What do you think?
Rate this book
Smile and Be a Villain
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark… and that 'something' is magic.
HELSINGØR, 1536.
Ophelia is a disgraced handmaid to the queen, the cast-off lover of Prince Hamlet.
She is also a witch, and a good one at that. And she can see that Denmark is rotting from the inside out, afflicted by dark magic.
WITTENBERG, 1536.
Hamlet is a useless son, a failed heir. He is the prince of a nation about to fight a war they won't win.
He doesn't know about magic, but if he did he would use it to destroy their enemies—no matter the consequences.
As Hamlet and Ophelia find themselves increasingly torn apart, they must decide: how much are they willing to sacrifice in order to save Denmark?
And, by the end of it all, will they be beyond saving?
HELSINGØR, 1536.
Ophelia is a disgraced handmaid to the queen, the cast-off lover of Prince Hamlet.
She is also a witch, and a good one at that. And she can see that Denmark is rotting from the inside out, afflicted by dark magic.
WITTENBERG, 1536.
Hamlet is a useless son, a failed heir. He is the prince of a nation about to fight a war they won't win.
He doesn't know about magic, but if he did he would use it to destroy their enemies—no matter the consequences.
As Hamlet and Ophelia find themselves increasingly torn apart, they must decide: how much are they willing to sacrifice in order to save Denmark?
And, by the end of it all, will they be beyond saving?
500 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2024
12 people are currently reading
1081 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Read
May 1, 2025“My tables—meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain—
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.”
-Hamlet
SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN is a self-published historical fantasy that reimagines the story of Hamlet, starting with the young prince’s departure to Wittenberg prior to the plot of Shakespeare’s play and following both Hamlet and Ophelia. Featuring rich fantastical lore and a diverse cast, and informed by a historical landscape of violence, religion, and politics, SABAV serves as a stunning debut from Yves Donlon.
Especially for an indie title, the prose is fairly tight and has a beautiful flow. The imagery is vivid, the characterization is clear, and it has an original style and rhythm without taking away from legibility. The world building is really well-informed. The political climate of Hamlet isn’t often heavily emphasized in adaptations or retellings, especially when it comes to complex religious dynamics, the treatment of marginalized communities, and (surprisingly) the trauma of war. So for Donlon to bring these factors–and their impressions on the world and the characters–to the forefront is wonderfully refreshing and adds a fascinating lens to a story I thought I already knew so well.
But the thing I really want to gush about here is the representation. Bisexual Hamlet, aspec Ophelia, trans Rosencrantz, Black Guildenstern, and even queer Jewish Horatio! (I absolutely did cry about queer Jewish Horatio.) I really appreciated not only the presence of these identities, but the way they shape the characters’ choices and alliances. I especially appreciate the queer-platonic relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia. The way this story utilizes the constraints and expectations of their genders in this society as a complication on their dynamic (for better or for worse) is so clever.
One of my favorite elements of the original story of Hamlet is its ambiguous perspective, and I felt like this is well represented in the use of magic in this world. Throughout the story, we–as the audience–witness characters’ different opinions on and relationships to magic and are left unsure what to believe in a way that is really intriguing. I’m really curious whether this intentional ambiguity will continue in book two or solidify into a clearer message.
I do think that the second half of this book is better than the first half, but mostly because that second half’s structure is INCREDIBLE. Donlon’s crafting genius really shines in their ability to end this book and prepare us for the next. SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN starts with the beginnings of Hamlet’s threads, and slowly but surely, they are pulled and strung this way and that, seemingly at random, until all of a sudden they snap into place. Suddenly, the stage is set, the actors are in the wings, and the curtain is rising.
I can’t wait to see how all of these pieces fit together in the next installment. Based on the way they handled this first book, I have no doubt Donlon will provide a masterful narrative payoff of the themes and discussions they’ve set up for the sequel.
So if you’re wanting to read a Hamlet retelling centering a queer and diverse cast, political intrigue, a mysterious magic system, and lovely writing, I highly recommend SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CW: war, violence, illness, death by illness, blood & gore, alcohol, homophobia, misogyny, emesis infidelity, antisemitism (mention), death of mother (past), death of sibling (past), slavery (mention)
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain—
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.”
-Hamlet
SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN is a self-published historical fantasy that reimagines the story of Hamlet, starting with the young prince’s departure to Wittenberg prior to the plot of Shakespeare’s play and following both Hamlet and Ophelia. Featuring rich fantastical lore and a diverse cast, and informed by a historical landscape of violence, religion, and politics, SABAV serves as a stunning debut from Yves Donlon.
Especially for an indie title, the prose is fairly tight and has a beautiful flow. The imagery is vivid, the characterization is clear, and it has an original style and rhythm without taking away from legibility. The world building is really well-informed. The political climate of Hamlet isn’t often heavily emphasized in adaptations or retellings, especially when it comes to complex religious dynamics, the treatment of marginalized communities, and (surprisingly) the trauma of war. So for Donlon to bring these factors–and their impressions on the world and the characters–to the forefront is wonderfully refreshing and adds a fascinating lens to a story I thought I already knew so well.
But the thing I really want to gush about here is the representation. Bisexual Hamlet, aspec Ophelia, trans Rosencrantz, Black Guildenstern, and even queer Jewish Horatio! (I absolutely did cry about queer Jewish Horatio.) I really appreciated not only the presence of these identities, but the way they shape the characters’ choices and alliances. I especially appreciate the queer-platonic relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia. The way this story utilizes the constraints and expectations of their genders in this society as a complication on their dynamic (for better or for worse) is so clever.
One of my favorite elements of the original story of Hamlet is its ambiguous perspective, and I felt like this is well represented in the use of magic in this world. Throughout the story, we–as the audience–witness characters’ different opinions on and relationships to magic and are left unsure what to believe in a way that is really intriguing. I’m really curious whether this intentional ambiguity will continue in book two or solidify into a clearer message.
I do think that the second half of this book is better than the first half, but mostly because that second half’s structure is INCREDIBLE. Donlon’s crafting genius really shines in their ability to end this book and prepare us for the next. SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN starts with the beginnings of Hamlet’s threads, and slowly but surely, they are pulled and strung this way and that, seemingly at random, until all of a sudden they snap into place. Suddenly, the stage is set, the actors are in the wings, and the curtain is rising.
I can’t wait to see how all of these pieces fit together in the next installment. Based on the way they handled this first book, I have no doubt Donlon will provide a masterful narrative payoff of the themes and discussions they’ve set up for the sequel.
So if you’re wanting to read a Hamlet retelling centering a queer and diverse cast, political intrigue, a mysterious magic system, and lovely writing, I highly recommend SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CW: war, violence, illness, death by illness, blood & gore, alcohol, homophobia, misogyny, emesis infidelity, antisemitism (mention), death of mother (past), death of sibling (past), slavery (mention)
February 23, 2024
SABAV is a queer Hamlet retelling, and one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
The story is told from two POV’s, Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s. Hamlet has been sent away to study at Wittenberg after being caught in a compromising position with Ophelia and the stable boy. There he meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and ends up living with them.
Ophelia, who is now alone and disgraced in the castle, is struggling to try and keep corruption from taking over. Corrupting is the by-product of using magic, and the castle is overflowing with. Ophelia needs to do her best to get rid of it because it starts to rot away at the people.
I loved everything about this book, and I especially loved Hamlet. I want to wrap him in a big hug and give him all the love he deserves. He’s struggles a lot with inner homophobia, but still has his heart open to loving others like he just can’t help it. On the outside he is ever the Prince he was raised to be, keeping up appearances with a smile on his face. But inside he is struggling and feels like there is a monster living within him.
Hamlet is seventeen and he feels that way. The author did a great job of writing him to feel like a teenager, but one who has been raised in court and is expected to make good decisions. He never feels immature, or too old for his age.
Ophelia is truly a character to admire. She is trying so hard to save everyone’s lives with a hint of recognition or even acceptance from some. She is smart and confident in her goal and honestly everyone should be bowing at her feet for all she’s doing to keep them alive.
You don’t need any prior info of Hamlet to read this book. The whole of this book is set before the timeline to the original, so it’s a sort of prequel retelling. Yves Donlon has added enough of their own twist to the whole story that I really have no idea what to expect from the sequel but I’m super excited, and a little nervous too.
Review on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3s7N0erZ...
The story is told from two POV’s, Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s. Hamlet has been sent away to study at Wittenberg after being caught in a compromising position with Ophelia and the stable boy. There he meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and ends up living with them.
Ophelia, who is now alone and disgraced in the castle, is struggling to try and keep corruption from taking over. Corrupting is the by-product of using magic, and the castle is overflowing with. Ophelia needs to do her best to get rid of it because it starts to rot away at the people.
I loved everything about this book, and I especially loved Hamlet. I want to wrap him in a big hug and give him all the love he deserves. He’s struggles a lot with inner homophobia, but still has his heart open to loving others like he just can’t help it. On the outside he is ever the Prince he was raised to be, keeping up appearances with a smile on his face. But inside he is struggling and feels like there is a monster living within him.
Hamlet is seventeen and he feels that way. The author did a great job of writing him to feel like a teenager, but one who has been raised in court and is expected to make good decisions. He never feels immature, or too old for his age.
Ophelia is truly a character to admire. She is trying so hard to save everyone’s lives with a hint of recognition or even acceptance from some. She is smart and confident in her goal and honestly everyone should be bowing at her feet for all she’s doing to keep them alive.
You don’t need any prior info of Hamlet to read this book. The whole of this book is set before the timeline to the original, so it’s a sort of prequel retelling. Yves Donlon has added enough of their own twist to the whole story that I really have no idea what to expect from the sequel but I’m super excited, and a little nervous too.
Review on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3s7N0erZ...
Read
March 23, 2024I don’t think I’m capable of being especially unbiased here, as this is a book I’ve poured blood, sweat and tears into since 2021. It’s also a book that was born a long time before that, at my kitchen table as I read Hamlet for the first time in the summer holidays, and again when I read it in stuffy classrooms, marking each new read-through in a tally at the back of my battered copy. I lost track at around 11 readings.
This is an unapologetically queer magical reimagining of the year before the curtains open. Hamlet’s in Wittenberg, Ophelia is isolated and alone, and they both suffer through events that will come back to haunt them in Book 2. We get to know some of the play’s key characters a little more deeply: you’ll meet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and learn a bit more about Prince Fortinbras of Norway; we hear from Laertes and Polonius, and find out more about Old King Hamlet.
I hope it shifts your perspective on the play. I hope it makes you laugh and smile and maybe even cry, and I hope it makes you love Shakespeare’s Hamlet even more. It’s a wonderful play and it’s been a joy to work with, in 2014 and now.
Above all else, I hope reading SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN takes you to Elsinore and Wittenberg for an adventure, and I hope you’ll come back for the next one.
This is an unapologetically queer magical reimagining of the year before the curtains open. Hamlet’s in Wittenberg, Ophelia is isolated and alone, and they both suffer through events that will come back to haunt them in Book 2. We get to know some of the play’s key characters a little more deeply: you’ll meet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and learn a bit more about Prince Fortinbras of Norway; we hear from Laertes and Polonius, and find out more about Old King Hamlet.
I hope it shifts your perspective on the play. I hope it makes you laugh and smile and maybe even cry, and I hope it makes you love Shakespeare’s Hamlet even more. It’s a wonderful play and it’s been a joy to work with, in 2014 and now.
Above all else, I hope reading SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN takes you to Elsinore and Wittenberg for an adventure, and I hope you’ll come back for the next one.
April 10, 2024
Received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for honest opinion, thanks!
"I saw a world as dark as raging river," Solveig said softly. "I saw a girl crowned in flowers, floating in the water – a boy with a grinning skull for a face, and he was drenched in blood – I saw... I saw a gaveyard with rows upon rows of fresh graves, and yet more to be dug. And the air smelled like death and roses."
[...]
"Quod tuum est, meum est," the man said. What is yours is mine.
Now that was a wild ride. Shakespearean retelling of Hamlet, but with magic? And queers?? It will be either a grand surprise or even greater disaster.
As you see by my rating, Yves Donlon rather delivered. While in the beginning I had some doubts, later I became completely lost in the story of a young prince, on his path to damnation, and young mirror-being, on the path to her redemption. A story of S&BV is rather peculiar – it is not really a retelling. Donlon takes what Shakespeare gave and rearanges it to their own want. There is certain intelligence to that, with all the balancing between fantasy fiction and intelligent use of real history. Worldbuilding feels rather empty, and in this emptiness it takes the greatest strength – it enchants and snatches, deep into peculiarity and weirdness.
Because it is a weird book. My favourite title to give to the stories that I adored.
If Ophelia has a legion of fans, I am one of them.
If Ophelia has one fan, I am the one.
If Ophelia has zero fans, I am quite possibly dead.
I love the way her character is developed, this strenght inside her and the feeling of injustice, but without modern overview. It is not a slander of modern feminism, it is an appreciation that Donlon does keep to the setting they chosed. I would give my right hand to read more about the Otherwold, Corruption, the way Ophelia moves around the court, with this all-knowing manner and yet desperacy of her young age. Good food, indeed.
On the other hand there is Hamlet – Hamlet with which I struggled, I bored, I found interest and I misunderstood. Donlon's idea of approach to such iconic character is rather unexpected, but that is what I wanted. My relation with him is rather unsimple, which is great. It is not a figure I can take like or dislike from the very beginning, he hurts my head and that is why this story works. It is not simply a retelling, it is a rediscovery, it is originality in adaptation, it is something weird, fresh and charming.
I really, really liked that.
"I saw a world as dark as raging river," Solveig said softly. "I saw a girl crowned in flowers, floating in the water – a boy with a grinning skull for a face, and he was drenched in blood – I saw... I saw a gaveyard with rows upon rows of fresh graves, and yet more to be dug. And the air smelled like death and roses."
[...]
"Quod tuum est, meum est," the man said. What is yours is mine.
Now that was a wild ride. Shakespearean retelling of Hamlet, but with magic? And queers?? It will be either a grand surprise or even greater disaster.
As you see by my rating, Yves Donlon rather delivered. While in the beginning I had some doubts, later I became completely lost in the story of a young prince, on his path to damnation, and young mirror-being, on the path to her redemption. A story of S&BV is rather peculiar – it is not really a retelling. Donlon takes what Shakespeare gave and rearanges it to their own want. There is certain intelligence to that, with all the balancing between fantasy fiction and intelligent use of real history. Worldbuilding feels rather empty, and in this emptiness it takes the greatest strength – it enchants and snatches, deep into peculiarity and weirdness.
Because it is a weird book. My favourite title to give to the stories that I adored.
If Ophelia has a legion of fans, I am one of them.
If Ophelia has one fan, I am the one.
If Ophelia has zero fans, I am quite possibly dead.
I love the way her character is developed, this strenght inside her and the feeling of injustice, but without modern overview. It is not a slander of modern feminism, it is an appreciation that Donlon does keep to the setting they chosed. I would give my right hand to read more about the Otherwold, Corruption, the way Ophelia moves around the court, with this all-knowing manner and yet desperacy of her young age. Good food, indeed.
On the other hand there is Hamlet – Hamlet with which I struggled, I bored, I found interest and I misunderstood. Donlon's idea of approach to such iconic character is rather unexpected, but that is what I wanted. My relation with him is rather unsimple, which is great. It is not a figure I can take like or dislike from the very beginning, he hurts my head and that is why this story works. It is not simply a retelling, it is a rediscovery, it is originality in adaptation, it is something weird, fresh and charming.
I really, really liked that.
April 7, 2024
“Hamlet could not explain it, the void inside him, the thing that had always been there.
‘Everything,’ he said instead, desperate, pleading. ‘I want to know everything.’”
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. It’s magic, corrupting Kronborg and those within it from the inside out. Ophelia and her family before her have set upon the task of removing it, but with Hamlet sent away to Wittenberg after a tryst with a stable boy, both of them are about to discover more about the Corruption that threatens their nation. A dual narrative split between Hamlet and Ophelia, this book breathed new life into the play that has irreversibly changed the way I’ll read it. Yves expertly adds new dimensions to characters who are largely absent from the original and deepens existing relationships to draw out every inch of tragic potential. A favourite example was the long history between Hamlet and Fortinbras and the intimacy this gave their interactions, which only weaves another layer of tragedy into the tale. Unapologetically queer and unpredictably twisty, Smile And Be A Villain is a Shakespeare retelling for the ages.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
‘Everything,’ he said instead, desperate, pleading. ‘I want to know everything.’”
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. It’s magic, corrupting Kronborg and those within it from the inside out. Ophelia and her family before her have set upon the task of removing it, but with Hamlet sent away to Wittenberg after a tryst with a stable boy, both of them are about to discover more about the Corruption that threatens their nation. A dual narrative split between Hamlet and Ophelia, this book breathed new life into the play that has irreversibly changed the way I’ll read it. Yves expertly adds new dimensions to characters who are largely absent from the original and deepens existing relationships to draw out every inch of tragic potential. A favourite example was the long history between Hamlet and Fortinbras and the intimacy this gave their interactions, which only weaves another layer of tragedy into the tale. Unapologetically queer and unpredictably twisty, Smile And Be A Villain is a Shakespeare retelling for the ages.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!
March 6, 2024
Yves Donlon's debut is a charming, magical, haunting retelling of Hamlet, set before the events of the play. With queer characters and striking but still accessible prose, Donlon breathes new life into the story, and the addition of fantasy elements helps set SABAV apart from other Shakespearean retellings. The additional exploration of Ophelia's character was welcome and added fresh depth to the familiar cast. I'm excited to see what the author does next.
Thanks for the e-arc!
Thanks for the e-arc!
featured
May 24, 2025Ophelia from Smile and Be a Villain is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
May 21, 2025
you can read more of my reviews at www.teatimelit.com
I don’t think by now that I need to wax poetic about how much I love Shakespeare, and Hamlet and Ophelia and how if a book is a Shakespeare retelling I’ll read it. You all know this already, so I’ll skip all of that. Aside from those obvious things, what drew me to Smile and Be a Villain was that there’s magic and Ophelia is a witch. I love magic and witchy stories, so when I saw that, I immediately put this book on my TBR.
What I love about this one (aside from it being a duology, meaning that I get to spend more time in this world) is that it’s a prequel retelling. The action of Smile and Be a Villain takes place in the events leading up to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which I think is so interesting! Knowing what is going to happen but not knowing what leads up to it made this a really compelling story and I loved the background that was given to Ophelia especially.
I’m a big fan of dual POV stories, and I was so happy that we got both Hamlet and Ophelia’s POVs throughout the story. One of the things that I really loved was the deep connection between Hamlet and Ophelia that really showed throughout both of their POVs. Let me tell you, the use of “Doubt thou the stars are fire / doubt that the sun doth move / doubt truth to be a liar / but never doubt I love” got me every. single. time. Like I was crying. That one change from “but never doubt I love” to “never doubt our love” oh, that was brilliant. The true and deep love and care that they had for one another is such a beautiful part of this story, and I really loved that.
The characterization of everyone in this book was so well done. You see shades of the original characterization for Ophelia, Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius, and Gertrude, and I loved the further development of Laertes, Fortinbras, Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The scenes with Hamlet and Fortinbras especially were so interesting, I was pretty obsessed with their dynamic. The characters were all so well developed and very layered; there were some twists that I didn’t see coming and really did shock me.
I was also so glad to see so many queer characters in this retelling. I can’t speak to the representation as I’m not queer myself, but I thought that with Hamlet especially, his queerness was really explored well within his chapters and his POV. I really felt for him and just wanted to give him the biggest hug whenever he was struggling with how he was feeling or someone made him feel bad about what he was feeling. I loved how supportive Ophelia was of him and never made him feel like his queerness diminished his love for her. I really was completely captivated by the two of them. I don’t want to mention who the other queer characters in the book are but I think all of the choices that Donlon made in that regard made total sense and added so many layers to the relationships and dynamics — I just think that it made so much sense to have so many queer characters in this Hamlet retelling and I loved every minute of it.
The writing in this book is beautiful. The metaphors, the imagery, everything was so atmospheric. It was really easy to start reading and then get lost in the story. I’d start reading and then next thing I knew it was an hour later and I’d read an enter act. Whenever I was reading I was fully captivated and thought about it often when I wasn’t reading it. Additionally, I thought the magic system was really intriguing. I don’t want to go into too much detail because, well, one I loved learning about it as the story went on, and two, I don’t think I fully understood it 🤣 but I sure did love it! I really loved the parallel worlds and thought that was incredibly interesting.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel, The Rest is Silence, which comes out in July and I am buzzing with excitement about it! If you’re a fan of Hamlet, or just really good fantasy, I highly recommend Smile and Be a Villain.
---
4.5 stars, review to come!
I don’t think by now that I need to wax poetic about how much I love Shakespeare, and Hamlet and Ophelia and how if a book is a Shakespeare retelling I’ll read it. You all know this already, so I’ll skip all of that. Aside from those obvious things, what drew me to Smile and Be a Villain was that there’s magic and Ophelia is a witch. I love magic and witchy stories, so when I saw that, I immediately put this book on my TBR.
What I love about this one (aside from it being a duology, meaning that I get to spend more time in this world) is that it’s a prequel retelling. The action of Smile and Be a Villain takes place in the events leading up to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which I think is so interesting! Knowing what is going to happen but not knowing what leads up to it made this a really compelling story and I loved the background that was given to Ophelia especially.
I’m a big fan of dual POV stories, and I was so happy that we got both Hamlet and Ophelia’s POVs throughout the story. One of the things that I really loved was the deep connection between Hamlet and Ophelia that really showed throughout both of their POVs. Let me tell you, the use of “Doubt thou the stars are fire / doubt that the sun doth move / doubt truth to be a liar / but never doubt I love” got me every. single. time. Like I was crying. That one change from “but never doubt I love” to “never doubt our love” oh, that was brilliant. The true and deep love and care that they had for one another is such a beautiful part of this story, and I really loved that.
The characterization of everyone in this book was so well done. You see shades of the original characterization for Ophelia, Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius, and Gertrude, and I loved the further development of Laertes, Fortinbras, Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The scenes with Hamlet and Fortinbras especially were so interesting, I was pretty obsessed with their dynamic. The characters were all so well developed and very layered; there were some twists that I didn’t see coming and really did shock me.
I was also so glad to see so many queer characters in this retelling. I can’t speak to the representation as I’m not queer myself, but I thought that with Hamlet especially, his queerness was really explored well within his chapters and his POV. I really felt for him and just wanted to give him the biggest hug whenever he was struggling with how he was feeling or someone made him feel bad about what he was feeling. I loved how supportive Ophelia was of him and never made him feel like his queerness diminished his love for her. I really was completely captivated by the two of them. I don’t want to mention who the other queer characters in the book are but I think all of the choices that Donlon made in that regard made total sense and added so many layers to the relationships and dynamics — I just think that it made so much sense to have so many queer characters in this Hamlet retelling and I loved every minute of it.
The writing in this book is beautiful. The metaphors, the imagery, everything was so atmospheric. It was really easy to start reading and then get lost in the story. I’d start reading and then next thing I knew it was an hour later and I’d read an enter act. Whenever I was reading I was fully captivated and thought about it often when I wasn’t reading it. Additionally, I thought the magic system was really intriguing. I don’t want to go into too much detail because, well, one I loved learning about it as the story went on, and two, I don’t think I fully understood it 🤣 but I sure did love it! I really loved the parallel worlds and thought that was incredibly interesting.
I can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel, The Rest is Silence, which comes out in July and I am buzzing with excitement about it! If you’re a fan of Hamlet, or just really good fantasy, I highly recommend Smile and Be a Villain.
---
4.5 stars, review to come!
January 23, 2025
oh, this was so brilliant! the (very queer) characters(!), the story, the magic, the betrayals and plot turns, the gripping writing - what’s there not to love? one of my favorite retellings of hamlet, and it hasn’t even reached the plot of the play yet - and i’m sure i’ll love it even more once it does. can’t wait for the second book!
February 4, 2024
thank you so much for the arc recieved via NetGalley!
Rating: 4.5/5 (I would give half stars but Good Reads won't let me).
This book was genuinely one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was desperately looking forward to getting my hands on it in April and reading it, and so when it came up on NetGalley i LEPT at the opportunity to read it, and luckily for me it did not disappoint!! As a Hamlet-enjoyer, a Hamlet retelling was something I've always wanted, and to see elements of fantasy mixed in with it, I just knew I was going to love it!
The book begins with Hamlet being sent away to Wittenberg university after being caught with a stableboy, and Ophelia is left trapped in Helsingør; and it is under the watchful eye of her father (and occasionally her brother, when he is not in Paris) that Ophelia must attempt to use her witch-like powers in order to protect the castle from Corruption - the sinister byproduct of casting large-scale magical spells - but for some reason, Helsingør is dripping in it, and she must find out why before it is too late.
It took me a little while to get to grips with the magic system of this book, but I got there eventually and when I did, I found myself rather enjoying it - I quite enjoy the idea of magic leaving some kind of sinister, corrupting trace. It is this sinister Corruption that seems to signal the beginning of Hamlet's 'descent into madness' towards the end of the book, after being introduced to it by Rosencrantz and Guildendtern, and again I really enjoyed this aspect - as a whole, I quite enjoy watching my characters decline (a little evil of me, I know!), and I think giving it a fantastical reason quite increases the stakes - it perhaps gives Ophelia a chance to save him, her attempts to do so I'm sure we'll see in book 2.
Another strong aspect of this book was the characters. Hamlet is suitably pathetic, unaware and intelligent - as he is in the play - and Ophelia seems to be the only one with her head on straight, which again, a perfect reflection of the play and I will take NO criticism on this. She is witty, thoughtful, and her and Hamlet bicker like siblings, which I thoroughly enjoyed! Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are also rather witty, bouncing off of each other and quip after quip (again, I thoroughly enjoyed this!) with hidden dimensions that are revealed to us towards the end. Fortinbras was a surprisingly strong character, given that in the original play he only appears literally at the end - I love the history that him and Hamlet have, and what that means for the final battle. Horatio wasn't all that present, but I look forward to seeing more of him.
The perhaps ONE criticism of this book that I have, and maybe criticism is a harsh word, is that I wish this book was longer. Saying this from a technical perspective, I wish we'd gotten more of Hamlet's time at Wittenberg, more of Ophelia's attempts to keep up her wards at Helsingør, and more time to get to know Rosencrantz and Guildenstern before everything is turned on its head. We perhaps could've been introduced to Claudius a little earlier - even if it was an offhand mentioning of how much of a bastard he was, or something like that. I just think the experience would've been more immersive if it was just THAT bit longer.
That being said, I didn't remove me from the experience at all and I still THROUGHILY enjoyed this book. I still 100% recommend it, ESPECIALLY if you enjoyed Hamlet as much as I did!
Rating: 4.5/5 (I would give half stars but Good Reads won't let me).
This book was genuinely one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was desperately looking forward to getting my hands on it in April and reading it, and so when it came up on NetGalley i LEPT at the opportunity to read it, and luckily for me it did not disappoint!! As a Hamlet-enjoyer, a Hamlet retelling was something I've always wanted, and to see elements of fantasy mixed in with it, I just knew I was going to love it!
The book begins with Hamlet being sent away to Wittenberg university after being caught with a stableboy, and Ophelia is left trapped in Helsingør; and it is under the watchful eye of her father (and occasionally her brother, when he is not in Paris) that Ophelia must attempt to use her witch-like powers in order to protect the castle from Corruption - the sinister byproduct of casting large-scale magical spells - but for some reason, Helsingør is dripping in it, and she must find out why before it is too late.
It took me a little while to get to grips with the magic system of this book, but I got there eventually and when I did, I found myself rather enjoying it - I quite enjoy the idea of magic leaving some kind of sinister, corrupting trace. It is this sinister Corruption that seems to signal the beginning of Hamlet's 'descent into madness' towards the end of the book, after being introduced to it by Rosencrantz and Guildendtern, and again I really enjoyed this aspect - as a whole, I quite enjoy watching my characters decline (a little evil of me, I know!), and I think giving it a fantastical reason quite increases the stakes - it perhaps gives Ophelia a chance to save him, her attempts to do so I'm sure we'll see in book 2.
Another strong aspect of this book was the characters. Hamlet is suitably pathetic, unaware and intelligent - as he is in the play - and Ophelia seems to be the only one with her head on straight, which again, a perfect reflection of the play and I will take NO criticism on this. She is witty, thoughtful, and her and Hamlet bicker like siblings, which I thoroughly enjoyed! Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are also rather witty, bouncing off of each other and quip after quip (again, I thoroughly enjoyed this!) with hidden dimensions that are revealed to us towards the end. Fortinbras was a surprisingly strong character, given that in the original play he only appears literally at the end - I love the history that him and Hamlet have, and what that means for the final battle. Horatio wasn't all that present, but I look forward to seeing more of him.
The perhaps ONE criticism of this book that I have, and maybe criticism is a harsh word, is that I wish this book was longer. Saying this from a technical perspective, I wish we'd gotten more of Hamlet's time at Wittenberg, more of Ophelia's attempts to keep up her wards at Helsingør, and more time to get to know Rosencrantz and Guildenstern before everything is turned on its head. We perhaps could've been introduced to Claudius a little earlier - even if it was an offhand mentioning of how much of a bastard he was, or something like that. I just think the experience would've been more immersive if it was just THAT bit longer.
That being said, I didn't remove me from the experience at all and I still THROUGHILY enjoyed this book. I still 100% recommend it, ESPECIALLY if you enjoyed Hamlet as much as I did!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2024
The first half was 2 stars, and the second half was 3.5 stars, so I just averaged it out
Dislikes
- Second half feels significantly better-written than the first half tbh. And there’s like no humor in the first half either. Like why? Hamlet is an actually funny narrator in JUST the second half…
- If you’re going to keep the iconic Hamlet line, then you have to make your characters talk like that. The cognitive dissonance drives me nuts whenever they bring the line up
- Why the magic bro (idk if its in hamlet or not but if it is then ignore this)
- Ros & Guild had no discernible personality traits until Ros showed him magic. Like literally they were interchangeable until that moment for me
Likes
- The only things I know abt Hamlet is from the Lion King, so considering that I rather like the characters, and felt like they gave off the right vibes. Especially Hamlet; he had good humor
- The whole last chunk, with Hamlet slowly going mad + the battle was really good
- Idk but Horatio grew on me even tho he was barely in the story <3
Dislikes
- Second half feels significantly better-written than the first half tbh. And there’s like no humor in the first half either. Like why? Hamlet is an actually funny narrator in JUST the second half…
- If you’re going to keep the iconic Hamlet line, then you have to make your characters talk like that. The cognitive dissonance drives me nuts whenever they bring the line up
- Why the magic bro (idk if its in hamlet or not but if it is then ignore this)
- Ros & Guild had no discernible personality traits until Ros showed him magic. Like literally they were interchangeable until that moment for me
Likes
- The only things I know abt Hamlet is from the Lion King, so considering that I rather like the characters, and felt like they gave off the right vibes. Especially Hamlet; he had good humor
- The whole last chunk, with Hamlet slowly going mad + the battle was really good
- Idk but Horatio grew on me even tho he was barely in the story <3
June 26, 2024
Solid 4 stars
I inhale read this book. Best single book purchase I've made this year thus far. If there is a sequel, Imma need Yves Donlon to put it in my hands pronto. If this is a long prologue/set up book for the true story in book 2, I'm so on board.
I guess my unpopular opinion is that I prefer the 1st half of the book over the later half. However, I do think it all snaps together at the very end in a way that makes sense and is satisfying (which is an odd way to describe how I feel about the last chapters, but it works).
More thoughts later
I inhale read this book. Best single book purchase I've made this year thus far. If there is a sequel, Imma need Yves Donlon to put it in my hands pronto. If this is a long prologue/set up book for the true story in book 2, I'm so on board.
I guess my unpopular opinion is that I prefer the 1st half of the book over the later half. However, I do think it all snaps together at the very end in a way that makes sense and is satisfying (which is an odd way to describe how I feel about the last chapters, but it works).
More thoughts later
Want to read
June 12, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBOX contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
This fantasy, LGBTQ retelling of Hamlet begins with the besotted Prince being sent away in disgrace. Why has he been sent away and just how fantastical will this story be?
(What a wonderful title.) This begins on a dark, dreary day as the Prince is sent away, but it is better tragic nor melodramatic. There is a dark, dry humor to it as the crowd of onlookers watch with rapt attention and bated breath for something “terrible” to happen.
The prose has a magnetism about it that navigates the visuals of the moment and the emotions of its principles wonderfully, making this opening feel like a story come to life.
It moves with a dark relish from the Prince‘s bleak farewell from his father the King, to a glimpse of Ophelia in the rain, to Hamlet’s increasingly wild antics on the road to university.
The style is unique and absorbing. The setting and tone are distinctly medieval, tragedy and comedy, loftiness and baseness, madness, wit, pettiness, self-indulgence, and longing all bound together.
In the inverse of my previous read, this calls its opening a prologue even tho it’s really just chapter one, but that is no fault. My interest in the story supersedes any textual quirkiness.
There is no hint of anything fantastical so far. I think that is a missed opportunity. But despite that, everything about this opening recommends it.
This is really something. If it continues as well as it has begun, and introduces a healthy dose of fantasy, I expect this will be a contender for finalist. I’m sold! I’m in!
This fantasy, LGBTQ retelling of Hamlet begins with the besotted Prince being sent away in disgrace. Why has he been sent away and just how fantastical will this story be?
(What a wonderful title.) This begins on a dark, dreary day as the Prince is sent away, but it is better tragic nor melodramatic. There is a dark, dry humor to it as the crowd of onlookers watch with rapt attention and bated breath for something “terrible” to happen.
The prose has a magnetism about it that navigates the visuals of the moment and the emotions of its principles wonderfully, making this opening feel like a story come to life.
It moves with a dark relish from the Prince‘s bleak farewell from his father the King, to a glimpse of Ophelia in the rain, to Hamlet’s increasingly wild antics on the road to university.
The style is unique and absorbing. The setting and tone are distinctly medieval, tragedy and comedy, loftiness and baseness, madness, wit, pettiness, self-indulgence, and longing all bound together.
In the inverse of my previous read, this calls its opening a prologue even tho it’s really just chapter one, but that is no fault. My interest in the story supersedes any textual quirkiness.
There is no hint of anything fantastical so far. I think that is a missed opportunity. But despite that, everything about this opening recommends it.
This is really something. If it continues as well as it has begun, and introduces a healthy dose of fantasy, I expect this will be a contender for finalist. I’m sold! I’m in!
November 5, 2025
First of all I would like to say that I liked the plot a lot more than I thought I would and am excited for the actual retelling in the next book. I really enjoyed Wittenberg and honestly wished there was more of it. And the magic aspects did not feel out of place like I expected.
The character relationships were what took me out of it a few times as a die hard Hamlet fan. They were so different from the play that I felt a bit disappointed by how Horatio and Laertes, for example, were portrayed in relation to Hamlet’s character as I thought their roles were kinda swapped. But I loved Fortinbras’s characterization and Ophelia’s too. And I loved Hamlet’s arc, facing betrayal after betrayal and still staying strong for his country.
Highly recommend for anyone who likes Hamlet and magic.
The character relationships were what took me out of it a few times as a die hard Hamlet fan. They were so different from the play that I felt a bit disappointed by how Horatio and Laertes, for example, were portrayed in relation to Hamlet’s character as I thought their roles were kinda swapped. But I loved Fortinbras’s characterization and Ophelia’s too. And I loved Hamlet’s arc, facing betrayal after betrayal and still staying strong for his country.
Highly recommend for anyone who likes Hamlet and magic.
August 1, 2024
This book took my breath away. I wish I could personally tell the author how much it meant to me (and perhaps I'll find a way to message them) because I really feel like it touched my soul. Hamlet has been so important to me since the first time I read it, and this story rekindled that spark within me, and then some. The prose was beautiful--every single sentence--and the characters felt so real to me. This book made me *feel* so deeply. I was on the edge of my seat for so long, but I forced myself to savor each word because the process of reading this book was as satisfying as eating a box of chocolates, and I never wanted it to end.
February 11, 2024
A loose retelling of Hamlet with magic. I don't know Shakespeare's Hamlet, nor the story of Amleth, well. As such I do not know if the diversions from those stories will frustrate or delight fans of the 'originals'.
I personally was enthralled by the story and its characters. The intrigue and relationships are well developed and the pacing ensured it didn't drag. I was a little disappointed with Ophelia's character later in the book but think it leaves things open to interpretation of the reader. This is the first in a set so although I think it can be read as a standalone there is more to come.
I received this book via Netgalley. I was not required to provide a review and all opinions in this review are my own.
I personally was enthralled by the story and its characters. The intrigue and relationships are well developed and the pacing ensured it didn't drag. I was a little disappointed with Ophelia's character later in the book but think it leaves things open to interpretation of the reader. This is the first in a set so although I think it can be read as a standalone there is more to come.
I received this book via Netgalley. I was not required to provide a review and all opinions in this review are my own.
Want to read
April 29, 2024the way this book arrived admist rain season in an OPEN package but still remained pristine is a mystery and a blessing both. i hope i can say the same about the contents inside :)
September 27, 2024
it's been so long but i finished it and i loved it!!! literally can't wait for the next one
February 29, 2024
A great riff on 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.'
I love Hamlet, so I was excited to see a reimagining of the story. The characters in this novel feel true to the original, but much more textured (yes, Shakespeare, we get that Hamlet's indecisive - but why? Now, at last, I have the answer!). I also loved the way the events are placed into the wider historical context, with the religious and political upheavals of the time impacting the central story. The sixteenth century was brought alive beautifully.
What I wasn't quite so keen on, unfortunately, were the magical elements. There was a good basic concept there, but it wasn't fully formed and was often confusing, muddying the waters regarding character motivations. I hope there will be more rigorous worldbuilding of the fantasy elements in the next book - which I'm looking forward to already.
I love Hamlet, so I was excited to see a reimagining of the story. The characters in this novel feel true to the original, but much more textured (yes, Shakespeare, we get that Hamlet's indecisive - but why? Now, at last, I have the answer!). I also loved the way the events are placed into the wider historical context, with the religious and political upheavals of the time impacting the central story. The sixteenth century was brought alive beautifully.
What I wasn't quite so keen on, unfortunately, were the magical elements. There was a good basic concept there, but it wasn't fully formed and was often confusing, muddying the waters regarding character motivations. I hope there will be more rigorous worldbuilding of the fantasy elements in the next book - which I'm looking forward to already.
September 16, 2025
(4.5 stars, rounded up)
I am a Hamlet fan first and a reader second, and on those grounds, I adored this book. It's not perfect, but I had a really great time reading it. I felt like the author truly understood all the characters — Hamlet and Ophelia, certainly, but also all the other characters — and the general mood of the play in a way that you don't see from ever reteller.
Hamlet retellings that focus on restitution for Ophelia make me nervous because authors often seem to struggle with uplifting Ophelia without completely disregarding Hamlet. Granted, this is a prequel, so he hasn't gone full "get thee to a nunnery" quite yet, but this author did a phenomenal job of supporting the arc of both characters. Both POVs felt full and well-rounded as both of their journeys helped bring us to the start of the play. If anything, Hamlet could've gotten involved in the plot a bit faster, but it worked out.
This setting also worked really well for me. I'm not a historian and I don't care that much about historical accuracy in fiction, but the author did a good job of building out the world to feel realistic to the time. And the magic system, while sometimes confusing and unclear, fit shockingly well into the plot. If you accept it being a plot device more than a flushed out magic system, it worked well (which, similar to historical accuracy, is not a thing I care too much about in this situation).
The writing was better than I expected it to be. No offense to the author, but I have read a disappointing amount of bad Hamlet retellings, so I was nervous going into this, but this author was clearly very competent. That being said, this is where the book suffered the most. Sometimes it felt like the author was trying too hard to make a quotable line, particularly-poetic paragraph, or a clever rewrite of a Shakespeare quote, and that always felt clunky (also, "hell is empty and all the devils are here" is from The Tempest, not Hamlet; it's fine to quote other works but it is funny that it was very intentionally quoted twice). Some sentences were also confusing or poorly constructed in such a way that it did take me out of the story. But overall, the writing was pretty good.
As a Hamlet fan, I appreciated what this author was doing, but when this is pitched as a queer retelling of Hamlet, they mean it. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for it. But there are couples coupling in this story who have never coupled before. I won't spoil it by saying who, although if you look at the author's social media, you'll find at least a few revealed. Overall this isn't a bad thing and can be an interesting way to explore dynamics between different characters (there's a reason most people write Horatio to be in love with Hamlet, after all). But it did a feel a bit much sometimes in this one. Hamlet in particular is in what can only be described as a love pentagon — almost entirely unrequited, too, poor guy — and that doesn't even count Ophelia (long story). It's just a lot, and I think the general effect could've been conveyed even if everyone wasn't in love with crazy Grey's Anatomy-style relationship ties.
Despite it's few faults, I really did love reading this book. You also don't get a lot of people exploring what life in Helsingør looked like before the events of the play, and I thought this author did a really great job building out the origins of the characters and their conflicts. It was a good balance of being true to Shakespeare's version of the characters while also feeling original to this author. Ultimately, this is a great example of how to make the story of Hamlet your own.
I am a Hamlet fan first and a reader second, and on those grounds, I adored this book. It's not perfect, but I had a really great time reading it. I felt like the author truly understood all the characters — Hamlet and Ophelia, certainly, but also all the other characters — and the general mood of the play in a way that you don't see from ever reteller.
Hamlet retellings that focus on restitution for Ophelia make me nervous because authors often seem to struggle with uplifting Ophelia without completely disregarding Hamlet. Granted, this is a prequel, so he hasn't gone full "get thee to a nunnery" quite yet, but this author did a phenomenal job of supporting the arc of both characters. Both POVs felt full and well-rounded as both of their journeys helped bring us to the start of the play. If anything, Hamlet could've gotten involved in the plot a bit faster, but it worked out.
This setting also worked really well for me. I'm not a historian and I don't care that much about historical accuracy in fiction, but the author did a good job of building out the world to feel realistic to the time. And the magic system, while sometimes confusing and unclear, fit shockingly well into the plot. If you accept it being a plot device more than a flushed out magic system, it worked well (which, similar to historical accuracy, is not a thing I care too much about in this situation).
The writing was better than I expected it to be. No offense to the author, but I have read a disappointing amount of bad Hamlet retellings, so I was nervous going into this, but this author was clearly very competent. That being said, this is where the book suffered the most. Sometimes it felt like the author was trying too hard to make a quotable line, particularly-poetic paragraph, or a clever rewrite of a Shakespeare quote, and that always felt clunky (also, "hell is empty and all the devils are here" is from The Tempest, not Hamlet; it's fine to quote other works but it is funny that it was very intentionally quoted twice). Some sentences were also confusing or poorly constructed in such a way that it did take me out of the story. But overall, the writing was pretty good.
As a Hamlet fan, I appreciated what this author was doing, but when this is pitched as a queer retelling of Hamlet, they mean it. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for it. But there are couples coupling in this story who have never coupled before. I won't spoil it by saying who, although if you look at the author's social media, you'll find at least a few revealed. Overall this isn't a bad thing and can be an interesting way to explore dynamics between different characters (there's a reason most people write Horatio to be in love with Hamlet, after all). But it did a feel a bit much sometimes in this one. Hamlet in particular is in what can only be described as a love pentagon — almost entirely unrequited, too, poor guy — and that doesn't even count Ophelia (long story). It's just a lot, and I think the general effect could've been conveyed even if everyone wasn't in love with crazy Grey's Anatomy-style relationship ties.
Despite it's few faults, I really did love reading this book. You also don't get a lot of people exploring what life in Helsingør looked like before the events of the play, and I thought this author did a really great job building out the origins of the characters and their conflicts. It was a good balance of being true to Shakespeare's version of the characters while also feeling original to this author. Ultimately, this is a great example of how to make the story of Hamlet your own.
April 15, 2024
Okay so I’ve been highly anticipating this book ever since I first heard about it and it was so good and honestly above and beyond my expectations. My original Hamlet experience was the classic reading it in a high school literature element (with the bonus element of watching the David Tennant version), and while I didn’t fully connect with it, I have always been a little obsessed with the potential of the elements in the story to go beyond what is strictly written in the text. Reading SABAV was like someone pulled that desire out of my brain and gave it life. This book is written with an intense knowledge and love of Hamlet while also giving space for it to be so much more than what I think people expect from reading Shakespeare. It’s delightful to see the references to the original (especially because this first book takes place before the events of the original play), and seeing what Donlon has done with the source content is so fun. The character tension is high in the best way and it’s so queer in a way that feels so right to the source text. I am not only recommending this book but begging you to read it so that I can have more people to talk about it with, and I am so unbelievably excited to see what happens in the next book!
One of the best things about Hamlet is that there’s drama right from the beginning, and SABAV keeps up the same idea while taking the storyline back to explore what happens before the events of the play we know so well. Things felt intense from the beginning and it made me want to absolutely fly through this book even when I didn’t have time to sit down and read. Hamlet and Ophelia’s family drama, the Denmark Norway situation, elements of magic and Corruption, the impending doom that you can’t help but feel about the characters? It’s amazing. And even though Hamlet is the kind of story where it feels like everyone is doomed no matter what, this book continues to succeed by making you want to read how it happens, and maybe even hope that this time things will turn out okay.
I will admit, the characters that I remember less about from reading Hamlet were a little bit harder to place immediately, but I think that’s more about my desire to understand everything immediately, and I wouldn’t say that you need to read the play in order to understand or enjoy SABAV. Hamlet and Ophelia are especially wonderful, with all the best characterization from the source while also giving them a new level of autonomy within this story that makes it all the more tragic. I also love how we get to see more of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as well as Fortinbras in this rendition, and while I say I might be prepared for the additional heartbreak of knowing more about characters, I am absolutely going to sob when I read the end of this duology.
In some ways, this is exactly the kind of book I’d love, and in some ways it’s a little bit outside of that. Nevertheless, I did love this book and am absolutely frothing at the mouth for the next one to come out! It’s so worth the read and I completely recommend it.
One of the best things about Hamlet is that there’s drama right from the beginning, and SABAV keeps up the same idea while taking the storyline back to explore what happens before the events of the play we know so well. Things felt intense from the beginning and it made me want to absolutely fly through this book even when I didn’t have time to sit down and read. Hamlet and Ophelia’s family drama, the Denmark Norway situation, elements of magic and Corruption, the impending doom that you can’t help but feel about the characters? It’s amazing. And even though Hamlet is the kind of story where it feels like everyone is doomed no matter what, this book continues to succeed by making you want to read how it happens, and maybe even hope that this time things will turn out okay.
I will admit, the characters that I remember less about from reading Hamlet were a little bit harder to place immediately, but I think that’s more about my desire to understand everything immediately, and I wouldn’t say that you need to read the play in order to understand or enjoy SABAV. Hamlet and Ophelia are especially wonderful, with all the best characterization from the source while also giving them a new level of autonomy within this story that makes it all the more tragic. I also love how we get to see more of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as well as Fortinbras in this rendition, and while I say I might be prepared for the additional heartbreak of knowing more about characters, I am absolutely going to sob when I read the end of this duology.
In some ways, this is exactly the kind of book I’d love, and in some ways it’s a little bit outside of that. Nevertheless, I did love this book and am absolutely frothing at the mouth for the next one to come out! It’s so worth the read and I completely recommend it.
February 21, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Disclaimer: I have not read Hamlet, and therefor my experience with this book might be different than someone who has (E.G plot twists etc.)
I knew I would love this book the moment I heard the premise; "Hamlet but queer". I've been fascinated by Shakespear for a while now, and having previously only read 'If We Were Villains', I thought a Hamlet retelling would be perfect to further fuel this fascination, and boy oh boy was I correct.
This book was, with its beautiful writing style, fast pace and short chapters, addicting. I had to force myself to put it down, and had I not, I would've devoured this in only 2 or 3 sittings. Though, I'm glad I took my time, as this meant I had more time with these characters whom I absolutely adored. Magical, badass Ophelia who loves her father, her brother, her Otherworld family and who just wants to do whats best for Denmark, and the queer mess that is Prince Hamlet. They were filled with unique personality and I could do nothing but root for them the entire time. I loved reading about Ophelia and her struggles as a lady in a royal court, alongside her struggles of using her magic to try and keep Denmark free of the corruption, and the love she shared with Hamlet was so sweet. Oh and the fact that she's ACE, god she's just like me. Now, Hamlet. He was such a troubled boy, and reading about his yearning and internalised homophobia saddened me. Though, I really enjoyed the banter he shared with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz (and the rest of the characters, but especially these two). It was heartbreaking reading about the betrayals tragedies they both went through (though, I might've seen them coming, had I actually read the original source material, but whatever, it only added to my misery and enjoyment). The characters in general were so lovable (except for you, Claudius), unique and complex that I just wanted to learn more about them and never felt the "Urgh when does this character stop talking" feeling.
The magic system with the corruption and the Otherworlds and the seight guids and everything was so well done, and fascinated me a lot. The descriptions of the corruption and the corruption-creatures were gross, and I LOVED it. The whole thing felt so original, and I just wanted to read more.
I might not have read a lot of historical fiction, but Yves Donlon managed to capture the time period perfectly, which only made me enjoy this book even more. The writing style was, as previously mentioned, beautiful and only added to this. I know I will think about this book in the next forseeable future because Oh my god. I know this review probably made no sense, and was just me yapping without actually saying anything intelligent, but trust me, you will not want to miss out on this book once it releases.
I might be a bit biased as a Dane, but shh it only made the story feel more special to me.
Disclaimer: I have not read Hamlet, and therefor my experience with this book might be different than someone who has (E.G plot twists etc.)
I knew I would love this book the moment I heard the premise; "Hamlet but queer". I've been fascinated by Shakespear for a while now, and having previously only read 'If We Were Villains', I thought a Hamlet retelling would be perfect to further fuel this fascination, and boy oh boy was I correct.
This book was, with its beautiful writing style, fast pace and short chapters, addicting. I had to force myself to put it down, and had I not, I would've devoured this in only 2 or 3 sittings. Though, I'm glad I took my time, as this meant I had more time with these characters whom I absolutely adored. Magical, badass Ophelia who loves her father, her brother, her Otherworld family and who just wants to do whats best for Denmark, and the queer mess that is Prince Hamlet. They were filled with unique personality and I could do nothing but root for them the entire time. I loved reading about Ophelia and her struggles as a lady in a royal court, alongside her struggles of using her magic to try and keep Denmark free of the corruption, and the love she shared with Hamlet was so sweet. Oh and the fact that she's ACE, god she's just like me. Now, Hamlet. He was such a troubled boy, and reading about his yearning and internalised homophobia saddened me. Though, I really enjoyed the banter he shared with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz (and the rest of the characters, but especially these two). It was heartbreaking reading about the betrayals tragedies they both went through (though, I might've seen them coming, had I actually read the original source material, but whatever, it only added to my misery and enjoyment). The characters in general were so lovable (except for you, Claudius), unique and complex that I just wanted to learn more about them and never felt the "Urgh when does this character stop talking" feeling.
The magic system with the corruption and the Otherworlds and the seight guids and everything was so well done, and fascinated me a lot. The descriptions of the corruption and the corruption-creatures were gross, and I LOVED it. The whole thing felt so original, and I just wanted to read more.
I might not have read a lot of historical fiction, but Yves Donlon managed to capture the time period perfectly, which only made me enjoy this book even more. The writing style was, as previously mentioned, beautiful and only added to this. I know I will think about this book in the next forseeable future because Oh my god. I know this review probably made no sense, and was just me yapping without actually saying anything intelligent, but trust me, you will not want to miss out on this book once it releases.
I might be a bit biased as a Dane, but shh it only made the story feel more special to me.
Read
July 2, 2024i will be so honest here: i was expecting a lot from this and it did not live up to my hopes and therefore i don't really know what to rate it. on paper this book should be perfect for me - queer hamlet retelling (prequel?) with magic - but for whatever reason i just did not click with it the way i wanted. i love that ophelia is aspec and i do think hal's character is the strongest and most compelling, but i had a lot of critiques and ultimately i did not like the second half of the book at all. the magic system could use some work and the pacing was weird and i think a lot of it could be fleshed out beyond what it was. it's hard because i know this is a duology (i think?) so i don't want to judge book one when i haven't (may never?) read book two but there were so many characters and moments in here that just went unexplored or underexplained. we did not get nearly as many answers as i wanted about ros and guild like we get a brief explanation at the end about a single part of their story but that's iT? and then don't get me started about alessandra or whatever her name was...what was the point of having her there? i wanted to like ophelia and hal's relationship but they had one of my least favorite writing devices - when they were super close before the events of the book and so by the start of the book we never actually get to witness them in their prime and so we just have to piece together their relationship based on what the author told us. i appreciated that they were in love without being too physical, it did feel very aspec, but i don't think it was done as well as i'd hoped. weirdly enough i do think one of the most interesting relationships was hal and arion (and throw horatio in there too) but now it ended in a weird spot (come on, )
anyway. point here is on one hand i think it was really unique to see how the author expanded on the play in their own way - and it's definitely queer as hell which i respect - but i think the execution left some to be desired and i'm not sure i'm interested enough to read a sequel. maybe i'm just too emotionally close to hamlet as a story, who knows.
anyway. point here is on one hand i think it was really unique to see how the author expanded on the play in their own way - and it's definitely queer as hell which i respect - but i think the execution left some to be desired and i'm not sure i'm interested enough to read a sequel. maybe i'm just too emotionally close to hamlet as a story, who knows.
March 3, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! I was super excited going into this book. In doing a lot of scholarly work with Shakespeare and retellings/adaptations/insert your preferred term here, I've come across a lot of books that retell the plays in unique and interesting ways. With this one, I felt a little bit underwhelmed unfortunately. Despite the fast pacing, the first 60ish% of the book dragged for me and I was honestly getting a bit bored. It felt like there were several scenes of dialogue missing (perhaps cut for space/time?) and were instead narrated through in a very tell-y way. This also contributed as to how some of the supporting characters didn't feel as fleshed out as they could have been (especially Rosencrantz and Guildenstern). Some of this could just be Donlon's writing style, and if it is, then maybe it simply just isn't for me. Once I hit the 65% mark, the narrative picked up for me though and that is what carried me through to the end of the book. There were also Shakespeare lines and allusions weaved in but some of these line drops changed the style of language being used and they just ended up feeling out of place (and, this is definitely very picky, I kind of hated how there was a line from The Tempest in here...). Ophelia and Hamlet were the stars of this though, and I'm glad they were given the space to exist both beside and outside of each other, especially Ophelia. The dual split between them worked extremely well and Ophelia's backstory getting fleshed out the way Donlon did was an awesome choice on their part. This prequel retelling definitely has a place in the genre of adaptation, and I'm glad it's being written because the way Donlon is mixing historical fantasy with Hamlet is really intriguing. I'm interested to see what they do in the next book and I'm definitely still going to give it a read to see what they do with the canonical events of Hamlet. So if queer magical Hamlet prequel is your jam, I recommend checking this one out when it comes out next month.
March 11, 2024
There is something corrupted in the state of Denmark.
Smile and Be a Villain is a queer dark magical take on the well known classic Hamlet, if mirrors were portals to another world and magic led to corruption. Set before the events of the play Hamlet is sent off to Wittenberg and while he is discovering magic, Ophelia is left alone back home trying to cure the magical corruption as war with Norway brews in the background. This retelling gave a unique take on these well known characters and their relationships.. I particularly enjoyed the layers added by Hamlet’s childhood friendship with Fortinbras and what that meant for them to be princes on opposing sides. Ophelia also got a great additional depth- no longer just a tragedy but now a girl with autonomy. power and magic who has a heavy influence on the story and assists shaping it in her own ways.
While I enjoyed the book as a whole I do think that it was rather slow in the beginning though it definitely picked up its pace further into the plot especially when Claudius was introduced with his clearly nefarious machinations. Part of that comes from this being a “prequel” of sorts and so it was very much setting up the characters and world building for what will becoming later in its sequel. I have high hopes for the following book now that the players are all set. I also unfortunately found some of the characters to be a little flat. I love the additions that were added to them but I would also just like to see them get more actualized.
My final rating would probably be more in the vein of 3.5 starts but I rounded up because the ending was good enough to leave me in need of the sequel to see how it continued to play out.
Smile and Be a Villain is a queer dark magical take on the well known classic Hamlet, if mirrors were portals to another world and magic led to corruption. Set before the events of the play Hamlet is sent off to Wittenberg and while he is discovering magic, Ophelia is left alone back home trying to cure the magical corruption as war with Norway brews in the background. This retelling gave a unique take on these well known characters and their relationships.. I particularly enjoyed the layers added by Hamlet’s childhood friendship with Fortinbras and what that meant for them to be princes on opposing sides. Ophelia also got a great additional depth- no longer just a tragedy but now a girl with autonomy. power and magic who has a heavy influence on the story and assists shaping it in her own ways.
While I enjoyed the book as a whole I do think that it was rather slow in the beginning though it definitely picked up its pace further into the plot especially when Claudius was introduced with his clearly nefarious machinations. Part of that comes from this being a “prequel” of sorts and so it was very much setting up the characters and world building for what will becoming later in its sequel. I have high hopes for the following book now that the players are all set. I also unfortunately found some of the characters to be a little flat. I love the additions that were added to them but I would also just like to see them get more actualized.
My final rating would probably be more in the vein of 3.5 starts but I rounded up because the ending was good enough to leave me in need of the sequel to see how it continued to play out.
February 25, 2024
2.5/5
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Victory Editing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me despite me so believing it would be. :(
Everything about “queer magical Hamlet retelling” sold me, but once I was reading the story, I felt a little disappointed. I wanted even more magic and explanation to magic and the portal world: I felt we only a taste of it despite needing to follow the magic Ophelia and her portal-world family do.
The book’s language is quite accessible, but then there will randomly be a line from the play, which feels anachronistic compared to the language used otherwise. Committing to one or the other would have been a stronger choice.
I felt most connected to the characters of Ophelia and Hamlet (our two dual POVs), while many other characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out. I think as someone very familiar with Hamlet, I was aching for each character to truly show their personalities as they are in the play, though this book is set prior to the events of the play, so I should have kept that in mind. It is the yearning and bond between Hamlet and Ophelia that kept me reading—I felt the supporting and side characters were very one-note.
There is a lot of great marginalized rep in this. I’m glad a Shakespeare retelling has prominent LGBTQIA+ characters and speaks openly about queer desire and love and the different ways that can manifest.
Ultimately, it looks like this book found its intended audience, and I’m glad. I may read the sequel just to see how the author continues to adapt Hamlet.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Victory Editing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me despite me so believing it would be. :(
Everything about “queer magical Hamlet retelling” sold me, but once I was reading the story, I felt a little disappointed. I wanted even more magic and explanation to magic and the portal world: I felt we only a taste of it despite needing to follow the magic Ophelia and her portal-world family do.
The book’s language is quite accessible, but then there will randomly be a line from the play, which feels anachronistic compared to the language used otherwise. Committing to one or the other would have been a stronger choice.
I felt most connected to the characters of Ophelia and Hamlet (our two dual POVs), while many other characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out. I think as someone very familiar with Hamlet, I was aching for each character to truly show their personalities as they are in the play, though this book is set prior to the events of the play, so I should have kept that in mind. It is the yearning and bond between Hamlet and Ophelia that kept me reading—I felt the supporting and side characters were very one-note.
There is a lot of great marginalized rep in this. I’m glad a Shakespeare retelling has prominent LGBTQIA+ characters and speaks openly about queer desire and love and the different ways that can manifest.
Ultimately, it looks like this book found its intended audience, and I’m glad. I may read the sequel just to see how the author continues to adapt Hamlet.
April 13, 2024
3.5* rounded up
Smile and Be a Villian was an interesting prequel to Hamlet with a fantasy twist.
First things first, I must confess I have never watched/ read Hamlet all the way through, so I can't comment on it in relation to the original play/ characterisation, but I did still enjoy it as a historical fantasy in its own right. Whilst I imagine knowing the original play will add to the experience, it's still an enjoyable read even when knowing only the bare minimum.
I found the writing style very easy-to-read (the pages seemed to fly by), and enjoyed Hamlet and Ophelia as our main characters. I also found the magical concepts of Corruption and Sight Guides interesting, and Donlon did a great job of depicting this and showing Ophelia's horror / disgust at what she can see.
However, it felt like we were told a lot about how close Hamlet and Ophelia were, rather than shown. This might be largely because the two are not actually in the same place for the majority of the book.
And I never got a good understanding of a lot of the secondary characters (such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern), with their depictions not feeling particularly fleshed out.
There was also issues with the dialogue at times, sometimes being overly modern and then other times Shakespearan. I'm assuming the latter were quotes from the orignal play, but because none of the rest of the dialogue was written in this style, they felt very out-of-place.
Overall though, this was still a fun read, even for a Shakespeare novice like myself.
Smile and Be a Villian was an interesting prequel to Hamlet with a fantasy twist.
First things first, I must confess I have never watched/ read Hamlet all the way through, so I can't comment on it in relation to the original play/ characterisation, but I did still enjoy it as a historical fantasy in its own right. Whilst I imagine knowing the original play will add to the experience, it's still an enjoyable read even when knowing only the bare minimum.
I found the writing style very easy-to-read (the pages seemed to fly by), and enjoyed Hamlet and Ophelia as our main characters. I also found the magical concepts of Corruption and Sight Guides interesting, and Donlon did a great job of depicting this and showing Ophelia's horror / disgust at what she can see.
However, it felt like we were told a lot about how close Hamlet and Ophelia were, rather than shown. This might be largely because the two are not actually in the same place for the majority of the book.
And I never got a good understanding of a lot of the secondary characters (such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern), with their depictions not feeling particularly fleshed out.
There was also issues with the dialogue at times, sometimes being overly modern and then other times Shakespearan. I'm assuming the latter were quotes from the orignal play, but because none of the rest of the dialogue was written in this style, they felt very out-of-place.
Overall though, this was still a fun read, even for a Shakespeare novice like myself.
September 4, 2024
True confessions time: Hamlet is NOT my favorite Shakespeare play, not by a long shot. But this dark historical fantasy takes the story of Hamlet and adds some well-developed historical background on the conflict between Norway and Denmark as well as a magical element, in the form of Corruption, which darkens the hearts of users of forbidden, dark magic.
The story starts before the play does, as Hamlet is sent away to the University of Wittenberg, where he meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (whose personal stories are wonderfully complex and surprising!), continues his complicated relationship with Prince Fortinbras of Norway (oh, the *tension!*), learns that Magic is Real.
Meanwhile, back in Denmark, Ophelia already knows Magic is Real and has been protecting the court from its Corruption for a long time. Ophelia is the star here – she’s smart, stubborn, and loves Hamlet (though NOT romantically, not really) It’s Ophelia that guides most of the action in the story and I love that.
I was impressed that the author could add so strong a fantasy element and yet stay true to the story beats of the play – Hamlet’s “madness,” that stunning conclusion… It’s all slightly twisted, of course, with some really brilliant moments. Highly recommended.
The story starts before the play does, as Hamlet is sent away to the University of Wittenberg, where he meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (whose personal stories are wonderfully complex and surprising!), continues his complicated relationship with Prince Fortinbras of Norway (oh, the *tension!*), learns that Magic is Real.
Meanwhile, back in Denmark, Ophelia already knows Magic is Real and has been protecting the court from its Corruption for a long time. Ophelia is the star here – she’s smart, stubborn, and loves Hamlet (though NOT romantically, not really) It’s Ophelia that guides most of the action in the story and I love that.
I was impressed that the author could add so strong a fantasy element and yet stay true to the story beats of the play – Hamlet’s “madness,” that stunning conclusion… It’s all slightly twisted, of course, with some really brilliant moments. Highly recommended.
February 9, 2024
Smile and Be aVillain is one of those retellings that has the literary strength to stand alone, but is so authentic to the original, that you cannot help but have them side by side.
This book is a retalling of Shakespeare's famous play, Hamlet. (Secondary school gave me a healthy disdain for Shakespeares plays, but reading them again in my 20s without the yoke of curriculum requirements, helped me to find a way to enjoy them. This retelling is exactly one of those ways. Authentic to the original but so very much more.
The Corruption is absolutely genius and Yves Donlon absolutely captures each characters idiosyncracies, but enhances them to embrace their queerness and I am happy to see it. This is the beauty of great literature. It is made to explore themes and expand upon ideas, build worlds and define characters. Flipping wonderful and this is only the beginning of the series!
Thank you to Netgalley, the wonderful Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and the hugely talented author Yves Donlon for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
This book is a retalling of Shakespeare's famous play, Hamlet. (Secondary school gave me a healthy disdain for Shakespeares plays, but reading them again in my 20s without the yoke of curriculum requirements, helped me to find a way to enjoy them. This retelling is exactly one of those ways. Authentic to the original but so very much more.
The Corruption is absolutely genius and Yves Donlon absolutely captures each characters idiosyncracies, but enhances them to embrace their queerness and I am happy to see it. This is the beauty of great literature. It is made to explore themes and expand upon ideas, build worlds and define characters. Flipping wonderful and this is only the beginning of the series!
Thank you to Netgalley, the wonderful Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and the hugely talented author Yves Donlon for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
April 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC Copy!! 4.5 stars
I do not even know where to start with this book. The cover grabbed me and I was reading it completely blind with no idea what I was getting myself into. I am a big fan of retellings but this is my first Hamlet retelling and I loved it.
I have read Hamlet more than once but honestly I do not really remember it at all at this point so can not say it it is a true retelling or if it takes a lot of liberty's with the story, but what I can say is that I enjoyed every minute of it. It was dark and brutal at times and the world filled with magic, corruption, betrayal, and so much more kept me hooked right from the start.
There are some trigger warnings so definitely be aware of that going in, there is some body horror, animal death (not animal companion), and the brutality of the battle field, but it was all well done and there was no gratuitous violence, but instead everything that happened was really a part of moving the story forward and showing the true brutality of that time period.
I do not even know where to start with this book. The cover grabbed me and I was reading it completely blind with no idea what I was getting myself into. I am a big fan of retellings but this is my first Hamlet retelling and I loved it.
I have read Hamlet more than once but honestly I do not really remember it at all at this point so can not say it it is a true retelling or if it takes a lot of liberty's with the story, but what I can say is that I enjoyed every minute of it. It was dark and brutal at times and the world filled with magic, corruption, betrayal, and so much more kept me hooked right from the start.
There are some trigger warnings so definitely be aware of that going in, there is some body horror, animal death (not animal companion), and the brutality of the battle field, but it was all well done and there was no gratuitous violence, but instead everything that happened was really a part of moving the story forward and showing the true brutality of that time period.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews