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The Rest Is Silence
Shakespeare goes Shakesqueer.Inspired by one of Shakespeare's greatest classics, this is a story about love.Alexander is a prince betrothed to his absolutely charming and beautiful friend. Tough luck that he is not attracted to her in the least. Or to any woman, for that matter. Why did he have to fall for his best friend, the son of the captain of the king's guard and - most importantly - a man? It would have been so much easier to just marry Arcadia and have cute little babies with her. But Xander's life is never easy. And it is about to get so much more complicated.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
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March 26, 2022Dnfing this at around 15%
the writing feels weirdly modern for the story and I keep getting confused because the two main characters are called Xander and Xavier.
*high-fives shakespeare's ghost* the gayer the better tho, amirite?
the writing feels weirdly modern for the story and I keep getting confused because the two main characters are called Xander and Xavier.
*high-fives shakespeare's ghost* the gayer the better tho, amirite?
February 6, 2020
As if Shakespeare wasn’t already gay enough, Rempel’s queer version of Hamlet certainly did the trick. While it reads more like flossy fanfiction, it undoubtedly contains many aspects unique from the source material. The cryptic title signifies Hamlet’s dying words in the play, meaning he is not sure about where he will go after death, only that it will be silent. And yet, this novel is roaring with sound.
As the crown prince of Jütland, Alexander Maleth doesn’t have the easiest life, especially not now. King Alfred, his father, only died weeks ago, and his mother is already planning to make his uncle her new husband. He himself is betrothed to the beautiful Arcadia, and while she is nothing but pleasant, he isn’t attracted to her at all. In fact, as if his life couldn’t be complicated enough, he’s in love with the son of the captain of the King’s guard. His best friend, a man. His life could only predict tragedy. Alas, that’s exactly what follows when his father’s ghost starts haunting him, demanding revenge for his murder.
The setting resumes in a medieval world that believes in gods, and has a slightly eerie touch given by forest spirits and the morbid. The writing style obviously needs some work, and some words get easily repeated, but it’s still enjoyable and simply smooth to read through. The pacing dragged a bit now and then, since the spotlight on the romance hindered the ghastly murder plot. There is no tricky scheming, and Alexander runs into his father’s spirit rather late in the book. I think the story definitely could have benefited from including more action and world exploration, like a deeper analysis of the uncle or the worshipped gods. However, it was still a luscious outline, with charismatic characters that were easy to like.
A lot of information about Alexander gets thrown into your face during the first pages. He’s still mourning, and obviously fed up with his new family structure. Like every prince, he’s a little arrogant, and there’s a lot of chaos in his thoughtful mind. His dramatic attitude fits perfectly into the authenticity of Shakespeare’s tragic writing. He kind of indulges into the tragic, instantly believing in ghosts. As the righteous king he’s meant to be, he’s respective of everyone disregarding wealth or gender. Not only is the person he has laid his eyes on a man, but also a man of color. Xavier is seemingly confident, but beneath that mask, he acts rather cautiously and with apprehension. He’s under a lot of pressure from his father, and he doesn’t really know what to do with his future yet. And then there’s Arcadia, an absolute delight. This wise girl spends her time with books and facts, and is therefore rather pragmatic, although she loves an adventure. She’s determined not to be someone else’s dream, but to achieve something herself. She might look like a generous girl, but when it comes to protecting the people she cares about, she can be hell of an intimidating goddess. And to top all of that? I saw some potential as for her being aromantic. She certainly won me over.
Personally, I prefer slow-burn, so knowing both character’s feelings from the start was bit of a let-down. Especially since Alexander was already very open concerning his sexuality, it would have been interesting to see Xavier come to realize his sentiment more gradually. There was room for more deliberate representation there. This doesn’t mean their particular relationship didn’t amuse me. Both are used to a near proximity, after growing up in loneliness in the castle. They know each other perfectly, and convey solace and comfort for the other. Due to misunderstandings, the brooding awkward tension is uncontainable. Here you have two lovestruck best friends not knowing how to act around each other. What’s not to like?
Some part of me understands why this novel isn’t hitting shelves, another part think it’s unfortunate. The Rest Is Silence soothed my desire to nourish in classic literature, with a 4 star rating, if not simply for the hilarious, laid-back dynamics. I deeply enjoyed the considerate friendship between Alexander and Arcadia, who continuously supports him throughout his sexuality doubts. Especially the ending shocked me. It was nothing like I expected, and I absolutely loved the morbid tone of it. I already knew it to be tragic, but it threw the original set-up completely overboard while still honoring the reputable play-writer. It wasn’t Shakespeare, but…it also was.
As the crown prince of Jütland, Alexander Maleth doesn’t have the easiest life, especially not now. King Alfred, his father, only died weeks ago, and his mother is already planning to make his uncle her new husband. He himself is betrothed to the beautiful Arcadia, and while she is nothing but pleasant, he isn’t attracted to her at all. In fact, as if his life couldn’t be complicated enough, he’s in love with the son of the captain of the King’s guard. His best friend, a man. His life could only predict tragedy. Alas, that’s exactly what follows when his father’s ghost starts haunting him, demanding revenge for his murder.
The setting resumes in a medieval world that believes in gods, and has a slightly eerie touch given by forest spirits and the morbid. The writing style obviously needs some work, and some words get easily repeated, but it’s still enjoyable and simply smooth to read through. The pacing dragged a bit now and then, since the spotlight on the romance hindered the ghastly murder plot. There is no tricky scheming, and Alexander runs into his father’s spirit rather late in the book. I think the story definitely could have benefited from including more action and world exploration, like a deeper analysis of the uncle or the worshipped gods. However, it was still a luscious outline, with charismatic characters that were easy to like.
"Everything boils down to this. To this nameless thing, stripped of gender and wealth, title and class. In the end, we're all the same. We return to the dirt we came from, no matter if it was mud or gold."
A lot of information about Alexander gets thrown into your face during the first pages. He’s still mourning, and obviously fed up with his new family structure. Like every prince, he’s a little arrogant, and there’s a lot of chaos in his thoughtful mind. His dramatic attitude fits perfectly into the authenticity of Shakespeare’s tragic writing. He kind of indulges into the tragic, instantly believing in ghosts. As the righteous king he’s meant to be, he’s respective of everyone disregarding wealth or gender. Not only is the person he has laid his eyes on a man, but also a man of color. Xavier is seemingly confident, but beneath that mask, he acts rather cautiously and with apprehension. He’s under a lot of pressure from his father, and he doesn’t really know what to do with his future yet. And then there’s Arcadia, an absolute delight. This wise girl spends her time with books and facts, and is therefore rather pragmatic, although she loves an adventure. She’s determined not to be someone else’s dream, but to achieve something herself. She might look like a generous girl, but when it comes to protecting the people she cares about, she can be hell of an intimidating goddess. And to top all of that? I saw some potential as for her being aromantic. She certainly won me over.
Personally, I prefer slow-burn, so knowing both character’s feelings from the start was bit of a let-down. Especially since Alexander was already very open concerning his sexuality, it would have been interesting to see Xavier come to realize his sentiment more gradually. There was room for more deliberate representation there. This doesn’t mean their particular relationship didn’t amuse me. Both are used to a near proximity, after growing up in loneliness in the castle. They know each other perfectly, and convey solace and comfort for the other. Due to misunderstandings, the brooding awkward tension is uncontainable. Here you have two lovestruck best friends not knowing how to act around each other. What’s not to like?
Some part of me understands why this novel isn’t hitting shelves, another part think it’s unfortunate. The Rest Is Silence soothed my desire to nourish in classic literature, with a 4 star rating, if not simply for the hilarious, laid-back dynamics. I deeply enjoyed the considerate friendship between Alexander and Arcadia, who continuously supports him throughout his sexuality doubts. Especially the ending shocked me. It was nothing like I expected, and I absolutely loved the morbid tone of it. I already knew it to be tragic, but it threw the original set-up completely overboard while still honoring the reputable play-writer. It wasn’t Shakespeare, but…it also was.
May 1, 2020
I was told this book is a gay version of Hamlet . I don't know shit about Shakespeare, so I didn't get any of the connections to the original characters or key scenes, but I did enjoy the story even if it was quite short and simple kept.
April 22, 2019
Okay, so a queer retelling of Hamlet. Alright, alright.
This is a complement and I do not want anyone interpreting it as bad critique: This is basically fluffy fan fiction of Hamlet. I liked it, like surprisingly a lot. An important thing to note that it is sort of an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet but there are not a lot of similarities. It's mostly the setup that's being used in the story so don't expect it to hold up the original story.
Hamlet, I mean lord Maleth, I mean: Alexander is the crown prince of Jütland whose father, King Aelfred, has just died a month ago. While the prince is still mourning, his mother is already planning the wedding with Aelfred's brother Claudius. The rest of the story is known. Alexander is visited by the ghost of his father, telling him that he's been murdered by his brother. Thus Alexander plans to avenge his father's death together with his best friends Arcadia and Xavier.
You should not dive into this story expecting an actual heavy adaptation of Hamlet. What's on the forefront is (Alexander) Xander's and Xavier love story. Only halfway through does the ghost visit Alexander in the middle of the night. There is no play to expose Claudius, no Fortinbras, no suicide of Ophelia, I mean Arcadia, and the story ends with different deaths (not spoiling who dies). What is similar is the fighting between the prince and his mother. His uncle who's guilty of the murder. The prince being a dramatic queen.
But yet again, I still liked it. It was very well written. Direct, simple and I got fluffy feelings reading it. That being weird since it was based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Xander's and Xavier's love story was very wholesome and a fun read. Two idiots not realizing their love for each other. one of my favourite tropes. I was sad it ended so quickly. Why couldn't it have been longer?
I would have loved it if the story had focused a little on Xavier's own feelings. Xander's sexuality is talked about frequently but Xavier is the one realizing he's bi and I would have loved it if the story had putt a little attention towards it.
It was easy to read and very enjoyable.
If I had to nitpick a few things: the fact Chii Rempel mixed up Xander and Xavier's names two times in the story. Perhaps the story could sometimes focus more on the Hamlet setup, because the focus was heavily on Xander and Xavier. Plus, once the story reaches its climax, it's over fast and I wanted more. It was wrapped up weirdly fast after having such a long build-up.
To counter that, I still liked the writing style. And yes, it felt similar to fan fiction. Many cusswords and surprisingly phrases or words used in a more modern setup against this sort of medieval/fantasy world. A lot of repetition of shoulder nudges, smiles and grins. Awkward flirting, staring at each other without realizing it and for way too long and panicking about one's feelings. The typical: 'He let go of a breath he didn't realise he was holding.' and: 'Were his eyes always this green?' And that's not a negative aspect, it made the reading light and amusing.
So if you're in for a fluffy story between a Captain's son falling for a dramatic prince. This is the story for you. Have fun reading it!
This is a complement and I do not want anyone interpreting it as bad critique: This is basically fluffy fan fiction of Hamlet. I liked it, like surprisingly a lot. An important thing to note that it is sort of an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet but there are not a lot of similarities. It's mostly the setup that's being used in the story so don't expect it to hold up the original story.
Hamlet, I mean lord Maleth, I mean: Alexander is the crown prince of Jütland whose father, King Aelfred, has just died a month ago. While the prince is still mourning, his mother is already planning the wedding with Aelfred's brother Claudius. The rest of the story is known. Alexander is visited by the ghost of his father, telling him that he's been murdered by his brother. Thus Alexander plans to avenge his father's death together with his best friends Arcadia and Xavier.
You should not dive into this story expecting an actual heavy adaptation of Hamlet. What's on the forefront is (Alexander) Xander's and Xavier love story. Only halfway through does the ghost visit Alexander in the middle of the night. There is no play to expose Claudius, no Fortinbras, no suicide of Ophelia, I mean Arcadia, and the story ends with different deaths (not spoiling who dies). What is similar is the fighting between the prince and his mother. His uncle who's guilty of the murder. The prince being a dramatic queen.
But yet again, I still liked it. It was very well written. Direct, simple and I got fluffy feelings reading it. That being weird since it was based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Xander's and Xavier's love story was very wholesome and a fun read. Two idiots not realizing their love for each other. one of my favourite tropes. I was sad it ended so quickly. Why couldn't it have been longer?
I would have loved it if the story had focused a little on Xavier's own feelings. Xander's sexuality is talked about frequently but Xavier is the one realizing he's bi and I would have loved it if the story had putt a little attention towards it.
It was easy to read and very enjoyable.
If I had to nitpick a few things: the fact Chii Rempel mixed up Xander and Xavier's names two times in the story. Perhaps the story could sometimes focus more on the Hamlet setup, because the focus was heavily on Xander and Xavier. Plus, once the story reaches its climax, it's over fast and I wanted more. It was wrapped up weirdly fast after having such a long build-up.
To counter that, I still liked the writing style. And yes, it felt similar to fan fiction. Many cusswords and surprisingly phrases or words used in a more modern setup against this sort of medieval/fantasy world. A lot of repetition of shoulder nudges, smiles and grins. Awkward flirting, staring at each other without realizing it and for way too long and panicking about one's feelings. The typical: 'He let go of a breath he didn't realise he was holding.' and: 'Were his eyes always this green?' And that's not a negative aspect, it made the reading light and amusing.
So if you're in for a fluffy story between a Captain's son falling for a dramatic prince. This is the story for you. Have fun reading it!
August 13, 2019
1.5
this beautiful cover lied to me.
rtc maybe. i'm tired.
this beautiful cover lied to me.
rtc maybe. i'm tired.
January 5, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It had many different aspects to it and kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next. I couldn't help falling in love with the characters and the relationships between them. My one problem was that both of the main character names start with an X so it was a little confusing for me to separate the two sometimes.
This story is based off of Hamlet so be warned. This story has romance, drama, friendships, relationships, ghosts, even a murder; what could go wrong? I loved that it was a m/m story though but was still PG 13. This book definitely hit me with the feels though and got me crying by the end of it. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this story but I'm glad I got to read it and start 2019 off with a good book!
This story is based off of Hamlet so be warned. This story has romance, drama, friendships, relationships, ghosts, even a murder; what could go wrong? I loved that it was a m/m story though but was still PG 13. This book definitely hit me with the feels though and got me crying by the end of it. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this story but I'm glad I got to read it and start 2019 off with a good book!
January 6, 2019
Erstmal vielen lieben Dank an Chii, dass ich dieses wunderbare Buch lesen durfte.
Da mein Englisch alles andere als super ist, schreibe ich meine Rezension auf Deutsch ;-)
Cover: 5/5
Die Tatsache, dass Chii Marie Graßhoff als Coverdesignerin gewählt hat, ist schon mal eine gute Entscheidung gewesen, denn Marie ist, meiner Meinung nach, eine der Besten Coverdesignerin.
Auch bei diesem Stück hat sie mal wieder ein wunderschönes Cover gezaubert, dass auch zum Inhalt passt.
Geschichte: 5/5
Der Inhalt des Buches ist echt schön. Chii hat schon am Anfang des Buches vorgewarnt, dass es Ähnlichkeiten mit einem Stück Shakespears haben könnte. Ohne der "Vorwarnung" hätte ich auf jeden Fall Punkte abgezogen, aber mit der Anmerkung macht sie es vorher schon klar und so sieht man ihr Werk nicht als Ähnlichkeit von Shakespear an sondern als ihr alleiniges Werk.
Mir hat die Welt, in der das Buch spielt, auch echt gefallen. Es hat etwas leicht magisches an sich auch wenn es eigentlich nicht wirklich magisch ist. Mir gefällt es einfach mega doll und ich möchte nicht spoilern, aber die Geschichte macht süchtig...
Gefühl: 5/5
Ich habe so doll mitgefiebert. Ich bin schlecht in englisch, wirklich war, aber trotzdem hat Chii es geschafft meine Gefühle verrückt spielen zu lassen <3
Erzählstil: 5/5
Zum dritten Mal: Mein Englisch ist sch**** und trotzdem habe ich den Inhalt verstanden, also danke dafür ;-) Spaß bei Seite, Chii hat einen wunderbaren Schreibstil, der sich super gut liest mehr ist dazu nicht zu sagen...
Figuren: 5/5
Auch die Protagonisten sind super gewählt und total sympathisch.
Es gab am Anfang zwar eine Verwechslung von Xander und Xavier, weil ich nicht verstanden habe, dass die Beiden zwei verschiedene Menschen sind, aber an sich sind die Beiden super sympathisch und süß. Auch Arcadia, die dritte im Bunde, ist echt cool drauf...
------------------------
Chii Rempel ist eine gute Autorin, die ein wunderschönes Buch geschrieben hat, das auch etwas historisches, dank der Anlehnung an Shakespear, an sich hat. Ihr Schreibstil überzeugt und fesselt einen an das Buch
Da mein Englisch alles andere als super ist, schreibe ich meine Rezension auf Deutsch ;-)
Cover: 5/5
Die Tatsache, dass Chii Marie Graßhoff als Coverdesignerin gewählt hat, ist schon mal eine gute Entscheidung gewesen, denn Marie ist, meiner Meinung nach, eine der Besten Coverdesignerin.
Auch bei diesem Stück hat sie mal wieder ein wunderschönes Cover gezaubert, dass auch zum Inhalt passt.
Geschichte: 5/5
Der Inhalt des Buches ist echt schön. Chii hat schon am Anfang des Buches vorgewarnt, dass es Ähnlichkeiten mit einem Stück Shakespears haben könnte. Ohne der "Vorwarnung" hätte ich auf jeden Fall Punkte abgezogen, aber mit der Anmerkung macht sie es vorher schon klar und so sieht man ihr Werk nicht als Ähnlichkeit von Shakespear an sondern als ihr alleiniges Werk.
Mir hat die Welt, in der das Buch spielt, auch echt gefallen. Es hat etwas leicht magisches an sich auch wenn es eigentlich nicht wirklich magisch ist. Mir gefällt es einfach mega doll und ich möchte nicht spoilern, aber die Geschichte macht süchtig...
Gefühl: 5/5
Ich habe so doll mitgefiebert. Ich bin schlecht in englisch, wirklich war, aber trotzdem hat Chii es geschafft meine Gefühle verrückt spielen zu lassen <3
Erzählstil: 5/5
Zum dritten Mal: Mein Englisch ist sch**** und trotzdem habe ich den Inhalt verstanden, also danke dafür ;-) Spaß bei Seite, Chii hat einen wunderbaren Schreibstil, der sich super gut liest mehr ist dazu nicht zu sagen...
Figuren: 5/5
Auch die Protagonisten sind super gewählt und total sympathisch.
Es gab am Anfang zwar eine Verwechslung von Xander und Xavier, weil ich nicht verstanden habe, dass die Beiden zwei verschiedene Menschen sind, aber an sich sind die Beiden super sympathisch und süß. Auch Arcadia, die dritte im Bunde, ist echt cool drauf...
------------------------
Chii Rempel ist eine gute Autorin, die ein wunderschönes Buch geschrieben hat, das auch etwas historisches, dank der Anlehnung an Shakespear, an sich hat. Ihr Schreibstil überzeugt und fesselt einen an das Buch
Did Not Finish
June 24, 2021Nothing against this book. It’s fine.
This is a queer Hamlet retelling and I was just in the mood for something a bit darker than what I’m getting from this particular book. It’s a bit too…light in tone? I might come back and finish it at some point. I did glimpse at the ending and it seems very inspired by . But that’s the thing? It’s already been done before soooo eh.
This book is with the prince (Hamlet) called Alexander but Xander for short, and a captain guard’s son called Xavier. Was it necessary to have two main characters with names starting with the same letter? It’s a bit confusing. Xavier is kind of a stand-in for a lot of other characters in the book instead of *just* Horatio, so that was an interesting choice. Arcadia (Ophelia) is lovely and I like her.
DNF @ 10% for now.
This is a queer Hamlet retelling and I was just in the mood for something a bit darker than what I’m getting from this particular book. It’s a bit too…light in tone? I might come back and finish it at some point. I did glimpse at the ending and it seems very inspired by . But that’s the thing? It’s already been done before soooo eh.
This book is with the prince (Hamlet) called Alexander but Xander for short, and a captain guard’s son called Xavier. Was it necessary to have two main characters with names starting with the same letter? It’s a bit confusing. Xavier is kind of a stand-in for a lot of other characters in the book instead of *just* Horatio, so that was an interesting choice. Arcadia (Ophelia) is lovely and I like her.
DNF @ 10% for now.
May 28, 2021
I rated it 4 stars because I read it in less than a day and though it felt as if i was reading a wattpad fanfiction, I enjoyed it as a light-hearted read. And also because I'm in love with the book cover.
The writing messed with my head, there would be sentences with beautiful words and then the next sentence would be so simple like the author wrote it in a hurry. Maybe that was intentional since I honestly didn't even know what Hamlet was about before I saw this was a retelling.
I also saw myself not caring for the characters at all. Maybe because of the way it was written, or because I knew they were all going to die anyway, but I barely reacted when I read the ending.
All in all, I enjoyed it and not above recommending it to someone.
The writing messed with my head, there would be sentences with beautiful words and then the next sentence would be so simple like the author wrote it in a hurry. Maybe that was intentional since I honestly didn't even know what Hamlet was about before I saw this was a retelling.
I also saw myself not caring for the characters at all. Maybe because of the way it was written, or because I knew they were all going to die anyway, but I barely reacted when I read the ending.
All in all, I enjoyed it and not above recommending it to someone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2019
I was lucky to get to know Xander, Xavier and Arcadia from a very early status on. And I loved it from the first sentence to the last. A story with everything a story needs - love, hate, friendship, ghosts, castles, mischievious butlers and a lot of feelings. The characters are nothing but special, loveable and perfect in imperfection. An absolute Highlight for 2019 - read it, get to know it, love it!
April 26, 2019
Actual rating 4.5 stars
When I finally got this book, I excitedly showed my husband and said, "Look! It's a retelling of Hamlet, but ~*GAY*~!"
He replied, "I thought Hamlet was already gay?"
"But in this, it is even ~*GAYER*~!"
And I was not disappointed.
The three main characters Xander, Xavier, and Arcadia are such a good crew and their personalities work so well together. They gave me some Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue vibes with their dynamics and personalities, but were still their own characters.
The plot was fun and fast paced, and thought it deviated enough from the source material to still feel like its own story instead of just a line by line retelling of Hamlet.
The romance was super great, and I am saying this as someone who usually cares more about plot than the romance when I read. I was rooting for Xander and Xavier the whole time, and thought the progression of their romance was believable and just super adorable.
~*~*SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING*~*~
I was crying so hard at the end of this book. Even though it was sad, the ending was my favorite part. This is because Xander and Xavier get to spend the rest of their lives together as gay forest spirits and I am 100% here for more endings like that.
When I finally got this book, I excitedly showed my husband and said, "Look! It's a retelling of Hamlet, but ~*GAY*~!"
He replied, "I thought Hamlet was already gay?"
"But in this, it is even ~*GAYER*~!"
And I was not disappointed.
The three main characters Xander, Xavier, and Arcadia are such a good crew and their personalities work so well together. They gave me some Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue vibes with their dynamics and personalities, but were still their own characters.
The plot was fun and fast paced, and thought it deviated enough from the source material to still feel like its own story instead of just a line by line retelling of Hamlet.
The romance was super great, and I am saying this as someone who usually cares more about plot than the romance when I read. I was rooting for Xander and Xavier the whole time, and thought the progression of their romance was believable and just super adorable.
~*~*SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING*~*~
I was crying so hard at the end of this book. Even though it was sad, the ending was my favorite part. This is because Xander and Xavier get to spend the rest of their lives together as gay forest spirits and I am 100% here for more endings like that.
November 30, 2018
A total 5star read!
Even if it broke my heart a little bit, it was in a completly good way. There's no way you do not fall in love with the main characters. Had a really good time reading this, it's fun, it's romantic and dramatic - is there more you need? I don't think so.
Even if it broke my heart a little bit, it was in a completly good way. There's no way you do not fall in love with the main characters. Had a really good time reading this, it's fun, it's romantic and dramatic - is there more you need? I don't think so.
June 12, 2024
2.5
My toxic trait is that whenever I read a retelling that doesn't really fulfill my expectations I go like ok fine I'll do it myself
My toxic trait is that whenever I read a retelling that doesn't really fulfill my expectations I go like ok fine I'll do it myself
January 1, 2019
I was one of the lucky ones who test read this novel and I must say that I enjoyed it from the very beginning.
The story is easy to get into, the characters are super likeable and the romance is so refreshing.
I fell in love with the three main characters Xander, Xavier and Arcadia and found their interactions a delight to read. The world built around these characters is mysterious with some surprises along the way.
I would totally recommend this book to readers in search of gay romance with loveable, well developed characters, sassy dialogues and a tinge of the supernatural.
The story is easy to get into, the characters are super likeable and the romance is so refreshing.
I fell in love with the three main characters Xander, Xavier and Arcadia and found their interactions a delight to read. The world built around these characters is mysterious with some surprises along the way.
I would totally recommend this book to readers in search of gay romance with loveable, well developed characters, sassy dialogues and a tinge of the supernatural.
June 6, 2020
Damn!
This book was phenomenal! I loved Xander and Xavier but for me Arcadia stole the show, she was such a strong well written character and the perfect support for Xander. I'm not going to say anything about the story because everything I want to say will be a spoiler but if you have the slightest interest in trying this book then do it.
This book was phenomenal! I loved Xander and Xavier but for me Arcadia stole the show, she was such a strong well written character and the perfect support for Xander. I'm not going to say anything about the story because everything I want to say will be a spoiler but if you have the slightest interest in trying this book then do it.
November 28, 2018
I admit, I might be a little biased, as I happen to have written the thing.
My first take on romance and my first book published in English.
I had a blast writing it, hopefully everyone has a good time reading it.
My first take on romance and my first book published in English.
I had a blast writing it, hopefully everyone has a good time reading it.
December 27, 2018
„Tea is the essence of life, darling, and if you doubt that I’m afraid we can’t be friends anymore.“
Oh boy. This book was so, so great! It was marketed as a gay romance retelling of Hamlet (basically as Shakespeare going Shakesqueer – god I love this wordplay, thanks Chii) and if there is one thing I’m always 100% there for, then it’s retellings. And oh wow did Chii deliver in this one.
From the three Protagonists Xander, Xavier and Arcadia (who were all perfect little cinnamon rolls, too good for this world and way too pure and I love all three with every piece of my heart) to the plot, the writing style – everything was great about this book. I read it in one day, which is a very rare thing for me to do, but I just couldn’t put it down. As soon as I put it down, I started missing Arcadias wit, Xanders obsession with tea, or Xavier's lack of knowledge that his best friend is very clearly in love with him. The three of them interacting with one another was so great – I just had to keep reading and keep reading and – I need more!
Xander and Xavier are way too cute for me to handle and I loved, absolutely loved that Arcadia wasn’t portrayed as the „left behind fiancee“. Nope, she was part of the story and probably the biggest supporter of Xander and Xaviers Love Story! And I loved that. There was no hate in this book. There was only love and support and CUTENESS.
And if that doesn’t already sound super amazing, there were also ghosts in the story, and creepy (but cute) fairy-somethings and SO MUCH TEA!! #relatable
In conclusion: „The Rest is Silence“ perfectly mixes all the things I love about a good book. It’s historic, it’s hilarious, it has incredible cute romance, it has ALL THE DRAMA YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WANTED IN A BOOK, an amazing female character who stands up for what is right, an ending that makes you bawl your eyes out and - did I mention ghosts??
„The Rest is Silence“ is the perfect read for fans of „The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue“ or „My Lady Jane“ and I can only recommend it!
Oh boy. This book was so, so great! It was marketed as a gay romance retelling of Hamlet (basically as Shakespeare going Shakesqueer – god I love this wordplay, thanks Chii) and if there is one thing I’m always 100% there for, then it’s retellings. And oh wow did Chii deliver in this one.
From the three Protagonists Xander, Xavier and Arcadia (who were all perfect little cinnamon rolls, too good for this world and way too pure and I love all three with every piece of my heart) to the plot, the writing style – everything was great about this book. I read it in one day, which is a very rare thing for me to do, but I just couldn’t put it down. As soon as I put it down, I started missing Arcadias wit, Xanders obsession with tea, or Xavier's lack of knowledge that his best friend is very clearly in love with him. The three of them interacting with one another was so great – I just had to keep reading and keep reading and – I need more!
Xander and Xavier are way too cute for me to handle and I loved, absolutely loved that Arcadia wasn’t portrayed as the „left behind fiancee“. Nope, she was part of the story and probably the biggest supporter of Xander and Xaviers Love Story! And I loved that. There was no hate in this book. There was only love and support and CUTENESS.
And if that doesn’t already sound super amazing, there were also ghosts in the story, and creepy (but cute) fairy-somethings and SO MUCH TEA!! #relatable
In conclusion: „The Rest is Silence“ perfectly mixes all the things I love about a good book. It’s historic, it’s hilarious, it has incredible cute romance, it has ALL THE DRAMA YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WANTED IN A BOOK, an amazing female character who stands up for what is right, an ending that makes you bawl your eyes out and - did I mention ghosts??
„The Rest is Silence“ is the perfect read for fans of „The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue“ or „My Lady Jane“ and I can only recommend it!
February 6, 2019
Ich habe Hamlet nie gelesen noch gesehen und kann es deshalb nicht vergleichen (nicht das man das tun sollte), aber ich habe das Buch geliebt.
Es beginnt mit einer zarten Liebesgeschichte, die *Zucker* süß ist und ein tragisches Ende findet. Ich mochte den Schreibstil, die Charaktere, die Atmosphäre und den Plot.
Das Ende ist, wie bereits erwähnt, tragisch und bricht einem das Herz, lässt einen aber doch irgendwie zufrieden zurück.
Warum das Buch nicht die volle Punktzahl bekommt?
Es stört mich nicht, wenn die Handlung am Ende offen ist und der Leser die Freiheit hat selbst darüber nachzudenken- was wohl danach passiert.
Ich bin nur leicht verwirrt warum der Schädel überhaupt da war. Er hatte irgendwie nicht wirklich eine Funktion, außer das Xavier drüber gestolpert ist und dann als gruseliges Dekor in Xanders Zimmer liegt. Auch die Szenen mit dem Geist des Vaters?! Ich war etwas verwirrt und hätte gern mehr Infos dazu - Geister?
Außerdem hätte ich gern etwas MEHR von den Charakteren gehabt von Cadi vllt mehr Kontakt zur Mutter (Königen), mehr über die zwei Kaufmänner und einfach etwas mehr *Background*, mehr Informationen. Es kam mir einfach ab und an etwas zu knapp bzw. zu kurz vor.
Was soll ich sagen ? Ich hätte nichts dagegen gehabt, wenn das Buch 400 Seiten gezählt hätte.
Definitv eine Empfehlung!!!! Ich hoffe die Autorin schreibt noch mehr Bücher dieser Art.
Es beginnt mit einer zarten Liebesgeschichte, die *Zucker* süß ist und ein tragisches Ende findet. Ich mochte den Schreibstil, die Charaktere, die Atmosphäre und den Plot.
Das Ende ist, wie bereits erwähnt, tragisch und bricht einem das Herz, lässt einen aber doch irgendwie zufrieden zurück.
Warum das Buch nicht die volle Punktzahl bekommt?
Es stört mich nicht, wenn die Handlung am Ende offen ist und der Leser die Freiheit hat selbst darüber nachzudenken- was wohl danach passiert.
Ich bin nur leicht verwirrt warum der Schädel überhaupt da war. Er hatte irgendwie nicht wirklich eine Funktion, außer das Xavier drüber gestolpert ist und dann als gruseliges Dekor in Xanders Zimmer liegt. Auch die Szenen mit dem Geist des Vaters?! Ich war etwas verwirrt und hätte gern mehr Infos dazu - Geister?
Außerdem hätte ich gern etwas MEHR von den Charakteren gehabt von Cadi vllt mehr Kontakt zur Mutter (Königen), mehr über die zwei Kaufmänner und einfach etwas mehr *Background*, mehr Informationen. Es kam mir einfach ab und an etwas zu knapp bzw. zu kurz vor.
Was soll ich sagen ? Ich hätte nichts dagegen gehabt, wenn das Buch 400 Seiten gezählt hätte.
Definitv eine Empfehlung!!!! Ich hoffe die Autorin schreibt noch mehr Bücher dieser Art.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2019
In the end, we're all the same. We return to the dirt we came from, no matter if it was mud or gold."
The Rest Is Silence is named after a Hamlet quote which should give you a pretty big clue as to which Shakespeare play is being queered up here, or alternatively, Chii Rempel really went "Hamlet, but make it gay."
As this is essentially a queer inspired rehashing of Hamlet (with a gay Hamlet - called Xander - and a bi/queer/undefined Horatio - called Xavier) it is unfortunately subject to the .
This is by no means a perfect book. It's absolutely rife with editing/SPAG issues, sometimes even the author gets confused between Xavier and Xander which really doesn't help the reader (surely they could've chosen names that weren't quite so similar) and in parts the story actually dragged a little BUT it was actually pretty cute, totally OTT/extra but in a fun way and was a mostly sweet, easy read (you know, apart from that ending).
The Rest Is Silence is named after a Hamlet quote which should give you a pretty big clue as to which Shakespeare play is being queered up here, or alternatively, Chii Rempel really went "Hamlet, but make it gay."
As this is essentially a queer inspired rehashing of Hamlet (with a gay Hamlet - called Xander - and a bi/queer/undefined Horatio - called Xavier) it is unfortunately subject to the .
This is by no means a perfect book. It's absolutely rife with editing/SPAG issues, sometimes even the author gets confused between Xavier and Xander which really doesn't help the reader (surely they could've chosen names that weren't quite so similar) and in parts the story actually dragged a little BUT it was actually pretty cute, totally OTT/extra but in a fun way and was a mostly sweet, easy read (you know, apart from that ending).
January 3, 2019
I’ve read Hamlet numerous times. I’ve seen the play numerous times. I’ve watched a movie or two. I know what happens. I know how it ends. And yet I still held out hope. It was like The Song of Achilles all over again. I KNEW, but tricked myself into thinking maybe this once it wouldn’t end the same way.
I enjoyed this a lot. I’ve never really been terribly partial to Shakespeare, but I’ve always enjoyed Hamlet. This is a nice retelling. Xander and Xavier were both extremely likable and their pining for each other was done well. Arcadia was likable as well.
The only complaint I have was that it got confusing sometimes due to the main characters names being so similar. Otherwise this was done very well!
I enjoyed this a lot. I’ve never really been terribly partial to Shakespeare, but I’ve always enjoyed Hamlet. This is a nice retelling. Xander and Xavier were both extremely likable and their pining for each other was done well. Arcadia was likable as well.
The only complaint I have was that it got confusing sometimes due to the main characters names being so similar. Otherwise this was done very well!
August 5, 2019
The ending of this book is heart-wrenching. I went into this book knowing it wasn't going to be a happily ever after, especially after knowing that it's inspired by Hamlet. But having that knowledge does not dull the sadness that comes from reading that ending. It was an enjoyable read, maybe a little slow to get to the action. I loved the cast of characters and the love shared between three best friends. The only disappointment is not getting to know what becomes of the kingdom after all the deaths. I would be interested in reading more about what happened to Arcadia after everything.
Want to Read
June 16, 2021what can be better than the original Hamlet? or the Hamlet choose-your-adventure book with ace Hamlet? gay Hamlet! okay, maybe this is not better than ace Hamlet (ace superiority 💜) but the blurb definitely has me interested. 👀
August 16, 2019
I just couldn't get into this story, no part of it made real sense to me and the end was just unsatisfying.
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Read
August 20, 2019I couldn't finish this one. I wasn't into it and couldn't keep the characters straight in my head. To be honest I hoped for more Hamlet. I was disappointed.
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