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Thoughts Be Bloody
A struggling student, a resident golden boy, and the curse that will bring them this queer, trans retelling is Hamlet as you’ve never read it before
Exploring classism, identity, and the true meaning of revolution, this dark academia novel is perfect for fans of R. F. Kuang’s Babel
The summer before his sophomore year, Horatio Bithersea walks into the university library to find Carson Hamlett, resident golden boy and master magician, cradling his father’s dead body. Life at Elsinore, one of the most prestigious universities in the secretive magical world, simply goes on when the professor’s death is ruled an accident—despite the mysterious circumstances and the bloody scene.
A year later, Horatio is keeping his head down, attempting to graduate without his out-of-control magic harming his classmates. That changes when the ghost of Hamlett’s father appears and places a curse on Horatio and avenge his death by destroying Elsinore and its heart, lest the ghost robs them of their minds, memories, and their very souls.
Elsinore has given Horatio everything—knowledge of his magical ability, an escape from his abusive family, and freedom to pursue his life as a transgender man—and now he’s to be its doom. As the two uncover more of Elsinore’s secrets, Horatio finds himself becoming more and more ensnared in Hamlett’s dark but charismatic web.
The question is not if Horatio will manage to destroy Elsinore. The question is if Hamlett will destroy him first. This twisty, queer, dark academia is a brand-new take on the questions that haunt Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Exploring classism, identity, and the true meaning of revolution, this dark academia novel is perfect for fans of R. F. Kuang’s Babel
The summer before his sophomore year, Horatio Bithersea walks into the university library to find Carson Hamlett, resident golden boy and master magician, cradling his father’s dead body. Life at Elsinore, one of the most prestigious universities in the secretive magical world, simply goes on when the professor’s death is ruled an accident—despite the mysterious circumstances and the bloody scene.
A year later, Horatio is keeping his head down, attempting to graduate without his out-of-control magic harming his classmates. That changes when the ghost of Hamlett’s father appears and places a curse on Horatio and avenge his death by destroying Elsinore and its heart, lest the ghost robs them of their minds, memories, and their very souls.
Elsinore has given Horatio everything—knowledge of his magical ability, an escape from his abusive family, and freedom to pursue his life as a transgender man—and now he’s to be its doom. As the two uncover more of Elsinore’s secrets, Horatio finds himself becoming more and more ensnared in Hamlett’s dark but charismatic web.
The question is not if Horatio will manage to destroy Elsinore. The question is if Hamlett will destroy him first. This twisty, queer, dark academia is a brand-new take on the questions that haunt Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Auden Patrick
2 books18 followersAuden Patrick is an early-30s trans-masculine author and future ghost. As a queer and trans person raised in the American South, he has spent much of his life concerned with hauntings, driving down backroads at night, and chasing magic wherever he can find it.
He was a student at Cat Rambo's inaugural Wayward Wormhole Workshop in 2023, and his work has appeared in Apparition Lit, Beaver Magazine, among others. His work has a strong focus on gender identity, surviving trauma, the nature of monstrosity, and the strangeness of having a body.
When he is not writing, he can be found knitting, obsessing over planner supplies, or haunting the local library.
He was a student at Cat Rambo's inaugural Wayward Wormhole Workshop in 2023, and his work has appeared in Apparition Lit, Beaver Magazine, among others. His work has a strong focus on gender identity, surviving trauma, the nature of monstrosity, and the strangeness of having a body.
When he is not writing, he can be found knitting, obsessing over planner supplies, or haunting the local library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I did about 10 seconds of Hamlet research before starting this book. So I’m going to do an in-depth analysis of how good a retelling this is. KIDDING. I’m kidding. I only mention it so anyone reading this won’t expect me to compare it to Hamlet, because I know nothing about it.
Horatio is a humdrum-born (non-magic) trans man in a world where magic is something you can be born into, much like wealth. He arrives at Elsinore University already at a disadvantage, surrounded by students who grew up in the world he has only recently been allowed to access. And his magic doesn’t even seem to work properly. When he gets pulled into the orbit of Hamlett, Elsinore’s brilliant golden boy and the most powerful magician in two centuries, he quickly becomes tangled up with obsession, ambition, and the intoxicating possibility of finally having power himself. He hungers for power, respect, belonging. Hamlett gives him that. But at what cost?
I love the atmosphere. Elsinore is a magical university hidden away from the humdrum world. It’s full of magic classes, dueling, impossible architecture, and all the social drama that comes with living at school. I love basically everything this book is trying to do: an unreliable narrator with a fractured sense of time and memory, class commentary, dangerous magic, obsession, yearning, the pursuit of power. I also really like Horatio as a character because he is undeniably complex and not always that likeable. Does it make sense to like a character because they’re not always likeable? Idk, but we’re gonna go with it. Characters need to make questionable decisions to feel real, and Horatio definitely does that.
My biggest issue was the foreshadowing. I love a story that plants little clues, but it’s not used to create those “oh shit” moments here. It’s only used to illustrate the inevitability of the tragedy as the story barrels towards it, and it comes at a cost. The narrative is constantly pointing toward later, so the entire book ends up feeling like setup. Things happen, but it sort of feels like nothing is happening because the real event is always ahead of you, and the foreshadowing is pretty constant.
The story is inevitably going to be confusing because Horatio is our narrator, and he’s confused. He corrects himself, tenses change, and he remembers things differently. It’s uncertain whether scenes are happening, will happen, or have happened. I like the concept, but there’s just too much uncertainty happening at the same time. It put so much cognitive load on me before establishing some sort of reality that I finished the book still unsure what order half the events happened in. A reader can only recognize that reality has been distorted if the book establishes what undistorted reality looks like.
The writing is very repetitive. Part of it is obviously just a natural effect of the way this story is narrated. But we are told about twenty times (yes, literally twenty, I counted) that Hamlett is the most powerful magician in two centuries or that Edric is the second best in two centuries. The book is still reminding the reader of these two facts in the last 10%.
Auden Patrick has a very distinct writing style, and I’m sure a lot of people will love it, but it did not work for me. Repeating things for emphasis is a valid writing technique. In this book, it is not used for emphasis. It’s just how the book is written. It is not used for emphasis, it’s just how Auden Patrick writes. See how I just repeated that? That’s what the book is like. When everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized. It’s just extra words.
I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the magic system. There’s physical and mind magic. The functional difference is explained once, sort of like “physical magic uses the power inside the object, and mind magic uses the power of the mind”. So a physicist can move a rock by using the power inside a rock. They perform telekinesis by exerting their will on the object. What power is inside a rock? Where does the physicist’s will come from, if not the mind?
There are a lot of interesting factors involved in casting a spell: planetary alignment, time of day, enunciation, hand gestures and drawing runes. We are never told how these matter, just that they do. And there’s battle magic and dueling, how does that work? Does the enemy stand and wait while you draw runes and perform complicated hand gestures? Etymology is brought up sporadically, that the history and meaning of a word matters, but it is never actually used. We are also told that names have power, but that isn’t used either.
This lands somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me. That might sound harsh, but I use Goodreads own labels (2 = it was ok, 3 = I liked it) for ratings. Maybe this is exactly what it feels like inside Horatio’s head. Unfortunately, I also have to live inside mine. And mine is apparently incapable of accepting “just go with it” as an answer. I need to know why the rock has power. I need to know how the runes work. I need to know when this scene happened and how Horatio knows about it. I will keep pulling at every loose thread until I either understand what happened or end up tangled in them myself, which probably sounds familiar if you’ve read this book. 🌚
A big thank you to Netgalley, DAW and Auden Patrick for the ARC!
Horatio is a humdrum-born (non-magic) trans man in a world where magic is something you can be born into, much like wealth. He arrives at Elsinore University already at a disadvantage, surrounded by students who grew up in the world he has only recently been allowed to access. And his magic doesn’t even seem to work properly. When he gets pulled into the orbit of Hamlett, Elsinore’s brilliant golden boy and the most powerful magician in two centuries, he quickly becomes tangled up with obsession, ambition, and the intoxicating possibility of finally having power himself. He hungers for power, respect, belonging. Hamlett gives him that. But at what cost?
I love the atmosphere. Elsinore is a magical university hidden away from the humdrum world. It’s full of magic classes, dueling, impossible architecture, and all the social drama that comes with living at school. I love basically everything this book is trying to do: an unreliable narrator with a fractured sense of time and memory, class commentary, dangerous magic, obsession, yearning, the pursuit of power. I also really like Horatio as a character because he is undeniably complex and not always that likeable. Does it make sense to like a character because they’re not always likeable? Idk, but we’re gonna go with it. Characters need to make questionable decisions to feel real, and Horatio definitely does that.
My biggest issue was the foreshadowing. I love a story that plants little clues, but it’s not used to create those “oh shit” moments here. It’s only used to illustrate the inevitability of the tragedy as the story barrels towards it, and it comes at a cost. The narrative is constantly pointing toward later, so the entire book ends up feeling like setup. Things happen, but it sort of feels like nothing is happening because the real event is always ahead of you, and the foreshadowing is pretty constant.
The story is inevitably going to be confusing because Horatio is our narrator, and he’s confused. He corrects himself, tenses change, and he remembers things differently. It’s uncertain whether scenes are happening, will happen, or have happened. I like the concept, but there’s just too much uncertainty happening at the same time. It put so much cognitive load on me before establishing some sort of reality that I finished the book still unsure what order half the events happened in. A reader can only recognize that reality has been distorted if the book establishes what undistorted reality looks like.
The writing is very repetitive. Part of it is obviously just a natural effect of the way this story is narrated. But we are told about twenty times (yes, literally twenty, I counted) that Hamlett is the most powerful magician in two centuries or that Edric is the second best in two centuries. The book is still reminding the reader of these two facts in the last 10%.
Auden Patrick has a very distinct writing style, and I’m sure a lot of people will love it, but it did not work for me. Repeating things for emphasis is a valid writing technique. In this book, it is not used for emphasis. It’s just how the book is written. It is not used for emphasis, it’s just how Auden Patrick writes. See how I just repeated that? That’s what the book is like. When everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized. It’s just extra words.
I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the magic system. There’s physical and mind magic. The functional difference is explained once, sort of like “physical magic uses the power inside the object, and mind magic uses the power of the mind”. So a physicist can move a rock by using the power inside a rock. They perform telekinesis by exerting their will on the object. What power is inside a rock? Where does the physicist’s will come from, if not the mind?
There are a lot of interesting factors involved in casting a spell: planetary alignment, time of day, enunciation, hand gestures and drawing runes. We are never told how these matter, just that they do. And there’s battle magic and dueling, how does that work? Does the enemy stand and wait while you draw runes and perform complicated hand gestures? Etymology is brought up sporadically, that the history and meaning of a word matters, but it is never actually used. We are also told that names have power, but that isn’t used either.
This lands somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me. That might sound harsh, but I use Goodreads own labels (2 = it was ok, 3 = I liked it) for ratings. Maybe this is exactly what it feels like inside Horatio’s head. Unfortunately, I also have to live inside mine. And mine is apparently incapable of accepting “just go with it” as an answer. I need to know why the rock has power. I need to know how the runes work. I need to know when this scene happened and how Horatio knows about it. I will keep pulling at every loose thread until I either understand what happened or end up tangled in them myself, which probably sounds familiar if you’ve read this book. 🌚
A big thank you to Netgalley, DAW and Auden Patrick for the ARC!
Read
August 23, 20263.25-3.5/5⭐⭐⭐
☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩𓅨ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𔒝
This book takes Hamlet and sets it in a magic university, where the magic is all about memory and mind reading. It's not just there for flavor either, it actually ties into the story's bigger questions about power and what it costs. Horatio is a second year student who's struggling to get his magic to work, and Hamlett is the golden boy prodigy he ends up tangled up with. When Hamlett's father is murdered, the two of them get cursed into hunting down his killer or losing their minds. If you know your Shakespeare, you can probably guess where it's headed, but the book still finds its own way to get there.
The characters are what really carry this one. They're morally grey, well written, and actually grow over the course of the book, especially Horatio. The queer and trans rep (including a poly relationship) is handled well too, it's just part of who these characters are, not something the book stops to make a point of.
The back half is where it really clicks, once Horatio starts to unravel as a narrator and you can't tell anymore if Hamlett is changing or if he was always like this.
The middle is the weak point, though. It drags, a lot of scenes don't really need to be there, and one line in particular about two characters being "the most powerful magicians in 200 years"gets repeated so many times it starts to feel like a joke. The relationship between Horatio and Hamlett is compelling at first but starts to feel stuck in the same gear, lots of longing and brooding without much actually moving forward. And for some readers, the confusion from the unreliable narration stops feeling intentional and just starts feeling confusing, with an ending that doesn't quite pay off everything it built up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Author for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review
☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩𓅨ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𔒝
This book takes Hamlet and sets it in a magic university, where the magic is all about memory and mind reading. It's not just there for flavor either, it actually ties into the story's bigger questions about power and what it costs. Horatio is a second year student who's struggling to get his magic to work, and Hamlett is the golden boy prodigy he ends up tangled up with. When Hamlett's father is murdered, the two of them get cursed into hunting down his killer or losing their minds. If you know your Shakespeare, you can probably guess where it's headed, but the book still finds its own way to get there.
The characters are what really carry this one. They're morally grey, well written, and actually grow over the course of the book, especially Horatio. The queer and trans rep (including a poly relationship) is handled well too, it's just part of who these characters are, not something the book stops to make a point of.
The back half is where it really clicks, once Horatio starts to unravel as a narrator and you can't tell anymore if Hamlett is changing or if he was always like this.
The middle is the weak point, though. It drags, a lot of scenes don't really need to be there, and one line in particular about two characters being "the most powerful magicians in 200 years"gets repeated so many times it starts to feel like a joke. The relationship between Horatio and Hamlett is compelling at first but starts to feel stuck in the same gear, lots of longing and brooding without much actually moving forward. And for some readers, the confusion from the unreliable narration stops feeling intentional and just starts feeling confusing, with an ending that doesn't quite pay off everything it built up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Author for providing me with this ARC in exchange of an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Horatio kept trying to save everyone until there was barely any Horatio left.
Thoughts Be Bloody feels inevitable.
From the beginning, Horatio keeps insisting that he has to remember. That he has to tell the story. At first, I didn’t understand, but then things fall into place and it’s like watching a train with no brakes, unable to help.
If you’ve read Hamlet, you’ll have a great time catching all the references. They’re everywhere. Characters, relationships, little details… it was so satisfying to see them click into place.
But what I loved most is that we get the story of the only person left alive: Horatio.
Every impossible choice he makes comes from loving someone or from wanting to belong. Power doesn’t make Horatio dangerous. Love does.
Horatio being trans is an important part of who he is, and I appreciated how it was handled in the story. *ALSO* how clever to use his name literally!! Auden, I see what you did there, and you can’t see me, but I’m making eyes at you. ✨
By the end I was heartbroken. My boi went from useless to powerful to tragic. He needs a hug.
**Thank you Daw and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
- Pre-read
It’s time to start reading this beauty ✨
Queer fantasy inspired by Hamlet but with magic and a trans protagonist. I’m ready!
-
Look at that cover 🤩
Got the ARC! If only life would let me read it now, but human has to work.
Thoughts Be Bloody feels inevitable.
From the beginning, Horatio keeps insisting that he has to remember. That he has to tell the story. At first, I didn’t understand, but then things fall into place and it’s like watching a train with no brakes, unable to help.
If you’ve read Hamlet, you’ll have a great time catching all the references. They’re everywhere. Characters, relationships, little details… it was so satisfying to see them click into place.
But what I loved most is that we get the story of the only person left alive: Horatio.
Every impossible choice he makes comes from loving someone or from wanting to belong. Power doesn’t make Horatio dangerous. Love does.
Horatio being trans is an important part of who he is, and I appreciated how it was handled in the story. *ALSO* how clever to use his name literally!! Auden, I see what you did there, and you can’t see me, but I’m making eyes at you. ✨
By the end I was heartbroken. My boi went from useless to powerful to tragic. He needs a hug.
**Thank you Daw and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
- Pre-read
It’s time to start reading this beauty ✨
Queer fantasy inspired by Hamlet but with magic and a trans protagonist. I’m ready!
-
Look at that cover 🤩
Got the ARC! If only life would let me read it now, but human has to work.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THOUGHTS BE BLOODY is a dark academia retelling of Hamlet set at a magic school that teaches magic of both the physical and the mental variety. Horatio, the trans protagonist, is a rare mind magician, and has a friend crush (and possibly more crush) on Carson Hamlett, a talented magician who's somewhat of a slacker and also the son of the headmaster and the school golden boy. When Horatio sees a ghost of Hamlett's father, he suspects that he's been murdered. What he doesn't expect is that this death will draw Hamlett into his orbit at last, spiraling them down into more and more extreme spellwork that push each other to their very limits, testing sanity and even time itself.
Some of the reviews of this book are a little harsh, and I think that's because this is not a book for everyone. I think the target audience for THOUGHTS BE BLOODY are litfic readers who enjoy the academic setting and doomed attraction of Donna Tartt's SECRET HISTORY, and the metaphysical philosophy of the Dyachenkos' Ukranian sinister dark fantasy school, VITA NOSTRA. The center of that Venn diagram is people who will enjoy the ornate language and pastoral setting of Elsinore, with all of its many secrets and splendors.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
3 stars
Some of the reviews of this book are a little harsh, and I think that's because this is not a book for everyone. I think the target audience for THOUGHTS BE BLOODY are litfic readers who enjoy the academic setting and doomed attraction of Donna Tartt's SECRET HISTORY, and the metaphysical philosophy of the Dyachenkos' Ukranian sinister dark fantasy school, VITA NOSTRA. The center of that Venn diagram is people who will enjoy the ornate language and pastoral setting of Elsinore, with all of its many secrets and splendors.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy!
3 stars
Want to Read
April 20, 2026This is either going to be absolute cinema or hot garbage. Place your bets chat
September 18, 2026
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Thoughts Be Bloody is a Queer Hamlet retelling with a lush Dark Academia atmosphere, full of magic and mischief. While greatly outside of my comfort zone, I'm not a Dark Academia girlie, the concept caught my attention, as did the title and gorgeous cover.
This novel follows Horatio Bithersea, as he navigates school, magic, complicated friendships and identity. We learn the previous year, Horatio walked in on golden boy, Carson Hamlett, cradling the dead body of his father, a professor, in the University library. The death was ruled an accident, but a lot of mystery surrounds the incident still.
When the ghost of Hamlett's father appears to Horatio, he believes he's been cursed. Driven to figure out what actually happened to Hamlett's father, and the reasons for it, Horatio and Hamlett become very close. The two work together to solve the mystery and possibly get revenge for the murder.
I liked this. I really did. I was torn on how to rate it based on my personal experience. My head says it's a 3, or a 3.5-star, but my heart says to give it less than a 4-star isn't doing it justice. This is an ambitious novel, and though it had moments that were stronger than others IMO, overall, I do think it's a great book.
I found the magic very interesting, how there were different types of magic, and Horatio's was very unique. I also liked the mystery behind what happened to Hamlett's father, and Horatio's visions involving his ghost.
I did feel it was ofttimes confusing, however. There's a lot to do with mind magic, and dreams, and visions, and people being trapped within their own minds, and while I think those are fascinating concepts, they're really challenging to execute on the page in a concise and clear manner.
Particularly in the later half, as we approach the conclusion and the action picks up, it became difficult to follow. It also, just in general, did take a minute to get used to the rhythm of the narrative. It's definitely different, but interesting.
The highlights for me were the dynamics among the characters, specifically Horatio, Hamlett and Lia, and the dark academic setting, which I feel Patrick knocked out of the park. There was just a foreboding tone throughout that I found really enjoyable.
Thank you to the publisher, DAW, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even though this isn't my typical read, I'm so glad to have picked it up, and to have been introduced to a new author.
I'd definitely read more from Auden Patrick!
Thoughts Be Bloody is a Queer Hamlet retelling with a lush Dark Academia atmosphere, full of magic and mischief. While greatly outside of my comfort zone, I'm not a Dark Academia girlie, the concept caught my attention, as did the title and gorgeous cover.
This novel follows Horatio Bithersea, as he navigates school, magic, complicated friendships and identity. We learn the previous year, Horatio walked in on golden boy, Carson Hamlett, cradling the dead body of his father, a professor, in the University library. The death was ruled an accident, but a lot of mystery surrounds the incident still.
When the ghost of Hamlett's father appears to Horatio, he believes he's been cursed. Driven to figure out what actually happened to Hamlett's father, and the reasons for it, Horatio and Hamlett become very close. The two work together to solve the mystery and possibly get revenge for the murder.
I liked this. I really did. I was torn on how to rate it based on my personal experience. My head says it's a 3, or a 3.5-star, but my heart says to give it less than a 4-star isn't doing it justice. This is an ambitious novel, and though it had moments that were stronger than others IMO, overall, I do think it's a great book.
I found the magic very interesting, how there were different types of magic, and Horatio's was very unique. I also liked the mystery behind what happened to Hamlett's father, and Horatio's visions involving his ghost.
I did feel it was ofttimes confusing, however. There's a lot to do with mind magic, and dreams, and visions, and people being trapped within their own minds, and while I think those are fascinating concepts, they're really challenging to execute on the page in a concise and clear manner.
Particularly in the later half, as we approach the conclusion and the action picks up, it became difficult to follow. It also, just in general, did take a minute to get used to the rhythm of the narrative. It's definitely different, but interesting.
The highlights for me were the dynamics among the characters, specifically Horatio, Hamlett and Lia, and the dark academic setting, which I feel Patrick knocked out of the park. There was just a foreboding tone throughout that I found really enjoyable.
Thank you to the publisher, DAW, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even though this isn't my typical read, I'm so glad to have picked it up, and to have been introduced to a new author.
I'd definitely read more from Auden Patrick!
September 16, 2026
Somewhere there is a world in which I am a bad person. Is it this one?
4.2/5
Thoughts Be Bloody is, in many ways, exactly what I want from a literary adaptation: unmistakably indebted to its source material without becoming beholden to it. The take on magic is particularly excellent, with a psychological component that keeps the story feeling fresh in a genre increasingly crowded with magical universities. Patrick develops the academic study of magic with enough specificity that I genuinely believed in the institution and its practices, while wisely resisting the temptation to bury the reader beneath granular explanations of magical theory. We get a seat in the classroom to learn how they do it without having to enroll in remedial How Magic Works on a Molecular Level 101, and that balance makes the worldbuilding both convincing and accessible. The result is Hamlet disguised as These Violent Delights set in The Magicians — and the fit is frankly absurdly good.
The characters are equally successful. Shakespeare's fingerprints are everywhere, but Patrick manages to make these characters feel both familiar and wholly original, giving Horatio particular opportunity to take center stage in a way that is unexpected, delightfully irreverent, and somehow entirely appropriate given the author's clear reverence for the source material. I am also immensely appreciative of the queer and trans representation here. These identities remain aspects of the characters rather than becoming the entirety of their characterization, allowing sexuality and gender to exist as parts of a person's life rather than the sole narrative purpose of their existence. The novel's subtextual examination of privilege and inequality operates with the same subtlety, providing meaningful social commentary without turning queer representation into a one-trick social-issue narrative. The pacing is similarly confident, varying considerably in a way that feels deliberate — as though the characters themselves are controlling the speedometer and I'm just a geeked out hostage along for the ride.
Patrick's most ambitious choices, however, may be in the prose itself. The increasingly abstract elements of the writing create a beautiful parallel to Hamlet's and Horatio's respective psychological declines, and I was impressed by how successfully Patrick sustains that experimentation without allowing it to collapse under its own weight. Some of the repetition could certainly risk feeling tedious or imprecise, but I found it sufficiently purposeful that I was willing to follow it where it wanted to go. A book willing to engage me with deliberately challenging prose choices is, frankly, bordering on flirtation. Add an unreliable narrator and protagonists who are intentionally difficult to like, and I was doomed to become a fan.
Gothic, cerebral, tense, and intensely character-driven, Thoughts Be Bloody is proof once again that a wildly flawed character is the opposite of failed character writing. Sometimes the most compelling characters are the ones you would absolutely hate to meet, and the most successful adaptations are the ones that make you wonder why it took four hundred years for someone to write this version of Hamlet.
Note: This review is based on an advance reader copy provided to me by a fellow reviewer who received her copy from the publisher. I did not receive this ARC directly from the publisher and have subsequently withheld my review until publication. This review reflects an uncorrected proof and not the final published edition.
4.2/5
Thoughts Be Bloody is, in many ways, exactly what I want from a literary adaptation: unmistakably indebted to its source material without becoming beholden to it. The take on magic is particularly excellent, with a psychological component that keeps the story feeling fresh in a genre increasingly crowded with magical universities. Patrick develops the academic study of magic with enough specificity that I genuinely believed in the institution and its practices, while wisely resisting the temptation to bury the reader beneath granular explanations of magical theory. We get a seat in the classroom to learn how they do it without having to enroll in remedial How Magic Works on a Molecular Level 101, and that balance makes the worldbuilding both convincing and accessible. The result is Hamlet disguised as These Violent Delights set in The Magicians — and the fit is frankly absurdly good.
The characters are equally successful. Shakespeare's fingerprints are everywhere, but Patrick manages to make these characters feel both familiar and wholly original, giving Horatio particular opportunity to take center stage in a way that is unexpected, delightfully irreverent, and somehow entirely appropriate given the author's clear reverence for the source material. I am also immensely appreciative of the queer and trans representation here. These identities remain aspects of the characters rather than becoming the entirety of their characterization, allowing sexuality and gender to exist as parts of a person's life rather than the sole narrative purpose of their existence. The novel's subtextual examination of privilege and inequality operates with the same subtlety, providing meaningful social commentary without turning queer representation into a one-trick social-issue narrative. The pacing is similarly confident, varying considerably in a way that feels deliberate — as though the characters themselves are controlling the speedometer and I'm just a geeked out hostage along for the ride.
Patrick's most ambitious choices, however, may be in the prose itself. The increasingly abstract elements of the writing create a beautiful parallel to Hamlet's and Horatio's respective psychological declines, and I was impressed by how successfully Patrick sustains that experimentation without allowing it to collapse under its own weight. Some of the repetition could certainly risk feeling tedious or imprecise, but I found it sufficiently purposeful that I was willing to follow it where it wanted to go. A book willing to engage me with deliberately challenging prose choices is, frankly, bordering on flirtation. Add an unreliable narrator and protagonists who are intentionally difficult to like, and I was doomed to become a fan.
Gothic, cerebral, tense, and intensely character-driven, Thoughts Be Bloody is proof once again that a wildly flawed character is the opposite of failed character writing. Sometimes the most compelling characters are the ones you would absolutely hate to meet, and the most successful adaptations are the ones that make you wonder why it took four hundred years for someone to write this version of Hamlet.
Note: This review is based on an advance reader copy provided to me by a fellow reviewer who received her copy from the publisher. I did not receive this ARC directly from the publisher and have subsequently withheld my review until publication. This review reflects an uncorrected proof and not the final published edition.
Did Not Finish
July 26, 2026DNF @ 6%
The prose didn't work for me and i literally fell asleep reading this.
I read an ARC from DAW
The prose didn't work for me and i literally fell asleep reading this.
I read an ARC from DAW
August 31, 2026
I did not like this as much as I thought I would. The beginning was rather strong but then it just fell apart. The atmopshere was great though, especially for the upcoming colder and gloomier months. And the magic was interesting. However, I did not really connect with the rest of the book. The story had potential but it ended up becoming too abstract for me, it slowly lost me. The writing could be confusing and repetitive but it only reflected the confusion of the main character. The main character was an unreliable narrator: the fact that he kept reminding me that everything he was saying was true made me even more weary of him every time he said that. And I found him to be quite unlikeable as well, he had a very high opinion of himself at times and that was unpleasant. The other characters were not really to my liking either, and I did not like the polyamorous dynamic between some of them. It completely threw me off.
Also, I only recognized some characters’ names of the Shakespeare play that was the author’s inspiration. I can’t tell how much of the play is in this book though, so I won’t comment on that.
I would still recommend it if you’re looking for a rather short dark academia read with an interesting magic system.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Also, I only recognized some characters’ names of the Shakespeare play that was the author’s inspiration. I can’t tell how much of the play is in this book though, so I won’t comment on that.
I would still recommend it if you’re looking for a rather short dark academia read with an interesting magic system.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
June 27, 2026
i wish i liked this more :(
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have no problem admitting that I devoured this. It’s not a very short book, I don’t exactly know how long it is, but I know it isn’t short. And I read it so quickly. I ate it up. Most of it. Most of this book was absolutely incredible. So fresh and something that felt a long time coming, for me at least. There are a few things here and there that I wasn’t the biggest fan of, but the positives outweigh the negatives by a landslide.
First of all, the main character here isn’t Hamlet (or Hamlett, in this case), lucky us (who actually likes og Hamlet, genuinely, from a personal point of view?), but Horatio! I’m a fan of Horatio, the original character and the one we read about in this novel, so that was a pleasant surprise. Believe it or not, I sort of liked Hamlett (not Hamlet), as much as you can like him in this book, I’d say. Then there’s Lia, gorgeous Lia, who never did anything wrong in her life, ever. Massive fan.
You might not be able to tell from what I’ve said so far but, they’re a couple. The three of them. A throuple? I mean, it’s up to you whether or not they got to be one, but I’d say if the love was there then they were. But was the love there? Because I’m not entirely sure it was, from one of the three. Hard to guess who it could be. Yeah, no it isn’t.
Hamlett was focused on other things, I think. Whatever affection he felt for both Lia and Horatio ultimately landed second place, because my guy was focused more on “ruling the world” with Horatio than he ever did acting like a romantic partner. And I would’ve expected him to be more focused on other things, don’t get me wrong, but I was thinking more like the violent death of his father? Which he did care, a hundred percent, that’s kind of what this book is about. But yeah all the “we will rule the world together” that were dropped were a million too many.
That’s the main con I have, pretty much. The last quarter felt pretty slow, but that’s it really. And also, I would’ve loved to know more about Emilee. Just because of how many times she was mentioned in this book. Okay, now I’m done. On to the pros!
The queer rep was amazing. And never forced. Horatio is trans and that’s a big part of who he is, same with Lia. I don’t think I’ve read or even heard of a book focusing on not one but two trans people who also are romantically involved with one another. That’s honestly one of the best parts of the book, the effortless queer representation.
Then the fact that the original play came into its own, with a fantasy aspect, a magical school, what have you. Really unique, very cool to read. I really liked the focus on all the different parental relationships we had here, and it felt appropriate, considering the main catalyst of the book.
I didn’t have any major problems with the writing, it was just a means to tell the story in this case, to me at least. I just wanted to know the story and the writing just passed me by. It was slightly repetitive though, I noticed. Like, literally. In multiple instances the main character would say the same thing a few times in a row. That did infuriate me just slightly, but it’s not the biggest problem.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, there’s really nothing for it, it’s my kind of book if done correctly. And this book mostly was! Which is why my rating is pretty high, if I do say so myself. I’d give this a 4.5/5⭐️ I can’t help it, it wasn’t perfect, but it worked. Would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, the main character here isn’t Hamlet (or Hamlett, in this case), lucky us (who actually likes og Hamlet, genuinely, from a personal point of view?), but Horatio! I’m a fan of Horatio, the original character and the one we read about in this novel, so that was a pleasant surprise. Believe it or not, I sort of liked Hamlett (not Hamlet), as much as you can like him in this book, I’d say. Then there’s Lia, gorgeous Lia, who never did anything wrong in her life, ever. Massive fan.
You might not be able to tell from what I’ve said so far but, they’re a couple. The three of them. A throuple? I mean, it’s up to you whether or not they got to be one, but I’d say if the love was there then they were. But was the love there? Because I’m not entirely sure it was, from one of the three. Hard to guess who it could be. Yeah, no it isn’t.
Hamlett was focused on other things, I think. Whatever affection he felt for both Lia and Horatio ultimately landed second place, because my guy was focused more on “ruling the world” with Horatio than he ever did acting like a romantic partner. And I would’ve expected him to be more focused on other things, don’t get me wrong, but I was thinking more like the violent death of his father? Which he did care, a hundred percent, that’s kind of what this book is about. But yeah all the “we will rule the world together” that were dropped were a million too many.
That’s the main con I have, pretty much. The last quarter felt pretty slow, but that’s it really. And also, I would’ve loved to know more about Emilee. Just because of how many times she was mentioned in this book. Okay, now I’m done. On to the pros!
The queer rep was amazing. And never forced. Horatio is trans and that’s a big part of who he is, same with Lia. I don’t think I’ve read or even heard of a book focusing on not one but two trans people who also are romantically involved with one another. That’s honestly one of the best parts of the book, the effortless queer representation.
Then the fact that the original play came into its own, with a fantasy aspect, a magical school, what have you. Really unique, very cool to read. I really liked the focus on all the different parental relationships we had here, and it felt appropriate, considering the main catalyst of the book.
I didn’t have any major problems with the writing, it was just a means to tell the story in this case, to me at least. I just wanted to know the story and the writing just passed me by. It was slightly repetitive though, I noticed. Like, literally. In multiple instances the main character would say the same thing a few times in a row. That did infuriate me just slightly, but it’s not the biggest problem.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, there’s really nothing for it, it’s my kind of book if done correctly. And this book mostly was! Which is why my rating is pretty high, if I do say so myself. I’d give this a 4.5/5⭐️ I can’t help it, it wasn’t perfect, but it worked. Would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dnf-but-might-retry
May 10, 2026WHY CAN'T HAMLET RETELLINGS BE GOOD!
like ok. i know i'm picky. but i really truly believe no one is doing it right. this one was especially irritating because it was actually doing (and possibly doing well, even) something i don't often see, but it was so unreadable for other reasons that i couldn't even appreciate it. i tried to drag myself through to see the payoff but it felt like it was taking me 100 years to even get as far as i did (~30%).
the thing it was doing that i was super interested in was taking themes or metaphors from the source text and making them real and concrete things the characters have to deal with. like, horatio (the main character) is a time magician. i think time is something fascinating to deal with in hamlet thematically, and now there is an actual element of time manipulation! and giving it to horatio, the one who has the most time and is left to tell the story, is really smart and interesting. another thing is dreams and memory - the author has taken several lines from the play and bundled them into dream/memory magic worldbuilding and how characters interact with it. super cool. this sort of careful, close read adaptation of themes and lines is my favorite in retellings and i rarely see it to the degree i wish it were used.
HOWEVER. the prose was unreadable. it's like the author was trying to be meandering and profound and atmospheric and appropriately mysterious and Convey Emotion such as Yearning and Angst but all it did was make it hard to understand what even was happening and also annoy me. the fact that everything horatio experienced was somehow agonizing and profound got old after a while! and i was not convinced everything was agonizing and profound after all! and it made it so hard to tell what horatio was actually thinking in that moment.
and ok there was the unreliability of narration aspect and the "this is horatio looking back" aspect. which could be very cool for hamlet (esp horatio). but i've read books that do that successfully and this book is not doing it successfully.
my other main complaint was that the worldbuilding made nooo sense. i poke it once and there are suddenly 48943 holes. now, sometimes books that just expect us to accept unexplained worldbuilding/magic systems work! this one Did Not At All. so not only did i not understand what was going on, when i did understand what was going on it didn't make sense anyway.
so basically i'm cranky bc i can tell the author understands hamlet and has things to say about it and has thought a lot about it and their book. but the way they've gone about writing it makes it impossible for me to enjoy or even finish.
(if you would like a hamlet retelling i would wholeheartedly endorse, i will recommend the king of infinte space by lyndsay faye)
like ok. i know i'm picky. but i really truly believe no one is doing it right. this one was especially irritating because it was actually doing (and possibly doing well, even) something i don't often see, but it was so unreadable for other reasons that i couldn't even appreciate it. i tried to drag myself through to see the payoff but it felt like it was taking me 100 years to even get as far as i did (~30%).
the thing it was doing that i was super interested in was taking themes or metaphors from the source text and making them real and concrete things the characters have to deal with. like, horatio (the main character) is a time magician. i think time is something fascinating to deal with in hamlet thematically, and now there is an actual element of time manipulation! and giving it to horatio, the one who has the most time and is left to tell the story, is really smart and interesting. another thing is dreams and memory - the author has taken several lines from the play and bundled them into dream/memory magic worldbuilding and how characters interact with it. super cool. this sort of careful, close read adaptation of themes and lines is my favorite in retellings and i rarely see it to the degree i wish it were used.
HOWEVER. the prose was unreadable. it's like the author was trying to be meandering and profound and atmospheric and appropriately mysterious and Convey Emotion such as Yearning and Angst but all it did was make it hard to understand what even was happening and also annoy me. the fact that everything horatio experienced was somehow agonizing and profound got old after a while! and i was not convinced everything was agonizing and profound after all! and it made it so hard to tell what horatio was actually thinking in that moment.
and ok there was the unreliability of narration aspect and the "this is horatio looking back" aspect. which could be very cool for hamlet (esp horatio). but i've read books that do that successfully and this book is not doing it successfully.
my other main complaint was that the worldbuilding made nooo sense. i poke it once and there are suddenly 48943 holes. now, sometimes books that just expect us to accept unexplained worldbuilding/magic systems work! this one Did Not At All. so not only did i not understand what was going on, when i did understand what was going on it didn't make sense anyway.
so basically i'm cranky bc i can tell the author understands hamlet and has things to say about it and has thought a lot about it and their book. but the way they've gone about writing it makes it impossible for me to enjoy or even finish.
(if you would like a hamlet retelling i would wholeheartedly endorse, i will recommend the king of infinte space by lyndsay faye)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25*
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced e-arc of this book.
I loved the idea of this so much, but I do think it was written to prematurely and too big a project that wasn’t really thought out. This is a story worth telling, and I wish it had been done later in her career, with a bit more experience.
The frequent emphasis on the fact that we are being told a story that already happened, sadly makes this feel more info dumpy than it had to be.
Feels a bit all over the place and repetitive in the way the narration is portrayed as well as the same facts being stated over and over again, even multiple times in the same chapters. Like I understand why, but as a reader it’s very hard to get through and it takes away from the story and the payoff is not worth it at the end.
I probably would not have picked this up if I knew how much of the narrative would be playing with time, as that isn’t really something I enjoy in books, and I often find it to be messy, and this was no exception.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced e-arc of this book.
I loved the idea of this so much, but I do think it was written to prematurely and too big a project that wasn’t really thought out. This is a story worth telling, and I wish it had been done later in her career, with a bit more experience.
The frequent emphasis on the fact that we are being told a story that already happened, sadly makes this feel more info dumpy than it had to be.
Feels a bit all over the place and repetitive in the way the narration is portrayed as well as the same facts being stated over and over again, even multiple times in the same chapters. Like I understand why, but as a reader it’s very hard to get through and it takes away from the story and the payoff is not worth it at the end.
I probably would not have picked this up if I knew how much of the narrative would be playing with time, as that isn’t really something I enjoy in books, and I often find it to be messy, and this was no exception.
September 24, 2026
Real Rating: 2.5* of five
The Publisher Says: A struggling student, a resident golden boy, and the curse that will bring them together: this queer, trans retelling is Hamlet as you’ve never read it before
Exploring classism, identity, and the true meaning of revolution, this dark academia novel is perfect for fans of R. F. Kuang’s Babel
The summer before his sophomore year, Horatio Bithersea walks into the university library to find Carson Hamlett, resident golden boy and master magician, cradling his father’s dead body. Life at Elsinore, one of the most prestigious universities in the secretive magical world, simply goes on when the professor’s death is ruled an accident—despite the mysterious circumstances and the bloody scene.
A year later, Horatio is keeping his head down, attempting to graduate without his out-of-control magic harming his classmates. That changes when the ghost of Hamlett’s father appears and places a curse on Horatio and Hamlett: avenge his death by destroying Elsinore and its heart, lest the ghost robs them of their minds, memories, and their very souls.
Elsinore has given Horatio everything—knowledge of his magical ability, an escape from his abusive family, and freedom to pursue his life as a transgender man—and now he’s to be its doom. As the two uncover more of Elsinore’s secrets, Horatio finds himself becoming more and more ensnared in Hamlett’s dark but charismatic web.
The question is not if Horatio will manage to destroy Elsinore. The question is if Hamlett will destroy him first. This twisty, queer, dark academia is a brand-new take on the questions that haunt Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: To read, or not to read: that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous youthful solipsism, or to take leave from Horatio's roiling inner-sea of troubles, and by opposing the demand to re-tread deepworn paths leading to that ever-stormy inner-sea, end them at bloody last; to die to this endlessly refought battle, finally to sleep through more youthful Sturm und Drang; and by a sleep, to say we end...at least my unwilling awareness of...the heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks that solipsistic young transmasc Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.
I read the whole bleedin' thing and I want those hours back.
DAW thinks $15.99 works as a price for the ebook...I disagree.
The Publisher Says: A struggling student, a resident golden boy, and the curse that will bring them together: this queer, trans retelling is Hamlet as you’ve never read it before
Exploring classism, identity, and the true meaning of revolution, this dark academia novel is perfect for fans of R. F. Kuang’s Babel
The summer before his sophomore year, Horatio Bithersea walks into the university library to find Carson Hamlett, resident golden boy and master magician, cradling his father’s dead body. Life at Elsinore, one of the most prestigious universities in the secretive magical world, simply goes on when the professor’s death is ruled an accident—despite the mysterious circumstances and the bloody scene.
A year later, Horatio is keeping his head down, attempting to graduate without his out-of-control magic harming his classmates. That changes when the ghost of Hamlett’s father appears and places a curse on Horatio and Hamlett: avenge his death by destroying Elsinore and its heart, lest the ghost robs them of their minds, memories, and their very souls.
Elsinore has given Horatio everything—knowledge of his magical ability, an escape from his abusive family, and freedom to pursue his life as a transgender man—and now he’s to be its doom. As the two uncover more of Elsinore’s secrets, Horatio finds himself becoming more and more ensnared in Hamlett’s dark but charismatic web.
The question is not if Horatio will manage to destroy Elsinore. The question is if Hamlett will destroy him first. This twisty, queer, dark academia is a brand-new take on the questions that haunt Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: To read, or not to read: that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous youthful solipsism, or to take leave from Horatio's roiling inner-sea of troubles, and by opposing the demand to re-tread deepworn paths leading to that ever-stormy inner-sea, end them at bloody last; to die to this endlessly refought battle, finally to sleep through more youthful Sturm und Drang; and by a sleep, to say we end...at least my unwilling awareness of...the heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks that solipsistic young transmasc Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.
I read the whole bleedin' thing and I want those hours back.
DAW thinks $15.99 works as a price for the ebook...I disagree.
September 13, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 5.0 stars.
I loved this, the depth of the plot and the magic with it’s layers, I was hooked from the beginning.
This story follows a trans male called Horatio as he navigates a new school year in a magic school. The story picks up after the events of a death of a professor so when Horatio returns to school the tension is thick already from this loss, but this loss only seems to be holding him and his friend Hamlett hostage. The story develops into an insane plot where this death will lead these two to complete destruction of the school or more death. The story has romantic undertones, found family vibes and pure chaos. I found the plot had atlas six vibes as the characters had this superiority with magic and this drive that becomes pure ego and rage with power at their fingertips.
I fell abit inlove with the complexity of the story, the magic and what may be next.
I loved this, the depth of the plot and the magic with it’s layers, I was hooked from the beginning.
This story follows a trans male called Horatio as he navigates a new school year in a magic school. The story picks up after the events of a death of a professor so when Horatio returns to school the tension is thick already from this loss, but this loss only seems to be holding him and his friend Hamlett hostage. The story develops into an insane plot where this death will lead these two to complete destruction of the school or more death. The story has romantic undertones, found family vibes and pure chaos. I found the plot had atlas six vibes as the characters had this superiority with magic and this drive that becomes pure ego and rage with power at their fingertips.
I fell abit inlove with the complexity of the story, the magic and what may be next.
Did Not Finish
September 14, 2026i really tried, but i couldn’t handle reading “humdrum” anymore. it’s in the book 62 times.
dnf @ 20%. as much as i wanted to like this, the writing & prose felt very repetitive and choppy and continuing to push through the story became daunting.
dnf @ 20%. as much as i wanted to like this, the writing & prose felt very repetitive and choppy and continuing to push through the story became daunting.
Did Not Finish
August 25, 2026After seeing the beautiful cover and reading the interesting premise I wanted nothing more than to love this book but I feel like it just isn’t for me.
The main character is pretty insufferable, but not in a good way and the way we’re always being foreshadowed for something huge that never comes?
The writing is as okay but I have to admit that it felt mundane as well.
The main character is pretty insufferable, but not in a good way and the way we’re always being foreshadowed for something huge that never comes?
The writing is as okay but I have to admit that it felt mundane as well.
July 26, 2026
3 stars
First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me an audio copy of this book.
I went into this book without having read Hamlet or knowing much about it. And I found myself so disappointed.
Not because the book is poorly written, it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
I find it very hard to review this book, because I can tell the author put a lot of work into this book. It’s really not a bad book, I just failed to connect with it.
The writing style makes sense for the characters. I liked how there was trans representation without it being one of the main issues. They were just trans and that’s okay. No transphobia or anything. I really liked it.
It's one of those books that will either be for you or not be for you at all. Which definitely is okay!
First of all, thank you & Netgalley so much for sending me an audio copy of this book.
I went into this book without having read Hamlet or knowing much about it. And I found myself so disappointed.
Not because the book is poorly written, it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
I find it very hard to review this book, because I can tell the author put a lot of work into this book. It’s really not a bad book, I just failed to connect with it.
The writing style makes sense for the characters. I liked how there was trans representation without it being one of the main issues. They were just trans and that’s okay. No transphobia or anything. I really liked it.
It's one of those books that will either be for you or not be for you at all. Which definitely is okay!
September 15, 2026
Happy pub day!
Thank you so much to DAW books for the gifted copy!
I want to preface this by saying I HIGHLY recommend reading the original play before diving into this. It increased my reading experience tenfold, and the retelling itself was probably my favorite part. Knowing the original play almost feels paramount to fully appreciating what Patrick has done here, and I had a blast being able to recognize the parallels in plot and characters.
I thought Patrick absolutely nailed the execution of the Hamlet retelling. There were so many clever parallels and reinterpretations and I loved seeing how familiar characters and storylines were transformed into something new while maintaining the essence of the original. I also thought the portrayal of Horatio’s trans identity was beautifully done. It felt realistic and authentic and I appreciated how naturally it was woven into his character in the story.
TBB explores some really interesting themes too. Power, class, institutional corruption, revenge, identity, and what happens when someone you love becomes consumed by vengeance. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of toxic love and how being blinded by love can distort our judgement.
All that said, I did have some reservations about the writing. There are aspects of the style that were clearly intentional and specifically rendered for the narrative, which I can appreciate, but there were also many moments where the writing felt clunky and, at times, slightly juvenile. I also wanted more from the world building. I found myself wishing for more showing and less telling when it came to Elsinore and the magic system. At times I felt like I was being told about this fascinating world rather than getting to fully experience it. I felt similarly about the relationships between the main characters. I wanted more time to actually experience those relationships developing. I understood that these characters cared deeply for one another but I didn’t feel like I had been given enough time with them to understand why. Horatio is portrayed as an outcast, but is somehow best friends with the most popular and powerful people in school. Another reason why I think reading the original beforehand really helped.
Despite those criticisms, the last 1/3 of the book really pulled me in and ultimately bumped this from a 3 to a 4 star. The ending made the journey worthwhile and I’m glad I stuck with it.
Overall I think fans of dark fantasy and academia could really appreciate this one, and I’ll definitely be interested to see what else Patrick writes in the future bc while I did have my qualms, the retelling was clever, ambitious, and a genuinely fun experience.
Thank you so much to DAW books for the gifted copy!
I want to preface this by saying I HIGHLY recommend reading the original play before diving into this. It increased my reading experience tenfold, and the retelling itself was probably my favorite part. Knowing the original play almost feels paramount to fully appreciating what Patrick has done here, and I had a blast being able to recognize the parallels in plot and characters.
I thought Patrick absolutely nailed the execution of the Hamlet retelling. There were so many clever parallels and reinterpretations and I loved seeing how familiar characters and storylines were transformed into something new while maintaining the essence of the original. I also thought the portrayal of Horatio’s trans identity was beautifully done. It felt realistic and authentic and I appreciated how naturally it was woven into his character in the story.
TBB explores some really interesting themes too. Power, class, institutional corruption, revenge, identity, and what happens when someone you love becomes consumed by vengeance. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of toxic love and how being blinded by love can distort our judgement.
All that said, I did have some reservations about the writing. There are aspects of the style that were clearly intentional and specifically rendered for the narrative, which I can appreciate, but there were also many moments where the writing felt clunky and, at times, slightly juvenile. I also wanted more from the world building. I found myself wishing for more showing and less telling when it came to Elsinore and the magic system. At times I felt like I was being told about this fascinating world rather than getting to fully experience it. I felt similarly about the relationships between the main characters. I wanted more time to actually experience those relationships developing. I understood that these characters cared deeply for one another but I didn’t feel like I had been given enough time with them to understand why. Horatio is portrayed as an outcast, but is somehow best friends with the most popular and powerful people in school. Another reason why I think reading the original beforehand really helped.
Despite those criticisms, the last 1/3 of the book really pulled me in and ultimately bumped this from a 3 to a 4 star. The ending made the journey worthwhile and I’m glad I stuck with it.
Overall I think fans of dark fantasy and academia could really appreciate this one, and I’ll definitely be interested to see what else Patrick writes in the future bc while I did have my qualms, the retelling was clever, ambitious, and a genuinely fun experience.
September 15, 2026
Happy Pubday to this queer dark academia fantasy retelling of Hamlet, from Horatio's POV. This could have gone so wrong but it was clear the author has the same relationship as I do with Hamlet and R&G are Dead, thanks to AP English teachers. Everyone else, um good luck, this might be bleak. However, if you're familiar with the primary texts, this captures the essence of every character, well adapted to the magic school genre, and even had the same tonal and emotional beats for those characters. The big changes such as Horatio and Lia (Ophelia) being trans and in a polyamorous dynamic with Hamlet(t) actually serve the canonical undercurrents that queer close readings of Hamlet have often clocked. All of this being from Horatio's POV adds a richness of perspective not only from the original text perspective but also from the worldbuilding of this story itself. For most of this book, all of those elements, classic and new and subversive and Absurdist, are in this brilliant dance with a narrative voice that is not only theatrical but also reflects how memory works, especially given the memory magic element of all of this. However, as the story entered the final act, things got extremely chaotic for those very same reasons as it rushed to catch up with the original ending but from the sidelines by a character that wasn't meant to survive this long. However, I do think it stuck the landing in terms of making the subtexts of a centuries old story the actual text by calling out all the hypocrisies and sparing those who didn't deserve to be fridged to justify a cruel and unempathic protagonist that has always been every version of Hamlet. Overall, I'm quite impressed with the author's ambition in what I believe is a debut novel. The execution could've perhaps been better with a better editor but could also be smoothed out on audiobook potentially. Thanks to Netgalley for this ebook ARC. Excited to see what the author does next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🖋️ Author: Auden Patrick
📖 Title: Thoughts Be Bloody
📅 Pub Day: September 15, 2026
💌 Publisher: DAW
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9780756420482
⏱️ Length: 370 pages
📌 Genre(s): Dark Academia, Fantasy, Queer Fiction
⭐ Star Rating: 5
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
This was so good. If Hamlet, Harry Potter, Vicious by VE Schwab, and Saltburn had a queer, dark academia baby, this is exactly what you'd get. Horatio finding safety and community at Elsinore, a place where he can just exist as himself, only to get cursed into potentially destroying the one place that ever felt like home, is such a gut punch of a setup.
I haven't actually read Hamlet, so I can't speak to how closely this follows the original, but it didn't matter at all going in blind. Horatio and Carson's dynamic carried the whole thing for me. There's loyalty, tension, and a whole lot of secrets neither of them really wants to deal with. Horatio isn’t always likable, and that’s what made him feel real. He’s messy, he’s desperate, he wants things he probably shouldn’t.
The dark academia atmosphere is done really well too. The elitist, secretive magic school vibe layered on top of a twisty mystery. Perfect read for the spooky season honestly.
The fact that this is a debut is actually wild. Already looking forward to book two, there is clearly so much more story left to tell.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ magical school settings
✔️ Shakespeare retellings
✔️ persistent ghosts
✔️ trans main characters
✔️ morally complicated characters
✔️ slow burn
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Auden Patrick, and DAW for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
📖 Title: Thoughts Be Bloody
📅 Pub Day: September 15, 2026
💌 Publisher: DAW
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9780756420482
⏱️ Length: 370 pages
📌 Genre(s): Dark Academia, Fantasy, Queer Fiction
⭐ Star Rating: 5
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
This was so good. If Hamlet, Harry Potter, Vicious by VE Schwab, and Saltburn had a queer, dark academia baby, this is exactly what you'd get. Horatio finding safety and community at Elsinore, a place where he can just exist as himself, only to get cursed into potentially destroying the one place that ever felt like home, is such a gut punch of a setup.
I haven't actually read Hamlet, so I can't speak to how closely this follows the original, but it didn't matter at all going in blind. Horatio and Carson's dynamic carried the whole thing for me. There's loyalty, tension, and a whole lot of secrets neither of them really wants to deal with. Horatio isn’t always likable, and that’s what made him feel real. He’s messy, he’s desperate, he wants things he probably shouldn’t.
The dark academia atmosphere is done really well too. The elitist, secretive magic school vibe layered on top of a twisty mystery. Perfect read for the spooky season honestly.
The fact that this is a debut is actually wild. Already looking forward to book two, there is clearly so much more story left to tell.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ magical school settings
✔️ Shakespeare retellings
✔️ persistent ghosts
✔️ trans main characters
✔️ morally complicated characters
✔️ slow burn
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Auden Patrick, and DAW for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
September 18, 2026
“You may ask me what magic feels like—it feels like this: being chosen, being found, being seen for what you really are.”
Thank you NetGalley, DAW Books, and Auden Patrick for the eARC of Thoughts Be Bloody.
This beautiful, tragic (I mean obviously. It’s Hamlet) and gloriously queer retelling of Hamlet took me by surprise. It admittedly took a second for me to get into it but in hindsight sight I don’t know if I was intimidated by my fuzzy memories of the plot of Hamlet or if it was because I knew these characters were going to break my heart.
I really love Auden Patrick’s style. The repetition and call backs strengthen the narrative and the general feeling of being caught in the threads of Horatio’s memories of how the story unfolds. I was impressed by this debut and I eagerly await whatever Auden Patrick does next.
Thank you NetGalley, DAW Books, and Auden Patrick for the eARC of Thoughts Be Bloody.
This beautiful, tragic (I mean obviously. It’s Hamlet) and gloriously queer retelling of Hamlet took me by surprise. It admittedly took a second for me to get into it but in hindsight sight I don’t know if I was intimidated by my fuzzy memories of the plot of Hamlet or if it was because I knew these characters were going to break my heart.
I really love Auden Patrick’s style. The repetition and call backs strengthen the narrative and the general feeling of being caught in the threads of Horatio’s memories of how the story unfolds. I was impressed by this debut and I eagerly await whatever Auden Patrick does next.
August 13, 2026
netgalley arc :3
a queer trans retelling of shakespeare with magic? consider me HOOKED! once i was fully into this book i couldn’t put it down.
the development of the character’s through the story is so interesting, the persona’s that you’re introduced to them with horatio and carson “golden boy” hamlett slowly unravelling as you progress and showing their flaws & real motivations is so so good.
i also loved how the author used tense changes & forth wall breaks throughout as it gave another layer to how horatio felt as he discovered and learnt how to use his specialty and what came with it.
and oh my god FINALLY a book with an accurate love triangle where all three are yearning for one another and not just two characters fighting over another i’ve prayed for days like these.
a queer trans retelling of shakespeare with magic? consider me HOOKED! once i was fully into this book i couldn’t put it down.
the development of the character’s through the story is so interesting, the persona’s that you’re introduced to them with horatio and carson “golden boy” hamlett slowly unravelling as you progress and showing their flaws & real motivations is so so good.
i also loved how the author used tense changes & forth wall breaks throughout as it gave another layer to how horatio felt as he discovered and learnt how to use his specialty and what came with it.
and oh my god FINALLY a book with an accurate love triangle where all three are yearning for one another and not just two characters fighting over another i’ve prayed for days like these.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thoughts be Bloody by Auden Patrick
Published by DAW
OUT NOW!!!
This is a retelling of Hamlet!
Queer and trans makes this a former classic a brand new story.
A dark academia story in a new jacket.
In this story we only follow Horatio.
All the choices he makes comes from the heart, how impossible those choices can be.
Power doesn't make him dangerous, love does!
Horatio is queer and trans and at the end of the story i thought he needed some hugs and love.
If you ever read Hamlet you'll read things from the original.
The story was beautiful written and love to recommend.
Thanks to @netgalley and @dawbooks
for this amazing retelling of Hamlet.
I really had a good time with it.
#netgalley #booktok #booksta
#thoughtsbebloody #books
Thoughts be Bloody by Auden Patrick
Published by DAW
OUT NOW!!!
This is a retelling of Hamlet!
Queer and trans makes this a former classic a brand new story.
A dark academia story in a new jacket.
In this story we only follow Horatio.
All the choices he makes comes from the heart, how impossible those choices can be.
Power doesn't make him dangerous, love does!
Horatio is queer and trans and at the end of the story i thought he needed some hugs and love.
If you ever read Hamlet you'll read things from the original.
The story was beautiful written and love to recommend.
Thanks to @netgalley and @dawbooks
for this amazing retelling of Hamlet.
I really had a good time with it.
#netgalley #booktok #booksta
#thoughtsbebloody #books
July 6, 2026
I got this ARC from my job and let me tell you, I was completely blown away. Maybe part of it is that I haven’t read the original hamlet before, but I thought this story felt new and exceeded all my expectations. Horatio going from barely skating by at Elsinore to discovering his specialty magic and becoming one of the most powerful magicians filled me with so much joy. I felt like the writing was incredible and poetic and kept me wanting to finish it in one sitting even though I didn’t have the time. All in all I would highly recommend if you like literary pieces, magic, and queer tragedies.
Did Not Finish
September 10, 2026This was a bit too ho-hum and la dee da for me. The narrator was certainly flawed— constantly misremembering, correcting themselves, getting caught up in their own thoughts. And that would have been fine, but they kept stressing about getting kicked out of their magic school yet did nothing about it?? The self-sabotage was strong here. The writing was extremely repetitive. The magic system was conceptually cool, but overly complicated for the scope of the story.
Want to Read
July 6, 2026🩸🕯️ Thoughts Be Bloody 🕯️🩸
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Queer
• Dark Academia
• Magic School
• Ghosts &Curses
• Rivals to Lovers
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 15, 2026
Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
A full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Queer
• Dark Academia
• Magic School
• Ghosts &Curses
• Rivals to Lovers
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 15, 2026
Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Did Not Finish
May 2, 2026 Thank you to Netgalley and DAW for the eARC
I'm sorry but I won't finish this one. It's very classical dark academia, with a murder, obsession, first person narration, and magic. And a trans character! Which will appeal to a lot of people.
Unfortunately, I was quite bored. Since our narrator isn't exactly the protagonist in the sense that he is leading the story.
Quite, sad, because queer stories by queer author are such an important addition. Plus, the cover is wonderful.
Hope the book will find its reader!
I'm sorry but I won't finish this one. It's very classical dark academia, with a murder, obsession, first person narration, and magic. And a trans character! Which will appeal to a lot of people.
Unfortunately, I was quite bored. Since our narrator isn't exactly the protagonist in the sense that he is leading the story.
Quite, sad, because queer stories by queer author are such an important addition. Plus, the cover is wonderful.
Hope the book will find its reader!
Did Not Finish
May 12, 2026DNF @ 40%
Did Not Finish
April 26, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I went into this with super high expectations because a queer trans retelling of Shakespeare? Sign me up. However, this was not working for me at 20% in.
The narration style. I genuinely struggled with it. I feel like if this was an audiobook I could've probably connected with the story more. That is not a book problem- that is 100% a me problem.
But I was also getting bored at 20% in and didn't feel like continuing either way. Shame since the cover is absolutely stunning. I may try this book again one day if/when an audiobook comes out.
I went into this with super high expectations because a queer trans retelling of Shakespeare? Sign me up. However, this was not working for me at 20% in.
The narration style. I genuinely struggled with it. I feel like if this was an audiobook I could've probably connected with the story more. That is not a book problem- that is 100% a me problem.
But I was also getting bored at 20% in and didn't feel like continuing either way. Shame since the cover is absolutely stunning. I may try this book again one day if/when an audiobook comes out.
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