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Mercutio
Return to the sensuous world of Romeo and Juliet to discover the story of Mercutio, Verona’s most flamboyant citizen!
Prancing on the sidelines of the bitter feud between the Houses of Montecchi and Capuleti, Mercutio harbours his own secret conflict: he is hopelessly in love with his best friend, Romeo Montecchi. When he spies true love blossoming between Romeo and a young Capuleti girl one fateful summer’s eve, Mercutio fears he has finally lost the man he loves, forever.
Turning to drink, drugs and ever wilder escapades in an effort to ease his aching heart, Mercutio starts to come off the rails, hurtling towards his own spectacular fate …
Mercutio takes centre stage in this gorgeous and witty re-imagining of the greatest love story ever told.
Prancing on the sidelines of the bitter feud between the Houses of Montecchi and Capuleti, Mercutio harbours his own secret conflict: he is hopelessly in love with his best friend, Romeo Montecchi. When he spies true love blossoming between Romeo and a young Capuleti girl one fateful summer’s eve, Mercutio fears he has finally lost the man he loves, forever.
Turning to drink, drugs and ever wilder escapades in an effort to ease his aching heart, Mercutio starts to come off the rails, hurtling towards his own spectacular fate …
Mercutio takes centre stage in this gorgeous and witty re-imagining of the greatest love story ever told.
329 pages, ebook
Published November 25, 2019
2 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
J.I. Davenport
2 books2 followersI am a historical fiction writer and lifelong fantasist. I have a B.A. degree in English literature and creative writing from the University of Greenwich. I live in London with my family and a tomcat named after Cesare Borgia, who I am forever trying to persuade not to invade Naples!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 7, 2021
3.5
This book felt like a love letter to Mercutio and an opportunity to introduce us to the atmosphere in which these characters lived (the past times, the revels, the duels...). More than anything it felt like a chance to spend some time with Mercutio before the inevitable tragedy exploring his feelings, upbringing, parties, friendships and lovers. I'm very grateful for the depth added to Mercutio, Benvolio and, surprisingly, Tybalt.
There were a few scenes that were very dear to me, especially Mercutio's fight with Benvolio.
This book felt like a love letter to Mercutio and an opportunity to introduce us to the atmosphere in which these characters lived (the past times, the revels, the duels...). More than anything it felt like a chance to spend some time with Mercutio before the inevitable tragedy exploring his feelings, upbringing, parties, friendships and lovers. I'm very grateful for the depth added to Mercutio, Benvolio and, surprisingly, Tybalt.
There were a few scenes that were very dear to me, especially Mercutio's fight with Benvolio.
December 10, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
have never thought to look at Mercutio as anything other than the character with the best speech in Romeo and Juliet. I never gave thought to him as a person, to the position he was in as a cousin to one family and the relation to a prince. And yet, the author manages to make this brief moment in Mercutio’s life feel both akin to the play and yet it’s own thing. Given shape and flesh, he becomes sensitive, melancholy, and isolated from his friends by his own improper leanings towards his own sex, for all that other men of his company have no issue going to a pleasure house and spending the night (and their money) with either gender or both. Mercutio uses his words like weapons, his smile like armor, and feels much like an introvert playing at being an extrovert.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
have never thought to look at Mercutio as anything other than the character with the best speech in Romeo and Juliet. I never gave thought to him as a person, to the position he was in as a cousin to one family and the relation to a prince. And yet, the author manages to make this brief moment in Mercutio’s life feel both akin to the play and yet it’s own thing. Given shape and flesh, he becomes sensitive, melancholy, and isolated from his friends by his own improper leanings towards his own sex, for all that other men of his company have no issue going to a pleasure house and spending the night (and their money) with either gender or both. Mercutio uses his words like weapons, his smile like armor, and feels much like an introvert playing at being an extrovert.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
November 23, 2019
3.5/5⭐
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Mercutio by J.I Davenport is a queer mm retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the point of view of Mercutio. If you call yourself a reader than you know the story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. I personally am not a huge fan of the original because Romeo and Juliet were not bright but I have very much enjoyed every remake and retelling of the story that I have come across.
One of my favorite characters of Romeo and Juliet was always Mercutio, and I was thrilled to see this retelling from his point of view. His utter devotion and love for Romeo even though it wasn't returned in exactly the same way is heart breaking. My beloved character the same fate as the original. However, we get to see him experience some wonderfull highs and saddening lows. A story that gave a story to a character who had so much more depth than originally portrayed.
"Was that to be his future? Buying intimacy from men who did not care for me? [...] Mercutio was beautiful; he'd been made to be adored! Such an existence would be bleak. A fate worse than death. A future not worth living for."
I wish that this retelling had strayed more from the original. Why not give Mercutio his own match who could love him as fiercely as he seems to do? I wanted a new fresh ending with this retelling and was a little disappointed that it stuck to its origin. Either way if you're a fan of LGTBQ retellings of classics than I recommend giving Mercutio a chance.
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Mercutio by J.I Davenport is a queer mm retelling of Romeo and Juliet from the point of view of Mercutio. If you call yourself a reader than you know the story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. I personally am not a huge fan of the original because Romeo and Juliet were not bright but I have very much enjoyed every remake and retelling of the story that I have come across.
One of my favorite characters of Romeo and Juliet was always Mercutio, and I was thrilled to see this retelling from his point of view. His utter devotion and love for Romeo even though it wasn't returned in exactly the same way is heart breaking. My beloved character the same fate as the original. However, we get to see him experience some wonderfull highs and saddening lows. A story that gave a story to a character who had so much more depth than originally portrayed.
"Was that to be his future? Buying intimacy from men who did not care for me? [...] Mercutio was beautiful; he'd been made to be adored! Such an existence would be bleak. A fate worse than death. A future not worth living for."
I wish that this retelling had strayed more from the original. Why not give Mercutio his own match who could love him as fiercely as he seems to do? I wanted a new fresh ending with this retelling and was a little disappointed that it stuck to its origin. Either way if you're a fan of LGTBQ retellings of classics than I recommend giving Mercutio a chance.
March 25, 2023
This is a beautiful story of love, self-determination and destiny of a young man who lived in the late Middle Ages.
Only two days between the fateful ball and the tragic duel fully reveal the personality of Mercutio and his love for his close friend Romeo.
Mercutio does not doubt his identity and sexual orientation and therefore it feels particularly strong that he has to confront the whole world and expectations of his family and society.
He can't be happy, and therefore he behaves self-destructively. "A fate worse thаn death. A future not worth living for." The scene where he imagined his future made me cry. So did his dreams of Romeo in Venice. The miserable, tender, tortured heart.
Mercutio is very witty, expressive and willful character.
That refers to Shakespeare, but J. I. Davenport gave this character a lot more. Mercutio's puns are so greate that they made me want to read them out loud. The book has a lot of humor and funny dialogues, and I laughed very loud at some episodes. Among other things, in the first chapters sometimes I met phrases like "Mercutio seemd gay", "Mercutio replied gaily", "Romeo seemd so queer" and I was very amused by this ambiguity.
I love how Mercutio's friends were described — Benvolio and Melania. It was very interesting to observe their interactions.
Melania is a completly original character and her friendship with Mercutio is an untypical element of story.
Benvolio is a charming innocent young man, and he was the one that Mercutio had the funniest and most interesting dialogues with. Their friendship is touching despite everything.
I would like to know more about Romeo, but we see him, unfortunately, only in the memory of Mercutio and in a couple of scenes.
The sudden twist at the end of the book made me scream and run on the walls, it was a really amazing discovery!
It is quite easy to find references to the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet". In particular, images of Benvolio and Tybalt, certain scenes and costumes. In Mercutio himself this influence is also guessed, but only partially.
By the way, thanks to Tybalt for the bisexual representation 🙂
Also there are lots of references to myths and ancient literature, so after reading I got a wish to delve into it. Dante Alighieri appeared in person, and others were reading "The Divine Comedy".
The book has many descriptions of the characters' way of life and, of course, their clothes. Autor describes the delightful masquerade and everyday outfits paying attention to the details in Oscar Wilde's style. It is clear that an amazing work has been done to study the epoch.
The book left me a deep impression and I'm planning to return to it in the future.
Only two days between the fateful ball and the tragic duel fully reveal the personality of Mercutio and his love for his close friend Romeo.
Mercutio does not doubt his identity and sexual orientation and therefore it feels particularly strong that he has to confront the whole world and expectations of his family and society.
He can't be happy, and therefore he behaves self-destructively. "A fate worse thаn death. A future not worth living for." The scene where he imagined his future made me cry. So did his dreams of Romeo in Venice. The miserable, tender, tortured heart.
Mercutio is very witty, expressive and willful character.
That refers to Shakespeare, but J. I. Davenport gave this character a lot more. Mercutio's puns are so greate that they made me want to read them out loud. The book has a lot of humor and funny dialogues, and I laughed very loud at some episodes. Among other things, in the first chapters sometimes I met phrases like "Mercutio seemd gay", "Mercutio replied gaily", "Romeo seemd so queer" and I was very amused by this ambiguity.
I love how Mercutio's friends were described — Benvolio and Melania. It was very interesting to observe their interactions.
Melania is a completly original character and her friendship with Mercutio is an untypical element of story.
Benvolio is a charming innocent young man, and he was the one that Mercutio had the funniest and most interesting dialogues with. Their friendship is touching despite everything.
I would like to know more about Romeo, but we see him, unfortunately, only in the memory of Mercutio and in a couple of scenes.
The sudden twist at the end of the book made me scream and run on the walls, it was a really amazing discovery!
It is quite easy to find references to the 1968 film "Romeo and Juliet". In particular, images of Benvolio and Tybalt, certain scenes and costumes. In Mercutio himself this influence is also guessed, but only partially.
By the way, thanks to Tybalt for the bisexual representation 🙂
Also there are lots of references to myths and ancient literature, so after reading I got a wish to delve into it. Dante Alighieri appeared in person, and others were reading "The Divine Comedy".
The book has many descriptions of the characters' way of life and, of course, their clothes. Autor describes the delightful masquerade and everyday outfits paying attention to the details in Oscar Wilde's style. It is clear that an amazing work has been done to study the epoch.
The book left me a deep impression and I'm planning to return to it in the future.
November 27, 2019
When I got the chance to read this book I was so happy because I thought finally, I got a book where Mercutio and Romeo could fall in love and live happily ever after.
Then I saw the cover and fell in love immediately! So perfect! And I couldn't wait to start to read the book.
Then I got confused because this wasn't the book I was hoping for. This book wasn't a new chance to Romeo and Mercutio. This book is the same as everyone knows the original version with Romeo and Juliet, just now we got to know the story from Mercutio's POV.
The book was boring and full with long and endless monologues and chapters. This wasn't romance. Far so far away from romance I have no words. I didn't get interactions on the pages. I didn't get Romeo and Mercutio together. They kissed once - or twice, idk the second was real or just in Mercutio imagination. Romeo wasn't there at all. How could you tell a love story when one of the character isn't there? I don't get how could Mercutio fall in love with Romeo- no, i know, but the probleme is I didn't saw it!
So the biggest probleme for me with the book is that is the same as the original, and surprise! The ending is the same too.
I'm really dissapointed because I wanted a book about Romeo and Mercutio forever, and this wasn't what I was dreaming about.
I don't know if I recommend this to anyone - if you have no expectations and just want to know the original story from Mercutio's POV with gay retelling, then it's your book. But if you want something else - like me - then don't.
Then I saw the cover and fell in love immediately! So perfect! And I couldn't wait to start to read the book.
Then I got confused because this wasn't the book I was hoping for. This book wasn't a new chance to Romeo and Mercutio. This book is the same as everyone knows the original version with Romeo and Juliet, just now we got to know the story from Mercutio's POV.
The book was boring and full with long and endless monologues and chapters. This wasn't romance. Far so far away from romance I have no words. I didn't get interactions on the pages. I didn't get Romeo and Mercutio together. They kissed once - or twice, idk the second was real or just in Mercutio imagination. Romeo wasn't there at all. How could you tell a love story when one of the character isn't there? I don't get how could Mercutio fall in love with Romeo- no, i know, but the probleme is I didn't saw it!
So the biggest probleme for me with the book is that is the same as the original, and surprise! The ending is the same too.
I'm really dissapointed because I wanted a book about Romeo and Mercutio forever, and this wasn't what I was dreaming about.
I don't know if I recommend this to anyone - if you have no expectations and just want to know the original story from Mercutio's POV with gay retelling, then it's your book. But if you want something else - like me - then don't.
November 24, 2019
I should probably admit, upfront, to my love of Shakespeare. I studied the plays in College, and I've spent many wonderful hours at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England soaking up whatever I could. I was a bit worried when I sat down to read this... because my fear with retellings is always that they won't live up to the feel and quality of the original. This story was wonderful!
.
This is the story of Romeo and Juliet told from the perspective of Mercutio. The timeline of events is basically the same, but the reader stays with Mercutio. Mercutio is a lovely character. outwardly, he's joyful and free. He's the joker, the light-hearted romancer. Inwardly, Mercutio is struggling with an unrequited love that, at times, he doesn't even seem to really understand. Mercutio is in love with Romeo. They grew up together, and ever since they were young, Mercutio has harbored a fierce love for his best friend. It hasn't changed as they become adults.
.
As Romeo moves on and falls in love... Mercutio tries to bury his feelings. He enters a carnival-like world of drugs, alcohol, dreams that seem real, reality that he can't accept. All the time he seems to try and have a smile on his face. I'm simplifying this... there's something very heavy and lyrical about the prose in this book. I was caught up in Mercutio's mind. He feels things intensely even at the same time as he appears lost in his thought and emotions. The author has captured this character wonderfully and really gives one the idea of what turmoil was going on within Mercutio.
.
This is a lovely book... it's emotional, tragic and touching.
.
This is the story of Romeo and Juliet told from the perspective of Mercutio. The timeline of events is basically the same, but the reader stays with Mercutio. Mercutio is a lovely character. outwardly, he's joyful and free. He's the joker, the light-hearted romancer. Inwardly, Mercutio is struggling with an unrequited love that, at times, he doesn't even seem to really understand. Mercutio is in love with Romeo. They grew up together, and ever since they were young, Mercutio has harbored a fierce love for his best friend. It hasn't changed as they become adults.
.
As Romeo moves on and falls in love... Mercutio tries to bury his feelings. He enters a carnival-like world of drugs, alcohol, dreams that seem real, reality that he can't accept. All the time he seems to try and have a smile on his face. I'm simplifying this... there's something very heavy and lyrical about the prose in this book. I was caught up in Mercutio's mind. He feels things intensely even at the same time as he appears lost in his thought and emotions. The author has captured this character wonderfully and really gives one the idea of what turmoil was going on within Mercutio.
.
This is a lovely book... it's emotional, tragic and touching.
October 27, 2022
I'm so glad I finally got my lazy ass to read this beauty to the end. Pain and suffering is never as sweet as in a tragedy this romantic. Knowing the end makes it similar to reading a horror novel, you wish and yell that he would just get out, just avoid the basement, but Mercutio's destiny is one and one alone.
November 30, 2019
Release date: November 25, 2019 Genre: Historical, Queer/LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction
Themes: Unrequited Love; Real Love; Family Rivalry; MM Love
Blurb: Return to the sensuous world of Romeo and Juliet to discover the story of Mercutio, Verona’s most flamboyant citizen!Prancing on the sidelines of the bitter feud between the House of Montecchi and Capuleti, Mercutio harbours his own secret conflict: he is hopelessly in love with his best friend, Romeo Montecchi. When he spies true love blossoming between Romeo and a young Capuleti girl one fateful summer’s eve, Mercutio fears he has finally lost the man he loves, forever. Turning to drink, drugs and ever wilder escapades in an effort to ease his aching heart, Mercutio starts to come off the rails, hurtling towards his own spectacular fate …
Teaser/Excerpt: It was always difficult to ignore the moment Mercutio entered a room. The people of Verona had mostly given up trying. Best let him have his moment, or he may never quieten down!‘Buona sera, one and all!’ he cried, bursting into the ballroom in a flourish of canary-yellow silk. A sea of faces turned his way, and he greeted them with a frivolous bow. No one could deny that he at least gave them something to look at. His doublet was undeniably as bright and gay as a canary, heavily brocaded with leaves and flowers in white and gold thread. His fancy sleeves were puffed at the shoulders and slashed to reveal naughty glimpses of violet satin. Tight, particoloured hose flaunted his legs to their utmost shapeliness. His head was topped with a cap of outrageous purple velvet, matching the vibrant gloves adorning his hands. Velvet gloves in summer? Only Mercutio! Yes, indeed, he was fair, and it went beyond his sun-blond hair. There was a natural symmetry to his face and body that was nothing short of statuesque. The length of his neck, the width of his shoulders, the curve of his jaw — even the shape of his ears — all were as exquisitely formed as if sculpted by an artist. Yet, it was simply the way he was born. His eyes mirrored the sky: azure by day, sapphire by night. While his lips were not the fullest, they were of the finest shape and definition thanks to their deep crimson colour. He would never deny that Romeo had always been the one with the lips. Whether Mercutio was vain or not was a difficult question to answer. You had to understand him. He often complained, himself, of the young men he saw preening about the city, obsessed with image and etiquette. He certainly did not count himself amongst that pride of peacocks. He was too much the rule breaker and rebel at heart, delighting in the controversy and outrage he excited as much as the envy and admiration. He was beautiful and fashionable and a living satire of men’s vanity. While others might boast of the height of their brows or the shapeliness of their calves, Mercutio was more likely to pull down his hose and extol the peachiness of his buttocks. In fact, the habit had earned him the epithet il Callipigio, which alluded to sculptures of the goddess Aphrodite that had been worshipped by the ancients for their “lovely buttocks”.
GIVEAWAY: Win one of 5 e-book copies of Mercutio by J.I. Davenport. Do visit the link below for details to this delicious giveaway!
About the Author(ess): J.I. Davenport has a B.A. in English literature and creative writing from the University of Greenwich. He lives in London with his family and a tomcat named after Cesare Borgia, who he is forever trying to persuade not to invade Naples!
https://thequilleandlampe.wordpress.c...
Themes: Unrequited Love; Real Love; Family Rivalry; MM Love
Blurb: Return to the sensuous world of Romeo and Juliet to discover the story of Mercutio, Verona’s most flamboyant citizen!Prancing on the sidelines of the bitter feud between the House of Montecchi and Capuleti, Mercutio harbours his own secret conflict: he is hopelessly in love with his best friend, Romeo Montecchi. When he spies true love blossoming between Romeo and a young Capuleti girl one fateful summer’s eve, Mercutio fears he has finally lost the man he loves, forever. Turning to drink, drugs and ever wilder escapades in an effort to ease his aching heart, Mercutio starts to come off the rails, hurtling towards his own spectacular fate …
Teaser/Excerpt: It was always difficult to ignore the moment Mercutio entered a room. The people of Verona had mostly given up trying. Best let him have his moment, or he may never quieten down!‘Buona sera, one and all!’ he cried, bursting into the ballroom in a flourish of canary-yellow silk. A sea of faces turned his way, and he greeted them with a frivolous bow. No one could deny that he at least gave them something to look at. His doublet was undeniably as bright and gay as a canary, heavily brocaded with leaves and flowers in white and gold thread. His fancy sleeves were puffed at the shoulders and slashed to reveal naughty glimpses of violet satin. Tight, particoloured hose flaunted his legs to their utmost shapeliness. His head was topped with a cap of outrageous purple velvet, matching the vibrant gloves adorning his hands. Velvet gloves in summer? Only Mercutio! Yes, indeed, he was fair, and it went beyond his sun-blond hair. There was a natural symmetry to his face and body that was nothing short of statuesque. The length of his neck, the width of his shoulders, the curve of his jaw — even the shape of his ears — all were as exquisitely formed as if sculpted by an artist. Yet, it was simply the way he was born. His eyes mirrored the sky: azure by day, sapphire by night. While his lips were not the fullest, they were of the finest shape and definition thanks to their deep crimson colour. He would never deny that Romeo had always been the one with the lips. Whether Mercutio was vain or not was a difficult question to answer. You had to understand him. He often complained, himself, of the young men he saw preening about the city, obsessed with image and etiquette. He certainly did not count himself amongst that pride of peacocks. He was too much the rule breaker and rebel at heart, delighting in the controversy and outrage he excited as much as the envy and admiration. He was beautiful and fashionable and a living satire of men’s vanity. While others might boast of the height of their brows or the shapeliness of their calves, Mercutio was more likely to pull down his hose and extol the peachiness of his buttocks. In fact, the habit had earned him the epithet il Callipigio, which alluded to sculptures of the goddess Aphrodite that had been worshipped by the ancients for their “lovely buttocks”.
GIVEAWAY: Win one of 5 e-book copies of Mercutio by J.I. Davenport. Do visit the link below for details to this delicious giveaway!
About the Author(ess): J.I. Davenport has a B.A. in English literature and creative writing from the University of Greenwich. He lives in London with his family and a tomcat named after Cesare Borgia, who he is forever trying to persuade not to invade Naples!
https://thequilleandlampe.wordpress.c...
February 23, 2021
3.5 stars.
for the most part, i really liked this book. i loved the characterisation of mercutio and i loved the depth he was given compared to shakespeare's character (benvolio too, despite not being the main character— it made me very happy and he's always held a special place in my heart).
however i think it was just too long. there were sections that dragged on and started interestingly but became boring. if it had been more condensed, i think i would have enjoyed it more.
also— and this may just be me nitpicking, because really this book does deliver exactly what it promises— i would have liked if it had strayed from the original text just slightly to mercutio got some semblance of a happy ending. i just wanted to see his love for romeo requited!!!!
for the most part, i really liked this book. i loved the characterisation of mercutio and i loved the depth he was given compared to shakespeare's character (benvolio too, despite not being the main character— it made me very happy and he's always held a special place in my heart).
however i think it was just too long. there were sections that dragged on and started interestingly but became boring. if it had been more condensed, i think i would have enjoyed it more.
also— and this may just be me nitpicking, because really this book does deliver exactly what it promises— i would have liked if it had strayed from the original text just slightly to mercutio got some semblance of a happy ending. i just wanted to see his love for romeo requited!!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews