I love this interesting take on Romeo and Juliet with this MM Romance….and as I started the pages I love that the author provided a “cast” to get to know whom each character represents. Watchers, demons, messengers and danger….I really loved this story.
War is stirring…watchers and demons vs the messengers but what happens with Jace whom is a watcher and Cyrus who is a messenger….sparks and sizzle but love is forbidden. Will Jace and Cyrus be able to overcome the danger that comes their way and their feelings for each other no waiver?
I highly recommend this book..this is a great fantasy and the story line is top notch. I am looking forward to diving into book 2 to see what happens next!!
The character, Jace, is introduced as one of the last descendants of Watchers, who have brought corruption to humanity. He is quite rebellious and enjoying his youth as he seeks for a romantic connection. Surprisingly at a party event he attends, he finds Cyrus, who happens to be a Messenger, whose mission is to hunt Watchers. Jace is attracted to Cyrus’ stunning facial features, warm smile, and good nature. Not only is Jace developing a strong connection to Cyrus, but it is also making him rethink his life. Once things just unravel for the both of them, it truly tests their relationship and their future. This book is the start of a 3-part series so this story leaves you on the edge of your seat and what’s to come next. With the mix of paranormal/fantasy genre mixed in with LGBTQ, this story is a retelling of the quite famous Shakespearean tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The story has quite a current spin on a modern setting with the fantasy flare. But don’t let the setting of a classic tragedy interpret the outcome of the story. Read it for yourself and make the determination for yourself. It is quite an amazing read with such details in the fantasy realm.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Ramoshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Ramos2022-08-12 21:31:422022-08-15 10:06:37Watcher by AL Morrow – Review by Jennifer Ramos
Romeo and Juliet is one of my favorite plays and I am always into reading retellings. MM Romeo and Juliet? Count me in!
Jace is the last descendent of the first disgraced Watcher, fallen angels responsible for corrupting humanity. Hunting them down, are the Messengers, celestial beings from another realm.
Jace is still recovering from heartbreak when he meets Cyrus, a Messenger unlike he has met before. Cyrus wants peace instead of war, but that task won’t be easy. Neither is falling for the dark winged man.
Words cannot describe how much I loved this novel. I loved so many of the characters. I loved Cassian and Jace’s sister Hesper.
Unlike with Romeo and Juliet, where the origin of the feud remains unknown, in this novel, it becomes clear why there is war between the Messengers and the Watchers. The ending is also different from the original play which I also liked. This was a very well thought out retelling.
I read online that this is a series and I am so excited to read the next novel. I am not sure if the sequels will continue being from Jace and Cyrus points of view or if a new couple’s story will be told. I will impatiently wait until January of next year. Only a few months, but it feels like a lifetime away.
This book was great. It was packed with so much action and detail. I could not put it down. I love the focus on romance. The author really made a great world in this book. So many aspects that I cannot wait to read more. I am now a fan of this series and author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jerricka Brownhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJerricka Brown2022-08-11 05:49:422022-08-15 08:01:50Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Jerricka Brown
Watcher is the first book in the Star-Crossed Celestials Duet by A.L Morrow. Jace is a watcher who always seems to make the wrong choice in men, falling hard and fast. Cyrus is a messenger, newly assigned to the city. When the two meet it is instant attraction. The issue is they should be on opposite sides of a war that has been going on for years between the Watchers, Demons, and Messengers. The Messengers believing the other two should not exist. While Jace and Cyrus do not care they should be against each other, they face many obstacles on their road to happiness. Will they be able to overcome the challenges that come with being on opposite sides? Will each be able to keep their loyalties as well as each other? Will their feelings be strong enough to fight for what they want?
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was well written and the characters had depth. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Sarah Kinghttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngSarah King2022-08-11 03:22:502022-08-15 07:59:58Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Sarah King
This book was really good. I love paranormal romance, especially with demons and angels, and this novel had all of that and more. The author created characters who got me vested in their journey to finding love and romance. The story was interesting and I could not put it down. The story ended with a cliffhanger and I really cannot wait for the next book to come out to see how the story unfolds.
