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The Rest is Silence
'When sorrows come, they come not single spies but in battalions…'
Hamlet and Ophelia are back in this return to the world of SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN, a magical retelling of one of literature's most heart-wrenching tragedies.
In Denmark's capital, quiet streets hide the unrest of the people. War has impoverished them; magic is sickening them, though they may not know it. A new king reigns. But as battle drums are replaced by wedding bells, there are many in the city with reason to be displeased…
Prince Hamlet licks his wounds. Ophelia lies in wait. And all around them the city, rotten to its stately heart, is beginning to crumble.
While Hamlet grapples with what it will take to seek vengeance against his uncle for his crimes, Ophelia must fight to remain true to herself in the battle against corrupted magic.
The only way they will be powerful enough to heal the damage done to Denmark is if they work together. But as their hearts rot in time with the city itself, it seems it will take more than the providence in the fall of a sparrow to heal their love - and their city.
True love is sweet, but could revenge be sweeter?
Hamlet and Ophelia are back in this return to the world of SMILE AND BE A VILLAIN, a magical retelling of one of literature's most heart-wrenching tragedies.
In Denmark's capital, quiet streets hide the unrest of the people. War has impoverished them; magic is sickening them, though they may not know it. A new king reigns. But as battle drums are replaced by wedding bells, there are many in the city with reason to be displeased…
Prince Hamlet licks his wounds. Ophelia lies in wait. And all around them the city, rotten to its stately heart, is beginning to crumble.
While Hamlet grapples with what it will take to seek vengeance against his uncle for his crimes, Ophelia must fight to remain true to herself in the battle against corrupted magic.
The only way they will be powerful enough to heal the damage done to Denmark is if they work together. But as their hearts rot in time with the city itself, it seems it will take more than the providence in the fall of a sparrow to heal their love - and their city.
True love is sweet, but could revenge be sweeter?
485 pages, Paperback
Published July 19, 2025
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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July 24, 2025Disclaimer: the author is a friend and I was sent an ARC! Opinions are my own.
Following their historical triumph of a debut, Donlon's sequel dials in to an intimate and interpersonal homage to Hamlet.
Donlon's style is so effortless and enjoyable, their characterization nuanced and grounded, their world-building complex and well-researched, and their prose clear and rhythmic. This book broke me out of a really intense reading slump with unexpected ease.
Hamlet retellings—especially queer Hamlet retellings—always have my heart. A historically-informed fantasy is a hard lens to pull off for a Hamlet retelling, especially as a self-published author without a professional team of support, but this story handles its complexities with impressive confidence and eloquence. And it's utterly enjoyable.
On two very personal notes:
-queer Jewish Horatio! My baby boy!! I love Horatio so much and loved his promotion to main character in this sequel. I cried about him for suuure.
-I also cried to find my name in the acknowledgments! Yves is a dear friend and it's been a joy to get to know them alongside their characters. Thanks Yves for being the first person to call me fashionable, and for writing lines specifically with me in mind. Keep writing always.
To conclude, THE REST IS SILENCE is a satisfying and tear-jerking conclusion to this duology, and if you like historical fantasy, queer Shakespeare retellings, and gorgeously diverse casts, don't hesitate to pick this one up.
CW: hallucinations, violence, blood & gore, character death, grief, death of father, death of mother, loss of loved one, war, trauma, illness, antisemitism, homophobia, abusive parent, murder, suicidal ideation, animal death, fire, poison, drugging, emesis, alcohol, miscarriage (mention)
Following their historical triumph of a debut, Donlon's sequel dials in to an intimate and interpersonal homage to Hamlet.
Donlon's style is so effortless and enjoyable, their characterization nuanced and grounded, their world-building complex and well-researched, and their prose clear and rhythmic. This book broke me out of a really intense reading slump with unexpected ease.
Hamlet retellings—especially queer Hamlet retellings—always have my heart. A historically-informed fantasy is a hard lens to pull off for a Hamlet retelling, especially as a self-published author without a professional team of support, but this story handles its complexities with impressive confidence and eloquence. And it's utterly enjoyable.
On two very personal notes:
-queer Jewish Horatio! My baby boy!! I love Horatio so much and loved his promotion to main character in this sequel. I cried about him for suuure.
-I also cried to find my name in the acknowledgments! Yves is a dear friend and it's been a joy to get to know them alongside their characters. Thanks Yves for being the first person to call me fashionable, and for writing lines specifically with me in mind. Keep writing always.
To conclude, THE REST IS SILENCE is a satisfying and tear-jerking conclusion to this duology, and if you like historical fantasy, queer Shakespeare retellings, and gorgeously diverse casts, don't hesitate to pick this one up.
CW: hallucinations, violence, blood & gore, character death, grief, death of father, death of mother, loss of loved one, war, trauma, illness, antisemitism, homophobia, abusive parent, murder, suicidal ideation, animal death, fire, poison, drugging, emesis, alcohol, miscarriage (mention)
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May 24, 2025Ophelia from Smile and Be a Villain is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
August 10, 2025
I cannot stress enough how much I need everyone to read this
I’m sure you’d love this if you like fantasy, whether you’re as obsessed with Hamlet as I am or not—it can definitely stand on its own, but being a queer retelling of Hamlet makes it even better!
I loved all the characters so much and grew so attached to them, I have no words to express it. they felt very real too, and I always appreciate being able to connect to characters and their feelings. and, once again, I found myself wishing so so much that Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s stories could end differently, even though I knew they couldn’t—and I think that shows more than anything how good this duology is
I’m sure you’d love this if you like fantasy, whether you’re as obsessed with Hamlet as I am or not—it can definitely stand on its own, but being a queer retelling of Hamlet makes it even better!
I loved all the characters so much and grew so attached to them, I have no words to express it. they felt very real too, and I always appreciate being able to connect to characters and their feelings. and, once again, I found myself wishing so so much that Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s stories could end differently, even though I knew they couldn’t—and I think that shows more than anything how good this duology is
January 20, 2026
What a great duology! I love how the plot from the play still progresses smoothly even with the magical elements. Ophelia’s ending, in particular, was perfectly executed and had nice foreshadowing. Horatio becoming a main character was a huge bonus for me. I only wish that the romance between Hamlet and Horatio didn’t seem so abrupt and had more time to develop naturally.
September 25, 2025
This duology is truly incredible and it will stay with my heart for a long time.
'When he looked at Ophelia, his bones knew her. When his eyes met Horatio's, it was like his blood reached for him, desperate to learn'
The writing in this book is gorgeous, lyrical and atmospheric, it haunts the reader beautifully throughout the story singing the character's praises and pointing out their wrongs and therefore shaping them so well it almost feels like they could step through the page to the real world any second.
They're beautiful and stupid, lovely and messy, and most of all wholly human, dealing with a fate they know is against them and could come and drag them to their graves any other moment.
I loved all the characters: Hamlet, Horatio, Guildestern and, unfortunately yes, also Rosencrantz but I especially loved Ophelia, which I found myself reflected in often, the way the author depicted her asexuality and how it contrasted with her society-imposed role as a woman.
The queerplatonic love between Hamlet and Ophelia is also very dear to me, as I've never seen it represented of equal importance to the romantic love Hamlet felt for Horatio. it is best reflected in the moments when Hamlet dreams of the future, including Ophelia even before he did Horatio, signifying how deeply they loved each other, even if not romantically.
So yes, I really, highly recommend this book!
'When he looked at Ophelia, his bones knew her. When his eyes met Horatio's, it was like his blood reached for him, desperate to learn'
The writing in this book is gorgeous, lyrical and atmospheric, it haunts the reader beautifully throughout the story singing the character's praises and pointing out their wrongs and therefore shaping them so well it almost feels like they could step through the page to the real world any second.
They're beautiful and stupid, lovely and messy, and most of all wholly human, dealing with a fate they know is against them and could come and drag them to their graves any other moment.
I loved all the characters: Hamlet, Horatio, Guildestern and, unfortunately yes, also Rosencrantz but I especially loved Ophelia, which I found myself reflected in often, the way the author depicted her asexuality and how it contrasted with her society-imposed role as a woman.
The queerplatonic love between Hamlet and Ophelia is also very dear to me, as I've never seen it represented of equal importance to the romantic love Hamlet felt for Horatio. it is best reflected in the moments when Hamlet dreams of the future, including Ophelia even before he did Horatio, signifying how deeply they loved each other, even if not romantically.
So yes, I really, highly recommend this book!
December 24, 2025
4.8 stars 🌟
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews