gay/bisexual like some of the blurbs suggest).The side characters aren't always very distinct when it comes to their personalities but who cares, we've got four main characters to love already!5. "The book is too lengthy"I wish it was longer so the story would've been wrapped up nicely.And this is probably one of the rare points of criticism that I have myself here. I was not prepared for this to be a duology. I would've preferred it to be a stand alone and not end the story with a cliffhanger. This doesn't mean I don't look forward to reading the second book, though. I NEED to know what happens next!!TL; DRZombies, Romeo and Juliet, no lovey-dovey shit, necromancers, awesome worldbuilding. Dark Fantasy. Hells to the yeah. Read this book.(and speaking of zombies, who else is eagerly awaiting new episodes of The Walking Dead!? Don't die Glenn!! Or Daryl!!)Thanks to Harper Collins for providing me with a copy of the book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest opinion!*This is by no means an attack on those who didn't like the book. I thought it was really fascinating to see so many opinions shifting along with my own one, albeit it being in the opposite direction.

Short Review: Brilliant fantasy from a world class writer. Super, super, super good. This book comes out in a week and is part one of two. (Because I realize my super-long review ... which you should read anyway ... might be a TLDR for some.) =============The world was made from the blood of gods. The blood of men sustains it now. So said the Sisters of Thorn. Runajo did not believe in the gods, but she didn't doubt the power of spilled blood.Nobody in Viyara did.Rosamund Hodge retold Beauty and the Beast in Cruel Beauty and she retold Little Red Riding Hood in Crimson Bound. Not that you'd necessarily know that if you weren't told before you began reading.  Hodge weaves complex tales in completely unique worlds of her own imagining, with heroes and villains whose imperfections make them fascinating and compelling.Now Romeo and Juliet serve as a springboard into a dystopian fantasy world where there is one city left standing. Without blood the magic will fail and the walls will fall. And when that happens ... the zombies will get in.This book shows the originating tale a little more clearly than her previous books. There are feuding clans following entrenched beliefs, there are Shakespearean quotes and poetry, there are masked balls, there is forbidden love, and even an apothecary. Romeo and Juliet can never acknowledge their love publicly. However, these elements come in a tale where Romeo and Juliet are side characters compared to the the two narrators.The righteous atheist Runajo has joined the religious order who maintains the walls because she knows the magic is failing. Seeking long-forgotten spells means finding a way into the Sunken Library, awash in the living dead. When she encounters Juliet, they must offset each other's weaknesses if they are to succeed in averting disaster.Paris is a pure-hearted true believer in his clan's destiny to help save their people. When his life becomes inextricably bound with Romeo's, his world turns topsy-turvey in a quest that takes them through the lawless underworld of the Lower City.Paris and Runajo are fully realized, fully complicated human beings with faults, hopes, and internal struggles. We can recognize something of ourselves in them, even as their flaws drive us crazy.  We want them to succeed, even as we wince at some of their assumptions and decisions.This is told against the backdrop of a culture that can never forget tragedy and death are inevitable, and that the price of life is someone else's blood. The themes are big and the devices, such as doubling, work to give the story depth and complexity beyond the usual dystopian story.Juliet shook her head. "The word for justice is … I can feel it. Not just as an idea in my head, something I was told or that I made up. It's like the way the sun rises, or stones fall to the ground. It's infinite and eternal and closer than my heartbeat. And when people are hurt—even people who die and are gone and become nothing in the darkness—people my family would say I should care nothing about—I can feel justice scream against it. Nobody in my family understands that. They all think justice is just for use, some kind of—of instructions on how to keep us safe and headed toward the Paths of Light. It's not. It is real and it wants. It wants to reach into every corner of the world, and I was to make that happen. That's what I wanted. To bring justice to the whole city, and not just my people" She drew a ragged breath and fell silent.Oh, thought Runjo. Her too.She hadn't known there was anyone else.A third of the way into this book I realized I was reading a major work of fantasy by an author of immense talent. Is this how people read when Dune was being serialized in Analog magazine? When the Lord of the Rings only had The Fellowship of the Ring published? That they were witnessing something extraordinary?I can't tell if this book will measure up to those standards yet because it is, unfortunately, being published in two parts. That's annoying. So very annoying. I don't know who planned it that way but whoever did it was wrong to chop it in half. Chop being the operative word.Nevertheless, my gut feeling remains. This is an incredible book that I cannot wait to finish.NOTE: The most unfortunate part of the review galley is that it didn't mention that this was the first of two parts. The end was incredibly confusing until I wrote the author to find out what was going on. So if they haven't had the courtesy to make it obvious in the final book, I'm mentioning it here.Oh yes - Got a review copy. Didn't affect my opinions.

Anti-black sheep alert! (White sheep? Would we just call that a sheep? I digress....) Most of my friends have been disappointed by Hodge's third book; about half DNF'd and half two-starred. And here I am, with my unabashed love for it. This is the most I have ever liked the story of Romeo and Juliet -- they were teens who knew each other for days before dying IT'S NOT A REAL ROMANCE -- so maybe it's the zombies? The stone-cold badass that is the Juliet? Romeo and Paris acting like CSI investigators with a psychic mind link? Maybe it's Hodge's unique and creative worldbuilding (though admittedly it is a bit jumbled at the beginning)? Or maybe it's all the gay headcanons this book seems to beg for. I dunno. I just really, really dug this.

Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds Disclaimer: A Physicall Copy of the was was provided via Harper Collins India in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own. To be honest; I am not a Shakespeare fan & not only that I haven’t actually read any books by him (don’t sue me please; I need money to buy books!). But I am definitely not a fan of Romeo and Juliet – two thirteen year old killing themselves over a misunderstanding? Yeah, no thank you please.But when a favorite author who does brilliant job of retelling classics picks up Romeo and Juliet as a plot for her next retelling duology – I put aside my apprehensions and picked up this book definitely expecting to feel something.What I didn’t expect was to be sucked into a plot that was full of secrets; dark and dreary ones; characters who are naïve and manipulated by forces far more cunning and intelligent they ever could be. All this and more is complicated by the appearance of necromancers and zombies!  Set in the only living city of Viyara where the living dead are being kept at bay by the blood sacrifice of a sisterhood and the city is in constant push and pull between two warring clans – Costreau and Mahyanai.The plot really thickens, predictable of course; when the Juliet Costreau, the sword of the clan falls in love with Romeo Mahyanai – I loved the characterizations of Juliet and Romeo; not only are they the opposite of each other, they are not quite the naïve characters I would have expected them to be.The other two characters who play quite pivot roles were – Paris Costreau, Juliet proxy guardian and Runajo Mahyanai – two characters who not only are important to this story but also are part of some very important plot twists that had me slack jawed in surprise.Four characters form some very unlikely friendships; but the friendships like all others have their own trials and tribulations; especially considering that I was absolutely shattered with the way this first book ended.As per usual; Ms. Hodge has weaved a frighteningly treacherous tale of family loyalty, a love that spans hatred, plot twists that made sure my attention wasn’t ever diverted (even though this book was 400+ pages) and the addition of necromancers and zombies didn’t hurt, even if they weren’t the focus of the plot!  Yet I do believe that this going to a hit or miss with the readers – either you will love it or you will never be interested in it. But me? I can’t wait to get my hands on the next books – it’s a physical need to know if Romeo, Juliet, Paris and Runajo will have the ending they deserve! For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page | Twitter | Instagram  | Goodreads  | Amazon |

It was kind of an interesting take on romeo and juliet.I really liked it, but at some points it was a bit slow and I would have wanted a bit more showing and less telling, but no matter what I want to read the 2nd book because I really wanna know where all this zombie stuff will take us!