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Romeo and Juliet vs. Zombies
"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we raise our dead."
Romeo — the only heir to the Montague name, a socialite who dreams of making a name for himself as a playwright and the consummate lover; he seems just as famous for his kissing skills as he is infamous for his inability to do much of anything else.
Juliet — Capulet heiress, born soldier; in most every way, the precise opposite of Romeo. She’s spent her entire life trying to find some way out of her insufferable life as a noblewoman, and so far she’s had precious little luck.
When a black plague breaks out in the city of Verona, these two feuding families are met with far more trouble than a mere feud, no matter how longstanding and bloody that feud has been. In this grim reimagining of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet must form an unlikely alliance if they ever intend to survive being overrun by a horde of ravenous, flesh-seeking un-dead.
In fair Verona, where we raise our dead."
Romeo — the only heir to the Montague name, a socialite who dreams of making a name for himself as a playwright and the consummate lover; he seems just as famous for his kissing skills as he is infamous for his inability to do much of anything else.
Juliet — Capulet heiress, born soldier; in most every way, the precise opposite of Romeo. She’s spent her entire life trying to find some way out of her insufferable life as a noblewoman, and so far she’s had precious little luck.
When a black plague breaks out in the city of Verona, these two feuding families are met with far more trouble than a mere feud, no matter how longstanding and bloody that feud has been. In this grim reimagining of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet must form an unlikely alliance if they ever intend to survive being overrun by a horde of ravenous, flesh-seeking un-dead.
- GenresFantasy
326 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2015
3 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Koji Steven Sakai
11 books11 followersWriter/Producer Koji Steven Sakai’s film and television projects have played on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Paramount+, Roku, Shudder, and Tubi. He has worked with a variety of talented and award-winning actors and filmmakers, including Cuba Gooding Jr., Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Dermot Mulroney, James Shigeta, Mackenyu, Michael Jai White, Mel Gibson, Mickey Rourke, Randall Park, RZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, Vincent Cassel, and Wilson Cruz.
He has written 12 feature films that have been produced and served as a producer on nine features. He has also produced a one-hour comedy special that premiered on Netflix and a comedy television series that premiered on Hulu (Season 1) and Peacock (Season 2). Finally, Koji was on the writing team for the television series, House of the Owl, currently on Disney+/Hulu.
In addition to his screenplays, Koji has written books and graphic novels, produces, writes, co-hosts, and edits multiple podcasts (The Unofficial Official Story, What If Pop, Japanese America, and Elucidity), and currently teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension and the University of Southern California.
He has written 12 feature films that have been produced and served as a producer on nine features. He has also produced a one-hour comedy special that premiered on Netflix and a comedy television series that premiered on Hulu (Season 1) and Peacock (Season 2). Finally, Koji was on the writing team for the television series, House of the Owl, currently on Disney+/Hulu.
In addition to his screenplays, Koji has written books and graphic novels, produces, writes, co-hosts, and edits multiple podcasts (The Unofficial Official Story, What If Pop, Japanese America, and Elucidity), and currently teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension and the University of Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 25, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised and highly amused as I read this book. I admit to being a bit of a snob about some of the "classics" and didn't have high expectations when I started out. However, I am so glad I did read this one. I had fun and found that I couldn't put it down until I the very end. Most impressive and creative was the reinvention of our star crossed lovers--I appreciate authors who are willing to present women as warriors and not as damsels requiring rescue, so Juliet was refreshing and compelling. On the other hand, Romeo was an amusing foil. Were I truly forward thinking, I suppose I would be equally pleased at the portrayal of Romeo as one so vulnerable when surrounded by traditional masculinity. But it was nice that while he may not have been the hero, he was presented as a thinking man. There are certainly many character nuances that are worth exploring, but might result in spoilers. Finally, many thanks to the author for honoring the bard as the book concluded. . .class act!
March 7, 2015
It's a fun mix of zombies, famous literary characters, and humor. Do you remember slogging through Shakespeare plays in high school? Romeo and Juliet is the least boring one to study. Montagues and Capulets hate each other. Their family feud causes violence in Verona. In Mr. Sakai's book, a plague on both their houses turns star-crossed lovers into fighters. Juliet is a badass warrior like Brienne of Tarth. Romeo is a delicate flower, but mans up to battle the undead. I would love to see this on film.
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September 23, 2015
I won this book from goodreads-firstreads. This is a surprisingly different twist from the original Romeo and Juliet from school days. This story has a Romeo who likes to think he is a women's man but hey a virgin, loves to look at himself in the mirror, scared of his own shadow, and cries like a baby at a drop of a hat and likes to wear pretty princess dresses to dances.Juliet is a women's warrior, thinks only of herself, knows in her heart she is better than any man and treats them like crap! You have fleas, rats, black death and heart eating zombies and then there is the rest of the story! What's not to love! I have to say its a interesting book. Jana Morgan
March 16, 2015
This is an amusing take on Romeo and Juliet with zombies. At times you just want to slap some sense into both of the main characters, but they're teenagers after all. It's a quick and fun read.
November 22, 2016
I was scanning through Twitter like one does and came across an author friend of mine who said her book was up on Audiobook Boom! only I'd never heard of it till that moment. So of course being the book nerd that I am, I had to see what she was talking about. I was surprised to see Audiobook Boom! was giving away free audio books to anyone who would simply write a review. I thought, why the hell not. I read them like candy anyways, so I might as well do one for an author who's looking to move forward a bit. So in exchange for a free copy of the audio book, I'm writing this brutally honest review. And so without further ado, I present to you Romeo & Juliet vs. Zombies.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked ROMEO & JULIET VS. ZOMBIES as my book. I'd never heard of the author or the book before but I'm usually willing to give everything a go at least once. This was not what I'd expected at all. It wasn't like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies which is sort of what I was expecting. Instead, it was a gender bent retelling. I enjoyed most of it for this reason alone. Romeo's nickname was Princess and Juliet was a warrior. I loved the priest who secretly hated everyone and was trying to bring destruction instead of peace.
That all being said, and keeping in mind I know nothing of this author, it felt like a debut book. There were times when the writing was a bit sloppy and the adverbs made me cringe. On a whole, I feel like the unique story made up for this. I can't help but feel it would be a stronger book with maybe one more edit from fresh eyes. Someone who can cut out the telling and transform it to showing. On a whole though, it wasn't half bad and I think I picked a decent title for my first Audiobook Boom! title. In the end, if you're a fan of Shakespeare or Romeo and Juliet, I'd say give this a try. Zombies only ever spice things up a bit!
I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked ROMEO & JULIET VS. ZOMBIES as my book. I'd never heard of the author or the book before but I'm usually willing to give everything a go at least once. This was not what I'd expected at all. It wasn't like Pride & Prejudice & Zombies which is sort of what I was expecting. Instead, it was a gender bent retelling. I enjoyed most of it for this reason alone. Romeo's nickname was Princess and Juliet was a warrior. I loved the priest who secretly hated everyone and was trying to bring destruction instead of peace.
That all being said, and keeping in mind I know nothing of this author, it felt like a debut book. There were times when the writing was a bit sloppy and the adverbs made me cringe. On a whole, I feel like the unique story made up for this. I can't help but feel it would be a stronger book with maybe one more edit from fresh eyes. Someone who can cut out the telling and transform it to showing. On a whole though, it wasn't half bad and I think I picked a decent title for my first Audiobook Boom! title. In the end, if you're a fan of Shakespeare or Romeo and Juliet, I'd say give this a try. Zombies only ever spice things up a bit!
September 5, 2022
A short but fun and enjoyable novel. I would really love to see this retelling of Romeo & Juliet adapted into a film or tv series someday.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews