By Any Other Name

by Erin Cotter

A down-on-his-luck actor and an English lord reluctantly team up to solve the murder of Christopher Marlowe in this Shakespearean-era young adult romp perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and Mackenzi Lee.

London, 1593. Sixteen-year-old Will Hughes is busy working on Shakespeare’s stage, stuffing his corsets with straw and pretending to be someone else. Offstage, he's playing a part, too. The son of traitors, Will is desperate to keep his identity secret—or risk being killed in the bloody queen’s imperial schemes. All he wants is to lay low until he earns enough coin to return to his family.

But when his mentor, the famous playwright Christopher Marlowe, is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Will’s plans are hopelessly dashed. What’s worse, Marlowe was a spy for the queen, tasked with stalking a killer rumored to be part of an elusive order of assassins, and his secrets and untimely death have put Will under a harsh spotlight. And so, when Will unwittingly foils an attempt on the queen’s life, she names him her next spymaster.

Now, to avoid uncomfortable questions, prison, or an even more terrible fate, Will reluctantly starts his new career, which—yes—will secure him the resources to help his family…but at what cost? Adding insult to injury is the young Lord James Bloomsbury, Will’s new comrade in arms, whose entitled demeanor and unfairly handsome looks get under Will’s skin immediately.

Together, the two hunt the cunning assassin, defend the queen’s life, and pray to keep their own...all while an unexpected connection blossoms between them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBT, Historical, Young Adult, Queer, Mystery

460 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

Erin Cotter writes young adult fiction. Originally from Buffalo, New York, she currently calls Austin home. When not writing she spends time with her partner and pets, eating tacos, and searching for Golden-cheeked Warblers in the Texas Hill Country.

Reviews

[Kristi C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my most recent randomly chosen audiobook (thanks #19 💜). I don’t think I would have ever chosen this book, but I am glad I am trying new genres. I thought this was well written and interesting, especially once I discovered it was Erin Cotter’s first book. Well done! Loved the cover.
I loved the setting and time period and enjoyed the hilarious Shakespeare appearances, even more so since I am also currently reading Macbeth and recently read Julius Caesar and Much Ado About Nothing. This book has it all…historical fiction, mystery, romance, young adult, LGBTQ+….
I found myself invested in the characters and surprised by plot twists. The love story was beautifully done. “‘Tis” was a bit overused, but it didn’t take away from the book, just noticeable.
Overall, I was entertained and would read another Cotter book. I’m glad I had the chance to read something I wouldn’t normally choose.

[bri]

dnf p. 145

this wasn’t a bad book by any means and i think a lot of people will enjoy it, but the F.T. Lukens comp led me to think this would be a little more campy and silly than it was, and instead it was taking itself a little too seriously and just had an excessive use of inner monologuing and the word “‘tis”

CW (so far): imperialism, violence, murder, dead body, plague (mention), indentured servitude (past), injury detail, alcohol consumption, emesis, fire

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite its massive page length, I absolutely devoured this one in a day! I have a soft spot for queer historical fiction as it serves as a reminder that LGBTQ people have always been here and will continue to be here. With all the treachery and fighting, it could get a bit heavy at times (there is so much murder lmao), but I loved the brighter moments when Will and James were allowed to simply be. The author has a way of making you feel the tension and love between them as the story progresses and they move from strangers to friends to something more. It was also fun to see William Shakespeare pop up as a side character every now and then with references to his plays and poems, and I wish James' sister Catherine had been given more time.

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, 3 for GR purposes. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the decidedly unflattering portrait of Elizabeth I. I'm a huge Tudor enthusiast, but there's more than a little hagiography at work with works and movies about ER, so it was interesting, and refreshing, to have Erin Cotter paint Elizabeth and her reign as despotic.

My main reason for rounding down instead of up has to do with the final chapters of the book. A work of fiction always requires suspension of disbelief, but the set up of the final chapters, and then the final pages, ended up requiring way too much of that suspension. I still liked the book overall, and look forward to more books from Erin Cotter.

[⊹₊⟡⋆ Lily the Lilac ⊹₊⟡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

❀ 𝔸𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖 ❀

The first quarter of the this book was a buddy read with my bestie Ishraq, and it was the fun of reading that part with you that motivated me to finish the rest so fast 🫶🏻🥰✨

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈

╰┈➤ Stars: 3 ⭐!
╰┈➤ Pov: First-person MMC (Will)
╰┈➤ Spice: 1 / 5
╰┈➤ Content: Swearing; death; kidnapping (in flashback); implied spice

❤️ 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 ❤️

꒰ 𝐿𝒾𝓀𝑒𝓈 ➛ This book will absolutely make you emotions. Anger at the villains, sadness at the impossible situations the characters find themselves in, all that. Even if those aren't the main emotions I look to feel while reading, I have to give it props for evoking them in the first place!

꒰ 𝒟𝒾𝓈𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒𝓈 ➛ Honestly... it was very average. I mean, we checked all the boxes here: Fine pace, fine action, fine scenery, fine writing style. All of it was very very average, you know?

💙 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 💙

ˋ°•* 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝓁 ➳ He was... fine, a decent character. He had his good aspects, like being driven, but I would sometimes get annoyed with how quick he jumps to anger and lashing out. Though with how the world has thrown at him, I can kind of see this boiling rage.

ˋ°•* 𝒥𝒶𝓂𝑒𝓈 ➳ Now this guy I liked better, more soft and gentle to Will's hardened edges and sharp-tongued-ness. Again, he was decent, with a good amount of character, though not as much growth as our boy Will here

ˋ°•* 𝒪𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 ➳ The side characters, Inigo and Maggie, aren't in the book very much, so they sadly don't have as much characterization. Inigo, who I liked a fair amount, was sweet and calm, and Maggie was feisty

ALSO FREAKING SHAKESPEARE IS A CHARACTER

🤎 𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 🤎

VERY much forbidden love. Takes that trope all the way, trust me. But of course, it sort of has to be that way, given the setting. Not only are Will and James two men, but one is a street urchin and the other a lord. Kind of the most forbidden you could get in that time period 😔 I was contented with the amount of romantic scenes we get with them! Their romance is also kisses-only, but it's implied they take a role in the hay or two hehe 🤭

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈

𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷: By Any Other Name was a likeable book, hitting all the marks in a pleasant way. It's not a favorite, but it was (most of the time) not hard to read. Would I remember it very fondly? Nope. Would I still recommend it to avid MM romance readers out there? Sure.

❀ 𝔸𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: 𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕒𝕨, 𝕡𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘! ❀

[akacya ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 reads: 186/250

2024 tbr: 75/120

set in london in 1593, by any other name follows will hughes, an actor, and lord james bloomsbury as they work together to keep the queen from being assassinated.

i very rarely read books set this long ago, but this cover was too gorgeous and the premise too interesting to pass up. i loved how we got a theatre kid mc, maybe even the original theatre kid since he worked on shakespeare’s stage. i also thought the romance was nice and angsty!

[Jes · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT a delightful romp of a book. I’m a sucker for a prickly protagonist and Elias more than delivered on that front—I love how suspicious and damaged he is at the beginning and how much he slowly softens/allows himself to open up over the course of the novel as he learns to trust James. The spy/intrigue plot’s twists and turns kept me guessing at every moment (I REALLY did not see the final reveal coming… I gasped aloud!!). James was such a sweetheart and ughh I was so sad for him when [redacted for spoilers] :(((( The side characters were so full of life and I’m obsessed with the meticulously researched & rendered details about Elizabethan England—this London felt SO real, packed with sensory detail and period-specific imagery. This book was so much fun and a perfect lazy long weekend read :)

[Starless One · Rating 3 out of 5]

On paper, this book seemed like it was made for me. I love mysteries. I love historical fiction. I’ve read more early modern plays than any sane person should. At one point, I even considered writing my MA thesis on Christopher Marlowe.

So why did this twisty historical mystery about a young actor and a lord investigating the murder of Marlowe not work for me?

I’m going to start with what I liked:

- The concept. Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? This book had spies, secret societies, court intrigues... There’s a popular theory that Marlowe was in fact a secret agent working for the crown and imho that’s a story that basically writes itself. Yet there seems to be a curious dearth of novels with this concept (the only other one I know being License to Quill: A Novel of Shakespeare & Marlowe) so I was really happy to come across this one.
- The characters. Both Will/Elias and James were likeable and Will’s flaws and pessimistic attitude made him easy to relate to.
- This was the first book I’ve read in which Elizabeth I is shown in a thoroughly unflattering light. I thought that made for a nice change given the usual glorification of her reign.

Moving on to things that, unfortunately, did not work for me.

- The language. An attempt was made to have the characters use the slang of the time (lots of “zounds”, etc.), but the style was inconsistent and I felt like there were too many modern words and phrases for it to work.
- The same goes for the historical setting. I believe there must have been a lot of research involved in the writing of this novel but unfortunately, early modern England never really came to life for me. I feel bad for being nitpicky, but there were some rather obvious blunders, like the mention of a character who had been made a duke only recently and therefore needed to befriend James’s family. (As if the title of duke wasn’t reserved for the highest nobility who definitely did not need to curry favour with those of lower rank, especially a disgraced family like James’s.) There’s also the fact that people in early modern England usually only had one first name, and other small details that could have easily been fact-checked. None of these mistakes were terrible per se, but taken together, they kind of broke the immersion for me.
- I’ve mentioned this before, but nothing makes me roll my eyes faster than modern morals being imposed on characters in a historical setting. The characters here were going on and on about how “England is a poison”, endangering the world through the evils of greed and exploitation and it just made me want to bang my head against the wall. Having your heroes call the villain a “coloniser” in a 16th century setting is ridiculous, even if the man is, in fact, a coloniser.

As it happens, I could have ignored all of this if it weren’t for the weaknesses of the plot. The pacing was all over the place, there were far too many unnecessary turns, and the book simply felt so much longer than it needed to be. The worst part were the inconsistencies which ended up pretty much ruining the book for me. (e.g. Will risking his life stealing to pay his rent, while sitting on a pile of savings, or James and Will planning to run away to Antwerp together, only for James to change his mind after being banished – my dude, you were going to leave the country anyway, what's changed??) There was also the fact that I felt like the eventual solution to the mystery was a letdown, being too convoluted and illogical to make sense.

Overall, I really wanted to love By Any Other Name. I still think the concept is brilliant and there was a lot of potential here. Really, I blame the editor because most of the aforementioned issues could have been fixed quite easily. As things stand, it's an example of a book that could have been great and ended up just being a bit meh.

[Andrea (Marauders version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone obliviate me so I can read this book again for the first time😭❤️

[George Ilsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was in a "Shakespeare" display at the library, because it is set in that time period, and the character Shakespeare has a couple of irreverent cameos.

However, this was not a book for me; it's a YA book and I kept wondering if a young reader would learn anything from this narrative, or if they would be led astray.

I've labelled this as thriller, because the plot depends on incredible coincidences, preposterous plots, leaps of faith (from the reader), and so much eye-rolling (again, from this tired, old reader).

This might be the longest YA novel I've read, and perhaps I've learned my lesson. Finished the book a day ago, and can't even remember how it ended, other than the mandatory HEA (except for all the dead people).

I'll be pleased never to see the word "Zounds" again.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zounds! BY ANY OTHER NAME by Erin Cotter is a delightful romance full of hope and humor that flourishes against the backdrop of Elizabethan England. Complete with players, pirates, and plots, Cotter weaves an adventure that draws the reader in from the first page. Will Hughes, the anti-hero, finds more than he bargained for when he searches for the murderer of his mentor, playwright Christopher Marlowe and takes on his most dangerous role—spymaster for the Queen. In all his pretending, identity comes into question. How do you know who you are when you're pretending to be someone you're not? Thoughtful and deliberate, love and family in various forms and their ties to self-worth are at the center of this coming-of-age story filled with witty banter and forbidden love.

Thank you, S&S for an advance copy.

[Dilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book had no right hurting me the way that it did. full rtc.

[Greta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I loved the premise right? Actors, gay people, murder mystery, it's all right up my alley. BUT it just wasn't working for me. The plot lines just seemed to keep multiplying and getting more complicated. The main character seems to have a negative character arc in terms of personality, he just gets more insufferable and some of his choices just don't quite make sense to me. Like withholding the rent money? I understand he wanted to save it to go see his family but he also needs to have a place to LIVE??? It was an ok book but I do feel it didn't need to be as long as it was and sometimes felt like multiple books in one.

[Ali Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot and story is a HOT mess.

and I love the characters but like...they were also...a mess?

I did enjoy my time...just this story was simply too much and this is clearly a too many chefs spoil the broth scenario.

[piper monarchsandmyths]

thank you to Simon Teen, the author, and Colored Pages Book Tours for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book never quite went where I expected it to, but I loved going along for the ride. Real and largely fictionalized history are woven together in a narrative that, while it has some distinct YA elements, also felt like it could be just as readable for lighter adult histfic. Something that’s captured beautifully throughout is emotion, from the thread of romantic love between Will and James to the platonic and familial relationships explored throughout. This book is far more readable than I ever imagined and once the narrative truly began, I had a hard time putting it down. Whether or not you’re a regular historical fiction reader, this queer historical mystery/romance is definitely one I’d recommend.

While the summary of this book alludes to a mystery, there’s so much more of it than you might initially expect. Murder and spies and treason abound, with a self-proclaimed peasant boy actor at the center beyond his wildest imaginings. For me, this was the thread that pulled the entire story along, and brought along character development that went a lot deeper. As with most mysteries, I wasn’t able to guess who was responsible but the story itself was engaging enough that I didn’t particularly care.

And while romance wasn’t always the most central element, it was always a distinct presence within the book. The prose between Will and James is absolutely stunning at times, and made me wish we got even more of them together, falling. The other relationships and characters, and especially the elements of grief and loss, were so interesting and lovely to follow even the most heart-wrenching moments.

Looking back at this book, my wildest dream is that it could one day expand into an entire universe. There are so many characters I would love to see the adventures of, and I have to admit I’m a sucker for a happy ending sequel, especially with this much potential. But for now, this was such a fun and intriguing book, twisting narratives into something I never quite expected, but worth the read nonetheless.

[Teddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars
may contain spoilers

CW/TWs: murder, description or violence, description of dead bodies, maiming, torture, poisoning, death, on page suicide (character taking poison so as to not be killed by the queen), mentions of colonialism, religious homophobia, arranged marriages (not the main couple)

He did all that just to… not find his family ? He did all that and it wasn’t for anything ?

I wanted to like this book really badly. I had such high hopes for this book. I paid full price for it because of my excitement and I adored the cover from the moment I saw it on the shelf at the bookstore, and finally I’ve gotten around to reading this and I am… so let down? The only reason I ended up finishing it is Because (!) I paid full price for it ! I hardly know where to start !

Will is a terrible lead. He is bratty, and selfish, and despite suffering the consequences of his actions, he, none of it has any real impact because said consequences last a single page and Will is moving on immediately after ! His character does not get better throughout the story, and his arch doesn’t inspire any interest because he is constantly throwing away the things offered to him and causing his Own problems. James is a too nice push-over who, despite having an interest in medicine and alchemy and not wanting to be like his father… what’s interesting about him? Nothing. He’s bland, and boring, and his romance with Will is bland, there are constantly stakes about their relationship being found out, but that never happens, so you never have to worry ! Too insta-lovey, and tell me why they’re telling each other I love you, and planning to run away together within months of knowing each other ! You are BOYS !

Speaking of that…. Why do these teenagers sound like this ? Why is their prose so… adult? He does not sound like a teenager. Nor does he sound like a street kid, despite his (one chapter) job as an actor. No one talks the way they’re supposed to and a lot of the dialogue is awkward because of words like “‘tis” and “betwixt”. Because of words like “Zounds.” While I understand that this book is a period piece sit in the 1500s. This dialogue is ridiculous. This prose is ridiculous. The author is trying so hard to sound within the times that she ends up falling back on clunky dialogue and an inconsistency to replace “it’s” with “‘Tis”. The constant use of “zounds” furthermore removes any kind of tension and any kind of interest built up with a scene, because it sounds so fucking ridiculous (!) that you just have to scoff and roll your eyes, because a character is saying “zounds”. It’s ridiculous and makes no sense for how often every single character on page uses it.

On the topic of this being historical fiction, I don’t have an issue with that, but I do have an issue with is the author using the real world as a building block and then not giving it the respect that it deserves (?) She creates multiple fictional events within the story (the biggest example being the wilde rebellion) to the point where it would be much easier to set this story in a world that is removed from our own while keeping the influences—especially seeing this book is inspired by the 1500s anyway. I fully do believe that the only reason this is set in London during the 1500s is because the author wanted to include Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare. Why she would want to include Shakespeare, and use his influences and inspiration for her novel while additionally opening the book with a quote from Hamlet only to then trash the playwright every single time he is on page makes no sense to me. The worldbuilding of this book felt lazy and there was. No resolution for anything, really.

Overall…. A very disappointing book. I judged a book by its cover in the complete opposite way, and I suffered for it 😩

[Lynnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the main ARCs I really wanted to snag at YallWest and I'm so glad I did! If you enjoyed The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue you really gotta pick this up. The two books are vastly different in plot but have very similar vibes.

This story was so much fun. It's full of heart and adventure and our two main characters are so easy to root for individually and together. I loved Elias' inability to bite his tongue and instead just tell nobility exactly how he felt even when the people he was insulting held swords to his neck LOL. And James on the other hand was such a level headed and calming force. The balance between the two of them was perfect and it worked so well with the plot, which was constantly keeping me on my toes. I mean queer spies, one of which is a noble, in 1500s London who hate the monarchy but are forced to work for the Queen in order to get what they truly want in life? You can't really go wrong.

Maggie and Inigo were also lovely and I'm glad that we got to see more of them in the story than I originally thought we would. Also, making Shakespeare a recurring minor character who was never anything but a nuisance to Will was so funny oh my god

Despite the book's length, it didn't feel too long until a bit toward the end. I felt one of the plot points that was being wrapped up could've done so in fewer pages but it really wasn't a big deal. I feel like Erin Cotter's writing is what makes the length completely doable. Her storytelling is great and I'll definitely look into her backlist and keep eyes on whatever she does next!

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical Fiction
Stand Alone
Format: audiobook

I wasn’t immediately sure how to rate this, as I honestly didn’t know what to think. It was… ok? I mean, I liked it. I did. Mostly. But something felt off, as if something was missing, and it never fully seemed to grab me and pull me into the story. I was always sort of on the edge of it. Also, I’m still not sure I actually liked the main character. So there’s that.

Tags and Content Warnings:
m/m, historical fiction, romance, theater, literature, royalty, assassination plots, murder, violence, class and poverty issues, indentured servitude of children (discussed), minor character death, capital punishment, brutality, homophobia, lgbtq = illegal and punishable by death, mystery, crime, lgbtq

Tropes:
found family, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden romance, preppy rich kid/poor kid

Spice: nope

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot happens in this story and there a number of turns in the plot, but it’s still rather dull. It’s a bit of a long winded meandering historical romp that lacks clear direction and has too much given away by the blurb. You never really feel any sense of urgency or high action (even when it is happening) and overall it just lacks any lustre to make it appealing. Everything just seems pointless.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars, rounded up

This book took me a long time to finish. I just wasn't excited to read it, but honestly, I think that's more of a wrong-time, wrong-reader thing, nothing to do with the book itself. Because this book has all kinds of things to be excited about. It's an adventure full of espionage, disguises, poison, treason. It's Elizabethan in the best way. Anyone familiar with the historic parts of Southwark will feel that come to life in this book. The characters are fun, and it's a wild ride they go on. What's not to like? So I think it was a me problem more than the book itself.

Anyway.

My full review will be available at Gateway Reviews on October 20, 2023.

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Sherry Wang · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a personal irk when a book wants to have the aesthetic trappings of historical fiction without anything meaningful that seeks to ground it in that period. With the barebone elements of an Elizabethan boy player and the historical rumors that Marlowe was a spy aside, this novel lacks a very real sense of place. That doesn't mean the author doesn't try, using the words "tis" and "zounds" and "aye" which only stand out and feel weird because characters continue to use omitting modern figures and patterns of speech. I did a cursory search, but most of the people and events named in this book are fictitious (the Wilde Rebellion, the Societas Solis assassins guild), with a few exceptions including an obnoxious Shakespeare cameo. James' father "the Burning Reaper" is said to have used some terrible weapon to quell the countryside uprisings but since we're not told what it is and the we can't invent anything too wild pre-Industrial Revolution I'm left to imagine that he...simply set mass fires to burn the country? I don't need book-for-book historical accuracy in my fiction, but this is why some amount of research is important; otherwise the characters populate only the vague skeleton of a late 16th century setting without feeling grounded in a real time and place.

And that's another thing--the book has a lot of very forward thinking, modern social commentary about the monarchy, class, and occasionally colonialism, but because it isn't about these things, it feels inserted more as a nod to the modern reader than any meaningful characterization. See, it seems to say, we know these things are bad, and the characters know too so they're good people. It feels very anachronistic, and it simply doesn't feel realistic that these characters would speak about social issues like modern people. It feels almost like cheating to set a story in an era but not engage with the issues and problematic elements that make a historical story interesting. Finally, they detract from any thematic weight the book has because these issues specifically cannot and do not get solved by the end. So what we are left with is a whole novel where the protagonist alternates between faffing about his family, James, and how much he hates the queen, but nonetheless spends most of it serving her (under duress, to be fair), but you cannot combine these elements and then deliver a resolution where the main characters are instrumental to foiling an assassination plot(s) on the queen.

The main pair also sadly lacked any chemistry for me. From the cover, I thought James the love interest would be more of a gaslight gatekeep kind of guy, but he's ridiculously nice, so much so that it makes the protagonist's constant rebuffing of him seem annoying. I wish James were more of a manipulative or politicking type; I think their relationship stakes and dynamic would've benefited from being tied to the plot more and a greater degree of complexity.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shakespearean London is a fun setting for historical fiction stories, it’s the period where stage drama and eloquence flourished. Another interesting thing in writing a story set in this time period—Queer people have always existed! This book has a lot going on, lives of people at the time, secret identities and relationships! Just when I was getting the hang of the story, the dynamics changed and now I’m reading a murder mystery getting solved by queer sleuths. Literature can be dense at places and hard to get into, but once you are in, it’s impossible not to enjoy the mystery and the love that blossoms softly between Will & James.

🥂 Thanks for the free book! @simonteen @erinseaotter @coloredpagesbt

[Roanna25 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first 230 pages and skimmed the rest. I like Elizabethen mysteries and I like a good "gay romance". This is what the cover promised but did not deliver at all.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book!

Here's the deal - Will, a London player of female roles, and James, an aristocrat, become embroiled in Elizabethan court intrigue and their total hate, not at all like for each other!!

This book has everything - real history, a pirate queen, Marlowe and Shakespeare, mystery, and OF COURSE kissing. It also has a surprisingly high body count. I GASPED multiple times, especially between pages oh 3-400.

Will and James are great characters, of course, but the secondary characters also shone (especially my sweet baby Inigo). Erin Cotter also has a gift for setting - you could really feel and smell her version of Elizabethan England.

I'd recommend this to almost anyone who likes historicals or just GOOD BOOKS!

(Full disclosure, Erin is my real-life bud, but I would have loved the book regardless!)
(Also, thanks to NetGalley for the eARC, but I did end up reading the final copy!)

[Kj · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Elizabethan adventure that doesn't idealize Queen Elizabeth or the realities of Tudor England. In fact, it's a (mostly) rare case of romantic historical fiction where Queen Elizabeth, her empire, and monarchy in general, is one of the main perils and problems of existence. Love it.

Set (initially) among London's theatres, with Marlowe and Shakespeare making appearances, the novel manages to effectively convey late-16th century voices (both in dialogue and first person narration) without sounding like "fake Shakespeare" or eschewing it all to have everyone speak like Gen Zers; the characters sound real and move about a tangible 1593, with all its differences and similarities to today.

The story is much more plot/intrigue than wordplay or romance, and while it works (and the writing is consistently, pleasantly, evocative), one can't help wishing for more time spent with the characters we fall for as they fall for each other.

Regardless, an enjoyable mix of drama, derring-do, and endearing devotion. Fun.

[Highly recommend the audiobook excellently narrated by James Meunier]

[Marley Richmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 and rounding up. I really, desperately wanted to love this. But it just wasn’t for me. I did like the love story, and I thought the MC’s flaws made him interesting. The basic plot was engaging, but the pacing was off (too long). I didn’t really understand the main character’s relationships with his friends—they all seemed to hate him? And give him absolutely no grace? And I’m sorry, I can’t do Shakespeare-as-comedic-character or the word “Zounds.”

[amihihi :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨️

viel schönes dabei

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I really wanted to like like this book! The premise sounded so promising and incorporated everything i love in a story. However the execution was somewhat ...eh? Personally, I think the story would have benefited from being split up in two separate books. That would give everything more space to fully evolve. Lot's of great mysteries, intrigues, relationships and overall characters, but none of them felt complete. 
It was still a fun read✨️

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full thoughts/review: https://youtu.be/J2bGbqkoV78

I think this did what it wanted to and had some good moments. I liked it! 3/5 stars.

[Aliyah Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

not my favorite but it also wasn’t bad. i just think it wasn’t really my style and that’s okay

[Matthew Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything you need and more!