Teaches the Torches to Burn retells the story of Romeo and Juliet: Romeo is a boy in love with another boy, and Juliet wants to be defined by something more than the men in her life. As far as retellings go, this was a pretty solid read, despite me never having read the original play before. I was compelled with the storytelling nonetheless.

Roehrig’s style is lyrical (and oftentimes taught me words I didn’t even know existed), but enthralling. He’s able to set a beautiful scene in Verona, and evoke powerful emotions of joy, love, hope, and loss through Romeo. He writes a story about kids who just want to know they’re meant for happiness, and if they can build themselves a life that can allow them happiness. I have never read the original Romeo and Juliet, and I had a feeling that this particular retelling was not about to go down the same tragic route, but it is a little cathartic in a way that Romeo, Valentine, and Juliet all get what they want in the end.

What I enjoyed immensely, however intentional or not, is the asexual/aromantic representation seen through Friar Laurence and Juliet. It surprised me that we got not one, but TWO ace characters, and seeing as this is a YA novel, it’s wonderful that younger audiences will be able to read this.

Perhaps one of the few qualms I had is that we don’t get more perspectives out of the story. The entire plot is told through Romeo’s eyes, but it would have brought a lot more depth to their characters if we heard from Valentine or Juliet. 

Either way, I had a fun time reading this and would rate it 3½ stars.