Review of A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA by Christina Dodd

 3 Stars

This retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a romantic comedy/mystery.

The narrator is Rosaline Montague, eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet. In this version, the star-crossed lovers survived their suicide attempt and are now parents to seven children; theirs is a “loud, exuberant, contentious, laughing, singing, loving and passionate family.” Though nineteen years of age, Rosaline is uninterested in marriage and has avoided romantic entanglements, but now she is betrothed to Duke Leir Stephano whose last three wives died under mysterious circumstances.

At the betrothal party, she meets Lysander Marcketti and experiences love at first sight just before stumbling across the body of her husband-to-be who has a dagger in his heart. Suspicion falls on Rosie since everyone knows she was a reluctant bride-to-be, but Prince Escalus tries to protect her. Knowing she will continue to be suspected and may herself be in danger, she hopes to identify the killer. When there are more deaths, revealing the killer(s) becomes even more important.

At times Rosaline reminded me of Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew. She is intelligent, witty, sarcastic, outspoken, and independent. Her parents’ “true and impetuous love” is legendary but she hates poetry and scoffs at romance, and has manipulated her way out of several possible betrothals. With men she doesn’t behave meekly as is expected; even with the prince of Verona, she is sassy. She is Friar Laurence’s apprentice and she has even learned swordplay.

There are several references to Shakespeare. Rosaline even speaks lines similar to her mother’s: “’Lysander, why must you be of the house of Marcketti, and my enemy?’” Romeo and Juliet even attend a play, Two Gentlemen of Verona which Rosaline does not like because “’Silly men don’t interest me.’” Shakespearean phrasing is used but so is modern slang so there are sentences like “’”Anon, good Nurse” was my mother’s line when she was fooling around with Papà.’”

There has been some attempt by the author to have characters remain consistent with their personalities in Shakespeare’s play. The Nurse continues to be talkative and raunchy: “’perhaps a woman is like wine and the longer her cork remains intact, the more intoxicating she becomes.’” Romeo and Juliet are as in love as ever. Though he is 36, women still fall in love with the handsome Romeo, but Juliet is the only woman for him. Rosaline is embarrassed by the passion that still exists between her parents. And interestingly, Romeo remains rash; he tends to lose his temper quickly and engage in fights, though his skill with the sword is unmatched.

The ending suggests this is the first of a series and the author’s note at the end confirms this. I’m not certain I’ll follow the series. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy the book, but it’s really just fluff like most romantic comedies.