My love for angsty stories is no secret. When I saw that this book was a retelling of Romeo and Juliet knew I had to read it. This story is about Jace and Cyrus. It follows the insta-love theme that Shakespeare’s original version had. Jace and Cyrus are opposite sides of the celestials. Jace is a watcher, while Cyrus is a messenger. While the whole of the celestials see each other as enemies, Jace and Cyrus don’t and start to fall in love. I liked the story. It was easy to read and entertained me.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Amber Dayhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAmber Day2022-08-10 18:33:212022-08-15 07:54:29Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Amber Day
Jace is a Watcher, a type of angel who lives on Earth observing the humans who live around him, but they are not the only ones he watches, demons and Messengers fall under his umbrella as well. Cyrus is a Messenger who has recently arrived to take up a position on Earth, but instead of the war he is seeing, he wants peace instead. Unfortunately, the Messengers are also angels, however, they are not as friendly as the Watchers, they view their ancestors as the ones who corrupted humans through their indiscretions and it is because of this, they are viewed as almost as badly as the demons. It is because of this ancestry that he has spent his entire life running from the Messengers, at least until he had to move to Las Vegas and move in with them, in a manner of speaking.
Jace has a weakness for handsome angels and so decided to take his best friend along to a gathering of Messengers so he can find a particular one, however, when he gets there, he is waylaid by a completely different Messenger. Cyrus is attending his welcome party, along with the others who arrived with him is not particularly enjoying being in the company of certain individuals so welcomes the distraction of a handsome, dark haired angel who catches his eye and a lot more than that.
As time passes, Jace and Cyrus end up finding time for some close encounters and intimate shenanigans, but because of the divide between their factions, they have to keep their growing bond a secret from even their nearest and dearest. This is becoming more difficult, especially when Cyrus is tasked to get close to the one person he wishes he could stay away from, but is this the true danger which lies in wait for the two star crossed lovers?
In this celestial retelling of a classic love story, will the end remain the same, or will love conquer all? This is a fast paced romance with plenty of steamy action, wise cracking demons and angels galore to keep you interested throughout this tale of two factions.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2022-08-10 17:24:382022-08-15 07:53:47Watcher: A MM Romeo and Juliet Retelling (Star Crossed Celestials) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
Watcher: A MM Romeo and Juliet Retelling (Star-Crossed Celestials #1) by A.L. Morrow
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Watcher is a fantastic retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I read Romeo and Juliet in school and it was okay, but this is better. It is M/M so if you don’t like that this isn’t for you. This is the first book in the Star-Crossed Celestials Series.
Cyrus is a Messenger and is sent to Vegas to keep peace between Watchers, Demons and his kind. Then he meets a Watcher and finds himself falling in love. He’s the Juliet in this story and it shows. Can they make it work? The quote I chose for Cyrus is: “And why do I have the feeling that’s a lie in itself?”
Jace is a Watcher and is trying to keep a low profile. His sister and her boyfriend who just happens to be Jace’s best friend. They go to Nova to find a man for Jace to sleep with although it’s not the man Jace was looking for. The quote I chose for Jace is: “I told you that you were perfect.”
Highly recommended for Paranormal M/M Romance lovers.
I’m not going to lie when I first got this book. I didn’t read the whole title, I just looked at the photo🤣. So when i was reading i was surprised to see it was MM. Not my usual cup of tea, but I found it to be a really really good read.I loved the different take on the Romeo and Juliet. The supernatural aspect makes the retelling even better😍.I’m looking forward to reading Messenger, the next installment of Star-Crossed Celestials series.
This book had some really different twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I was not expecting the love between the two guys, it was a little unexpected, consisting of that it’s so normal to read about a man and women but not two men, and honestly it was so amazing to read. not only were the characters well written that I found it hard not to fall in love with these two that their story was just as good. Lots of things happened that really kept me hooked on this book. This author wrote an incredible book all around, that really was entertaining and enjoyable. This paranormal, action, love, LGBT, and revenge book is a total must read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Reimerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Reimer2022-08-10 12:22:442022-08-13 09:58:57Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Jennifer Reimer
What a unique and interesting take on Romeo and Juliet – and a much better version in my opinion. Jace and Cyrus are simply amazing. I loved them individually, and their characters, and I loved the connection that was so easy to see between them. Despite everything being against them I desperately wanted them to find a way. The story itself is exciting and well written. Although I knew it was based on Romeo and Juliet it definitely does not live in its shadows. This is a real page turned and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!
This is the first book in the series and ends in a cliffhanger. I enjoyed this story much more than the original Romeo and Juliet. Loved the characters. Great twists and turns. Plenty of action, danger, and steam. There are a couple of moments that get you right in the feels. Overall, a great read! Looking forward to the next book!
It has been Watchers and Demons against Messengers for years. In Las Vegas, Watchers and Demons live on the bad side of town, Nocturna, while Messengers live luxuriously in Nova. One Watcher, Jace, has a terrible love history of falling in love too quickly and with people he should not fall in love with, especially Messengers. When Jace meets Messenger Cyrus, it is no different. With a war still brewing, Watcher follows Jace and Cyrus on their journey for love. Will love prevail? Or will the war between the kinds destroy their love? Find out in Watcher. The characters in Watcher are relatable along with their emotions. Between power hungry Messenger Xavier, sweet Messenger Cyrus, mischievous Demon Cassian, and the sibling love of Watchers Jace and Hesper everyone will have someone they can relate to. A.L. Morrow uses the term “latter” quite a few times which sounded awkward after a while, but nothing to make this read not a 5-star. I enjoyed the story and its characters. If you are looking for an exciting, celestial, love story that is like Romeo and Juliet, look no further. Give Watcher a try.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Breanne Christianhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBreanne Christian2022-08-02 08:47:332022-08-02 11:46:40Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Breanne Christian
What I like about this book us the telling like Romeo and Juliet, but with way better results and great tellings! What I like even better is the MM romance in this series as well! Jace is a watcher, and not many like him for it. One of his enemies, a messenger, is looking for peace and not war and is in the interest level for Jace. This is where you read to see where it leads. It even tells you which characters relate to the Romeo and Juliet scene. Great read!
This was a great take on Romeo and Juliet…with more focus on the love story than the tragedy!
In Sin City, there are three types of celestials: Watchers (fallen angels), Demons (the offspring of an angel and human), and Messengers (almost like enforcers). There has been a war going on between them for years, with the Messengers wanting to rid the world of the other two.
Jace is a Watcher and his best friend, Cassius, is a Demon. While an unlikely pair, they have been around each other for centuries and have a special bond…oh, and Cassius is in love with Jace’s sister Hesper. Jace is looking to find that forever man for himself…but so far has found himself heartbroken and always wanting the man that’s wrong (or forbidden to him). He finds himself in the same predicament again when a new Messenger comes to town…Cyrus.
Cyrus is assigned to Sin City…but he does not have the same disdain for other celestials like his former lover, and leader of the Messengers, Xavier. Xavier is having a hard enough time with Astra, an archangel, who is over all the war between the celestials and wants peace. He is hoping that the arrival of Cyrus will mean another on his side..but that is not the case. Cyrus, however, is in search of peace.
The connection between Cyrus and Jace is instantaneous (and viewed as forbidden among many). They, however, don’t see each other as enemies…but as being on the same side. As they are falling in love, and a war continues to brew around them, Cyrus and Jace’s time may be limited. When Xavier finds out about them, he is determined to put an end to Jace. When the moment comes, will Cyrus choose Jace or will his loyalty always be to the Messengers.
This was an interesting story that pulled me in from the beginning. I found myself enthralled with the different celestials and the history of their war. I can see the resemblance to Romeo and Juliet…but I was too into the story to think about it at the time. I enjoyed Jace’s character…and the supporting characters were great. I found myself reading for long periods of time because I did not want to put it down!
Note: This story ends on a cliffhanger and Jace and Cyrus’ story will continue…and I am looking forward to it.
I haven’t found many MM romances I like but I loved Watcher. A new twist on “Romeo & Juliet” leaves you wanting more. I started it and didn’t put it down till I was finished. A war has been going on for years between the Messenger and the watchers and demons. The Messengers view both as an abomination. Everything that’s wrong with society. The Messenger ChanCellor Astra wants to bring peace and end the fighting/bloodshed between them. Unfortunately there’s some among her ranks who don’t agree. Xavier would end all watchers and demons if it was up to him. Now that his ex-lover Cyrus has been assigned to Nova he hopes to have him in his corner. Cyrus on the other hand has caught the eye of watcher Jace. It’s a beautiful love affair, essentially love at first site. Some misunderstandings between the two early on, but no prejudice on either side. They view each other as equals in the celestial world, despite watchers being the fallen. What happens when Xavier finds out? Do Cyrus and Jace stand a chance? It’s not your everyday romance novel, but it’s a very good and well written one at that! Take a chance!
I really enjoyed this romance story. It is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet but with a MM romance. This story is full of Forbidden Love, and the twists and turns to find their happy ever after. I also loved the twist of it being about messengers(angels) and watchers (fallen angels). There is a war between them and with watchers being left on earth they teamed up and supported the demons to fight against the angels. I’m not going to give too much away but the romance is between a watcher and a messenger so you can imagine the problem that brings with the sides being at war. The author does an amazing job at retelling the classic tale and adding the unique twist of the paranormal storyline. The characters are really well written and their personalities really jumped off the page. You will feel like you know them personally but the end.
Twist on Romeo and Juliet. This book wasn’t what I was expecting, but in a good way! I love paranormal, so the celestial take on the story was a bonus for me. It is a MM romance with spice! Definitely grab yourself a copy and enjoy.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ediehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngEdie2022-07-25 17:40:412022-07-26 08:04:48Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Edie Kelleher
I have never been a fan of Romeo and Juliet. Forbidden love is sexy but for it to end in tragedy? Not my cup of tea. But this novel was FANTASTIC! Forbidden love and enemies-to-lovers all in one package! Banter, wit, fun, high stakes, and did I mention the sexy men with celestial powers that fall in love?! You HAVE to read this one!
Watcher is the first book in the Star-Crossed Celestials Duet by A.L Morrow. It takes ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and gives it a bit of a twist. This retelling comes with a MM paranormal romance and celestial spin which was definitely an extra element of interest for me. It’s full of fantasy, forbidden love, banter, humour, action, drama, celestials, demons, tension, and agendas. I don’t want to give too much away and spoil it for you, because if you love your retellings with some fantasy and a sexy twist- then you are definitely going to want to read this story for yourself. The story is set to continue in the next instalment…. Can’t wait! Bring on Book #2! Happy Reading!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2022-07-23 00:17:492022-07-25 09:28:56Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Duet Book #1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Angela Hayes
A Romeo and Juliet story that has angels and demons AND promises a happily ever after?! I cannot wait to see how this story goes… Jace sounds like mister all powerful, mysterious in his pain and struggle.. but to see him go on the defense of those being hunted is amazing.
I love how strong and protective a character Jace is with whoever he’s around. Even when he’s with his lovers, he tries to distract them from their pain and help them. Genuinely wants to do better for them than those who came before.
Cyrus is just brilliant, smart, and intelligent. He has that way about him. Everyone loves being around him, and when he and Jace meet they are amazing together.
Like any good romance novel, there’s just the right amount of drama, charm, and action to keep me going. I definitely love this book, and I look forward to the next!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Marie Collinshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMarie Collins2022-07-22 20:59:242022-07-25 09:26:31Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Marie Collins
What a great story! When I read Romeo and Juliet in high school, I didn’t like it because in the end, what started as a beautiful love story was just a tragedy. I know that tragedy is a real life thing, but I read to escape real life, so I don’t necessarily want to read something with an unsatisfying ending like a true Shakespearean tragedy. This was a fabulous take on a classic that held more emphasis on romance than tragedy. I enjoyed the fact that it was queer as well. I will definitely be continuing to find more by this author, and reading the next installment of this story!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jo Frizzellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJo Frizzell2022-07-21 23:02:542022-07-22 09:16:02Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Jo Frizzell
This amazing paranormal read really blew me away. The writing was simply perfect, with plenty of twists and turns that made this paranormal read unpredictable. The characters were amazing, the chemistry was sizzling, and let’s not forget the forbidden romance. This is the first time that I have read anything by this author but I will definitely be looking for more.
An awesome adventure story! I absolutely adore Jace. I love a good twist on a classic story. Flawless story with great subplots and background stories.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jasmin Slaglehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJasmin Slagle2022-07-20 23:49:042022-07-21 07:00:16Watcher: A MM Romeo and Juliet Retelling (Star-Crossed Celestials) by A.L. Morrow Reviewed by Jasmin Slagle
Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow 4 Stars
This is a special twist on the tale of Romeo and Juliet. Not only is it male on male but angelbound as well. This story is filled with action, love, danger and revenge. A love forbidden between a Watcher and a Messenger. A story filled with angels and demons. Jace is a direct descendant of the first fallen angel, the reason he is constantly hunted. Cyrus is the handsome messenger who comes to Vegas only wanting peace between all celestials. Neither one expected to fall in love. This book is an adventure not to be missed.
Note: For mature audiences only due to explicit sexual encounters.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Anna Hirschhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAnna Hirsch2022-07-20 17:50:482022-07-21 07:07:14Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Anna Hirsch
Amazing read. I lovey my paranormal books, that is something I can not hide at all but this one really did justice I found. Unpredictable read, astonishing writing, and amazing character development. I could not put this one down. I was hooked, and I needed more by the time I reached the end!
Great character development and use of writing by a talented author. Jace and Cyrus seemed so different, btu the chemistry they both had was undeniable. The mutual attraction was spot on. I loved their moments together. Against all odds they found the ground that they wanted to share. Especially loved the LGBT story line Highly support that of course. There was a lot of action and danger for this forbidden romance. Loved this book, when I finished, I wanted so much more! Loved it!
The book was a trip, that was very much wroth taking. I loved the strong descriptions the author used as well. I loved the author, and I loved this book. I highly recommend! Do not pass up either!
Jace and Cyrus are on opposite sides of a war. Watchers and demons versus Messengers. When they meet, the connection they feel is instant. I loved the relationship between these two. Their relationship is put to the test in this book and it pulls right on your heart! It ends on a cliffhanger but continues into book 2! It will make you want to immediately dive into the second book to find out what happens next!
This book is an adventure. The messengers, the watchers, a heist. The drama, the intensity make for a great book. The characters are out of this world (no pun intended). I think the characters are so well-written. The toughness and grit they have make the actions believable. The plot is non-stop action. There are twists and subplots, yet they are intertwined and all come together to ride out fairly smooth. This book is entertaining and one I fell in love with. The action will get you right from the start. Highly recommend.
Watcher is the first book in this captivating Romeo and Juliet retelling duology. This paranormal tale is a must for supernatural lovers. It is a fairy tale with a major twist. It is a MM tale that is sexy and it is definitely original and different which is what I have come to expect from AL.
I don’t want to give too much away because AL’s stories should be discovered all by themselves.
If you love fairy tale retellings with a sexy twist, then you are certainly going to love this one.
Jace is a Watcher a fallen angel who is being hunted, on the run and hiding from the Messengers, celestial beings from another realm.
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