Juliet Dove, Queen of Love: A Magic Shop Book (Magic Shop Book, 5)

As all the books in this collection, this one is engaging, well written and deep at the same time. stongtrongly Recommended

I've been slowly making my way through a long list of books recommended to me by a librarian friend of mine. One of them was a favorite from her childhood, "Jeremy Thatcher; Dragon Hatcher." While I DID enjoy the book, I couldn't help but find more than a few glaring plot holes with it, and thought it was just okay. But knowing that this was part of a series that featured a mysterious magic shop in each book, I was intrigued just enough to want to keep going and see if more of this "fantasy meets reality" world would be explored or explained. And I'm glad I did, because after being thoroughly impressed with "The Skull of Truth", this next outing with the magic shop raised the bar even higher. Juliet Dove is shy. Extremely shy. So shy that sometimes, even a simple conversation with a stranger can be a nerve-wracking nightmare for her, which is ironic, considering how she comes from a family of outgoing poets. But her life takes a fateful turn when, one day, she happens upon a mysterious magic shop. There, a lady gives her a beautiful pendant....one that she discovers, to her horror, that she can't remove. Even worse, the spell surrounding the pendant causes every boy that comes in Juliet's vicinity to fall desperately in love with her. Now Juliet must face her worst fears as she fights to fend off all this unwanted attention, while also searching for a way to break the pendant's spell....a solution that involves mythological gods and saving Cupid himself.This book is actually part of a series, in which all the books revolve around the mysterious Mr. Elives' magic shop in some way. But each book can stand well enough on its own that you don't have to have read the others. (As attested by the fact that I've been reading these out of order and didn't even realize it.) With each book, more hints are dropped about the shop, it's owner, and the few people associated with it; mainly the librarian, Ms. Priest, and two talking messenger rats named Roxanne and Jerome. Up until now, the rats have only had bit parts to play in the previous books. But here, we not only get an explanation as to why they can talk, but they're given a lot more to do, and play heavily into helping save the day, including a funny sequence where they have to become temporary replacements for Cupid.Which, speaking of the messenger of love, the plot involves more than a fair share of Greek and Roman gods, which can help teach the reader about the old myths. Because of this, unlike the previous books that have an average sort of antagonist (usually bullies of some sort), this time, we get a full blown bonified villain in the form of the goddess of discord, Eris. Between her kidnapping Mr. Elives, cutting off the rat messengers from the magic shop, and sewing her seeds of hate and chaos wherever she goes, the stakes are raised to the highest they've ever been in the "magic shop" series. Trapped in the middle of all this mayhem is poor Juliet, who must go through a character arc if she's to free herself from the pendant's spell. With the amulet forcing everyone's attention on her, Juliet must learn to come out of her shell, and though she can be incredibly shy and introverted, she gradually learns that everyone truly loves her most when she's just being herself.While not as dark as "Skull of Truth", this book still carries just as serious stakes, with poignant lessons about what true love really is, and the many forms that love can take. Each book in this series gets better and better, and I can't wait to read the rest.

I started reading Bruce Coville by accident, stumbling across Goblins in the Castle with my then four-year-old. We've now read that at least 5 times, followed by the Amulet of Doom, now five Magic Shop books, Goblins on the Prowl, a unicorn story, and have no plans to stop until we run out of books! My son will turn 5 a month from today, and he just might insist on a Goblins in the Castle party (keep your fingers crossed that I figure out how to pull THAT off, with zero other little 5 year olds having read it!)

Can I give more than five stars? I love Bruce Coville, I love this book! Nothing bad can be said about anything this man touches.

GREATEST BOOK EVERY TO BE WRITTEN U WILL LOVE THIS BOOK I loved every thing it is touching and it is an amazing story a very fine one read and enjoy

Sometimes writers will write when they have something important to share, and other times they just need to keep the mill rolling. Unfortunately, this book falls into the second category where a lot of senseless and meaningless drivel interrupted the main storyline so much the reader falls away, closing the book, and wondering what the point is.If you are a Bruce Coville fan, like we are, stay away from this book and look for other works by him. He really is a terrific author... on the times he really needs to share a dream.

I really enjoyed this book.

Both girls and boys have enjoyed this story.

I highly enjoy the Magic Shop series and when i found out there was a 5th book i jumped at it. This one is different to the others in a number of ways which made it special in itself.Jerome and Roxanne have much bigger parts to play which in itself made it interesting as they always seem to be such big characters in small bodies. Juliet in herself is a quiet red head which reverberated within this red heads soul as to what I found it to be like in school. Quiet and different is not always a good thing. However you can see her grow in herself throughout the book as a quest is forced upon her.Secondly the magic being played with is older and more dangerous than the magic given out by Mr Elvis normally, bringing an element of learning and fun to the older worlds of magic. A very well thought out and researched book that seemed to encompass the characters really well. All in all another highly enjoyable trip back into the world of the Magic Shop.

My 9 year old daughter adored this book and found it hilarious.

Nearly didn't find this really good book.It's not numbered like the others. Brill.