Such Sweet Sorrow by Jenny Trout

Such Sweet Sorrow

by Jenny Trout

But true love never dies. Though they're parted by the veil between the world of mortals and the land of the dead, Romeo believes he can restore Juliet to life, but he'll have to travel to the underworld with a thoroughly infuriating guide. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, may not have inherited his father's crown, but the murdered king left his son a much more important responsibility - a portal to the Afterjord, where the souls of the dead reside. When the determined Romeo asks for help traversing the treacherous Afterjord, Hamlet sees an opportunity for adventure and the chance to avenge his father's death. In an underworld filled with leviathan monsters, ghoulish shades, fire giants, and fierce Valkyrie warriors, Hamlet and Romeo must battle their way through jealousy, despair, and their darkest fears to rescue the fair damsel. Yet finding Juliet is only the beginning, and the Afterjord doesn't surrender souls without a price...

Reviewed by Angie on

4 of 5 stars

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I received an ARC through NetGalley.

When I first heard of Such Sweet Sorrow I figured things would end up one of two ways: I would love it or it would be a complete disaster. Thankfully, it was the former! Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet are my favorite Shakespeare plays, and I find Greek and Norse mythology fascinating. This may seem like a strange combination, but it worked for me! This gives an alternate ending to the tragic lovers, and gives Hamlet a new purpose. I just thought it was all really well done.

Such Sweet Sorrow beings with Romeo seeking help from a witch. The poison he took didn't kill him, but it has left him weak. The witch tells him he must travel north in order to get his Juliet back. This brings him (and Friar Laurence) to Denmark, where they meet the drunken Prince who happens to be the guardian to the otherside. Hamlet is suspicious at first, but eventually his curiosity gets the best of him and he brings Romeo to the portal. From there we're thrust into a mish-mash of all the hells, underworlds, othersides, etc.

I loved the mix of Greek and Norse mythology as Romeo and Hamlet wander the underworld. They're faced with monsters that were thought to be myth and tested in ways that would make lesser men go insane. Soon enough Juliet joins their little group and they try to find their way out. Well, it may not be so easy since she's technically dead and belongs there. But fate has other plans for our starcrossed lovers. Things do get a bit cheesy toward the end, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it!

Such Sweet Sorrow was a wonderful surprise! I really don't think it'll work for a lot of readers, but I loved it. It's definitely unique and stands out from everything else I've been reading. I just hope there's more!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 February, 2014: Finished reading
  • 9 February, 2014: Reviewed