Book review: Cold Fire

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By James Hartley
Published by Lodestone Books

 Synopsis: Set in the magical boarding school of St Francis', Cold Fire centres around a group of teenagers who become involved in the tale of Romeo and Juliet in this contemporary re-telling of the classic story. Meanwhile, four hundred years earlier, a young teacher from Stratford Upon Avon arrives at the school. His name is Will…

 How did this book end up in my hands? I was asked to join the blog tour for this book and I happily agreed. Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare… all great starting blocks!

 Was it a page-turner? Like the first novel in the Shakespeare’s Moon series, this is a quick read and the plot twists are added with great timing.

 Having read the synopsis, did the book meet my expectations? Based on the synopsis, I would expected a closer retelling of the classic Shakespearean love story. Having read the first book in the series, however, the way that Cold Fire is developed makes perfect and coherent sense!

 Did I like the ending? [no spoilers] We all know how the story of Romeo and Juliet ends so I was interested in finding out if this modern retelling of their love followed the same path. To avoid any spoilers, I’ll just have to say that I wasn’t disappointed!

 Three words to describe it. Romantic. Modern. Insightful.

 Do I like the cover? As a standalone cover, I might have preferred something different… involving acorns perhaps? I know this sounds weird but you’ll understand once you’ve read the book! As part of a series, it is a good matching cover for The Invisible Hand.

 Have I read any other books by the same author? Yes, I’ve read The Invisible Hand, which is the first book in the Shakespeare’s Moon series. You can find my review here.

 Will I be recommending this book? Like its predecessor, it is a good introduction to Shakespeare’s work. In addition to that, Cold Fire has a great message of self-acceptance that is fundamental for any child – or adult, come to think of it.

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